No overnights for PPW

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>A story was posted about some parent [heck, let's make it a mom] breaking into the plebe ranks, as they filed back in for swearing-in, to get a picture of her son.</p>

<p>A story about a mother [surely it must always be a mother] yelling out: Hey Johnnie, Johnny, goodbye! Whereupon the cadre stopped the platoon, told them to about-face and "wave goodby to mommie." Plebes were instructed to raise hands and wave goodbye.</p>

<p>Another story about somebody pushing aside a cadre in order to get a picture.</p>

<p>Mind you, these are all stories. You never know what really happened, even if you saw it. I have a hard time believing that some mother slapped [Slapped!?] a stranger [in the face!?] and told that kid to not yell at her son. Who knows what the circumstances were. Maybe the slapee was a good friend. Slapped is such a strong word in my visualization. I can't imagine--and don't believe--my son would stand there and take beign slapped "multiple times" by a stranger. If he would, then the Academy has done a poor job with what I sent them.</p>

<p>So, while I am sure there is some truth to all of the above stories, remember, it is hard to discren over the internet what really happened. Although, given the state of our current society, none of the above would surprise me either. Unfortunately.</p>

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<p>Everyone always thinks he/she had the hardest plebe year but, in his/her gut, recognizes that each class has unique demands depending on what's going on in the world, Academy leadership, and a host of other things. </p>

<p>For example, in my day, plebes never got overnights if the football team won. Never. However, that has been pretty routine the past few years. I also believe plebes get access to email, and maybe even stereos, etc. before youngster year. Does that mean today's classes are lax or aren't having a "real" plebe year? No. Current plebes have 90 mins of PEP during plebe summer whereas we had about 60. They have Sea Trials and we didn't. Does that mean we didn't have a "real" plebe year? No. Just different experiences -- some things harder and some easier.</p>

<p>There is a constant ebb & flow of privileges, duties, requirements, etc. for mids. Some things ease up, some things toughen up. As folks have said, it may not seem "fair," but life in general -- and life in the military especially -- often isn't. Best to learn that now. </p>

<p>In terms of criticizing, you have that right in the military and, then again, you don't. If the CO puts out an unpopular policy, there is always some grumpiness. But the role of junior officers is to support that policy, even if they don't like it (providing it's not illegal, of course). Grousing about it is prejudicial to morale and ultimately is a disservice to the unit and the CO.</p>

<p>Civilians can obviously disagree with military policy. But, in this case, a lot of grousing is only going to depress the mids. Much better to focus on all of the great things about PPW rather than the small negatives. After PPW, many plebes may (we'll see) get O/Ns for football victories. They have town liberty every Saturday when they can see family & friends. At a minimum, most will be home for Thanksgiving and nearly all for Christmas. Lots of things to look forward to.</p>

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<p>now now bill.....let's play fair..... you know very well it was not the MOMS creating all the rukuss! Surely the DADs did their fair share of dammage!!!!!!!!! ;)</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Although, given the state of our current society, none of the above would surprise me either. Unfortunately.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Ain't it the truth.... :(</p>

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<p>You know . . .the dads . . . were probably off in a corner quietly sniveling into their hankerchiefs.</p>

<p>Of course, if it involved a camera . . . maybe it was a dad after all.</p>

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<p>Nah..... The dads were all huddled around the alumni dads, listening to their stories of, "Bah! This is NOTHING! When I was a Plebe..."</p>

<p>;)</p>

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<p>I imagine USNA1985, and her sisters in the first 20+ USNA classes that included a small, but intrepid minority of females, had the most challenging
four years--next to post-WWII African Americans at the SAs.</p>

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<p>^^^^^</p>

<p>You know, when you're going through it, you don't really think about whether it's harder or easier for you as a woman. You're too focused on just getting through. And when, at the time, you're the last class of women (i.e., the latest/most recent), you figure that you must have it easier than the classes that preceded you, so you don't have much to complain about. </p>

<p>In fairness, it was what it was. It was hard, and some things we took for granted at the time would not be acceptable today. Women in the early years had different challenges than our male counterparts, but it would be unfair to say that it was per se and unilaterally harder for us than the guys. </p>

<p>I know only that the entire USNA experience has been the single most defining event in my life and has made me a much stronger person. Plebe summer, plebe year, and the entire four years at USNA are challenging for everyone -- and more challenging for some than for others. It's the nature of things and that will never change.</p>

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<p>Wow...Just get back from our trip to Annapolis, finish a day's work and check out what CC has to offer. LOTS of sniping going on here! Sheez folks! So, if our Mids can't do the overnight, we'll just enjoy them for the time we <em>do</em> have them. I, for one, am not a mom to watch my son sleep, anyway... So, having him with us through the night or not is kind-of a wash for our family. From what I've heard/read, he'll probably want to just sleep through the entire time, anyway. So, whatever works. I'm just hoping any acidic attitude we might find on the overnight being removed doesn't bleed onto the Plebes. They need positives from us...not irritation about the Administration. Doubt, frustration, and fear are the common enemies...not the Sup and 'Dant. </p>

<p>And, our I-Day experience was great. Smiles all around, and only tears shed were by me when the entire group yelled "I will" after the oath when Capt. Klein had barely uttered the word "Respond...". I felt the gung-ho attitude was very moving, personally. Heard last night from a Chaplain that our S was still smiling. Of course, it's only Day 2... LOTS of summer yet to develop a grimace/frown over.
And, who knows on the ones that have dropped. May have been parental pressure that put them there, and not their own true desires. Let's not be so hasty in our judgements. (Although, it is a travesty for someone who truly DID want to get in, and didn't because of a place-holder that intended on leaving, or had ice-cold feet going in.)</p>

<p>We do have a story... We skipped out on the Sup's chat, and chose to try to see our S getting his bag on the terrace outside Bancroft. We hadn't seen him all day, but had seen the Mids that were around the same time he began processing. So... Several families are gathered around under a tree between Dahlgren & Bancroft. A family group starts murmuring that they see their son. One calls out his name (loudly...) Cadre take notice. (to be sure). Another calls out his nickname (egads!!). More Cadre take notice. Another family member or two jet down under the tunnel to see the faces of the Mids (their backs were to us), and yet another begins going up the stairs to the columned terrace! (OH MY!!). Ones that had gone to get a look at the faces come jogging back... "Oh...that wasn't him anyway!" Thank GOD for that family's error! I can only guess what the Cadre might have then been asking the Mids that were there, and if the Mid really had been the one the family was looking for, just how tough the rest of his day (or week, or even his summer) would have been. </p>

<p>On our tour of the Yard (on I-Day Eve) our S was telling us the do's/don'ts. Don't walk on the Seal. Don't touch Tecumseh. Don't touch an upperclassman. Do respond when an officer talks to you, etc. We saw all kinds of tension in families during our trip. Thank goodness anything we had was worked out on the 10 hour drive down, and the days/weeks prior to I-Day. Last thing we want to bring to our S is tension. So, we, as a family, won't be questioning the Sup/Dant over PPW rules/regs. They have them for a reason, even if we don't understand them, or find them, as civilians, to be reasonable. From what I heard in both the Oath the Cadre/leadership took, and the Oath our Mid took, they're not answering to us as parents anymore. I'm just happy I get to see him at all in August! What a treat!!!</p>

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<p>I didn't see any parents acting untoward. I did have to tell my dad not to shout the boy's name, as he had. That sort of thing would bring unwanted and negative attention to his grandson. That stopped it cold.</p>

<p>I didn't see any slapping, cutting in on formation to get pictures, anything out of the ordinary. </p>

<p>What I did see was an awesome group of young people taking on a tremendous promise and their pride and determination brought tears to my eyes.</p>

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<p>AMEN NURSEYPOO! What an awesome experience for us parents to witness!</p>

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<p>For all you parents who want to call out your Plebe's name....hang on....the time comes at PPW at 6 in the morning if you are one of the parents who decides to get up at 3 am to get to USNA's football stadium to get to a bus around 4 am to get to USNA around 5 am to walk over to the field where all 1200 Plebes will be having their PEP. </p>

<p>THAT morning - the beginning of Plebe Parent's weekend...... You can bring banners, posters, cameras, scream your kid's name to your hearts content, ( Trust me, I did along with thousands of others) cheer for your kid's company, make a complete fool of yourself and EVERYONE incluing the Cadre will be laughing. It's the culmination of Plebe Summer and a moment of brief let-down for all. Last year the stands were full of some parents sitting in matching T-shirts by companies, mom's like me with posters, moms choosing to sit together to cheer even louder by name for one or another of the Plebes working out....and smiles were on all faces. I was fortunate that my daughter was lined up on the football yard lines #1 TOWARDS the stands facing me. And from my years as a mom of 5 ( poor Plebe of mine is #5 so my lungs have had alot of practice) 4 of whom were in marching band for 11 straight years at band tournaments on football fields...I developed a great field voice that projected my kid's name so all could hear. My sweet Plebe heard my first loud cheering of her name - looked into the stands, rolled her eyes, pointed me out to her friend next to her, the Cadre looked, smiled and as I waved and cheered all 3 acknowledged that yes, indeed, there was another rabid mom in the stands.And it was no problem.</p>

<p>So save up all the 'Go Johnny' cheers for that morning.</p>

<p>And then, AND THEN remember to go back into 'shut up' mode the moment you drop off your Plebe on sunday afternoon and they head back up into Bancroft to begin preparation for the Academic year.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
And then, AND THEN remember to go back into 'shut up' mode the moment you drop off your Plebe on sunday afternoon and they head back up into Bancroft to begin preparation for the Academic year.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That was the hardest day for me.... not I-Day.... but that Sunday....when they all had to line up in T-Court..... those new white uniforms gone from sight, replaced with their working whites.... the message was loud and clear... after a weekend of some freedom, right back to being plebes....</p>

<p>I think you could hear a pin drop....
all those parents, and nothing but silence....
and sobs.....
not a dry eye anywhere....
that was tough.</p>

<p>but they all went back....</p>

<p>i don't think I ever had a prouder moment!</p>

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<p>Yeah navy2010....I remember that moment like yesterday as well - the parents who stayed to watch the dinner meal formation at the very very end of PPW were privileged to see our Plebes one last time in what I agree was a precious, solemn and never to be forgotten moment.</p>

<p>Hint to 2011 parents re: PPW
MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR PLEBE BACK 30 minutes earlier at leaas than whatever the posted time is on sunday. "To be on time is to be late" is NOT just a phrase.</p>

<p>And even after you hug your Plebe goodbye - hang around by T-Court to see that ( basically unannounced) dinner formation. It'll tug at your heart strings but we worth it all.</p>

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<p>I remember that the upperclassmen played Christmas music, but I can't remember if that was at the end of PPW or the end of Reform?? </p>

<p>Andrew said he spent the week or so after PPW anxious, waiting for the rest of the Brigade to come back...suddenly instead of one squad leader yelling at you, you had the potential for 3000 people to yell at you!</p>

<p>Be prepared for HELL-O night..............</p>

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<p>It was Christmas at the end of PPW. Some of us parents were prepared for it - and I found it hysterically funny. But there were an awful lot of quizzical faces around me from people who didn't quite get the joke.</p>

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<p>What is Hell-o night? What time are they expected back on Sunday?</p>

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<p>Is HELL-O night the night the Brigade returns? (I ask because we never called it that, so I'm not sure.)</p>

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<p>Yes... it's when the plebes welcome the return of the brigade.</p>

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<p>Ah! Thanks. Interesting choice of words for it. :D</p>