<p>Just got mine in the mail today! Very exciting, but a whole lot to fill out. 7:30 AM on 1 July! Anybody else got that time?</p>
<p>Lucky! Yours is way later than mine! I’m at 6:30 AM…</p>
<p>Btw, when do we find out our company #/is it already in the packet and I can’t find it in the barrage of papers?</p>
<p>i don’t think we find out till I-day… correct me if im wrong though. i have yet to go through all of the papers. maybe the earlier u are the lower your company # is? idk, just speculating. i can’t wait to find out either!</p>
<p>there seems to be no method to your report time. it’s not alpha order or company order, so don’t sweat it out.
also, if you arrive early, just walk on up. you don’t have to wait. if you arrive late, be prepared for some heat! remember your 5 basic responses. that’s all you have for a VERY long time.
Yes Sir (Ma’am)
No Sir (Ma’am)
Aye Aye Sir (Ma’am)
I’ll find out Sir (Ma’am) and last but not least,
No excuse Sir (Ma’am).</p>
<p>eta:
Be very careful not to say Sir to a Ma’am!</p>
<p>you guys are gonna hate me for this: my report time is at 9:00!!!</p>
<p>Later report time is actually worse considering that you have to fold and stow all your gear.</p>
<p>My Plebe had 0630 last year, and a friend had 0630 the previous year. Both said they liked having way more time (than some others) to stow things in the (relative) peace and quiet of their rooms.</p>
<p>Last year, company assignments arrived a few days prior to I-day, not in the PTR.</p>
<p>9:00 AM. Ill be there with u d29061! soooooo much paperwork</p>
<p>8:30 AM here, and the paperwork is dreadful</p>
<p>“You’ve only just begun…” :eek:</p>
<p>Yes, earlier is better on report times. But worry not, none’ll be late for the swearing-in. Friends, Romans, Countrymen (and Family, of course!) …DO NOT MISS IT! You’re heart’ll be coming outta your chest, your tears’ll be flowing without embarassment, your pride’ll be impossible to contain! </p>
<p>And when the Navy fly-over roars low over Mother B, you’ll know. This is the real deal! Nothing like it in the world!</p>
<p>Congratulations all. So happy and proud of you. Get ready for an amazing ride that’ll transform you more than you can imagine. 
</p>
<p>Company assignments will come in a later mailing. You will have it prior to arrival.
Do not worry about your report time- just arrive at the time designated.
If you have an early arrival time, the line will be short and will move quickly, so get those hugs in ahead of time. Parents- don’t worry too much, you will see your new plebe again after the oath of office- those will be the hard hugs, but all good.</p>
<p>If you arrive a bit later, the line can move a bit slower. Stay relaxed.</p>
<p>OK. So perhaps time for some information that will be of use to you for I-Day.</p>
<p>Clothing.
Might as well get this out of the way now.
Please show up neat- and “plain.”
Son wore a shirt with a “polo” logo- that tiny little guy on that horse thing- and believe it or not, attracted 2 comments before he was through the door. Funny in retrospect, but on that morning, just added to nerves already on edge. So think “plain.” I will spare you the story of the candidate that showed up in a “beat army” shirt. I will leave that one to “buyers beware”… aka… NOT recommended. YOU have not EARNED that yet, and THAT is how THAT will be looked at! NOT GOOD.</p>
<p>PLAIN SHIRT.
TUCKED IN.
PLAIN PANTS. SHORTS OK. NO JEANS. BELT. PANTS PULLED UP.
RUNNING SHOES-BROKEN IN. Make those as white as you can as well.</p>
<p>Nothing else, except a small piece of religious jewelry if you have that (cross, etc)
Girls- very small gold ball stud earrings.
Anything else leave at home. Watch included. </p>
<p>Girls-
Get your hair cut ahead of time. 2 inches above the collar, no exceptions. Longer than that will get you a seat in the barbers chair (emphasize barber). NOT GOOD. Get it over ahead of time when there is more than a few minutes devoted to getting it styled. Think “locks of love.”</p>
<p>NO belly rings, tongue rings, nose rings, and any other rings for that matter. Don’t even go there.</p>
<p>Keep one thing in mind: “FLY BELOW THE RADAR.” That is your goal. Shut those lips unless asked. This is “not all about you” anymore- well, actually it is, but not in the way you have experienced before. It’s all about “all of you.” You are a plebe, one of MANY faces in a SEA of plebes. Trust me when I tell you that it will be hard for mom and dad, who know every nook and cranny on that face, to pick yours out of a sea of shaved heads. Chances are you will spot them well before they spot you. Just remember, it’s all good.</p>
<p>I Day.
No doubt you will hear lots of war stories between now and then. Truth be told, with all the hype, for many the reality is actually a bit of a let-down! Just don’t worry about it. It is an exciting day, lots of yelling, lots of hurry up and wait, lots of lines for issue, go here and go there’s, in-your-face-what-did-I-get-myself-into-things, but it is all doable and lights-out arrives eventually. This is what you have worked for- savor it, the good and the bad parts, savor it and lock on. The faster you lock on, the easier it will be.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about how you look. It won’t matter to a soul. You are not there to “look good.” You are given a uniform for a very good reason- to LOOK UNIFORM… not unique, but the same as the 1200+ next to you. You are there to work hard. Girls- forget the makeup, you will sweat it right off, so better not to have that mascara streaking down your face and getting all over your white works- ditto for other makeup. Forget it for today; for that matter, forget it for plebe summer. For all- have mom pack a good facial cleaner in your first care package- heat and sweat and open pores are a recipe for disaster, and getting a jump start on getting any acne under control early is a good thing. Instead of face paint, put some sunscreen on your face- it is a hot sun.</p>
<p>Guys:
Might be a good idea to get your hair shortened a bit too before you arrive- think traditional cut. Don’t come with a high-and-tight, or shaved head…again, YOU have not earned THOSE (unless you are a prior)… so don’t go there. But getting it cut before hand will give you time to get the sun on your forehead and neck, so that when they do buzz it all off, you are not looking like some weird snow cone. And when they do buzz it, if you get a chance, put some sunscreen on your scalp and the back of your neck- sunburn is not fun, especially in places where the sun has never shinned before.</p>
<p>Glasses. You are getting BCGs whether or not you want them. Don’t worry about it. They are ugly as heck, but you are not here for a beauty contest, and no one is going to care except you, so why bother. It is what it is, and it is only for a few weeks, so go with the flow and don’t sweat it. No one is going to care!</p>
<p>What else.
Get good nights sleep. Start a full week before, getting to bed by 11pm (lights out) and up by 0530. Let your body adjust ahead of time so that you are not dragging as much if you don’t get acclimated ahead of time. </p>
<p>Use your time wisely.
Between now and I-Day, the BEST thing you can do for yourself is RUN. Every day. You should have been doing this already- so if you have not started, get going- TODAY. This is the single most thing that will get you snagged, so go prepared. Show up in shape and you will get less attention. Don’t and you might as well paint a bull’s eye on your back, and forehead, and everywhere else. REMEMBER YOUR GOAL: FLY BELOW THE RADAR. That means running in the pack, not following it. </p>
<p>Attitude. Ego.
Leave both at home.
NO room for it here.
You may have been a big fish in your pond, but you will be guppy food here- you don’t even rate guppy. Humility goes a long way here- bring anything else and you make your road that much harder. </p>
<p>One last thing.
Remember to set goals.
“I am going to get through plebe summer” is certainly one.
But allow yourself to modify that as needed- there will be some days where “I am going to get to lunch,” “I am going to get to dinner,” “I am going to get to lights out”…are all you can manage. My Mid went through many weeks of “I am going to get to Sunday”…</p>
<p>Sunday.
Religious or not, time to see the Chaplins. Donuts. NO CADRE. REPRIEVE. Only for 2 hours, but they just might be the best two hours of your week! Sundays are great.</p>
<p>Ok.
That’s it, because the longer you sit here on your computer to read this stuff, the less time you are spending out there running and finishing up with senior classes and studying for those finals. You are not done yet, so don’t get derailed. Stay out of trouble, stay healthy. Enjoy your final stretch of senior year. </p>
<p>Parents.
Buy a second battery for that camera. Make sure the memory card is downloaded and empty. Make sure to go to the Supe’s brief- do not miss that!
Bring a box of tissues for the ride home. If you can, stay overnight at Annapolis or wherever and head home I-Day+1. I-Day is exhausting for you as well. DO NOT RETURN TO THE YARD the next day. DO NOT. Get a good nights rest, walk around Annapolis, have breakfast at Chicks and Ruth’s, and head home. Your sons and daughters are in good hands. You have done your job. Work on stretching those apron strings- they will be cut at some point over the next 4 years, some sooner than later, but it is inevitable, so start stretching them a bit. </p>
<p>For parents not attending I-Day:
Historically, the sups brief has been shown again during PPW.
Following the oath of office, there will be a designated place (usually at the Mexican Monument) where there will be cell phones available for your newly-minted, buffed and puffed plebe to call home- so stay in earshot of that! They won’t have too much time, so put them on speaker phone so that everyone at home will be able to hear first-hand that your plebe is still living and breathing! </p>
<p>That it for now. No doubt I will think of more later.
If it is any consolation, I just received notice today that candidate packets for the CLASS OF 2014 will be mailed out this month. So your relief is already forming up behind you! </p>
<p>Your days may drag, but trust me when I tell you the next 4 years- YOUR 4-years-by-the-bay, are going to fly. They will be over in a blink of an eye. Hard to see that now, but mark my words. And I have heard from more than one alumni, who couldn’t wait for it all to be “done and gone,” would give anything for an opportunity to do it all again! No matter how easy or how hard, never let a day go by that you take for granted the opportunity before you. Work hard. Do your best. Getting in is the easy part. Staying in- walking the straight and narrow, making the right decisions, staying afloat academically and physically, all will require 100%. Make it count- from day 1, make it all count. Get help when you need it. Seek it out. Give help when you can. OFFER it. You are now a member of a unique and very special community, one part of a very huge whole. </p>
<p>Ship, shipmate, self.</p>
<p>Amen!! Well said!!!</p>
<p>what do you for glasses/contacts after plebe summer…order new ones at base?</p>
<p>Mom and Dad should bring a supply of contacts for the plebe during PPW. Plebe Summer continues on for a few weeks after PPW, and plebe will probably need to continue with BCG’s during that time. After that, it’s easiest to have some from home.</p>
<p>Plebes are overwhelmed with new things and TONS of things. Not the time to try to figure out where and how to get new ones on the yard. Just have mom and dad bring them from home. LATER, figure out how to get them on your own at USNA.</p>
<p>By the way, Kathie gave this advice:
</p>
<p>But you will find out quickly that it’s a sandwich-</p>
<p>SIR YES SIR
MA’AM YES MA’AM</p>
<p>and so on.</p>
<p>Messing up will earn you a double sir and ma’am sandwich.</p>
<p>SIR SIR YES SIR SIR
MA’AM MA’AM YES MA’AM</p>
<p>Good luck! ;-)</p>
<p>So I guess my 9:30 report time isn’t so great after all…</p>
<p>This is some old information from the Parent’s Network. Reporting time has nothing to do with Company assignment. Mid had kind of early report time and was Oscar.</p>
<p>The Alpha Company “Letter” is the Alphabetic Company Letter used for Plebe Summer ONLY! There are 15 Alpha(betic) Companies in Plebe Summer, Alpha through Papa, with approximately 80 Mids. Each Alpha(betic) Company is made up of 2 Platoons of approximately 40 Mids and each Platoon has 4 squads of approximately 10 Mids each (These squad members may become the best friends you ever had or will have). As of now there is no Juliet Company. There is one more small Company TANGO you do not want to be there.</p>
<p>Company ; Platoon Numbers ; Fall Company</p>
<p>Alpha (A) ; A1 A2 ; 1 , 2</p>
<p>Bravo (B) ; B3 B4 ; 3 , 4</p>
<p>Charlie (C) ; C5 C6 ; 5 , 6</p>
<p>etc…</p>
<p>Nicely, concisely explained. </p>
<p>One caveat. Tango Company. In fact it’s the only company a plebe may select and is usually because the DO want to be in that specific company, even if none others have that wish for the plebe. It’s where plebes are assigned when they perceive and/or believe they wish to leave.</p>
<p>One other caveat: If your Mid has a later reporting time and you arrive early and want to spend some relaxed (relative) time on the yard. Do not go near the entrance to Alumni Hall. If they see your Mid they will usher Him/Her into Alumni Hall no matter their scheduled reporting time.</p>
<p>So, I could actually show up and get processed early and have more time to stow gear, etc?</p>
<p>Yes, whenever you arrive and the USNA officials perceive you’re done kissin’ mama and she’s about to really start bawlin’ …well they’ll let you waltz right in no matter what your report time is. Guaranteed. This event is more like sheepherding than it is putting the horses in the gate for the Derby. It’s a “y’all come on in. You’re gonna like it alot.”</p>
<p>They lie alot, too!:eek: </p>
<p>But once you’re in those doors, you literally will never be the same. One small step for junior …that leads to becoming a Navy man or woman. It’s one of those deceiving moments in life. Tell dad to wear his sunglasses …even if it’s raining. </p>