<p>You have been assigned a reporting time.
Report at that time.
You will have plenty of time to get everything done.</p>
<p>You are stepping into an institution that has rules and regs for everything, where the expectation is to follow “to the letter.” This is not about marching to your own drum, but to the drum beating for you. </p>
<p>As for the post above, the last kiss is reserved for Mom. Remember that. And it will not be the one before you enter Alumni Hall, as has been suggested, but the last one before you reform at the end of the day on Stribling, when you will march back into Bancroft. THAT one goes to “Mom.”</p>
<p>It aint the Foreign Legion. “March Or Die” is not the I-Day creed. They are very accomodating until you enter the doors.</p>
<p>Permit to report package has “Drive On Pass” for I-Day. </p>
<p>Dad drives through Gate One and delivers Mom, Plebe to be and youngest sister to parking lot near Admissions one and a half hours before report time. Dad drives out Gate Eight to Stadium Parking and misses the first shuttle. Dad has camera. Dad gets next shuttle back. Dad arrives at Alumni Hall fifteen minutes later and one hour before scheduled report time. First question? Where were you? You missed everything!! Chaplains and Cadre will escort you in as you arrive in front of Alumni Hall. Early is no big deal.</p>
<p>That is a fact it happened to me when I dropped the family off. When I arrived back on the yard 15 minutes later, they had already took him in. Did not get to see him again untill they all took their oath. It still bothers me to this day that I wasn’t there to see him off.</p>
<p>Well there is another option. Mom and Dad and plebe-to-be arrive at stadium, park car, take shuttle to yard, get on line, and stay together until plebe-to-be enters alumni hall. We did it and we had a party of 14.
15 if you count the dog. </p>
<p>Arrive at the reported time. Allow an extra 30 minutes for the shuttle. Better yet, if you are staying at one of the local hotels in Annapolis, ask if they have a shuttle to the yard- many do. The other 12 in our party did that. So make that 26 of us, one dog, one grandmother in a wheelchair, and no one had to miss anything. It can be done.</p>
<p>No reason to have to miss anything. No reason to rush it- will earn you no points. When you do get on the line, it will move rather quickly. Get your pics ahead of time. </p>
<p>You are right- it is not the Foreign Legion. And unlike the other academies, parents will have time to spend with their plebe at the end of the day. </p>
<p>The reason the new plebes are asked to arrive at a designated time is to prevent the bottlenecks on the system- including the vehicles entering the yard, the shuttles to and from the stadium, the crunch in Alumni Hall. You can all help the process by arriving at the time requested. Simple, really.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>In the line before entering Alumni Hall that morning. Short hair, all smiles, big adventure, oh so young.</p></li>
<li><p>Right after swearing in on Stribling that evening…White Works with Dixie Cup, BCGs, still smiling, but constantly looking around to make sure she didn’t miss reassembling to march into Bancroft, not really having any idea of what to do other than what she was told.</p></li>
<li><p>Plebe Parents’ Weekend in front of Tecumsah…starched Summer Whites, ribbons, 15 pounds lighter, standing taller, ridiculously proud.</p></li>
<li><p>Right after Herndon with company 'mates…drenched, dirty, White Work trousers and decorated blue rim, deliriously happy, arm in arm with “brothers and sisters.”</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Simple shots that tell the story. Try not to miss the moment. Will try to be there this I-day as my firstie-to-be takes her turn as detailer. Can’t wait to see what the “magic box” that is my camera will capture this time.</p>
<p>funniest of coincidences.
First day of school 13 years ago. Picture of kid with tan shorts, white sneakers, and a red striped polo shirt with a little backpack looking over his shoulder and waving goodbye to mom and dad to get on the school bus.
Fast forward 13 years, and we didn’t notice til going over pictures at christmas.</p>
<p>HE WAS WEARING THE EXACT SAME OUTFIT!!!..ROTFLOL
almost the same red polo, shorts and sneaks with a little backpack looking over his shoulder, waving goodbye to mom and dad. </p>
<p>of course he was 260 lbs bigger and now is 6’3"</p>
<p>zanerdude, just be there on time, no need to work the system yet, you will figure it all out soon enough.</p>
<p>BTW</p>
<p>My S is reporting to the USS Carney as I type this for his first summer cruise. So no Herndon for Him. 0 Block for most football players.</p>
<p>I’m hopeful zaner’s request to be in line at 0400 is a joke. 0900 is a fine report time. As I recall, it runs from 0600 to 1100. And, the 1100s reporting have ample time to get their stuff stowed as well. What <em>can</em> happen with an 0600 report time is that you’re under the eyes (and mouths) of the cadre for another few hours. So more time to be “instructed” on I-Day. Our son had an 0900 report time; sat in the a/c of Alumni Hall on a medical misunderstanding for over 3 hours (calming reading his Reef Points, and not being yelled at), was one of the last to go through the remainder of processing due to the medical snafu, and said he had plenty of time to get everything stowed, PLUS was given carry-on for lunch (which meant nothing to us at the time, but we understand now for what it was).<br>
Show up when your report time says to show up (if all 1200 showed up at 0600, it would overwhelm and truly irritate the first set of cadre you run into. Why incur that wrath?). Listen, listen, listen. Do what you’re told to do. Keep your eyes forward when you’re told to. Do <em>not</em> lose your cover or your Reef Points. Help someone else if it’s appropriate. You will undoubtedly make some mistake on I-Day, and if you don’t, one will be fabricated for you, or you’ll get to pay penance for whatever your roommate or squad mate did, too. If you’re trying to control the Navy, just give it up now. You can either fight I-Day tooth and nail, struggling for your independence, or you can just let all this wash over you, learn to trust and rely on USNA/Navy and understand you’ve just become one link in a very long chain.<br>
And, our S was at Pax River yesterday for a flight physical for his PROTRAMID. He’s a 2/C in 2 weeks! Hard to believe… where has the time gone??</p>
<p>the problem with the internet is I can’t express my humor and sarcasm. Two things that will definitely not be in my backpack on I-day. Thanks for all the great advice.</p>
<p>Keep the sense of humor. My mid was busted constantly for her “lack of military bearing” but she found the ability to laugh got her through many a tough spot. Remember that 1000s have gone on before you and survived. </p>
<p>Good luck! My mid actually enjoyed plebe summer. Of course, her sister like Marine Corps boot camp, so that tells you what their home life must have been like!</p>
<p>Ha Ha! When zanerdude was telling his horse trainer about his initial interest in USNA, she declared that she would continue her practice of yelling at him and consider it essential skill building! We shall see if it paid off!</p>
<p>Any retired service members with a kid in 2013? One of the forms in the PTR packet is entitled “Notice Regarding Maintenance of Private Medical Insurance”</p>
<p>I have been unable to get a definitive answer from TriCare, my MOAA supplemental policy, or the health benefits advisor at USNA Branch Medical.</p>
<p>Any info on this form and maintaining coverage in case of a “worst case” scenario would be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>Search and the other forum for info on insurance. Worst case scenario: midshipman gets sick, really sick and has to leave USNA. If you have not kept private insurance, there might be a problem getting coverage.</p>
<p>Our Mid was carried on her dad’s Tricare policy until I-day. Mids cannot be covered under two different Federal health insurance plans, so they are no longer covered on TriCare after I-day. However, during multiple phone calls, we were told that, if worse came to worst, and a Mid was separated from USNA due to a severe illness, they would still be able to be immediately returned to Tricare coverage. Caveat: we have not seen this in writing.</p>
<p>You guys are SO lucky… I enter into the madness of plebe-hood a few days earlier. As prior-enlisted I’m going to be there on the 28th… haha… they said they had a “plan” for us priors… what ever that means. lol… ■■■. ;)</p>