<p>While I realize that things may be different in different companies, at what point do Plebes begin standing watches? Are there other duty assignments at USNA besides standing watch?</p>
<p>I read somewhere that Mids are cleared for holiday travel after their last exams and duty assignments. Does this ever preclude a Mid from returning home over a long break (i.e. Christmas)?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance. We're just trying to better understand our D's new responsibilities.</p>
<p>Hello 2012 Mom,</p>
<p>I cannot speak precisely to the beginnings of 'standing watch' - I do know, however, that my mid (we live 2,000 miles West of USNA) has definitely had more leave as the year progressed. He swapped his watch duties frequently with other plebes in his company so he could arrange his schedule to visit us whenever he could. </p>
<p>This time last year, I was really in the dark re: holiday travel. I really would have appreciated more details! So, looking back, to the best of my memory, here is what he did in 2007-2008. (this may/may not be the same or 2012 plebes!) </p>
<p>Since I-Day 2007, my plebe has had leave:</p>
<p>** Two days of "town liberty" during Plebe Parent Weekend in August 2007 (he had to sign the log at midnight on Saturday night, no overnight permitted). This was a big deal - first break from the Yard!</p>
<p>** Every Saturday from noonish - midnight he had "town liberty" and on Sundays he had "Yard liberty" unless he was standing watch. Since we live far away, he took a lot of weekend watches for his company members so they could go visit their families/significant others. </p>
<p>** One extra day of "town liberty" after Navy beat Notre Dame in November 2007 (I happened to be visiting that weekend, it was a treat!)</p>
<p>**From 15 Dec - 2 Jan 08 for the holidays,</p>
<p>**One week, with two weekends, for Spring Break,</p>
<p>**One overnight on a weekend (where he totally surprised me) from Sat-Sun for Mother's Day,</p>
<p>**Four days in between his last final exam and Herndon,</p>
<p>**Six days in between Graduation and his first Summer Block (again, another happy surprise for us!)</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>2011 Mom</p>
<p>Oh, one more thing - </p>
<p>I do remember that he had his last exam Dec 12th or 13th, but he had watch to stand and couldn't return until the 15th. So he did "lose" one day of holiday leave. I don't think that they will miss a whole lot more than a day or two of leave at either end of a holiday, however....</p>
<p>What did he do for Thanksgiving? I already told my son to not count on a Thanksgiving trip home. Coast to coast flights tend to get in late unless you take a red eye back, then you lost another day.</p>
<p>Gosh, I forgot T'giving...</p>
<p>...yes, he flew home late Wed nite (arrived at 1 a.m., 5 hour delayed) and then returned on Saturday (again, 5 hours late). He was pretty fogged out from the trip, that was the last time he's flown via a connecting city. </p>
<p>He's been home a whole 2 weeks total (in 3 trip$) in May. His summer leave officially begins 18 July, but there's a possibility he'll be done sooner, maybe -</p>
<p>Good luck, Class of 2012 parents/plebes, with holiday plans.... I hope this rough outline helps a bit.</p>
<p>We live in Southern California, but my mid came home for Thanksgiving plebe year. United non-stop five hours westbound, four and one-half hours eastbound; worth every penny!</p>
<p>And remember that if a Mid plays a sport, practices may interfere w/ the schedule 2011USNAMom described so well.</p>
<p>Thanks. I didn't know if (as on a ship) they kept a watch going throughout the holidays. If so, I figured it might be mostly Plebes having to do the watch-standing then.</p>
<p>Other than sports practices, the only thing that could prevent leave over break would be: conduct, honor, or PRT problems. If you stay away from these issues, then there is no reason your son/daughter should be stuck at USNA, involuntary. </p>
<p>Being on restriction during leave double sucks. Not only can you not leave and still attend restriction musters, but you also stand the duty/watches and there are only a limited amount of MIDN, so there is quite a lot more watchstanding.</p>
<p>This is my first child to leave the 'nest', and I actually have been pretty surprised at the amount of time he has been able to have off the Yard. When he surprised me on Mother's Day weekend by flying home on a Saturday morning, then back on a Sunday morning (23.5 hours in his hometown!) it was the greatest gift I've ever been given.</p>
<p>I am always mindful of other parents of 19-year-olds, whose children are in Iraq and Afghanistan and serving in the Persian Gulf. Every day I say a prayer to keep my midshipman son safe as he goes about his day at USNA. I also pray for all the sons and daughters who are so far away from friends and families, and who may not have an opportunity to see their loved ones for a very long time.</p>
<p>Is that ENS (or 2nd Lt.) jadler, now? Congratulations!</p>
<p>I'll take my adjutant corporal duties to paint a better picture.</p>
<p>On I-day, plebes begin standing Company Mate of the Deck (CMOD) during plebe summer. CMOD is stood by youngsters and plebes throughout the academic year, too. The amount of watch stood by youngsters is determined by the youngsters in charge of the watchbills. Sometimes the plebes end up standing a whole lot more watch than the youngsters, but with the change of 8 section duty, the amount stood between the two classes is about even.</p>
<p>Going with 8 section duty, all midshipmen will have 2 duty weekends per semester with the other 14 of them being free of duty. Normally, plebes have 0 weekends but can get them through special request, Football games, or company commander discretion. Know that your plebe will be free of duty 89% of the time, but will have very little overnights or weekends throughout the year. The eight section duty was one positive change of the new administration and you can thank ENS Warshaw (former brigade adjutant) for that change.</p>
<p>Leave:</p>
<p>Your plebe will probably have something like this (much more leave than the fleet)</p>
<p>-Plebe Parent's Weekend (2.5 days) Try to get to Annapolis for this.
-Thanksgiving starting after last class on Wednesday and off until Sunday.
-Christmas (about 3 weeks until 2nd or 3rd of Janaury)
-Spring Break (9 days total with two weekends)
-Intercessionals (anywhere from 4-7 days off after last exam)
-If block one training, you'll have an extra week off
-Summer Leave Block (Roughly 30 days)</p>
<p>In all, from the start of plebe year until the start of youngster year, a normal midshipman will probably have about 70-80 days off, which is better than the fleet ratio (2.5 days per month).</p>
<p>ENS....16 days until deployment :-)</p>
<p>GoNavy, ya....it was nice working with Matt Warshaw (and he did a good job at the dedication parade!)</p>