<p>Nearing the end of plebe year in the most positive mindframe I've had [in over a year], I am able to look back and reflect on how long it has indeed been. To firstly address another post: while it is true that each company may be different in terms of its training staff, or its minor rules, or strictness regarding certain areas of behavior, the overall effect on the individual plebe remains quite the same. With that being said, this has undoubtedly been the most horrible year of my life on a various number of personal levels, which although was to be expected, caused a year-long struggle against a system that turned you against yourself. No matter what amount of positivism you give your kid before he/she comes here it will not matter--he/she will only fall that much harder when they come here. The cynicism and negativity of this place is completely engulfing, there is no escaping it. Before I came here I held high the ideal concepts of what the Academy stands for as an image to those outside its walls--honor, pride, and great accomplishment. Within a few days these quickly wore off and the sobering truth rang true, that this place is one of the most horrible, if not the most horrible environments on earth. There is no avoiding this statement--Bancroft Hall is the worst place to be on earth to be as a plebe. Your children will soon experience the worst days, and God forbid, nights, of their lives. I would not wish this experience upon anyone unless they were truly devoted to dealing with this challenge...but challenge isn't even the correct word. The correct word is suffering. Respectfully, to all those talking to the graduates in this thread who have not been here, you have no clue. Before coming here it seemed like everyone and their mom, no pun intended, had a story or bit of advice about the academy. The truth is purely subjective; you come here to find your own truths and endure the experience by yourself. Thsi plebe year experience is too intense to just talk about on a forum on the internet. My advice to the to-be plebes is this: nothing anyone tells you about the academy will make a difference--there are too many things to prepare for that it becomes pointless in doing so. You have to know if you can do this beforehand on the inside and that's it--talking about it will not help you, you must deal with it on your own when you get here.</p>
<p>I would encourage all who read this to realize that those who speak out here all have motivation for doing so. Jadler and mine are that we both sought this board before we came and want to give back. I have spoken with him and we are both very concerned about the misinformation/opinions that have been posted. Neither of us have had an easy experience, but we both love this place. I wouldn't have it any other way. I think its embarassing that a moderator had to shut down one of the Naval Academy's threads. That, to me, shows just how cynical some people become. It tends to happen, especially when you see all your friends partying and without responsibilities. I just ask that you realize all posted info. has some slant to it. Mine is that I used this site, got not quite what I was expecting, but made the most of it and love it here. Those (about the 1000+ you don't see posting here) have had very middle-of-the-road experiences and are still here. If those saying they hate it that much are honest with themselves and you, why don't they quit? Its a lot easier. About 3 forms and 2 interviews to go voluntarily (*info from a board I was at, not necessarily accurate). Don't let this stuff affect you too much.</p>
<p>That being said, I can say that after doing plebe year I have never been so proud and happy with my level of self-accomplishment and with what is coming in the next chapter of my life. It's a long year and one heck of a test of endurance though, and you will undoubetedly feel lower than ever before for what seems like forever.</p>
<p>The immediate posts above may speak to why so few candidates/mids [relatively speaking] actually post; perhaps, subliminally, they know it does not matter what others write about the USNA experience. I am sure that is why my son doesn't bother coming to this site. MOST people that come to this site have no direct experience about what they write [as I have stated many times, the posts that absolutely amaze me are the ones that seek to either have the writer's stats evaluated or that evaluate the writer's stats.] My son is the one that must experience the academy and he knows that. On the other hand, for parents, CC is a relatively harmless late-night diversion that allows them to remain involved [at least to some limited degree] in a BIG decision that their child has made.</p>
<p>As far as the MOMS go? Well, that is what moms do: they fret; they worry; they make friends over the internet; they seek every last bit of information they can; they give advice [even when they don't have first hand experience];they "talk" to just about anybody that will listen [and offer encouragement, congratulations, etc.]; in short, they do what your [and most] moms do. Is it silly? Sometimes. But then, so are inartful responses to electronics musings. Its all a learning process.</p>
<p>Some mids have much to learn about the "adult" world; just as many parents are seeking to learn as much as they can about USNA. Censoring does no good for either side. The mid/kids have a limited expression range and the parents sometimes make declarative statements for which they have no basis in fact to make.</p>
<p>CC is mildly entertaining, sometimes informative, but just about always an interesting example of human [electronic] interaction that simply wasn't possible a decade ago.</p>
<p>Brilliant!</p>
<p>A question for current Mids:
Is it true that the number of pilot slots have decreased and if that is the case, what does it mean to you?</p>
<p>Sounds like an interview...</p>
<p>Pilot slots have not decreased as of 2005 selection. Flight school has become more competitive and they wash more people out. It just means you have to work harder if you want to be a pilot.</p>
<p>I am not sure of the numbers this year yet. I do know that pilot slots up to 2004 have increased. The billets have probably gone down back to a level from previous years due to the amount of pilots that the Navy can handle, mainly due to the hurricane that passed through PNS last year and what buffalo said.
To me, the community is not the number one reason I attended USNA. My number one reason was to serve the Navy/USMC in some way...whatever it is, is okay with me.</p>
<p>Buffalo & Jadler,
Thanks for your responses. It seems most young men they want to go to USNA to serve their country or fly and serve their country. Submarines and surface warfare is generally not mentioned. Some mids must have to give up their dream to fly and do other things and that must be an adjustment, particularily with all the stuff a Mid has to go through to graduate.</p>
<p>onmyway- </p>
<p>I have a slight correction to your statement "It seems most young men <em>and women</em> want to go to USNA to serve their country or fly and serve their country." :)</p>
<p>Right now I'm planning on being a Naval Aviator, but I think I'll have a better idea of what I want to do after I go on the summer cruises and have more of a background in all the branches. </p>
<p>To any current midshipmen on this thread- What branch do you want to go into? Have you changed your mind about your branch preference since you first started @ USNA? If so, what exactly made you change your mind? Thanks!</p>
<p>Well I wanted to go into Aviation since sophomore year and took aviation classes junior and senior year. This year we had to make a presentation about enlisted ratings and I got into mine warfare. I think I want to go into that somehow :D I don't know about doing Aero Engineering anymore, still #1 though.</p>
<p>Navychic09,
That was really dumb on my part, please except my apology. It sounds like an evolving process and you have plenty of choices.
OMW</p>
<p>OMW-</p>
<p>Apology accepted!! :)</p>
<p>From what I hear from grads currently in the pipeline, Primary flight school is still backlogged from the storms of last year, since a few classes were grounded. Since the numbers admitted into flight school haven't decreased, the traffic jam becomes larger and larger, as the rate of graduation from flight school is the same as before. A former team captain said some JG's are being offered to transfer branches to Marine air if they want to go that route, since the Marine Corps needs pilots. Marines have a greater chance at also flying jets, than the average Navy pilot. The thing is that transferring pilots in the pipeline will either have to take a break to go to The Basic School, or go to TBS after they graduate, and probably won't start flying until they are full 0-3's.</p>
<p>Along with the dozens of other plebes in my class, I want to service select either Special Warfare (SEALs), Marine Ground, or Marine Air. I originally wanted to go SEALs or Navy Pilot, but I'm more physically fit than mentally fit, so the physical billets suit me a bit more.</p>
<p>Midn08,
Thanks for the reply, it is interesting. I didn't know it was last year's weather that backlogged training. I also heard that more grads then usual are going direct to grad school, if it is true it could be because of the training backlog. When do you branch?
OMW</p>
<p>Interesting . . .</p>
<p>My wife said that you forgot "pig;" as in shouldn't it be: "chauvinistic PIG."</p>
<p>And, yes, I suspect that many middle-aged Texas men are just like me [at least the native-born ones] . . . that's the way our wimmen likeit!</p>
<p>Besides, I thought I was defending the moms from the withering attacks of mids that no longer appreciated advice coming from those that have limited experience.</p>
<p>Oh, any my wife's comment? I mean to add that she was only able to speak after I let her out of the kitchen.</p>
<p>Well, wasn't going to jump in here, but what the heck? Bill: I didn't take your post as offensive at all. Patronizing to an extent? Yeah, a little. Truthful? Yeah, also a little. The thing is, while your post is pretty dead-on, most of the "moms" I would guess on this board are also pretty darn dynamic in their own right. We are simply multi-tasking with the "fretting mom" thing being only a small facet of our existence. So, it's pretty easy to get stirred up when this part of our lives (at least mine) is just one small part.<br>
NAPS05mom</p>
<p>We are censoring posts again unbelieveable</p>
<p>So . . . does that mean that even if the subject of a post is not terribly concerned with irrational comments, [and does not report them as possibly offensive] the posts STILL get "edited?" Maybe the poster didn't like being disagreed with? [Oops, might be too personal and subject to "editing."]</p>
<p>Maybe this belongs on that other thread: "Desparate mids housewives"</p>