Plebe Summer Care Packages

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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<p>The only thing I had my mom/dad send me was powerbars and letters/news from back home. I totally agree with grad/dad.</p>

<p>This morning an enlisted guy told his story of how he had creatine without any water and that caused him kidney damage. His kidneys never will be the same and he has to go see the doc quite often to ensure that his kidneys are healthy. Those who take creatine need 2x the amount of water that a person not taking creatine needs.</p>

<p>Also, about two weeks ago, a sailor became brain-dead from taking some type of "supplement."</p>

<p>To add to this...Navy has a strict policy on steroids/supplements -- if it is found in your body, regardless of whether you knew about the product or not -- you are automatically separated. Just because products are sold in GNC, doesn't mean that they are FDA approved...additionally, the product could contain some type of ingredient that is banned by DoD or DON.</p>

<p>Be careful what you take. There are certain products that are safe, just know which those are. Personally, you can get away with gatorade and "powerbars" (in quotes because I'm not referring to the brand).</p>

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<p>i just asked my son what was the best thing that he received from home during the summer. i expected him to say powerbars or spare socks. he said letters. be sure to write to your plebes regularly. some wrote daily, i only wrote every other day. dad wrote to him about once a week.</p>

<p>his favorite kind of card was the kind that plays music. since they weren't allowed "media," music cards were the only kind of music they could hear. this lasted for my son through the academic year. no one questioned him as to why he received so many birthday cards. ;-)</p>

1 Like
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<p>
[quote]
For the flag, would a flag patch work? or what size/type of flag is recommended?

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<p>Our parent's club handed out small American Flags..... 2.5"x4" - and told the plebes to place them in their wallets, and put them out on their desks as soon as they get to their rooms.</p>

<p>You can purchase one of these in the Gift Shop- not even $1.25 for them... just take the flag part off the "stick" if you want to fold it into your wallet---- (some mids purchase the stand for 35cents at the gift shop that will allow you to display your flag "upright")...either way will work.</p>

<p>Sorry I did not explain the mutiny charge earlier...but as you can see, the custom is alive and well on the Mothership!!!!</p>

<p>
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Believe me, not having a bleach pen in a care package is not the end of the world.

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<p>No, it's not.
And in the big scheme of things, you are right- it really doesn't matter.
But the newbies don't realize this yet- and everything comes in time.
So if it makes mom and dad feel better to send a care package, put together with some TLC to offer some encouragement and support to their new plebe, so be it. I cried many a tear packing those care packages, and seeing how I sent a lot of them to my plebe (and to a few "unclaimed" ones thanks to the Chaplins) I probably cried me a river!!!!!!</p>

<p>You may want to make them warriors the day they walk through Gate 1, but this is a new experience for many families. To me, my Mid will always be my son first and foremost---- and as much as I bleed Blue and Gold, no Navy in the world will ever change that.</p>

<p>Now leave us moms alone, and let us get back to packing. It may not be necessary, it may even be frivilious, and it will neither make or break our sons and daughters. Truth is, those care packages dwindle down with each passing year, no doubt the way it should be.
But give parents a bit of time to adjust.
We get there.... eventually.</p>

<p>As quoted from the President of the Class of 2008 at this year's graduation:</p>

<p>
[quote]
"The only difference between a mom of a Midshipman and a pit bull is that the pit bull eventually lets go!"

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<p>Say what you will, he brought the house down!!!! :)</p>

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<p>navy2010 - Great quote. Thanks for your post.</p>

<ul>
<li>a new USNA2012 Mom</li>
</ul>

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<p>navy2010: Just make sure you are not the Mom that writes his first Commanding Officer to make sure that he will be treated correctly when he reports to the ship. True story, and it was an Ensign (not USNA).</p>

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<p>So tell me why the Chaplains office puts out a word to have care packages sent to them so they can deliver to any plebe whose family can not send a package if the Academy did not want care packages? </p>

<p>Why do we have our school children regularly write letter to those serving?</p>

<p>It really is not about the bleach pens or helicopter parenting. It is more about an act of kindness to bring a smile to a new Plebe or a soldier in harms way.</p>

<p>As for when my Mid was a Plebe - a letter every single day. Each letter contained a few pictures, brief news from our local area, tidbit from LeTour a joke and a word of encouragement. Not long letters at all. If you ask him today what got him through Plebe Summer, he will tell you the letters.</p>

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<p>"Why do we have our school children regularly write letter to those serving?"</p>

<p>i would guess that it is the same reason as to what you just stated-"If you ask him today what got him through Plebe Summer, he will tell you the letters." but i am just guessing, i am a long way from attending one of the academys</p>

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<p>Nothing really needs to be sent other than letters. Seriously you're given absolutely everything you could need. I have so much excess from buying stuff and getting sent stuff. You're given tide pens, you're given mor ethan enough socks to motivate, you're given envelopes, stamps, and tons of paper. I looked forward to packages but i love the letters. Even the flag was a waste, I've never heard of anyone actually getting in trouble for 'mutiny.' And over plebe summer there isn't a lot of congregating in rooms, not a lot of time for it. Another pain in the ass thing about getting sent stuff is having to carry it across bancroft when you have to move to your acyear rooms. So you don't really need anything.</p>

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<p>Last year, I used the possibility of contacting my mid's CO as a bargaining chip - as in, "If you don't write a thank-you note/come home by 2 a.m./call home on Sundays, I am going to call the C.O./Supe/Dant and complain about the food in King Hall."</p>

<p>Of course, this guaranteed immediate, unquestioning compliance. And, of course, I'd never actually DO something so silly - :)</p>

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<p>hahaha!!! that is seriously really funny!!!! that sounds like somithing my mom would do too! thank god you wouldent, my mom probably would! lol!!!</p>

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<p>I think that the overwhelming desire of the parents on this board is to provide for their children; whether it is in the form of bleach pens, or Advil, or Power Bars. That is what the care packages are about.</p>

<p>Now, having said that, there is one thing you can give to your sons and daughters this summer: the opportunity to figure things out for themselves. When they get a blister, or a headache, or a stain on their whites, they should be responsible for finding the bandaids, Advil, or Tide bleach pen. </p>

<p>This relinquishing of control, the acceptance that some things were going to happen to my son that I could not fix - this was the hardest lesson I learned last summer. I just trusted that the USNA, which put all that time and effort into programs (NASS, BGOs, etc.) would take care of him when absolutely necessary. And my trust was well-placed.</p>

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<p>Something that is not part of a care package, but is much more important to think about: what do you say to your Mid if they decide USNA is not for them? All the discussions show a lot of interest put forward by the parents. But, is attending Navy or any SA really what your son or daughter wants? Just something to think about should you ever get the call. And, some of you will. Hopefully, if this is what they want all will be successful.</p>

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<p>TXinAK, in response to having under armour compression shorts for PEP, they will not be allowed. Regardless of what "they" tell you, anything and everything you bring with you on I-day will most likely be taken away in the first couple of hours, including the clothes on your back. They will make a point of making everyone look the same, so even if you were allowed to bring some underwear or socks, they would not let you wear it, and if you did wear it, and got caught, they would make a spectacle out of you. The best advice I got before plebe summer was to only bring three things: myself, my cellphone and charger, and running shoes. All the other stuff people brought was thrown in a room for 6 weeks. And really, you will be issued everything you could possibly need. They will give you a toothbrush, shaving cream, a razor, shampoo... etc. I heard of one kid that came to i-day in a bathrobe, and when he changed into white works, left his bathrobe in alumni hall! And those whitie-tighties get to be normal after about 6 weeks... They will probably be the least of your worries.</p>

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<p>i like the bathrobe idea, my squad leader at NASS said if you really wanted to beat the system you'd shave your head and let it tan, so you could bypass the barber shop and wouldn't sunburn your head! he also suggested getting no sleep and getting listening to very loud music, so you'd be used to the lack of sleep and the screaming of the detailers.</p>

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<p>I've been practicing carrying a 90lb bag up and down my staircase over and over again. Also, I made a makeshift obstacle course in my backyard and have been averaging about 2 hours of sleep a night for the past 4 months. I memorized the past 8 years editions of Reef Points, cover to cover, along with the entire pro-book. I moved into my laundry room, putting a bed on top of the washer/dryer to simulate a bunk rack, and I have my mom play a bugle at 5:30 am and yell "reveille, reveille!".</p>

<p>I'm soo ready. Yes, I will be "that guy".</p>

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<p>haha that would be really funny if you were to come in a bathrobe on i-day! but for the guys it really does sound like a good idea to shave + tan your head before they do it!
do they really allow cell phones at the academy?</p>

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<p>
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do they really allow cell phones at the academy?

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<p>For Plebe Summer they take it away from you and give it back twice for like 5 minutes to call your parents.</p>

<p>During the academic year, you can have a cell phone, you just have to obey the policies about them, like don't have them on in class and you can't walk and talk in uniform.</p>

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<p>Did you seriously memorize all of Reef Points?</p>

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<p>No, JayBee is just joking around.</p>

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<p>If none of these items are needed, (socks, underwear, toiletries....) why do they tell you to bring them? It's in the booklet that came with the PTR packet.</p>