<li><p>How many chews are you allowed when you eat in King Hall? Also, how do you serve yourself and know what you are eating if you can’t look at your food?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you get any offtime in your room in Bancroft? If so, during this time are you expected to be completely silent memorizing ranks and rates or can you talk and get to know your roommates some.</p></li>
<li><p>Is there a certain timelimit on how long you get to shower or use the head? Also, are you allowed to use warm water or just cold water?</p></li>
<li><p>Are there any “fun” activities or times when you get to relax?</p></li>
<li><p>What exactly IS chopping? I have an idea but not definately sure. Also, where must you chop? When must you chop? Things like that.</p></li>
<li><p>Are all the events during Plebe Summer “in the field” or do you go to lectures and learn things in a classroom type setting.</p></li>
<li><p>What happens if you get a minor injury during Plebe Summer? What happens if you get a major injury like breaking a bone?</p></li>
<li><p>Does morning PEP start easier and work its way harder or is it the same throughout? Also, what if you reach exhaustion and can’t do anymore pushups, situps, etc. when there are still remaining sets?</p></li>
<li><p>What happens if you fail to memorize the rates you were supposed to have memorized for the day, or screw them up when asked?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>My advice to you would be to wait until you get there....all will be explained/learned.</p>
<p>From SS experience, chopping is only done in the dorms on level ground (ie not when going up stairs). Basically it's bringing your knees at or above your waist. It's basically over-emphasized running in place (but you do it while walking (walking pace that is) and while sitting in place).</p>
<p>Here are a couple of answers. The rest is better experienced than explained.</p>
<p>You serve yourself food, family style, and can look at your food while so doing. "Eyes in the boat" means you shouldn't be looking at the scenery.</p>
<p>You'll have very limited free time and, yes, you can talk to your roommates.</p>
<p>You have as much time for your shower as you have time for it. It will make sense when you get there. There is plenty of hot water.</p>
<p>"Fun" is in the eye of the beholder. </p>
<p>Chopping is running. In my day, you chopped everywhere in Bancroft Hall. Thus, it is good to be on "0" deck, as chopping up & down 4 flights of stairs gets old. </p>
<p>There are lectures during plebe summer as well as validation tests, all in nicely air conditioned classrooms. </p>
<p>With a minor injury, you do your best to get back to full activities as quickly as possible. It's not good to miss most of the summer w/an injury. Major injuries depend on type and severity -- up to the medical folks.</p>
<p>PEP gets harder.</p>
<p>Okay, now for a serious question, "how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if .....". Sorry, a little levity seemed in order! </p>
<p>77 days!</p>
<p>yeah, you dont have to chop with your legs up at your waist. chopping is basically jogging, but you certainly can't do it while sitting in place or walking....as it is running. you are expected to hustle up stairs. you get half an hour of free time, during which you are frantically writing letters, taking showers, learning rates and writing your daily reports and trying to get your laundry together. you get like 2 or 3 minutes to use the bathroom...but thats for everyone in your platoon. and you can use both hot and cold water lol.</p>
<p>I think you can see a little chopping in this Navy Football clip (background of the shaving scene).</p>
<p>Whoo, boy. Here goes! Some has already been answered, so forgive the repetitions.</p>
<p>
[quote]
1. How many chews are you allowed when you eat in King Hall? Also, how do you serve yourself and know what you are eating if you can't look at your food?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Generally speaking, it's three chews and a swallow. Now, that said, this "rule" was only enforced when an Upperclassman asked you a question when you had your mouth full, and even then only when you had your mouth so full that they'd ask you a question just to see you swallow the whole mess in one gulp. Not doing so gets you razzed and such, but it's not like they're going to put you on report or anything. So long as you take human bites, you should be fine.</p>
<p>As stated above, you serve yourself family-style. The serving tray gets passed around and everyone takes their serving, remembering that they have classmates downstream. Don't be a pig.</p>
<p>"Eyes in the boat" was explained above.</p>
<p>
[quote]
2. Do you get any offtime in your room in Bancroft? If so, during this time are you expected to be completely silent memorizing ranks and rates or can you talk and get to know your roommates some.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes. But not much. No, you are never required to be silent in your room, except after taps, and even then, well, let's just say there are ways around that, too.</p>
<p>
[quote]
3. Is there a certain timelimit on how long you get to shower or use the head? Also, are you allowed to use warm water or just cold water?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Time "allowed" has already been answered. as for water temperature, this is Annapolis, not Alcatraz. Yes, you have hot water.</p>
<p>
[quote]
4. Are there any "fun" activities or times when you get to relax?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You'll find having time to relax at all is fun in itself.</p>
<p>
[quote]
5. What exactly IS chopping? I have an idea but not definately sure. Also, where must you chop? When must you chop? Things like that.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Chopping is the Plebe Transportation System. Basically it's jogging. I'm glad to see they are no longer enforcing the stupid knees-up-to-the-waist crap. (Frankly, I wish they'd ditch chopping altogether.) When I was there, chopping was required in Bancroft Hall with the exception of the Rotunda, Memorial Hall, Smoke Hall, and King Hall, and included the stairs. Thank God I was on a zero deck for Plebe Summer and Plebe Year.</p>
<p>
[quote]
6. Are all the events during Plebe Summer "in the field" or do you go to lectures and learn things in a classroom type setting.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Both.</p>
<p>
[quote]
7. What happens if you get a minor injury during Plebe Summer? What happens if you get a major injury like breaking a bone?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Navy Medicine. You'll soon learn why so many people oppose a single-payer healthcare system.</p>
<p>
[quote]
8. Does morning PEP start easier and work its way harder or is it the same throughout? Also, what if you reach exhaustion and can't do anymore pushups, situps, etc. when there are still remaining sets?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Just be in shape before you go.</p>
<p>
[quote]
9. What happens if you fail to memorize the rates you were supposed to have memorized for the day, or screw them up when asked?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You will be court-martialled and summarily executed. What do you think they use for targets at the rifle range?</p>
<p>One thing on serving yourself in King Hall...</p>
<p>Do not, ever, EVER, serve yourself something that an upperclassman has not had an opportunity to have. The serving trays go from the upperclassman down the classes to the plebes, with the poor sap in the Hot Seat going last. </p>
<p>When sitting at the table, you will be assigned one or two upperclassman to serve. Unless they've changed the arrangements, it generally goes like this:</p>
<p>Draw a rectangle with the shorter sides at the top and bottom. Draw four dots along the outside of each long leg, and two dots along the outside of each short leg. Number the two dots on top as 1, the four down the right side as 2, the two at the bottom as 3, and the four on the left as 4. This represents the classes of the folks sitting at the table.</p>
<p>The plebe at the top of the diagram is in the Hot Seat, and he is responsible for serving the two First Classmen to his left as well as answering their questions, AND the questions of the 2/c directly across from him.</p>
<p>The next plebe down is responsible for serving the 2/C at the top of the diagram and the one directly across from him, and answering questions from either. The next plebe down is responsible for serving the 2/C at the bottom of the diagram and the one directly across from him, and answering questions from either. The plebe at the bottom of the diagram is responsible for serving the two 3/C to his right and answering their questions (which will be next to nil) as well as those of the 2/c across from him and the next one up. The last seat is considered the easiest. </p>
<p>Each meal, the plebes will rotate, so everyone gets their turn in the Hot Seat. DO NOT BE STUPID and ARGUE over who gets the Hot Seat that meal or ALL HELL will rain down on your table! Too many infractions to list!</p>
<p>As soon as you sit down, start opening the drink and milk cartons, and start offering. "Sir, what would you like to drink, sir?" They'll probably ask what's available (Upperclassmen can't read. That's what Plebes are for.) You'd better know WITHOUT LOOKING. Give them the CARTON. DON'T POUR FOR THEM (used to tick off upperclassmen in my day.) Once everyone above you is served, you can serve yourself. Only Plebes pass food, so if you want something at the other end of the table simply turn to your classmate and as them to pass the salt (or whatever). You don't have to shout in their ear, either.</p>
<p>The interesting trick comes when you're in the Hot Seat and you want to, say, refill your glass, but the 3/c at the other end of the table has an empty glass because the two idiots at the end of your row haven't been paying attention. In my day, we would whisper "Glass!" to the classmate on the side where the offense was occurring to either wake him up or have him pass the word down to the offending idiot. DO NOT ASK THE GUY AT THE OTHER END OF THE TABLE IF HE WANTS HIS GLASS REFILLED UNLESS YOU ARE THE LAST PLEBE AT THE TABLE. That's considered bilging your classmate and showing off, and neither is appreciated.</p>
<p>Enjoy your meal! ;)</p>
<p>"as for water temperature, this is Annapolis, not Alcatraz. Yes, you have hot water."</p>
<p>lol, zaphod. quite funny. i was thinking the same thing.</p>
<p>I'm telling you, sometimes I wonder what some people are reading to wonder these things.</p>
<p>Hot water? :confused:</p>
<p>Sheesh.</p>
<p>Hey, at OCS we were only allowed three minutes for our "Navy Showers" (1 to wet, 1 to soap, 1 to rinse) and the water never did get hot!</p>
<p>Yeah, well, that's OCS.</p>
<p>We're talking about USNA, a REAL officer ascension program! :D</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>Here's a picture of a plebe looking for some of that warm water:</p>
<p>(I know the showers have warm water because our daughter would have let us know after either her NASS or candidate visit. The only shower complaint I heard was how little time there was for one.)</p>
<p>I am sure many (most, all, . . .) of you have seen this photo/audio essay of a plebe summer but if you haven't, it's interesting.</p>
<p>That first pic is taken in the showers in Lejeune Hall. Those do not have hot water than I can remember, as they are often left on for prolonged periods.</p>
<p>Besides, you're about to go jump in the pool. Hot water would only make it worse.</p>
<p>We did get cold during swimming lessons, though. During SCUBA lessons (which took close to three hours in the pool), we darn near froze to death.</p>
<p>A question for Zaphod: Is there anything wrong with OCS? Daughter is possibly looking into it.</p>
<p>No. My comment is simply good-natured ribbing.</p>
<p>What I would ask your daughter, though, is why she would be considering OCS when other options such as USNA and ROTC are available?</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I am not an expert of the profile of those going through OCS. For example, they may be folks who already have their degrees and wish to be officers. I honestly don't know. Depending upon circumstances, it may very well be the best option for your daughter.</p>
<p>So, the answer to your question is no, there is nothing WRONG with OCS.</p>
<p>It's just not as good as USNA. :D</p>
<p>I would recommend contacting SpiderMom, as she apparently has BTDT. </p>
<p>Poor thing. ;)</p>
<p>Well, OCS is known in some quarters as "organized chicken *****". For those coming from the fleet it is "fork and knife school". I did it many moons ago and found that to be mostly true (although I did meet my husband there so it wasn't a complete waste!). </p>
<p>When I went through, they tried to have the "upper class" train the newbies. Problem was, the so-called upper class had only been there about 8 weeks themselves. They didn't have much to offer the incoming class which included prior enlisted chiefs, SEALS, and other such worthies. I thought my company's upper class did an excellent job when I was a newbie, but my class stunk when it was our turn to lead.</p>
<p>I was on the regimental staff and the bunch of us got pulled in to talk to the CO about the system. Those of us who were priors all said we thought the AOCS model (where your company was run by a senior enlisted instead of fellow students) was better. Being led by Chiefs and Gunnies would be a lot better than trying to learn from 8 week wonders. Don't know if they've changed it or not.</p>
<p>I thought that bootcamp was harder and more prideful in many ways. OCS was only tough in that there was a mass of academic info to cram (and dump!) in a short time. OCS kids never did seem to learn to march. The Napsters used to give us a really hard time about that. Hehehe. At least we were better than the OISters.</p>
<p>In the end, you are an ensign just like those coming from other programs. I knew JOs from OCS, ROTC, and the Academy. After a point it just ceased to matter from whence you came.</p>
<p>I chose OCS bacause I was an English person, not a math/sci person. ROTC and the academies at that time had zero interest in me. After I got some technical skills as an enlisted, that changed and I got into OCS. </p>
<p>Newport was fabulous for liberty and there were an awful lot of good people there but I felt the system was flawed.</p>
<p>She will have a double degree in Science/Music. She's looking into her options for the future and so we are exploring. She is interested in either Oceanography or possibly Public Relations. Has great grades.</p>
<p>
[quote]
OCS kids never did seem to learn to march. The Napsters used to give us a really hard time about that. Hehehe. At least we were better than the OISters.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>LOL! Ain't THAT the truth!</p>
<p>The OISers couldn't figure out who to salute, either! I once got saluted by a full Commander! :o</p>
<p>OM, it certainly can't hurt for her to look, although I'd be careful about assuming an automatic assignment to oceanography. Not sure how service selection works at OCS.</p>