<p>After having spoken with a few midshipmen over the holiday break, discrepancies have always surfaced about what items are rated to plebes during the academic year. Although some midshipmen claim to have received certain advantages over others depending on their company, what exactly do plebes rate and what exactly can I expect to have during the academic year i.e. can I bring my macbook with me for personal use while at the Academy or am I confined to my assigned desktop? Any help clarifying this would be awesome.</p>
<p>We brought our son's laptop on PPW and left it at sponsor's house. He got it a week later, when he found out that he could have it. It can not be connected to their network. He has movies and music on it. He was happy to have it for the few times he has rated media. Would have been better if he could have used speakers. He has had to use headphones because plebes in his company do not rate speakers. Everything is subject to company rules.</p>
<p>Plebes rate very little- they get fed, they get a rack, they get uniforms and books, they get air and water and shelter. Everything else is "secondary, optional and conditional," and will be earned as they go....it ALL depends on them, their company, their progress. </p>
<p>Laptops- bringing on PPW would be the way to go as USNA2010MOM pointed out, but with the idea of leaving it at your sponsors home. No connecting to the internet at the academy- a huge violation of Mid Regs- you will be using your assigned desktop like everyone else. </p>
<p>At some point after plebe summer you will get the internet and the ability to IM friends and family- you might even rate a web cam by christmas (plan on getting one for the folks on the other end)- just remember that everything else aside from food, water and shelter are privilages that are earned, and thus, can be taken away.</p>
<p>The computer generation has created so much more "stuff" that can be earned or taken away. In my day, about the only thing you couldn't have that you really wanted as a plebe was a stereo/radio. In this respect, at least, it may be "harder" to be a plebe now b/c there is so much more that you want & can't have.</p>
<p>Bring......nothing. You are dreaming too big with this laptop fantasy. Just bring photos, memories, some songs/tunes in your head, and HYDRATE!</p>
<p>^^^^Huh? Sorry wb12 I have to disagree...
Plebe summer yes - academic year - bring your laptop. You may have to store it in a youngster room if it has music or movies but otherwise for most companies it will be ok unless a fellow company plebes get laptops taken away. Almost everyone I know had a laptop by Second semester plebe year. If you are in a traveling Varsity sport or the D&B you will need a laptop to stay up with work while on movement for away events. The biggest thing is and this goes for all Midshipmen - we cannot connect a non USNA issued computer to a DoD network.</p>
<p>My mid uses his laptop to do homework while on the road with sports. However I noticed it here at home the other day- it did not go back after Christmas. Something about too much distraction.</p>
<p>Yea sorry guys, I wasn't trying to be overly pretentious... I mean Plebe summer is going to be intense as is without worrying about Academic year, but I was just trying to clarify somethings for the parentals. my question is really on rating items, not just a laptop. Are we allowed to keep food in our rooms (granola bars for morning runs during plebe summer) stuff like that. Any thing I can tell my parents to send in care packages I think we kinda ease their minds a little (I personally plan on roughing it). What are chits and how do we go about rating items this way?</p>
<p>Your parents can send food items to you in "Care packages" during plebe summer- in fact, many parents mail the first box out as soon as they deliver you to the yard and get your alpha number and mailing address! You many not get the package delivered to you right away, but you will get it eventually.</p>
<p>The best advice I can offer is to have your parents send your first 2 care packages in a shoe-box sized tupper-ware type box with a sealed lid.... that you can keep food items stored in (you have a limited amount of space in your con locker) and keep them fresh and out of reach for the mice (who enjoy food left out in the open). From there, your parents can pack up food items in the flat rate boxes, which you can then transfer to your plastic boxes. </p>
<p>What items to send are up to you, but for plebe summer limit them to "healthy" snacks- granola bars, cereal bars, dried or canned fruit.... the list can be extensive depending on what you like- but candy and other "junk" may be confiscated, so avoid those items. The only exception to this seems to be "home baked" items (cookies, brownies)- guess even the cadre appreciate home baked things!!!! Just be sure you remind your parents to bake and send a lot, and don't be surprised if your cadre "insist" you "share" with your company! It's all good!</p>
<p>If you do a search on the USNA forum, using "care packages," you will get a whole list of suggested items. </p>
<p>Chits- for plebe summer, forget about chits.<br>
When the academic year starts, if you are in good standing with your PRT, academically and with your professional knowledge, you "may" rate a chit.... it will all depend on your company, and the variation is great. You will figure it out when you get there like everyone else- and that type of gouge gets readily shared! </p>
<p>Don't worry about "roughing it".... no need for that type of macho mindset.... and you just might welcome some love from home now and again! There are no extra points earned for "roughing it."</p>
<p>As the Parent of a current Plebe, I'd like to add a few clarifications.</p>
<p>About "chits:" "Chits" are requests for permission to do XXX. During Plebe Summer, if you get hurt, you would need a chit to miss a day of PEP, for instance, or if restricted to quarters for illness, you would need a chit to close the door to your room. Other than those types of things or a death in the family, forget about chits during Plebe Summer, as 2010 said.</p>
<p>About care packages: You absolutely do need the plastic sealed boxes, if you want to keep critters out of your food. Keep in mind that you will open every care package in front of your whole company, so you do NOT want anything other than food, greeting cards, etc. Healthy food is usually allowed, but even PowerBars were confiscated in some companies this summer. Just go with the flow. Once you see what's getting through and what's being removed, try to let your parents/friends know. Once Ac year starts, you will pick up and open your own packages, so you can have a bit of junk food then, but you'll have to be careful not to gain too much weight.</p>
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As the Parent of a current Plebe, I'd like to add a few clarifications.
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<p>LOL....
well, unfortunately plebes don't rate clarifications-
just "yes, sir" and "no Ma'am"....
everything else is on a "need to know" basis, subject to the whims of the upperclass to determine just what that will be!</p>
<p>Hang in 2012mom- the class of 2013 is already forming, and it won't be too much longer until "plebes no more!!!!" :)</p>