<p>Would like to hear from CURRENT Midshipmen on this one. Did you have the REEF POINTS before I-Day? What are your thoughts on a Plebe-to-be having it before I-Day?</p>
<p>Not wanting quoted regulations on this one, just your thoughts and opionions on this issue. Much appreciated!</p>
<p>I had Reef Points before I-Day cuz my rents got it for me for Christmas. When you get the permit to report packet I think there is a list in there of general things to know before you arrive (mission, ranks, etc..). Know that list. You get asked sutff in your first five minutes in Bancroft. As for knowing things from reef points in advance, its kind of hard unless you know what things to know. You also have to be careful with memorizing too much of it because you run the risk of "bilging your classmates" and knowing things when they dont. I only memorized the list they sent and I knew a few other things from jrotc. I had read reef points enough times tho that it was probably easier for me to memorize once I had to.</p>
<p>Its funny....reef points was really cool before the summer haha. </p>
<p>If your plebe to be DOES get RP before I-day, practice putting it in and out of your pocket as fast as humanly possible :)</p>
<p>The one they have for sale right now is an 06/07 version. Good info., but the rates may be different. Have you seen it online in the Navy store?</p>
<p>I was going to get the boy one when we were there this past summer, but I thought I may jinx him, so I got him a little stuffed "Bill the Goat" instead and gave that to him when he received his appt.</p>
<p>We got a USNA license plate for ours.</p>
<p>Okay, maybe that would have been more appropo., but the little stuffed Billy was so cute and it was looking at me with these cute little eyes and he was just sooooo cute.</p>
<p>Okay, I'll order a license plate :p</p>
<p>Once again this is question that comes up every year, as new families join into these discussions....the prevailing wisdom is mixed on this one. Some Plebes, like my daughter absolutely did NOT want any early coaching. Her thoughts were that she needed to find her own stress as they plan for it to be experienced and 'boning up' early defeats the whole point. Others, especially those from NAPS or prior enlisted already come with an advantage over high school graduate Plebes and so no matter what the playing field will never be level anyway.</p>
<p>I think it is a matter for the upcoming Plebe to decide, not the parent and remember no matter what you think you know come I-Day you WILL NOT know everything and you WILL be unable to think of the answers the way they are asking them when you are under the planned stresses of Plebe Summer.</p>
<p>Be careful getting a Reef Points before I-Day, some of the information changes and peskemom's daughter was correct in her thinking that there's a reason why you don't get the information early. One thing we heard a lot of before our son went into the Academy in 04 was that showing up your shipmates (other than those Plebes coming from the fleet or NAPS) was not looked kindly upon by the upperclassmen.</p>
<p>Would love to hear what more Current Midshipman have to say! :) Thanks!</p>
<p>MOM2 only a few current come on here as this too is one of those sites that they are not encouraged to visit, so the current info will come mostly from the current parents.</p>
<p>Mine will tell you to not bother for exactly what Peskemom states...you will be unable to recite the answers the way they are looking for them. It's an exercise in managing stress and processing mountains of information in very limited time. Learning it early will not help you with that task.</p>
<p>Just make sure you have memorized what the permit to report has asked you to do.</p>
<p>Also atrmom brings up a really good point about not showing up your shipmates. Let those coming from the fleet or Naps lead the way.</p>
<p>Well you are definitely the authority. Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Here's an example of a chow call...this is what the Plebes will do all year long starting during Plebe Summer. Mind you, this is a Second Class who lost a bet on a football game but you'll get the idea. This guy's a friend of my son's!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M733CaXWnJ4%5B/url%5D">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M733CaXWnJ4</a></p>
<p>This is why so many Plebes come down with Plebe Hack during the summer. Their poor throats take a beating!!</p>
<p>Well that was exhausting.</p>
<p>You're not kidding...imagine doing it for three meals a day!! My son was sick from the beginning of Plebe Summer until Christmas break!! They can't bring vitamins with them but make sure they take the ones they're given!</p>
<p>Hi. I'm a current pleber here, and here's my advice about memorizing Reef Points: I would at least read through Reef Points and be familiar with its general layout and content. If you want to memorize stuff, memorize the military stuff: 11 General Orders, Articles of the Code of Conduct, Ranks, and especially the mission. Remember, your priors already know the general orders and the code of conduct and that sort of stuff and that's where they have their advantage, knowledge-based. I would NOT memorize the Academy stuff (Man in the Arena, Qualifications, Laws of the Navy, etc) because there will be plenty of time and concurrent stress during the summer to memorize that long-winded stuff. Later in the summer (and through the rest of the Ac Year) you have your daily rates which consist of menus, articles, days, 4-stripers, pro knowledge, OOW, MOOW, etc...don't worry about "not learning how to memorize" if you come here knowing the basic military rates: that will help you (and you'll be able to help your classmates too), and you'll be doing plenty of memorizing regardless. It's part of the system. Lastly, if you do come here with stuff memorized, like everyone else has said, don't make it obvious that you know it. Play along like everyone else and you'll be fine. Hope this helps, and good luck. As much as you candidates can't wait to get here, neither can I ;)</p>
<p>Mine lost the caugh over semester break but it has reappeared. I figure it will be with him until summer. He has had a good experience with the medical care on the yard. They gave him stuff for a bad chest cold and it knocked it out of him. Roommates probably appreciated it more than me.</p>
<p>My son's Plebe year roommates were great. He came down with pneumonia during Army/Navy and his roommates would give me medical updates if he was sleeping when I called to check on him.</p>
<p>I had the cough until just before spring break....hang on, it does go away!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also atrmom brings up a really good point about not showing up your shipmates. Let those coming from the fleet or Naps lead the way.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I disagree with this, and I doubt things have changed so much as to make me reconsider.</p>
<p>To begin, while prior-enlisted and NAPSters are expected to lead their classmates and provide assistance and good examples, they are not in any way given the leeway to bilge a classmate. Quite the contrary; they are expected to know better.</p>
<p>As for bilging in general: If you are asked a rate and you know the answer, it's not bilging your classmate UNLESS (and this is where things may have changed) you correctly answer a rate that your classmate just got wrong without first asking permission to help your classmate.</p>
<p>Examples:</p>
<p>Bilging your classmate:</p>
<p>Upperclassman: "Mr. Gish, how many days until I graduate?"
MIDN Gish: "Sir! 265 days, sir!"
Upperclassman: "Wrong! Mr. Door, how many days until I graduate?"
MIDN Door: "Sir, there are 267 days until you graduate, sir!"
Upperclassman: "NICE BILGE, MR. DOOR! I'M SURE MR. GISH APPRECIATED THAT!"</p>
<p>Non-Bilging:</p>
<p>Upperclassman: "Mr. Gish, how many days until I graduate?"
MIDN Gish: "Sir! 265 days, sir!"
Upperclassman: "Wrong! Mr. Door, how many days until I graduate?"
MIDN Door: "Sir, request permission to help my classmate."
Upperclassman: "Help your clueless classmate."
MIDN Door: "Sir, there are 267 days until you graduate, sir!"
Upperclassman: "Very well."</p>
<p>See the difference? </p>
<p>Now, in the absence of a classmate having gotten the same question wrong before you, you are not in any way bilging your classmates if you are asked a question and you know it, as that's your job. Where it can become a problem is if you start announcing that you know the stuff before you have been required to. Best to keep that as a secret weapon in your back pocket. If you let it out you may be tagged as a smack, and that's the LAST thing you want to be tagged as!</p>
<p>Perhaps the current mids can confirm or correct the whole helping-your-classmate thing, but I think tha general point will still be valid.</p>
<p>haha yes...the quotes are pretty accurate too</p>