<p>^^^ 2011 are Youngsters!!!!!!. Congratulations to all Graduates and good luck in the future.</p>
<p>2011 are 3rd class. They don't become Youngsters until they sight the chapel dome upon returning from summer cruise.</p>
<p>I understand that the official promotion is the "old" (our age group) recognition for 3rd class and no Flocking allowed. She is on "O" Block and will not return to the Yard for a few weeks. I just wanted to give them some credit for a difficult year completed.</p>
<p>Everyone called us youngsters when we got our "youngster" boards - yes I know 3/c shoulder boards - at the class of 2010 recognition ceremony. Tradition says 3/c until you see the Chapel Dome - in reality not so much any more.</p>
<p>Yep, 69 may be technically correct, but when I asked 5 or 6 Mids about this on the Yard, the response was unanimous ... they all said they were all considered "Youngsters" once they slapped on their new boards. When I asked about the Dome notion, they all laughed and said, sorta "yea, that's the way it used to be." </p>
<p>So whatever is truth in this case, one of those things that doesn't appear to matter much unless playing "Trivial Pursuit." Go get 'em, YOUNGSTERS! GO NAVY!!</p>
<p>Just another example of things going to he11 in a handbasket.</p>
<p>well, if it helps any, think of it as "secondary, optional and conditional."</p>
<p>Class of 2008 is not history, they ahve just moved onto there next phase. They will always be the Class of 2008!</p>
<p>Yea. No one is going to follow the youngsters when seeing the chapel dome. We had to stay 4/c after herndon until graduation so that was our wait.</p>
<p>Except pay doesn't go up until July or Aug. from what I understand. So they may call themselves youngsters but they aren't being paid as one.</p>
<p>So using your rational Plebes are really not Plebes until at least July 31st since they don't get paid as a plebe until then. Try telling that to a Plebe on July 3rd!</p>
<p>Not my rational, just pointing it out. It would be nice to finally see more then 30 dollars a month coming into the bank account.</p>
<p>The fact that 2011 are "youngsters" now as opposed to seeing the chapel dome after summer cruise is really an irrelevent traditionalist view and is not a reflection of "hell in a handbasket" for the institution. There are more important things to worry about than wondering when the MIDN 3/c are officially called youngsters. I say that if you're wearing the rank, that's what you are. They have their carry-on stripe so there's really no sense arguing; they aren't plebes and that's really all that matters. Congratulations 2011!</p>
<p>As far as no kicking the shoes off during the color parade...I know I would have. If you're talking about the importance of tradition, I would have done it. I was ready to throw my hat up there with 2008...good luck to them and lets have the 2009/2010 team take over to lead the brigade.</p>
<p>This kinda brings up an interesting issue. In the past several years there has been a blurred distinction of what the true meaning of actual terms are in relation to class years. From my perspective, the terms "plebe" and "youngster" were specifically tied to being either a Midn 4/c or a Midn 3/c. As I'm sure everyone knows, '07 through '10 became "plebes no more" and youngsters within a few hours of each other. From what I can gather, back in the day the distinction with Herndon was that before Herndon you were a plebe; the Brigade collectively didn't even recognize you as Midn 4/c until you placed the cover on Herndon. Hence the term "recognition" ceremony. However, Herndon for us was just as much about not being plebes as it was about becoming youngsters. Instead of an event that recognized the plebes as being worthy of the title Midn 4/c it was more an event where we moved from plebe to youngster, which was synonymous with to us with being promoted from Midn 4/c to Midn 3/c... This is all just what I've been able to gather through the years. Any old grads wanna chime in on what the distinctions are between the different terms, because much of it is definitely lost on our generation.</p>
<p>Since my time, Midn 4/c-Plebe and Midn 3/c-Youngster have always been synonymous terms. Also, Herndon was much closer to graduation, so the 4/c vs Plebe thing would have only been for a couple of days. It hardly makes sense. Up until the early '60s, Midshipmen would embark and debark from summer cruises in the Bay adjacent to the Yard. When that ceased, sighting of the Chapel Dome was no longer relevant so I am sure that is when and why that tradition ended.</p>
<p>The Coast Guard Academy had the phrase "You're a SWAB until you see a Swab". Meaning that many of your summer duties during Eagle and Cutter cruise wll be that of a Swab(plebe).</p>
<p>So I read in reef points 2006-2007 (shh...) that there is no music allowed during plebe year. What other freedoms do midshipmen plebes have to surrender during the first two semesters in the Academy?</p>
<p>Most of 'em. :eek: ;)</p>
<p>Beauty's in the eye of the beholder, and one's perspective of "freedom" can be likewise. Most in the world would find it a walk in the park and approaching "luxury" with a cot, 3 hots, jaunty hat, and sharp threads on your back daily ... but one thing you can be sure of, is you'll not be dying your dreadlocks purple. :confused:</p>
<p>So my response would be ... "depends" </p>
<p>But you'll be allowed to go ape-poop around 15 May or so at the Herndon climb.</p>
<p>
[quote]
there is no music allowed during plebe year.
[/quote]
... not entirely true...</p>
<p>During our Mid's plebe year (once plebe summer was over for the class of 2010) .....</p>
<p>Some companies allowed an hour or two (or even an entire day) of video or music, or both, when navy beat army in football- it varies by company.</p>
<p>Also- it is my understanding some companies will allow a music chit for a designated period of time for the performance of some duty or another- usually something where they are seeking volunteers for company-related "get it done" lists. Again- all depends on company.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What other freedoms do midshipmen plebes have to surrender during the first two semesters in the Academy?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>not sure how to list all of them... </p>
<p>but here are a few "funnies" that I do recall hearing about...
-like the day our plebe lost the use of his "reef points" for calling a "she" a "sir"... tood a week before he could "earn it back."
-a week when the plebes in his company lost their "right turns".... so all they could do is make lefts....
-lost his "a$$" in a "bet" and had to "borrow it back" for nature calls and meals....and even then, was only "permitted" the first 2" of the chair!!</p>
<p>-plebes are restricted from using certain hatches and ladders, and when climbing the ones they are "permitted" to use, must stay to the outside -
-certain aisles in Kings Hall are "off limits" to plebes.... ie- the center aisle...</p>
<p>I am sure the alumni will grin and tell you how "easy" the plebes have it now-adays, with cell phones, room phones, IM, email, web-cams.... and not to rub it in too much, AIR CONDITIONING.... ;) ..... so not so bad afterall!</p>
<p>i'm probably a little late on this thread, being in Paris for a month for the USNA Language Study Abroad Program, but i had to jump in, as a female mid, a "girly girl" (what the heck does that even mean, anyways?) and a rising firstie who will be a first-set cadre. so see all you little '12ers on i-day!
"don't date in the gate"... haha i'm dying laughing. seriously have tears in my eyes. it was my understanding that the person who posted that is planning on being in the class of 2013? and has not even attended NASS yet?( not that summer scaminar gives you much, if any picture of what real life is like at the academy.)you might want to reserve your rather rash pronouncement of swearing off the female mids until you meet one, at least.
i've dated quite a few male mids, and my boyfriend just graduated in '08. i've love chitted and seen frat cases (not personally, thank god) and breakups and makeups, so i have a modicum of experience with the 'usna social scene'. my boyfriend's parents both graduated from usna, and then sent two fine boys there. goodness, female mids are not pariahs or barbie dolls. they are smart, strong women who cannot be placed in categories, just like not all male mids are either nerdy future submariners with no social skills or wannabe marines carrying protein shakes and living in the macd weightroom (hey, i'm just putting stereotypes on the table)
honestly? yeah, plebe year is probably easier with no significant other; that's because you spend most of your time trying to figure out what the heck's going on and what the menu for noon meal is, NOT because girls (or boys) are trouble or any of the other rather silly euphemisms for that are being thrown around by sage individuals.
don't swear off women or men, and never say never about anything (except drugs). remember, you may only be able to visualize getting through plebe summer at the moment, but there IS a larger picture. you will survive (well not all, but most) and you'll even get to be a real person some of the time. and no one likes the hypermotivated joe who's so busy reading 'ships and aircraft' and shining his shoes that he can't hold a normal conversation. ladies, you'll honestly have the pick of the litter when it comes to men. gentlemen...whoever you chose to go after, remember what your mothers have taught you and treat ALL women with respect, even midhounds and ESPECIALLY your classmates. you get through it together.
goodness, i'm glad to be past this dilemma. bonne chance (good luck!) to all of you. i'll simply close with a short anecdote: along with me on this trip are about five other mids. the second night here, i was eating dinner with two of them, both male, who just graduated last month and are heading to TBS shortly (marine ground). one ( a hopeless joe during his time at the academy)was relating how he had gone his entire time at the naval academy without a girlfriend, was perfectly happy and thought that his love for the marine corps would be the only romance he needed for the rest of his life. four days later, at the eiffel tower, he met his present girlfriend (an american). life is funny.</p>