Some advice for you parents...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
41

<p>I've never heard of any such restrictions.</p>

<p>Leave it to California. :rolleyes:</p>

<p>You know, you might be able to save yourself some bucks and throw some variety into the mix by doing what my roommate's mother (and candidate for the Mom of the Century Award) did.</p>

<p>There is a sandwich shop somewhere in town that makes great sandwiches, and will deliver boxes with a sandwich, chips, and anything else on their menu. KILLER! I just wish to heck I could remember what the name was. You call it in, give the mid's name and company, and PRESTO!</p>

<p>As for King Hall, is the food not considered any good now? Back when I was in, it was gourmet-level (especially after a year of Ney Hall food at NAPS! :(). We remember a slight decline while we were there, but that may have had just as much to do with boredom with the menu than actual decline.</p>

<p>I do miss Beat Army cakes, though! :(</p>

42

<p>"I do find it difficult to accept how someone can wear the uniform and belong to a party that seems to be doing everything possible to ensure that our enemies are propped up and that we fail."</p>

<p>Perhaps its because they understand that as members of the US Military, it is service to their country they perform, not to a political ideology or party. They also recognize that there are a significant number of highly decorated former military men and women on both sides of the aisle---all of them Patriots, all of them willing to protect and defend our country, who engage in discussion and debate that makes our nation stronger by its very nature. There are enough ideologues for both sides to point to as "over the edge" but they do not represent the majority of either party. I don't think the majority of Republicans are hard core right-wingers nor do i think the majority of Democrats are red flag waving traitors. Both extremes fear the moderates hence their desire to paint America into two corners, two extremes, one which must just naturally be "right" and the other "wrong". Perhaps it's time for the moderates to take back control of both their partys! The road we are on now is devisive and distinctly "un-American".
Good discussion, thanks!</p>

43

<p>crab cakes.
I'd live on crab cakes if I were there. "Mail food" is costly I know. Then they get bored with that and want to try new things. Not much out there one can do with hot water so Jamz wanted me to send him a can of sterno to heat up cans of ravioli. I told him that the food in jail would be worse and I had no desire to share it with him. Yes indeedie! My kid is brilliant! Its minds like these that will be leading the way someday. I'd better check with the chem prof. to see if he's missing any alcohol burners from the lab.</p>

44

<p>"Concensus is the absence of leadership" - Margaret Thatcher.</p>

<p>I don't go for moderates. The middle-of-the-roaders simply get run over in both directions, and usually have a yellow stripe down their backs.</p>

<p>I'm sorry to say that the GOP is not nearly right-wing enough for me, and the moderates in the DNC (are there any left?) have been ground underfoot by those traitors you mention. Proof? Look how far the ONE reasonable democrat (Joe Leiberman) got in the last election. Hint: He was decimated before he even got started, because the freaks want us to cut and run, and he thinks we need to stay.</p>

<p>I can respect an honest difference of opinion, so long as the goal is common. It isn't. The left has decided that they want America to retreat. In other words, to LOSE. You don't see conservative professors saying we deserved 9/11 or GOP senators comparing our troops to Pol Pot and the Nazis.
You DO see it on the other side.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, our kids are being shot at by people who just LOVE to hear Nancy Pelosi call the CINC a liar. (Funny how she didn't vote to pull the troops immediately when she had the chance, despite the fact she's been demanding just that for over three months.).</p>

<p>No, there is no honesty, and the ones paying for it aren't the pointy-headed intellectuals in their ivory towers, or the fatcat politicians, or the long-haired banner-waving nutcases at MoveOn.org. It's the kids in uniform who are doing their job and doing it EXTREMELY WELL and getting ZERO credit for it from half their nation.</p>

<p>Sorry, but that just infuriates me, and I'll call it when I see it.</p>

45

<p>Hey Zaphod, Which of the years is the most difficult for the Mids? Not just academically, but overall? and Why?</p>

<p>BTW, you really don't want to get the Alaska contingent started on the whole political issue! I just deleted a whole rant, but mine, too, turned down an NROTC full ride to Berkeley. We were very certain that he was in the right place when he complained that the USNA profs were too liberal! ;) </p>

<p>If you remember why the Academy Parents Forum was started, it was because the other forums were so anti-military and there was no place on this site where parents could talk about the academies without being flamed. If you look back through the thread, Zaphod was expressing an opinion, born of his experience. It was not political until someone else decided to politicize it. Zaphod even said "Don't get me started." I believe it would have died there without further mention. But no... We are here to support all parents military. Let it go. </p>

<p>BTW, thanks, Zaphod, for all that you have done, and that I, for one, hope that you will continue to do, for us and for our young mids and cadets.</p>

<p>Oh, and IMHO USNA is the world's best public university!;)</p>

46

<p>I had one of those hot-pot heaters for water when I was a plebe. Worked great for Ramen noodles and soups. Once you're un upperclassman, you can use the microwave in the wardroom kitchen area.</p>

<p>Right? :confused:</p>

<p>Don't tell me they changed that, too!</p>

<p>Another option is Steerage, obviously, but that gets old really quick, and is not conducive to a trim waistline.</p>

47

<p>Momof1,</p>

<p>First, thank you for your support. It is sincerely appreciated. I consider those who wear the uniform, especially these days, as near gods, and I BROOK NO BS when it comes to supporting them. Obviously you've seen the "new" patriotism first-hand. Wonderful, isn't it? :rolleyes:</p>

<p>As for what I'm doing, it's no biggie. A guy on a keyboard speaking his mind. I'm just glad I can help.</p>

<p>To answer your question (which year is the toughest), that's REALLY a loaded question. There is no definitive answer, but I think you can break down the experience into three categories:</p>

<p>1) Plebe Year. While not necessarily a killer academically, the fact you have to do all the other Plebe stuff REALLY stresses you out. Each mid reacts differently. Some thrive, others fail. I had a roommate who was simply brilliant. Kid could derive the formulas in Chemistry, so he didn't need to memorize them. Unreal. Sadly, he came apart emotionally under the stresses of plebe year. He went so bad that he actually SMELLED sick. He quit. Others soar through academically and suffer professionally, or vice-versa. Some do a mix.</p>

<p>2) 3/c and 2/c years. These are the killers academically. EE, steam, the heavier courses for engineers, etc. Otherwise, you coast. The dangerous thing (and I speak from experience) is that you may fall into the trap of spending so much time dreaming about being a pilot, or a SEAL, or a nuke, that you drop the ball academically and then blow your chances at your dream.</p>

<p>3) 1/c year. Probably the easiest, simply because the heavier class loads have already passed. For example, during Plebe Year I was taking (IIRC) about 24-26 credit hours plus all the non-academic stuff. 1/c year I had 18 and 16. The thing is, you've got graduation coming up, and all that entails.</p>

<p>Needless to say, if you are physically fit, it makes it WAY easier. PT was always a bear for me, except in swimming, where I was a shark. Go figure.</p>

<p>So there it is, sort of. It's very difficult to quantify because each group has it's expectations, responsibilities, and requirements. As one eases off, another takes its place.</p>

<p>Don't know if that answers your question.... :confused:</p>

<p>Oh, and don't worry about me going anywhere. So long as I can be of some use, I'll stand my ground. The way I see it, they're going to war for me, so I owe them.</p>

<p>And yes, USNA is the finest public university on planet earth, bar none! :)</p>

48

<p>Yes! That is right! Our son uses the wardroom microwave as needed. </p>

<p>This year the Commandant (Who my husband served with on the USS Calhoun-small Navy!) decided that Youngsters can no longer sit and eat in Steerage. Just take-out. They lost MANY youngsters this year over the changes to the youngster rates.</p>

49

<p>Changes to youngster rates? Youngsters have rates?</p>

<p>As for carry-out only, that doesn't surprise me. I can dig it. They have to learn that they must EARN their priveleges. RHIP, and RHIR, and all that.</p>

50

<p>That's what my husband told ours. Get over it. Every time you have a change in command the world as you know it ceases to be. Well, okay, maybe not that bad.. but you get the point.</p>

51

<p>That's not as unreasonable as you might think. When the guy at the top changes, all hell can (and usually does) break lose.</p>

<p>Happens out here in CIVCENT, too. :(</p>

<p>You're not telling me Youngsters actually QUIT over that, are you? :eek:</p>

52

<p>Many, many many (10 character rule!)</p>

53

<p>"Concensus is the absence of leadership" - Margaret Thatcher.</p>

<p>That could have just been easily said by Adolf Hitler or Sadaam Hussein.
Too many pithy quotes thrown about these days without much attachment to their real implications. Absolute power and leaders who always get "their way" can result in either good OR evil, which is why we don't operate that way. Its the reason we don't just have FOX news on the airwaves.</p>

54

<p>shogun: thank you for your thoughtful and articulate contributions to this thread.</p>

<p>While I'm absolutely supportive of differing opinions (and believe that diversity of thought is as important as any other measure of diversity in a democratic society) I am a bit concerned about the impact that some of the recent posting on this board may have on the young men and women who are looking to CC for information that can help them make the decision whether the military academy experience is right for them. </p>

<p>Descriptions of life at NAPS and USNA in the 80's and early 90's are interesting from a historical perspective, but should not necessarily be taken as relevant to today's Academy experience. Nor should the politics of any individuals who have attended the Academy be considered as representative of those of the student body at USNA as a whole.</p>

<p>Many of the harsh experiences that Alumni have generously shared about their own personal history at USNA and NAPS would be grounds for separation today under the "no hazing" policies. I, for one, believe that the Academies have not been diminished by this, but rather have learned to approach leadership training in a new, and equally (if not more) effective way.</p>

<p>In the same vein, I would encourage readers of books such as "A Sense of Honor" (the USNA experience in the '60's) and "First Class" (about the first class of women in the late 70's) always bear in mind that these are wonderful historical records, but defer always to current or recent graduates to understand the experience that they are considering. I only wish that current students at USNA had more time on their hands to participate in boards such at this!</p>

55

<p>I just hope they don't make it TOO easy.</p>

<p>I remember the first class that really got given a free ride: 1994. The result? The cheating scandal where not only did the turds cheat, but rather than being men about it they ran off and hired lawyers.</p>

<p>I'm not into hazing, but I do believe that there is something to be said for making the flame as hot as possible. You get stronger steel that way. IMO, Plebe Summer should be akin to SEAL BUDS, and Plebe Year an extremely intensive submersion in leadership and technical skills. Some of the stupid stuff (chopping, bracing, etc.) is of questionable value, IMO. There are ways of maintaining discipline without turning them into caricatures.</p>

<p>I remember right after I graduated they began stationing senior enlisted personnel either in each Battalion (minimum) or each company. BRILLIANT idea! Back in my day we had ENTIRELY too little contact with the people we were going to be leading, and as such took way too much of the BS from the Hall into the Fleet with us, to the detriment of our reputation and effectiveness. I hope they are still doing that, if not expanding it.</p>

56

<p>I only have one political question, is it a holiday tree or a christmas tree? If that can be agreed upon, we can have a wonderful discussion about everytihing no matter democrat or republican. Sorry , thats my bee in my bonnet in Oregon.</p>

57

<p>It's a CHRISTMAS tree!</p>

<p>Another pet peeve of mine! :mad:</p>

58

<p>In Oregon it is not only a Christmas Tree, but an endangered, old growth habitat for all sorts of critters that otherwise would be dinner.</p>

59

<p>Okay, here is a question . . . </p>

<p>Why does the sky look blue?</p>

<p>How you answer it will speak volumes</p>

60

<p>The blue color of the sky is due to Rayleigh scattering. As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. Little of the red, orange and yellow light is affected by the air. </p>

<p>However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Whichever direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches you. Since you see the blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue. </p>

<p>Duh</p>