<p>A couple of questions about the NASS and AIM sessions - my son will be attending both this summer.<br>
First - paperwork states they are not allowed cell phones. My son is flying alone to both and I would really like him to have his cell phone while traveling. Is it allowed for him to have it but turn it off and stow it while at the Academy??
Second - any other useful items to bring other than the official list provided?
Third - parents are invited to the last day of these sessions - is it worth the trip (from Ohio) for us to go?<br>
Thanks!!</p>
<p>I agree that he should have the cell phone for travel purposes. He will likely be able to stow it. Perhaps some former NASS or AIM attendees can address this question. Also, the list was fairly comprehensive and my daughter took way too much extra stuff to IAW because I thought she should be prepared for anything. I don't know about the other academies, but WP made a point of saying that the ceremony is not at all important for parents to attend. It's really just a 1-week summer program. Save your trips as he may do overnight visits during his senior year that you can attend. You'll be much more heavily invested in the decision-making process at that point and I think the trip will be more valuable.</p>
<p>Congrats to your son on being accepted into 2 summer programs. They are very competitive. Welcome to cc and we hope you stick around - especially to let us know how he enjoyed the programs.</p>
<p>We were able to drive up to Annapolis to get our daughter after NASS. It wasn't much of a ceremony; I agree with momoftwins. Save your travel for a later visit. </p>
<p>The one thing our daughter was really happy to have at Bancroft Hall was a small electric fan. There was no A/C in her room and it was 95 degrees that week. They issue them a stack of t-shirts and other clothes. Good running shoes are a must! They have a social event one evening, so he might like to have something other than shorts or jeans to wear. </p>
<p>Good luck and tell him to have fun! A sense of humor is key to enjoying the experience.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies...I did think of a fan - after summer sports camps in non-A/C dorms, that's a must. The CGA even suggests that he starts acclimating himself to heat by turning off/down the A/C. (Just in his bedroom!!) He was really nervous waiting for CGA, it just came this week and they had record number of applications - maybe Katrina gave CG extra attention. Should be a busy summer for him - mission trip to DC in-between academy sessions. If anyone has more advice, it's welcome!</p>
<p>He may want to bring his water-wings to CGA...it has rained 13 days in a row so far...but seriously congrats to him and good luck from a CGA parent.</p>
<p>At the USAFA summer seminar, they really didn't care about your stuff. If it does not cause them problems, they probably will not mind. So just keep it off and out of sight. My unofficial opinion.</p>
<p>I packed way to much for summer sem.
Advice to your son: ask lots of questions. He cannot know "too much" about the academies.</p>
<p>Then again, USAFA summer seminar was a lot more relaxed than either AIM or (apparently) NASS, so that could be a reason why the cadets at USAFA didn't care about the personal stuff. But at AIM we basically took our personal bag and stowed it in our locker for the entire week because at AIM you don't really need a whole lot of stuff--they give you clothes, water bottle, knowledge book, food...etc.</p>
<p>And I'd like to ditto the "ask lots of questions" comment. It really is critical that your son learn about the academy and the service because that will be most important in his decision (probably). However, he also needs to keep in mind that (AIM in particular) is a representation of only the first summer there, and is not necessarily representative of the whole academy experience. He needs to just take everything in stride and look for the bigger picture and ask bigger picture questions, I think (hindsight is 20/20)...I noticed that a lot of people did not do that last summer (probably me too). I didn't learn as much about the Coast Guard and the Academy (which was my goal) as I did how to survive the first week of Swab Summer (which in my opinion is the major weakness of the AIM program)...YMMV; hope this helped.</p>
<p>alright, at NASS I took a blanket. DON'T make that mistake. If it as hot this year as it was last year, you only need a bottom sheet and a top sheet. ABSOLUTELY take an alarm clock, and if you break it on the second day like I did, make sure your roomies have one.</p>
<p>A watch helps too!</p>
<p>Our son's cadre actually had all of them call their parents about mid-way through NASS just to let us know they were doing OK. He used his cell phone for that. </p>
<p>NASS is a great way for the kid and the academy to get an initial understanding of each other. A couple of kids in my son's squad knew by the second day that this was not what they wanted. By contrast, my son came home from it determined to do everything he could to get an appointment. </p>
<p>Don't be surprised though, if they don't talk much about it afterwards, especially the first few days. I think there is so much new information they have to process it takes weeks to sort it all out.</p>
<p>My son had his cell phone at NASS. A lot of kids called home everyday. He decided not to call at all because he was testing himself. He said that it made the experience more realistic. Afterward, he was proud of himself for not calling home even though he really wanted to. He was pretty tired the day NASS was over. All he wanted to do was get an icecream.Now he's going to be going in June as a plebe. When we go on PPW, he said that he's pretty sure he will want that ice cream again.After going to NASS, he was sure he wanted to go to Annapolis.
They also give you some great workout wear Jake's been wearing it all this year.</p>
<p>Just an update on the cell phone thing - I got an email response from CGA and they encourage kids traveling alone to take their cell phones, but will store them upon arrival (sounds like confiscate??) Seems like NASS isn't quite so strict. One of my son's friends who went to several sessions last year and is starting at USNA in June, said AIM is the hardest and strictest summer session. Said USAFA was the easiest.</p>
<p>I don't remember any cell phone restriction at NASS last year; I used mine at night and it was no problem.</p>
<p>Same here. Everyone had a cell phone at NASS. Actually it was quite annoying to hear my roomate on the phone all night. But then again it was nice to be able to call friends and be like "hey guess where I am..." [I hadn't told my friends I was leaving and they just couldn't find me until I called them 3 days in...]</p>
<p>I have heard NASS is the most difficult from people who have been to all of them. (at least physically). Navy is hot right now, ya know. (In the long West Point and the Long Grey Line stand strong, however!!) I can imagine AIM being tough just to prove its not a program for wimps as a lot of people do not think too much of the Coast Guard Academy. I haven't been there, but I imagine its a wonderful academy, and salute what the cadets are doing there. Good luck with the "phone crisis." I really wouldn't fret though. Worst case scenario they take it away for the week.</p>
<p>How hot is it in coparison to Hotlanta? Right now it's going up to 91-ish every day and I've been running it. Plus we have our a/c set at 78. I hate the heat but is this a good indicator of how it will be next week?</p>
<p>GlitterHairDye: I'm from Georgia too (a little further south, but same conditions--hot and humid). When I went to Annapolis, it was pure PARADISE. Some people were spazzing about Black Flag Weather, but I loved the weather--a little less humid and a little less killer hot. If you can live in Georgia, then you can survive anywhere.</p>
<p>Well, I came down from New York City, which isn't known for mild summers.</p>
<p>I almost DIED Plebe Summer. I remember TORRENTS of sweat dripping off me and dissappearing almost immediately upon hitting the deck in T-Court. </p>
<p>I hate humid heat. It's one of the many reasons why I left Miami. Couldn't take it anymore.</p>
<p>We used to joke that they should relocate USNA to Hawaii. Why not? Huge naval base, far enough away so the Mids can't get into trouble.... :D</p>
<p>They never bought the idea. :(</p>
<p>Zaphod: "far enough away" from what?? Last time I was in Hawaii I saw plenty of ways for Mids to get in trouble - and most of them weren't wearing much.</p>
<p>150 years of tradition unimpeded by Zaphod!!</p>
<p>Did he get LOA? Is he currently a plebe?</p>