<p>It's been quite a journey. I just returned from I-day and my son's grand launch.</p>
<p>I can't thank all of you enough for your help and support. With all the research I did here and elsewhere online, everything went without a hitch for us. I did see parents who didn't know all sorts of things and felt very bad for them (hauling golf clubs all day long, high heels with blisters, etc etc).</p>
<p>I had the chance to study a LOT of the other plebes and families and had the chance to get to know one unaccompanied plebe during the time after the oath. I am so excited to see the quality and level of great people my son will be serving with!</p>
<p>A little intimidating is that my son's roommate is a former enlisted Marine with multiple combat tours under his belt. My son reported that he is more than twice his size. Wow!</p>
<p>Anyway, to all prospective plebes and their parents - this is a great place to get help and support. I'm eternally grateful that people unknown to me personally are willing to take the time and energy to care about us.</p>
<p>Sometimes when one follows sites like this and others, you tend to assume everyone in the world knows what you know. Then, walking around I-Day, you realize it is really not that way.</p>
<p>It WAS interesting to see how many of the experiences discussed here were unique, and what turned out to be true and what turned out to be 'hype' (in my personal opinion), but it was well worth it.</p>
<p>I can't imagine how one would pick up 'unofficial' pre-information 50 years ago, if at all.</p>
<p>I saw a post on the USNA Alumni web site about an interview with a new 2008 female plebe. Apparently she had just finished getting a hair cut and was upset. Her comment was something to the effect that well I guess I got through that, I really don't know what to expect next. Reading between the lines it seemed like she was unsure about whether or not she wanted to be there. </p>
<p>The more I thought about this the more it bothered me. Are there candidates being admitted to the USNA or for that matter any SA that do not know what they are in for? Is it not up to the applicant, the parents and the USNA admissions to educate the applicant? Every plebe is taking the place of 10 others that really wanted to be there. To be unsure on I-Day seems to be a real red flag.</p>
<p>Maybe we're different on this board and others but knowledge is power and between the internet, books and interviews anyone can educate themselves about what a SA is about before they apply. Its not a game.</p>
<p>Really, no matter how much one knows, it is really still an unknown. There is a juxtaposition of so many unrelated factors, that no one will know how they will react until they actually experience it. All the traits submitted and weighed as a part of the admissions package has one primary function, to determine the ability of that candidate to succeed. If the attitude and character are there, they will succeed. If every candidate has not ask himself at least once by the end of I-Day what the heck he has gotten himself into, the upper class are not doing their job.</p>
<p>^^^ I wonder if that was the same young lady interviewed by one of the local news channels that seemed surprise she wouldn't have her cell phone? She said she had just gotten one the day before I-Day and now she couldn't use it. Just WOW. </p>
<p>IMO, I do think there are kids admitted without full understanding. Saw it happen last year in our sons company. None Tango'ed during the summer, but did leave 1st semester and at the end of the year. One kid told everyone, he thought when PS was over, then they were done being Plebes. I kid you not. Interesting to me, 3/4 of the kids that chose to leave his company were LOA recipients. For some reason, I thought those highly sought after kids would be empowered with more info regarding USNA life. Meaning, coaches, CGO's, BGO's, etc.....all talking to them throughout the application process.</p>
<p>Best of luck to all your sons and daughters. Breath deeply and slowly this year, you'll get through it too!</p>
<p>When I spent time with my son after the oath, he was saying over and over... "This day was a cinch. But look at them, they know that we are theirs the moment our parents leave. Tonight is going to be a bloodbath. You can see it in their eyes. Just look at them smirking. They are just waiting to get their hands on us." -- he was watching the upperclassmen milling around. </p>
<p>I was worried about a particular health issue he might have until I realized something. That issue is the whole point. How will he handle it? At what point will he learn that he should get help instead of weakening his platoon by getting worse? What chain of command will he follow to get help? His response to this will be a learning one and an important one. And it is crucial that he NOT have my input on this one. He has GOT to do this all himself. </p>
<p>I'm looking forward to hearing his stories in 6 weeks.</p>
<p>pmarol... you son is actually a leg up if he has a prior as a roommate. Things like room inspections will actually mean a positive report, since that prior already knows what THAT means. The prior will quietly shepherd his roommates through some stuff, but don't worry, ALL will be 'failed' over something sometime.</p>
<p>In my girl's case, her first room inspection came back "instruct your classmates" and no marks. I discovered this in papers 6 weeks later in her stuff that she told me to look through and throw out. </p>
<p>She had such perfect room inspections, that finally they did a 'set up' situation where they delibrately put her and her roommate in a situation where they failed an inspection, for no other reason than to have them deal with failure. I remember the mom of my daughter's roommate called to tell me how upset her girl was, but my girl shrugged it off knowing it was all part of the mind=game.</p>
<p>You are indeed correct in 6 weeks your boy will have some stories like this of his own to share!</p>
<p>Glad you found this CC place so helpful. Now stay on board and help out those who come behind! ;-0</p>
<p>What is amazing is that when I went through Plebe Summer over thirty years ago, we dealt with all the issues ourselves (classmates). We did not have a blog where everyone could write about what their mid is going through, or why hasn't my mid done that, or my mid is being singled out. These our bright young men and women and they will survive as a team. Just let them.
As for someone not understanding what they were getting into and it is not fair because they left early and someone else who "wanted' it more was left out is a bunch of rubbish. If everyone stayed then maybe the training is too soft, or the academics too easy. This is not high school where you go home every night. The training is supposed to be difficult and the academics are supposed to be hard. If someone quits they are not a failure; it just was not for them. When the graduates hit the fleet, guess what they do not all stay for the full 20-30 years. They resign, because it was not for them. That is what life is all about, challenges and decisions.</p>
<p>grad/dad: I understand that this crop of Plebes needs to deal with whatever the training cadre throws at them, but it seems to me that having more information about what the military life is like prior to I-day, whether from exposure to family/friends or via websites like this, is a good thing for all concerned. Aren't Plebes who are mentally and physically prepared for the challenge more likely to succeed than those who don't have a clue? Doesn't it benefit the Navy to spend time and money on candidates who are most likely to finish the entire 4 years, and better yet, on those who truly want a military career?</p>
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In my girl's case, her first room inspection came back "instruct your classmates" and no marks. I discovered this in papers 6 weeks later in her stuff that she told me to look through and throw out.
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<p>Thats interesting... My plebe summer our squad leader basically told us that we weren't supposed to pass alpha inspections. For the most part they just tore us up regardless. By the end of the summer it got a little bit easier, I think my favorite was just before ppw my inspector came in chomping on a chocolate bar. With his white gloves he checked our blinds and then yelled at us for having chocolate on our blinds. I was practically laughing my butt off in the middle of it.</p>
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What is amazing is that when I went through Plebe Summer over thirty years ago, we dealt with all the issues ourselves (classmates). We did not have a blog where everyone could write about what their mid is going through, or why hasn't my mid done that, or my mid is being singled out.
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<p>I discovered this site after plebe tear and promptly called out a plebe about it on the next hello night... Hes now a good friend and an '08 grad.</p>
<p>That being said, I do feel bad for a lot of recruited athletes who are outright lied to by their coaches. I cant say for sure if it still happens, but it was definitely the case for '07 and '08.</p>
<p>I have never seen any 'outright' lying. But they do seem to gloss over and pretend not to know a lot about the inner workings of the Brigade in Bancroft. For recruited athletes, remember the BGOs are still available. Use them.</p>
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As for someone not understanding what they were getting into and it is not fair because they left early and someone else who "wanted' it more was left out is a bunch of rubbish.
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<p>I couldn't agree more. Getting an appointment is a competition - if you win an appointment then you earned it. period.<br>
Even mids or cadets who "know" what it's all about don't really "know" until they get there. Some kids get there and even though they know - discover that it just isn't for them. They realize that they can't cope - it has nothing to do with being physically or mentally ready.
The academies have about a 75% graduation rate - IMO this is excellent - better than many state universities - considering all that can go "wrong". Some just don't like it, some have family or personal issues, some make grievous errors in judgment and some get sick. Of course none of that will happen to "our" children. Parents who think they and their kids are ready because they have read this forum could be in for a rude awakening.</p>
<p>Judge not other people's children, lest your own be judged.</p>
<p>In the Supes Brief on I Day it was stated over and over by the Administration, Admiral Fowler, Captain Klunder, and Dean Miller all stated that it is OK if your child finds that USNA is not for them. The Class of 2008 graduated 1037, on their I Day they inducted 1227, for a 84.5% graduation rate. Admissions obviously knows what they are doing.</p>
<p>Every Plebe that was inducted on I Day earned his or her spot. None took away a spot from anyone else just because somewhere over the course of their USNA career they decide that USNA is not for them.</p>
<p>The claim of 3/4 that leave are LOA recipients, I find this very odd that a Plebe would even know that. As what I can tell from my son that is not something a Plebe goes around telling. When I asked him this he said he certainly could not tell you who was a LOA recipient in his company. </p>
<p>Class of 2013 applicants and Parents remember that if you or your child decides it is not for them it is OK.</p>
<p>I applaud ALL 1250 that were inducted in July 2, 2008. Best of Luck to all.</p>
<p>I agree. Questionable anecdotal statement, at best. The Academy keeps statistics on everything. I am sure they know the academic LOA success rate as compared to the regular admissions. I would argue that the possible decreased commitment by someone who is academically recruited would be outweighed by their increased academic preparedness. The Academy knows what they are getting and I would also argue that a much higher graduation rate than 84.5% would not be desired.</p>
<p>We met up with two upperclassmen who were working as detailers on I-Day this year and were told that 8 plebes quit before the swearing in. Two others got up and left during the ceremony.</p>
<p>Our hearts really ached for them. Surely more than one will have life-long regrets.</p>
<p>itlstallion.... re: the room inspection: it was a bravo one, I think - the first one of the summer - but somehow it ended up in my girl's papers that even she didn't recall being there. It was a chance event that I ever saw that little inspection sheet and something I found much more interesting than she ever did.</p>
<p>the one they made her and her roommie fail: most definitely an alpha towards the end....and they had one cadre go on and tell them to stand at attention until told otherwise. He left, a 2nd one came in and put a second free standing lock, ( the kind you put on a locker door) and throw it on one desk, and walk out, without saying a word. Of course, they are still at attention. Then the 1st cadre comes in to inspect again, keeps them at attention and docks them for 'gear adrift'. Ahhhh, the mind games these resourceful young people can think of! At least it's creative energy doing something besides figuring out how to break the law, build a bomb or do damage to themselves with risky behaviors!! So I find it quite amuzing to share parent stories about what their Plebes survived in their 1st year. 40 years ago's Plebe summer for my husband had his share and they continue to invent NEW ways to test the Plebes!! Ahhhhh, that's American resourcefulness for you!</p>
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Two others got up and left during the ceremony.
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<p>I saw that too, but then I saw them come back. (Exited to the left)
I just thought it was a trip to the mens room,which that in itself would be pretty strange.</p>
<p>This is an example of truth vs. urban legend ala internet. LOL</p>
<p>wolfemom, I happened to end up right up front and got the whole ceremony (including the two who walked out) on video. I'll be posting it on youtube within the next day or so. I do not believe the individuals that left are identifiable, if they are, I will probably edit them out. </p>
<p>The video includes 50% of the class, close up. I was over taping the band when the procession started, and the plebes walked literally a foot away from me. I got a close up of each one's face. Luckily for me, my son ended up coming in from that side...he was one of the last plebes through, so I was losing faith after about 500 of them...but ended up getting him after all!</p>
<p>MBMikeB, I saw THREE plebes leave, and one return. That same one left a second time and came back again. I thought perhaps he was feeling sick. I believe the other two left and did not return.</p>