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I personally would like to see USNA move more in line with what is done at other naval bases and boot camps
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<p>Maybe USNA could follow the example of USMMA which is closed to all visitors during plebe indoctrination?</p>
<p>I'd thought I would get one LAST check of CC before I head out (in just a few minutes).</p>
<p>deepdraft,</p>
<p>That, in my opinion, would be nice....but that will never happen because USNA is a National Historic Site, which means that if USNA becomes too restrictive, then the designation will be pulled from the Academy and this isn't to mention that the Annapolis mayor will probably complain. </p>
<p>I wouldn't want the above to happen. I am sure the best solution would be a compromise....i.e. if people are coming everyday to take photos or someone is clearly interrupting (or as a lot of moms would say, "distracting") the training environment, then they can be asked kindly to leave the grounds.</p>
<p>I don't know what VADM Fowler and/or the admin plans on doing with regards to any more parent restrictions. I do know that the Supe has taken necessary and proper steps to ensure that there is training value.</p>
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My, Jadler, have we already turned into a grouchy, ol' sailor who knows whats best for everybody?
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<p>My goodness Jadler, could it be that you are starting to emulate that ole' thorn in the side USNA69?</p>
<p>We, USMA parents have been carefully admonished NOT to step foot on post until the Marchback and not to attempt contact, even by attending church services until after "A"-day. But then USMA posts pictures for us for <em>free</em>.</p>
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<p>I wasn't being serious but simply attempting a little sarcastic humor. You are totally correct. </p>
<p>However, one thing we seem to be forgetting is that we are in the middle of a war with terrorists and Admiral Fowler is responsibile for the security of both the midshipmen and the facilities. Since 9/11, many military instillations, even those which are historical landmarks, Ft. Monroe for example, have really tightened up their security.</p>
<p>Four pics of our plebe! yeah! Looks good but a little tired. We intend on getting the company dvd, so the fee for viewing the pics - which will be applied to the cost of the dvd - is a bonus. We may or may not get any pictures, but it's nice to see them!</p>
<p>Lucky you! I went through the first 10 pages (all that was posted as of this morning) and so no sign of our plebe. Now I'll be obsessively checking!</p>
<p>Oh wow, just went back and they have 6 of him! Feels kind of weird to be peeking in on them.</p>
<p>They just dumped a whole lot more on but from what I'm seeing, haven't organized them. There is a photo count on the homepage and it has been jumping up as they put them there.</p>
<p>I did find photos of my plebe on a dropshot link. He's alive! He sure doesn't look happy but I don't care, he's alive! :)</p>
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But then USMA posts pictures for us for <em>free</em>.
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<p>Unfortunately, USNA does not. </p>
<p>Personally, I have mixed feelings re: Thornton.
If you were in the early companies, the coverage seemed great.
For the latter companies- 20+- the coverage was thin.
With only 2 weeks left of plebe summer, there were still several companies in 2010 that were not covered at all, resulting in a lot of unhappy parents if I recall.</p>
<p>What did "fill the bill" were the photos of 2 yard-based parents, both with ties to the USNA if I am correct. I watched one of them shoot some photos on one visit- well back from where the plebes were training, thanks to some hefty tele-photo lens. As a parent the photos were priceless- I am not sure how I would feel if I was the "subject".... obviously some plebes enjoyed the photo op, and others appeared less than thrilled. </p>
<p>Personally, I felt the 2 women did a far better job than THornton, for free. How they managed to cover so many training venues- capture so many plebes- each and every day- all over the yard- just amazes me. Thornton, IMO, didn't even come close. </p>
<p>I did, however, pay by $35-or-whatever fee to access the plebe summer schedule- if only to help sort through the hundreds of photos downloaded to dropshots each day- gave me a place to focus to try and find my plebe. On one photo I actually saw a smile--- </p>
<p>Anyway, as someone already mentioned, Thornton is a mixed bag. Some folks were well pleased, others less so. For me, dropshots proved superior.</p>
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It appears the freelance moms might be gone this year however.
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I believe that is incorrect.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me how to simply view all the Thornton postings?</p>
<p>They say there are over 6000 photos uploaded, but the only ones I can seem to find are 10 pages of I-Day, which are nowhere near a 6000 count.</p>
<p>I just want to look through them, not just search for my Waldo's squad, platoon, etc....</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Hmm... I find 18 pages of photos of I-day on Thorntons. Still not close to the 6000 they report and I can still find only 2 of my son but 18 pages are up.</p>
<p>Jury is still out for me on the various photo options. I'll search them all. :)</p>
<p>I did finally find the schedule of daily events on Thorntons. I did like that part, for sure!</p>
<p>So, this isn't really photo related, but it's pretty funny. We got back from Annapolis yesterday and my wife's brother (who lives in Seattle) called and asked us if we'd seen the WBAL (Baltimore Channel) News on I-Day - we hadn't. He googled looking for coverage of I-Day. He told us that both my wife and I were a part of the short broadcast as we were saying goodbye outside Alumni Hall. We didn't even notice news cameras there! My wife posted it on her blog, here's the link for anyone that wants to see it. My wife is in peach shirt hugging our DS, I'm the dopey dad a couple scenes later walking past a women with a video camera in hand!</p>
<p>Table</a> for Eight</p>
<p>i have the Thorton package from Plebe summer. They will make sure that there are an abundant number of pictures of the Plebes from every company. They have access to evnts such as sailing, damage control training, the rifle range, PEP etc, and the pictures will be oragnized by company so it is easy to find your Mid. It's only been since Wednesday and everyone is already desperate. This is the military, hurry up and wait. By the way, the last thing on your Mids' mind right now is you seeing a picture of them on the web.</p>
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They will make sure that there are an abundant number of pictures of the Plebes from every company
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<p>They said the same thing in 2010.</p>
<p>At least for I-day pictures, if you only go by the name search, you probably won't find all of the pictures of your Plebe that were actually taken by Thornton's. They can only "find" pictures on name search if your Plebe was close enough for the name badge to be readable. I have an advantage, having a short, redheaded female, so it was easy for me to scan thumbnails and find 8 pics of her (including groups), versus 3 that show up on name search.</p>
<p>Well, this should be my final post, as I am literally about to fly out to my ship. I am a nice 7-9 hours ahead of you guys. Boy is it HOT here!!! </p>
<p>USNA69, I think we are both wrong that the freelance photographers are gone. I am sure that if the Supe found out what was going on, he wouldn't approve (based of his stance of the separation of training and parents -- hence no visitors at PEP or Sea Trials). I can tell you that last year's Plebe Summer OIC and chaplains (yes, each one of them)....were baffled at what this person/people were doing, especially with the mess hall and religious photos...hence actions were taken. In conjunction with another thread being discussed, this is when the chain-of-command took action. The officers in the chain were totally oblivious to what was going on and were notified.</p>
<p>I think Thornton Studios is also a distraction. They are always taking "group" photos, as if it were a summer camp....sorry parents....but it is true. In my honest opinion, I think USNA should do what USMA is doing (thanks JAM04)....get the PAO staff to take photos and post them!</p>
<p>I had the opportunity to visit MCRD San Diego...their boot camp is 13 weeks and is endless, much harder than USNA and no photography service, even from their PAO. Enough on this subject...it is what it is...I am not going to be making the changes.</p>
<p>Also, with utilizing the chain-of-command, I think it is a direct reflection of leadership. If you have a CO who demonstrates that the chain works, more people are going to use it. If it is a complete failure, not one is going to trust the system. Part of a good CO, is one who allows feedback to be passed up/down the chain-of-command AND states that the individual's voice will at least be heard. The CO needs to be true to their word.</p>
<p>PMJI -- and at the risk of being labeled an "old-timer" and out of touch -- I just don't get the photos thing. In my day, which admittedly was in the last century and even the last millenium :), there were no professional photographers and NO parents taking pictures. No parent would have dreamed of visiting PEP. Every once in a while, the PAO folks would be out & about. But 95% of the time, we went through plebe summer without fanfare. And without parents. And without photos. I don't know how we did it, but we survived. Our parents survived. </p>
<p>For the most part, plebe summer sucks. Personally, I was happy that my parents didn't have to/get to watch me go through it day by day. The last thing I would have wanted was to have someone taking pictures of me all the time and posting them for the world to see. And my parents somehow managed to exist with only my brief postcards and calls home -- they didn't need a daily, itemized schedule to feel their daughter was doing OK.</p>
<p>I understand it's a different world today and I appreicate (I guess) the benefits of photos and the internet and more involvement. But not having a sufficient number of pictures of your child during plebe summer -- or not having their schedules down to the minute -- is not the end of the world. It's really not.</p>
<p>As with most issues these days--large and small--its all about the money. </p>
<p>Parents pay money for photos. Thornton pays a licensing fee for their special access to events.<br>
Thornton probably rues the internet and photo access it provides; I would guess their sales have dropped appreciably.</p>
<p>Help!
I think I found pictures of my son, but they are too small to tell. There is a magnifying glass icon, but nothing happens when I click it. Many links on the website do not work either! Did we get ripped off by registering?</p>
<p>It takes some time to figure out the website. If you put your cursor over the photo, it should enlarge. It would make sense if the magnifying glass did that. I think the magnifying glass tells you if you can order enlargements. We are still figuring it out too. I was able to search by platoon, company, last name today. I am hoping that it will get better as they get more pictures. Once you find your son, you can click on the disk icon and save it to your waldo file.</p>