<p>
[quote]
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.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>my sentiments exactly!</p>
<p>Best of luck Jadler! Stay safe!<br>
Come back when you can!</p>
<p>
[quote]
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.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think back then they used real film, which cost real $$ to develop, and even more $$$ for extra copies- shared with ony a "special few."</p>
<p>Fast forward to telephoto lenses that can put you hundreds of yards away from the action, digital cameras that can load hundreds of photos at any given time, software and a site where you can download in minutes and share thousands and thousands of them with anyone who has the patience to search for Waldo.... and a yard that is open to tourists, visitors, and parents alike.</p>
<p>I can't vouch for the tourists, visitors and parents-
but I have seen the women with their cameras, and on the days I did see them, they were most respectful and were very, very discrete, and quite surprisingly, quite far away from the action. </p>
<p>
[quote]
I would guess their sales have dropped appreciably.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I am surprised they have not improved their product in light of the other photos being available. I think I ended up purchasing one photo the entire summer---- and downloaded many others for "free"....</p>
<p>
[quote]
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.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>no, it's not. But new parents have not figured that out yet. They will. Give them time. By 2C year, I'm lucky if I get one shot on any given visit! And I have to pull teeth for even that!</p>
<p>Thornton's site is not at all user friendly. It is confusing and illogical. I have found no new pictures for a week. Not just of my plebe, no new pix of any kind. There are no shots of his platoon or company. The only shots I can find are of day 1.</p>
<p>Am I doing it wrong? or just being impatient? I was under the impression that they uploaded new photos nightly.</p>
<p>Today pictures of my son's platoon finally went up on Thornton's. I now have found 5 photos total of him, including I-day. It does take a bit for the photos, once uploaded, to get classified correctly and show up on searches.</p>
<p>I've found 3 photos of him on the free pages. </p>
<p>I've taken the time to learn to navigate around Thorntons. It is paying off now that photos are getting uploaded. It is a bit confusing at first and takes some figuring. Don't give up!</p>
<p>I would really like to be able to use Thornton. I think they have a good service. My email question was responded to by phone and email very quickly. However, I cannot view the pictures larger even though she said they should get larger by hovering over them. I think it might be because I'm using a Mac. Any other Mac users have any luck?</p>
<p>(1) Very high-priced. Portrait prices for snapshots.
(2) I purchased all the DVD's based on Thornton's claim that they are customized to your plebe's company and that each plebe would be shown multiple times. Didn't happen -- they even missed him in the company shot filing in for the oath ceremony.
(3) Our experiences may be just bad luck -- DVDs were a big disappointment. However, they are the only show in town, so make your own choice.
(4) Don't purchase any formal portraits. There will be an "official" portrait taken around end of the 1st semester that is much better and far cheaper.</p>
<p>Ok if anyone is having trouble viewing pictures on a Mac with Safari, just switch to Firefox and the thumbnails will enlarge! Now my take on Thornton is that it is a valuable resource. You can easily find pictures of your mid by searching by name, company and platoon.</p>
<p>Absolutely. A good argument could be made that they impede both facility and personnel security, privacy, dignity, training, safety, and even national security. PAOs under the direct guidance of the Academy as WP does would be a great idea.</p>
<p>I am not a happy user of Thornton's, but it's the only game in town. I hope the Brigade is getting some of the profit from the sales of the various pictures and photo files.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am not a happy user of Thornton's, but it's the only game in town
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It wouldn't be so bad if their website technology reflected 2008, but the entire site looks and works like the first website I set up for my business in 1999, right after Al Gore invented the internet.</p>
<p>C'mon, put some of that profit into website development!</p>
<p>I concur w/ Mike re: their technology, but that's life for a monopolistic venture, I suppose. They don't have to ... until USNA threatens them, which they probably won't because they're getting theirs ...which makes it all worthwhile.</p>
<p>B&GDad, I don't agree at all with your analysis. This is not a portrait setting and I believe their prices are reasonable for what they do and the time they spend to obtain those handful of shots of your Mid.</p>
<p>Man, what a bunch of grumps. I'd hate to be the preacher in your pulpit come Sunday.</p>
<p>We got some terrific shots from Thornton's when my son was a plebe. There was a great picture of his entire squad taken following the squad combat course and some other really terrific pictures. We only purchased a couple pictures but they would have been hard to replace. In terms of the DVDs, I guess that we just got lucky but there were many instances of our son in the various evolutions that were photographed. We sat down some time later and watched them with our son. It resulted in many laughs and some interesting conversation. He is off in the Fleet now and I now that some day he will really get a kick out of watching the DVDs and hopefully have some children that he could share the experience with. Most of us never have had the opportunity to look back on some of the experiences that our parents had when they were young......priceless.</p>