<p>Obviously there is a lot of opportunity to stand out at NASS -- From people who have been there and experienced it, what should the kids going this summer do in order to excel as leaders (and also what NOT to do that will **** off the mids etc.). What I'm really getting at is what are the tips to succeed at NASS as far as taking on leadership roles, scoring high on the review and getting awards etc. Thanks and good luck to everyone going!</p>
<p>i would say stay positive and motivated and yell the loudest. the mids like motivated candidates so when you are jogging or marching and singing songs be loud. also try your hardest at all times, ask questions and listen to your squad leader. when a squad mate is falling behind in sea trials or something just encourage them, thats good leadership, but don't come off as cocky.</p>
<p>Dont try to Pimp any of your peers and ALWAYS give you're best effort. Try to be unique....like the person who ran the fastest or something like that. Be nice and try not to say what the midshipmen want to hear....be yourself...and number 1 rule: Have fun</p>
<p>don't quit because you're exausted. i had to fall out of sea trials because of an ankle injury, and i overheard some annoyed mids saying that if candidates couldn't handle nass pep, there's no way they could handle plebe summer.<br>
by the way, i was given the option of going back to bancroft after i got injured, but i chose to follow my squad around, doing what exercizes i could (i wound up doing a TON of crunches and those little arm circles with a mid for about an hour). at the end of the day, my squad leader told me she was proud of me for finishing as best i could... so basically, my advise is work hard, even when you don't "have to."</p>
<p>I went to both Army and Navy summer programs last year(will be entering USMA Class of 09 in a couple of weeks). Although I was focused on WP and went to the Navy week mostly to appease my parents, I really liked the Navy program better. The squad leaders were great and it had more outdoor/physical activities than the USMA week. Sea Trials were awesome!! I went to the program indifferent but came home with an interest in going to the Naval Academy (marines of course) if I didn't get into USMA.</p>
<p>The squad leaders will be grading you so put forth your best effort. I doubt they like suck-ups but they do like enthusiasm. </p>
<p>NASS is a two-way street. A time to see if you think you will "fit" into the academy and a time for the academy to determine if you have what it takes to survive. </p>
<p>Bring an extra bag for all the handouts. We got 2 sets of sweats, 5 T-shirts and some other gear.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice -- what happens at the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the seminar; what awards are given etc.</p>
<p>The Awards thing is pretty boring. Only a few awards are given. </p>
<p>One big thing--don't **** off your squadmates. We had this one guy in our squad who CONSTANTLY sucked up to our Squad Leader, and unfortunately, she just ate it up. He always tried to take charge and act all big and bad, and the whole squad ended up ditching him. I mean, it got to the point where when we were eating our MREs during Sea Trials, he sat with our Squad Leader, and the rest of the Squad sat somewhere completely different. </p>
<p>Try to come up with new and creative ways to get over obstacles. For example: During Sea Trials, we had to cross this really long bridge, and there were "Marine Snipers" in the building behind us. If anyone put their head above the bridge, they'd be shot, and the rest of the squad would have to carry them. So, of course, one of my squadmates sticks his head above and gets shot. Me and this other guy were helping everyone get across, so we were bringing up the rear. The four mids were behind us, including our Company Commander. So this guy named Newton gets shot, but the mids are gracious so he only gets shot in both legs. REALLY generous, right? Newton was a really tall, pretty heavy guy, and there was no way to carry him without sticking our heads above the bridge. We were in a hurry to get across, so I stripped off my sweat pants (you'll run in them during Sea Trials, even if it is 93 degrees--and don't worry, I had shorts on underneath.) I tied my sweatpants in a sling around his legs, and wheel-barrowed him across the bridge. The Company Commander called me out that night in front of the entire Company for doing it. So, all that to say "BE ORIGINAL!"</p>
<p>Oh, and bring lots of khaki shorts. They didn't really tell us to bring any last year, so I wore one pair of shorts every single day.</p>
<p>Hey,</p>
<p>Does anyone know if we actually get to play sports in the afternoon? They say there's some time on the schedule for "sporting events," but im not really sure if their idea of "sporting" is on par with mine. =)</p>
<p>i think we played sports maybe twice. once was with everyone and the fields were really crowded so our squad decided to go on a running tour of the yard. the other day was just with my platoon and we played football and frisbee. people mostly played football, soccer, and frisbee.</p>
<p>Marines4Me is absloutely right...</p>
<p>My uniqueness came from the PAE. I set the record for most pushups and fastest shuttle run. I was recognized at the end of the night before we sang "Blue and Gold". However, during the PRT, I thought i could just breeze by. I thought "Well....since no award is given, I'll only do the minimal" So i did my pushups and waited until the exercise was finished. I did however struggle with the situps. But the moral is....I didnt do my best and thats what the Navy wants the candidates to do. It turns out the Iron Mike award is given to a candidate who has the best PRT results. Tough bananas.....</p>
<p>Warning about displays of originality at NASS. In a move to make a lasting impression during NASS last summer, I set the record for the longest nap taken during the harbor cruise.</p>
<p>Unlike AdmiralThomas and Marines4me, I received no kudos at the awards ceremony. Life is not fair !!</p>
<p>One more question. How does this "social mixer" thingy work? I don't really know if I'll be "mixing" at an academy that's 86% guys, if you know what I mean.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice. I leave for NASS tomorrow. For anyone else going, good luck and i will see you there</p>
<p>I didnt like the mixer. Just people looking at each other really....Corny music too....</p>
<p>haha yeah, the mixer was pretty sad... there were a bunch of us girls hanging out in the bathroom, laughing about having 4x as many guys as girls at a dance... i suppose our being in the bathroom didn't help the ratio on the dance floor much, either...</p>
<p>I don't know what you guys are talking about because I had an awesome time at the mixer!! :) It was definitely the highlight of the week! Don't forget to pack something to wear for the mixer. Girls: a cute skirt or a sundress. Guys: button-down casual shirt or polo shirt and khaki shorts. </p>
<p>I really enjoyed the workshops and the career orientation too. I got some of my workshop choices and a few suprises too! </p>
<p>Look sharp! Remember, 40% of Summer Seminar participants return the next year as midshipmen. Good luck and have fun!!</p>
<p>Hey, its says you get five t-shirts, sweat pants , and sweatshirts. Does that mean you get five sweat pants and five sweatshirts?</p>
<p>2 sweatpants....2 Sweatshirts, you only really use the sweatpants, and thats during sea trials</p>
<p>BRING A FAN!!! I'm here right now and its humid and hot ass ****.... have a good one.... GO BRAVO! BEAT ARMY!</p>
<p>jhoopster, how's it going at NASS? Can you give any of us an update? Our S is going Session 3. Thanks for the fan advice, we'll bring one.</p>