<p>My daughter just got accepted last Monday, so I thought I'd post this thread and those with more experience can help the newbies.</p>
<p>Something we learned here last year, bring a plastic garbage bag, maybe several. You'll be getting really wet and muddy durning the Summer Seminar version of Sea Trials and you won't want to mix those muddy shoes and clothes with the rest of your suit case.</p>
<p>Any other help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Also, TAKE FABREEZE! My friend who went to Session 1 told me that and I didn't believe him. You will stink. A LOT. The humidity is so high that even if you wash your shirts out (like my roommate and I did), they won't dry in time for PT the next morning and you'll get in trouble.</p>
<p>Take a fan. Bancroft DOES have A/C, but it can randomly go out (even in just one wing) (girls of session 2, sound familiar?).</p>
<p>Take an extra pair of shoes for Sea Trials. You will throw them away because they will be uber gross.</p>
<p>Take a camera. There is a social event and you will want a picture of your squad.</p>
<p>Take some money. Most squad leaders will work in a trip to the MidStore and you'll want enough money to buy something cool (not like me...I got socks because I took no cash).</p>
<p>Don't worry so much about taking nice shorts. Take athletic shorts...as many pairs as possible. Go buy shorts. Take 5 pairs. They are cooler to wear most of the time and you are allowed to wear them to class and MUST wear them for training, so it's a bit of a time saver with changing.</p>
<p>When you're there....take you hat, water bottle, and notebook EVERYWHERE. I didn't take mine to church because we were told we didn't HAVE to (if it's ever optional, DO IT), and then we let out late and I had to go back to my room (fourth deck, arg) to get my stuff and was late to lunch formation.</p>
<p>Call everyone ma'am and sir. Don't be a suck up or a bilger (where you say something like, "You got a 8 minute mile? Wow, I must be in better shape than I thought...I ran in 6:50," because the squad leaders don't like that), but be polite. Always ALWAYS support your squadmates.</p>
<p>If you're given something to memorize, MEMORIZE IT THAT NIGHT. As a matter of fact, memorize the ranks of the Navy and Marine Corps now. You can learn the mission, Blue and Gold, and "Man in the Arena" when you get there. And they will stick in your mind forever...</p>
<p>Good luck and always have fun!</p>
<p>I agree with both Marmadillo...do you still know the missions, because I know it now like the back of my hand haha. </p>
<p>Also, don't overpack I made that mistake and had to have some guys help me take my stuff up to my deck, which didn't look too good for me the first day. If it's not on the list and you don't think you will need it, don't bring it. Girls, if you wear makeup now, don't then you are doing way too many athletic things and it just doesn't work, besides your not there to impress anybody!</p>
<p>Febreeze is a good idea...wish I had thought of that then! Yea get used to wearing sweaty, smelly clothes because your PT gear starts to get pretty gross by the end of the week.</p>
<p>Most importantly, keep a positive mental attitude, this will be your best friend. If you don't do so well on something, don't worry about it as long as you know you tried as hard as you could then it's alright. Don't get down on yourself, try to remember why you want to go and what you want to take away from it all, because it truly is a rewarding experience for all who go!</p>
<p>on the subject of Freebreez, my daughter told me her Squad Leader last year actually would spray his 'squadlings' ( as I called them) with the stuff directly, they all stunk so bad! :-)</p>
<p>Haha, that's great. I'll remember the frebreeze when I go for sure!!</p>
<p>Yea, the frebreeze is a great idea because for some reason, the mud really did stink alot and it permanently ruined my socks and underwear. I also recommend something to put in your water, gatorade powder, etc. Not only do you get dehydrated, but you lose a lot of electrolytes and good stuff like that. My friends in session 3 said it made a big difference.</p>
<p>Its still a little early to tell you this, but keep a completely open mind, roll with what comes to you, HAVE FUN, do what your chain of command tells you to, and be a team player. </p>
<p>Oh yea, and also, just like for those of us training for plebe summer, I recommend that you don't go into NASS cold because there is a lot of training and you can pass your CFA (Candidate Fitness Assessment which is the official physical admissons exam for at least USNA, USAFA, and USMA--don't know about USMMA and USCGA) at NASS which is a big load off your back in the long long process of applying for the Academies.</p>
<p>"Sir, the mission of the United States Naval Academy is! To develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty in order to provide graduates who are dedicated to a career in naval service and have potential for future development of mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command and citizenship!"</p>
<p>am I right?</p>
<p>Flashback to Sea Trials pool...</p>
<p>marmadillo, you left "and government" off the end, but its good other than that. And with the stuff they tell you to memorize, also learn what it means, because trying to figure it out with a firstie less than 6 inches from your face is just way to hard, though I guess I should get used to it. I went in with more of an open mind than most. I didnt try to impress amyone, I just worked hard and got a feel for what the academy was like. Just have fun with it.</p>
<p>What? Psh-pawsh.</p>
<p>If you're like me and you like to pack light (a gym bag), here's what I say.</p>
<p>Beddings:
none</p>
<ul>
<li>If you're like me and you don't use a pillow and sheets every night, then you don't need to bring them. They'll give you a bunk (hooray!--very comfortable bed). It may be hot/cold at night, but just wear the clothes you will the next day (and the sweats they give you can be mighty good). As for an alarm clock, no need.</li>
</ul>
<p>Clothes:
3 x soccer shorts
1 x swimsuit
2 x kakhis
18 x underwear
1 x the clothes on your back</p>
<ul>
<li>Bring about 2-3 pairs of soccer shorts (the lightweight black ones you can buy at Wal Mart or K Mart or Dollar General). They will air dry. They give you a shirt to wear for PT.</li>
<li>Bring your swimsuit. Be comfortable about changing naked in front of other people.</li>
<li>Pack a pair or two of kakhi shorts to wear during the day.</li>
<li>Just pack lots of underwear, sports bras, and socks (like 2-3 pairs a day).</li>
<li>The clothes you wear in, just wear out too. Hey, you can even wear it to the social they have for you too.</li>
</ul>
<p>Hygiene:
Body wash
Shampoo
2 x towels
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Female products
Travel bag</p>
<ul>
<li>You won't have time to take more than a 3-5 minute shower, so bring the quickest soap/shampoo possible (hotel-style, basically).</li>
<li>Bring quick-drying towels. You'll need a towel for your showering and a towel for swimming.</li>
<li>Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss.</li>
<li>Girls may need to bring some pads/tampons, but they'll watch out for you if you forget.</li>
<li>A small bag to carry your health products in is useful. I have all my hygiene products (shampoo, soap, nail clippers, toothbrush/paste/floss, extra hair bands, tweezers--for splinters, small comb) constantly in a travel bag, so no biggie for me.</li>
</ul>
<p>Other:
money
camera
watch</p>
<ul>
<li>Bring money for the midstore/food at the airport.</li>
<li>Bring a disposible camera that you won't die over if you lose it.</li>
<li>If you like to know the time (useful at the airport and at night), a watch is good (I recommend the Ironman watches that go for ~$20, best investment I've made this year).</li>
<li>Water is good. There is no need for all that Gatorade powder, for you get a sports drink at your meals. Water is delicious.</li>
</ul>
<p>Oh, and they give you so much stuff, so have room left to carry it all in! I know a lot of people tossed out their sweats and everything. I just shoved all my WONDERFUL STINKY clothes into my bag (had a trashbag for during the week to keep them separate) and washed them all the day I returned home. I'm not big on the "we must smell nice" if everything is dirty anyways. Then again, I can stand the stench for a while. Everyone stinks. One guy in my squad washed his PT shirt every night and then let it dry during the day, but he still smelled, just not as bad.</p>
<p>Memorizing stuff is easy. As said above, just learn what it means, not the actual words. If you mess up, don't cry. It creeps some of the mids out (haha). Just smile or laugh if you need to show any emotion. Other than that...KEEP YOUR EYES IN THE BOAT! Yeah, gotta work on that 1000-yard stare.</p>
<p>remember not to call a ma'am a sir...I accidentally called a female cadre sma'am and she didn't like it too much. </p>
<p>aaaaah Sea Trials pool...oh I love treading water in a confined space with big football players!!</p>
<p>i agree with the above...</p>
<p>on the subject of clothes: the only time you will need regular clothes is for the "social" event; i just wore a collared shirt and a denim pleated skirt for that. for everything else, they give you shirts, and you MUST wear them. like marmadillo said, bring LOTS of shorts! i know that a lot of students were told to wear khaki shorts for the non-athletic stuff if they had them, so bring a pair of those. i overpacked and didn't take out half of the stuff i brought.</p>
<p>don't forget your towel and pillow! </p>
<p>oh, and i'm sure you know this, but put 1000000000000% into EVERYTHING you do; your squad leaders evaluate you and they see everything, whether you realize it or not. it can really help you in admissions. </p>
<p>i'm happy to answer any questions either here or via PM; i loved NASS and i totally recommend going and making the best of it. </p>
<p>shawna</p>
<p>wash your shirts in the sink and let them dry overnight. It helps with the sweat and stink. Also for guys, bring spandex shorts...trust me. </p>
<p>Also, just do your best in everything you do because "they" will be watching.</p>
<p>i'd be worrying more about stuff like that for plebe summer.</p>
<p>Also, i didn't know about this until after it was all over, but the squad leaders grade your performance at NASS and it goes toward the application process.</p>
<p>Also, take plenty of Extra stregnth super fast acting advil/tylenol. Maybe it was because i was out of shape, but it was a lifesaver.</p>
<p>Yep, the Squad Leader's definitely write an evaluation that goes into the candidates admissions file. Our daughter's Squad Leader told us that himself when we picked her up at the end. </p>
<p>For those of you who go, they are not looking for individual super stars to show off. ALL of the NASS candidates are superstars, else they wouldn't be there. No one cares if you are a class president, or leader in JROTC or going to Boy's State or first in your class, so shut up about stuff like your personal achievements. You are NOT special there that week, you're one of a team.</p>
<p>You will be judged as a member of your Squad, a team-player.
You will be judged by your own phyical aptitude
You will be judged by your ability to be a follower and lead by example in the course of your week without doing so at the expense of others in your Squad.</p>
<p>I know all this because the Squad Leader told my husband and me in a private conversation all this at the end.</p>
<p>He also said the following...and I repeat it for all of you NASS kids... NOT to boast about our child nearly as much as to give you all a big insight to help you all do your best and get the most out of your experience there this summer.</p>
<p>For background...this young man was a 3 year enlisted-subs Navy man, who spent a year at NAPS and had just completed his Plebe Year at USNA. So he brought a wealth of life-experience and insight and knowledge to his week with his Squad. This is what he said:</p>
<p>"Your daugher is different. She is humble. Most kids who come from CAP"... ( she is a Cadet 2/LT and commander of her Squadron)..." or JROTC come with an attitude that they know everything. "This" - (and he emphasized this )..."REALLY turns us off. Your daughter is a natural leader who leads by example. I wrote an outstanding evaluation of her in my report."</p>
<p>I hope and pray all of you who will go to NASS will have as great an experience as my daughter and many others with 2010 Appointments did!</p>
<p>Excellent information. Exactly why I started this thread. And don't worry about boasting about your daughter Peskemom, because if you don't we will.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, I'll make sure my daughter looks at all your suggestions. And we've also seen CAP cadets who think they know it all after a couple years of playing Air Force. Don't get me wrong, CAP is a great orginization, just some of the cadets can get a little arrogant. None I know of course.</p>
<p>My experience with NASS last summer was possibly the coolest thing I've ever done. I had alot of un and realized that USNA is where I belonged, not that I had already made that decision prior. About bringing money, and the mid store.....be careful. I have my own check card, and it was hard to leave. I think in 2 or 3 trips to the Mid Store, I must have spent around 300 dollars. But I did find purchasing a nice luggage bag there helped with all the shirts and stuff we had recieved when we got there. Overall, NASS was the best expirience so far. I wish the best of luck to all who attend NASS 2006, and THE SQUAD LEADERS ARE WATCHING YOU AND TAKING MENTAL NOTES OF YOU ALL THE TIME. Not that it's a bad thing. During my little interview with my Squad Leader, he noticed a lot of things about me and my teammates that I was suprised about. I did quite well at NASS, so my evaluation was pretty good, but there were others that weren't so. Not that anyone on College Cinfidential would be, but I noticed MANY attendees that didn't act like they wanted to be there. Many people would complain and try and get out of runs and PEP, and I just thought that it made everyone else's expirence a little less then what it could've been. During squad discusions, I learned that many of my peers were "forced" to attend by their parents, WHAT A SHAME! Well, have fun, work fun, and make the most of it. It's their big look to see what potential you have as a Midshipman. </p>
<p>-zero.</p>
<p>My son was just accepted this past week. What does this mean in terms of possible appointments? Should we fly out, too? Help?</p>
<p>nurseypoo- congratulations to your son! Where in CA are you from? We're from the San Diego area.</p>
<p>Roughly, 1800 kids are accepted to NASS each year, of those about 600 will receive appointments to the Naval Academy. These are numbers from Admissions.</p>
<p>1500 Appointments are offered each year for about 1200 slots - so you see there are young people who get Appointments with and without ever going to NASS.</p>
<p>As far as flying out. Have you ever been to USNA or Annapolis? If not, I would certainly recommend your family invest in this trip. You would end up dropping your son off on saturday and having until thursday morning to sightsee the Academy, the city of Annapolis and even time in our Nation's Capital, where you never run out of things to see.</p>
<p>I will say that the little ceremony at the end of Summer Seminar is really not all that fancy - about 45 minutes in the gym I recall. But the reason for going is to see, feel, and experience the sense of the Academy life. What are the Senior Officers like? Who is the Superintendant of the Academy? What do the Summer Seminar Squad leaders...young people who had just completed their "Plebe" ( Freshman) year like? Who was your son's Squad Leader? </p>
<p>So if you can afford the trip - by all means it is worth the family experience. Then when your son talks about his week - at least you have some common framework to at least feel you have some small idea of what he is experiencing. </p>
<p>Also, having applied for Summer Seminar his application to the academy has already begun, as that is understood by applying to Summer Seminar. Soon after that, if he has not done so, make sure your son contacts his local BGO - which is his high school local Naval Academy contact person - more of the long process towards obtaining an Appointment will continue.</p>
<p>If you have any more questions, ask away. You've got lots of us parents who don't seem to mind chiming in!</p>
<p>Thanks for responding so quickly! We are in the Antelope Valley, Mojave Desert area. I know nothing about academies or the navy. My husband just retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Col., but he went through OTS, not USAFA. Thus, we're stumped. I have never seen Annapolis, although I grew up on the east coast (FL). </p>
<p>Does going to NASS increase the chance of receiving an appt.? I understand about the 33%, or roughly thereof. How do they "wash them out?" How do you find the local BNG officer? Are they located at the academy or locally? I've told our son from the time he steps off of the airplane, they'll be watching him and how he interacts, reacts, everything, etc. </p>
<p>I knew the process was a bit arduous, but I feel like we've just opened Pandora's box; it's a little daunting. We have raised him to understand that just because his father is/was an officer in the military, that doesn't make him one. What other advice can I give my son? I want him to thoroughly enjoy this experience while understanding the gravity of this opportunity. I think I am more nervous than he is.</p>