NAPS Parents' Handbook

Preparations for I-Day

As Induction Day (I-Day) approaches, there are many things that should be taken care of. Encourage your Candidate to...

• On I-Day preparations - try to find the discipline to run regularly over the
  next month. Break in and wear comfortable running shoes to I
  Day. Get into the best physical shape possible.  Train hard EVERY day.  Running is encouraged as well as working on upper body strength (Pushups and situps). Here is a link to a page listing physical requirements at NAPS. You don't need to meet them right off the bat, but the closer you are when you get there, the easier it will be on you to make the mark before you finish NAPS.
• If you are a football player, you should have the physical requirement criteria for speed already met when you come! Once you are here, there will be a push to "bulk up" and trying to decrease your running time while you put on weight is a seemingly impossible task. You would be MUCH better off having your time down when you arrive. Then you can bulk without having to worry about the speed issue.
• Eat three well balance meals daily.
• Get as much sun as possible within safe limits to avoid sunburn later. You will stand in formation in the sun for hours during Indoc.
• Guys should go ahead and get a very short haircut. By doing it ahead of time, your scalp can gradually tan. NAPSters are required to wear a cover every time they are outside during Indoc, so sunburn is not so much an issue, but you will adjust easier to the military look if everything doesn't happen at once.
• Begin making adjustments to the Eastern Time Zone by changing sleep patterns and meals accordingly.
• We recommend that you get together the following items...
  • An inexpensive, shock resistant wrist watch.
  • A simple four function calculator
  • Small and inexpensive overnight bag.
  • Small battery powered wind up alarm clock.
  • Rechargeable, cordless electric razor for men. (Wet/Dry, if possible)
  • Personal Toiletries including a bottle of Aspirin or Tylenol, cough drops, blister pads.
  • Medicated Foot Powder for Athlete's Foot.
  • Male students should take cotton boxers not briefs.
  • Female students may want to bring white cotton underware, sports bras, and their prefered brand of feminine hygiene products.
  • Stamped and addressed envelopes and postcards to make it easier for your student to write home.
  Note:  Some of the above items are NOT on the approved list of things that a Candidate can bring on I-Day.  Some of them will be stored until the end of Indoc. It's possible that your student may be allowed to keep all these things, so it's worth taking. Regardless, they will have everything returned after Indoc and there's no harm in trying.
  
  
• Calculators: If you have a TI-83, 85, 86, 89, or 92, bring them, but they will not be allowed in math class. You can use them on homework, but this would be stupid because you cannot use them on the test or classwork. For math, you will only be allowed a simple 4 function calculator. Not even a scientific calculator, forget a graphing one! You probably will, however, be able to use any calculator you want for physics and chemistry (an 89 or 92 is very helpful in these classes).
• DVD players, TV's, laptops, etc. are authorized, but must be stowed at all times (in your gear locker) and can only be used during liberty status. They cannot be used during study period. Study period is ONLY for studying, this includes group study. You can't even shine your shoes or iron uniforms during study period anymore. Cell phones, however, can be used pretty often (breakfast, lunch, EI, sports period, personal time, pretty much any time you're not in class or in study period). Laptops still cannot be connected to the internet. There are no phone lines in the rooms, so dial up is not an option either. NO internet on laptops, no way around it.
• Digital Cameras (after Indoc) are allowed, but they cannot be hooked up to your computer to get pictures off of them. Actually...NOTHING can be attached to your computer that you are not supplied with. The only exception is that you can buy your own mouse if you prefer an optical mouse. If you want to send pictures via e-mail, you must do it in the company's computer room (each company has their own, with about 10 computers set up in case yours is broken, or you just feel like using a different one). There is one computer in each room that has an external reader for all common digital media (smart media, compact flash, memory stick, etc.) You can then download pictures onto that computer and save them to your "P:" drive. This is a drive that every student has on their computer. You can save up to 100 mb of information onto it and it will be there no matter what computer you log on to. So, you save the information to the P drive at the computer lab's computer, then go back to your room, and you can pull up the pictures and do whatever you want with them (e-mail).
  
• If possible, get a complete physical from "your" family Doctor and Dentist so that you're aware of any problems going in. Get your student's teeth cleaned before I-day. You will probably want to make a dental cleaning appointment when they get home after graduation as well. These simple preventative maintenance issues do not seem to be part of the medical concerns of the Navy.
• You're NOT in good enough physical shape!  It doesn't matter what you think.  Indoc will teach you what shape you should be in.  

• Set up a telephone calling card, personal 800 number or give your student a cell phone so that your Candiate can reach you without needing funds.
• Make sure that your Candiate has everyone's telephone number and address in the event of an emergency.
• Get set up with email service and a decent computer.  Email is the best and most reliable way to communicate with your Candiate. You will only be out of touch a few weeks until they finish Indoc.
• Plan on being at NAPS ahead of schedule.  Remember with the Navy to be on time is to be late and to be early is to be on time. This means spending the night before in the area.

I-Day for Candidates

Reporting times will be sent to you before I-Day.  Plan on being there well in advance of the scheduled time.   Military time means 15 minutes early.

Bring only those civilian clothes that you will wear.  The less the better.  Items that you are not permitted to keep will be stored along with your civilian clothes and returned to you after Indoc, not before. The things they do let you keep will be thrown on the floor during Indoc by your cadre, so you plan on picking them up more times than you want. The operative word? Less is more. They will issue what you need. But make sure you have a comfortable pair of sneakers! Blisters from new sneakers are definitely not something you need on top of everything else!

After you leave your parents, you will be issued your gear, including several pairs of shorts and t-shirts.   You will particularly "love" the socks!   They have to be pulled up high (motivated) at all times.   You will live in these outfits 24/7 for the next few weeks.   You will be assigned a room, get a physical exam, a haircut, and begin indoctrination.   Everything is very serious and you will learn not to smile. You will learn to stare straight ahead without expression.   They will march you around in formation for hours.  You may even march without pause into trees and parked cars on command. You learn to follow orders without thought. You will stand at attention for longer than you thought possible. Students have been known to fall asleep while standing in formation.

Even though you are actually in a beautiful place, you will not be permitted to notice. There are only 5 acceptable responses to anything asked of you. "Sir,Yes Sir", "Sir, No, Sir", "Sir, No excuse, Sir", "Sir, I'll find out, Sir", and "Sir, Aye, Aye, Sir". Of course, when speaking to a female, Ma'am replaces Sir in all cases. During Indoc these 5 options will be shouted at the top of your lungs. You will most likely get hoarse. Your every response will fit into one of those options! Verbal creativity is not permitted during Indoc.

It is very important to learn not to laugh. You might spend some time before you report learning to keep a straight face. Indoc is very difficult because the cadre will do their best to make you laugh, and some are very funny. However, it is one of the easiest things for them to catch you on and yell at you for. You can bet they will try their best to break your serious facade. If you show you don't have control, they will test you continuously. Smiling after being yelled at is a sure way to get a reputation throughout your platoon, company, or even batallion. Learn to keep a straight face.

You will be required to wear a NAPS cover every time you are outside during indoc. You might forget to wear it once, but you probably won't forget twice. If you lose it, you will be required to earn it back. This gets more and more interesting as indoc. goes on.

You won't see your parents again until about 5:00 PM (1700 Hrs) when you march into the gym where you will be sworn in.   Following the ceremony, you will be allowed some time to find your families and say your "Goodbyes."  Give your Mom the last hug.   It's hard on families to say goodbye.   Be patient with them.   They love you!

About Cars and Bikes

NAPS allows students to have cars. In fact, having a car is a great luxury. About a quarter of the students have one. It's a LONG way into town to walk - several miles. The weather gets cold and wet and students long to get off base and see something "normal". No taxis or buses are available on base. Cars are a real asset to student mental health. If they don't have one, having a roommate or close buddy with a car comes in a close second. It's possible to get public transportation by walking to Gate 4 (about a mile) and getting a taxi, but it's not easy or inexpensive.

You will make friends very easily if you have a car. Also, during lunch, EI, and sports period, you have time to go to the NEX, NFCU, uniform shop, etc. If you have a car, you can get much more done in the little amount of time you are given. note: I'm not sure on the official policy about using your car during the weekdays, but as the saying goes...you rate what you skate (you can do whatever you can get away with).

About registering cars: Cars must be registered with NAPS and the base. Registrations and insurance cards must be available for registering the car. Check with the command to make sure you have followed all procedures appropriately. You will not be able to register your car until after Indoc (you won't have a military ID until near the end of Indoc.) They won't bother your car though until after Indoc, and even then, you will get about a week before they'll give you any problems. The base police really aren't very good about checking the stickers on parked cars. But they are sticklers about obeying the speed limit so drive slowly.

A suggestion about cars if your student will have one - Consider a car cover. The cars are parked in a big open lot right next to the ocean. There is salt spray and full sun all the time. A car cover is a pain to put on and off, but it protects your investment which sits unused 5 out of 7 days. Find a local car shop that your student can use if they have car problems during the year. Visit the repair shop and make sure your NAPSter has their number and address for future reference. Often students haven't had to deal with car repair problems on their own before and in a strange place they can feel overwhelmed with the responsiblity. Breakdowns happen so make sure your student is prepared with a game plan.

If a car is not within the realm of possibilities, consider sending a bike with your student. Make sure they have a bike helmet and a very sturdy lock. Bikes are locked outside Nimitz and stored in the bilge during the winter months.

There are many student who survive without a car or a bike. Cars are not cheap and savings towards future expenses often outweigh the convenience factor. For years students have managed to get by on their feet or with their friends' transportation. Cars and bikes are NOT necessary, but they sure are convenient!

Indoc for NAPSters

Indoc is short.   Every day is one less day you have to put up with!   Nobody said it would be easy.  You're not joining NAPS for a restful summer get-away.  You're going there to accomplish something.  Do it!

Here is some sound advice to really help make the difference...

• On I Day afternoon - find a prior enlisted to show you how to make your bed and fold your clothes. If everyone in the room arranges their clothes in the closet the same to start with (dark to light, left to right) you won't have to redo it later. If you have the opportunity, start to learn the hometowns and states of your fellow NAPSters, as you will be required to know this information.

• On blending in -Watch your eyes - look straight ahead (eyes in the boat) no matter what your cadre does. Watch your body language. Remember, their job is to test your focus and teamwork and they are pretty creative in how they do this. Don't be a know-it-all. Try not to stand out in either direction - good or bad. When you become the focus of their attention, be stoic. NAPSters who get this kind of attention all the time are called "**** screens" and it's not a place you want to be.

• On failure - Indoc is designed to test you emotionally and physically under trying conditions. Literally, sometimes you can't win. Being smart and working hard will not be enough. They want to see how you deal with failure, so they create conditions where failure is inevitable. Watch how you deal with failure. You can be sure that your cadre will be watching too.

• Know why the NAPS has Indoc.  It's a Boot Camp.  Period.  It's hard. You will hurt. It changes you to endure this kind of pressure. You learn to survive stress and sometimes even enjoy the moment when things get tough. Indoc is about pushing you to new levels--higher than any of you knew you could go. You cannot appreciate the sweet taste of success without experiencing the humility of failure. And all of you will fail at least once on something. It's how you recover from that failure that will be the truest test of the character, commitment, and resolve. Although you may look back on it with enjoyment, it is often not an enjoyable experience while you are doing it. However, it's an essential experience that unites all the services and it's the only way to get through the door into the next stage of your Navy career. Endure. It's survivable.
  
  
• Set small daily goals and take great pleasure in the smug knowledge that you achieved them each day despite your cadre's opinion of you. They will be leaving and you will outlast them in the end.
  
  
• Stay on top of everything.  Never let a moment pass that you aren't thinking ahead and using your time productively.
  
  
• Indoc is more MENTAL than physical training!   It many not feel like that, but it is! NAPSters often say that the hardest part is having someone screaming at you 2" in front of your face. They are brutal in their assessment of your worth. Survival is about breathing and waiting. Listen to what they say but let the negatives drain right out. Try to hear their message but don't hold onto the negatives. Don't worry about it. You will learn to get good at listening. They will give you lots of practice.
  
  
• It's about team work.  Offer help to classmates and seek help when needed. You will discover friendship like you never knew it before. There is nothing quite like a foxhole buddy. Indoc is the trenches. You will find very close friends all around you. Ask for help. Give help.
  
  
• Stay focused!  Nothing can get in the way of a successful Indoc faster than a loss of personal focus.  It opens the floodgates of confusion, self-doubt and frustration.  Managing the stress of each moment comes with a clear understanding of what is required , how to do it and why you're doing it.  You're doing it because you want to!  You wouldn't be there if the Admissions Board didn't think you were worth it.  They thought you could do it, so go out there every day and prove them right!
  
  
• Don't take it personally!  You are a face in the crowd.  If you believe that they are out to get you - you are right.  The Candidate who is standing beside you also thinks that they are out to get him - and he/she is right too. It is the cadres JOB to get in your face.  Just remember that your face will soon be another Candidate's face.  It isn't personal. It's tradition. Remember, if you don't react, they will probably pick on someone else eventually.
  
  
• And finally...Try to keep a sense of humor about it all! Not that they can tell, mind you, but remember to laugh at it all (inside). They can't kill you and they can't stop the clock. It will end and you will be a NAPS student and you will look Back at Indoc one day. It's short. You will survive. There will be extraordinarily funny moments to remember.
  

For Priors

Class Schedule

After Indoc ends (OOORAH) classes begin. It will feel great to get out from under your cadre. Your platoon will have solidified into a well run machine. Finally the cadre is gone. Bliss! At first, classes will be a great relief. Don't relax too much because getting behind can become fatal! This is the basic timetable for your 9 months of academic training.

Reveille	0600
Breakfast	0615 to 0730
Morning Formation	0730
First Period	0755 to 0845
Second Period	0850 to 0940
Third Period	0945 to 1035
Fourth Period	1040 to 1130
Lunch	1130 to 1240
Fifth Period	1240 to 1330
Sixth Period	1335 to 1425
Extra Instruction (EI)	1430 to 1515
Athletic Period	1525 to 1730
Evening Meal	1730 to 1850
Study Period	1900 to 2200
Personal time	2200 to 2230
Taps (lights out)	2230