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MISSION

"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 of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government"

Plebe’s Creed

I will pursue an aggressive and positive approach to leadership and followership, keeping always the highest sense of personal honor, personal behavior, and military courtesy. Not a day will go by that I will fail to interact with my shipmates regarding our honor and ideals of duty, courage, commitment, and country upon which the U.S. Naval Academy is founded. I will always maintain the offensive. Truth and Fairness are absolute. I will pursue them always. May my character, dedication, and enthusiasm define me and unfurl to gain ownership by my shipmates - For I am a Plebe entering the most powerful fighting unit mankind has ever created. I cherish this challenge and honor this institution and my country.

Your Web Master has just found a Great New E-mail Service.   It is offered FREE of charge to all Academy Parents, Relatives and Friends of Mids.   It is a re-mailing service known as a Listserver and is maintained by WP.ORG in service to the US Military Academy at West Point.   They have gratiously extended the free service to Naval Academy Parents and Friends.   The new Listserver is called USNA-Net.

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Plebe-Net

As a Sub-list of USNA-Net, a listserver has been established which is used to communicate between Plebe Parents. While anyone can join both listservers, the Plebe-Net Listserver will have considerably more traffic concerning Plebe activities and concerns of Plebe Parents during their first year when tensions and frustrations are high and the need for peer support is the greatest.

If your a Plebe Parent or interested in supporting Plebe Parents in their most frustrating times, you're invited to join, sharing your questions and experiences with the many current members of USNA-Net.   We would be happy to answer any questions you might have and assit you in signing up.   A list of Frequently Asked Questions is here for your reference.   It's quick and easy to subscribe to the service and remember...
It's FREE.

Presidents' Comments:

Dear Parents:

Welcome to the New Mexico Parents' Club Web Page. 

If your son or daughter has just received an appointment to the Naval Academy.Congratulations!  Once the celebrating has died down a bit, below are some tips to help you and your Midshipman survive Plebe year from those who have gone before.

Your mission is to keep your Plebe's spirits up throughout this grueling first year. If you haven't seen the Plebe summer tape, call the Presidents to borrow a copy . 

Listed below are the names of Parents' Club officers, past and present, who will be willing to answer any questions you may have. We wish you smooth sailing and a happy four years at the Naval Academy.

Elections were held and below is the listing of the club officers for the 1999-2000 school year.

Presidents:  

Margaret & Vic Padilla

Vice President:

Ken Johnson

Secretary:

Kathy McDivitt

Treasurer:

Katerina Nagy

GENERAL INFORMATION

Getting There

Midshipman candidates traveling to Maryland by themselves will be met and transported to the Academy. There is usually time for them to call home when they arrive, either from the airport or from the Academy. This will be their only opportunity to use a phone for approximately 2-3 weeks, so encourage your Mid to call and let you know about his or her safe arrival. Send enough money for dinner that first night and a little extra for refreshments at the Orioles' game Plebes attend during the summer. All other items will be provided, and there's no opportunity to shop before Parents' Weekend anyway.

Reporting times on Induction Day range from 6 a.m. to about 9 a.m. Candidates should report with only the items on the list in their instruction packet. Everything will fit in a backpack. Plebes are permitted to have watches and electric razors. A wet/dry razor is handy for shaving in the shower. (NOTE: Some Plebes have been allowed to keep their electric razor over the summer; others had it stored for the summer but were allowed to have it for the academic year.)

Women may want to bring white cotton underwear, sports bras, and their favorite brand of feminine hygiene product. Another item that has come in handy is an extension cord in case the cord on the personal fan that is issued does not reach an outlet. (One recent Plebe took an extension cord and was allowed to keep it, but we offer no guarantees.) There appears to be no clear-cut policy about whether cameras are permitted. Some Plebes have been allowed to keep their cameras over the summer, although many say that there was no time to take pictures. We suggest sending an inexpensive disposable camera, so that if the opportunity presents itself, your Plebe has a camera, but you are not worried about an expensive piece of equipment. Items not permitted will be stored with your Mid's luggage and civilian clothes and returned to parents at Parents' Weekend.

Parents accompanying candidates are permitted to wait in line with them until their son or daughter enters the doors of Alumni Hall. Once inside, candidates are issued all their gear, from toothbrushes to uniforms; have a physical exam; get their hair cut (or shorn); and begin the indoctrination process of learning the proper way to address those who outrank them and how to salute.

Candidates will lunch in King Hall and be assigned to a room in Bancroft Hall, the building that houses the entire brigade. At about 5 p.m., the end of a long day, the new class will march into Tecumseh Court (in front of Bancroft Hall) for the swearing-in ceremony, which parents can view from behind the wall. Parents hoping for a seat in the bleachers should arrive on the scene 45 minutes to an hour before. Once the class has been sworn in, Midshipmen are given 15-30 minutes to say good-bye to friends and family, after which they will report back to Bancroft Hall to march in formation to dinner. (It's best if Plebes can memorize an outside route back to their rooms. Inside routes are often manned by upperclassmen who are lying in wait.)

Mids will be given their mailing address on I-day. Most Mids will write home within the first couple of days, sending their mailing address. (Attempts by the Parents' Club to obtain addresses earlier than that have been fruitless.)  In some years, that first note has also included the date of the first phone call home. Parents who go to I-day can usually get their Mid's address from a staff member who is seated around the corner from the main entrance to Alumni Hall during the morning of I-day. There will be a table there with several Midshipmen and a large computer printout.  Distribute this address to grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and friends so your Mid will get lots of mail over the summer.

Send Mail Lots of Mail

There will be no E-mail until Mids are issued their computers after Parents' Weekend, so you will have to rely on the post office. Generally speaking, letters take approximately 4-5 days to get from New Mexico to Annapolis.

Send notes, photographs, postcards, funny stories, newspaper articles, jokes anything that will lift sagging spirits. Most greeting card companies make "Thinking of You," "Cope," or "Hang in There" cards. (Buy a supply of these and postcards to mail in between letters to  remind your Mid that you are there for him/her, even on days when you can't fill a letter. A mail-order company called "mach1" sells items with a military theme, among them notecards and postcards. See their Web site at http://www.mach-1.com, or call for a catalog 1-800-955-MACH or 530-893-4000. Also buy a bunch of postcards showing the hat toss at Commissioning.  Photos and cards can be placed under the transparent desk covering to remind your Mid that you're thinking of him or her.

Care Packages

The policy on Care packages during Plebe summer has changed from year to year. We have been asked to encourage "items that will lift the spirit" and to hold back on junk foods that may interfere with a balanced diet. Eventually, your Plebe will make specific requests. In the past, families have sent peanut butter, nuts, raisins or other dried fruits, water-packed tuna, canned deviled ham, small cans of fruit or applesauce (remember to send a can opener and spoons). Ritz bits (small Ritz crackers sandwiched around peanut butter or cheese) are a good choice. NOTE: Plebes are not permitted to have soda during the summer, nor are they allowed to carry any liquid in their canteens except water. Whatever you send, put the first shipment in a reusable plastic container with a tight-fitting lid to discourage "critters." (A Plebe advisor has recommended that we repackage everything we sent in sandwich bags.) The policy for your Mid's class will be announced on I-day; we'll try to keep parents updated. Once the summer is over, you can send sweets homemade cookies, Krispie treats, candy bars. The water in Bancroft is supposed to be hot enough to make Cup o' Soup or hot chocolate. Many company areas have a microwave oven, but most Plebes won't venture near it, lest they run into a testy upperclassman, so we would stay away from anything that needs cooking. Warning: Popcorn and other crispy items wilt rapidly in Maryland's high humidity.

How To Ship

Packages sent by UPS wind up being delivered to a loading dock and must be picked up. The route is not easy to find, and generally speaking, Plebes must be accompanied by an upperclassman, at least until they're sure of where they're going. Even if they can get there on their own, packages can sit for days until Mids have the time to get there.

Your best bet is the U.S. Postal Service. It costs only a nickel more to send the average-size box via Priority Mail, ensuring that it will be there in 3 days, 4 days tops if it spends a day inside Bancroft.

Telephone Calls

Approximately two to three weeks into the summer, your Mid will be able to call home for the first time. In the past, some Mids have known when they wrote that first letter home when they would be allowed to call, although others are not told until the last minute. A calling card will come in handy, often reducing the amount of precious time needed to get the call through. These calls are often hurried and may be limited in time by the detailer in charge to give everyone a chance to get through. Don't ask a lot of questions. Let your Mid do the talking. When Mids say they have to go, they have to go. Tell them you love them and that if their detailer could do it, they can do it. Remind your Mid that the Academy would not have admitted anyone it felt was not up to the challenge and that the first three weeks are the hardest. If you're going to Parents' Weekend, tell your Mid that you'll see him or her soon. These first phone calls will be sporadic.

Get an answering machine. If possible, tell your Plebe to call you at work if he or she is calling during business hours. Once Plebe summer is over, you and your Mid will be able to agree upon the best time for him or her to call. Phone bills can run $50 to $100 a month. Several families have installed 800 numbers; be sure to get one requiring a code, so you don't wind up paying for calls from people other than those to whom you've given the code.

E-Mail

After Plebe summer, your Mid will be issued a computer and an e-mail address. This is a major blessing, and we wonder how parents got along without it. Except in emergencies, when messages can be left in the main office, parents cannot phone a Mid. Once he or she has an e-mail address, you'll be able to communicate directly. You and your Mid can sign up for an Instant Messenger name at http://www.aol.com, allowing electronic conversations if you can arrange to be online at the same time. Some parents leave their computers on at certain hours, allowing their Mid to contact them by Instant Message when he or she can get online during those hours. Make sure the Parents' Club has your home e-mail address so we can notify you about airfares and late-breaking news.

Sponsor Program

All Plebes will be given an opportunity to request a sponsor family who will pick them up on Saturdays during the year and take them away from the Academy for a while. This is a much-needed break from the rigors of training. Oftentimes Mids can leave civilian clothes, CDs, and other items not permitted in their Academy rooms at their sponsor family's home.

If Your Plebe Starts To Struggle

Plebe summer is a time of stress. If your Mid starts to struggle over the summer (or anytime during the four years), help is available through the Midshipman Counseling Center and the Chaplain's office. Midshipmen must request an appointment themselves. Parents cannot request that the chaplain visit a struggling Plebe. Make sure your Mid is aware of this source of support before he or she leaves for the Academy. Many times, by the time Plebes let their parents know they are struggling, they have already decided to come home. The earlier they can get additional support, the better. Contact the Parents' Club. We may know of recent graduates who have not yet left the Yard for their next duty station. As officers, new graduates can often get in to speak with struggling Plebes and report back to parents.

Visiting the Yard

Many of our parents don't go to I-day. Except for a brief period before the check-in process begins and the few minutes after the swearing-in, your Mid will be occupied all day. If you can make only one trip east, we recommend that you go to Plebe Parents' Weekend (usually the second weekend in August). When you're booking motel rooms, a pool is nice for relaxing by. Mids like to sleep, swim, watch TV, take LONG showers, talk, go to the movies. One of the most common requests is for fast food. Grandparents and siblings are welcome to attend. There is almost always a ship in the harbor for visiting. You can check in as early as the Thursday evening of Parents' Weekend and catch the Physical Education Program (PEP) between 5:30 and 6 a.m. on Friday morning. Take a small pair of binoculars very helpful for trying to spot your Mid at PEP or on the parade field and a camera. NOTE: Plebes will have to return to Bancroft Hall every night. Make sure to get back well before the appointed hour.

Traffic builds up on the roads leading to the Academy, and it is not uncommon to see a Mid jump from a car that is caught in traffic blocks away and hotfoot it back to be there on time. Always drive back early and perhaps sit in the Yard talking or walk back into town for an ice cream cone. Parking on the Yard is limited, and speed limits are strictly enforced.

Be prepared for a letdown at the end of the weekend. Plebes refer to this Sunday as "Black Sunday."

Another time you might want to visit is Commissioning Week. One of the earliest events of the week is the Plebe Recognition Ceremony, also known as Herndon, when Plebes scale the grease-covered obelisk named for Commander William L. Herndon to mark the end of what has probably been the most challenging year of their life. Having seen your Mid through the ups and downs of Plebe year, it's great to be part of the celebration when it's over. (We went back for Herndon and other events at the beginning of the week, leaving before Commissioning. If you're planning to go, book motel rooms early, as early as for Plebe Parents' Weekend. Firstie parents will already have begun to book rooms for Commissioning.) If you bring grandparents to any of these events, you might want to consider renting a wheelchair just to guarantee them a place to sit at all times. Also, events tend to be scheduled at one end of the Yard and then the other, and there is a lot of walking back and forth.

Unlike other institutions of higher learning, which have a parents' weekend annually, the Naval Academy has only two: one at the end of Plebe summer and the other at the beginning of senior year, known as Firstie Parents' Weekend. (Mids are ranked chronologically as Plebes, or fourth class; Youngsters, or third class; second class; and first class, or Firsties.)  Even though the weekend is not specifically designated for other classes, some parents choose to visit their Youngster or  2/C during Firstie Parents' Weekend. The atmosphere is more relaxed, but non-Firsties are not guaranteed additional weekend liberty or leave. Alumni parents tell us Firstie Parents' Weekend is decidedly the best visit. By the time they are seniors, Mids know their way around and can show you all the parts of the Yard and Annapolis that the usual tourist doesn't know about. They are more relaxed at this visit than at earlier visits; the light at the end of the tunnel is growing  brighter. The weekend includes a chance to see your Mid's room (definitely not as spartan as the room he or she had as a Plebe), attend a pep rally on the eve of the football game, and watch the brigade march from the Yard to the stadium (one mom even joined the parade).

You are welcome to visit at other times of the year. Make sure to give your Mid plenty of notice the visiting. Plebes may not leave the Yard before 10:15 a.m. on Saturday. They must remain within a 22-mile radius of the Yard and return that night. On Sunday, Plebes have Yard liberty only.

You can visit on the Yard, but your Plebe must remain on the grounds. Your Mid will probably want to eat anywhere but on the Yard, but there's a snack bar in Dahlgren Hall where you can purchase hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, salad, deli sandwiches, ice cream, and drinks. Parents can also make reservations at the Officer's Club (410-263-8280).

Whenever you're visiting the Yard, wear comfortable shoes and clothing appropriate to the season. Maryland is hot and humid in the summer, and late afternoon thunder showers are common, especially in August. Bring hats and sunscreen.

Where To Stay

Book motel rooms EARLY. Unlike airline tickets, motel reservations can be changed almost up to the last minute without penalty. Prices in the Annapolis area range from about $79-$150 a night for two people, although they are often higher on busy weekends (Parents' Weekends, homecoming, the weekend Navy plays Air Force, Commissioning Week). A group called Annapolis Accommodations, Inc., (410-280-0900) can help you find rooms in the Annapolis area for any of your visits, and their Room Finders division (410-263-3262) can help find you a home to rent for Parents' Weekends, Herndon, and Commissioning Week. NOTE: If all the close-in rooms are booked when you call, call again just before your scheduled visit. Oftentimes, there are last-minute cancellations.

Although Plebes are not permitted outside a 22-mile radius of the Yard without special permission, this restriction is usually lifted during high-volume weekends, such as Parents' Weekends and Commissioning Week, because many families are unable to find close-in accommodations.

Traveling To and Fro

All the major airlines provide service between Albuquerque and Baltimore. Make sure you sign up for all the frequent-flyer programs. Those trips home for the holidays, spring break, and before and after summer cruise can mount up. Families in the southern part of the state sometimes find it more convenient to fly in and out of El Paso. In the past, round-trip fares from Albuquerque International have ranged from $199 and up. (The best fare we've seen was over spring break [$159], the worst was $450 [when a change in schedule forced a late rebooking].) Tickets purchased at the last minute can run $700-$900, so it's always a good idea to make your reservations as early as possible no less than two weeks ahead, earlier for the best fares. Sign up with one of Internet services (www.expedia.com, www.travelocity.com, www.travelzoo.com).

These will give you the lowest fares available; some will allow you to register an itinerary and e-mail you fares on a regular basis. Note that Southwest Airlines provides service to BWI, but its information may not appear on all Internet sites (we hear Southwest fares do appear at the travelzoo site). Southwest does have its own Web site as well as a service that will e-mail you Internet specials purchasable only over the Net. There is a branch office of Omega Travel in Bancroft  Hall. The advantage is that Omega will be able to make your Mid's travel arrangements and is usually aware of the times Mids must be back and which flights would be too tight to make the requisite formation. A word of warning: Some families have told us that Omega was not always able to get the lowest fares and that diligent searches on the home front found lower prices.

Note that a Midshipman is also a student. If your Mid is under the age of 24, TWA offers a student pack at a cost of $540 for four one-way tickets. This can come in handy for Midshipmen who find that they need a one-way ticket for travel before or after a cruise. When using a student ticket, the Mid must prove his student status; our Mid has used his Academy-issued ID. The Academy will provide transportation to and from a cruise assignment.

Mids who have leave immediately after a cruise can exchange the ticket they have been issued to Baltimore and apply the money to a ticket home. (Note: The Academy flies Midshipman at a special government fare, which may or may not cover the fare to Albuquerque. Mids may need to add money to cover the ticket home). If your Mid comes home from cruise, you are responsible for the ticket to Baltimore, which may turn out to be a one-way ride. One-way tickets can be as low as $200 and as high as $1000. The student pack will allow your Mid to fly one way for $135.

Remaining tickets are good for one year from date of purchase for additional travel home that same summer or for spring break. Generally, student packs cannot be used over the Christmas break. The most convenient airport to fly into is Baltimore-Washington International, which is about 10 miles south of Baltimore and 18 miles northwest of Annapolis. Cab fare from the airport to Annapolis is about $35, although sponsor families are often willing to provide rides. (We have heard that a Mid once paid $50 for a cab when a snowstorm delayed the arrival of his flight and made a general mess of the roads.) A shuttle service runs between BWI and Annapolis, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. At the time of this writing, fares were $19 one-way, $30 round-trip. There is a discount for Midshipmen $14 one way. No reservations are needed to travel from BWI to the Academy, but reservations are required to go from the Academy to BWI. Call 410-859-0800 for reservations (at least two hours in advance), updated schedules, and fares.

Mids can also fly from Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, and from Washington Dulles Airport. These are more difficult to get to but can provide an emergency escape route if all flights from BWI are booked. Traditionally, Plebes have finished exams earlier than their upper-class counterparts, so it's a good idea to wait for the final exam schedule to come out (early October) before booking tickets home for Christmas. Plebes who validate lower-level courses may not be
dismissed as early as others because they must take upper-level exams. Your Mid will have to be back at the Academy from Thanksgiving leave by 8 p.m. and from Christmas leave by 6 p.m. Flights that leave Albuquerque by 7 a.m. may not get him or her back by 6 p.m. To be safe, especially in the winter when bad weather can delay flights, you might want to book a flight for the day before. When flights are delayed, a Mid must have a ticket stub that proves he or she would have been at BWI at least four hours before the scheduled report time. Sponsor families will often pick Mids up the day before and let them spend that last night and day of leave at their home. Or Mids can return to Bancroft a day early.

Things To Do in Annapolis

In addition to being home to the Naval Academy, Annapolis is the capital of Maryland and has more surviving colonial buildings than any other place in the country. On one of your visits to see your Mid, take the time to see the Capitol and other historic landmarks. Visit the shoppes on Main Street. The Annapolis Mall features 160 stores, including Eddie Bauer, Nordstrom's, and J.C. Penney's, as well as a multiplex movie theater. A bus will take your Mid to the Mall whenever he or she has liberty. Write to the Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference & Visitors Bureau, 26 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 280-0445, fax (410) 263-9591, e-mail: <<info@visit-annapolis.org>> for a guide to visiting the area.

Suggested Reading

Brief Points by Ross Mackenzie. Father of two Naval Academy alumni, Mr. Mackenzie provides invaluable information about life as a Midshipman, along with a glossary of terms. A must. The U.S. Naval Academy: An Illustrated History by Jack Sweetman. The second edition was revised by Thomas J. Cutler on the occasion of the Naval Academy's 150th anniversary. This makes a great gift.

Plebe by Hank Turowski. A fictionalized trilogy by a member of the class of '71 about Plebe year in the 1960s.

The Nightingale's Song by Robert Timberg ('64) looks at the lives of five Academy graduates: John McCain, James Webb, Oliver North, Bud McFarlane, and John Poindexter.

The Return of Philo T. McGiffen by David Poyer. The adventures of a Mid who shares a bond with a Naval Academy legend, Philo N. McGiffen.

The Naval Academy Candidate Book by William L. Smallwood. While the first half of this book is for students in the process of applying to the Naval Academy, the second half is dedicated to survival tips for Plebes in general, female Mids, and parents. (We had trouble finding this book finally found it at www.amazon.com.

The Brigade in Review A Year at the U.S. Naval Academy by Robert Stewart. The brigade in photographs one class year at a time.

Most of these titles are available in the USNA store (formerly known as the Mid store), which also sells class shirts and tote bags listing all the members of your Mid's class; sweatshirts, jewelry, and other memorabilia. (Our favorite purchase, by far, is a scrapbook with the Academy seal on the front. Less than halfway through our Mid's four years by the bay, we had to buy a second book.) We bought the last two titles from www.amazon.com because that was the only place we could find The Naval Academy Candidate Book, and while we were in there buying that, we bought The Brigade in Review.

RULES AND REGULATIONS for 4/C Midshipmen

LIBERTY/LEAVE There are various leave periods throughout a Midshipman's annual schedule, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and end-of-exam liberty (so all liberty regs apply: no civilian clothes, no driving, no alcohol, and one must stay within the 22 mile limit) at the end of the academic year (May). Thanksgiving Liberty ends at 8 p.m. on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Generally speaking, the Brigade must be back by 6 p.m. on the last day of any Leave period. Plebes are allowed to leave the Academy only while on town liberty or during leave periods. Town liberty is from 10:15 a.m. Saturday morning until l:00 a.m. Sunday morning. On days of home football games, liberty begins upon completion of the game and lasts until l:00 a.m. On Sunday, Plebes have Yard liberty. During three-day weekends, such as Labor Day, plebes also have town liberty from 10:15 a.m. Sunday until 1:00 a.m. Monday. On Monday, they have Yard liberty.

YARD LIBERTY is authorized from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. daily. P1ebes may escort during yard liberty on weekends and holidays and prior to 7:15 p.m. on weeknights; escorting privileges are limited to parents, guardians, immediate family, close relatives, or family friends. They are authorized use of the Officer's Club only as a guest of an Officer's Club member, parents, or sponsors. They can invite you as a parent to participate in noon or evening meal in King Hall. You can
also be invited to scheduled sporting events, musical productions, etc. Plebes can attend weeknight events that extend past 7:15 p.m. only if their semester grade point average is greater or equal to 2.00 (or 2.15 depending on Company or Battalion academic policy for the 4/C) on a 4.00 scale.

WEEKEND LIBERTY Liberty with no mileage limits and no military obligations associated; i.e., taps, meal formation, etc. does not apply to Plebes. Plebes must remain in uniform while on town liberty or in regulation P.E. gear while at a sponsor's house. Fourth-Class Midshipmen must also stay within 22 miles of the USNA Chapel Dome at all times. Plebes are not authorized liberty until completion of their last military obligation.

WEARING OF CIVILIAN CLOTHING Plebes must remain in uniform at all times, except when in the homes of parents, guardians, or USNA-approved sponsors, during which time they may wear regulation P.E. gear only.

OPERATING AND KEEPING CARS Plebes are not allowed to drive or keep cars at the Academy. They can ride in a private auto when accompanied or driven by parents, guardians, USNA-approved sponsors, staff, or faculty members or when escorting to a formal dance, play, or concert on the Yard. Fourth Class Midshipmen are only allowed to drive while on an authorized leave period.

STEREOS AND RADIOS Not until and only if approved by the Brigade Commander for the Plebe class.

MIDSHIPMEN RESPONSIBILITIES Midshipmen will conduct themselves properly at all times, observing the customs and traditions of the Naval Service. Plebes will not consume alcohol regardless of their age. The only exception is if they are on leave and within the legal drinking age of 21. Upperclass Midshipmen cannot drink, including nonalcoholic beer, unless they are over 21. Plebes are authorized to attend Sunday worship services anywhere in the Annapolis area (see list on page 30). They must return to the Academy immediately following the service. Any involvement in hazardous activities, such as scuba diving, hang gliding, etc., needs approval from their Battalion Officer via their Chain of Command and special request chit. Midshipmen will not visit "off-limit" establishments determined by the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Military.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What if we move?

When a Mid's family moves, he or she must file a change of address with the Midshipman Personnel Office to ensure that the information reaches all the various offices that need to know. Informing the Company Officer does not fulfill this requirement. Changing a Mid's address will assure that grades and mailings from the Academy go to the proper location and that taxes are withheld at the appropriate rate for a Mid's home state.

Taxes what taxes?

All Mids are considered on active duty and receive an annual salary, which is distributed to them in a monthly paycheck and usually deposited directly into their Navy Federal Credit Union account. However, Mids are required to pay for their room, board, laundry, haircuts, etc. These monies are automatically deducted and are known as "funny money" because Mids never see it. Plebes owe the greatest amount of money--for their computer and uniforms. Their take-home pay is less than $50 monthly. By the end of Youngster year, most of these debts are paid, and Mids begin to see more money. Firsties net about  $250 a month. In January, Mids are issued a W-2 reporting their income, which is subject to state and federal income taxes.

Can Mids own a car?

Plebes and Youngsters are not permitted to drive except when on leave. 2/C are permitted to drive but must park off the Yard. Parking spaces are available for rent at several of the larger hotels in town and at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, a two- to three-mile hike from the Yard. (Not to worry: Your Mid will be accustomed to the walk; the brigade marches over to the stadium before every home football game.) Some Mids have been able to park their cars at the home of their sponsor family. Firsties are permitted to park on the Yard, although during the construction expected to continue for the next several years, parking spaces are limited, and some Firsties are still parking off the Yard.

How can I stay informed?

Join the Parents' Club, which sends out a quarterly newsletter and e-mails with late-breaking news, including airfares to and from Baltimore. The Naval Academy newspaper is The Trident. A year's subscription (44 issues) costs $85 a year (mailed first class, arrives in approximately three days) or $28 a year (mailed third class, arrives in 10-14 days). Feature stories are available on the Internet at <http://www.dcmilitary.com> Surf the Net: http://www.nadn.navy.mil The Naval Academy homepage: http://www.page-turner.com/navalacademy.html or the mirror site:   http://members.tripod.com/~sterneckert/navalacademy.html.   The New Mexico Parents' Club homepage is building a list of links to other Parents' Clubs across the nation and newspapers from Annapolis and Baltimore http://www.usna.com/inthenews.html maintained by The Alumni Association, this page provides the text of articles of interest to the extended Naval Academy family from newspapers across the country.

Join the USNA Parents' Listserver, which automatically forwards e-mail messages of interest from parents nationwide. Information on this listserver is exchanged among parents and subject to confirmation. It's a little like sitting in the bleachers at a sporting event and talking with other parents to see what they're hearing from their Mids. To sign up or get more information, check the Web site at www.navy-usna.org

LOOKING AHEAD

SUMMER CRUISE REQUIREMENTS

Third-class summer

Once your Plebe has climbed Herndon, he'll be a Midshipman 4/C, a rank he or she will have for just a few days. When the graduating class is Commissioned at the end of the week, 4/C become 3/C, or Youngsters; 3/C become 2/C; and 2/C become 1/C, or Firsties. The summer between Plebe year and Youngster year is generally divided into four three-week cruise blocks. All 3/C must sign up for two blocks, one of which must be spent on a Yard Patrol (YP) boat, which sails up the eastern seaboard, making stops in New York and Boston, and practices maneuvers, including "man overboard" drills in Massachusetts Bay. Some traditions say that 3/C Mids don't officially become Youngsters until they see the chapel dome from the deck of the YP as it sails back to the Academy. For their second cruise, Midshipmen 3/C may choose between three weeks on a 44-foot Naval Academy sailing sloop or participating in Naval Tactical Training, which includes simulations of SEAL and Marine Corps operations. Economically speaking, it's best for Plebes to request 1st and 2nd blocks, 3rd and 4th blocks, or 1st and 4th blocks. Any of these choices gives Mids six consecutive weeks of leave and involves only one round-trip airfare.

Second-class summer

During the 2/C summer, all Mids participate in PROTRAMID, a program designed to give them an overview of the branches of the Navy. 2/C will spend one week at Quantico, Virginia, for Marine training; one week at Pensacola, Florida, for flight training; and one week at Kings Bay, Georgia, for submarine training. The second cruise is spent out in the fleet on a surface vessel or submarine. Because these cruises are in the fleet, they vary in length, according to how long the ship or
submarine is at sea. Once a submarine submerges, a Mid is on board for the duration. 2/C cruises can range from three to five weeks in length. Note that all Mids are required to do a surface cruise during their 2/C or 1/C summer. In addition, there are opportunities to work as a detailer, training the entering Plebe class, or to attend summer school.

First-class summer

First-class cruises occupy a minimum of eight weeks, which can be spent on a surface ship or submarine or with an aviation squadron. Mids considering the Marine Corps can spend four weeks in an officer candidate course at Quantico and another four weeks with a Fleet Marine Force unit. Selected Mids can substitute a four-week internship for half of their eight weeks. Opportunities as a detailer and to attend summer school are also available.

PLEBE YEAR

All Plebes take the same courses. During this first year, your Mid will be required to attend Majors Briefings to get an overview of what courses of study are available. By the end of Plebe year, he or she will have selected a major and been assigned an advisor who will counsel your Mid and track his or her progress, making certain that all graduation requirements are being met. Your Mid will be asked to sign a form authorizing the Academy to send his or her grades home.  If he or she does not sign the form, you will not receive grades in the mail. At the end of the year, Plebes will participate in Sea Trials, a day-long exercise designed to put to the test everything Plebes have learned during the year academically, mentally, and physically. In its first outing in 1998, Sea Trials were held in late April. The end point of Plebe year is still the Herndon climb, and additional privileges are not granted until after that.

YOUNGSTER YEAR

Youngsters serve as mentors for the class that follows them. Each Plebe is assigned to a Youngster, whose role is one of guidance. In the spring of the Youngster year, 3/C Mids select a stone and order their class rings. It is the responsibility of Youngsters to grease Herndon Monument for the Plebes to climb.

2/C YEAR

2/C Mids are responsible for training the Plebe class. In the fall, the jeweler returns to the Yard to fit class rings,  which are not issued until February. 2/C are permitted to wear their rings on the Yard for a period of one week. It is then returned to its box, not to be worn on the Yard until after the Mid's date dips it in a binnacle containing waters from the Seven Seas at the Ring Dance during Commissioning Week. In the fall of the 2/C year, Mids undergo a precommissioning physical, which will identify any physical problems that will affect a Mid's choice of service branch. Pilots and submariners must have near-perfect vision (20/35). Waivers can be obtained for submariners, but no waivers are permitted for pilots. Later in the year, 2/C will submit a "wish" list of how they would like to fulfill their service obligation. In the spring of this year, most 2/C are offered a loan by the Navy Federal Credit Union. Only a certain number of loans are  available. If the class roster exceeds that number, not all 2/C receive loans. For the most part, they are offered to Mids in rank order. The amount of the loan varies, but is usually about $17,000. The interest rate is below market, and payments do not begin until after graduation. Some Mids use the money to buy a car, fund the Ring Dance, or begin an investment program. Carefully invested money can earn more than the interest rate being charged.

1/C YEAR

Firsties run the brigade. Those in positions of authority are known as "stripers" for the stripes that identify their rank from one stripe to six. To maximize the number of Mids who gain leadership experience, stripers rotate at the semester break. Service assignments are announced late in January. Firsties learn in what branch of the Navy they will serve and where their next duty station will be.

Commissioning Week begins with the Dedication Parade and the Herndon Climb and includes the Ring Dance, the Superintendent's Garden Party, a baccalaureate service in the Chapel, Glee Club Performances, the Blue Angels, various balls, and the Color Parade at which the Color Company is announced, and, of course, graduation and commissioning. At the end of the ceremony, Mids toss their Midshipman's cover in the air and trade it for an officer's cover. By tradition, new officers present a silver dollar to the first person to salute them.

PLEBES CLIMB HERNDON MONUMENT TO OFFICIALLY BECOME 4TH CLASS

In 1998, the Naval Academy instituted Sea Trials to culminate Plebe year. However, the defining moment that ends Plebe year is still the climbing of Herndon monument. The ceremony originated sometime before 1800 when the Plebes celebrated their newfound freedom from the rigors of  fourth- class status by rushing from Dahlgren Hall to the monument. The actual climbing of the greased monument began around 1955. Until 1979, the lawn around the monument was also rototilled and soaked with water and crankcase grease, which made it very messy indeed!

The monument has withstood the trauma year after year. It was erected in 1859 to memorialize Cdr. William L. Herndon, lost with the mail steamer Central America in a fierce storm off Cape Hatteras in 1857. Legend has it that the Plebe to reach the top of the monument will be the first in the class to make the rank of admiral. Although the legend has yet to prove itself, the spirit of the tradition thrives.

MONUMENT CLIMB TIMES

(Add 3 years to the dates for the Class Year)

1973 1:50

1974 :46

1975 1:30

1976 :59

1977 2:33

1978 1:22

1979 2:09

1980 2:43

1981 1:00

1982 1:44

1983 1:43:55

1984 2:22:00

1985 3:12:23

1986 1:23:07

1987 1:51:20

1988 :43:44

1989 1:55:30

1990 1:34:50

1991 2:36:57

1992 2:21:37

1993 1:38:20

1994 1:44:20

1995 4:05:17

1996 2:08:46

1997 2:55:17

1998 2:22:59


First Recorded - 1962....00:03:00

Fastest to Date - 1969....00:01:30

Slowest to Date - 1995...04:05:17

NAUTICAL NOTES

The Naval Academy began its life as the Naval School, founded by Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft in 1845 on 10 acres of land. Since then, the campus has expanded to 338 acres, and the original student body of 60 has grown to 4000. For many years, the Naval Academy was a male-only institution. All that changed when women were admitted in 1976. Fifteen percent of the class of 2002 are women.

At one time, graduates of the Naval Academy served two years in the fleet as Midshipmen before being commissioned as officers and therefore had to keep their Midshipman hats. The class of 1912, however, received officer caps and, in a spontaneous gesture, tossed their Midshipman hats into the air, the start of a tradition that symbolizes graduation from the Academy.

The Yard, as the Naval Academy campus is called, features tree-lined brick walks, French Renaissance and contemporary architecture, and scenic vistas of Chesapeake Bay. The Bancroft Hall complex, which includes the dormitory that houses the entire Brigade, the Cathedral of the Navy, and other buildings older than 80 years old make the Academy a National Historic Site.

In 1906, Lt. Charles Zimmerman, who was musical director of the Naval Academy, wrote the tune for Anchors Aweigh. Lyrics were written by Alfred H. Miles (class of 1906). It was a fight song for the 1907 graduating class instead of the usual class march Zimmerman had composed for previous classes. The song made its debut at the 1906 Army-Navy game, and when the Midshipmen won the game, the song became traditional at the annual reprise of the game. It gained national exposure in the 1920s and 1930s when it was heard on the radio and was in a number of popular movies. In 1998, Anchors Aweigh was ranked the fifth best fight song in the nation by William Studwell in his book entitled College Fight Songs: An Annotated Anthology.

The first Army-Navy game was played in 1890 at the instigation of West Point Cadet Dennis Michie ('92). It seems that West Point had never fielded a football team before, but Cadet Michie was sure that if Navy challenged Army to a game, the Military Academy would come up with a team. So Cadet Michie got some friends at the Naval Academy to issue the challenge, and a tradition was born. Played on a frozen field at West Point, the inaugural game was won by Navy 24-0.

The first Bill the Goat made his debut at that game, having been "drafted" from the noncommissioned officers' quarters at West Point. In 1893, an animal named "El Cid" (The Chief) was turned over to the Brigade by young officers of the U.S.S. York. El Cid helped Navy to a 6-4 triumph over Army that year. Other animals and birds who have enjoyed brief reigns as Navy mascots include two cats, a dog, and a carrier pigeon. Goats have served without interruption since 1904.

In 1893, the superintendent at West Point, Col. Oswald Ernst, deemed the Army-Navy game disruptive of discipline, and the teams were prohibited from playing each other. The teams from each academy went on to play other teams but did not meet again on a football field until 1899.

No games were played in 1909, 1917, 1918, 1928, or 1929. The overall record going into the 1999 game is Army 48, Navy 43, Tied 7. Nine of the last 10 games of the series have been decided by five points or less. Five of the last nine have been won by two points or less, and six of the last nine have been decided in the game's final minute. A recent nonscientific online survey ranked the Army-Navy game the third-best college rivalry (6113 votes) behind Texas-Texas A&M (9057) and Virginia- Virginia Tech (8972) and just ahead of Michigan-Ohio State (5096).

The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy is presented annually to the winner of the football competition among the three major service academies (Army, Navy, and Air Force). The trophy is named in honor of the President of the United States. Air Force has dominated the winning of the trophy in recent years. When there is no clear-cut winner, the trophy remains with the previous year's winner. This occurred in 1974, '76, '80, and '93. The three-sided trophy stands two-and-a-half feet tall and is engraved with the academy seals. Reproductions of the three mascots Army Mule, Navy Goat, and Air Force Falcon are ensconced on the respective sides of the trophy. The Trophy is sponsored by the West Point Association of Graduates, the Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Air Force Association of Graduates. The year in which the Trophy is won is engraved on a plate gracing the respective academy's side of the Trophy. excerpted from The Trident, October 11, 1996.

The Alumni Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of one of two regular-season basketball pairings between Army and Navy. The trophy consists of two silver plates, one with the U.S. Military Academy seal and the other with the U.S. Naval Academy seal. It is the gift of Capt. Victor Delano, USN (Ret.), a 1941 graduate of the Naval Academy. In any sport, members of varsity teams who qualify for their varsity letter receive an N-Star if they participate in a victory over Army. In a 1998 poll conducted by the Princeton Review, the Naval Academy was ranked as follows: #1 in schools where town-gown relations are good; #1 in schools that produce future rotarians and Daughters of the American Revolution; #2 in students happy with financial aid; #2 in schools where students from different backgrounds interact; #2 in schools where everyone plays intramural sports; #3 in stone-cold sober schools; #6 in schools with great libraries; #6 in schools where students never stop studying; #7 in toughest to get into; #8 in students most nostalgic for Reagan; #10 in least happy students; #10 in schools where students pack the stadiums; #13 in non-party schools; #14 for having dorms like dungeons; #15 for professors who make themselves accessible.

LIST OF ACCOMMODATIONS IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

55 East Bed and Breakfast
55 East Street
Annapolis, MD
410-295-0202

American Heritage Bed & Breakfast
108 Charles Street
Annapolis, MD
410-280-1620

Annapolis Accommodations
Roomfinders Realty Inc.
Annapolis, MD
410-263-3262

Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel
80 Compromise Street
Annapolis, MD
800-336-0072 & 410-268-7555

Ark N Dove Bed & Breakfast
149 Prince George Street
Annapolis, MD
410-268-6277

The Barn on Howard's Cove B&B
500 Wilson Road
Annapolis, MD
410-571-9511

Blue Heron (Bed & Breakfast)
172 Green Street
Annapolis, MD
410-263-9171

Charles Inn (Bed & Breakfast)
74 Charles Street
Annapolis, MD
410-268-1451

Chesapeake Bay Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast
1423 Sharps Point Road
Annapolis, MD
410-757-0248

Chesapeake Harbour Hotel
2002 Chesapeake Harbour Drive East
Annapolis, MD
410-757-6152

Chez Amis Bed & Breakfast
85 East Street
Annapolis, MD
410-263-6631

Comfort Inn
76 Old Mill Bottom Road North
Annapolis, MD
410-757-8500

Courtyard by Marriott
2559 Riva Road
Annapolis, MD
800-321-2211 & 410-266-1555

Days Inn Historic Annapolis
2520 Riva Road
Annapolis, MD
410-224-2800
Eastport House (Bed & Breakfast)
101 Severn Avenue
Annapolis, MD
410-295-9710

Econo Lodge
2451 Riva Road
Annapolis, MD
410-224-4317

Flag House Inn Bed & Breakfast
26 Randall Street
Annapolis, MD
410-280-2721

Gatehouse Bed & Breakfast
249 Hanover Street
Annapolis, MD
410-280-0024

Georgian House (Bed & Breakfast)
170 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, MD
410-263-5618

Gibson's Lodgings (Bed & Breakfast)
110 Prince George Street
Annapolis, MD
410-268-5555

Hampton Inn & Suites
124 Womack Drive
Annapolis, MD
800-42517866 & 410-571-0200

Holiday Inn
210 Holiday Court
Annapolis, MD
410-224-3150

The Jonas Green House (Bed & Breakfast)
124 Charles Street
Annapolis, MD
410-263-5892

Knights Inn
69 N. Old Mill Bottom Road
Annapolis, MD
410-349-1600

Loews Annapolis Hotel
126 West Street
Annapolis, MD
800-526-2593 & 410-263-7777

Maggy Malloy's (Bed & Breakfast)
1303 West Street
Annapolis, MD
410-263-5410

Merry Walk (Bed & Breakfast)
105 Market Street
Annapolis, MD
410-268-6233

The Navy Lodge
347 Kinkaid Road<
Annapolis, MD
800-628-9466
410-757-7900

Prince George Inn Bed & Breakfast
232 Prince George Street
Annapolis, MD
410-263-6418

Reynolds Tavern (Bed & Breakfast)
7 Church Circle
Annapolis, MD
410-626-0380

Residence Inn by Marriott
170 Admiral Cochran Drive
Annapolis, MD
800-331-3131 & 410-573-0300

Scot Laur Inn
165 Main Street
Annapolis, MD
410-268-5665

The Gloucester House (Bed & Breakfast)
Annapolis, MD
410-268-6323

Traveler in Maryland Inc.
Carefully Selected Bed & Breakfast
Accommodations - Throughout Maryland
202-518-6066

Two-O-One Bed & Breakfast
201 Prince George Street
Annapolis, MD
410-268-8053

William Page Inn (Bed & Breakfast)
8 Martin Street
Annapolis, MD
410-626-1506

Wyndham Garden Hotel
173 Jennifer Road
Annapolis, MD
410-266-3131

Updated January 15, 1999

CHURCHES IN THE ANNAPOLIS AREA

(Please call the church of your choice for service hours.)

APOSTOLIC

Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church
64 Clay Street
410-267-8029

ASSEMBLY OF GOD

Annapolis Assembly of God
911 Cedar Park Road
410-263-2600

BAPTIST

Heritage Baptist Church
1740 Forest Dr.
410-263-6680

CHARISMATIC

Bay Ridge Christian Church
1071 Bay Ridge Road
410-263-2992

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

First Church of Christ Scientist
Maryland Avenue & Prince George Street
410-263-2580

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Capital Church of Christ
1790 Lincoln Drive
410-269-0788

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS

Annapolis Ward meets at 1875 Ritchie Highway
410-757-3600

EASTERN ORTHODOX

St. Constantine & St. Helen
2747 Riva Road
410-573-2072

EPISCOPAL

St. Anne's Parrish
199 Duke of Gloucester Street
410-267-9333

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

North Annapolis Congregation
65 Tarragon Lane
410-266-8067

JEWISH

Congregation Kneseth Israel
Hilltop Lane & Spa Road
410-263-3924

LUTHERAN

St. Paul's Church
31 Rowe Boulevard
410-268-2400

NAZARENE

Church of the Nazarene
1309 Bay Ridge Avenue
410-263-2183

PRESBYTERIAN

First Presbyterian Church
Duke of Gloucester and Conduit Streets
410-267-8705

ROMAN CATHOLIC

St. Mary's Catholic Parish
103 Duke of Gloucester St.
410-263-2396

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST

Beacon Light Seventh-Day Adventist
Drew & Middle Streets
410-268-8436

UNITARIAN

Unitarian Universalist of Annapolis
333 Dubois Road
410-266-8044

UNITED METHODIST

Asbury United Methodist
87 West St.
410-268-9500

U.S. Naval Academy Chapel Sunday Services *

Catholic 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Protestant 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Jewish Friday 7:30 p.m.

NAVAL ACADEMY PHONE NUMBERS

AREA CODE (410)

Main Operator (Information) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .293-1000

Main Office (Bancroft Hall) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-5001/2/3

Battalion Offices (Messages)

1st (Co. 1-5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .293-7110/7100

2nd (Co. 6-10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-7210/7200

3rd (Co. 11-15). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-7310/7300

4th (Co. 16-20). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-7410/7400

5th (Co. 21-25). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-7510/7500

6th (Co. 26-30). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-7610/7600

Academic Dean's Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-1583

Action Information Line. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-3109

Alumni Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  263-4448

Athletic Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1-800-US4-NAVY) 268-6060

Band. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-3282

Candidate Guidance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1-800-638-9156) 293-1857

Chaplain's Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-1100

Commandant's Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  293-7005

Counseling Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-4897

Gift Shop (Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .268-3355

Mid (USNA) Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263-2908

Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-2108

Music Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-2439

Officer's Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263-8280

Omega World Travel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1-888-314-6956) 280-9755

Public Affairs (Trident editor). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-2291

Social Director and Sponsor Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .293-7128

Sports News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293-NAVY

INTERNET ADDRESSES

Navy Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . http://www.navysports.com

Parents' Club Home Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://www.glnicholas.com/nmparents.htm

Trident Newspaper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .http://www.dcmilitary.com

USNA Home Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . http://www.nadn.navy.mil

Webmaster Grant Nicholas, MCPO, USN (Ret.)