Plebe is short for Plebeian, from the Latin meaning "a member of the ancient Roman lower class or common people" and lowly it is. But with determination and self discipline, you will meet the challenges of being a lowly Plebe one day at a time, with the help of your fellow classmates.

If you're not already in excellent physical condition, start getting that way now! Plebe summer will be very demanding and the hot, humid days of running and physical exercise will take its toll. In addition to getting in shape physically, candidates should begin acclimating their bodies to the new time schedule, 0530 - 2230 hours (5:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. well in advance of I-Day).

The purpose of the Plebe Summer is to prepare carefully screened civilians and military servicemen to be productive and competent Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. Commissioned officers of the Navy and Marine Corps, assisted by Upper Classmen from the Academy, are responsible for planning and supervising this transition. During Plebe Summer each Plebe is expected to acquire the basic military skills, professional knowledge and character qualities required by Academy standards. Plebes must overcome many demanding challenges and thereby develop increased stamina, mental alertness, and self-confidence. Plebe Summer is a time for personal rapid growth. It is both competitive and tough; but it is an exciting and rewarding experience which can be enjoyed and cherished for years to come.

If you are not a specialist in some sport, now may the time to try something that you may have never had the opportunity to participate in before, i.e. rugby, lacrosse, squash, or crew. You will also get an opportunity to enter the boxing ring in competition, though probably not before your second year.

Thoroughly digest the regulations governing the USNA and pay particular attention to the Plebe Indoctrination System, it is vital that you study and know your rates when asked.

You will not be allowed to lie down on your bed during the day until taps at night, so you should make sure that you are in great shape so you can survive all that marching, running, chopping, without a nap!

Get a regulation haircut before reporting in on I-Day. It won't keep you from getting another one that day, and once a week thereafter, during your Plebe year, but at least you won't be such a shock for Mom and Dad when they see you the first time during Parents Weekend.

Take a minimum of "civies". You will have to box them and send them home. You won't need civilian clothing for awhile, even a trip to the mailbox requires a uniform in town.

The academy issues most, if not all, necessities, but you will receive a list of what to bring with you. You may bring a few of your favorite snapshots, as Plebes do rate pictures, as long as they are kept under the clear plastic blotter on their desks.

Bring some medicated powder. Some of the Mids have developed body rashes from a combination of the chemicals in the fabric of the new uniforms and the very humid conditions that exist in the summer at Annapolis.

For most, once the uniforms are laundered, this is no longer a problem. Athlete's foot is a common ailment, however, and you may go through 2 or 3 cans of medicated powder before you finish the summer.

Consider the summer a survival challenge. You will not be the first one to have undergone this trying time, nor will you be the last. Take whatever harassment may be issued one moment at a time, everything has a purpose. You may not see that purpose during Plebe summer, but by the time you are a Youngster you will appreciate the "hidden motives". Don’t take the yelling personally.

Take an alarm clock along and organize your time. They will see that you get up, but you will not want to go out into the hall to see what time it is. A reliable, shock absorbing wrist watch is good to have also. Never allow 15 minutes to go by without doing something constructive. If nothing else is pressing immediately,...clean your room. You can never get it clean enough to pass inspection without some hits anyway.

Spending Money - Very little will be needed over Plebe summer, but an occasional coke is good. Also during the summer a couple outings are planned such as the Baltimore Orioles baseball game, at which time Mids eat a lot of hot dogs.

Get a Telephone Credit Card for your mid. It will make calling home a lot easier and quicker. A week to ten days after I-Day your Mid will be allowed to place his first phone call home and will know in advance what day and approximately what time his company will be able to call. Most Mids will know far enough in advance to write to you with the information. Don't be out when the call comes through. There are a lot of Mids who will be making the call, so let your Mid do the talking and don't waste the precious time with too many trivial questions. This is your Mid's first opportunity to hear something positive in the sea of negative to which he has been exposed.

Mail and Packages - Mail is crucial during plebe summer and during the entire plebe year. Take stamps, pre-addressed cards and envelopes with you. You will want to get your new address back home to family and friends as soon as possible. Write often. Encourage friends and family to write, but explain to them that they probably won’t receive a response because the plebes are so busy. Send pictures of friends, pets, the house, local community events - anything that keeps them in touch with home. Order a subscription to the local newspaper delivered by mail to your mid. Anything that keeps them up to date is greatly appreciated. It also serves as an icebreaker and makes it easier to learn about each other and to make friends more easily. Mail is very important as a morale booster. One plebe told of being encouraged to see a letter from home sitting on his desk even though he didn’t have a minute to tear it open and read it for two days. The proper way to address mail to a mid when the academic year starts:

Companies and Platoon Numbers Each Midshipman will be assigned an Alpha Number (ID Number), a Company letter ( there are a total of 15 companies, A-P ) and a Platoon Number for the Summer ( there will be a total of 30 platoons, two to each company ). Alpha Company = 1st & 2nd Plt Bravo Company = 3rd & 4th Plt Charlie Company = 5th & 6th Plt, etc. When the Brigade reforms following Plebe Summer your Mid's Platoon Number will become the Brigade Company Number. So if your Plebe is in Echo (E) Company, 10th Platoon during Plebe Summer, your Mid will probably end up in 10th Company for the Academic Year.

I-Day Suggestions - If you are planning on driving your mid to the academy, get there at the appointed time. Buy the class shirts and many other available souvenirs, if you want them. Many times they run out some of these items. To get a good seat for the actual swearing-in ceremony. Claim it by 3:00 PM as there are only two sets of bleachers. A place to meet your mid afterwards will be defined for you.

Mail a letter or postcard from Annapolis or home on I-Day, so mail comes as soon as possible. During the summer, send packages through the Postal Service. After the academic year begins, you can use UPS if you prefer, but packages shipped UPS must be picked up in a special area and plebes just don't have time to go and pick them up. The Postal Service delivers directly to their dorm area, so it is much more convenient for your mid.

A good Scientific Calculator is required. If you don't have one, don't rush to the store to buy one. You'll receive suggestions for the specific type in the material that will be provided for you at the Academy during orientation before the start of the academic year. The TI-92 Plus meets all these specifications and is the recommended calculator for use at the Naval Academy.

Computers will be issued to each new Plebe before the start of the academic year...Printers are not provided and while not necessary, as a master print room is available, a personal printer is certainly an asset. Sometimes one roommate will buy a printer and "rent" it to the other roommates for a specific fee for the semester. Your parents could bring your printer to you as soon as Plebe Parents Weekend, if you already have a printer at home.

E-mail - Shortly after the start of the academic year each new Plebe will be issued computer and an email address. You may contact them easily through their email address if you also have a computer and email address.

Prevention of Mutiny is one of the least known Mid traditions at the Yard. A Mutiny will be declared if an Upperclass Mid discovers there are more Plebes gathered in a room than may legally reside in that room (i.e., there are more Plebes in a room than there are racks). Upon an Upperclass Mid making the Declaration Of Mutiny, punishment for said Mutiny is then handed out. The punishment may be just about anything that the Upperclass Mid deems appropriate and may even include a trip to the shower, fully dressed, timed to occur approximately two minutes before any Formation.

If, however, an AMERICAN FLAG is present and prominently on display in the room where the Plebes are congregated, then a Mutiny cannot be declared. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that your Mid receive a small AMERICAN FLAG (4" x 6" with a small display stand) in one of your first Care Packages to be displayed in his or her room, so there can be no question that the Plebes in that room are not gathering to conspire in Mutiny.