navy2010

before you go purchasing any more of those big 'ole ci-gars, let alone puff away on them, just remember that "Cigars contain the same addictive, toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes. In fact, a single large cigar can contain as much tobacco as an entire pack of cigarettes."

Words of caution from the American Lung Association.
Cigar Smoking Fact Sheet - American Lung Association site

Anyway, for those of you who want to maintain good lung function but might not like to hand over cold hard $$$$$$, might I suggest putting any $$$$ towards something they can really use!!!

And you will still have something to "wrap"!!!!!
How about getting eveyone to "chip in" for an "O-Coat!!!"
They are no longer "issued," but they sure come in handy come Army-Navy!!!! Even if that is the only day they wear it, it is worth every single cent! They will "thank you" more than you know!

They don't come cheap (although there are cheap ones out there).... but the good quality ones will run $350 and there is a difference between them! (another case of you get what you pay for!)


So what is an O-Coat?
It's known as an "officers coat" and is a long woolen coat worn over their SDB's during winter months.

Mids often purchase an O-Coat following service selection night their youngster year at the academy if they have not already received one from Mom and Dad for plebe christmas..... they hunt down the firsties going "marine" and, if the sizes match, they stike a deal! But you need to 1. find a marine, and 2. find the right size. Forget the firsties sticking with the naval fleet- they take their coats with them as official issue.

The USNA used to issue "O Coats" along with their other uniforms, however starting with the class of 2010 they switched to all weather gortex coats that are fine most of the time when they are down in Annapolis, but just don't "cut it" come those freezing winter days! The mids can wear either coat as both are "official issue," thus many parents go out and purchase one if not that first year (they have not experienced army-navy in gortex yet!).... but by the time their youngster year rolls around, everyone is looking for one!..... I know there was a run on 44R this past christmas amongst the 2010 parents (so much so that they were on a 3 month backorder!)

Now that would make a great graduation gift from all the aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa, brothers and sisters, and mom and dad! ANd to make it even more "special," have your Mid's name embroidered with his USNA class year on the inside!

Anyway- just an idea!
And just think- every time they put that warm coat on, it will be like wrapping your loving arms around them!!!!

If you are interested and want the site, send me a PM!

NorthernCalMother

When our son graduated from high school, we gave him a check to start an IRA, packaged in an elaborate folder I made up about IRAs. To our surprise, he actually enjoyed researching investment options (ended up w/ USAA).

When he graduated from NAPS the next year, we bought him a few shares of Whole Foods stock, since he's a health food nut and loves the store. It's tanked since then (well done, Mom) but he's learned a lot following it and coming up w/ a strike price. He now speaks w/ pride of his "portfolio" and decided to major in Econ @ USNA.

(I SO want to take credit for that, but he's thrifty by nature and would probably have landed in Econ anyway ... probably.)

grad/dad

The old wool overcoat was great. However, having spent 1970 A-N in the rain, I would much rather have had the gortex. The wool coat must have weighed and additional 50 pounds by the end of the game and did not smell very good during the rest of the evening and for about 4 weeks after that. But the old wool coat is nice and is a great conversation piece after retirement. My wife has confiscated my Reefer coat for personal use.

navy2010

^^^see!!! It can even be recycled!!!! A "gift that keeps on giving!!!"

PlebeMom2012

I must proclaim my solidarity with the cigar aficionados. When I look back on my life so far, some of my most potent and meaningful memories are of the warm summer evenings I have spent with my husband sharing a good cigar, a cocktail, and conversation. We have formulated dreams, made plans, aligned our thinking regarding child rearing, worked our way through the stresses and complications of life, shared countless laughs, learned to understand each other on a deeper level, and learned to blow awesome smoke rings. There is something about the ritual, the camaraderie, the tradition of sharing a cigar that facilitates deep bonding and is thoroughly pleasurable. One thing that I have come to understand is that life will kill you. If the few dozen cigars my husband and I have shared through the years takes a half hour off my life, it was time very well spent. Like everything else, moderation is the key. We take very good care of ourselves and have taught our son to do the same. And, oh yeah, there will definitely be a very good cigar coming his way for graduation...this kid wants to be a SEAL, for goodness sake...an occasional cigar will be the least of his worries when it comes to potential threats.

No offense meant to anyone, just my two cents worth.

navy2010

no offense, but have had my fair share of ventilator-dependent patients who have spent one too many warm summer evenings sharing a good cigar, coctail and conversation! At least do yourself a favor and don't inhale!

Back to O-coats-
ok, my "inbox" has been maxed out!

you can order the O coat (also called a Bridge coat) at www.navy-nex.com
follow links to military uniforms- then navy uniforms- then scroll way down to outerware.

To answer the questions received:
1. you will need your mid's name and last 4 digits of ss# to access site. You may have to wait until after they are issued their alpha numbers on I-Day and become "active military." (as with all "official issue," they don't want these things to get into the wrong hands!) In the meantime, give your mid an IOU for "one very lovely, very warm, very practical Officers Coat!"

2. Yes, there is a bridge coat for women... typical sizes in short, regular and x-long....again, get the same size as they are issued for the gortex one.

3. Size: order the same size as the gortex one they get issued (so if they get issued a 44R in gortex, order 44R in bridge coat, ditto for short and XL).

4. XL: don't order XL UNLESS they are issued XL in gortex (the length is regulation)

5. O-Coats are NOT available at the MID STORE- you have to order at this site. They MAY be available at the mid's uniform shop in bancroft (parents do not have access to that area)- but I am not sure. Most parents I know ordered the coats online at the site above.

6.Buyer beware: if you google, you will find other sites selling "brige" and "o-coats" on-line for about half the price..... unfortunatly parents have found out the hard way that they are not only poor quality, but more importantly, they are not regulation issue.... so mids can, and do, get in trouble for wearing them. Do yourself- and your Mid- a favor and stick to the regulation one..... as dad-grad pointed out, his is 38 years old, has been soaking wet, but it is still good enough for his wife to confiscate!!!

PlebeMom2012

Cigars are never inhaled.

navy2010

^^^ cigars "should never be" inhaled. Unfortunately many do.
And just as unfortunately, those that simply pool the smoke in their mouth to puff out those rings still suffer the consequences of oral and laryngeal cancers, and even esophageal cancer from the spit that gets swallowed (with or without spitoon!)

Did you know that Memorial Hall was once known as Smoke Hall? Not sure they served coctails though.....

I do believe in "live and let live," just as I believe one should be free to pick their own poison. We all have our vices, and I can think of ones worse than this!

And while I am not a flag-waiving anti-smoker, I still hate to see kids follow in some footprints......

no harm no foul, but my vote is still for $$$$, an o-coat or even those anchor bookends over a cigar humidor! Why bait the fish????

zrmvrhs08

I believe you are pushing the ussue a little too hard navy2010. We get your point, it does not need to be readdressed with every post.

There are many midshipman that do smoke, not saying its ok, but it is a freedom they do have. A once in awhile cigar will not kill them, plus it is something that is made quite clear in society, that smoking is bad for you so it is a risk they take upon themselves.

Jaybee9590

was thinking the same

I honestly don't think anyone spending a few nights a year smoking a cigar would become a "ventilator-dependent patient".

JackTraveler

If he wants a cigar humidor thing go get him one. Nice cigars are good to have for big things like dining out where it's tradition and almost everyone smokes one. It won't kill him or even affect his running if he doesn't do it often.
And navy2010. Smoke hall is beneath memorial hall... and it's still called that.
Those Gortex jackets are about the ugliest thing known. My grandma called me after Army/Navy and asked why we were all in different uniforms. She thought that the wool and gortex were compeltely different, which I guess the kind of are. The gortex one's are not warm and we were miserable during the game. I'll be getting the real one this summer, so I suggest that as a good present.

kevinsmom

I'm totally with navy2010!

grad/dad

O-Coat stands for Overcoat, not officer's coat. The coat is also worn by CPOs. You can find the coats at many surplus stores on-line, and may also be referred to as a Bridge Coat. By the way, I never wore my overcoat after graduation. I left it in my roommate's car and it was later discovered in the attic of his parent's house. The Reefer and foul weather jacket served me well in the Surface Navy.

GoinToUSNA08

Well put.

And thanks for the fun facts navy2010, but I have learned responsible tobacco use from my father who has smoked cigars at an average of 1 every 2 weeks for his entire life.

Many of my most important decisions have been discussed and decided upon over a good cigar.

And I have about 2 a month, and I'm pretty sure its not affecting my lung function as I run 3 miles daily.

But again, thanks for the tips.

Luigi59

Great post.

I highly recommend JR Cigars