baltimore57

Are plebes allowed to have iPhones during the AC year? Since these phones give them access to media and music...we were just wondering if it would be better to buy son a new phone without that access.

Kathie

it depends on the company and your plebe's self control. some companies will allow more phone usage than others. none of the plebes should have media during the ac year unless special priviledges have been granted. many will get priviledge during army week.
if your plebe can exercise self control and use their phone for phone calls only without using the media features, he/she should be fine. he will be on his honor not to use the other features.

2012mom?

Currentmid or other upperclassmen/recent grads: Would a Plebe with an iphone attract "unnecessary attention" in your companies?

bluesky2012

it doesn't matter. no one cares honestly. I had plenty of friends with iPhones during plebe year. no biggie.

If you are good, then you can do what me n my friends did, I had a big screen tv, an xbox, etc. you can get away with a lot if you learn the system

GoNavy!

Wow, bluesky, I think it matters a great deal what company you are in. Some companies got many privileges. Some got none.

Dadandgrad

I would also ask about coverage at USNA. Given that Annapolis is the state capital I would think the coverage would be good. My son is at NASS right now and texting us without issue. I don't know if he has 3G or a wi-fi network to tap into. We love our iPhones so I hope you get to use yours there!

USNA2012Mom

Cell service is not an issue outside, but inside Bancroft it can be tricky. Our son had to be near the window to talk from his room. He has used Verizon and AT&T with the same results. He loves his iphone. He emailed us from his summer cruise. Wishes his phone worked. He says that his phone is 4 times faster than ship internet.

Kathie

there are serious issues about coverage inside Bancroft. some rooms get zero coverage no matter which network you have. there are some windows & passageways where coverage is okay. as a plebe, there are places that you just don't want to hang out while talking on the phone, especially since they are not permitted to "talk and walk."

Mom2Mid

Midshipmen can not "walk and talk" while in uniform. Most, including Plebes, talk outside near the doors, on Red Beach. Another popular place, especially for Plebes is out side of the library, just before going in to study. Plebes are not supposed to be on phones during protected study time in the evening.

navy2010

Word of Caution on Media and I-Phones and Things That Make Music in the Night


Media and music are generally not privileges afforded to plebes, unless as designated by their company. They are privileges, and like all other privileges, must be earned, and granted.

Companies will differ as to when and where such privileges are granted. While "learning the system" (aka: you rate what you skate) is tolerated by some companies, in others it will get you in a whole heap of trouble.

Parents:
This is my advice to you, take it or leave it.
Our kids are still "kids." We like to think they will be perfect, but truth be told they are not. When they are away from home, lonely, homesick, yelled at all day, fed up with the system, angry and frustrated with the rules and regs, the temptation to flirt with the "line" can get intense. You THINK they will never cross over, but too often they do just that- all of a sudden little Johnny, who has never, ever, been in trouble, now is denied an overnight for PPW, or coming home for Thanksgiving, because they have been "caught" doing something they shouldn't have. Music, video- not allowed UNTIL it is allowed.

It is hard enough without dangling the carrot in front of them. You can help by not sending the carrot to begin with. You "think" you are being supportive, but how will you feel if it is YOUR PLEBE who gets nailed?

The rules and regs are there for a reason. If we, as parents, cannot respect them, how can we expect our new plebes will?

Support them in this endeavor. Give them a plain old cell phone for now- hopefully one with service that will reach them in Bancroft. Send them the media-packed I-phone AFTER they have been granted media privileges. SUPPORT the rules- don't try and game the system to get around them- what would you want and expect your new plebe to do?

Will some get away with it? Yes- in some aspects, yes.
But then again, there are eyes everywhere.
Think about the plebe in the company that follows the rules to the letter- he/she sees your plebe skating away with a bunch of junk- how do you think the first one will "rank" the skater when the time comes?

We delude ourselves to think all are governed by truth, honor, etc-
the truth is these kids are still kids- they do stupid things, at stupid times, getting into a lot of stupid trouble, for stupid reasons, and there is enough "jealousy" at this stage of the game to ensure - at some point- that "justice" is served. Ranking is one heck of an equalizer.

Trust your plebe to "do the right thing"- and then do whatever you can to support that action. DON'T SEND THE MUSIC, VIDEOS, CONTRABAND, ETC- just don't! Help them to help themselves!

really-
There is ALWAYS SOMEONE who "cares," not necessarily in ways you want them to!

That's it.
Now you can tell me how wrong I am, that they are all angels, that they will "never, ever stray," that "I did it and it was fine," etc.

I will sit here and say, "silly little grasshopper- you have much to learn."

Parents- honestly- do what you can to help them. We can't help them much, but we can make it a bit smoother by taking out some of the ruts that get them tripped up. Send them the phone, without the music and video. When they earn media privileges at some point during plebe year, it will make a nice "gift" to upgrade to that I-Phone. Think "stocking stuffer!"

Best of luck to the Class of 2013!
Have a great I-Day!
And just remember- as bad as it gets, know that the "Class of 2014 Hopefuls" are already getting their candidate numbers!

USNA2012Mom

When our son left for plebe summer he was an adult and capable of making adult decisions. His iphone was his, not ours. He knew the rules regarding media, so it was his call to make. (no pun intended). He took the iphone to plebe summer. At PPW he decided to not keep the service. We put a military hold on the iphone service with AT&T. We told them where he was stationed and that he could not use MP3's. He then went to Verizon and got a cheaper plan that allowed him to call GF for free. He was very careful with his $100.00 per month. Halfway through second semester he decided to reactivate the iphone. By that time he found out what he could and couldn't have/do and made the choices accordingly. He feels he could have had the iphone the entire time, but what is past is past. He did keep the iphone as an ipod. He needed it for the flights home and the times he was granted media.

Krypter

I wouldn't suggest taking Bluesky2012's advice. 2012 as a whole has a reputation of being incredibly ratey...meaning they think that the "system" owes them things they clearly haven't earned.

But hey, what do you expect from a class that has had the most honor offenses in the past 10 years?

usna09mom

bluesky

I really question whether this person is truly a midshipman or not because his statement is downright preposterous. The majority who have responded on this thread, moms, mids, and dads, are much more pragmatic about life in Mother B. Media during plebe year may be a reward in many companies. My daughter missed music so much, but she had the distinction of being in the color company for several semesters (at least five or six), so they had very few privileges during plebe year. She kept her iPod and laptop at her sponsor's home, attended music concerts on the Yard, in Washington,D.C., finally had a keyboard in her room firstie year.

Krypter speaks the truth.

I highly recommend incoming/prospective candidates reread navy2010's post more than once because she is giving you valuable advice.

USNA'02

Well, back when I was a plebe we weren't allowed cell phones at all.

My recommendation would be just to get your plebe a simple flip phone, it would reduce your phone bill anyway. With today's technology I'm sure they can use things like Skype anyway and since they wont spend much time off the Yard during their Plebe year a simple flip phone should do. If you want to send them an iPhone and such I recommend keeping all the contraband at their sponsor families house.

As far as Bluesky2012's comment I'm disturbed to hear such comments. I know that if my fellow USMA '02 friend heard such a comment she would give a good ribbing about how "easy it is at USNA". I have several classmates who are currently company commanders and instructors at USNA right now and I'm going to be checking into this b/c I'm not happy to hear this is going on at all. Those are privileges of becoming an upperclassman, not just being "good"

Best wishes to the Class of 2013 and for the parents of the class of 2013.

CurrentMid

Iphone no big deal as long as you keep the media off. Can't use Skype on the yard (DOD network) is a pain when you have friends doing study abroad...