<p>What is an alpha inspection? What type of assignments do the plebes have to complete to get an upperclassman to sign their signature sheets? What is a spirit board? My plebe has mentioned all of these terms in cryptic (to me) emails and I am trying to fill in the blanks.</p>
<p>Thanks (and Go Navy!).</p>
<p>ooh, I can actually answer this one! Alpha inspections: white glove and dark sock inspections of entire room Think perfection… Spirit boards: bulletin boards in company area. Think: teamwork and attention to detail. Sig sheets: plebes finding out the full name, hometown and major of every upperclassman. If they are right, they get signed off on them. They may be asked rates, etc. when asking for the signatures. Again, attention to detail. My plebe’s explanation:</p>
<p>Sig sheets: the bane of plebedom. Actually they aren’t horrible. You have to find out each mid’s hometown, major, and service selection. Then if you are right, they will sign your sheet. Of course the youngsters just give you their sigs and help you out with information (they saved their sig sheets so we can copy down the info, and we will do the same for 2011). The other upper class sometimes make you do random things or say rates, etc.</p>
<p>That really helps fill in the blanks.</p>
<p>If the company is lucky and has an artist or two in the bunch, they can make some MEAN spirit boards.</p>
<p>My company had none. :(</p>
<p>You think they’d ever let a mom or dad sneak in there and decorate the neglected boards? I’ll bet some parents would be great at it.</p>
<p>One of the many reasons for spirit boards and the like is to give plebes yet one more thing to do in their already crammed days and nights. One of the many things that makes USNA harder than civilian school – at civilian school, spirit activities are optional; at USNA, they’re not (at least for plebes). They also serve as yet another teambuilding activity.</p>
<p>Our plebe told us her company has 30 (?) spirit boards. For some reason they have more than any other company. Seems she and a few others have taken on the task and spent every available moment working on these things. As she put it, “I guess I am more artistic than I thought.” </p>
<p>One mid was so pleased with their efforts that he gave the three plebes a reward: they each got a pint of Ben and Jerry’s! That girl will do anythig for Phish Food!</p>
<p>On the subject of ‘sneaking in’…I learned from our daughter’s sponsor family that on Halloween families with young children are let into Bancroft Hall to trick or treat. </p>
<p>So I’m wondering if I dress up in costume as a little kid - can I trick or treat too??? :-)</p>
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<p>That’s a new one, especially post-9/11. 
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<p>Believe me, you didn’t want little kids ANYWHERE NEAR USNA on Halloween night when I was there. There was a guaranteed food fight in King Hall at dinner, and some of the costumes were decidedly adult-ish in nature. NOT for little kids.</p>
<p>…and that’s all I’m gonna say. :D</p>
<p>I know that the upperclass do trick-or-treat the plebes (send plenty of candy for your plebe to give out!) but I have never heard of kids in the hall. The pics I have seen do not include kids, but DEFINITELY contained costumes that were…interesting… to say the least! ;)</p>
<p>Oh yes, interesting, is definitely how to describe it. All I could think was ‘what will they think of next… and do I really wanna know?’ Gee, and to think in 2 years I might get to experiance 1st hand…</p>
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<p>I’m sure there’s a great story in that!</p>
<p>So, Peskemom, what would you dress up as to get in to see your Plebe?</p>
<p>(By the way, I just figgered (intentional sp) out the Quote and smilies thing. Old dogs and new tricks, etc.)</p>
<p>Hmmm. let’s see cougar…
a new year’s baby?
a cabbage patch doll?
I’m open to suggestions. :-)</p>
<p>I’d have to dress like Lucy Riccardo because my sneak in attempt would probably go like an episode of I Love Lucy.</p>
<p>“Luuccyy you got some splaining to do!..”</p>
<p>Heheh, yeah. I can just see the look of horror on Spider’s face. Sheesh, you’d think he’d be used to it after those pictures I got of prom…:)</p>
<p>Just kidding. Mostly.</p>
<p>A cleaning lady would probably have very little problem getting in. Lucy did that once didn’t she?</p>
<p>Oh, then I’ll have to go Carol Burnett. If you’re old like I am you remember her cleaning lady routine. Ah, classic TV!</p>
<p>That’s why I love TVLand. I still enjoy watching Green Acres to see what Lisa is wearing. But Carol Burnett is the best after all these years, She gets funnier as I get older. She was the best part of “Annie.”</p>
<p>How about dressing up as a West Point Cadet? That would definitely cause a stir.</p>