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<p>Well, if it’s any consolation-based on the past 2 years:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Health Issues- there appears to be a number of concerns regarding brigade medical. Personally, for us it has been a mixed bag- but overall “ok”- not “great,” but “adequate.” Weekends present a problem- not unlike any other civilian campus. The key is to be persistant (I am speaking of your Mid)- go back if the situation does not improve (at best) or at least stablize. Medical seems to do a great job with sprains and strains and broken bones and trauma-type injuries- it’s the other medical issues that seem to cause the difficulty. Again, no better but no worse than what we experienced in the civilian university system. Having Bethesda as a backup for anything serious is a big plus.</p></li>
<li><p>Adequate Diet-with the exception of what I trust will be an isolated “28” days in the course of “our” “4 years by the bay,” the meals have otherwise been “reasonably tolerable.” Some exceptions for sure, but then again, pleasing everyone at the table is a daunting task- even when I have only 4 of them at it!!! Imagine the challenge of 4000+ three times a day!! The current Master Chief has really worked hard this past year with the Mids (according to the buzz) with some improvements - some much favored items brought back, other new things being tried, and a new rating system that mirrors the one in the fleet (at least that is the message). Fish never seems well received, no matter how it is served- and it usually pops up at least once a week- and on those nights, there is always an opportunity for take-out delivered to zero gate. There is also now a yard card where parents can apply funds to be spent in the Midstore and Dalghren- and now expanded to the uniform shop and other places on the yard. It is my understanding the administration is seeking additional funding for meals which, if approved, should help. </p></li>
<li><p>Poor Academic Performance. The worry need only be applied to your mid, and how much help they are seeking. The academy does a fantastic A+ job in the education offered, the extra instruction available, and in monitoring performance- and they monitor ad nauseum from every level of the COC. So no worries on this issue from the academy side of things- this one sits squarely on the Mids themselves.</p></li>
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<p>I fully agree that parents need to stay in the background on these issues-unless there is an urgent and immediate risk to life. But even then, the MOC would be the last person to call. The USNA posts numbers to Bancroft, and in the case of emergency, one can get a message up the COC pretty quickly from the outside. The chaplins are another terrific resource if parental concerns arise that cannot be addressed directly with your Mid- and they are one huge asset for the Brigade. HUGE.</p>
<p>To tell you the truth, none of those reasons should be a deal-breaker. What tends to get reported are the isolated “extremes,” - which in light of all the really great things that go on, is really a shame. There are some new people at the academy that, by all appearances, have been working hard to resolve some of the issues brought forth. In that regard, the Master Chief has been great, and there is a new Dant that, from what I have “heard,” is an effective communicator and at first glance, seems to be able to relate to the Brigade a bit better. The pendulum was at one extreme, then it swung to the other- it would be nice to see it settle down a bit in the middle, but it is not “our” call. We get to watch, support, and sometimes dust them off a bit… but even that gets less and less with each passing year, as it should be.</p>
<p>Best of luck! I am still of the belief that it is an opportunity of a lifetime!!!</p>