<p>This is a forum for Naval Academy discussion. With this fact is the notion that we are in a military environment, which I agree with since most of the posters are graduates, midshipmen, or parents. When an outsider inquires about information, I think it’s our responsibility to conduct ourselves as supportive parents, and wholesale naval officers. We uphold the highest standards of professionalism, so what would a normal high school senior think about a bunch of bickering parents and professionals in an online COLLEGE forum? Does this discussion make the Academy more appealing to the candidate?</p>
<p>As for ordering current or former naval officers around, it is easy for anyone to say that they have the ability to do it because it’s ONLY an online forum. Keeping mind, there is someone who on the proverbial other side of the computer screen that you can’t see who is leading America’s best or had been at one time. Even in a forum, you should address these people as “sir” or “ma’am” since they have earned the title, and the fact that we can’t see them face to face does not negate this fact.</p>
<p>I just couldn’t imagine not calling an officer by their proper title, let alone giving them an order. It doesn’t matter if you’re a plebe, youngster, firstie, or subordinate officer.</p>
<p>So again, in response to the original poster’s question, hopefully one thing you DO learn in plebe year is respect of your superiors, which is not the worst part of plebe year in case anyone’s told you that.</p>
<p>You’ll have other things to worry about than addressing upperclass or officers as “sir” or “ma’am” so just let that be one of the easy things you learn on I-Day and never forget it, and by golly stay humble.</p>