United States Naval Academy - Lucky Bag Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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Pletx- Detail 27

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PLEBE DETAIL Plebe Summer . . . AGAIN! This time, upperclass midshipmen saw things from the other side. Charged with transforming ' 91 from long-haired civilians to clean-cut, sharp midshipmen, the Class of ' 88, as- sisted by a few of ' 89, at last put into practice what three years of leadership training had instilled in them. Secretary Webb resurrected the requirement for plebes to be braced at all times, thus ' 88 had to enforce something that they themselves did not have to do. Using Squad Leader Instruction Periods, each first class had the opportunity to offer his or her own philosophy on what it meant to be a midshipman and a naval officer. Everyone knew that plebe summer was intensely difficult for the new fourth class, but for the first and second class, the journey was just as treacherous, albeit in different aspects. Taps was at 2215 for the plebes; however, the firsties stayed awake a few more hours to evaluate the day and prepare for the next. Even so, reveille still went at 0500. The upperclass on plebe detail were totally responsible for at least thir- teen people. By summer ' s end, ' 91 was prepared to enter the Brigade as followers, and ' 88 was ready to lead. 10 26,

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SUMMER CRUISES Final exams were over, Herndon had been climbed, and the hats had been tossed in the air. The stage was set for summer cruises to begin. For the newly striped third class, cruise spelled free- dom at last — and a chance to get a taste of the real Navy. Some were sent to the Med and WestPac to visit exotic ports while others took the Greyhounds of the Severn to the Great Lakes. Sailtramid offered the adventures of riding the waves of the Atlantic to Bermuda. There was noth- ing like being on a boat with ten people who hadn ' t showered for three or more days. The second class were by far the luckiest of all during the summer months, for they were given the opportunity to excel for eight weeks of Ac- tramid Protramid. Actramid was a fry trap, but Protramid had Pensacola which offered the most liberty time. Thus the six days spent there were often hailed as a good time even if the T-34 flight on the morning after was a bit uncomfort- able. Meanwhile, the Firsties were off acting as junior officers on ships around the world. The seas weren ' t safe with middies at the con of an LST or FFG, but the ProDev Department took the risk in training Midshipmen to excel in the fleet. 28 Sumnic