Navigating USMMA Summer Commitments for a Family Trip

NavalBaygel

NavalBaygel

USMMA co' 2028
Joined
Oct 2, 2023
Messages
19
Hello fellow Mariners,

I'm excited to share that I've been accepted into the USMMA (will most likely choose over the USNA), and I'm eagerly looking forward to starting this incredible journey this fall. As I start planning ahead, I'm faced with a bit of a dilemma regarding my family's plans and the academy's summer schedule.

My family has been organizing a significant trip to Italy for next summer, and I'm trying to understand if there's any possibility for me to join them amidst the rigorous training and sea year commitments required by the academy.

I realize that the USMMA has a very structured program, especially during the summer months, but I'm holding onto hope that there might be a short window or break that could allow for such a trip. I'm reaching out to this community for insights or advice on how to approach this situation, specifically looking for:

- Details on the typical summer schedule for USMMA midshipmen, especially after the first year, and if there are known breaks that could accommodate international travel.
- Advice on how to discuss this situation with academy staff or who specifically to reach out to for guidance.
- Any experiences or stories from current or former Kings Pointers who have managed to balance the academy's demands with significant family events or trips.

Any guidance, tips, or shared experiences would be immensely appreciated as I try to navigate this planning challenge. Thank you in advance for your support and advice!

Warm regards,

NavalBaygel
 
It is difficult to plan a trip like this because you cannot predict your summer schedule. Do not count on special leave for a family vacation. You will have to serve at least once in a leadership role during INDOC, and are sometimes told when you have to serve in that role. A significant number of plebes will have to repeat a failed course during the summer. You also cannot predict with certainty which split you will be assigned to and when you will be leaving for sea year. If your family can change the timing of your trip to a trimester break or Christmas break trip, that would be your best bet. Good luck.
 
Congratulations! That’s a great acceptance. Unfortunately you won’t be able to plan these kinds of things. Your vacation has to be around their schedule - they won’t change for yours. Part of going to a service academy.
 
MommaG said:
Congratulations! That’s a great acceptance. Unfortunately you won’t be able to plan these kinds of things. Your vacation has to be around their schedule - they won’t change for yours. Part of going to a service academy.
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I figured. They are willing to plan the trip around the schedule provided by the Academy. As far as I've seen, though, whether it's in the summer next year depends on which split I'm assigned for the class and when sea year is assigned to me.
 
If you are not B split, you may be able to travel in July of next year. We enjoyed an international trip in July after plebe year because my son was not B split for sea year. We were back before reporting day for next academic year. You have from end of trimester in June to beginning of trimester in July (about 4 weeks). I would make sure you are back 3-4 days before tri starts.
 
I was B-Split (quarter system back then) so once plebe year finished in mid-June I was on sea year until January. I ended up not joining my first ship till late July so I had about 6 weeks off.

I know things are quite a bit different between trimesters, academy leadership, and the state of shipping but the thing that hasn't change is that if you learn "the system" such as the academic calendar, sea year assignment process, etc. you can figure out how to carve some time out for yourself. This is a valuable tool that is very useful throughout your working life.
 
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