USMMA PARENTS ASSOCIATION

SUPPORT FROM HOME

 

The parental support and guidance that helped prepare your daughter or son to become a successful candidate for admission doesn’t end with receipt of the acceptance letter. Attendance at this federal Academy is a family affair. You’ll celebrate the triumphs and endure the difficulties together.

 

Once your plebe walks through Vickery Gate (the entrance to the Academy) for the first time, you will have a very special support role to fulfill. First of all, you can be a hometown news reporter. Send lots of letters, news clippings, and pictures of life at home. It’s hard to leave home for the first time and these items can help ease the transition. Of course, you should not expect to get a lot of letters back – free time is at a premium. However, you may hear more if you keep your plebe supplied with stamps, stamped envelopes, and pre-addressed stamped postcards. Email has become the preferred and best method of communicating with your plebe. Please be sure to obtain Internet access and an email address.

 

Become your plebe’s personal cheerleader. Give enthusiastic support in your letters or when your plebe calls. Let your son or daughter know they have what it takes to meet the challenge of the moment. It may be helpful to give them a calling card and, if you don’t already have one, consider getting yourself an answering machine so you won’t miss their calls. Of course, this means you should also expect large phone bills!!!

 

After indoctrination (the first two weeks of plebe year), you may send care packages every week or so. Here is a list of items recommended by midshipmen:

 

· pictures of home and family

· newspaper articles

· change for the pay phones

· stamps

· cookies (home baked) or favorite ones

· special local foods/snacks

· surprises (small toys/gifts)

· microwave popcorn

· cup of soup mixes

· special events T-shirts

· film

· new computer diskettes

· CDs

· batteries

· envelopes, stationery, postcards

 

Finally, you can support your midshipman by joining the nearest USMMA Parents Association. There you can share in the unique experience of having a daughter or son in a federal academy. You’ll find a Parents Association to be a strong support group which can help you understand what’s going on in the life of a midshipman. Visit the Academy’s Parents Page for the parent presidents’ listing and for the latest information at www.usmma.edu/parents.

 

SPENDING MONEY

 

During the plebe year, your midshipman will appreciate having some spending money for morale and school supplies. Since second and third class midshipmen are paid $600 a month while assigned to a ship during the two sailing periods, they may not require much additional financial support. By their first class year, some weekly support would be helpful again for postage, clothes, and printing of resumes.

 

Midshipmen can earn extra money by applying for jobs on campus and in the community (yard work, snow removal, painting, etc.) in their spare time.

 

 

MAILING TIPS

 

Timely delivery is dependent on your use of the correct mailing address for your midshipman. Specifically, that means USE ONLY BOX # (not PO Box) in the address. The address should read as follows:

 

NAME*

U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY
BOX # (make sure number is correct)

KINGS POINT, NEW YORK 11024-1699

 

 

*P/C John/Jane Smith (before Acceptance Day)

*Plebe John/Jane Smith (after Acceptance Day)

*M/N John/Jane Smith (after Recognition Day)

 

If you need speedy delivery, use Priority Mail and include the street location of the Academy (Steamboat Road) in the address. For packages, you can use UPS or Federal Express instead of the U.S. Postal Service and, again, be sure to include the street location of the Academy. Most important, TELL your midshipman when to expect a package!!

 

TELEPHONE CALLS HOME

 

Be aware that the use of telephones is restricted at first to one call each Sunday for a duration of five minutes. No incoming calls are permitted (except emergencies). It is critical that you are able to receive the call on Sunday because nothing disheartens a candidate more than to wait in line for an hour to have his/her call go unanswered.

 

HOLIDAY LEAVE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

 

When making travel arrangements for your midshipman, allow ample (approximately four hours) time to transit the metropolitan area, i.e. if liberty expires at 8:00 p.m., do not schedule a flight to arrive any later than 4:00 p.m. Midshipmen must report to the Academy by the expiration of liberty.

 

GIFT SUGGESTIONS

 

Since midshipmen aren’t paid while they are in residence (only during their sea year), money is always a welcome gift. However, here are some other suggestions for birthday, holiday or celebration gifts:

 

PLEBE YEAR:

 

Ø large window fan

Ø study skills book

Ø camera

 

Ø tour books

Ø drawing pads (to go to sea with)

Ø sea project pads (to go to sea with)

 

Ø class ring

 

Ø book on finding a job

Ø book on how to write a resume

Ø sporting goods/athletic gear

Ø CD player

Ø Small carpet (according to midshipmens’ regulations)

 

Ø CDs

Ø computer software (other than games)

Ø new computer diskettes

Ø luggage (for weekend trips)

Ø duffel bag (for sea year)

Ø gift certificates for food, clothing, flowers, movies, video rentals, etc.

Ø clothing (after sea year)

Ø briefcase

Ø sleeping bag

Ø comforter