Quotes & Notes
Here are some actual quotes from letters home!
From NAPS Class of 2006
“My “Cadre” (Midshipman from the Academy who are seniors this year) for Indoc were the best, they always turned a miserable situation into something hilarious….I will never forget them…they left weeks ago but it feels like a year ago.” “
On liberty, in uniform, is amazing! We’ve had girls hootin and hollering…people offering to pay your meal, right of way, thank-yous etc. I even had a van full of nuns wave at me and say thank you as they drove by. It’s kind of like being a movie star…”
"We woke up today to blaring Disney music! It was kind of funny."
"Well today I woke up and went straight to chow. I had the usual breakfast of juice, yogart, scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, fruit and french toast."
Regarding the NAPSter who said "We have our laundry washed almost every day and we were told we are the best smelling platoon/company", the comparison to my son who has been out of deodorant for several days must be stark. The good news is that his roommate has been sharing his supply.
"I can't get that movie Stripes out of my mind because every day (of INDOC) I see at least one situation from Stripes."
"The worst of INDOC is over, and I feel motivated, because the atmosphere has changed. I am still challenged immensely, but mentally it is better. We have gotten time to spend with our shipmates. That is the key. They all have compelling stories and personalities."
"We had our best day today. We are getting motivated as a platoon, and having a really great time screaming at the top of our lungs and running around everywhere. The key was that we got two female Cadre who encouraged us using several "unique" motivational techniques. We latched onto them in about a week, and now we are the best platoon in the place. We get compliments from Cadre and that is better than how it started. The Cadre have also changed their attitudinal leadership style. By screaming our heads off, we got them to switch to our "high energy" strategy."
"The gunnery sergeant is awesome. He is the scariest person I have ever seen. He is probably 6' 3" 180 lbs and just built. He is our drill instructor. As candidates we have to stand watch. Well I was standing watch the other night. I was patrolling in front of his office. I thought he would be home with his family well I was wrong. There he stood as I came by his door. I said "Good evening Gunnery Sergeant" well I was lucky. He said good evening and went back to his office. I ran to the rest room and went pee right away. It was the scariest moment of my life."
We've rec'd one letter from our prior enlisted who wrote, “Dear Mom & Dad, they MADE me write home. Love, ___________”
No more 30 min. showers.. from now on- 50 of us which form _ company, _ platoon, have 10 min.s to use 5 showers, 20 sinks, 4 urinals, and 10 toilets...to shower, brush our teeth, shave our faces, take a piss, take a dump, and fill up our canteens.
The cadre said it was motivating to them when I cut my head open making my rack so fast. I thought it was cool.
We wake at 4:40 to do motivating PT with our Gunny who should hurt somebody! We drill all the time which is good and Gunny keeps it interesting, to say the least.
We have prior Marines in our platoon, so that keeps me motivated.
I went to the Protestant service this past Sunday instead of the Catholic service, it was good too, but its all like Koom-by-yah!
It's hard to memorize the reef points now. I'm just so tired that all I can do is stare at the book. Well I'm done with this letter, I'm pooped!
This letter will have to be short due to time constraints. Life became a whole lot more interesting. We actually started working out today! It was not that hard however, I can tell I am out of shape. Today I recieved my first amount of mail! It was quite comforting, but it doesn't change the fact that I am here and you are all there! Well, thanks for the letters and keep writing.
I got so bored during watch that I found out it is 185 steps from one end of the hall to the other.
I guess since it's Sunday it's an easier day. We only had to make our racks once so far, so that's exciting.
I need to go and study the sentry's now so I do not get yelled at.
I'm sick of making my rack a billion times a day. My roomate and I can do it in 4 mins. now.
We have our laundry washed almost every day and we were told we are the best smelling platoon/company.
We just got new Cadre and they stepped it up. They tried to confuse us. It was crazy. Ahhhh! Pray for me!
I'm going to Church today so I can pray that I do well.
I went to Church today and it was great!
We got our uniforms fitted yesterday. My uniforms look a little baggy but what do I know.
Our platoon Cadres are the toughest supposedly. I actually got yelled at 3 times today, so it's a new record for me. I'm just trying to stay down low.
My hair is growing back quick. I think I like it really short, but not I-Day short.
We had PEP this morning, and we ran close to 4 miles. I was tired but it was good we did it.
We put our SDB (Service Dress Blues) covers together, and they are pimpin'!
Two of our Cadre are crazy! They yell & yell & yell! One kid dropped his ink stick today (pen) and he and his roomate had to motivate it to get off the ground. It was hilarious.
Some kids have to go in front of this mirror and yell "I'm not funny, you're funny" if they laugh.
I'm still learning to polish my shoes. They are getting alot better, but not good enough.
From NAPS Class of '05
Today has been a real rough day for me (Aug 3). I woke up and was expecting to be at home. I quickly realized I wasn’t. I’m writing while standing in line at the NEX. They did not tell us we would be coming so none of us have money. I think I am getting my haircut now. Will write later. It’s later. Yup, just getting a haircut, no choice on it, just short. Yeah, all the way down again. I think its stupid, but can’t do anything about it.
I’m standing in line to get a new picture for my military id. Wow, there is a TV in the room, everyone is talking about it!
P.S. Add more minutes to my calling card.
Aug 1: We got some free time today. We got to sleep until like 5:30-6:00. It felt so good. We had to make our racks twice and we were told we had to go take a shower. Other than that we have had free time. I should tell you that I actually used hair shampoo along with body soap today. I figured out that hot sauce is good on just about everything.
I got nailed today by the cadre. I guess I wasn’t moving fast enough in the hallway, so my cadre stopped me and made me run up and down the hallway for like 7-10 minutes. Then I did 20 lunges, then sprints down and back in the hall. It actually felt good.
Don’t ever freeze applesauce, it is not good.
We just had an inspection. I’m going to come home either a much neater or messier person because of this. After we cleaned, we went out to the football field and drilled with gunnery sergeant. We got yelled at. Then we went to lunch. After lunch we came back in and were yelled at. We went down to the water and did push ups with our feet just outside of the water, and our faces in the water.
July 26: These days seem to be getting easier. I don’t know if the cadre is easing up or I am just getting used to it. I got shots and blood drawn today and did not freak out too bad. I don’t have much more to write about. I’m sure I do, but I’m so tired none of it is popping into my head right now.. We left the light on in our room today, and the cadre tore everything apart. Our clothes were everywhere and our racks (beds) were unmaid. On a side note mom I can now make my bed by myself in under 10 minutes. With help in 2 min.
From NAPS Class of '04:
From an '04 Parent: He's lost a lot of weight, he's matured quite a bit in just 90+ days. The stories are bursting out of him like fat on a hot skillet and what a smile on his face. Will he continue on to the Academy? He's closed mouth about it right now but when asked about his rather loose dress uniform he said," It'll be ok, I've got to wear it next year". Lol,lol...
"I was going to quit the Cross Country Team to concentrate more on academics, but I just spent $100.00 on a new pair of running shoes. It will take the remainder of the season to wear them out, so I guess I'll just keep on running."
"Hey, you know how you all could never get me to use a day planner? Well, this is my day planner! There are many like it but this one is mine...I must master it as I must master my life...I must write in it faster and more often than my enemy who is trying to make me late and forget important dates...I will...until there is no enemy but organization. I picked one up and I have all my home work and due dates and things in it. It is a great assest to have."
From NAPS Class of '02:
"Mom -- No matter how long I've been away from home I still get all choked up when I read a letter from you. Some things will never change."
"Since swimming doesn't start until after Labor Day I've been going to PEP and we've been playing soccer. I'm pretty confident that it is not a sport for me, since I sprained both my ankles and broke my big toe."
"Please keep those letters coming...they help me a lot even though I have to read them in the dark".
Grandma, I am making a lot of new friends from all over the country, once these three weeks are over this place is gonna be so cool!
"Mommy send me twizzlers, combos, and a letter telling you how much you love me right now."
Dear Family,
Hope you are all doing well. I have pretty much no time to do anything other than what they tell me to do. Thanks for the additional calling cards, they will come in handy. I love and miss you all so much and think of you constantly. I hardly have time to read all the letters you are sending me. One day I got letters from, Dad, Mom, Grandma, Jackie, Kandis, and a post card from Jeremy. Six in one day! if I spend time reading them I have no time to write back. I will talk to you soon.
From the NAPS Class of 2001:
"Mom, We marched in the snow for like two hours yesterday, and I couldn't feel my face afterwards. The snow was awesome, but I missed my face for the few hours it took to thaw."
"Dear Mom and Dad, baseball begins soon. I need a glove. Don't let mom pick it out. It's okay to send stuff now, send it in Tupperware, though."
Our first week of classes just finished. It wasn't that bad. We have 1 1/2 hours every night of our silent study time, then we have another 1/2 hours to go around and do our work with other people. Most of the time we just goof around for that extra 1/2 hour and make it look like we're studying if someone walks by, but there are times when we actually do get stuff acomplished.
Thought I'd share an entire letter from my son: "Dear Mom, please send Applejacks, Rold Gold Pretzels, cough medicine, Smores Pop Tarts, Powerbars, little Debbie brownies, cheese crackers, my baseball pants and my Atlanta Braves Hat. Love, Mike P.S. Please send food every week in tupperware." :)
Things can get kinda frustrating now that we don't have the cadre around (No, I don't miss being yelled at all the time, and I like being able to relax and have a little more fun, but some people around here don't try to cooperate with our leaders because they feel like they don't have to listen to a classmate, and thats when it would be useful to have the cadre yell at them).
"Guess what...I finally learned how to iron, I can make my bed, and I have extremely good table manners. These are the things I forgot to mention in my last letter. You'd be so proud of me, well more than you already are. I hope your still thinking about me, because I think of you all the time. I look at my pictures from home all the time.Thanks Mom and Dad!"
During Indoc - A Traumatic Time for All Involved! Try to find the humor in each letter.
"The day has arrived! (Indoc is over) We spoke to our son this morning. Twice! It was wonderful to hear his voice again even though I didn't recognize it at first. He said "can I speak with Mr. or Mrs. Garcia." I thought it was a salesman! He is looking forward to school starting. We were worried he had lost weight but says he's gained 6 lbs!
"take your challenges one at a time, and keep telling your parents you are doing fine"
"We received uniforms, light blue shirt and dark blue pants. The food is alright but we don't have much time to eat so I'm losing weight. We have to stand for very very long periods of time, hours."
"Today one of my classmates fell asleep standing up in formation!"
"We hardly ever get a chance to sit down and relax, so almost everybody is either sick, stressed out, or broken down. I've hit about everyone of those, except the broken down part."
"I brought too much stuff - they sent us a list of what to bring and I did that, and now they issue me everything! They came in the room and trashed it, and I had twice as much stuff to pick up than my room mate."
"She was never a home body, but she is sure home sick. Misses me, the family, her dogs, blankets and sheets, car, boyfriend, college etc. Mostly in that order, at least I was first on the miss list."
"In the morning we wake up to our cadre (the group of midshipmen that are in charge of us) rolling trash cans down the hallway and yelling. We still have to wear those funny little outfits with our big 'ol white socks 24-7. We do our drill out in the parking lot right by the ocean so I get to see the view even though I'm not really supposed to be noticing."
As a parent, I thought "Hell Week" was something they went through. Now I know we get it too. I feel like an amputee! Losing them was harder than I expected."
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