PREPARING FOR INDOC

 
 
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Months Before INDOC

  • As soon as you confirm your USMMA appointment begin paperwork for Passport and TWIC Card. You may also want to look into TSA-Precheck and/or Global Entry.

  • Review with your dentist and schedule, if needed, removal of wisdom teeth

  • Get a final dental cleaning

  • In GA, have them apply for their non-restricted Class C drivers license

  • Get tutored or do online studying in Calculus, Physics and Chemistry. This is extra important if you did not take any of these as AP Courses.

  • Request formal presentation of USMMA Appointment for your High school honors night

weeks before INDOC

  • Decaffeinate your plebe in the weeks prior to INDOC. No sodas or coffee. This will prevent severe caffeine withdrawal headaches during INDOC.

  • Attend Welcome Aboard Event hosted by USMMA Southern States Parents Association

  • Attend Governors Luncheon

  • Read and complete all paperwork from Academy. Email or Facebook message any questions you may have.

  • Break in those new sneakers.

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Day before INDOC

  • Don’t expect a good night sleep. Everyone will be feeling anxious and a bit overwhelmed. This is a major life change. Parents be strong, positive and supportive.

  • Visit campus. Walk around. Visit NEX. Just enjoy the day. Take pictures.

  • Go by Navy Federal Credit Union and open an account.

  • Have a good dinner and enjoy family time.

 
The Class of 2023 report to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for Indoctrination.

REPORTING DAY INDOC

Start the day with a good breakfast. Encourage your plebe to get something on their stomach despite the nerves. No one wants to be the one who passes out on day 1.

Take time before you leave your hotel to say your goodbyes. Once on campus the nerves will take hold. They will feel the full weight of what awaits them and they will want to be stoic and strong. Take a moment and tell them you are proud, tell them this will be the hardest thing they have ever done. Tell them you know they are strong and capable and will succeed. Try not to let them see your sadness. Paint on a “Happy Face”

When you arrive there will be large crowds outside of the gym. Take a few moments and get some last pictures, take good long last look and and get a final hug. Once they enter that gym you will not see them in person again until parents weekend and it will be about 10 days until your first phone call.

Once they enter the gym, you can watch from the side barricade. In about 20-30 minutes you will see them run out being loudly directed by the Cadre. If the are assigned to a company barrack near the main road you may see them for a brief second as they run into the barracks. All areas around Barney Square will be barricaded. Take this time and meet other parents, let down your “happy face” and have that cry now. Visit all the parents association tents and shop all the unique merchandise. Stop and visit Southern States table. Attend parents meeting in auditorium.

Around midday they will have moved the barricades closer to Barney Square. Here you will watch the new class of plebes march in by company. They will all be dressed the same with shaved heads and pulled up hair. Welcome to round one of “Where is Waldo”. If you are lucky enough to pick out your plebe, try to note the company number on the flag. This will help narrow down all the pictures you have to look through later.

You will feel a catch in your throat and an overwhelming sense of pride as you watch them march away. Find joy in the moment. You did an amazing job as a parent and raised an exceptional adult. Take a moment and acknowledge that he/she is now an adult and will have to take it from here. It is important to always remember this is a Federal Service Academy and they are training to be the leaders of tomorrow.

DURING INDOC

  1. Letters

    • Try to mail a letter before you leave home or while in Kings Point. This will ensure a letter at first mail call.

    • Plebe Candidate {student full name here} 202_,

      U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

      300 Steamboat Road 

      Kings Point, NY 11024-1699


  2. Phone Call

    • Your first call will be in about 10 days. This is subject to change if disciplinary issues arise. The call will only last about 5 minutes and this will be strictly enforced.

      • Expect to hear bad news, frustration, “ I hate this”, “this is too hard” and even tears

      • Listen, allow them to vent as they cannot vent to anyone around them

      • Remind them this is supposed to be hard, tiring, frustrating and they are supposed to hate it. It will end, it does get better.

      • More than 70 classes have come before them, experienced the same and are proof that it is well worth the effort.

      • Be Positive and Encouraging

  3. Medical Issues

    • Each morning plebes can report any health issues and need of medical care. They will be escorted to Patton.

    • Each evening the on campus EMT perform a blister check in the barracks.

    • EMTs are on campus 24 hours day and based around the campus during the day

    • Any issues that arises outside of Patton hours will be handled by the EMTs and transport to the local hospital will be made if needed.

    • A sick chit is a card issued by Patton limiting physical the activities of a plebe if medically necessary.

  4. Photos


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