First Class Parents - You had assumed that the movie "Sleepless in Seattle" centered around the lives of USNA parents. You and/or your Mid have racked up thousands of Frequent Flier Miles, purchased stock in Boeing, and are on a first name basis with AT&T, Sprint and MCI sales reps! Proficiency in the "foreign language" leaves friends and neighbors in awe of you, and you can correctly guess the weight (and cost) of a package before it is delivered to the Post Office. Naval Academy stickers adorn your car, USNA fashions fill your closet, and you have found a new career as an unofficial spokesperson for the Academy. You are a FIRST CLASS PARENT!

Privileges and Responsibilities - First Class status brings with it special privileges, honors and responsibilities. Your Mid can now drive and park (including overnight), a vehicle on the Yard as long as he or she has completed the required registration procedures. And, provided they are SAT (in good standing) in academics, conduct and military performance, First Class Mids can look forward to unlimited weekend liberty, meaning that they are free to leave the Academy grounds following their last Friday class and not return until the appointed time on Sunday, barring, of course, any military responsibilities which must first be met. For many, the academic load will decrease, thus allowing the Mids to pursue a more active social life outside the Academy. The exception to this seems to be for those majoring in Electrical Engineering and those involved in special research programs. First Class Mids are honored as they assume "Striper Billets" during the Plebe Summer Indoctrination and Training Session and assume leadership positions within the Brigade during the academic year. As privileges and honors increase so do the responsibilites. The "Firsties" direct the training and activities of the Brigade. They make the daily decisions in running the Brigade and are responsible for the leadership and administration of the companies and the Brigade as a whole. They set the example and teach leadership skills to the classes under them. It can be rewarding, but time consuming.

First Class Summer Training - Midshipmen have opportunities to enhance their leadership skills during the First Class Summer by serving as junior officers in the fleet. They choose to serve on an aircraft carrier, submarine or other area of interest, depending on their service interest and pre-qualifications.

First Class Parents' Weekend - During the First Class year, usually in September, parents are invited to attend First Class Parents' Weekend. At this time, with instructors' concurrence, parents are allowed to sit in on their "Firstie's" classes and meet their professors. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to tour their Mid's room and meet their company officers as well as meet other " Firstie" parents. Other activities may include a formal parade, breakfast/dinner in King Hall, a football game, observing a number of club activities and a Glee Club performance. The football game and Glee Club performances require advanced reservations and tickets. Hotel or motel reservations for this weekend bood fast, so you need to make these reservations during the Second Class Year. Information from the Academy is ver late in arriving and you need to be aware of this weekend well in advance to make hotel and airline reservations. The Internet is the fastest way to receive this information, either by accessing the USNA web site, or by e-mail (if your Mid is good at communicating with you through this media).

Service Selection - Late in January or early February is the time when "Fristies" select the area and billet (job assignment) in which they will serve upon graduation. Selection is based on pre-qualification in the desired field and order of selection is determined by "Order of Merit" rank. SOme pre-qualification requirements (academic and physical) are started in the Second Class Year, so your Mid needs to know these requirements ahead of time.

Starting with the Class of 1994, service selection interviews are now required for every field. Starting with the Class of 1995, these interviews will effect final service selection Order of Merit. The interviews are with a panel of three Academy officers, the most senior of which is in the field of the Mid's first choice. These interviews take place in the Fall of the First Class Year.

Marine "wannabes" have some additional requirements. Unless they have attended "Leatherneck" during "Firstie" summer at Quantico, they must complete the Obstacle Course and three mile run during the Fall of the First Class Year. Marine candidates must also interview with at least two separtae Marine officers prior to service selection. A Marine "Legacy," or someone who came into the Academy as a Marine, is quaranteed a spot in the Marine Corps.

Early in the Fall of "Firstie" Year, the Submarine and Surface Nuclear Officers on the Yard will visit company wardrooms, recruiting for Nuclear Power. At this time all Mids will submit questionnaires indicating whether or not they would like their records screened for Nuclear Power. This screening incurs no obligation.

The infamous Nuclear Power interviews take place usually a week or two before service selection in mid-January. There will be about six days of interviews, and no one will find out the results until after the last interview is conducted. The interviews consist of two or three technical interviews (from 15 minutes to an hour in length) and the interview with the Admiral (usually no longer than 5 minutes).

Ad far as Surface Warfare Officers (SWO) are concerned, the ship list (list of available ship for SWO selectees) is constantly revised throughout the Fall and up to the actual date of Service Selection. The SWO "guys" will get to pick their start date of SWO schoold and their first ship (hull number and homeport). Choices include every ship type on active duty and homeports. If you are in the upper half of the class the chance of getting exactly what you want are fairly good.

Gift Ideas For Grads - Your Midshipman's future plans will determine what types of gifts would be most appropriate for graduation. If your Mid is going directly to training, i.e. nuclear school, etc., there may be few things he/she will need that you can supply. But think about money towards a laptop computer, a telephone and/or answering machine, subscription to Naval publications, camera or housing supplies. Marine Corps officer will need a sword as part of their uniform. Extra shoulder boards and collar devices are alway needed and are inexpensive items. John's on the Ave. has brass boxes to hold these types of items and are priced from $40 to $60. The Mid Store features wooden jewelry chests with a laser cut logo emblem. The Naval Academy Alumni Association has some very nice items including a pewter plate for display, a captain's chair, china and glassware, ties, cuff links, etc.

Commissioning Week Housing - First Class Parents' Weekend is also the time when most parents look for housing for Commissioning Week. In fact, you might want to go to Annapolis a few days early, especially to look for housing since the weekend is full of other activities. It is not too early to start looking for housing during your Mid's second and third year. Referrals from previous graduates, sponsors, and other club members are helpful in finding housing. Your Mid might also ask professors and instructors at USNA about possible rentals. If you are not having a great number of guests, a hotel, motel or residence inn might be just right for you and your guest. House rentals can run from $1,000 to $3,000 per week depending upon the size and location. If you Mid is looking for housing, know the exact number of people needing housing, maximum price, the desired location - walking or driving distance. Also many places require a deposit (some at least half the amount) and some will require parents to sign agreements instead of the Mid. Please see the Commercial Pages on this web site for more information.

Wedding Bells! - If a wedding is planned during graduation week, the Mid will be responsible for attending the required pre-nuptial counseling weekend session early in the second semester of the First Class Year. And while both the Alumni House and the Officers' Club are made available for receptions or rehearsal dinners, these need to be scheduled well ahead of time to ensure a reservation