Making the adjustment can be stressful, especially [during the] plebe year,” says Cathy Willauer. Going to a sponsor parent’s home is an opportunity for them to get away from the regimented atmosphere of the Academy and relax. “They really just want to come over, watch Netflix, eat, and sleep!” jokes Heather DeBuse. The term “home away from home,” and “how much they need you” can vary. Tips for new sponsor parents: • If you can, sponsor more than one plebe. This may prevent the initial awkwardness of one student having all the attention from the hosts. • Be proactive. Don’t rely on the mid to “just call or text if you need anything”, because chances are, they won’t. They will feel like they are bothering you and may be waiting for you to reach out first. • Set rules and expectations early. Go over house rules and what’s okay and not okay to do. For example, “all food in the house is fair game to eat.” Having rules, surprisingly, helps the midshipmen relax and feel at home faster, because they aren’t second guessing themselves or asking permission for every little thing.
to call. Anyone who is interested in sponsoring should be prepared to be actively involved. The expectation is for sponsors to provide a “home away from home,” friendship, understanding, and encouragement for midshipmen as they meet challenges during their time at the USNA through graduation. There are certain things mids can and cannot do, and sponsors go through training every four years to help them understand the rules. Most plebes will only have town liberty on Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., unless there are other military obligations they must attend (such as football games). As the mids get older, they earn more privileges. Plebes may be allowed an occasional weekend to spend a night at a sponsor parent’s home, while firsties have almost every evening and weekend free. How often sponsor parents will see their midshipmen depends on many factors, like schedules (athletes have practices and away games), significant others, access to a vehicle (not allowed for plebes) and more. What does “home away from home” mean? What sponsors need to realize is that the USNA is not a typical college experience for midshipmen. “While students going off to traditional colleges gain a lot of freedom and opportunities to stretch their wings compared to what their life was like at home [and] in high school, service academy students have a more structured experience. They are being trained to function as a team and in a hierarchy. After Graduation 2015 - MIDN 2/C Robert Roper (Jamaica), 2nd LT Seth Montgomery, USMC; 2nd LT Rolland Al Ahmar (Lebanon); Sponsor Judy Buddensick; 2nd LT Katrina Herrera, USMC; MIDN 3/C Kate Hughes; Photo Credit: Judy Buddensick
Spring 2023 - Elijah Millington and his squad with sponsor dad, David Willauer. Photo Credit: Cathy Willauer
• Say yes more than no. If they ask to bring a teammate over or ask you to watch them compete or perform, do it! They are giving you the opportunity to connect with them. • Join the Sponsor Parent group on Facebook. Sometimes you may encounter a situation where you need guidance. The group is an excellent resource where people can share their questions and experiences. There are over 700 members, some of whom have been sponsor parents for decades, and others who are brand new. • Most importantly, stock food at the house. Midshipmen eat a lot! Keep recipes in your back pocket that you can cook in large quantities that are easy to reheat. “Becoming sponsor parents has been life changing for us. When we first signed up to be sponsor parents, we thought it would be a fun way to spend the weekend and give back to our community, but it has become so much more than that. Pseudo-parenting a bunch of 20-ish year olds has taught us patience, kept us young - it has opened our eyes to experiences and opinions outside of our own. It has challenged us in ways we never could have imagined and it
2017 - Francis Lee commissioning with sponsor family David, Cathy and Archer Willauer. Photo Credit: Cathy Willauer
SUMMER 2024 | 9
Powered by FlippingBook