<p>I thought everyone would be interested in the note I recieved from the Army team at the Academy. </p>
<p>This is a very big deal and one more demonstration of the breadth of experiences to which our Midshipmen have access.</p>
<p>HOOAH!</p>
<p>
[quote]
It is with great pride that I inform all of you that our 4 midshipmen (M/N Tyson Walsh 1/c, M/N Peter McCann 2/c, M/N Cameron Crenshaw 3/c, M/N Brian Roscovius 3/c) all completed the Army Air Assault Course today. If I am correct, I believe these midshipmen are the first from our Academy to attend this course. The Army Air Assault Course is an extremely physical and mentally demanding course. Historically, only 85% of those that attend complete this course. Our midshipmen greatly represented USMMA by demonstrating their pride, determination, and resolve during this course and they were even recognized by General Clausner (the Commanding General of the Corps of Cadets at West Point) during their graduation ceremony. I was personally approached at the graduation by staff and cadre complimenting me on how well they performed. Additionally, due to their performance I was promised more seats for this Air Assault Course next summer. I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of these 4 young men. I am even prouder to be member of the staff here helping our midshipmen to represent the United States Merchant Marine Academy.</p>
<p>AIR ASSAULT!!!</p>
<p>SFC Peter Swiderski</p>
<p>NYARNG</p>
<p>Army Liaison Team</p>
<p>United States Merchant Marine Academy</p>
<p>Kings Point, NY 11024</p>
<p>"Leadership is influencing people--by providing purpose, direction, and motivation--while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization." --Definition of Army Leadership
<p>This still frustrates me. I tried to get them to let me go to jump school when I was a mid there and was shot down for who knows what reason. I'm glad to see someone got smart and started to allow mids to attend these courses.</p>
<p>The folks to thank are the Army National Guard and the Army G-1. They are the ones who have seen the value of Kings Pointers and have made a subtantial commitment to the Academy. </p>
<p>Also, Captain Joel Buffardi is a true leader. He's been pushing the powers in the Army to open these slots for Kings Pointers. He's a '95 West Point grad who when the war broke out gave up his million plus dollar a year job on Wall Street to go back into the Army as a Guardsman and served two stints in the AOR as a transportation officer. And when the KP job came up he took it and stayed as an active Guardsman rather than go back to running hedge funds. </p>
<p>Everybody should go out of their way to try and meet him at parents weekend. He is really a great American.</p>
<p>I have to chime in on this topic. As a ret Navy Officer, I have always admired the KP trained officers I worked with and met along the way. I fully understand that the primary role of USMMA is to train 3rd Mates and 3rd Asst Eng, however its role as a commissioning source for all services can not be discounted. I think that one of the reasons they do so well is the independence a mid must have when h/she ships out with only one other mid on a merchant vessel. It is make or break and they generally come back stronger. This is just another example of the great deal America gets from the USMMA. Congrats to those mids completing Air Assault!! That is one tough course and they and USMMA should be proud.</p>
<p>Just my 2 cents worth... I have heard that the Kings Point Mids who attend Marine Corps OCS at Quantico perform very well and are highly regarded by the staff there .</p>