<p>Great conversation over on the USNA forum about this very article. Join us and let us know what about it you find interesting.</p>
<p>Spica brings up some good points and has sparked conversation – that’s usually good.</p>
<p>I'm a Kings Pointer, on active duty in the Navy. Several years ago, some of my collogues started a bulletin board where junior officers can exchange ideas outside the normal chain of command. At first this site was NOT well received by the Navy for some of the vary reasons Spica brings up. This (unofficial-navy) site is at times is a vortex of controversy and negative news about the service – and is often void of intelligent conversation. Rather than attempt to shut the site down though, or shun it, the navy leadership simply lets it go – monitoring it from a far. JO’s will vent, but by the end of the thread, those with baseless claims are called out as frauds. Those with valid complaints get the help they need.<br>
This (unofficial navy) site has become a valuable tool that directly benefits the service – with hundreds of people contributing daily. The site also has rooms catering to members of this warfare community that do not directly involve the service… there is a lost and found page, stuff for sale, jokes, apartments for rent, etc.</p>
<p>Having gone from intense skepticism to wholehearted support I have often wished that USMMA had a site similar to this – unofficial navy site. A place where alumni could network, midshipmen could vent (where the Administration can get a better feel for the pulse of the Regiment), candidates and parents could ask questions…. With a lost and found, cars for sale, sea stories….</p>
<p>I searched the internet and found this site (College Confidential) – a wonderful site for high school candidates and parents – but not well suited for alumni, the maritime industry or midshipmen to vent for the reasons Spica notes.
Some friends and I started <a href="http://www">www</a>. USMMAonline.com to fill that void – based on the navy –site. NOW BEFORE THE CC SITE MONITORS REMOVE THIS POST AS A SOLICITATION – I assure you IT IS NOT… just a statement of fact. CC is a wonderful place for high school students and parents interested in exploring college options – but it is doubtful that any company will ever make job offers for Maritime Insurance Underwriters, or Third Assistant Engineers here on CC, or where a midshipmen can sell their cars. CC simply does not cater to the needs of alumni or students in that way – but does a great job with candidates!</p>
<p>That said, we used to have a password requirement on <a href="http://www">www</a>. USMMAonline.com ‘s forum in an attempt to limit exposure to some conversations. The idea being we did not want to air our dirty laundry to impressionable young candidates or outsiders – it was wildly unpopular and we removed the password.</p>
<p>The simple fact is that in today’s day and age, information availability is not something you can hide from. You can’t pull a pillow over your head and hope bad news, or inaccurate news, or lies won’t get out – they will. So Spica’s desire to censor the internet (even if well meaning) is unrealistic. Just look at the Army’s initial attempts to stop G.I.s from bloging the war- now the Army monitors the blogs – not for retribution, but to learn what is really going on out there and capture good ideas. Fools will be rooted out and if a candidate decides not to attend based on a stupid thread in this forum or another – they would not have made a decent midshipman anyway.</p>
<p>V/r
USMMECOM
Welcome</a> to USMMA Online, the one stop shop for all things related to the UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADMEY</p>
<p>Excellent post usmmecom! I hope CC does not censor it :D</p>