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Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy are going to be spending a lot more time in mandatory study periods during the academic year and working with leathernecks in the summer. </p>
<p>After a tough year of distracting sexual misconduct cases and a wild Caribbean spring break booze cruise, the academy is reducing liberty time and increasing mandatory study hours with an eye toward better focusing midshipmen on becoming leaders while the country is at war....
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<p>Found interesting the comment about 1/C wearing khakis to distinguish them as leaders within the brigade. Wonder if that's year-round??</p>
<p>It is year round.</p>
<p>Just returned from dropping our own mid back for reform- noticed firsties were all in khakis, making them very easy to distiguish in each platoon....and we heard they will parallel the uniforms worn in the fleet throughout the year.</p>
<p>What else was new:</p>
<p>Noticed the supe out on T-court for noon formation as well, with a keen eye on what was happening. </p>
<p>Will say the Class of 2011 did a fine job with their last "plebe parade"...and congrats to Lima for being acknowledged as the summer color company! 20 upperclass were also acknowledged for their leadership over plebe summer.</p>
<p>"Hello" night was last night- apparently the youngsters will not participate, as they were assigned to their rooms.... </p>
<p>Did not hear much "talk" about the changes in liberty.....guess the upperclass are "setting the example" and taking things in stride...while the only topic of discussion coming from the second class was the upcoming 2 for 7 papers....and perhaps a word or two about their "new wheels" and "where to park"......</p>
<p>....the female mids seemed much more entheusastic about "reform" then their male counterparts, who seemed to take things very much in stride.... </p>
<p>...seems like a lot more "new cars" on campus..... one ??second class??? was even observed wiping his spit-shined vehicle with a huge feather duster- honest to betsey! He had that thing shinning like a new penny!</p>
<p>Kings Hall is open for business....at least the 2 wings that have been renovated....and work continues on the roofing over the "anchor" area....the "view" looking out from Memorial Hall over the Kings Hall roof has definately improved....lots of beautiful brickwork and skylights....noticed meals still being served in Dalgren as well- apparently the wall paper that was hung over the rear windows (to prevent curious eyes) has been removed....and thankfully, did not observe any "curious eyes" venturing over in that area.</p>
<p>Drydock got a bit of an "overhall" as well.... a new section was opened up to house the refreshment refrigerators and snack stands.... so visually, it makes the whole place look larger. New carpet in Drydock entrance...and a steam cleaning for the main dining room area. The menus have changed...still the same food offerings, but "gone" are the "specials" named for a particular teacher, officer or coach.... so "finding" the sandwich by another name was a bit confusing for some....saw one guy just describe what he wanted instead of hunting for the "new label" on the overhead menu! Thankfully, pizza is still pizza!</p>
<p>Work on the field house is progressing rapidly....it is a huge structure... main roof sections are all up but not fully buttoned up yet.... window steel framework all going in.... lots of activity there!</p>
<p>Football practices in full swing.... as is soccer.....didn't spot too many other teams out there, but no doubt they will all start soon.... plebes still getting some final sailing training in.... saw lots of colgates going out despite no-wind-doldrums.</p>
<p>Lots of meetings planned for the upperclass....at least 1 at alumni hall.... and the 3 upperclass years all attended the plebe parade....which yielded standing room only!</p>
<p>The only thing I did not understand is that while the majority of mids wore their whites, there were some in working blues.....???? Did hear that "ties" for working blues were no longer an "option"......</p>
<p>Another year starts...........</p>
<p>New superintendent running a tighter ship: 'We're a nation at war'</p>
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In just nine weeks at the helm of the Naval Academy, Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler has already made waves, vastly cutting back on the free time of midshipmen and insisting that they study three hours a night, attend meals on campus and muster for early-morning formations.</p>
<p>A former submarine commander, Fowler has also canceled pep rallies, scaled back incentives for attending football away games and cut extracurricular activities....
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"We are being treated like children, not soon-to-be officers," said one midshipman, who asked not to be named because he wasn't authorized to speak to a reporter. "Even enlisted sailors don't get treated like this."
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<p>Boy if that is not the truth</p>
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"I think it's a very strong positive," said Pete Savage, a 1963 graduate who was alarmed to find out that the Naval Academy was just ranked as the 20th-best liberal arts college yesterday by U.S. News & World Report. "That sets the wrong tone for a military college that is training future combat leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps. What we should be emphasizing is strict military discipline."
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<p>Wow so we should not have any officers who are well cultured and well rounded. This is not the 60's and Times have changed whether this Alumnus realizes it or not. Even Engineering at the best Universities require students to take liberal arts classes. What we will get is a bunch of boring, uncultured officers who can't write or carry on a conversation about anything other than about "work" You all know the type, we have all worked with them - not what I want for my son - he is too intelligent for that!</p>
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"New slogans are coined, new rules are issued, old ones suddenly focused on," said Bruce Fleming, an English professor at the academy for 20 years. "After a few years, they're gone and the cycle starts again. It would be better if they came in and got the feel of the place for a while."
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<p>Very True!</p>
<p>I bet the Alumni who spent $$$$$$ on 44 ft sail boats and the likes will really appreciate their investment scrapped. Which by the way anyone with outstanding balances on their pledge for the Annual fund should really think twice about paying out the rest and how that money is now being used. We as parents were told our contribution to that fund was for EC's etc (buildings are a separate entity) Now that the EC's are gone or replace with military types I feel no need to contribute or pay out my balance for the year. And will not support the fund in the future. A group of us have already drafted letters to the Alumni/Foundation reflecting this. Let the government fund the military type EC's.</p>
<p>We may be at war but to diminish leadership building EC's on the yard does not make any sense. What harm is having a Halloween Organ Concert, a midshipman orchestra, a winter musical, a midshipman action group etc.? </p>
<p>School Clubs, Public speaking Activities, musical organizations, volunteering were all important factors for admissions yet now we tell these young people that these activities do nothing for you in becoming an officer. Please tell me the rational in this?</p>
<p>My mid learned way more on his two week sailing cruise than he did on the fleet cruise. At least on the sailing cruise they all had responsibilities and had to preform or the boat was not getting to it's destination. On his fleet cruise he spent the majority of the time playing video games as no one wanted to bother with the mids on the boat. So I guess going on the grey hull cruise and sitting on your as* is a better experience.</p>
<p>As he is cutting all of the EC's and expanding mando meals and study time - maybe he can see fit to cancel the Brigade attending home football games too...after all we are at war and learning to be a leader would be better spent on the yard than watching football. No leadership skills I can think of are learned attending a football game - after all that is a pleasure that are mids should not part take in. Better yet Maybe Paul Johnson will get fed up with no support for his team and they will have one hell of a losing season and he will leave - then what will the Alumni think?</p>
<p>When the Academy holds my mid accountable - Who holds the Academy accountable to my Mid? He did every thing that was expected of him - studied hard, performed well, got great grades, made the Supes list, got rated #1 on his sailing cruise and now all of his his Ec's have been eliminated or degraded and earned rates have been eliminated. He did his part and this is the "thanks" he gets. His comment "Why Bother!" He took the oath of office and enrolled at the US Naval Academy under a set of expectation as to his roll and the Academies. He is living up to his, I can not say the Academy is now living up to theirs. Very disappointing to say the least.</p>
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<p>I am sure that your unbiased fatherly support is going to help him work through this in a positive manner.</p>
<p>While not necessarily convenient, I confess to finding this all reassuring. Indeed, it's very easy to forget that which the supe has reminded us of. We're in a war that's unlikely to go away in our lifetime and perhaps our children's lifetimes, I fear. </p>
<p>The bottom line: Much as we may be prone to think of this as collegians in uniform, it's not. This is serious, potentially deadly business that our children, now young men and women preparing for military leadership are being thrust into and prepared for. It is not nearly so much about pre-school to becoming a stockbroker or CPA or technology salesman. Our beloved youth will likely never claim the luxury of serving in a peace-time Navy. </p>
<p>I've 2 great hopes in all of this. First and always, may God bless and protect these grand young people for the sake of freedom wherever it may be sought and embraced. And for the presence of hard-nosed USNA supes, 'dants, and the like. Do your very best to prepare your charges with utmost diligence and care. It's our essential hope that somehow freedom might prevail and our children will survive to perpetuate and cherish it.</p>
<p>Does the administration's perception that these changes are needed imply that graduates of the last decade have been less well prepared for their duties?</p>
<p>That is, why "improve" the bearing unless improvement was needed? Or is this just an example of a new administrator who believes that change is good just because he can?</p>
<p>Bill0510 as usual you have good points.</p>
<p>Yes USNA69 we have told him that to look for the long hall, keep your grades up (right now that would be a perfect 4.0, with an OOM in the single digits), five and dive and go to grad school. The Navy will loose an incredible young man no matter how you look at this.</p>
<p>It is my right as a citizen to question my government officials. I would like something more than the PR statement by Admiral Fowler sent to all of the President Circle members explaining his rational in theses changes. What was sent had no substance, nothing more than PR. And Yes we are members of the presidents circle as we felt by not paying tuition we should donate what we would have spent on tuition to the Academy. I can assure the you and your fellow Alumni that will not happen again and we will not pay out the remaining balance to this years donation. I will not support an institution that treats its young adults like mere children. If that is his leadership stye to treat subordinates like children then I have already lost respect. That is not the style of leadership that I want my son to emulate.</p>
<p>WP
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Our beloved youth will likely never claim the luxury of serving in a peace-time Navy.
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Hopefully 2008 will prove you wrong!</p>
<p>Re: the Adm's statement sent out.</p>
<p>That WAS indeed a PR disaster. If I remember correctly, it was sent out with a message by USNAA saying how Adm wanted to explain current state of Academy and recent changes.
THEN it was just generalized PR blather that explained nothing.
Poorly written.</p>
<p>The couple of times I have seen the Adm. speak, he was not very impressive. Perhaps it is his isolationist-submariner personality coming out but he was not a good public speaker.
The Commandant makes for a better speaker actually.</p>
<p>Very poorly written with absolutely no substance.</p>
<p>My Mid has said the same thing about the speaking skills of the leadership. He also does not care for the Commandants style either, apparently to the Brigade she can be rather condescending or put it this way her jokes come off really poorly so she appears to be aloof. He also says that no one can compare to Captain Grooms - he could command an audience. Every time we heard him we thought the same too.</p>
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"Even enlisted sailors don't get treated like this." said one midshipman
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<p>Ignorant comments such as this, if typical, could go a long way to explain many of the changes.</p>
<p>Sorry, I don't follow your line of reasoning. That was a quote from the newspaper article mentioned above and I thought they did a good job to show +/- about the changes including comments from current faculty members.</p>
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<p>Example: One of the changes apparently is doing away with the summer sailing trip to the NE and substituting more time onboard Navy ships.</p>
<p>The midshipman who is comparing the changes which are happening to being beyond (or below, in his opinion) how enlisted are being treated, has no conception of how enlisted are really treated and would definitely benefit by spending more time among them.</p>
<p>I am wondering how many of you are military? These comments made by the majority of you have no bearing. Surely you would not tell a professional firefighter or a cardiologist how to do their job unless you are a firefighter or cardiologist. It may be your right to voice an opinion but with that comes the responsibility of being educated and well versed of that opinion. I am retired from the Navy and even though I may not agree with some of the changes being made I can only see how they will benefit my son in the long run. Just like you ths just my opinion.</p>
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<p>I think you know the answer. Anyone who had even read one of David Poyer's novels would realize that there is a thing in the military called a chain-of-command. I am most positive that Adm Fowler came to his present position with a very definite set of "marching orders" from his boss. Maybe he hasn't even figured out all the "whens and hows" yet.</p>
<p>Soooooo... by your reasoning are parents of a current midshipman permitted to have these opinions????? Just curious.</p>
<p>Well-informed opinions, absolutely. Knee jerk fire feeding reactions, I will question.</p>
<p>Or were you addressing mdlrnc, who stated that these comments had no bearing?</p>
<p>Seems these forums are useful for h.s. students and their parents to get a sense of people's perspective both inside and outside of the military.</p>
<p>I will let them to decide what constitutes 'well-informed' versus 'knee-jerk reactions'.</p>