Many Mids are upset by changes

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
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Maybe I read too much into the FSO news release but the main thrust of the article was the increased cohesion of those eating together. The decreased emphasis on ECs and the corresponding increase in intramurals would support this also</p>

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I haven't read anywhere that "teamwork" needed to improve.

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<p>USNA69: not my post (MVL) though I can't say I disagree with it.</p>

<p>grad/Dad: good post, appreciate your observations and thank you for adding that perspective.</p>

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<p>You guys are still at it, eh?
My dad said I should watch a movie by the name of Mister Roberts . . . I did. Pretty good. USNA69 reminds me of the captain of the ship in that movie; nobody ever right except him. I bet 69 was quite the inspirational leader.</p>

<p>So . . .the decreased emphasis on ECs, where everybody WANTED to work together towards a common goal, and the increased emphasis of intramurals, where some people are being FORCED to work together towards an uncommon goal, improves unit cohesion. </p>

<p>Interesting concept.</p>

<p>Anyway . . . food service is improving. Slowly but, it seems, surely. Quality is still questionable but, more often than not, there seems to be just enough for regular folks. </p>

<p>Mandatory study hours are a joke!</p>

<p>Religous ECs are seeking refuge under the chaplains. </p>

<p>New Supt? Do we have a new supt., I've only heard about it through the grapevine.</p>

<p>Commandant? Adios amiga come December.</p>

<p>What keeps the murmuring to a minimum is that most everybody is distracted by their studies. Kind of like soylent green or something like that. . . distract everybody's attention and they will forget what it was theywere complaining about.</p>

<p>GradDad. Good post. Insightful and, yes, it is ageeable to how i see it.</p>

<p>WhistlePig. What is your story? Are you an alumnus? Best as I can remember, your son/daughter is a plebe? So, how come so mean towards the moms? We all had one, remember?</p>

<p>Away football games? Really sad that we can't go to support the team. Oh . . that's right, we CAN go, we just CAN'T get there given leave schedules, etc.</p>

<p>Food? I only noticed change after the newspaper/parental ruckus. Maybe conincidental. Maybe not.</p>

<p>I guess the Academy has it absolutely right in one regard: We are learning a LOT about leadership abilities, or the lack thereof.</p>

<p>SeaTrials. No big deal having parents there. Yes, some seem a little silly to us, but, you know, it's fine. I'm sure I'll be a silly parent someday too.</p>

<p>Grades. So, if I understand it, EVERBODY should get A's if the professor taught the course correctly. Hmmmm. . . I'm sure that makes sense to somebody, forgetting for a moment about some of the NAPSTERS [fine folks that they are] among others, who are barely getting by and couldn't score an "A" if the professor handed them a worksheet. Okay by me, some of them are good guys, but, really, do you guys read your posts before you send them?</p>

<p>that's all for now.
I still don't quite understand what drives some of you to bicker back and forth. Do you really think what you post here--especially to some who would disagree with Jesus Christ just for the sake of arguing--makes a bit of difference?
No . . . I would really like to know.</p>

<p>Maybe I'll start a different thread to discuss this question.</p>

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<p>Great American has too much faith in the average CC participant to have thought his post would not start another flame war.</p>

<p>GA/JamTex: Too many people with too much time on their hands.</p>

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<p>USNA69, I read the same article. The only thing I can think is that people see/read/hear what they want to see/read/hear. What was perceived as the FSO "blaming" the mids was, what, the last three paragraphs? Where she was reminding squad leaders to be responsible for the goings-on at their own tables?</p>

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<p>Grad/dad.... first post on CC and you ABSOLUTELY 100% HIT A GRAND SLAM!!!!!!!!! </p>

<p>Hamburgers AND a second choice.............
you have my word not another mention of Food!!!!!!!!! :)</p>

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<p>jamtex..........</p>

<p>"out of the mouths of babes........."</p>

<p>thanks for telling it like it is through the eyes of someone who "IS there/ DOING it." </p>

<p>You get a big cyber-hug from this mom!!!! :)</p>

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What about service assignments? What is this based on as far as who gets to chose first?

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<p>(hmmm... none of us ever answered this one I guess!)...</p>

<p>as far as I know, service assignments are based on Order of Merit... combo of all grades (academics, military/professional, physical) .... </p>

<p>It is my understanding some firsties will select (and be selected for) certain service communities ahead of time (ie: subs, seals, ..... not sure what else).... with the acutal selection of "which" sub, "which" base coming on service selection night.... could be wrong here so hoping this little "bump" gets you more accurate information.........</p>

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<p>Topic: Food Service in King Hall Our focus is better aligning the Naval Academy with the Fleet, where our midshipmen will soon serve as leaders. Food service and quality is important in the Navy and Marine Corps. Eating together on messdecks, wardrooms and in ready rooms helps officers, Sailors and Marines develop and maintain the relationships and unit cohesiveness so important to units in the Fleet. This is why the Superintendent and Naval Academy leadership are committed to ensuring that the Brigade receives the best food service available. Some food distribution issues have come to our attention over the past week and we are aggressively working to correct them. Feeding more than 4000 people at a single sitting is a significant and complex evolution. It has been well over 10 years since the Naval Academy has required all midshipmen to attend 15 mandatory meals per week. To address these issues, we’re now obtaining instant feedback from midshipmen regarding the quality of food and using their suggestions to improve our level of service. We are encouraging midshipmen - particularly first class midshipmen as leaders - to report problems to our Food Service Team so they can correct issues as they arise. We’ve also developed a revised menu which will be implemented in early September. The menu changes reflect our goal of providing midshipmen with the proper diet to support both academic and athletic goals and to educate and expose midshipmen to foods that are part of a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. </p>

<p>Topic: Use of “Beat Army” At a recent official dinner, during which our second-class midshipmen committed themselves to the service of our country, we did not say ”Beat Army” after the singing of Navy Blue and Gold. With our nation at war, and out of respect for the Soldiers engaged in combat, we appropriately refrained from the use of ”Beat Army”. On the athletic field and during Pep Rallies or other “spirit of competition” events, we will continue to say ”Beat Army” as loud as we possibly can. </p>

<p>Topic: Revised Liberty Policy The Superintendent and Academy leadership want midshipmen to remain focused on their moral, mental, and physical development and want fewer distractions and fewer excused absences from important developmental events, like study hour. Any activity that doesn’t fully support this development is considered secondary, optional, and conditional. While most midshipmen will still have weekend liberty, we are limiting weekday liberty to ensure they observe mandatory study hour and to promote increased accountability. First Class Midshipmen may have an opportunity, later in the semester, to earn some weeknight liberty for outstanding performance. </p>

<p>Topic: Revised travel by midshipmen to away football games The decision to limit away football game travel by the Brigade is intended to ensure midshipmen remain focused on moral, mental, and physical development. All other activity is secondary, optional, and conditional. To this end, the Superintendent intends to remove distractions and guide development. Upperclass midshipmen in a liberty status may attend away football games on a voluntary basis. Because the Temple, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh away games occur during times where travel would result in missed classes or conflict with mandatory study hours, and because of the distance for the November game against North Texas, Brigade attendance to those games will be limited to eligible Midshipmen in liberty status. The Naval Academy plans to send a large contingent of Midshipmen to South Bend, Ind., for the Notre Dame game in November, and the entire brigade will be present for the Army-Navy game in Baltimore in December. </p>

<p>Topic: Support of Athletics/Football The Superintendent is very pleased with the Naval Academy athletic program. It remains a vital element of the Academy’s mission of moral, mental and physical development of midshipmen. The Navy Football team and Coach Johnson will continue to receive strong support from the Superintendent, the staff and faculty, and the Brigade of Midshipmen. The Superintendent and members of his Senior Leadership Team, as well as select members of the Brigade will attend away football games. </p>

<p>Topic: Reviewing status of Extra Curricular Activities The Superintendent’s intent is to ensure midshipmen remain focused on moral, mental, and physical development. All other activity is secondary, optional, and conditional. The Superintendent intends to remove distractions and guide development. To this end, the Academy is currently reviewing all extracurricular activities.</p>

<p>Topic: Wearing of Khaki uniforms Midshipmen first class are wearing Khaki uniforms to class in lieu of the working blue uniforms worn by other midshipmen. This is to emphasize better alignment with the Fleet, and to more clearly distinguish first class midshipmen as leaders in the Brigade. Finally, the wearing of Khakis serves a reminder that these midshipmen will soon be joining the fleet; a fleet at war.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.usna.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.usna.edu&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>I was. Fortunately, it was back when we really had to work hard at it, the days before the Ensigns came to the fleet knowing it all.</p>

<p>But more importantly, I was a good follower.</p>

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<p>I guess. I kinda read it the same way you did.</p>

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<p>JamTex-</p>

<p>LOVED YOUR POST!! Right on.</p>

<p>The Mister Roberts thing was a little harsh, but I did enjoy the movie, especially the marbles!</p>

<p>Thank you for giving us an up close and personal. :)</p>

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USNA69 reminds me of the captain of the ship in that movie

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USNA69 at least they didn't use LCDR Queeg of the CAINE when comparing you to ship captains.. Strawberrys anyone..? :) USNA69, what was the parents club like when you were at Navy?</p>

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<p>Seems relatively straight forward to me.</p>

<p>This is the old fashioned outdated Navy to which I am accustomed. Pity they haven't gotten rid of the UCMJ.</p>

<p>Hiow can we support inappropriate behavior such as this?</p>

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<p>"Hiow can we support inappropriate behavior such as this?"</p>

<p>Wow, that's the pot calling the kettle black!</p>

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<p>I'm sure you know the answer to that. I had the original helicopter parents. They came to BOTH PPW and graduation. There was no such thing as sea trials or First Class Parents Weekend. Herndon was an event for the Brigade. The upper class actually came by and cheered and jeered. They, from what I understand, would not be able to get within a mile of the place now. </p>

<p>With that said, I did enjoy First Class Parent's Weekend with my son by being able to visit some classes.</p>

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They, from what I understand, would not be able to get within a mile of the place now.

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<p>Try coming and see for your self rather than quoting "what I understand" - the Brigade was right there watching the Plebes replace that dixie cup. The entire brigade was in attendance in Alumni Hall when the 4/C got their youngster shoulder boards. The parents were hardly "in the way" of the Brigade's attendance for the activities during Plebe Week. </p>

<p>It was ok for you to do FPW with your son and actually enjoyed it but it is not ok today for the parents to attend activities that we have been invited to by the Commandant?</p>

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<p>juliemm, sorry I don't quite understand your post. Is it an endorsement for inappropriate behavior or are you simply continuing to ignore the real issues here?</p>

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<p>"I was. Fortunately, it was back when we really had to work hard at it, the days before the Ensigns came to the fleet knowing it all. But more importantly, I was a good follower."</p>

<p>The good ole days when drug, alcohol abuse was rampant, race riots on ships and morale the lowest on record?
Donate some your bread fruit to the mess problem, Captain Cagney.</p>

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<p>If I understand it correctly, the Supe DID address the Mids, by Battalions. And after giving the division directors his vision, delegated to them the authority to implement. </p>

<p>Much different from the ways of he who was known as "Uncle Rodney" who micromanaged the day-to-day life of the Brigade to the point where he cut the Brigade Commander off at the knees. Anyone remember the fallout of the midshipmen sleeping during Forrestal Lectures? Now THAT was a lesson in leadership, "or the lack thereof."</p>

<p>I can understand parents who are only speaking in defense of their children. But for mids who are posting here, you're going to be division officers soon, and I wonder how you're going to feel the first time one of your Sailors jumps the chain of command and doesn't give you the opportunity to solve a problem before chucking you under the bus.</p>