<p>This month's Shipmate:</p>
<p>
[quote]
We must all serve here to direct and facilitate the development of midshipmen to meet our mission. It is not a midshipman responsibility to choose how that mission will be accomplished.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Sounds as if it may be a while before the next Supt's call with the Brigade.</p>
<p>It is the same old same old. Another example of poor leadership. Seems he scheduled one for a last Thursday and cancelled it at last minute with no explanation. This leadership lead the midshipmen on needlessly and then cut them off at the knees. At least the Brigade is getting a good dose of how not to lead and according to the 6 we hosted last weekend they are paying attention. Much of the discussion was on types of leaders. Not one of the 6 wants anything to do with the sub community if that is the type of leadership they produce. Heard much of he is not a team player but it is all about himself.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>All kidding aside, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that. Can you elaborate?</p>
<p>Who is the intended audience for that newsletter? Is it primarily intended for current mids or alumni? Couldn't tell from the way it was written.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Hopefully they will come down off their high-and-mighty soon, realize the error of their thoughts and ways, and get on with the program. </p>
<p>Thanks for validating my childish disgruntled midshipmen observation.</p>
<p>Shipmate is the alumni magazine for USNA, so I would say that it was clearly intended in this case for the alumni to hear the Supe's vision for USNA. </p>
<p>Similar (if not the exact word for word) material has already been published in newspapers and electronically on many websites covering USNA. There is a significant lag between submission of material and the publication in Shipmate. The submission deadline is usually on the order of 6-8 weeks, hence the seeming redundance of something most of the people looking at this board have already seen and heard.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Surely you spent enough time in the Navy to observe a leader who held Captain's Calls where the troops aired all their discontents and then the skipper became a micromanager, bypassing the chain of command, fixing everything. Troops were happy and the chain of command was ruined. Uncle Rodney was famous for them, both formal and informal.</p>
<p>I haven't previously seen the comment about not letting the inmates run the prison. I thought it was a very profound statement, worth heeding.</p>
<p>It really was a sincere question. So, you're saying that the Supe is going to let the system work and he's not going to intervene and try to "fix" things to undermine the 'Dant, Battalion Officers and Company Officers. I think I understand your point now.</p>
<p>I think you might have misinterpreted my comment about redundance. It wasn't meant to poke fun or be sarcastic. </p>
<p>I merely meant that the speed of electronic media and the daily press have made this message in Shipmate seem like old news to those who have been looking on the internet. Most of us read Shipmate for the class columns or for the interesting feature stories.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I never said or implied any such thing. Don't put words in my mouth.</p>
<p>He is going to intervene heavily. It will be coming down via the chain of command though. None of it will be going up the coc directly from the mids to the supt. Have no doubt, Adm Fowler is in charge.</p>
<p>^^^^ Thanks for editing your post. I believe that I understand your point now. Are you saying that the direction will come from above down the chain of command and the midshipmen will not be driving the agenda? </p>
<p>I'm not trying to bait you or put words in your mouth; I'm just trying to understand your point of view and have a little detente on the board.</p>
<p>Brigade bashing is not very helpful on this forum. The mids are disalusioned by his lack visibility. It is 2007 not the 60's times have changed whether we all want to believe that or not. It has changed in the fleet but apperently Jeffery was miles underwater and hasn't come up for air yet. Large companies would never be successful running in this mode. </p>
<p>Lets leave the Brigade out of this. These young men and women do not deserve your bashing. Of what I can tell having been around a group this past weekend, they are disillusioned but still performing what they are asked to do. These youngsters have great respect for thier chain of command through the Brigade. It when it leaves the Brigade, they are under-impressed. Human nature, nothing wrong with it. Supes calls are a good way for leader to get the pulse of the men and women with out it being filtered through a chain of command. It by no means is micromanaging. Why have a Board of Visitors meeting, it that not in some respects the same thing. Quite frankly as a tax paying citizen, I expect more from this leadership.</p>
<p>I have a questio also.</p>
<p>Seems, in the part referring to Developing Midshipmen, the Supt. considers "time management [as] critical" and that "four years is not a long time to develop the skills [midshipman] will need to lead Sailors and Marines."</p>
<p>Considering the cutback in ECAs, increase in study time, and other changes he has made, does this imply that OCS could not possibly turn out qualified officers? Since "[the Academy] is a place to develop one's skills before assignment to the Fleet," how could OCS possibly develop qualified officers in a much shorter time?</p>
<p>My question is: If OCS develops college graduates into qualified officers in a MUCH shorter time, assuming one believes they are qualified [and if you don't, then state that] how is it that OCS can accomplish this in a much shorter time and, apparently, USNA cannot?</p>
<p>Good observation Bill05. I too kind of was wondering that also. And What about ROTC? are the distractions from civilian colleges making them less fit to lead?</p>
<p>* Comment regarding another poster deleted*</p>
<p>Bill, great questio. Statistics have proved that USNA, in the past, has produced superior officers. However, great leaders have come from all sources. The odds have favored USNA though. The more USNA becomes a place to take classes only and then to run off in the afternoon to build houses and tutor underpriviledged kids, grab a sandwich for dinner, and then go tuba tooting, the more it will resemble a ROTC education. An education at only a fraction of the cost of four years at USNA. Should this happen, I am sure the Proxmeyers of the day will question the necessity of the SAs. Great thought process you have.</p>
<p>If I thought you could back that comment up, I would ask you to do so.</p>
<p>But, the Supt. said that "[Fleet Sailors and Marines] do not care [from] where officers recieve their commissions or their class rank. They do not care about their majors. They do not care about their extracurricular activities."</p>
<p>If nobody cares, then why the different emphasis? If nobody care, extended to its logical conclusion, then you are right: The Academies serve no purpose.</p>
<p>If "Sailors and Marines and their senior enlisted leaders care about [implicitly ONLY] three things, then why not have an exit exam of sorts.
A test that would examine "competence . . . character . . . [and] compassion."<br>
Given this scenario, as depicted by teh Supt, there is no reason to require that mids attend the Academy for four years. Once a mid can demonstrate the Big Three C's, regardless of how long it may take, he/she should be permitted to be commissioned.</p>
<p>These ar ethe words of the Supt. There is no gloss to them.</p>
<p>Can you wise ones please define the term "Ringknocker" for me.. My daughter used it today in discussing USNA. Thanks.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Can you wise ones please define the term "Ringknocker" for me.. My daughter used it today in discussing USNA. Thanks.
[/quote]
A term used for Naval Academy grads. This is due to the oversized gold ring with gaudy fake stone which they normally wear on their left ring finger, usually over their wedding band, to announce to the world that they are Academy grads. It is used as a term of endearment among grads and other Naval Officers and in derision among those who think the military is nothing but a bunch of incompetent bueracrats where the Peter Principal is ever evident.</p>
<p>Or, "bureaucrats" being elevated by the Peter "Principle" ;)</p>
<p> I have deleted a number of posts that were in violation of the Courtesy guidelines of the Terms of Service, and have also deleted the responses to them.</p>
<p>We expect that CC will be a friendly and enjoyable place to learn about college admissions. We certainly expect differing opinions, but ask that courtesy be used at all times. Criticizing other posters crosses the boundary of polite behavior. </p>
<p>Please keep in mind that posts should be focused on the topic of the thread, not characteristics of other posters. This forum is a site dedicated to the exchange of information about colleges, and is neither a debating society nor a sparring parlor. Different points of view are fine and are expected; CC would be a boring community without them. However, it is never acceptable to turn a disagreement about facts or opinions into a critique of another member, i.e., to question the intelligence, experience, motivation, writing style, etc. of another member.</p>
<p>Thanks, all for your cooperation. </p>
<p>Guys, as with the food threads, I think I am through this one also. The only thing I ask is that you parents step back and take a good long objective look at things. The Superintendent, in the statement above, has, with no doubt stated that he is in charge and is going to do things his way. The very fact that the Brigade is rebelling is testimony of the necessity for this type of leadership. He has tossed the gauntlet and he is in charge. The quicker the midshipmen get on board, the easier it will be for them. </p>
<p>Parents, please consider that your endorsement of their inability to follow the orders of the new administration is not helping them but hindering their growth. They are the best and the brightest. They need to remain that way. You need to get on board and help them. The Brigade, the administration, the Alumni, and most parents will be very grateful.</p>