Parents of the Class of 2012

Colleges and Universities A-Z Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point
1

<p>Parents,</p>

<p>I am an Upperclassmen at Kings Point and am writing you because like many upperclassmen we are very frustrated with how this past year has been going with the Class of 2012. I, like ever other person who has passed through Vickory Gate as a plebe complained to my parents of the conditions at Kings Point. I complained just like your plebes do about how hard the system is with the heavy load of academics and dealing with being a plebe. From the IT (Incentive Training) Sessions during tattoo, to the lack of liberty, and to having to do plebe things including retrieving the food and drinks for upperclassmen at lunch and cleaning the barracks, ever Kings Pointer must complete these things to be accepted by the institution. </p>

<p>For some reason this past year some of your fellow parents having been calling the school and complaining about certain things in the "system". Do to this complaining you have actually changed the system and hurt your sons and daughters. Although the Plebe System seems pointless, it teaches discipline, prepares them for sea, and most importantly teaches them hard work. The change in the system has hurt this plebe class severely. They don't have the unity displayed by other plebe classes and respect for the system. This in turn presents a lack of respect the rest of the student body has for 2012. It also severely hurts them as they prepare to depart for sea as ADULTS.</p>

<p>I ask you as a Midshipman to let the system do its job. Your sons and daughters are adults!! They have made the decision to attend this institution and therefore need to deal with their only problems. Mommy and Daddy should no longer be assisting. I am not saying that you shouldn't be active in your son's or daughter's lives, you should support them and tell them to keep their head up, but do not call the school. I know personally if my parents called the school I would be mortified. </p>

<p>I ask you to please pass this message on to your parent's organizations since I know that only a small fraction of you use this forum. When I was a plebe the entire class was stressed to read "The Lords of Discipline" by Pat Conroy. I stress all of you to read this novel to better understand why there is a Plebe System. Thank you for your time.</p>

<p>-TheMeanBear</p>

2

<p>Dear Mean bear,
Please, spare me the Pat Conroy adulation and the complaining Mommy and Daddy stories. I have not called anyone at the academy to complain and I doubt they would listen to me anyway! My son loves it at KP and is doing well. Don't paint us withthe same brush.</p>

3

<p>I have a feeling this one will detoriate fast. Don't take it personally nmlcfp, simply an upperclassman doing what KP'ers do best: complain :) This comes out every year from someone about this time when people are ready for the year to be over and the plebes are ready to be recognized. </p>

<p>The plebes will get recognized, the upperclassmen will complain that it happened to early, rinse, wash, repeat each year :) (My year included)</p>

4

<p>or the upperclass will complain the plebes aren't "upholding their end of the bargain." Forgot that one :)</p>

5

<p>Well said again kp2001 :) True this could get ugly fast, but 2012 parent's please don't take anything personal. As TheMeanBear said, your children have to learn how to deal on their own, and I can't think of a better place than KP to learn the realities. I've seen immature kids lacking confidence turn into amazing leaders because of what happens to them as they progress through KP.....let the system do it's job.</p>

6

<p>Recognize the class of 2012</p>

7

<p>snappler-- keep going! after all the whining and complaining that made my night. My plebe son loves it there. he is tired of the whole plebe thing, but still doesn't want to be anywhere else.</p>

8

<p>Sorry, nmlcfp.. Just because YOU haven't called and complained on behalf of your midshipman doesn't mean that others have not. MeanBear's comments didn't seem to be a complaint lodged against specific parents as much as an exhortation for non-interference.</p>

<p>I thought the take-home message was a plea to let the system work... not to let whining / complaining Mids spur parents to action... Action should come from the Mids. As well as developing unity, and a hard work ethic (even when no one is watching... just like at sea). </p>

<p>MeanBear is correct.
Some complaints WERE lodged, and some physical training elements were reduced temporarily. Bad move. </p>

<p>At sea, you are entrusted with a lot of responsibility. You need to stay alert, even when you are tired. You need to pay attention to details AT THAT MOMENT (like course, and pressures, and loads), even if you are bone tired and have been on duty for 36 hours. Things are going to be hot, dangerously so. Things are going to be heavy, dangerously so. You are going to need to keep yourself, your team, and your ship safe.
Shortcut the physical training, and you may not have the endurance to do what is needed. </p>

<p>The same with the respect side of the equation.
Greeting is simple, and a way of showing respect for the position others have earned. 2012 has historically had trouble with this. </p>

<p>There's another thread for 'recognize 2012'.
I think it's in THEIR hands. Recognition is NOT a timetable and number of weeks... It is based on Performing and Demonstrating objectives .</p>

<p>SO, although I'm a big supporter of plebe classes but moreso that they have performed and learned their tasks properly....
DON'T RECOGNIZE 2012, that is, until they show you they've earned it. [ *which I hope they will do soon! * :) ]</p>

<hr>

<p>PS. MANY/most mids thrive in the structure of Plebe year. Some do not. It is a teaching/training opportunity for those that are thriving to help those who are not see the benefits of teamwork. Good luck to them all :)</p>

9

<p>With the four classes currently at USMMA, whenever 2012 is recognized it will be the latest of the 4 current classes. That being said, maybe it is more to blame the 1/C for the slower development of the plebe class.</p>

10

<p>REVOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!oh, sorry...RECOGNITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

11

<p>Re-cog-nize!!!!!re-cog-nize!!!!re-cog-nize!!!re-cog-nize!!!!Re-cog-nize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

12

<p>I wonder how many parents, and candidates, think because mids are not required to enter active duty upon graduation that KP is somehow Service Academy "light." I remember being amused and amazed on I-day that the officers leading our tour felt the need to reassure us that the DI's weren't really yelling at our kids. My reaction was that I sure hope they are yelling at them. It's good for them, an important part of the process. </p>

<p>I couldn't imagine calling the school to complain. Mortified wouldn't begin to describe our daughter's reaction if we did that. She'd probably never speak to us again. </p>

<p>Here's hoping that 2012 gets their act together and earns recognition soon!</p>

13

<p>davy - I would agree with you that it is the 1/C's fault, however, I do not because of the points brought up by Mean Bear, and that because to many parents have been complaining, the 1/C has not been able to do their job.</p>

<p>There is only so much one can do to stop the flow of complacency, and when all of those options are taken away, it doesn't matter what you try to do, it won't work.</p>

<p>It doesn't help that half of the current midshipmen officers aren't original '09 and the person placed in charge of plebe training was fired for a DUI and being put in jail...</p>

14

<p>I find it hard to believe that a simple phone call from a plebe parent could actually affect the plebe training routines.</p>

<p>If true, it says more about the the academy then the parents. </p>

<p>That an institution designed to develop leaders of character would mold their training regimen to the whims of parental complaints does not reflect well on KP (if true).</p>

15

<p>If the plans outlined by the Admiral to the NY parents are implemented in July, every upperclassman will spend more time on campus (read less liberty) helping and training plebes and the underclassmen. With less liberty, there will be more time for passing along the important elements of the regimental system without cutting into time during the week that should be devoted to academics. I think he believes that the regiment needs work, but not at the expense of the academics. The administration is looking for more time in the week to get the job done. That means less free time for everyone.</p>

16

<p>Luigi I don't believe that KP changed their practices on the "whims of parents." As you may know, there has been a major change in the administration at KP (as well as Wash DC) and there were some gaps. From my understanding, the changes in treatment of plebes came at the request of the Professors (and maybe a few parents) because the plebes could not stay awake in class. In any event, whatever changes have been and will be made are not for us to speculate about. As said earlier, let the "system" work and parents, be there for support of your child....not to criticize the system.</p>

17

<p>I think you hit the nail right on the head Suzanne. The simultaneous departure of the Superintendant and the Commandant created a "power vacuum" that took some time to fill. There are some members of the faculty who believe that the regiment demands too much time from the Midshipmen in general and the Plebes in particular. To paraphrase an observation from the book In Peace And War, historicly, the faculty has viewed these young people as students who happen to be future officers whereas the regiment has viewed them as future officers who happen to be students. It is a balancing act that KP seems to struggle with.</p>

18

<p>"I find it hard to believe that a simple phone call from a plebe parent could actually affect the plebe training routines.
If true, it says more about the the academy then the parents."</p>

<p>I totally agree here and do not feel this is the case. With new leadership I think they were willing to hear all. That does not mean they caved to each and every whim. There is a system for getting concerns answered. Parents can go to any state's parents association who can either put their minds at ease or ask the question to the admin in charge and follow up. There is a link to many parents assoc on the USMMA parent's page.</p>

<p>One would have to remember the best marketing the school has is alumni and proud parents. The current mids are rather busy getting that four year's worth of book work all done in three years the adding a year out to sea.</p>

<p>I firmly believe the system should be allowed to work, after how much can we 'really' see sitting at our computer screens.</p>

19

<p>


</p>

<p>The "official" stance of the school has always been (since I've been here) academics first, sports second, regiment third. I agree that the regimental system certainly has its place, but there are times when it does interfere with things that should take priority. </p>

<p>I think the bigger issue is the truth that many (most) KP'ers came here to graduate as civilians (of course, aware of the reserve commitment) and sometimes feel that the military stuff is taken too far. I know I have had moments where I was frustrated and dumbfounded by decisions made by higher-ups that seemed to trump common sense and critical thought. Are we training to be smart decision-makers with common sense or just react to orders without thought, allowing pen-pushers to trump all rational thought and action? This seems to be a constant struggle within the regiment.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, most of what I've got out of KP leadership is how NOT to lead people. If that's the only thing we/I'm learning, something is wrong. I think KP has been in a slight downswing for the past couple of years, this last one in particular. I hope things get better soon and I will give the benefit of the doubt to the new leadership to make that happen.</p>

20

<p>You raise some valid points and I agree with you on some of them... at least in theory. But there comes a time when the waves of theory crash against the rocky shores of reality and, for KP, that time may be near at hand. I believe that if The Academy were to marginalize the Regiment they would do so at their own peril. While Most KP'ers do indeed come to train for jobs in the civilian world, if KP is viewed as a school where taxpayer dollars are expended to train students for high paying jobs in the maritime industry the argument can (and will) be made that there are several state run schools that provide the same service at ZERO cost to the taxpayer. In this era of tight budgets
KP's future may very well depend on how well it presents itself as a training ground for future military officers. Once Congress starts looking for ways to pay for all that stimulus some eyes are bound to be looking at King's point. Make no mistake, even as we discuss this there are people in Washington who want to close down the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for good and KP may not always have a high profile alumnus like Lane Kirkland to come to their aid. I don't mean to sound overly harsh but I truly believe that those who do not wish to serve as officers may be better off at one of the state run schools. But bring your check book with you, the last time I checked, Massachusetts Maritime was about $27K per year</p>