<p>From teh sounds of it, holding CGA and MMA classes at ST. Johns would actually be an improvement facilities-wise.</p>
<p>Just returned from touring the Yard this AM and looking at the new $325,000 airplane replica in Dalghren. Very pertinent and extremely worthwhile. Much more relavent than the old N3N. The experience gave me goose bumps. Very few things do. In my opinion money very well spent.</p>
<p>However, I couldn’t vouch for the Class of 2014 being there. Windows were closed so I’m not sure the rumor that they are no longer yelling is true. Didn’t hear any chow calls. I think I might have seen one lone Dixie Cup bobbing between the second and fourth wing. The only Plebe summer type activity I saw was a girl’s soccer camp where they were getting their butts run off.</p>
<p>USNA84 it’s more like “2.4 yards per carry.”</p>
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</p>
<p>Did you get a chance to see the two $30,000 Waterford crystal chandeliers hanging at the Supe’s residence, or taste any of the $100,000 in fine wine provided for Fowler to “entertain” his guests?</p>
<p>The wine and crystal (not to mention the SUV he purchased for the academy’s finance director) were all purchased and provided by a wealthy USNA alum donator who just happens :rolleyes: to own a defense contracting company in Richardson, TX that does business with the Navy.</p>
<p>[Navy</a> criticizes close relationship between Academy and donor](<a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-naval-academy-contractor-20100705,0,4996970.story]Navy”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-naval-academy-contractor-20100705,0,4996970.story)</p>
<p>And “2.4 yards per carry.”</p>
<p>
The article you linked stated that Parsons simply allowed Bentley to park the SUV at his house. Do you have evidence that this is incorrect?</p>
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</p>
<p>But I do think you are zeroing in on the real culprit who should have, in my opiniion, received a permanent suspension instead of a five day one.</p>
<p>The investigation really starts when we see all of the slush-fund donors and tailgate guest lists, and not just the rich Texas defense contractor who “donated” $100,000 in wine and two $30,000 chandeliers. </p>
<p>Who else “donated” large a large amount and later booked some lucrative USNA or Navy business? Or maybe the business was booked and THEN the slush-fund money was “donated?”</p>
<p>Drawing some elementary conclusions between lucrative Navy contracts/awards and giving large amounts to the Supe’s off-the-book hidden slush fund shouldn’t be too hard.</p>
<p>This may just be the beginning, just the tip of the iceberg.</p>
<p>[Naval</a> Academy slush fund a failure of honor](<a href=“Naval Academy slush fund a failure of honor”>Naval Academy slush fund a failure of honor)</p>
<p>*…"The Naval Academy has a 165-year-old tradition of emphasizing honor. Midshipmen do not lie. They do not cheat. They are required to confront classmates they see violating the code. This produces officers of high moral character, men and women who can be trusted with the lives and welfare of those who will be under their command.</p>
<p>This lesson is thwarted when senior employees make poor ethical choices and the institution is not fully forthcoming about the facts. That the IG report has become public knowledge is due only to the investigative efforts of the Navy Times. The midshipmen deserve better from their leadership."*</p>
<p>Of course, all USNA toadies and boot-lickers should ignore all evidence and facts and instead attack the Baltimore Sun, The Navy Times, and me for posting it. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Lou baby! Please ponder hopping off the hobby horse. You’re gittin saddle sores and you’re too good to be ax grinding. I’m confident your points are made. </p>
<p>In the end, be it CG, Army, or Navy …what this is about is pure and simple. It’s a hatchet job from someone(s) who determined they wanted to nail the Supe. And they were sufficiently powerful enuff to do so.</p>
<p>But …if anyone(s) think that this slushy business is an isolated incident, then a few courses in military warfare and political science are in order. Let’s skip it. The king is dead. Long live the king.</p>
<p>What’s Scripture expose to us about “clanging cymbals?”</p>
<p>There is a difference between posting an article [and letting it stand on its own as a criticism of the NA] and making sloppy inferences ["not to mention the SUV he purchased for the academy’s finance director] that further one’s agenda. You want to post negative articles about the NA? Go ahead. Makes for interesting reading and I’m glad to know it. Just don’t try to make more out of it than it is by reaching a conclusion that isn’t stated.</p>
<p>I only wish I had enough stroke to be the one buying $50k worth of goods in single visit to the mid store and/or buying 100k worth of wines for useby the Supt. It’s America; scenes such as this could be found in Congress, Academies, Gov’t offices, Embassies, Colleges, Universities, Businesses, and just about anywhere you were to turn.</p>
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</p>
<p>So you see nothing unethical or perhaps dishonorable when a defense contractor “donates” or “spends” HUGE sums of money to an “off-the books” slush fund to be used by the Supe at his discretion? </p>
<p>You’re certain that he is not expecting anything in return? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>I’m sure there are strict Govt rules in place to prevent such blatant solicitations from those who are doing (or hope to do) business with the Dept of Defense.</p>
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</p>
<p>They were. The thread was dead and heading for the bottom…until</p>
<p>Until USNA69/mombee/SONG72 decided to revive it with his mutterings about some airplane hanging from the ceiling.</p>
<p>I simply wanted to know if he saw the $30K chandeliers hanging from the ceiling as well, and was wondering if they gave him the same goosebumps as did the $325,000 model airplane.</p>
<p>Again, the USNA cheerleaders choose to ignore the fact that a rich defense contractor is providing huge sums of money to a government installation, to be used at the discretion of the head of said installation, without any oversight or accountability.</p>
<p>Wow.</p>
<p>Lou, if you think this is about “ethical” you may want to reconsider. Why do you think Pepsico spent $18 million to put its name on the Penn State Bryce Jordan scoreboard? Why is there a name on the Michigan b-school? This is about legacies and exchanges. And your USCGA more than Navy needs to get in the game. </p>
<p>Why do people (me included) love Jesus? Because He 1st loved me. Why was he nailed to the cross? Paybacks man, exchanges. It’s the law of nature and of physics. No action absent an equal reaction. Choose the framework that works for you, but don’t imply that an exchange of these types are either illegal, immoral or unethical. </p>
<p>It’s like suggesting that we all want to be equal …and have the same healthcare. Not in this world, pal. Let’s get real.</p>
<p>And without a doubt, USNA has been pursuing these exchanges vigorously. And should be doing more so. Tax bucks won’t make it anymore. Look at Coast Guard! The poor sister.</p>
<p>And lest you think this is somehow “wrong” …check out the Scripture that says, “take ill-gotten gains and use them for good.” I think the men and women of USNA and their fellow-mates at other SAs are not only “good” but among the “BEST.” And worthy of every charitable, philanthropic, or corporate marketing dollar that can be generated for their benefit.</p>
<p>I think the now-deceased Soviet Union had many similar ideas to yours, Lou. Hang on though, as it seems some are determined to try and make our great nation an equally great failed-experiment #2 in socialism.</p>
<p>And if you wanna blame this revival of sorts on poor ol Sing-Sing Song/69er/ or whoever he wants to be today …cmon. You don’t wanna be in that lonely crowd. Again, you are too good. Higher road beckons.</p>
<p>Hey WP, the Inspector General of the United States Navy is the one who is questioning the possibility of an (illegal?) improper relationship between a high-stakes donor who happens to be a defense contractor, and the financial shenanigans undertaken by the leadership at USNA.</p>
<p>If you are trying to compare large corporate donors at civilian schools and defense contractor donators possibly influencing the contracting/procurement process of United States Government purchases, you need to get “learned up” on the rules and regulations that govern such relationship. </p>
<p>The rules that govern those who wish to do business with the Govt are VERY strict and those who do not follow the rules often wind up in federal prison. This ain’t Pepsi donating a scoreboard to some civilian school.</p>
<p>Tell me, WP - why is a defense contractor donating such large sums of money, wine, and furniture to the USNA? No expectation of getting any USNA business from that spending? Did you just fall of the turnip truck this week? </p>
<p>Trust me, this investigation is just beginning.</p>
<p>The knocks keep coming, this time from the hometown Annapolis paper:</p>
<p>[Slush</a> fund a blot on academy’s leadership The Capital](<a href=“http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/opn/2010/07/06-31/Slush-fund-a-blot-on-academys-leadership.html]Slush”>Real Estate – Capital Gazette)</p>
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</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>clang clang clang went the trolley …and Luigi was at the helm.</p>
<p>get a grip, man. Take your lithium. It should help.</p>
<p>Trust me. You’re all wet on this, hoping like heck that the sky’ll be falling. Hold not your breath, ol’ mate. Blue you might be 'fore it happens. Trust me.</p>
<p>Why do you …or at least should you …tell your wife her hair looks nice?</p>
<p>And let’s remember …the IG is simply an accountant beckoned to audit, seek and destroy. He’s done his job at someone’s directive. No more, no less.</p>
<p>
LOL. Luigi, I’m sure you never bothered to find out what Richardson Trident’s business is:</p>
<p>[Trident</a> Metals-An Industry leader in Metal Sales and Service, located in Richardson, Texas](<a href=“http://trident-metals.com/]Trident”>http://trident-metals.com/)</p>
<p>Huge demand for exotic metal stock at USNA.</p>
<p>Perhaps he is like the thousands of other alumni that contribute solely for the satisfaction of returning something to the institution that helped mold them into what they are.</p>
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</p>
<p>LOL @ SONG72, I’m sure you didn’t read what the Inspector General of the Navy wrote about this “relationship” between this defense contractor and the academy’s financial director:</p>
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</p>
<p>Read that again - prohibited source. Did they teach you what “prohibited” means? Do you have any understanding of why “donations” are prohibited from those doing or seeking to do business with the Federal Government? </p>
<p>Or maybe he is one of the defense contractors listed in the FDR system who doesn’t want to win defense contracts with the Dept of Defense. :rolleyes:</p>
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</p>
<p>Hmmm…a supplier to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps during the last decade. That explains a lot. </p>
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<p>Special treatment. Of course. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>A failure of honor. A failure of leadership. </p>
<p>Keep spinning it, USNA69.</p>
<p>WP: mucho kudos to you for realizing the futility of trying to “win” the discussion on a meaningless internet board.</p>
<p>The quesiton is: what did these people do with their time before the internet?</p>
<p>Bill ol’ boy …Hot out your way?</p>
<p>Navy reverses academy punishment; superintendent to leave early
By Justin Fenton, The Baltimore Sun
11:52 p.m. EDT, July 13, 2010</p>
<p>[Navy</a> reverses academy punishment; superintendent to leave early - baltimoresun.com](<a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/bs-md-ar-naval-academy-change-20100713,0,2814447.story]Navy”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/bs-md-ar-naval-academy-change-20100713,0,2814447.story)</p>
<p>The Naval Academy superintendent, recently under fire over an off-the-books “slush fund,” will be forced out of his position a month earlier than expected, officials said Tuesday…</p>
<p>Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler had planned to retire in September after three years at the academy’s helm, but the chief of naval operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, directed an exit by the first week in August…</p>
<p>…The Navy also determined that there had been “inconsistencies” in the application of the academy’s honor code involving seven Midshipmen alleged to have committed a violation, including two football players…</p>
<p>…Officials said recommendations by Fowler to expel two Midshipmen had been overruled and the students would be offered the opportunity to return.</p>
<p>W. Scott Hannon, a Baltimore attorney who said he was representing one of the students whose suspension was overturned, cheered the reversal, which he described as extremely rare.</p>
<p>“To not go along with the recommendations is almost unprecedented,” said Hannon, a former Marine officer. “It speaks to a lack of confidence by the secretary that this study was even conducted in the first place…”</p>
<p>…The report concluded that the expenditures, some of them “extravagant and wasteful,” did nothing for the intended beneficiaries: the academy’s midshipmen…</p>
<p>…Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus asked Roughead on June 11 to review the academy’s honor code procedures after becoming aware of possible inconsistencies in the adjudication of violations. The review examined the adjudication of 27 Midshipmen who allegedly violated the code during the 2009-2010 academic year.</p>
<p>Roughead’s report scrutinized eight cases and found that the disciplinary decisions were “within the authority and discretion” of the superintendent and commandant. But he said that there were “inconsistencies and therefore understandable perceptions of disparate treatment,” with consideration given to factors including a Midshipman’s status as a foreign national student, varsity football player or as a child of a senior officer…</p>
<p>…Two cases involved football players; in one, a player committed at least three violations in one month but was retained and offered remediation based on the commandant’s determination that alcohol was the root cause of the violation. After a subsequent alcohol-related incident, the player was dismissed.</p>
<p>In another case, Fowler recommended remediation for a varsity football player “despite numerous previous academic, conduct, and honor issues, and the recommendation of the entire chain of command to separate.” Fowler included a “subjective” assessment of his personal development and support from his coach and retired senior officers in deciding to dispose of the violation…</p>
<p>…Officials said the academy’s honor and conduct system would be revamped and the new superintendent would begin personally briefing the vice chief of naval operations at the end of each semester, or three times a year, on disciplinary decisions…</p>
<p>:eek:</p>