<p>Haha that sucks for those people in those ridiculous companies. I'm in a really easy company and I love it usually. We don't get as close as a class because we don't have all of that crap to do, but we also don't have the ridiculousness that is involved in being in say, 5th or 13th. I'm sorry but all calls all year will not make me a better officer.
And JamTex, we'll probably just join our classmates, how are they honestly to know who is supposed to be there and who's not. I'm not to worried about it, kind of presumptuous for you to think that I won't join my classmates for Herndon, I have as much a right as them to climb it, and if I'm here, I will.</p>
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how are they honestly to know who is supposed to be there and who's not.
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<p>JT, </p>
<p>From what I've heard, the companies that don't rate the climb after sea trials and are not participating will watch the event on the big screen from Alumni Hall. </p>
<p>Assuming this comes to pass as described and without commenting on the wisdom of this decision, I think they are smart enough to understand if they allow the rest of the Plebe class to stand around next to Herndon, there is no way they will keep the companies separated.</p>
<p>Aren't we being a little premature. Everything 'official' that I have seen is that they are going to form a midshipman study group to study the issue. Rest assured, it is not the threat of injuries that is driving this study. Only 200 or so can get in the immediate vicinity of the monument anyway. Limiting it to 200 would eliminate the occassional rally of fresh bodies, causing the original 200 to become more tired, and thusely, more accident prone.</p>
<p>If it does eventually come to the 200, two possible scenarios exist. If I were one of the 200, I would not climb Herndon unless my entire class was there. If I were not one of the 200, a Class-A restriction would be a small price to pay. If I were locked inside Alumni Hall, a quick call to the Fire Marshall would take care of that.</p>
<p>usna69 - are you suggesting a "call to action"?</p>
<p>In reality:
from what was observed, the kids themselves "rotated" in and out- seems one group would try, fail, then a fresh wave would filter in- and on and on until the mission was accomplished. While I did see some reddened shoulders, I did not see anyone limping, bleeding, or carried out with assistance. Granted, I did not have a 360 degree view, but I can vouch for about 180 degrees from ringside!!</p>
<p>oh well-
2010 may go down in USNA lore as the last "class" to climb Herndon.<br>
As for the "posting of the times," it will be irrevelent- can't compare a "stacked deck" against the "whole," no matter what 200 they select.</p>
<p>The big problem that I see with this, realistically, is that with only 200 people there, they might pysically not be able to climb the monument! They may not have the endurance required...it literally takes an entire class to do this because of (1) fresh bodies coming in and (2) the people on the outside form a sort of elevated ground from which climbers emerge...a very strong base or foundation. With 1/5 of the people there, I just don't see it happening (at least not after a great deal of struggling)...Just MHO.</p>