<p>I know attending a pro ball game seems truly decadent compared with what the cadets @ WP are going through right now. However, this was the first and only time that the plebe candidates @ USMMA were permitted off the Academy grounds since the first day of Indoc. July 8th. The next time they can leave is "Acceptance Weekend" Sept. 17, 2005. They are permitted an overnight leave after the USMMA football game on Sat. & must return Sun. by 1800 hours.</p>
<p>Actually, the point of my post was my son's description of the accolades and admiration that the plebes and midshipmen received at Shea Stadium. It was heartwarming to see that so many people admire and respect our military, despite what one might read in certain papers or hear from some college professors, like Ward Churchill of the Univ.of Colorado!</p>
<p>I did note that he felt it was the most humbling experience of his life! What I did not include in the previous post was that he felt totally undeserving of such a reception, feeling that they had done nothing worthy of such praise.</p>
<p>I did remind him that although they are not active duty yet; when accepted 9/17 they will be sworn in to protect and defend the Constitution. Reminding him further that all of the plebe candidates (regardless of what Academy they chose) have made the sacrifice to go to an Academy, give up their summers, work harder academically and physically than a lot of people their age...well, that is surely SOMETHING worthy of praise!</p>
<p>Actually, all those midshipmen are serving... Remember, USMMA is the only Federal Service Academy that carries a Battle Standard!</p>
<p>What follows is an article I copied:</p>
<pre><code> USMMA MIDSHIPMEN SAIL TO HELP SHIP SUPPLIES TO IRAQ
</code></pre>
<p>"To date, 71 midshipmen the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, NY have played an important role in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. They have been active participants in transporting vital military supplies by sea to US forces in the Middle East.
USMMA midshipmen spend a portion of both their sophomore and junior years aboard US-flag merchant ships gaining practical shipboard experience. Because of the surge of military cargo to the Middle East, many students have been placed on vessels heading to ports in and around the Persian Gulf.
While the majority of US troops reach their Middle East destinations by air, 85 percent of their equipment and the supplies needed to sustain them in the field must travel by sea. The arduous, 12,000 sea-mile route to the Persian Gulf means that there is a fleet of US cargo ships "a steel bridge of democracy," extending from the US to Iraq.
The ships include tankers, ammunition ships and roll on/roll off vessels carrying tanks, armored personnel carriers and other vehicles, operate under the control of the US Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC). Some of these vessels are owned by MSC; others are owned by private sector shipping companies and are under charter to MSC.
This formidable cargo fleet is crewed by some 5,000 civilian merchant mariners. The 71 Academy midshipmen among them are helping support the war effort while learning firsthand skills such as navigation, cargo stowage and marine engineering.
The Academy's mandatory sea training program dates back to its inception during World War II, when 142 students perished at sea in enemy action. Since then, midshipmen have participated in sealifts for the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as in the Persian Gulf War, when 150 students sailed into the war zone. '
"The maritime community has served America with great distinction during every major crisis in our nation's history, and the mariners who crew the ships are the cornerstone of this effort," said US Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta.</p>
