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but it just strikes me wrong that a MILITARY ACADEMY parent is supporting changes at the NAVAL ACADEMY.
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<p>it strikes me wrong that a NAVAL ACADEMY midshipman is NOT supporting changes at the NAVAL ACADEMY.</p>
<p>Honestly, with an attitude like yours - I am glad you are not at the Military Academy. Our soldiers deserve better leadership from their officers than you are able to provide.</p>
<p>I am sorry that the party is over for you folks, perhaps it is time for you all to get on with the business of developing Naval Officers. You all are so hung up over your fab football team and Halloween concerts, some of you seem to have forgotten the mission of USNA.
The Supe at West Point didn't need to keep cadets home from weeknight football games - because there aren't any! If you look on the schedule - all games are on Saturdays. hmmmmm. </p>
<p>Have you had the experience being at lunch and having the First Captain announce the name of a former midshipman that you lived with, was on your sports team or in your company who gave the ultimate sacrifice??? </p>
<p>Well that scene has been far too common at West Point. The USMA class of 2006 has not yet lost a soldier but all cadets know - it isn't a matter of "if" but a matter of "when". If you would like to know more about the remarkable USMA alums from the Classes of 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 who have given the ultimate sacrifice then PM me.<br>
Unlike USNA, kids who apply to USMA need to know that being an officer and leading troops into battle (literally) is serious business and they will be called upon to put their lives on the line. Shogun provides that grasp on reality.</p>
<p>Time to run along now, back to your studying and your bad attitude.</p>
<p>"The point is there is NO EVIDENCE that post 9/11 USNA graduates were, in any way, deficient in performing their assigned duties"</p>
<p>Thats not the point---can they do better?</p>
<p>"There is NO EVIDENCE that the Academy climate, pre-Fowler, in any way has contributed to increased casualties for any service personnel assigned to the theater."</p>
<p>Thats not the point--can they do better?</p>
<p>"What sacrifices, other than those directly or indirectly (e.g. family) involved, has the NATION been asked to make to support this war?"</p>
<p>Thats not the point---the sacrifices I am concerned with are those who entered service academies that are prparing to serve in the armed forces in a time of war.</p>
<p>"the Navy's mission is completely different than the Army's."</p>
<p>Thats not the point---both require offices to provide leadership to men and women in potentially dangerous situations for which they might not be specifically trained and prepared for.</p>
<p>"Could you spare us the continued listing you make at various times of those who have died in Iraq. Do you think we don't consider these senseless deaths on a regular basis without needing reminders from you?"</p>
<p>"SENSELESS?"</p>
<p>"Put your intermittent posts about how brave the Army has been on other websites perhaps some of the other college boards here on CC."</p>
<p>The listing above shows the sacrifices made by soldiers, saliors, and marines in the War on Terror. It is meant to show the cost of trying to do the right thing, and the potential for a naval, army or marine officer if they get it "wrong."---THAT is the reason for the Naval Academy, West Point and the others--regardless of their "mission". </p>
<p>"why does some non-USNA parent come over here and suggest that change was needed"</p>
<p>I did not suggest a "change was needed"---I DO suggest that if Adm Fowler thought that the changes would make EVEN BETTER leaders at the Naval Academy than the EXCELLENT ones they produce now, then I'm all for it.</p>
<p>"all of which I don't think are in practice at USMA"</p>
<p>Talk to some cadets at WP. Better yet, if given the opportunity, participate in the cadet exchange program and spend a semester there. If thats not possible, talk to a Mid that did spend a semester there when they come back in Jan.</p>
<p>Good luck with your studies and your development. You are going to one of the finest institutions in the world and you can (and Iam sure you are) be very proud! GO NAVY!</p>
<p>JamTex you noted that: "I hope you are but just in case you are not--the Navy's mission is completely different than the Army's". Conceptually that is true. However the realities of today's conflict presents some important considerations. Perhaps Adm Fowler is looking to these>>>>>>>>>>>>>></p>
<p>A good example of where naval officers are being used to lead ground forces is shown by the creation of P.R.T.'s in Afganistan:</p>
<p>(From a speech given on July 17, 2007 by Rear Adm Michelle Howard)</p>
<p>"In 2003, the Navy was asked to provide an officer to lead a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. We searched the roles looking for someone who exhibited the greatest characteristics of leadership. Whoever would be chosen would be representing the Navy in a difficult and challenging environment and their performance would determine whether we continued to nominate officers to lead PRTs. We forwarded Commander Kim Evans as our nominee. </p>
<pre><code> As it turns out, she was the first woman (regardless of Service) to lead a Provincial Reconstruction Team. She was superb as the commander of a combined group of Army, Air force, Navy, civilian, and Afghani personnel. As a result, she was asked to stand up a second PRT in a more hostile area, before her tour was over. Kim Evans in her year in Afghanistan did a remarkable job—so much so that the Navy currently leads six PRTs in Afghanistan."
</code></pre>
<p>(I didn't realize that there are more sailors serving on land in the Middle East than on the water in CentCom's area of operations) :</p>
<p>"We have steadily provided Sailors to the ground fight as long as they have the skill sets required. Currently we have over 13,000 Sailors serving ashore in CENTCOM’s theater. To put that in perspective, we average 10,000 Sailors at sea in the same theater in any given month."</p>
<p>Bottom line, I think today's war shows that the Mission of the Naval Academy is well served by preparing its Midshipman for the possibility of leading ground forces.</p>
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I didn't realize that there are more sailors serving on land in the Middle East than on the water in CentCom's area of operations
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<p>Last I heard, individual augmentation to support the war effort in the Middle East is involving about two thirds of all Naval Officers for a year of their shore duty tours. Actually, not to have done it is becoming a career stopper.</p>
<p>Thanks usna69---I don't think most people know that--I sure didn't!</p>
<p>^^^^^
CNO:</a> Navy content with current IA levels</p>
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The Navy intends to hold steady its current level of 13,000 individual augmentees in Iraq and elsewhere in Central Command, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen told lawmakers Thursday in testimony on Capitol Hill.</p>
<p>Appearing before the Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee, Mullen told members he doesnt see anything in the future over the next or three years that Im able to predict that requirement to be raised dramatically higher. In a response to a question from Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Mullen said, We work very hard to predict how many more there will be....
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<p>More</a> weapons, convoy training for IAs</p>
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Sailors bound for individual augmentee deployments will soon get more time to learn ground combat skills before going overseas.</p>
<p>That means the current two-week familiarization course in ground combat and survival will increase to nearly three weeks, to allow for more time on the weapons range and more time to absorb important skills....
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<p>Cotton:</a> IA duty wont decrease soon</p>
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Projected increases in the size of the Army and Marine Corps could reduce the tempo of Navy individual augmentee assignments, but that wont happen for at least the next five years, the Navys top reservist said Thursday.</p>
<p>Last month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates proposed increasing the size of the Army by 65,000 troops and the Marine Corps by 27,000.</p>
<p>Vice Adm. John Cotton said the majority of Navy individual augmentees have been assigned to Army units, but he said Navy reservists can expect a steady rate of individual augmentee assignments in spite of the projected increase in the Armys size....
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<p>5</a> admirals pulling IA duty</p>
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Before arriving in Iraq last year, Rear Adm. Mark Fox, a naval aviator, had never conducted a press conference. But during his nine months in Baghdad, press conferences are a regular part of Foxs duties as communications chief for the strategic effects component of Multi-National Forces-Iraq.</p>
<p>Fox is one of a handful of Navy flag officers around the globe serving as an individual augmentee, filling billets normally filled by Army officers or soldiers. The admiral is a high-ranking example of the sea services expanded mission in support of the war on terrorism.</p>
<p>The Navy estimates about 13,000 sailors and naval officers are serving as IAs about 5,000 in Iraq....
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