Back when I was a plebe in the summer of ‘78, with my back up against the bulkhead in 95 degree heat and 100% humidity, forced to hold an M-1 rifle horizontally out in front of me single-armed while a crimson-faced first class midshipman swore spittle flecked oaths on his mother’s grave averring that I could so by God pull my chin in just that much closer to my spine even as I threw my chest out, because bracing up – suckish as it was – was nothing compared to actual combat.
They’re probably working on some new lines, right about now:
As he reported to the Naval Academy yesterday to begin the arduous six-week indoctrination of incoming freshmen, Jed Lomax didn’t bear the look of fear so familiar on those who first arrive on the campus.
Lomax, 21, said he figured that Plebe Summer, notorious for its 16-hour days of grueling physical and mental training, would be nothing compared with running convoys in Iraq every day for seven months.
“It’s a relief,” said the former petty officer second class, who returned from his deployment in April.
Also quoted: A former USMC sergeant, Academy gate guard and current midshipman who has an interesting point to make:
Patrick McConnell said he learned a lot about the academy as a Marine sentry for 2 1/2 years. He reported as a guard just days before Vice Adm. Richard J. Naughton, then the academy’s superintendent, had gotten into an altercation with a Marine who asked him for identification as he came into the gates. Naughton later resigned after an investigation faulted his leadership style.
“It’s high-stakes here,” said the former sergeant, who lost that rank to become a midshipman. “If you step the wrong way, it’s noticed a lot. I was really surprised something that minuscule just got blown into something so big.”
When the bells rang, and midshipmen strode idly by, assured of the bright future that lay ahead of them as they chatted about classes and relationships, McConnell often dreamed of another life as he stood in the sun all day and checked IDs or searched cars.
“This place opened my eyes to a whole new world,” said McConnell, who also instructed newly graduated midshipmen in the Marine Corps martial arts program in Quantico, Va.
Although he had blazed through the enlisted ranks, leading from 35 to 50 men at some points, he was ready to humble himself once more. “If you lose your ability to follow, you lose your ability to lead.”
Preach it, brother.
Like it was yesterday…
It was hot and humid today.
Sadly, the flyby was high and slow. The F-18s should have had their wheels and hooks down.. It was that slow. Probably some new PC FAA Rule bout Flybys.
Oh well, Moms and Dads were impressed.
Another link in the chain.
Dave
Weird–Now I’ve seen the Reef Points twice today. In the pic above, and just a couple hours ago…My hubby is thinkin’ he might buy a Prius…and tonight I helped with the obligatory cleaning out the trunk of the Grand Prix, so it’ll be trade-in ready…and lo, and behold, my guy had the Reef Points in a bag back there. It was a recent copy, not the one issued to him in the summer of ‘78, but it made us both pause, and thumb through the pages. I love the Navy. Thanks, Lex.
Lex,
What is sad though is how many seats at canoe U are open for fleet sailors and are not used for a number of reasons. It is good to see at least two of those seats for this year are filled with some enlisted leadership. Those two should do thier best to teach additional leadership skills to some of the high schoolers in thier canoe U class.
During my knob year at the Citadel, a couple of the upper classmen had done tours in Vietnam, then elsewhere before entering the college. It made for an interesting contrast with the young 20 year olds beating us against the presses.
In the day I noticed it was hard to get folks to apply for the Academy enlised slots. Even when you knew it was the right fit for them. In that regard I agree with the previous commenter.
Greetings from cold, rainy, Canberra!
Plebe summer of ‘78, eh? My, my, you are a young pup, ain’t you, CAPT Lex?
Some things will never change. Men will still get up in the morning, go off to war or to hunt food, and come home to a good woman or chase good women when they are off duty. Plebes will never be correct, especially if an upperclassman says so. And Hard Work and Determination can move mountains, but it can’t make an aircraft reach its greatest heights, ladies realize their fondest expectations, or political enemies forgive each other and lay down their arms forever. That requires something special in the hearts of Men.
Boat School will always be with us, and despite protestations that it is becoming too easy or irrelevant to the world at large, it will always produce Great Men who Lead and achieve the greatest of results in their endeavors. If Annapolis should ever fade away, we would need to reinvent it somewhere else. Because great youngsters will always need a place to become better than they are, and serve a Country which deserves their best efforts.
You are a credit to your alma mater, your profession (warrior), your art (flying) and your Country. Press on, CAPT Lex.
Subsunk
Cap’n,
I’m of two minds on this subject.
1. It’s good to see Fleet sailors mixed in amongst the just graduated high schoolers. They will certainly provide a welcome sense of reality in Plebeland – ‘There’s the right way, the wrong way, the Navy way and the (Fleet) way’. One may substitute (Fleet) to (Chief’s).
2. As I have posted previously, despite the Navy’s more ‘relaxed’ attitude between officer and enlisted, there are still those officers who resent ‘mere enlisteds’ becoming ‘professionals’. One could speculate the Fleet sailor’s time at the Academy will not be as smooth as their classmates.
In a day and age when USNI articles belabor the lack of J.O. ship handling skills, someone with Fleet experience would have some advantage. The best ship handler I ever saw was CAPT W.C. Hamm III – he could moor his ship (ex-Dale DLG-19) sans tugs in the Mayport basin. One would hope a Fleet sailor will bring an appreciation for those sort of skills to the Academy.
SD, there are plenty of things wrong with the Navy, but I can’t even imagine an antagonistic enlisted bias in the zero ranks. My guess is that those slots go unfilled because we have public universities where the pleasures of the flesh may be enjoyed publicly, and regularly.
Casca,
You may be right for the most part. I have, unfortunately, experienced that particular form of ‘un-welcomeness’ first hand.
To your comment in re: public universities, Canoe U. does not permit Middies to be married; thus prohibiting good Fleet sailors from becomming Alumni.
However, we can still cheer for the side at the only college football game that matters.