Comments on: “When I was a plebe”

By: SeniorD

SeniorD — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:29:43 +0000

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.

By: Casca

Casca — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:24:51 +0000

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.

By: SeniorD

SeniorD — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:59:18 +0000

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.

By: Subsunk

Subsunk — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:47:13 +0000

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

By: Skippy-san

Skippy-san — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:35:53 +0000

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!

By: Southern Air Pirate

Southern Air Pirate — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:22:52 +0000

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.