Senior Luau

DinghyMom

5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2009
Messages
51
DS was really looking forward to this. And oh how it seems like yesterday when he was a plebe carrying that dang boat up the hill to decorate for the 1Cs' luau four years ago!! Has anyone heard how it went? Any pictures to post? I will work on it with my 1C. Such an exciting time for them, and don't they deserve it!! Work hard. Play hard. :cool:
 
And KPMom had it right in that so many of these 1C guys shipped in or out of Honolulu, so they are well prepared for any luau having all of the Hawaiin paraphenalia purchased at bargain prices at the open market near Pearl Harbor.

hmmm......on second thought - do I want to see pictures?:eek:
 
Well, no one was face down in Barney Square this morning -- is that a good sign? hee hee :cool:
 
Lock the doors

Our P/C said the funniest part of the evening for them was when they heard over the loudspeaker "attention, Plebe Candidates are allowed to lock their doors this evening".:shake:
 
That is funny. Our DS, like it was in Indoc, doesn't tell us much of anything so hearing what others say about last night or any day is interesting and fun to read.
Thanks KPATKP
 
Initial report: It was a "BLAST".

DS has lost 3 cameras during his sea years - one each in three of the seven seas. Last night, he lost another - this time in the KP Pool as ten guys picked him up and tossed him in. :shake: Good thing he'll have employment when he graduates so that he can finance his camera replacements.
 
If it has a chip or a card, just dry it out, even in the dryer, and it will still retrieve photos on the computer. I am a professional photographer and at times, I forget that I have them in my pocket of my pants. They get washed and dried in the machines and still work. As for the camera - try drying it out in the sun for a long time to make sure all the moisture is out of it and it may work again. That happened to one of my laptops, spilled liquid on the keyboard. It didn't work and I was upset (I was at an event far from home) and years later, we tried it by accident and it started up and has been working since.
Don't throw those chips or cards away, they will work. Trust me.
 
Dropped Cameras

If it has a chip or a card, just dry it out, even in the dryer, and it will still retrieve photos on the computer. I am a professional photographer and at times, I forget that I have them in my pocket of my pants. They get washed and dried in the machines and still work. As for the camera - try drying it out in the sun for a long time to make sure all the moisture is out of it and it may work again. That happened to one of my laptops, spilled liquid on the keyboard. It didn't work and I was upset (I was at an event far from home) and years later, we tried it by accident and it started up and has been working since.
Don't throw those chips or cards away, they will work. Trust me.

True enough for us fresh water sailors but that miserable salt adds a rather corrosive (and conductive) wrinkle to the problem!
 
Wash your chip or card in fresh water and you should still be able to retrieve your photos. As for the camera? I totally understand. Sorry.
 
Luau

Please advise; I don't want to jump to conclusions, nor do I intend to be overly naieve.

I do not know how accurate the reports are, but I have heard that the administration purchased a number of "kegs" for this on-campus event. A number of midshipmen were reported to have been throwing up and urinating on barracks floors, etc. In what is perhaps an unrelated event, the honor chairperson is being relieved for attending class while intoxicated.

An earlier string spoke to a comparison to "the other academies." One common and unfortunate lesson learned by the other academies is that the majority of their disciplinary problems, "scandals," and tragedies are tied to alcohol use and abuse. They have, consequently, cracked down on alcohol use and imposed severe penalties for alcohol related incidents including under- age drinking. (Is this event supervised and restricted to those "of age?")

What is The Academy's alcohol policy, and is there a problem with alcohol at The Academy? How big of a problem is this "in the fleet?"
 
BH: "of age", I have heard confirmation on that.
DM: Ahhh, the camera tradition continues !!! :)
At least this one was retrievable .. although I don't know if that tantalizing tidbit makes it better or worse.
 
My concern has been alcohol on a college campus as well but this is a military campus. I would have thought if they became drunk,it was because they went to NY and did it there. To have it purchased by adults, whomever they may be, and given to kids under age, shouldn't be. This event was an Alumni sponsored event and I think "they" should know better.
To punish a kid for attending class drunk, which is better? Attend drunk? or Not attend class as all? I think both, the ones who purchased it and the ones who drank too much of it, should be punished giving the kid a bit of leeway since they have not had much practice in drinking and do not know what is their level of tollerance.
 
Now let's not have everyone get on their high horse and respond to rumors and jump to conclusions all at once. The Luau is an event sponsored by the Alumni Foundation for the 1st class - my guess is that nearly all of these M/N's are 21 yrs+. Do some drink a bit too much? probably. A couple get out of hand? maybe. Have they all been out to sea for almost a year and traveled the world? yes. Is this the first time the entire class of 2011 has been together since the summer of 2008? yes. Have they all made it through three years of one of the toughest academic gauntlets in the country? yes. Are most of them good upstanding adults that are there to serve their country? yes. Give them a break!
 
Black Hawk said:
How big of a problem is this "in the fleet”?
It’s not a problem, at least not where I worked.. If you violated alcohol regulations and got caught you would be ‘logged and fired’. There was ‘zero tolerance’ and no leeway was given. All ships have a Breathalizer on board and it’s calibrated monthly and ready for use. By the way I used to have a ‘toleration’ clause in my standing orders that said if you knowingly allowed a crewmember in your charge to ‘turn to’ and work under the influence you also would be logged and fired.
The following is taken directly from my former company’s International Safety Management (ISM) manual. Most companies have something similar..

1.0 Purpose

1.1 To reinforce Company’s policy on alcohol consumption and use aboard Company vessels.

2.0 Scope

2.1 This procedure applies to all Company vessels.

3.0 Responsibility

3.1 The master shall ensure that all crewmembers are advised of, and adhere to, this procedure.

4.0 Policy Statement


4.1 General Guidance — The Company has no formal ban on alcoholic beverages being aboard company ships. Federal laws regarding the use of alcohol shall be strictly adhered to.

4.2 On-Board Sale Prohibited — The selling of alcohol through the ship’s slop chest or any other forum is prohibited.

4.3 Officers/Crew Responsible — Vessel officers and crew are expected to act responsibly and observe federal laws and regulations regarding alcohol use with respect to their duties and responsibilities in the operation of a vessel.
Note: Refer to 33 CFR 95, “Operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or a dangerous drug”.


5.0 Procedure

5.1 Alcohol Use Prohibited — Because alcohol is a legal substance, the regulations define specific conduct or actions that are prohibited after the consumption of alcohol. Performance of safety-sensitive functions shall be prohibited in the following situations:

When having a breath alcohol concentration of 0.04% or greater as indicated by an alcohol breath test.
While operating any vessel and the effect of the intoxicant is apparent by observation.
While using alcohol.
Within 4 hours after using alcohol.

5.2 Alcohol Tests Are Required — Alcohol testing shall be required for either of the following circumstances:

· Post-Accident – Conducted following a serious marine incident on crew
· members whose performance could have contributed to the accident, or for a fatal accident.
· Reasonable Suspicion – Conducted when a trained supervisor or company official observes behavior or appearance that is
characteristic of alcohol misuse.

5.2.1 Failure to Submit to Testing — Any crew member refusing to submit to alcohol
testing shall be terminated for cause.

5.3 Consequences of Alcohol Misuse — Crew members who engage in prohibited alcohol conduct (defined as a blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.04%) shall be immediately removed from safety-sensitive functions and be terminated.

5.3.1 U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Notification — The local USCG marine inspection unit (or the unit at the next U.S. port of call) shall be notified when a crew member is discharged for alcohol conduct/misuse.

5.3.2 Return to Work — A crew member who has engaged in alcohol misuse and been released from a vessel cannot return to work on a Company ship until he/she has complied with an appropriate treatment regime as mandated by Company or the USCG. In addition, the USCG may take action against a crew member’s license or his/her Merchant Mariner’s document.

5.4 Other Requirements and References — The following procedures provide additional information related to Company’s policy on alcohol use and testing:

I-02-110 — “Intoxicated Crew Members“
F-02-020 — “Random Drug Testing”
F-02-030 — “Post Incident, Accident, or Injury Alcohol Testing”
 
looks to me like, as of now, there's only one person jumping to conclusions and riding a high horse. (Now let's not have everyone get on their high horse and respond to rumors and jump to conclusions all at once...Give them a break!)
I asked for more information so as to "avoid jumping to conclusions." Zonker and Deepdraft were kind enough to provide reassuring information (thank you); Shutterbug what i expect is a not uncommon parental concern--if the information is accurate. KPDAD provided nothing except his own speculation and moralizing.
 
It just seems to me if there are rules while at sea, there would be rules at the academy. Don't want to damper the party, but limiting the number of drinks should be enforced. Also, when they go out on their own to NY, they should also be limited to the number of drinks they are allowed just because they have to come back and work the next day and that puts everyone in harms way.
As for this is the first time they have been together since 4/c, they have made it through 3 years of a very tough school and have been to se for a year - have fun at the party, limit the drinks and save the real celebration for when you graduate and not during school with the possibility of getting kicked out or on probation because of drinking too much.
As for my DS, he doesn't drink or smoke. I just hope seeing all the vomit and gross urination and actions that happen when someone is drunk, is enough to keep him from drinking in excess, if that should happen.
Just my 2 cents and no, I don't want my change back. thanks,
 
looks to me like, as of now, there's only one person jumping to conclusions and riding a high horse. ... KPDAD provided nothing except his own speculation and moralizing.

Actually, I'll have to side with KPDAD on this one Black Hawk. What he gave you is from my experience and understanding of the history of Kings Point Campus Life, an abstraction to ensure the names were/are always changed to protect the innocent and likely not so innocent.

You talked/asked about two different things - one was "what's life/alcohol use/abuse like in the fleet" and certainly what deepdraft1 gave you was/is information about one company's policy - one which I would say is fairly well representative as to the others regardless whether they operate "wet" or "dry" ships.

What KPDAD talked about was/is more related to life on campus and what you will see and hear about as parents, assuming your DS/DD choose to be open with you about their alcohol use while on liberty, etc. From my history I would say that going back as long as I know of the Luau, 300 nights and 100 nights are pretty much all blow out nights as are the night after a 1/C hears they passed license. Recognize these are college students, "of age" and living in a pressure cooker - so you shouldn't be surprised that a few will occasionally over -imbibe. Is that encouraged - no; are there policies and repercussions when they do and are caught - yes. All that said by the time some of the 1/C come back to campus from their second sea year, some have decided that being a "sailor" has other attributes one of which includes being a work hard - play hard kind of guy, and for some that includes trying to prove they can imbibe more than others and still function. I'm am neither endorsing or condemn anyone here, I am saying that I wasn't going to comment on this thread until you posted your second message taking issue with KPDAD's note.

I like he and other's found it to reflect some of the sentiments of a certain short-lived 10th Superintendent's puritanical, and overly judgmental views and policies with regard to the subject. To further make my personal views on this particular subject known - those ideas didn't work and there was probably backlash from them that included regression from prior progress on this subject. That is of course just a personal opinion. However in the case of 1/C alcohol use one does indeed have to keep in mind they are virtually all over the age of 21, as such with regard to this sort of thing the same thing that applies to other legal adults hre as to them - in general there's no law against being or acting stupid...
 
I like he and other's found it to reflect some of the sentiments of a certain short-l

Jasperdog,
Actually, history teaches us that it was the Progressives that were behind prohibition.
The Puritans actually rather enjoyed their alcohol.
(I'm not saying that they puked on anybody's floor after the ice cream social, or urinated under the deacon's door--but then again, whom am I to say that they didn't?! You know they led a pretty regimental life themselves, probably needed a blow-out every now and then, and well...puritans will be puritans!)
As for me, I think I'll go have a drink. (hair of the dog, jasper or otherwise, you know)
Thanks. (and quite sincerely, I did appreciate the information/context etc., if not the color commentary, that you provided)
:smile:
 
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