Unisquatter
- Thread starter jennyp
- Start date
I was hoping one of you USNA alumni might know of this incident and have an opinion.
Here's the details I got from my mid: A '13 mid was separated in early June. But he did not leave. He turned in what he had to and returned to Bancroft and spent most of the summer "hiding out" in empty rooms, scavenging food from other rooms, ward rooms, etc. My mid was present when some others in his company returned to a room they were using to find it locked. Got in and found this guy in the closet (he was a smallish fellow, 5'1", 110 lbs). He spooked and ran, leaving behind his phone and wallet. So, they posted "wanted posters" throughout Bancroft and maybe a week later they caught up with him.....he'd been living on the roof. I am not making this up.
Until the time they actually found him in the closet, there had been rumours circulating that there was a rogue mid in Bancroft, but no one positively confirmed this. My mid tells me there are contract people there all day, so someone "unusual" really wouldn't stick out that much. Once he ran from the closet, leaving behind his ID, they knew there really was a "squatter" and who they were looking for.
My first comment was that maybe he didn't want to let on to his folks that he'd been separated. But, that was not the case. His mom came to Annapolis in July and filed a missing persons report with the PD. All that time he was in Bancroft.
Poor kiddo must be quite troubled. But think of the questions this raises about security! My mid said the name "unisquatter" was coined by the mids to describe this young man as he had not shaved, was wearing his BCG's and somewhat resembled the unibomber. There was a picture of him on the flyers posted throughout the hall....unshaven, in BCG's. Not sure how they got the photo.
The mids are saying it is another legend for Mother B. I hope the young man got some help.
Pretty ironic, though. All the mids on "watch" in their companies, front gate security, etc and this fellow lives there much of the summer. Reminds me of the nuclear facility east of Amarillo, TX, Pantex. I always marveled at the many rows of razor wire surrounding the perimeter and figured the real security threat was from within. No different in Mother B.
Here's the details I got from my mid: A '13 mid was separated in early June. But he did not leave. He turned in what he had to and returned to Bancroft and spent most of the summer "hiding out" in empty rooms, scavenging food from other rooms, ward rooms, etc. My mid was present when some others in his company returned to a room they were using to find it locked. Got in and found this guy in the closet (he was a smallish fellow, 5'1", 110 lbs). He spooked and ran, leaving behind his phone and wallet. So, they posted "wanted posters" throughout Bancroft and maybe a week later they caught up with him.....he'd been living on the roof. I am not making this up.
Until the time they actually found him in the closet, there had been rumours circulating that there was a rogue mid in Bancroft, but no one positively confirmed this. My mid tells me there are contract people there all day, so someone "unusual" really wouldn't stick out that much. Once he ran from the closet, leaving behind his ID, they knew there really was a "squatter" and who they were looking for.
My first comment was that maybe he didn't want to let on to his folks that he'd been separated. But, that was not the case. His mom came to Annapolis in July and filed a missing persons report with the PD. All that time he was in Bancroft.
Poor kiddo must be quite troubled. But think of the questions this raises about security! My mid said the name "unisquatter" was coined by the mids to describe this young man as he had not shaved, was wearing his BCG's and somewhat resembled the unibomber. There was a picture of him on the flyers posted throughout the hall....unshaven, in BCG's. Not sure how they got the photo.
The mids are saying it is another legend for Mother B. I hope the young man got some help.
Pretty ironic, though. All the mids on "watch" in their companies, front gate security, etc and this fellow lives there much of the summer. Reminds me of the nuclear facility east of Amarillo, TX, Pantex. I always marveled at the many rows of razor wire surrounding the perimeter and figured the real security threat was from within. No different in Mother B.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2007
- Messages
- 9,295
Wow. That is pretty wild. Lock yo doors, hide yo kids.
rkrosnar
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2010
- Messages
- 684
I find this amazing. Here we have a youngman, who had issues, which were never found. I just hope for his sake, that he doesn't get arrested. As some have said, he needs help, which I hope he gets. More importantly the security on the yard needs to be tightened, quickly.
RGK
RGK
I know that I'll sound like a bleeding heart.....but this story is very sad. What must he have been thinking that he couldn't/wouldn't go home and while watching his friends and former classmates live the life that he had? I hope this young man gets some help and eventually recovers from this experience.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2007
- Messages
- 9,295
No, you're right, it's amazing, but it's also sad.
scoutpilot
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2010
- Messages
- 4,479
Exactly.
As a young man, my mother gave me a very important lesson in leadership: kindness costs nothing.
While it would be easy to demonize this young man for his behavior, we must recognize that this is NOT the behavior of someone who is in possession of all of his faculties. For whatever reason, this young man's decision-making process (a process which served him well enough in years past to earn him a place at USNA) has been severely altered for reasons we don't know. He needs real help from people who care. Hopefully, he can overcome the issues plaguing him. Whatever they may be, I am certain that this young man did not show up on I-Day and think "I hope someday I'm expelled from USNA and scared to death, hiding in abject fear in empty rooms of Bancroft Hall, scrounging for meals." Some unfortunate turn of events brought him here. I am as likely as anyone to tell a person to "suck it up." But just as you can't "walk it off" when your leg is broken, you can't "suck it up" when you're suffering from mental illness.
It is an interesting story, but we should be careful not to partake in the eventual sensationalizing of the story. With any luck, the leadership at USNA will take great care in their dispensation of this troubled guy.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2007
- Messages
- 9,295
It also speaks to security issues within the barracks.
As a mom, the whole thing hit me right in the heart. I wonder if they do provide separation "counseling" of some variety. I bet USNA evaluates their procedures in light of this incident, both separation and security procedures.
While my heart aches for this young man, someone must also address that he could have possibly been a threat to the rest of the brigade. I'm betting USNA downplays this issue publicly, but is fiercely evaluating procedures. I am certain that the only way any of has this knowledge is from having mids on the inside.
Although if his mother did indeed file a missing persons report in July, shouldn't Annapolis PD have done some publicity? What good does filing such a report do if "mums the word?"
It will no doubt go down as a legend of Bancroft Hall. And I don't think the mids are making fun so much as "Can you believe this?" and mine anyway, felt bad for the young man. It is a long way down from gaining acceptance and all that entails, beginning life at USNA to squatting in Bancroft after separation.
While my heart aches for this young man, someone must also address that he could have possibly been a threat to the rest of the brigade. I'm betting USNA downplays this issue publicly, but is fiercely evaluating procedures. I am certain that the only way any of has this knowledge is from having mids on the inside.
Although if his mother did indeed file a missing persons report in July, shouldn't Annapolis PD have done some publicity? What good does filing such a report do if "mums the word?"
It will no doubt go down as a legend of Bancroft Hall. And I don't think the mids are making fun so much as "Can you believe this?" and mine anyway, felt bad for the young man. It is a long way down from gaining acceptance and all that entails, beginning life at USNA to squatting in Bancroft after separation.
You know while I agree that the young man was likely troubled, very troubled. Is it not possible that he was defiant, flipping off the system and seeing how long he "could get away with it?" Which is still troubled, just not maybe the "living in fear, watching others live the life he once had" kind of troubled...........
Likely we will never know.
Likely we will never know.
Luigi59
Banned
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2007
- Messages
- 4,566
Or another question - Was anyone helping him?
evilleramsfan
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2011
- Messages
- 148
The question that ran through my mind was if the young man was scared to tell those at home that he didn't make it. I wonder at times how many are there because of family pressures, traditions, and such. I could see where he gets to a point of telling them a story instead of the truth. Like the others here, I hope he gets some help.
Pima
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 13,900
Actually, the squatter was living in or found in one of our posters DS's room (Singapore mom). I would think if anyone knows the real details she would have the answers.
It was on the missing my DS thread for parents.
MPO, I hope the family gets some help. If he feared going home to tell the folks, than the folks need to ask why he had that fear of telling them. I will never say I am the best parent in the world, but I would hope that no matter how horrible our children believe their life is at that moment, they would know that Bullet and I are going to support them and get them back on track. If they don't know that, than IMPO, I failed them.
Indeed he needs help, but the root of the problem maybe not a psychological disorder, but more of an issue of fear of telling the folks. I am betting odds right now the parents behind their bedroom door at night when the lights are out, are now asking why he was so afraid to tell them.
singaporemom said:
It was on the missing my DS thread for parents.
MPO, I hope the family gets some help. If he feared going home to tell the folks, than the folks need to ask why he had that fear of telling them. I will never say I am the best parent in the world, but I would hope that no matter how horrible our children believe their life is at that moment, they would know that Bullet and I are going to support them and get them back on track. If they don't know that, than IMPO, I failed them.
Indeed he needs help, but the root of the problem maybe not a psychological disorder, but more of an issue of fear of telling the folks. I am betting odds right now the parents behind their bedroom door at night when the lights are out, are now asking why he was so afraid to tell them.
Last edited:
evilleramsfan: The question that ran through my mind was if the young man was scared to tell those at home that he didn't make it. I wonder at times how many are there because of family pressures, traditions, and such. I could see where he gets to a point of telling them a story instead of the truth. Like the others here, I hope he gets some help.
That was my first thought too. But, apparently, his parents/family did know he was separated.
Crazy.......
Pima
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 13,900
If that is true, not saying it isn't, than I repeat the whole family needs psychological counseling. The child had fear of facing the folks. That to me as a parent is the saddest part of the story. The fact that he doesn't know all they want is him to be happy means he never felt it.
Again not saying they didn't show it, just saying he didn't feel/process/see it. That means all of them need to go into counseling together to work out the issue TOGETHER.
Again not saying they didn't show it, just saying he didn't feel/process/see it. That means all of them need to go into counseling together to work out the issue TOGETHER.