I just want to say how much I appreciate this forum and everyone who shares their expertise on here. It is such a help. We are flying out to KP on the 22nd. My DS will stay with a football Doolie overnight so he can get a firsthand look for himself. Considering they are graduating their starting QB they've suggested he'll have a lot of "opportunity" right a way. Obviously the exact words any 18yo wants to hear from a football coach, right. I keep hearing that KP is a great place to be from but a horrible place to be. I know the opportunities in the maritime industry are great once you graduate from there.
I'm really trying to be objective considering his AF option and I'm former AF. Ultimately, it is his decision to make and to live with. As a parent, Long Island is a long way from rural Missouri. I sure would appreciate the "real scoop" from those of you that are there or have been to USMMA. How is morale in general? Are the facilities in as bad of repair as some seem to suggest? I heard they were shut down during sequestration, is that true? With budget considerations, is it in danger of being closed or under funded in relation to the other academies? I don't mean to be disrespectful in any way but it seems to be the red headed step-child to the other SAs. Help....
As a side note, can someone transfer from one SA to another or start at one and then re-apply to a different SA next year?
For starters, KP is controlled by the Dept. of Transportation, and NOT the DOD (who manages the other's), so when shutdowns occur (very rare) each department makes it's own decisions. Since KP has more civilian faculty then the other SAs, it will always be more vulnerable. Having said that, KP brings to bear significant weight in Washington, so this should be the least of your concerns. The current capital improvements are part of a $385 million Strategic Plan funding package, which would seem to indicate a closure of the school anytime soon is highly unlikely. Besides, as long we need licensed mariners trained to serve the military if needed, USMMA will be around quite some time. In fact, there have been more cuts to the military recently. The beauty of KP, is the number of options available upon graduation. Far more than the other SAs, but if your DS really wants to be a pilot, and not a merchant mariner, AFA would be better choice.
As a local parent of a '16, the capital improvements are significant. I was told (hear say of course), that when the other SAs visited KP recently, the West Point folks said, "WOW, please don't complain about your barracks again...they kill ours". Of course, a school like West Point has spectacular, world renowned facilities (not barracks...LOL) and is much bigger.
I don't know about transferring from one SA to another, but I know the KP curriculum is very rigid and highly specified to serving the US Merchant Marine as and engineer, or deck major. I'm sure you can start over as a plebe, but I would expect most of the credits would not transfer. I'd also go out on a limb and say voluntarily going thru a second plebe year is a tough ask IMHO.
Finally, morale is more of an issue for plebes, and less so for 1C. It improves with increased class rates in each subsequent year. Unlike the other SA's, the biggest city in the world is a 35 minute train ride away (not always a good thing
). They get over all the issues, and do fine...if they focus on their studies and keep their noses clean. Good Luck to your DS, whatever he decides
I will tell you, if your son, like ours, is spoiled but mom's home cookin', then yes, the food will disappoint him. Oddly enough, it seems almost like it's cool to have that to complain about.