beyond
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2010
- Messages
- 577
Trying to reply to this thread has pushed me to the brink of having my head explode.
KP doesn't prepare folks for active duty. Not SWO, not SNFO, not SNA, not active duty. It is the United States MERCHANT MARINE Academy. I don't know why this is so difficult to understand.
In that mission statement "defense" refers to the role in which the Merchant Marine contributes to the DODs ability to project force abroad. It isn't saying "we want to train people to go active duty" it's saying "we're going to train people who can contribute to the defense needs of the country" which oh by the way include the ability to move stuff across the globe.
The current mission statement was introduced circa 2012/2013. Note the key revision which removed the phrase "armed forces" and modified it to "defense needs." The mission isn't stating the goal of KP training is active duty in the armed forces, it says "hey, we're gona train merchant mariners, merchant mariners are useful to the defense of our countries interests."
KP couldn't be justified financially if the goal was to produce active duty folks. There are tons of programs for that, they are focused on that mission, and they do it well. KP doesn't. It trains MERCHANT MARINERS.... that is why it is called the United States MERCHANT MARINE Academy. Congress is paying for Merchant Mariners, not Ensigns and 2nd Lieutenants.
In fact KP is kind of bad at producing AD folks. KP will train you to be a go getter who can get the job done no matter what, but there is often not a clear path to commissioning. My AD classmates are a smart group who look out for each other in the wardroom. A lot of technical details though don't favor KP'rs as they set out on the road to AD.
You say they "serve with" MSC, so I'm going to assume that they're doing it as AD officers (...folks sailing for MSC don't "serve" they "work"). Yeah, MSC needs people that understand ships, but they need very few, many of those rolls are filled by SSOs on long term orders. I'd be surprised if those jobs support .25% of KP alums.. there just aren't that many jobs there it is such a niche thing that people usually fall into it via some other means.
It doesn't really matter though. You might know more, but being a SWO is like 10% ship driving, 90% leadership/admin/training/shooting guns. So for that other 90% you've got just as much to learn. Though I agree with point two, KP'rs, (...especially in Pensacola where they are all together) look out for one another better than any other demographic.
KP doesn't prepare folks for active duty. Not SWO, not SNFO, not SNA, not active duty. It is the United States MERCHANT MARINE Academy. I don't know why this is so difficult to understand.
I keep seeing the statement about "if your child desires gaol is active duty service go somewhere else". I don't find that constructive. There is nothing wrong with having that goal and attending KP. The USMMA Mission Statement is:
"To educate and graduate licensed merchant mariners and leaders of exemplary character who will serve America's marine transportation and defense needs in peace and war."
In that mission statement "defense" refers to the role in which the Merchant Marine contributes to the DODs ability to project force abroad. It isn't saying "we want to train people to go active duty" it's saying "we're going to train people who can contribute to the defense needs of the country" which oh by the way include the ability to move stuff across the globe.
The current mission statement was introduced circa 2012/2013. Note the key revision which removed the phrase "armed forces" and modified it to "defense needs." The mission isn't stating the goal of KP training is active duty in the armed forces, it says "hey, we're gona train merchant mariners, merchant mariners are useful to the defense of our countries interests."
KP couldn't be justified financially if the goal was to produce active duty folks. There are tons of programs for that, they are focused on that mission, and they do it well. KP doesn't. It trains MERCHANT MARINERS.... that is why it is called the United States MERCHANT MARINE Academy. Congress is paying for Merchant Mariners, not Ensigns and 2nd Lieutenants.
In fact KP is kind of bad at producing AD folks. KP will train you to be a go getter who can get the job done no matter what, but there is often not a clear path to commissioning. My AD classmates are a smart group who look out for each other in the wardroom. A lot of technical details though don't favor KP'rs as they set out on the road to AD.
The two Kings Point graduates my son has met, and who influenced his decision to apply at USMMA, both went active duty Navy after graduation at KP and now both serve with the Military Sealift Command. So I don't think the comments "If your child desires the military, go another route" are constructive. My son has a 4 year NROTC Scholarship and when the free room and board + stipend is factored in, there is a definite financial advantage to go the NROTC route. However his decision to attend KP will not be based on getting a "free ride" followed by an active duty commission...he already has that option. For some kids there is the desire to serve their country as active duty military officers and then work within America's marine transportation industry, and I think that desire is an exact match to the USMMA Mission Statement.
You say they "serve with" MSC, so I'm going to assume that they're doing it as AD officers (...folks sailing for MSC don't "serve" they "work"). Yeah, MSC needs people that understand ships, but they need very few, many of those rolls are filled by SSOs on long term orders. I'd be surprised if those jobs support .25% of KP alums.. there just aren't that many jobs there it is such a niche thing that people usually fall into it via some other means.
Golfindad. Your comments are true. I would add two plusses for KP re SWO. First, after sea year, your DS would know 10 times more about ships than any NROTC graduate. Whether he goes deck or engine, he would definitely be more of an asset and have way less of a learning curve than his civilian college peers.
It doesn't really matter though. You might know more, but being a SWO is like 10% ship driving, 90% leadership/admin/training/shooting guns. So for that other 90% you've got just as much to learn. Though I agree with point two, KP'rs, (...especially in Pensacola where they are all together) look out for one another better than any other demographic.