Complete Shutdown Possible

Clearview

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There was an article from The Washington Times yesterday about the affect of the Government shutdown on the military academies.

The article stated that the midshipmen had been notified that if the shutdown continues for much longer, the academy will shut down completely and they will send the students home. Is this even possible?

I can't imagine that our Government would ever let that happen. I would think the Government would be responsible for the cost of the travel (airfare) to and from their homes. Because of the expense alone, it would be to their benefit to keep the academy open.
 
The was an article from The Washington Times yesterday about the affect of the Government shutdown on the military academies.

The article stated that the midshipmen had been notified that if the shutdown continues for much longer, the academy will shut down completely and they will send the students home. Is this even possible?

I can't imagine that our Government would ever let that happen. I would think the Government would be responsible for the cost of the travel (airfare) to and from their homes. Because of the expense alone, it would be to their benefit to keep the academy open.

The USMMA has just announced that they are switching from their scheduled Fall Break to having the week break now. The USMMA has been shut down completely since the Gov. Shut Down started. It is not unreasonable to think that the other SA's could shut down if this continues much longer.

Given the fact that NG and Reserve units have suspended Drill unless the units are in preparation for deployment, shutting down the SA's does not seem that unrealistic.
 
The article stated that the midshipmen had been notified that if the shutdown continues for much longer, the academy will shut down completely and they will send the students home. Is this even possible?

The government giveth, and the government taketh away.
 
I believe an academy shutdown could happen as a way to escalate the crisis if nothing else. These folks in Washington (and believe me, I'm holding back on unloading here to keep it somewhat apolitical) do not care about these kids. Just as they don't care about WWII Vets by now reinforcing the fence at the WWII memorial. They are all mere pawns in this struggle. I also expect that the costs of the air travel would be recouped quite quickly in an extended shutdown. I also think that if the debt limit isn't increased there definitely will be a shutdown of the academies and much else besides.
 
I believe an academy shutdown could happen as a way to escalate the crisis if nothing else. These folks in Washington (and believe me, I'm holding back on unloading here to keep it somewhat apolitical) do not care about these kids. Just as they don't care about WWII Vets by now reinforcing the fence at the WWII memorial. They are all mere pawns in this struggle. I also expect that the costs of the air travel would be recouped quite quickly in an extended shutdown. I also think that if the debt limit isn't increased there definitely will be a shutdown of the academies and much else besides.

Kinnem, sometimes I hate the fact that you invariably always turn out correct. (and I always agree with you) Uggghhhh. Between my plebe and my ROTC candidate, its all a little nerve wracking.
 
I believe an academy shutdown could happen as a way to escalate the crisis if nothing else. These folks in Washington (and believe me, I'm holding back on unloading here to keep it somewhat apolitical) do not care about these kids. Just as they don't care about WWII Vets by now reinforcing the fence at the WWII memorial. They are all mere pawns in this struggle. I also expect that the costs of the air travel would be recouped quite quickly in an extended shutdown. I also think that if the debt limit isn't increased there definitely will be a shutdown of the academies and much else besides.

If there is a credit downgrade of the U.S., it should get very nasty for all of us.
 
Currently, sending MIDN home and adjusting leave dates will not happen.

Unlike USMMA, classes are being conducted as usual with the exception of the civilian faculty.

For example, I'm only missing my history and chinese classes right now; the rest of my classes are still being taught effectively. Oh no, I have to learn physics in a small lecture hall with like eighty other people...it's so detrimental to my learning.

No doubt there are other midshipmen that are missing more class than I am, but for the brigade at large the situation is not utterly hopeless. It's not like we're all sitting around in our rooms twiddling our thumbs.

Also, a parent of a third class midshipman is not necessarily the most reliable source.

EDIT: Update - Winter and Thanksgiving leave will be protected, Spring Break may be shortened.
 
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What If ...

I read in a biography of Ulysses Grant that back in the 1830s, while he was a cadet, Congress considered closing the USMA and sending the cadets home and releasing them from service. Since he hated life at the academy, he secretly hoped it would happen and that he could go back to working at his father's store. To his chagrin, they kept it open and as we know the rest is history.

But if they hadn't, where would we be now? :eek:

(I sure hope some in Congress are looking in)
 
Currently, sending MIDN home and adjusting leave dates will not happen.

Unlike USMMA, classes are being conducted as usual with the exception of the civilian faculty.

For example, I'm only missing my history and chinese classes right now; the rest of my classes are still being taught effectively. Oh no, I have to learn physics in a small lecture hall with like eighty other people...it's so detrimental to my learning.

No doubt there are other midshipmen that are missing more class than I am, but for the brigade at large the situation is not utterly hopeless. It's not like we're all sitting around in our rooms twiddling our thumbs.

Also, a parent of a third class midshipman is not necessarily the most reliable source.

EDIT: Update - Winter and Thanksgiving leave will be protected, Spring Break may be shortened.

Aaah, the optimisim of youth.

While missing a couple classes this week may not seem important, should this shutdown be prolonged a few weeks, it could be a completely different story.

Really nice you have a small physics class and your education has not seen any detriment, but this is only the first week. having some of the classes like history and language cancelled for two of three weeks plus will certainly be a detriment.

To say with any certain that things will roll along as usual is like trusting a crystal ball right now.

I'm curious, where in Clearview's post did they say they were a parent of a third class mid. They didn't express their opinion, they just quoted a news article. I'm sure they are just as reliable as a third class mid as to what goes on behind the closed doors of the CoC.
 
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Kinnem, sometimes I hate the fact that you invariably always turn out correct. (and I always agree with you) Uggghhhh. Between my plebe and my ROTC candidate, its all a little nerve wracking.

Well, I'm not right on this one yet I hope! And sorry I made you Uggghhhh! :biggrin:
 
I'm curious, where in Clearview's post did they say they were a parent of a third class mid. They didn't express their opinion, they just quoted a news article. I'm sure they are just as reliable as a third class mid as to what goes on behind the closed doors of the CoC.[/QUOTE]

The article quotes a third class parent
 
The parent went on to say that the midshipmen have been notified that if the shutdown continues for much longer, the academy will shut down completely and send the students home.

Read more: http://communities.washingtontimes....could-close-military-service-a/#ixzz2gnHTIfr3

This was the article referenced by OP. The above statement, cited from a parent of a third class midshipman, is wrong. We did not receive any such notification, and have since received many notifications to the contrary.

As of now, classes are still being held. Classes will continue to be held. MIDN will not be sent home. We are not unaffected, but at the same time there is still teaching and learning taking place. When the furlough ends, we will make up the class time.

This was the word passed down by the CoC today.

I'm just trying to correct the facts, not discuss the implications.
 
I'm curious, where in Clearview's post did they say they were a parent of a third class mid. They didn't express their opinion, they just quoted a news article. I'm sure they are just as reliable as a third class mid as to what goes on behind the closed doors of the CoC.

The article quotes a third class parent[/QUOTE]

Got it, they didn't post a link to the article so I missed that.

Still, no way to tell for sure how this will all play out.
 
The USMMA has just announced that they are switching from their scheduled Fall Break to having the week break now. The USMMA has been shut down completely since the Gov. Shut Down started. It is not unreasonable to think that the other SA's could shut down if this continues much longer.

Unfortunately for the USMMA, most of their faculty are civilians and subject to furloughs. They really had no choice but to close (or reschedule their Fall Break). The article did mention that more than half of the USNA facility were furloughed which obviously is a significant loss, but it is good to hear that the Active Duty faculty are able to pick up the load.
 
For the record, over the past weekend the Pentagon determined that USNA civilian employees (most, if not all) "contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service members," are therefore essential, and could be brought back to work per language in the "Pay The Military Now Act."

Civilian instructors at the USNA returned to work yesterday, and classes resumed on the normal schedule, from what I understand.

Because the USMMA is funded by the DOT, they are still on their "fall break" (pulled forward from it's normal 11/1 start date).
 
Federal employees on free vacation.... have no fear, some are still working. Ejoy your fishing. :wink:
 
Because the USMMA is funded by the DOT, they are still on their "fall break" (pulled forward from it's normal 11/1 start date).


I believe it's less that they're funded by DOT, and more that they aren't a military academy, OR maybe Congress just forgot.

But don't get me started on "Pay The Military Now Act." I know very few uniformed members of the military who have many good things to say about their civilian counterparts (rightly or wrongly).
 
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