Question(s) for the Alum on this board, all alum, with a special shout out to Jasperdog and Kp2001.
We know many alum fought hard to get "one of their own" at the helm"......seems very reasonable.
In your opinion, is this real or not? (Pendulum far to one side, Review board being marginalized, one strike you're out, etc.etc.)
If this is real, is this what needs to happen to get the academy back on track and it is just the price this group of mids/plebes must pay?
If this is not real, and these observations and opinions have no basis, can you please help us understand? (most on here do not have your experience, insight, and ties back to KP)
Thanks
I'll take a bite at this, wouldn't doubt to see jasper and deepsea far behind.
-Is this real or not? Personally I would venture to guess that we are only hearing of the bad and are not getting a true representation. A blanket statement of "no setbacks" does no good for anyone, the students, the institution, or its alumni. As far as I know nobody here actually sits on the review board or has access to the recommendation letters that are sent to the Admiral Greene so we really don't know what is being said between the two. We have an idea in at least one instance, but that is a very small sample size.
Other posts have been made by a midshipman or two and I would say that those usually aren't too accurate when it comes to the policies of the Academy UNLESS it has been sent out via email or written down in some way. When Admiral Stewart came aboard during my 3rd class year there were all sorts of rumblings, and about 90% of them turned out to be false. There were these same rumors of no setbacks, etc.
I do believe however, that the pendulum is likely swinging closer to where it was during my fourth class year and earlier. Set backs were not a foregone conclusion for academics or regimental issues. They became quite routine during Admiral Stewart's term and that became the new "norm" and what people are now used to. I think you will find that in the coming weeks to months a clearer idea of where the institution is heading in regards to setbacks/disenrollments will emerge.
-If this is real, is this what is needed? A blanket statement, NO. A more rigid standard: YES. One of the reasons that KP is well regarded is the standard of the product it has produced in the past. We are only as good as our last graduate and our anchorman needs to be as well regarded as our valedictorian or else our 'prestige' will diminish. Over the past 13 years or so I have seen many midshipmen continue in the program who I don't think necessarily should. VADM Stewart had his reasons and I will always consider him a great friend of the Academy and it was a pleasure to be a midshipman under his command.
In order to support that mission though we need to ensure that we provide the best opportunities to our midshipmen. That includes instructors who care (LT Klonis is a great example of this as well as CAPT Hard in my experience) and an institution that supports its members.
-If this is not real help us understand: As we all know there are three sides to every story. Unfortunately none of us will likely ever know all of the facts and opinions of those who make the decisions at this time. In the future it will become more clear as we see more and more instances of a decision being made for/against a setback. The information we get on this board is from a self selected group which usually means those who 1)are internet savvy, 2)are opinionated and in many instances internet forums tend to be places to complain (not necessarily the case here).
It is rare you would have someone come on here and tell their survival story because all they want to do is not mess up again. Those who were kicked out will come on to give their story, so you usually end up with slight skew in the statistics.
Anyway, hope that helps, I'm sure others will have different opinions.
as his parent. He becomes stronger with every set back. He will be fine. A little shaken right now, who wouldn't be?
