Capital Improvements

[Bill1899]

Does anyone know if the promised capital improvements have begun or will really start this summer. I know that after some tough times earlier this year the administration pointed to upcoming renovation of the main pier and at least one dorm as evidence that the Academy is doing well and has support from Washington. I think it would be a really good sign if these projects actually begin on schedule (Spring or Summer of 2012 as previously stated) and a really bad sign if they are cancelled or postponed?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

[KPSQRD]

Rumor has it mids were told that nothing will occur until KP has all of its admin issues in order...difficult to do when MARAD has the reins. Hopefully this is rumor but no obvious signs of work yet.

[DelanoLover]

Nothing has started yet. The pier will not be renovated for at least another year due to elections and MARAD.

-A Midshipman who enjoys almost falling though holes while walking on the pier.

[KPMom20150156]

The government has no money to give to KP for anything, especially a pier. They can't even find a superintendent who will take the job. MARAD is fully in charge of the goings-on up at KP and the wheels at MARAD grind slowly so don't expect much in the next 12 months. KP is the least of the problems the government is facing now and I can assure all that KP is way down the list of importance in the eyes of those who commented they wanted to see KP as "the jewel of the academies" and for those who came, saw, were appalled and then went back to their government (congressional/senate) office and closed the door.

[beyond]

Originally Posted by KPMom20150156

The government has no money to give to KP for anything, especially a pier. They can't even find a superintendent who will take the job. MARAD is fully in charge of the goings-on up at KP and the wheels at MARAD grind slowly so don't expect much in the next 12 months. KP is the least of the problems the government is facing now and I can assure all that KP is way down the list of importance in the eyes of those who commented they wanted to see KP as "the jewel of the academies" and for those who came, saw, were appalled and then went back to their government (congressional/senate) office and closed the door.

We don't need to embellish the doom and gloom. Kings Point is not appalling, I have a well furnished room, world class education, and programs that have opened up a world of opportunities and contacts. The commandant re-affirmed that renovation of the barracks will be taking place during the 2012-2013 academic year, and they are working on berthing for the midshipmen who will be displaced from their normal rooms. I haven't heard much about Mallory, but it does need to be replaced. This isn't a bad place to be, with the ever decreasing number of licensed maritime officers graduating the other maritime academy's we have a sweet gig, and we graduate without debt. I believe in the program we have going and that everyone here is doing just fine.

[jasperdog]

Originally Posted by beyond

We don't need to embellish the doom and gloom. Kings Point is not appalling, I have a well furnished room, world class education, and programs that have opened up a world of opportunities and contacts. The commandant re-affirmed that renovation of the barracks will be taking place during the 2012-2013 academic year, and they are working on berthing for the midshipmen who will be displaced from their normal rooms. I haven't heard much about Mallory, but it does need to be replaced. This isn't a bad place to be, with the ever decreasing number of licensed maritime officers graduating the other maritime academy's we have a sweet gig, and we graduate without debt. I believe in the program we have going and that everyone here is doing just fine.

Excellent post beyond!

KPMOM2015$%@666 or whatever your handle is, you are clearly disillusioned but also poorly/mis-informed. The money is now there to replace Mallory Pier and it is moving forward. I do not know why it hasn't started yet but I will conjecture that perhaps there needs to be additional permitting or the bid/proposal review process is taking longer than anticipated. Two things that are very common with a) Maritime Construction in Coastal Waters and b) award of competitive Government contracts.

[Ashore]

I understand that the management of reconstruction of Mallory Pier has been assumed by the Maritime Administration rather than the USN. The Maritime Administration apparently has a large unqualified staff available with nothing to do since they have been removed from their farcical efforts in Anchorage, Alaska.

[jnblucy]

Great post by Beyond...

The KP bashing, negative undertones and other snarky comments about USMMA that I read way too often on this forum really aren't constructive and make me wonder about the agendas some people have.

The years our son has spent at KP have been every bit of the roller coaster ride that so many people describe. But his experiences in overcoming these challenges on campus and at sea have shaped him as a man in so many ways. He is developing the professional bearing of a confident leader with a "fire in the belly" to do big things in life, and we have KP to thank for that.

I don't have a Pollyanna-ish take that everything is perfectly peaches and cream at KP, and think this forum is a good place for the KP family to vent. The government bureaucracy can indeed be frustrating at times to us all, and thankfully in the U.S. there are channels for us to voice that displeasure.

But in the big picture at KP, we are finding that there's definitely a method to the madness that is all part of the KP experience and is helping train the next generation of leaders for the maritime industry.

[Packer]

Beyond, I appreciate the perspective of someone actually at KP. If the only information available was this forum, I may encourage my kids to look elsewhere and forget about KP. Perspectives like yours as well as other sources on information give me peace of mind when I tell my kids to take look at USMMA and see if they think it might be a direction they would be interested in. My older son chose the USCGA direction but I have another son that is starting to look at options for his future. Thanks.

[beyond]

Originally Posted by Packer

Beyond, I appreciate the perspective of someone actually at KP. If the only information available was this forum, I may encourage my kids to look elsewhere and forget about KP. Perspectives like yours as well as other sources on information give me peace of mind when I tell my kids to take look at USMMA and see if they think it might be a direction they would be interested in. My older son chose the USCGA direction but I have another son that is starting to look at options for his future. Thanks.

I'm going to try and stay away from the helicopter parents discussion as it will spiral quickly out of control, however:

The parents here normally get phone calls here when things go wrong... they seldom have any idea what really takes place on a day to day basis, and in trying to do their best for their kids they sit and wring their hands, which sometimes manifests in less than positive ways. There are parts of our program that need work, but overall we have some smart people working to take care of our institution (..stand by for a curriculum overhaul beginning with C/O 2017). Hearing some of the things that get said by some of the parents in their discussions is kind of scary and embarrassing, we all know they mean well, but they will never really understand the life style at a service academy unless they live it themselves. I imagine you've see some of the same parental (over)involvement at USCGA. If your son develops an interest in KP send me a PM and we'll talk more. Best of luck to all of them!