Close the SA's

MemberLG said:
Perhaps a different time, I knew when I got commissioned I was regular status (I thought ROTC distinguished grads got regular status) but it didn't have any effect on my career. My understanding was that in theory regular status gave some protection in case of RIF, otherwise not much else.
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These days, everyone on extended active duty (both Academy and ROTC grads) is a "regular". When I graduated from ROTC I was given a reserve officer's commission. Then when I EAD'd a few months later it was changed to a regular commission. Whatever RIF protection they had in the past is gone now. Everyone is fair game.
 
kinnem said:
It doesn't just need to be near water. It needs to be near salt water! That leaves only one option. But of course we're talking about the Feds who spend money like it's water. So they would probably just build a new academy or find a way to bring salt water to Colorado.
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The Hudson River at West Point is actually a brackish (i.e. salt water) estuary.:thumb:
 
GoArmyBeatNavy said:
The Hudson River at West Point is actually a brackish (i.e. salt water) estuary.:thumb:
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Been there. Can't say I've tasted the water though. But given that the tide runs all the way up to Albany I'm sure you're correct. :biggrin:
 
kinnem said:
It doesn't just need to be near water. It needs to be near salt water! That leaves only one option. But of course we're talking about the Feds who spend money like it's water. So they would probably just build a new academy or find a way to bring salt water to Colorado.
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West Point is about 45 nm up the Hudson River from the entrance to New York, while Annapolis is 134 nm up the Chesapeake Bay from the entrance of Cape Henry, however you can use the C&D Canal but the distance saved is about 40 nm.
 
You know... I knew I'd get in trouble for that remark! :shake:
 
What if, instead of closing the schools, we revamp the admissions and training and get more bang for the taxpayers' buck? :rolleyes:
 
tankercaptain said:
West Point is about 45 nm up the Hudson River from the entrance to New York, while Annapolis is 134 nm up the Chesapeake Bay from the entrance of Cape Henry, however you can use the C&D Canal but the distance saved is about 40 nm.
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The Chesapeake is ideal because it is large enough for the YPs to perform all their maneuvering drills while this is not true for the Hudson.

As to the general discussion, note that throughout the thread ROTC graduates are continuously being compared to those from USNA. Hence one of the values of individual service academies. They serve as a benchmark for the officer corps for that particular branch. Also they are a laboratory for new training techniques prior to them being disseminated to the various ROTC units. Thirdly, they are a depository of both technical information and procedures along with maintaining traditions vital to the services. There is a lot more to the SAs than the mere production of individual officers.
 
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WTDoor said:
The Chesapeake is ideal because it is large enough for the YPs to perform all their maneuvering drills while this is not true for the Hudson.

As to the general discussion, note that throughout the thread ROTC graduates are continuously being compared to those from USNA. Hence one of the values of individual service academies. They serve as a benchmark for the officer corps for that particular branch. Also they are a laboratory for new training techniques prior to them being disseminated to the various ROTC units. Thirdly, they are a depository of both technical information and procedures along with maintaining traditions vital to the services. There is a lot more to the SAs than the mere production of individual officers.
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The door's over that way...:biggrin:

But seriously, almost all of the benefits you list could be achieved in the year all officers would serve upon ROTC commissioning or they would be rendered meaningless.
 
I have often found in life and business, the

turf one comes from, or qualifies for, is the place staunchly defended to the exclusion of all else. Nothing is more valuable or worthy than turf they can command, regardless of the real or perceived value of that which otherwise cannot be attained or aspired too.
 
Why not just outsource like everything else? I'm sure there's cheaper ways to produce leaders. Just like the majority of stuff we buy, not much made here anymore. Get rid of the SAs we can have officers for much less. Maybe they can just have on-line degrees. Any other brilliant ideas?
 
tradecraft said:
Why not just outsource like everything else? I'm sure there's cheaper ways to produce leaders. Just like the majority of stuff we buy, not much made here anymore. Get rid of the SAs we can have officers for much less. Maybe they can just have on-line degrees. Any other brilliant ideas?
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DNFTT
 
osdad said:
It would have to be one of the big three as you'd need to host about 3500-4000 officers. (Sorry LITS - CGA is out.) Then you'd have to be able to train for each service - so AFA is out as there's no water anywhere near. That leaves West Point and Annap. (Here's an idea: they could decide it on the football field - winner stays open. :shake: ) But there's arguments to be made for each.

If I were leading the selection team, rule #1 would be any person who utters "tradition" or "historical significance" is sent packing.

They'd probably spend more time arguing this question than they would the original one. So as Jcleepe said - not happening anytime soon.
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Ohhhhh.... I see, one school, not one service school. One school to rule all the others. I don't think it needs to be near open water, the Navy's just as good at running into things inshore as they are in open water.

Bulldoze all of the academies and plant wonderful gardens in their place. Make love, not war, man. Peace.
 
Seavoyager said:
I think it applies to various communities in the military but one navy community in particular (Surface Warfare) is renowned for horrible retention rates, and no amount of money will be able to fix this!
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Likely because of their renowned (world famous) horrible leadership too.
 
LineInTheSand said:
Ohhhhh.... I see, one school, not one service school. One school to rule all the others. I don't think it needs to be near open water, the Navy's just as good at running into things inshore as they are in open water.

Bulldoze all of the academies and plant wonderful gardens in their place. Make love, not war, man. Peace.
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Yup!
One School to rule them all,
One School to find them,
One School to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them
:rolleyes:
 
Tricksie little posters, deys is. Deys stoles its froms us, the Coasties. GALLUM GALLUM.
 
They can also cite time spent on their xbox or ps4 playing "call of duty" as training then brag that they're much better and cost much less to educate than ring knockers.
 
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