Asking the experts

BeauGeste said:
But would I be totally out of line in also suggesting the complete Aubrey/Maturin works of Patrick O'Brian (think: "Master and Commander")? There are about 20 volumes, almost all centered on sailing in the war-torn world of the late 1700's.
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Not at all! that's a worthy gift suggestion and would be a great addition to any maritime library.. Along those same lines I would also add the classic Bounty Trilogy by Charles Nordoff and James Norman Hall [Mutiny on the BOUNTY, Pitcairn's Island and Men Against the Sea].. Men Against the Sea is one of my all time favorite sea stories..
 
During Indoc, do we get to learn how to shoot, if yes, what types of gun will we use?
 
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mattl09 said:
During Indoc, do we get to learn how to shoot, if yes, what types of gun will we use?
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Probably not. If they do it would be a beretta M9. Even if you do shoot you wont be able to get a certificate because they dont have a Navy SAMI needed to actually proctor the test.
 
mattl09 said:
During Indoc, do we get to learn how to shoot, if yes, what types of gun will we use?
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FWIW- At last year's Indoc, the plebe candidates did go down to the range with their platoons and did get some basic firearm safety training and got to shoot pistols (I think 9mm), maybe shot a clip or two. Lasted maybe a couple of hours at best, I think. I am just trying to remember what I heard from my son and what was shown in the pictures on KP Photography, though. I think may be other opportunities to shoot while at KP (such as a rifle/pistol club, etc) but like everything else at KP - it is a matter of balancing all your other obligations and you really don't have that much free time during plebe year.
 
My counselor said the academy does not accept electronically submitted transcripts and I need to provide my counselor with the school's address. So should I mail the transcript to 300 Steamboat Rd, Kings Point, NY 11024, or is there a different address I should send my transcript to?
 
mattl09 said:
My counselor said the academy does not accept electronically submitted transcripts and I need to provide my counselor with the school's address. So should I mail the transcript to 300 Steamboat Rd, Kings Point, NY 11024, or is there a different address I should send my transcript to?
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Per my Mid's admissions officer, it can be emailed, faxed, or regular mail. His counselor emailed it.
 
I emailed the admissions office, and they said they need a hard copy transcript, digital is optional.
 
1842 said:
1) Gifts? Cash, your Mid will get an opportunity to open an Navy Federal Credit Union account on campus. Plebes don't have many privileges.
2) Sneakers? Two pair - white/blue/gray - no crazy colors.
3) Boots will be issued
4) Watch - definitely - black G-shock is a good one
5) Eye Glasses - two pair definitely plus an 'idiot strap' which helps keep you from dropping your glasses.

Get a large White beach towel to send with them for the bedding.
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Watch--G-Shock Rangeman with time-synch. GPS unnecessary. It's great to have a watch with zero error. Learn to wear it 24/7 so when at sea you're never caught out looking for it in an emergency. The run $200-300.
 
A pony is generally a previous year's test. Thus, "Pass On Next Year" or PONY. Many Plebes/Mids get through KP by using ponys, memorizing previous years' questions and answers. It works well in some classes where professors are lazy and re-use identical questions as prior years. In those classes, you can "ride the pony," pass the class, and sometimes excel. In other classes, tests vary greatly from the year(s) before, in which case you cannot ride the pony or you risk failure. You also run the risk of getting caught cheating if you rely too heavily on ponys. Hope that helps.
 
mattl09 said:
Can someone explain what ride the pony means?
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'ride the pony' means relying on advanced information before a test.. At the School Ship we called it the 'scoop', at KP they call it the 'pony'.. I think at Navy they call it the 'skinny' or the 'gouge'.. It's a bank of questions and answers from previous years tests with hopefully a good probability of being on the exam.. Sometimes cadets over rely on 'scoops' or 'ponies' and don't study the course material. If they do that and their 'scoops' or 'ponies' 'miss' as opposed to 'hit', they'll probably end up doing poorly on the test. Scoops and Ponies have their place. I used to use them as a bank of practice problems.. Just so you know; there are no 'ponies' out in the real Merchant Marine and all tests out there are pass/fail.
 
deepdraft1 said:
'ride the pony' means relying on advanced information before a test.. At the School Ship we called it the 'scoop', at KP they call it the 'pony'.. I think at Navy they call it the 'skinny' or the 'gouge'.. It's a bank of questions and answers from previous years tests with hopefully a good probability of being on the exam.. Sometimes cadets over rely on 'scoops' or 'ponies' and don't study the course material. If they do that and their 'scoops' or 'ponies' 'miss' as opposed to 'hit', they'll probably end up doing poorly on the test. Scoops and Ponies have their place. I used to use them as a bank of practice problems.. Just so you know; there are no 'ponies' out in the real Merchant Marine and all tests out there are pass/fail.
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I used ponies as study guides and never tried to memorize them. Those areas where I didn't feel comfortable, well I would put more effort in to learning the specific topic.
 
I heard that midshipmen can participate in some kind of EMT activity? Can someone elaborate?
 
mattl09 said:
I heard that midshipmen can participate in some kind of EMT activity? Can someone elaborate?
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There is an EMT club. Students train and can actually be certified. They are used on campus for practically every event and are nice to have around and in close proximity in the dorms in the event something happens, they can be quick to respond as a skilled first responder.

From a dated Facebook group description:
"The United States Merchant Marine Academy Emergency Medical Services Squad (EMS), consist of approximately 100 Midshipmen EMT's who are New York State EMT-B Certified and respond to medical emergencies around the campus"
 
They have also taken care of mariners injured in the middle of oceans while on sea term.
 
Does the academy offer any biology class, I don’t see any biology class in the curriculum PDF. I’m wondering if biology is an elective or not.
 
No. Also keep in mind that your electives are extremely limited and dependent on your major. Many mids graduate with only one elective. Those who have more electives often have to get permission for a course overload.
 
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In my day, we didn't have too many electives, and I am sure that it is much the same now. We had two different humanities tracks to take, and most did the Anthropology centric one. I took a few marine engineering electives, but I don't recall too many available in science, and not any in biology; either core or elective.
 
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