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- Jun 9, 2006
- Messages
- 1,957
“TOP 10“ POINTS TO REMEMBER
WHEN MIDSHIPMEN GO TO SEA
Below are our current “Top Ten” we are trying
to pass on to our next group of Cadets going to
sea.
1. KP arranges flights from KP to assignment,
assignment to assignment, assignment back to KP
USMMA CAN NOT arrange flights to homes.
2. There is NO guarantee of leave during sea
period.
3. 1st time sailor goal is 110-120 commercial sea
days.
4. 2nd time sailor MUST obtain the balance of days
to bring commercial sea time to 300 days.
5. Chain of command for cadets is through the
ATR:
ALL MATTERS REGARDING THE SCHOOL OR
SEA ASSIGNMENT MUST GO VIA THE ATR
6. Work day is 8 hours/day, 7 days/week, 2 to 3
hours spent on sea project; cadet turns to for all
extra-ordinary routines (docking, undocking,
anchoring, etc.).
7. Sea Year Guide has answers to most questions:
READ THE SEA YEAR GUIDE! prior to contacting
ATR with question.
8. CADETS ARE TREATED AS ADULTS while
under our authority and are expected to act as
adults on board ships.
9. Should have a credit card during Sea Year for
convenience/emergencies.
10. From Dental Department: must have had the
approved dental appointments and be cleared to
go to sea.
When on their Sea Year, the cadet’s primary point
of contact is the ATR. They are each assigned an
ATR that follows them throughout both sea years.
Each cadet is given a card with the work and office
phones of all ATRs and me. Their ATR should be
contacted first in all cases, routine and
emergency. E-mail is the primary method for
routine communication.
If their assigned ATR is not available at the time of
their call, they should try again later that day. Also,
tell them to be mindful of the day and time,
especially if calling from overseas. The ATRs
understand that sometimes there is only a small
window of opportunity to make a call and they
routinely field questions at night and on the
weekends.
In the case of emergencies and we mean true
emergencies, when the assigned ATR is not
available the cadet should call one of the other
ATRs. Since the cadets’ definition of an emergency
is sometimes different than the academy’s, for
example: wanting to know your flight arrangements
over a week before arrival in port is not an
emergency— However, arriving in port and not
having received your flights is an emergency. By
now the phone system may have already been
upgraded so it can automatically help find an
available ATR in an emergency.
The cadets are given a code word to include in a
conversation or e-mail if they have a problem that
they cannot discuss without fear of someone
overhearing. This is not something they should
use lightly because it sets gears in motion that
move quickly to remove the cadet from that ship.
Lastly, we don’t mean that they should complain if
they’re being told something they don’t like and
they want to see if “Daddy” will say okay when
“Mommy” said no—as parents, I’m sure you are all
aware of this “oldest trick in the book.” The ATRs
are dealing with hundreds of cadets and
sometimes there are misunderstandings of intents
or desires. Tell your students that ATRs
appreciate it most when a cadet comes out and
asks for something directly instead of beating
around the bush and expecting them to figure it out.
WHEN MIDSHIPMEN GO TO SEA
Below are our current “Top Ten” we are trying
to pass on to our next group of Cadets going to
sea.
1. KP arranges flights from KP to assignment,
assignment to assignment, assignment back to KP
USMMA CAN NOT arrange flights to homes.
2. There is NO guarantee of leave during sea
period.
3. 1st time sailor goal is 110-120 commercial sea
days.
4. 2nd time sailor MUST obtain the balance of days
to bring commercial sea time to 300 days.
5. Chain of command for cadets is through the
ATR:
ALL MATTERS REGARDING THE SCHOOL OR
SEA ASSIGNMENT MUST GO VIA THE ATR
6. Work day is 8 hours/day, 7 days/week, 2 to 3
hours spent on sea project; cadet turns to for all
extra-ordinary routines (docking, undocking,
anchoring, etc.).
7. Sea Year Guide has answers to most questions:
READ THE SEA YEAR GUIDE! prior to contacting
ATR with question.
8. CADETS ARE TREATED AS ADULTS while
under our authority and are expected to act as
adults on board ships.
9. Should have a credit card during Sea Year for
convenience/emergencies.
10. From Dental Department: must have had the
approved dental appointments and be cleared to
go to sea.
When on their Sea Year, the cadet’s primary point
of contact is the ATR. They are each assigned an
ATR that follows them throughout both sea years.
Each cadet is given a card with the work and office
phones of all ATRs and me. Their ATR should be
contacted first in all cases, routine and
emergency. E-mail is the primary method for
routine communication.
If their assigned ATR is not available at the time of
their call, they should try again later that day. Also,
tell them to be mindful of the day and time,
especially if calling from overseas. The ATRs
understand that sometimes there is only a small
window of opportunity to make a call and they
routinely field questions at night and on the
weekends.
In the case of emergencies and we mean true
emergencies, when the assigned ATR is not
available the cadet should call one of the other
ATRs. Since the cadets’ definition of an emergency
is sometimes different than the academy’s, for
example: wanting to know your flight arrangements
over a week before arrival in port is not an
emergency— However, arriving in port and not
having received your flights is an emergency. By
now the phone system may have already been
upgraded so it can automatically help find an
available ATR in an emergency.
The cadets are given a code word to include in a
conversation or e-mail if they have a problem that
they cannot discuss without fear of someone
overhearing. This is not something they should
use lightly because it sets gears in motion that
move quickly to remove the cadet from that ship.
Lastly, we don’t mean that they should complain if
they’re being told something they don’t like and
they want to see if “Daddy” will say okay when
“Mommy” said no—as parents, I’m sure you are all
aware of this “oldest trick in the book.” The ATRs
are dealing with hundreds of cadets and
sometimes there are misunderstandings of intents
or desires. Tell your students that ATRs
appreciate it most when a cadet comes out and
asks for something directly instead of beating
around the bush and expecting them to figure it out.