In Response to: Memphis9489
"Maybe some of the Blue & Gold Officers have some insight to this rumor.
It appears the Brigade is too large - over 4600. The size of the incoming Plebe classes are largely based on the expected attrition.
The past few years, attrition has been at an all time low. But the new Plebe classes have still been in the 1200-1350 range. Consequently, there are too many midshipmen. The normal Brigade size is just slightly over 4000, usually in the 4100-4300 range.
There seems to be more midshipmen getting the boot this year than in recent history. Instead of all the second chances that were being liberally given out in previous years for honor, conduct, and academic issues - many midshipmen are now discovering that it's "Strike ONE! You're OUT!"
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I think this is a question that warrants its own thread. In my time at USNA, graduating in 2008, our biggest problem with the administration was their unwillingness to kick out those midshipmen who fell short of the standard. While this was true with academic and physical requirements, it was most painfully visible with honor.
There was a Mid who shoplifted on-base and he was retained. There was a plebe who was found guilty of lying (3) seperate and successive times and survived all three honor boards. Clearly she didn't learn her lesson after the first two boards, but they gave her a third chance still after that. I heard this from the plebe's Senior Enlisted leader, a Senior Chief, who said she was just as disgusted in the system as the rest of us.
The honor staff tried to put some teeth into the system but were over-ruled every time they tried to push for firmer compliance with the honor concept. And this is how we end up with several USNA Marine Grads being kicked out of the Marine Corps when they cheated on a land navigation test at TBS last year.
As I think I've shown, I have some pretty strong feelings on the Academy's standards, and I hope what Memphis 9489 has mentioned is truly happening.
Our Academy and our Midshipmen need it.
"Maybe some of the Blue & Gold Officers have some insight to this rumor.
It appears the Brigade is too large - over 4600. The size of the incoming Plebe classes are largely based on the expected attrition.
The past few years, attrition has been at an all time low. But the new Plebe classes have still been in the 1200-1350 range. Consequently, there are too many midshipmen. The normal Brigade size is just slightly over 4000, usually in the 4100-4300 range.
There seems to be more midshipmen getting the boot this year than in recent history. Instead of all the second chances that were being liberally given out in previous years for honor, conduct, and academic issues - many midshipmen are now discovering that it's "Strike ONE! You're OUT!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think this is a question that warrants its own thread. In my time at USNA, graduating in 2008, our biggest problem with the administration was their unwillingness to kick out those midshipmen who fell short of the standard. While this was true with academic and physical requirements, it was most painfully visible with honor.
There was a Mid who shoplifted on-base and he was retained. There was a plebe who was found guilty of lying (3) seperate and successive times and survived all three honor boards. Clearly she didn't learn her lesson after the first two boards, but they gave her a third chance still after that. I heard this from the plebe's Senior Enlisted leader, a Senior Chief, who said she was just as disgusted in the system as the rest of us.
The honor staff tried to put some teeth into the system but were over-ruled every time they tried to push for firmer compliance with the honor concept. And this is how we end up with several USNA Marine Grads being kicked out of the Marine Corps when they cheated on a land navigation test at TBS last year.
As I think I've shown, I have some pretty strong feelings on the Academy's standards, and I hope what Memphis 9489 has mentioned is truly happening.
Our Academy and our Midshipmen need it.