What makes the 1 class year difficult?

Who and how are the "trainers" trained?

Back in the day everyone left campus in some form of uniform for liberty... Even 1st classmen could only leave in an academy issued blazer and slacks/skirts. Given budget issues today not likely any mids will be issued any uniforms other than the basics.

Wow - that "back in the day" had to be longer than 34 years ago since back in the day of 1978 - 82 when I was there First Classman always had the privilage of wearing Civilian clothes after sometime in the late afternoon and going on liberty.

Wearing whites to and from liberty and Team Movements will be a pain just because they are "whites" but even those who are a bit careless like I was will learn the tricks of keeping them fairly clean. As far as needing another pair of shoes without spending money for them, unfortunately it won't be long before the "lucky locker" starts to get some new material at the end of the first trimester ...

All that said, thankfully' back in my day we had the "liberty uniforms" - blue blazer, blue shirt, slacks - were they gray? and a tie - both Males and Females got the same uniform and we were given the ability to start wearing that to and from liberty and after recognition until second class year sometime when we got civilian clothes privileges.

I was under the impression that Dr. Helis' first official day on campus as Super wasn't until next week so I'm not surprised the Regiment has seen little of him so far. Tongue in cheek - sounds like Capt. Kennedy has some sort of fetish or "special relationship"/ bug a boo re: backpacks. He did try to do something re: backpacks last spring and my understanding was basically the Class of 2012 pretty much ignored his directive with a fair amount of impunity. That was where he decided that trying to make them drive the Regiment in new directions so late in the year wasn't likely to be a productive venture.

I think Capt. Kennedy will probably be good in his role as Super but I do wish he had found a way after graduation to spend at least two weeks on a real, "full on" commercial, merchant ship (Maersk, Matson, ARC, Liberty, etc but not Government Owned MSC even) so he would have seen firsthand the type of environment the leadership and regimental training at KP needs to prepare USMMA grads to lead in. I have the same sentiment re: Dr. Helis as well as ANY other person hired as a Company Officer or such in the Commandant's Office. In fact I think it should be part of their new hire orientation training and they should be required to complete at least those 14 days aboard a vessel before reporting aboard to assume their duties. Leading "grown a$$ men" aboard a merchant vessel, who are union members with clearly defined contracts and work rules, most of which are stringently enforced and who have MMCs is a far cry from leading military units subject the UCMJ or even many other Government or Industry environments. Spending two weeks to clearly understand and see FIRST HAND what these young men and women are being trained to do and excel before assuming a role in their own training at would be invaluable, IMO.
 
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Jasperdog, as usual, your voice of reason and your seasoned experience should be taken into consideration.:shake:
 
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