The Voice of the Regiment - USMMA Alumni Association and ...

The Voice of the RegimentHEAR THIS!January - February 2013 United States Merchant Marine AcademySince 1943The Regiment of Midshipmen marched in the Inaugural Parade on Monday, January 21, 2013. The parade followedPresident Obama from the Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue to the reviewing stand in front of the White House.Overall, more than 8,800 people and nearly 200 animals took part in the event. Picture: Seniors Philip Criswell(front L) and Garrett Reinert (front R) stand prepared to lead the marching contingent.Inaugural ParadeBy MIDN Brittany Bergmann, RPAEarly on Monday, January 21, 2013, the Regimentof Midshipmen gathered together in the crisp January airand boarded buses bound for Washington D.C. There wasmuch excitement, as the anticipation from weeks prior hadbuilt up to this one day. In a few hours’ time, members ofthe Regiment would step off and again become a part ofhistory as they marched through the streets of the nation’scapital in the Inaugural Parade for the second inaugurationof President Obama. A long, chilly day in Washington DC,consisting mainly of standing around for several hourswaiting for step-off, did not hinder the excitement of themidshipmen from being able to have the once in a lifetimeopportunity to march in front of the President of the UnitedStates in his inaugural parade. The Regimental Band, theHonor Guard, the Color Guard, and a marching contingenttravelled down together to be a part of history.“I felt so honored to march in the Inaugural Parade.Let’s be realistic, how many people can say that theymarched in the Inaugural Parade? I am so proud of the participants;we practiced, we worked hard, and we did theAcademy justice. It was phenomenal. It was an experiencethat I will never forget.” ~ M/N Janay Weathers, 1/C RegimentalExecutive OfficerLeading the Regiment of Midshipmen in the paradewas the Honor Guard, commanded by M/N Daniel Dunn,1/C. “It was a great experience for the Honor Guard. It wasstrange to be at the very front of the regiment. I was callingall the stops as the USCG was in Continued on Page 3Along We MarchedBy MIDN Matthew Finlayson, Staff WriterThe quadrennial march on Inauguration Day hasundoubtedly been the highest profile event for Kings Pointduring the past six decades. I’m glad our Academy had theopportunity to participate, and it was an honor for all presentmidshipmen. Still, any friend of the Academy couldnot help but be slightly unsettled at the appearance of theU.S. Merchant Marine Academy on the national stage.That is, if they were able to see the Regiment at all, whichdepended on the station they were viewing. On InauguralDay, my grandfather stared fixedly at his TV, broadcastingCNN, in wild anticipation of seeing Kings Pointers marchdown Pennsylvania Avenue only to be blindsided by a seriesof commercials immediately after the coverage of theCoast Guard Academy. When the feed was returned, theMariners had already past. To be fair, viewers of C-SPANand internet sites had better luck, but frankly, I’m not surprisedwe were not highlighted like the other Academies.Anyone in the marching contingent saw that when we finallyarrived at the official start of the parade, close to 5pm,most of the crowd had become too cold or bored to stickaround. Seen only by the occasional diehard Inaugurationfan and our own dedicated merchant marine parents andalumni, we marched the majority of the parade in the sameobscurity that we’ve experienced during our stay at theAcademy.Admittedly, a small glory moment did come whenwe rendered honors and marched ‘eyes left’ in front ofPresident Obama, long enough for the media people toplace Secretary La Hood next to the President for a quickphoto-op. But bringing up the rear of the fifth division,hours after the other Academies and right behind CoastGuard is hardly acceptable for the “highest profile event” ofan institution that considers herself the “Jewel of the ServiceAcademies.” It’s even worse considering we were thesole representatives of our service, something none of theother Academies can claim.Sadly, the nation’s treatment of Kings Point andthe maritime industry is a far cry from New York City’sMaritime Day, Friday May 22, 1953, when Kings Pointcadet-midshipmen paraded up Broadway as the finale of afive day observance of New York Continued on Page 3Our Deputy SuperintendentInterview By MIDN Ian Holtzworth, Staff WriterWhat led you to enroll in the NROTC program? Wereyou from a military family?No, actually my father was a hardware engineer. Hewas in the computer industry. It was when the computerindustry just started growing up, when IBM and Honeywelland all the computer companies were just startingto develop PCs and headhunters would come andsay “Hey Bill! Why don’t you come and work for us?”and so he would go off to the next company hoping toget stock options and become the next Bill Gates. Thatnever happened, but we ended up moving a lot and seeinga great big part of the U.S. However, my father wasvery influential in getting me into the Navy program.As a matter of fact, I was in school one day when thephone rang and I picked it up and my father said, “Hey,I made an appointment for you down at the ROTCunit.” The next day I walked down to the ROTC programand sat down for an interview and by the time Iwalked out, I had signed the papers. Back then, I reallydidn’t know what I was signing up for. I mean, I knew Ihad always been very interested in the military, so Ithink he remembered my interest in that, and he knewthe Navy ROTC was a big deal at Northwestern, so hewas the reason I ended up in the program.Why did you decide to become a SWO?A lot of the women coming into the Navy at that timetalked about going into the restricted line areas likeintelligence and communications and you know what...I wanted the same kinds of adventures the guys werehaving. I wanted to go sail. When I was little, I wouldlook at a lake or a pond or something and wonder whatwas on the other side. So I always wanted to get to theother side and find out what was there and that waswhat led me: the idea that I wanted to go out and haveadventures and find out what was on the other side.That was what drove me to become a Surface WarfareOfficer, and it’s worked out really well for me. In my28 years in the Navy, I’ve been able to visit over 40countries.While you were working as a SWO, you served in deckand engine capacities as a navigator and chief engineer.Did you like one more than the other?You know what, I liked both. I liked the challenge ofeach side, especially navigating back before the adventof electronic charting. At that time, we did the sightingand sight reductions all by hand. Finding out where wewere and going in and out of ports, having my quartermasterscall in the bearings and laying down a fix.When you got a great fix, it was a real kick. But thenagain, the engine side really intrigued me as well. Ifound it fascinating—the process of taking a drop ofwater (of course, I’m talking steam, because that iswhat I worked with) and Continued on Page 12RADM Susan L. Dunlap, Deputy SuperintendentNotes From a ShopperPage 3Sea Story Competition!Page 6Sextant AdviceKP LIFE, Pages 7The Midshipman PubKP PRIDE, Page 9Reed Buck InterviewSPORTS, Page 11

Page 2 Since 1943 USMMALetter from the EditorDear Regiment, Faculty, Alumni, Staff, Family, andFriends of the Academy,Spring Break is almost here! Whether that means you’reheading back out to sea, planning a wild run of debauchery inMiami, or simply looking forward to some well-deserved rest athome, I wish you all the best. For my fellow 1 st classmen, thiswill be our last real breath of fresh air before hunkering downwith the books for the license exams. I daresay, for many of usthis is as good a time as any other to start studying, including me.The Regiment did an outstanding job at the PresidentialInauguration last month in Washington, D.C. It was a great experience,one that we will all remember and boast about to ourfriends and family. We are also fortunate to have RADM SusanL. Dunlap as our new Deputy Superintendent. A highly decoratedNavy veteran and experienced leader in the maritime profession,she brings a deep reserve of enthusiasm and knowledge to theAcademy. Welcome to Kings Point!I hope you enjoy our January-February issue. Hear This!is the Voice of the Regiment, and if you would like to pitch inyour two cents, we welcome all submissions for our upcomingMarch-April publication. Appreciate the time with family andfriends over the break and see you all in a few weeks.Warm Regards,M/N Sung Hyong, 1/CEditor-In-ChiefThe Hear This! Staff wouldlike to express our deepest sympathyfor the loss of Roxie Royster De-Stafney, the beloved wife of CaptainRobert (Bob) DeStafney and motherof three. She was a wonderful andunforgettable person and will bemissed by the midshipmen and allwho knew her.We were able to attend thememorial service at the chapel severalweeks ago, and it was truly a poignantand emotional time. We are fortunate,and indeed, blessed, to have been ableto hear Captain Fell’s eulogy, CaptainDeStafney’s moving remarks, and thewords of those who came to rememberand honor Roxie DeStafney and toprovide support and comfort.Life is eternal, and love is immortal,and death is only a horizon;and a horizon is nothing savethe limit of our sight.~ Rossiter Worthington RaymondIn Memory ofRoxie DeStafneyHEAR THIS! STAFF & CONTRIBUTORSEditor-in-ChiefM/N Sung K. Hyong, 2013Layout EditorM/N Tyler Driscoll, 2013Department HeadsM/N Matthew Finlayson, 2013M/N Ursula Holm, 2013M/N Ian Holtzworth, 2013M/N Michael Shep, 2013M/N Erich Stumpel, 2013M/N Timothy Rice, 2014Staff WritersM/N Sean Chang, 2013M/N Dustin Downing, 2013M/N James Flowers, 2013M/N Biondi Phua, 2013M/N Stefano Ritondale, 2013M/N Joshua Asaro, 2015M/N Kevin McHale, 2015Plebe Woodrow Buck, 2016Plebe Constantine Rerras, 2016Plebe Christopher Zwick, 2016Plebe Kenneth Pressey, 2016Plebe Alisha Sako, 2016Artists/CartoonistsM/N Nathaniel Miller, 2013M/N Jackie Hong, 2015PhotographerM/N Michael Pluhowski, 2013Freelance ContributorsDr. Jeffrey TaffetM/N Kristen Bell, 2013M/N Brittany Bergmann, 2013M/N William Courtney, 2013M/N Kate O’Connor, 2013M/N Nicholas Sitter, 2015Plebe Tyler Fugleberg, 2016Sea Story Contest EntrantsM/N Tyler Driscoll, 2013M/N Jesse Crews, 2014M/N Samuel Dengel, 2014M/N Andrew Mueller, 2015Faculty AdvisorsDr. Jacques SzalutaProfessor Raymond GardnerHear This! DISCLAIMERThis newspaper is published by the students of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The views andopinions expressed do not represent in any way the official views of the United States Merchant MarineAcademy or its Administration.LT FettermanInterview By Jackie Hong, Staff WriterWhat are some of the things you’ve done since yougraduated in 2005? What made you come back toKP?Following graduation, I worked for Polar Tankersas an 3rd Engineer, came shore-side to work withABS as a surveyor in San Diego building TAKEs andProduct Carriers for Crowley. In 2010, I was mobilizedas part of Provincial Reconstruction Team, Farah, Afghanistan.Following my return, I went and worked forTransocean and I am now here as your CO…I am back because I want to make a difference,and I hope that my experience may help with the developmentof Kings Pointers.What are the things you’d like to focus on as a leader?What do you expect from midshipmen?As a leader, I focus mostly on pride. Pride canbe a driving force that demands consistency. From midshipmen,I expect them to do the right thing. Theyneed to realize they are in a training environment. Thethings they will learn here will carry them through theirprofessional careers and personal lives. KP has somuch to offer; it can be difficult, embrace it and oneday you will look back and be proud to say you went toKings Point.What Company were you in as a midshipman?What activities did you participate in?I was in 2nd Company; the CO was CDR Gundy.I played Rugby for two seasons, but other than that,mostly just studying and PT.What has changed since you were a midshipman?You have AC.Most memorable event while at Kings Point?9/11. This happened during my plebe year. Iwas marching a section to class, and someone in theformation said he saw a plane fly by. I didn’t notice thefirst plane, but soon the second one flew into the TwinTower. We went to the roof of Fulton-Gibbs to get abetter view. The waterfront was full of midshipmen. Allof us were shocked and couldn’t believe what was happening.I remember the smoke from the wreckage filledthe waterfront and remained for weeks.What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?Making a difference.

Page 3 Since 1943 USMMALNG Independent StudyBy MIDN Kristen Bell, 2013Being a “Pretengineer”: Notes from a Dying BreedBy MIDN William Courtney, 2013My interest in LNG sparked as a deck cadetaboard the Shell LNG carrier, the SS Galea. I spent fivemonths aboard this foreign-flagged vessel, learning all Icould about the cargo, systems, and amazing technology.I was fascinated by it. I stayed aboard the vessellong enough to get five loads and six discharges to meetthe requirements for a USCG PIC-LG certification. Uponreturning to Kings Point, I got some awful news.Kings Point was no longer offering the LNG electiveand without the course, I would not get my PIC certification.Thanks to the dedication of CAPT Dorr, a smallgroup of us were able to take the required coursethrough GMATS on our own time outside of classesbefore they closed. The following trimester, Dr. Guan, ateacher I have had many times as a logistics major,mentioned the opportunity for completing an IndependentStudy to the class. I was unaware that this couldeven be done at Kings Point! When I spoke to himabout my interest in LNG, he was just as interested tolearn more about the subject as I was.I decided to complete my Independent Study onThe Expansion of the U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas Market.Completing an Independent Study takes a lot of self-motivation, hard work, and dedication. Having a persistentmentor and advisor was a great benefit. I did themajority of my research via the internet. I relied heavilyon publications from Lloyd’s List and other reputableindustry publications.The United States is blessed to have a large reserveof natural gas. It is an abundant resource here inthe U.S. and we need to utilize it. Through my research,the main point gathered was that the United States couldbe completely energy self-sufficient. The only obstaclesseem to be the lack of infrastructure needed to supportthis industry and the regulations and political oppositionfacing liquefied natural gas. Yet with TOTE’s announcementabout building LNG vessels, a small beaconof hope may have appeared for the U.S. LNG industry.We have the potential to capitalize on this abundantdomestic energy source and now it is just a matterof building facilities and public support. With the developmentof pipelines and fracking technology, I foresee abright future for LNG.Inaugural Parade, Continued from Page 1… front of us and constantly stoppingand starting. When approaching the review stand, I spotted the Secretary of Transportation…andit was cool to hear the KP alumni cheer us on every half mile orso.” -M/N Daniel Dunn 1/C, Regimental Honor Guard Commander.The road to this parade, however, was not quite as glorious as one wouldthink. There were many mornings of marching practice, musters, and more, allleading up to the all-too-fast three minutes of marching past the President and renderingHonors.“If you looked at the weekend’s individual parts of late night surprisemusters, early morning wake ups, a dinner consisting of meatballs and Coke-a-Cola, the feeling after marching that I would never be able to use my right handagain, cramped buses, the waiting, waiting, and the more waiting, arriving back inthe morning and going to classes a few short hours later, you would have to say itwas the worst weekend ever. However, I will remember it with pride because despiteall of those little problems, every single Midshipman pulled together and performedwith excellence and represented the United States Merchant Marine Academyin a very strong and resounding way.” – M/N John Gaffigan 1/C, RegimentalBand Master.As M/N Osborne recalls the parade: “This was actually my 2nd parade andlet me tell you, it was a lot nicer. Last time, the temperature was at least 20 degreescolder so it was a big change for this inauguration. That being said, I prepared myColor Guard by telling them to expect a lot of starts and stops and to dress in manylayers. I remember having at least two layers of Under Armour and still being coldlast Inaugural.” – M/N Frank Osborne 1/C, Regimental C.G. Commander.Despite the stresses leading up to the parade and the cold temperatures,Midshipmen will forever remember the event fondly: “The Inaugural Parade experiencewas amazing. The marching contingent as a whole put in a lot of time andeffort during practices, and it showed in their performance in front of the President.I am very impressed with how the band performed; it couldn’t have beendone without them. Everyone did their job and represented the Academy well.” –M/N Daniel Galginaitis 1/C, Regimental Commander.There is a small community of deckies at KingsPoint who often appear to be somewhat out of place. Wecan be found wandering the halls of the Engineeringbuildings, wearing boiler suits in Bowditch, poring overmachinery in the diesel lab, and lugging around Enginetextbooks. We’re also probably the only people whoever show up to Radar class sporting a light coat of oil.The Maritime Operations and Technology major,also known as the Ship’s Officer or (more commonly)“Shopper” program, is a full Deck curriculum whichoffers, as a secondary course of study, an introduction toshipboard engineering. In lieu of some business coursestaken by our straight deck and logistics counterparts, theshoppers take courses such as Engine Shop I, Intro toMarine Engineering, Materials and Processes, ElectricalTechnology, Auxiliary Propulsion Machinery, and ShipSystem Operations. Many of these are condensed versionsof standard engineering courses, designed to providea basic understanding of how machinery and enginesystems operate, as well as to teach practical skills suchas welding, pipefitting, and basic fabrication. Thisknowledge is put to the test during second sailing, duringwhich we sail for 90 days as engine cadets. Duringthis time we participate in day-to-day engineering operations,become familiar with maintenance and operationof equipment both in the engine room and on deck, andlearn to put up with our fair share of deckie jokes duringcoffee time. Shoppers are also required to complete anintensive engine sea project, based on the standard firstsailing project completed by the Engine majors. At theend of our four years of study, the shoppers are eligibleto sit for the Qualified Member of the Engine Departmentexamination, which allows us as graduates to sailas any unlicensed rating in the Engine department, aswell as a deck officer. These exams are characterized byseveral weeks in March during which the shoppers canbe found poring over engineering study books at allhours of the day and night, drinking copious amounts ofcoffee and muttering about crossflow scavenging, twostageflash-type evaporators and the like.Or, at least, they used to. As of the class of 2015,the Maritime Operations and Technology major was nolonger offered to incoming classes. The current seniorswill be the last class of Kings Pointers who will be allowedto sit for the QMED endorsement, and the class of2014 will be the last of the deckies who have the opportunityto spend dedicated time in the engine room oversea year. With the demise of the shopper program comesthe end of decades of Kings Point tradition of producingcross-educated mariners with classroom and practicalexperience outside of their specified department.For those of us who have spent our time hereinvolved with the Shopper program, its cancellation representsa great loss to the Kings Point community. Goneare the days in which large crews allowed the shipboarddeck and engine departments to operate independently,with minimal involvement in what the other was doing.With the current trend in the U.S. maritime industry towardsreduced manning and highly technical vessels,close cooperation and understanding of how deck andengine operations affect each other is more importantnow than ever. Sea year experience in the engine roomproduces a deck officer who, for example, knows exactlyhow long it takes to pull a piston or swap an exhaustvalve, and who understands what is required to transferfuel between tanks or bring another generator online.This, in turn, allows better coordination about what eachdepartment needs to accomplish simultaneously, whichmeans that both sides can get their jobs done efficientlyand with minimal friction. An understanding of equipmentand its limitations is also vital to operating shipboardsystems properly. Knowing what will damage amooring winch or the consequences of a fire pump runningwithout suction can prevent undue wear and tear onmachinery, allowing the vessel to avoid unnecessarydowntime for repair.Furthermore, knowledge of engine room operationscan be invaluable in one of the most importantaspects of any officer’s job, namely shipboard emergencyresponse. Machinery is at the heart of every ship, andwhen it does not function properly it is inevitable thatother operations will be affected. Lives may literallydepend on a deck officer’s ability to understand what aparticular machinery malfunction means, and to interpretthat information with regards to the ability to safely navigatethe vessel or operate other systems and equipment.Additionally, many vessels’ emergency squads are ledby deck officers, leaving the engineers free to addresstechnical issues. Understanding of potential hazardswhile leading emergency teams into machinery spacescan help to minimize dangerous situations and avoidcrew injuries.Lastly, the role of a deck officer in the U.S. maritimeindustry is changing as well. The number of maritimejobs in fields such as offshore construction, towing,oil support and other specialized industries is steadilygrowing. With it comes a need for deck officers who notonly understand navigation, stability, and cargo handling,but also the operations being carried out by specializedsystems and machinery in order to complete thevessel’s mission. Since many of these systems are similarin nature to those found on the engineering side, it isbeneficial for deck officers to understand their operation.Additionally, many of these types of ships are smallersupport vessels, and thus carry a smaller crew. Therefore,a deck officer who can pull double duty as part ofan engine crew is very valuable indeed, as many recentgraduates of the Maritime Operations and Technologyprogram can attest.In closing, the value of the shopper program isrecognized by its members, graduates, and many peoplein hiring departments throughout the maritime industry.Additionally, many members of the classes of 2015 and2016 were reportedly rather disappointed that this programwas no longer being offered, and I share their sentiments.At a time where our industry is evolving towardsless traditional roles for deck and engineeringofficers, it seems as though eliminating this program,which produces officers adaptable to a large variety ofsituations, is a step backwards. But I’ll have to postponemy concern for a while- after all, QMEDs are approaching,and the license books are calling my name.Along We Marched, Continued from Page 1… World Trade Week. Other trade weekactivities included a visit of the Academy by Fred J. Emmerich, chairman of the InternationalTrade Section of the New York Board of Trade, and a nation-wide radio broadcaston WABC, recorded at Kings Point, titled “The Role of the American Merchant Marinein Peace and War” (NY Times, 5/20/53: City Set to Honor Merchant Marine). Obviously,our school gets nowhere near the amount of press it did in the past, and for good reason.The American shipping industry, down to just 93 vessels, has fallen into a state ofdisrepair and the future doesn’t look promising.So, one could then ask, “Is there any hope for KP and the US Merchant Marine toreturn to its post-WWII place in the national spotlight?” I believe the answer is a resounding“Yes!” and has everything to do with our Academy’s product, namely its graduatesand their potential to effect change in the American maritime industry. KP ’79graduate, Steve Carmel, Senior VP – Maersk Lines Limited, emphasized in a 2010roundtable address to the Alumni Association, Continued on Page 7…

Page 4 Since 1943 USMMADon’t let the cold weather keep you from enjoying the outdoors this vacation.Indeed, for many experienced mountaineers, winter can be the best hiking season ofall. There are fewer people on the trails, the bugs are gone, and the lack of foliage allowsfor spectacular views. Yet the unique aspects of winter hiking demand greaterawareness and preparation. Here are some pointers that will hopefully improve yourwinter experience:Before the Hike: If you have never been on a winterhike, familiarize yourself with less demanding terrain. Thiswill allow you to experiment with clothing and gear, testyour stamina, and appreciate the differences between winterhiking and other seasons. Climbing mountains by yourselfis never recommended, especially in winter. If you can’ttag along with an experienced winter climber, consider participatingin a group hike. In any case, leave details of yourplanned route and stick to your plan! Cell phones may ormay not work in the area. During the climb keep your phoneoff and the batteries warm to increase the chance of the deviceworking. Also keep in mind that it can take most of theday to assemble a rescue party and get to an injury location.Review avalanche safety material and hypothermia treatment procedures. Obtaina local forecast for the region and know who to contact in an emergency. Establisha “turn-around time.” Winter days are short and temperatures fall quickly after sunset.Beware that the last half-mile to the summit may take much longer than anticipated,especially in adverse conditions. Remember that it’s a long way back to the trailhead ifyou are tired, especially if it becomes dark. In other words, head back sooner than youwould in other seasons. Don’t let “summit fever” overcome sound judgment. Themountain will always be there another day!Clothing: Low temperatures are usually not an issue as long as you are moving.In fact, if you are wearing too much clothing, you may quickly overheat. Whenyou stop, however, your body will quickly cool down. That being said, a hiker’s biggestenemy is often moisture, whether from perspiration or precipitation. Wear a hoodto prevent falling snow from getting down your back and try to minimize the timesnow remains on your clothing. Snow can eventually soak through even the most expensiveGore-Tex parka. On very cold days, beware when you remove your backpack.If you have been sweating or if the back of your pack is wet from melting snow, it canfreeze within minutes.Layering is key to being comfortable. The Appalachian Mountain Club recommendsstarting out with three layers. The base layer (closest to the skin) should besome sort of moisture-wicking long underwear and a wicking turtleneck (perhaps witha zipper at the neck to regulate your body temperature). Silk and cotton should beavoided because they are not moisture-wicking fabrics and will not dry when they getwet from perspiration. A popular saying among outdoorsmen is “cotton kills” becauseof its propensity to cool the body when wet.The second layer is for keeping you warm. This can be either a wool sweater(an excellent insulator even when wet) or a fleece jacket. On most days, this layer willbe taken off once you get warmed up. On your legs, wear either water-resistant hikingpants or nylon wind-blocking pants. The pants should also have side zippers along thefull length of the leg so you can regulate your body temperature. The long zippers willalso allow you to get your pants on over your boots easily. Many people wear runningtights with a pair of shorts over the top so they can have pockets. A pair of wind- orwaterproof pants can easily be donned over tights when the temperature drops. Runningtights come in different thicknesses, allowing you to wear what is most appropriatefor the temperature.A wind/water resistant jacket will serve best for your top layer. The wind/rainjacket you wear during the warmer months should suffice as long as you also bring aheavy (Gore-Tex or coated nylon) jacket to keep warm during hiking breaks. An extrajacket will also be useful should an emergency occur on the trail. On windy days, abase layer and the wind jacket may be all that is needed. If you decide to buy a hikingjacket, let the salesperson know what activities you are planning to do. Jackets madefor skiing and snowboarding have too many insulating layers for hiking.If it is very cold (below 30 degrees), it’s a good idea to carry even more layersincluding an extra pair of hiking socks. Always put your warm layers on as soon asyou stop for lunch or any other extended break longer than a minute or two. Keep inmind that it is easier to stay warm than it is to get warm once you feel chilled.Hands and Feet: Hands and feet are the most vulnerable to cold. At a minimum,glove liners should be worn at all times while outside, even if they seem a nuisancewhen adjusting equipment. It is easy for hands to get cold and takes a relativelylong time to warm them up again. You should bring several pairs of liners becausethey get wet as you perspire. Waterproof mittens or fleece gloves should also be wornduring the hike.Proper socks and boots are critical for an enjoyable hike. For socks, most peoplewear a sock liner and a wool or performance type of sock. Men’s nylon dress sockswork well as sock liners. When buying boots, make sure they also allow for a warmpair of socks over a liner while leaving some wiggle room for your toes. Know thetemperature rating of your boots. They must be warm, comfortable, and not cut offcirculation. Boots should be waterproof. Stream crossings can be high in winter andsometimes stepping on an underwater rock is safer than stepping on an icy exposedrock. Water resistant, knee-high gaiters are another must. Gaiters prevent snow fromgetting into your boots and help keep your legs warm. You should also consider carryingcrampons or Microspikes because trail conditions are not always predictable.Crampons will keep you from slipping on hard-packed or icy trails. Practice puttingthem on and taking them while wearing your glove liners.Snowshoes are required in areas with deep powder. Find a snowshoe with abinding that is easily operated. You should also seek the smallest snowshoe that suitsthe snow conditions. The length is dependent on your combined body and pack weightin relation to the depth of the snow. Talk with other hikers and salespeople. Whateveryou purchase should have crampons on the bottom to allow you to grip into the snowor ice while going up and down hill. Poles are also very useful for walking in snowshoes.Winter HikingBy MIDN Tyler Driscoll, Staff WriterFace/Head: Some form of head cover is absolutely necessary. Wool and fleecehats work the best. Some people prefer a headband instead of a hat. Hikers are constantlyputting hats on and taking them off to keep from overheating. If you prefer woolhats and are prone to sweating, you can try wearing a fleece headband under your hat tokeep the hat from getting wet. A balaclava is lightweight and works well for keepingyour entire face and neck warm. You may also consider a neck warmer if it is truly cold.Other Equipment: Some items that are optional in the summer become morecritical in winter. For example, sunglasses are a must when glare levels are high. Hikingpoles are also very helpful. Although very surefooted hikers can get away without poles,you may encounter water crossings that can only be navigated with the assistance ofpoles. Don’t forget a bandana. Your nose will get drippy on a cold day and tissuesshred easily. It is also nice to have some sort of insulating pad to sit on at lunch time. Afoam pad will prevent contact with the snow and keep you warm. A headlamp (and abackup) with extra batteries is also essential due to the short days. Be sure to turn yourbatteries to the opposite poles to keep your lamp from accidentally turning on in yourpack. Again, extra batteries should be carried close to the body and kept warm on colddays or they will deplete. Lithium batteries are well worth the investment because theylast much longer and hold up well in the cold. Over time you will add to your personallist of “essential items” to bring. This may include matches, a first aid kit, and an emergencyfood kit. In any case, it is highly recommended that you bring enough gear tosurvive a night in the woods.Food: Eating should be an ongoing process during the course of the day. Morefood and drink are needed in winter than in summer. Although you may not feel thirsty,you will be losing fluids just as fast as you do in the summer. Often times you will needto force yourself to drink. A dehydrated hiker will get cold faster, and faces the samerisks that occur in the warmer months. On a strenuous, 12-hour day you may want asmuch as three quarts of liquid. Remember that water freezes so store it deep in yourpack. To avoid ice formation, heat your water before starting out and insulate the bottlesto preserve the warmth (an old wool sock works well for this purpose). Turn the bottleupside down to prevent the water from freezing at the neck. Some people also bring athermos with a hot drink.Consuming enough calories is also a challenge on cold days. Any hiker thatdoes not eat enough will get chilled and run out of energy very quickly. Keep somekind of food handy in your pocket. Food carried in your backpack may also freeze. Ifyou plan to be out in extreme weather, put your lunch in an insulated bag. Don’t expecta lunch break to last longer than about 15 minutes. On days below 30 degrees, it couldbe even shorter.Route Information: A topographical map and compass is crucial. A GPS canhelp too, provided you are experienced in its use and can keep the unit from freezing. Asudden cloud, snow gale, or fog cover may make the compass your only means for findingthe route out in reduced visibility. Jot down the “back bearing” (bearing from thesummit to the timber line) on a piece of paper in advance. In a whiteout above tree line,you may know which way is up, but it can be very difficult to determine which way toreturn if your tracks have blown away.Hazards: Beware of the unique hazards winter presents. “Spruce Traps” formwhen snow drifts over pockets of air beneath branches. These traps tend to collapsewhen unsuspecting climbers walk on the weakened areas, even when wearing snowshoes.Removing oneself can be a soaking and exhausting task. Trees and shrubs maybe covered with snow and markers can be hidden. As mentioned, your return journeymay be more difficult than expected if strong winds or snow erase your tracks and youhave to break trail again. Occasionally, (even during extremely cold weather) brooksand rivers may be fast flowing or the ice not strong enough to support your weight. Becareful during water crossings.On a typical day, temperatures rise until mid-afternoon before dipping precipitouslyafter sunset. Even on a very cold day, you will notice a drop in temperature in thelittle dips/valleys along the trail. Wind becomes a huge factor above the tree line, sometimesreaching extreme velocities despite little wind at lower elevations. On the otherhand, clear and calm days may result in the warmest temperatures being above the treeline.Before pushing on to the final assent, stop at tree line for some food and someadditional clothing layers. You will certainly be better prepared to face the exposed conditionsat the summit. As mentioned earlier, your tracks can disappear amid strongwinds above tree line making your safe retreat a challenge. Be smart.Some winter climbers have gotten into serious trouble by leaving their backpacks orsnowshoes at lower elevations before the final steep summit climb. This is never recommendedbecause the contents may be needed most in the exposed conditions above treeline. No one wants to face an emergency on the summit, especially without proper gear.Final Thoughts: Although this may seem like a lot of information (and equipment),winter hiking is definitely worth the extra work. Appropriate clothing and gear,accurate route information, and little planning can yield an extremely enjoyable winterexperience. Talk with seasoned winter hikers about what to expect and how to prepare.Finally, check out the many websites and guides that discuss winter hiking, such as“Winterwise: A Backpacker's Guide” by John M. Dunn. Enjoy!Note: The information provided in this article is not intended to be a completeguide but an introduction to the sport of winter hiking; it should not replace or contradictguidebooks published concerning the subject.

Page 5 Since 1943 USMMADon’t Taze Me, Bro!By MIDN Kate O’Connor, 2013“Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than theone derived from fear of punishment.” –Mohandas GandhiThe word “punishment” is defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary as “apenalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure.” The American culture isone which innately believes in punishment. We believe the act of punishment to be onewhich will elicit a positive response from the culprit once it has been administered.While growing up, through time-outs, groundings and even spankings, ourparents punished us when we misbehaved. In the 1700s, when slavery was commonthroughout the United States, slave owners beat their slaves when they failed to adhereto their masters’ rules. When training a dog, a common school of thought is to follow apunishment-based system. When the dog performs poorly, or does something its ownerfinds unsatisfactory, the animal is corrected by a sharp slap, leash jerk or scolding. Inthe United States, when a serious crime is committed, the fastest and easiest solution isto simply put the offender in prison.The thing all the above examples have in common is that the negative cause(the crime) ultimately leads to a negative effect (the punishment). In all of the scenarios,either an undesirable stimulus is provided or a desirable stimulus is removed. Thereare, however, several problems associated with this form of punishment as a means ofdiscipline. Evidence has demonstrated that it tends to lead to alienation of those punished,inhibits desirable learning, in that it does not teach right from wrong, and caneven lead to an increase in aggression amongst the offending party. While this type ofnegative punishment may lead to immediate compliance, it fails to correct in the longterm. In addition, while the offender may be afraid to disobey while the disciplinarianis present, when absent, they will more than likely go back to their original ways.On the other side of the spectrum is what is commonly referred to as operantconditioning or positive reinforcement. The basis of this reinforcement system is tocreate a response to an action that a person will enjoy or to remove a stimulus a persondoes not like. For example, to train a dog to fetch a ball, when the dog successfullychases and picks up the ball, the dog receives praise. If the dog fails, the praise is withheld.Eventually, the dog associates his behavior with the reward and will continue toretrieve the ball. Like the dog, people are driven by success. We become more likely torepeat a behavior which elicits a positive outcome than a negative one.While both punishment-based systems and positive reinforcement systemshave their distinct advantages and disadvantages, generally, people will not learnthrough the application of just one. The best learning is done through a combination ofthe two systems and involves numerous trade-offs in the process. Not all people arecapable of learning the same way or even at the same rate, and that holds true withinthe Regimental training system here at the Merchant Marine Academy.Over the past three and a half years here, I have come to find that the disciplinarysystem is severely skewed toward the methodology of simply punishing the midshipmen.Within the system to “stick” midshipmen, there are well over 100 items forwhich a person can be placed on report. With so many “crimes” that we can be punishedfor, it seems that demerits, marching tours and restriction sentences are issuedleft and right, night and day, backwards and forwards. From the moment I open mydoor at 0616 (oops, I mean 0615…I could get in trouble for that extra 60 seconds ofprivacy) I can be stuck for just about anything- room in gross disorder, unkempt personalappearance, “skylarking” across the hall to my company mates…and the list goeson. Well, my million dollar question is this: Where is the system which can track amidshipman’s positive behavior?Most things in this world have an opposite or counterpart—for every up there isa down, for every win there is a loss, and for every back there is a front. Why then hasKings Point gone so far astray from this governing law and failed to pair the demeritsystem with some sort of similar, structured, merit-based system? A disciplinary systemis one which is fundamental to the smooth operation of any military academy,school or organization of structure. If it stands to be so fundamental, why has the disciplinarysystem here at the Academy been formed into one that is so single-minded? Asnot everyone is motivated by the same stimuli, it stands to reason that the same form ofpunishment will not be effective for every single midshipman.Now, I am not trying to say that every time I put my hair into a perfect bun or amale midshipman shaves in the morning, we should be rewarded. Certain things shouldjust be expected. However, something needs to be implemented to provide a little morepositive reinforcement to the student body. I think that if this were to occur, not onlycould we implement a positivity-based disciplinary system in addition to the one wealready have, but we would also begin to see the overall morale of the student bodyimprove.1 Henry, Stuart, Ph.D. “On the Effectiveness of Prison as Punishment.” Wayne State University. http://www.is.wayne.edu/stuarthenry/Effectiveness_of_Punishment.htm2 American Psychological Association. “Is Corporal Punishment an Effective Means of Discipline?” http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2002/06/spanking.aspxRoman Catholic LeaderAnnounces ResignationBy MIDN Kevin F. McHale, Staff WriterPope Benedict XVI officially announced his resignationon 11 February 2013 as leader of the Roman CatholicChurch, a decision that elicited surprise from many around theworld. The resignation certainly came as a shock to the morethan one billion Roman Catholics in the world. The leader ofthe world’s largest single church cited his decision as beingcaused by a “lack of strength of mind and body.”The resignation of a Pope, while not unheard of in thehistory of the Church, is extremely rare. The last Pope to resignwas Gregory XII in 1415! However, even Gregory didn’tvolunteer to leave. The last voluntary abdication was PopeCelestine V in 1294. Within recent centuries, the papacy hasusually ended with the death of the sitting Pope, leading to theconclave of the Church’s hierarchy to decide who is the nextPope.The announcement left many wondering what promptedsuch a momentous decision. The Thursday edition of Italiannewspaper, La Stampa, reporting on information that had arisenafter Monday’s decision, shed some light on potential medicalissues that may have contributed to his decision. Apparently,the Pope suffered a head injury and bleeding while in Mexicoin March 2012. According to CBS News, however, theVatican has officially denied that this incident played a role inthe Pope’s resignation.Whatever the causes of the resignation, one thing iscertain: the transfer of power in the Catholic Church will elicitmuch media attention and global interest. The man elected asthe next Pope will speak volumes about the direction that theChurch is heading. The election of Pope Benedict XVI was aconfirmation that the Church would continue on a theologicallyconservative path set by his predecessor Pope John Paul II.The potential candidates for the Papacy include cardinals fromAfrica, Europe, Latin America and potentially the UnitedStates. Catholics around the world are hoping and praying fora Pope who will strengthen the faith, be a spiritual guide andbe able to connect with the average believer. Once more theworld will be able to witness a two millennia old ceremony forelecting the leadership of the Church.1 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57569366/retiringpope-benedict-xvi-will-be-hidden-to-the-world/2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_benedict_XVIConversations withA Cal Maritime DeckieBy MIDN Dustin Downing, Staff WriterOur travels in life and at this Academy bring us intouch with people of all kinds. My journey had the fortuneof crossing paths with a great man from Cal Maritime.I highly respect him and what he has to say, and hadsome questions for him about the differences in culturebetween his Academy and ours. A few of these questionsare brought by yours truly, and others are submitted bycurious section-mates. The following is a result of thatdiscussion:How many formations do you have per weekand what goes on there?We have to be in formation by 0720 on Monday,Wednesday, and Friday. Once every week or two, we getinspected, but they’re quite lax—a friend of mine hasn’tworn a nametag for a few weeks. Nothing in the afternoonsor evenings though, and if you don’t have classbefore 1100, you don’t have to go to formation.What is your student body demographic?The Cal state schools demolished the Affirmative Actionsystem, so most of our classes are rather homogeneous.Our business major seems to attract most of thosebrought in on Basketball scholarships though. Thoughthere is little diversity, those that are here are mostlybrought in by race-specific scholarships. However, thisschool does attract many from the GI bill that are unableto attend KP due to the age requirement. These veteransadd experience and a check to the officership we aretaught here. They are great leaders from what I have seenand add tremendously to the demographic of experience.What is the drinking policy and is pot legal oncampus?Absolutely no drugs are allowed on campus and no alcoholwhatsoever unless it’s a faculty-sanctioned event. Weall get drug tested, but it’s not very frequent. There’s actuallyquite a strict alcohol policy, but there are manyother Cal State schools which allow it.What is the role of the Commandant Staff?There is quite a bit of talk about changing Cal to be ‘anew Cal Maritime’ and having many in the Commandant’sdepartment put their ‘mark’ on the school. Thismanifests itself in little ways, but there’s a reason thesethings have been done this way. For instance: thedepartment has changed the way we face in formationso now I’m looking into the blue sky insteadof down the line at my squad, and I don’t know whothey are now. I told the Commandant himself beforethis change and after that this would be a problem,reaching nothing but a deaf ear. But hey, we lookgood in formation.What did you see in Vallejo during yourfirst time on campus?A week before school started: the clerk down thestreet was shot in the face, a hooker offered to take atopless picture with me for a dollar, and a lady hadher purse stolen in broad daylight downtown. Thistown is nothing but class.Do you see anything at KP that you wantat Cal Maritime?A badass Gangnam Style and your yachts.Is there anything you see at KP thatmakes you happy to be at Cal Maritime?Honestly, I love the fact that we aren’t in the militaryand the administration does a pretty good job ofnot pretending we are. We don’t march with rifles orspit shine our shoes because those skills don’t applyto being a merchant mariner—we put on our jankysteel-toed boots and go to work. There is a real‘back to basics’ attitude here about the professionalconduct at sea and letting the little stuff go by thewayside. I can’t say I remember ironing my uniformlately and, aside from that, I’ve made the Dean’s listfor most of my time here and that gets recognized.I emerged from the conversation a little wiserand a little jealous, but today I still sit here andnot in my home state. As of this writing, the SeniorClass has 124 days until graduation, and the sacrificesI have experienced here served two purposes: tobuild tighter bonds among mids, and to justify ourexpense to the taxpayer. Many of the hoops we jumpthrough do not make a better sailor (merchant orNavy), but they serve to symbolize that we are hereby dedication to the education. Alas, my good friendwill have had a good time, but someone has to paythe 80-100k his education demands. Personally, Ichoose the difficulties inherent in Kings Point asopposed to debt or burden on parents. To some, thegrass may be greener on the other side, but betterfriends are made in the sand lot.

SEA STORIES SEA STORIES SEA STORIES SEA STORIES SEA STORIES SEA STORIES SEA STORIES SEA STORIES SEA STORIES SEA STORIES SEA STORIESPage 6 Since 1943 USMMASEA STORY COMPETITIONWhose Bag is This?Storyteller: Andrew Mueller, 2015It seemed just like any other night working cargo in the ever-beautiful Djibouti,Djibouti Africa. The same ole smell of decaying garbage mixed with thestench of longshoremen passing by (while chewing on drugs, begging for cigarettes,and trying to swipe your gloves from your boiler suit back pocket) really is somethingto be desired for. But then, I smelled something different; something interesting,something every Kings Pointer and sailor alike can smell coming up the gangwayfrom a nautical mile away….the smell of our friend, alcohol. And low and behold,the winner of drunkest man coming aboard goes to none other than the boatswain;a red faced, massive 250 pound man with sweat made of whiskey pouring offhim. However, just before he entered the house to go to bed, he spotted somethingin his favorite SIU lawn chair; a longshoreman backpack. Snatching up the bagfrom the white plastic chair he held it above his head and yelled, “WHOSE BAG ISTHIS?!” A small Djiboutian man raised his hand and started to walk over to receivehis prized possession, most likely everything thing he owned was in that bag. Butjust before reaching it, the boatswain slammed the bag on the ground and ripped it topieces using the heel of his boots and the deck of the ship. The longshoremen allstopped lashing and stared as if it was the most heinous crime they had everseen. The mate on watch and I ran to the boatswain to stop his rampage and try toamend the bag, but it was too late. I turned around to see the owner running towardsus with a furry/madness in his eyes I have never seen before. At that moment, Iknew I was in the heart of darkness and the savages were on the offensive. Thesmall-framed enraged Djibouti man while in stride grabbed a lashing rod from thedeck and held it like a spear ready to stab and kill. I was knocked to the side as histarget was the boatswain, but while still on my feet I reached out and grabbed the aftend of his weapon by the ring at the end. Simultaneously, the second mate caughtthe front end of the lashing rod and we were both jerked forward stopping the advance,right before the lashing rod would have come crashing into the boatswain’ssternum. The Djibouti man whipped around and stared me down making eye contactand stated in broken English “I will kill him, and you too if you don’t let go.”The second mate and I held fast and the Djibouti man let go of his spear and startedto walk away as if he was calm now. Like a Jedi, he reached to his left and now hada spanner wrench for a club and made a second charge for the boatswain to finishwhat he started. Again, the second mate and I grabbed the man holding him backfrom killing the drunken boatswain who now magically had his own spanner wrenchin hand and looking for a fight. Chaos ensued as the other longshoremen wanted tojoin in and overwhelm us, but their boss was keeping them back from enteringbrawl. The Navy seals on-board showed up, and just like that it was over. Thelongshoremen were given water as well as cigarettes, and I cleaned up the bag andreturned it to its owner. After cheating death once again in the Middle East, all I cansay is…you just got to keep calm and chive on. –Kappa Pi SigmaA Rather Sharp KnifeStoryteller: Samuel Dengel, 2014I was sailing on the Liberty Spirit, which was a really old and run-down ship.I had been on for just over four months at this point, with about another month and ahalf to go. We were rounding South Africa when we finally ran out of food. LibertyMaritime is not known for being the most generous of shipping companies, but thiswas ridiculous. Breakfast was cancelled, and lunch and dinner were salami sandwiches(limited to one per person) using bread that the steward baked the night before,since we were now also out of bread. Anyway, we were happy to get to ournext port, which was Port Kamsar, Guinea, in West Africa, and were pretty excitedto eat again. We pulled into port and started loading Bauxite, an Aluminum ore, andlater started to take stores! We got some produce and other food, but we were headingback to Texas after this point, so I guess the rationale in the office was that sincethere was also food in Texas, we could get more there. Whatever, we were just happyto have food again. However, in an effort to show how much they cared, LibertyMaritime sent some good African meat to the ship. A real generous offer, and thisprobably would not be quite the story that it is if the meat did not come walking upthe gangway in the form of a goat. Yes, a live goat was brought onto the ship andwas tied off on the fantail. The crew was quite confused as to what to do with it,until the next day when the captain told the second assistant engineer to go and killthe thing. The second, Marc, was a Filipino, and was the only one who really hadany experience killing a goat. Marc thought about this for a minute, and then decidedthat he had enough experience in this field, and that the cadet should learn the artof goat-killing. I looked around, and slowly realized that I was the only cadet onboard. Now, I have never actually seen a live goat in person up until this point.Damn. Marc handed me a rather advanced goat slaying device, which looked remarkablylike a ball-peen hammer, and told me to go and give it a good rap in thehead. I was hungry, so I guess instincts took over, and I walked over to the goat todo the deed. The goat looked at me, gave one final bleat, which I am sure was acurse on me and all of my descendants, and then got its head properly introduced tothe hard end of that hammer. It instantly dropped to the deck, motionless. I turnedaround to leave the scene of the crime, but instead I got thrown a rope, with which Iwas instructed to flip the goat over, tie its hooves together, and use the chainfallwhich was rigged overhead to string it up. After some fumbling, I finally got everythingarranged. I thought that this would make cutting it up easier or something forthe cook, I didn't really care, but I was wrong. This was purely to facilitate bleedingit out, for which I was again delegated to carry out the task. I was handed a ratherlarge and sharp knife, walked over to the goat, and slit its throat. I'm not sure if itwas dead before this point, but it sure as hell was after. Blood instantly spurted allover my boiler suit, and cascaded down onto my shoes. I dropped the knife, flippedoff the crew, all of whom were watching this spectacle now, and walked off, leavingbloody footprints in my wake. We feasted like kings, and according to Marc I becamea man on that day. I knew someone would say that to me someday, I just neverChristmas in DjiboutiStoryteller: Tyler Driscoll, 2013It was Christmas in Djibouti, although it certainly didn’t feel like it in thesweltering heat. I looked at my watch. It read 1645. I knew we had to leave CampLemonnier soon or else we’d miss Christmas Dinner on the ship. “Hey guys, we’vegot to go soon,” I told my four sea partners. We were hanging out in the activitycenter on the base, and it was apparent that they had no desire to leave. But we hadplanned the entire day around getting back to enjoy the ship’s legendary Christmasfeast, and I being the schedule-oriented member of the group, felt obligated to coaxthem along. Indeed, the walk from the center of the camp to the taxi depot seemedpainfully slow, but when I looked at my watch again it read 1700. It appeared thatwe would get back just in time for the 1730 dinner. And then came the usual argumentwith the Djiboutian taxi drivers… For all those who have dealt with taxi driversin foreign ports, you know what I am talking about. Ten minutes later, we wereon the road, neither the driver nor the passengers feeling very happy with the farethat was negotiated. I was in the first car with the two other deck cadets. The twoengine cadets had gotten in a second cab, but we seemed to have lost them.We pulled up to the entrance of the port, and after a little more haggling withthe taxi driver, got out of the car. And then we waited... By now it was 1730. Dinnerjust started, I thought to myself. Where could the engines cadets have gone? Hopefullythe taxi driver didn’t kidnap them. When they rolled up ten minutes later I didn’tknow whether to be relieved or annoyed. “What took you guys so long?” I asked.Apparently the car quit along the route and the engine cadets had to fix it. “At leastit was the engineers who got stuck with the broken car,” someone commented. Butthere was no time to joke around about Djiboutian taxi drivers. We had to get backto the ship! There was still another mile to go through the port, and the shuttle wasnowhere to be seen. We started running but in the back of our minds we could nothelp thinking that we weren’t going to make it. Suddenly, as if by fate, the shuttleappeared out of nowhere, and we were at the ship within a couple minutes. Weflashed our military I.D.s at the military guards, scurried up the gangway, and wentdirectly below to the galley. It was 1755. We had made it! Or so we thought. Uponturning the corner to the mess hall we found that the area was completely deserted.We picked up the menu, which clearly read “Dinner: 1730-1800.” That was whenthe chief steward happened to walk in and inform us that the meal time had beenbumped up to 1700-1730 since we were in port. So after all the rush and aggravationto get back to the ship, we ended up eating cereal for Christmas dinner. Oh well...ADDITIONAL sea stories will be featured in our next issue.In the meantime, Visit the Hear This Facebook page for more Sea Stories!

KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFE KP LIFEPage 7 Since 1943 USMMANarwhals?By Plebe Woodrow Buck, Staff WriterTo Bring or Not to Bring?By MIDN Tyler Driscoll, Staff WriterThe number one goal in my life is to marry Emma Watson, followed shortlythereafter by going to the moon, and seeing a Narwhal! I first learned about Narwhalswhen I was in a book store in New Orleans - the owner showed me a magicalbook about Narwhals! This same guy also believed that the Nazis had a secret baseat the bottom of Lake Pontchartrain, but at least he wasn’t completely crazy!A Narwhal is an Artic Cetacean - they are closely related to the Belugawhale and live mostly in Canada and Greenland’s arctic waters. Its scientific nameis Monodon Monoceros, which in ancient Greek means “One toothed Unicorn.”Although they are commonly known as “the Jedi of the sea,” they are also knownas moon whales and play a significant role in Eskimo legends. Narwhal is actuallyOld Norse for ‘Corpse Whale.’ The Narwhals’ bluish skin with white blotches remindedVikings of drowned sailors.Male Narwhals can weigh up to two tons! That’s almost the size of Rosie O’Donnell! They grow up to 16 feet long; not including their ‘tusks’ which can belonger than ten feet! Female Narwhals weigh around 1 ton and reach up to 13 feet.They rarely grow tusks but if they do, they are much shorter. Unlike similar seacreatures, Narwhals do not have a dorsal fin! This is probably because it wouldinterfere when they are surfacing under ice sheets.The most distinguishing feature of a Narwhal is, of course, it’s ‘horn.’ ANarwhal’s horn is actually a long helical tooth which extends out of its upper lip.This tooth is hollow and has up to 10,000,000 nerve endings! Its exact functionisn’t known, but supposedly, Narwhals use it for sensing objects at long range. Unfortunately,if a Narwhal’s horn breaks, it doesn’t grow back.Narwhals travel in pods - often in groups of 15 to 20. However, some claimto have seen hundreds or thousands of Narwhals together at a time. Mating season?They are very social, and males often fight each other for dominance by rubbingtheir horns together… that’s not a joke. They live for up to 50 years, but there is noreliable way to tell one’s age. Their main diet is squid and small fish - which theysuck in through their mouths and chew on. Like most whales, they have a blow hole- they use this and their blubbery skin to dive up to 1,500 meters for feeding!Speaking of Narwhals’ blubbery skin, Eskimos used to hunt Narwhals becausetheir skin is chocked full of Vitamin C! They were a staple of the Eskimosdiet for hundreds of years. On the other side of the Atlantic, Narwhals were evenmore sought after! Due to their horns, Narwhals were believed to be closely relatedto unicorns. Vikings used to sell their horns for very large sums. It was believedthat a cup made out a Narwhal’s horn would make any poison put into them useless.Queen Elizabeth was given a Narwhal-horn cup, which at that time cost thesame amount as a castle!“Narwhals- Narwhals- swimming in the ocean, causing a commotion, ‘cause theyare so awesome”. You are now all educate. Very Nice!It is the question all first-time deck cadets ask: Do I really have to bringthis sextant? You may hear different opinions from various people, but from myexperience the answer is a definite yes! Allow me to explain.During the first sea year, I was assigned to a Ro-Ro on a run across thePacific. I heard a great deal of advice about the sextant. Some told me that allships must carry a sextant so there is no need to bring one. After all, it is a hassleto travel with, especially since you must ensure it does not get broken in thecarry-on luggage. Others argued that it would be a gamble to leave the sextantbehind because some navigators are very protective of the sextant and do notallow the cadets to use it. In the end, I decided to put the sextant in my blackissued backpack (a perfect, albeit tight fit) and bring it on my flight to SouthKorea to meet the ship. It turned out to be a good decision. After a few days atsea, I found that the ship carried a sextant and the mates would let me use it, butit contained an appreciable amount of error. My new school-issued sextant hadonly a little index error and was much more comfortable to use.With what I learned from first sailing, I determined to bring my sextanton the second sea year as well. Again, I was glad that I did. There were threesextants on the bridge of the MSC oiler, but only one was truly accurate. In addition,the Captain decided to shut off all the electronic equipment on the bridgeand have the mates do a celestial navigation competition as we crossed the Atlanticfor the Mediterranean. Thus when it came time for twilight or solar noon,there were two third mates and three deck cadets on the bridge all vying to getthe most accurate LOPs. If I had not brought my sextant, I would not have beenable to work on my celestial project during that part of the voyage and wouldhave missed out on all the fun!The sextant also provided for some interesting conversations with airportsecurity. In Tacoma, Washington the airport security guard pulled me to the sideand swept the inside of the sextant case with some kind of tissue sheets that testfor chemicals. When he opened the box he naturally asked “what does this do”?In my attempt to explain the operation of a sextant, I made some hand gesturesand said “ya’ know, it is for shooting stars…” As soon as the word “shooting”came out of my mouth I realized that I had probably not used the best maritimeslang to describe the use of a sextant and immediately cleared up what I meant.In another instance, when returning from Dubai, I watched a securityguard’s face twist into a confused expression as my sextant passed through the x-ray. “What is that,” she asked quizzically. I said matter-of-factly, “it’s a sextant.”She looked rather taken aback at my reply, and asked even more skeptically,“What did you say”? Once again I said, “it’s a sextant, it’s used for navigation”(I was accustomed to explaining the sextant by now). “Ohhh,” she saidwith a little chuckle, “I thought you said a sex toy.” Obviously not many peopleuse sextants anymore.KP Olympic LiftingBy Plebe Tyler FuglebergLifting heavy objects has been a sport ofcompetition for thousands of years. From rocks, toweights, to mythology, men and women have alwayswanted to hold the title of the strongest of them all.But anyone who lifts knows that it is not just thatsimple. It takes dedication, determination, and thewill to win to be successful at lifting. Fast forward to2013 and the modern day equivalent of lifting is inthe form of Olympic Weightlifting. This sport is notjust a show of brute strength but also a show of agility,dexterity, speed, and technique.Olympic Weightlifting is broken down into two lifts, The Snatch and theClean & Jerk. Anyone who has seen Cross Fit games will understand exactlywhat these lifts are. If you still don’t know what these lifts are, then take a secondto watch some of the all-time great Olympic Weightlifters on YouTube. If youwould like to train your body and your mind into lifting ludicrous amounts ofweights, then this newest club on the block is for you.Kings Point Olympic Weightlifting, or KP Lift for short, is the newestclub sport on campus which can take you to new levels of strength. We competein local NY meets, regional, and national meets against other Weightlifting Clubs.Olympic Weightlifting is a year-round sport and can be picked up at any time.You will never be too late to try it out. Olympic Weightlifting is open to men andwomen across the board and individuals compete in weight classes so there cannever be any unfair advantage. The club is coached by Wilfredo De Jesus andtrains 3 days a week in the Prosser Boathouse.On the 24 th of February KP Lift is having our inaugural open hereat Kings Point in O’Hara Hall at noon. If you are on the border, then this is agreat time to spectate and see what it’s all about!Along We Marched, Continued from Page 3… the need for the Academy to“produce grads capable [of] restoring the US maritime industry to its proper placein the maritime world but within the context of an international, globally orientedperspective.” He goes on to connect the survival (and I would suggest – the significance)of KP to the existence of a “viable, robust US maritime industry”. In otherwords, Kings Pointers should be equipped with the ability to not only functionwithin a diverse global industry, but also effect a change in that industry that willlead to a competitive American shipping industry. Some on campus would arguethat this is the kind of education we’re striving for on campus now, and this is whatis outlined in the 2012-2017 Strategic Plan. I would suggest, however, that the focusand language of our planning, to date, has been centered on updating the programsfor the institution, as opposed to planning centered on the midshipmen. Languagein any planning effort that is centered on programs is doomed to be outdatedAsk Momma Duck, Ask the CaptainDear Mama Duck and Captain Obvious,There’s this girl here that I really like but she’s B-split and I’m A-split. Ireally want to ask her out, but I don’t want to hurt her when we have to separate.What should I do?Sincerely,LovestruckMomma Duck: That’s tricky… I would say that you should listen to yourfeelings, but be careful about how you proceed. It’s okay to get involved, but makesure both of you are willing to make a long-distance relationship work. Even ifnothing happens, who knows? Maybe during your first class year, something mayspark after two years.Capt Obvious: Hey man, if it feels right, then go get her! Plus you have noidea what kind of goldmine you are sitting on! I mean, when she leaves, that’swhen you get an A-splitter and you get the best of both worlds! And before senioryear happens, you break up with whoever is the bigger bitch. THAT, my friend, iswinning. (Mama Duck: Please disregard him. He is a very bad influence.)Dear Mama Duck and Captain Obvious,I’m really conflicting with one of my teachers. He has a doctorate and everything,but he can’t teach to save his life and treats us all poorly. I’m not surewhat I should do about him.Sincerely,FrustratedCapt Obvious: Report that SOB and fire his ass. NEXT!!!Momma Duck: Easy, Captain. Slow down a bit! If you haven’t alreadytried speaking with him about this issue, I would suggest doing so. However, ifyou have, and he hasn’t done anything to remediate this, I fully agree with theCaptain.within a few years or to be defined so generally (such as “Cutting-Edge Programs”),so as to be almost irrelevant.What our well-spoken Deputy Commandant, CAPT DeStafney, used to tellus, I think, rings true that unlike the other federal academies or maritime academies,which have better funding, facilities, or programs, the greatest strength of KingsPoint, is the midshipmen. It is the midshipmen that are the Academy’s distinguishingfactor, and it will be the graduates who will determine if Kings Point andthe maritime industry will forever be doomed to suffer the same obscurity we did in2013’s Inaugural Parade, behind Coast Guard and on the wrong side of CNN’s cut.I would say that considering the visible efforts of the entire KP community and withadditional help from the student body, we have good reason to believe this is ultimatelypossible, but until the school is willing to commit to planning around itsmidshipmen, don’t get your hopes up.

KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDEPage 8 Since 1943 USMMAThe Meaning of ZomboBy Professor J. Taffet, Department of HumanitiesAs the current instructor of a class on LatinAmerican history, I was pleased to see that the editorsof “HEAR THIS” reprinted Jack Haeflich’s (class of’56) letter about the origins of the word Zombo atKings Point. I would like to comment briefly on hisreminisces to clarify the historical meanings of theterms he mentions, and to suggest why he and hisfriends likely found the term Zombo so appealing. Iwould also like to suggest a few thoughts about thenature of shared language in the creation of communityto explain why terms like Zombo are important toan institution such as ours.Mazombos were persons of European ancestryborn in the Portuguese Colonies, most importantly inBrazil. That is, if a man and woman were born in Portugal,but they emigrated to Brazil, their children bornin the Americas would be Mozombos. The Portugueseancestry, however, could also be many generationsaway as long as a Mozombos’ direct ancestorshad no African or Native Indian blood.Haeflich identifies Mazombos as the lowestrung of a social hierarchy. This is incorrect.Mazombos, by virtue of their families’ long tenure inBrazil, had a great deal of power during the colonialperiod (Sixteenth through Eighteenth Centuries).They owned most of the land, ran the majority of thebusinesses, and controlled the lucrative sugar andcoffee trades. They certainly had more social prestigethan Africans, Indians, or persons of mixed European,African and/or Indian heritage. Haeflich mentions thattheir instructor, Lt. D’Esopo, taught them about sixclasses within Brazilian society. Few scholars actuallyuse this hierarchy anymore, but Mazombos wouldhave been at the second, not the last rank.The highest rank on the hierarchy were Reinois,persons born in Portugal that went to the Americas.Haeflich uses the term Castilians to refer to thesepersons. He is remembering his study of the SpanishEmpire in the Americas. In the Spanish Empire,Mazombos were called Creoles, and the Reinois werecalled Castilians or, more generally, Peninsulares.Within the French American Empire, and afterwards,persons of European ancestry also used the term Creoleto identify themselves. This term is still in use inparts of Louisiana to denote groups with French ancestry.In the Portuguese Empire, althoughMazombos had great privilege by virtue of their Europeanheritage and wealth, the Kings and Queens refusedto give them official positions of leadership.The Portuguese royal family worried that Mazomboswould not be loyal to Portugal, but to Brazil. Thus,the leaders of the Portuguese empire only appointedthe Reinois to manage the empire. These persons,generally with political connections to the royal family,could be trusted to look out for the throne and tokeep the Mazombos from moving towards greaterpolitical or economic autonomy.Ours is not the Academy of Congressmen’s sons, ours is not the school of BicentennialHeritage, and our Academy’s identity has little to do with Graduate success.The lessons learned here carry beyond the classroom. We as first classmendo not stand behind its Name in ignorance, nor hope we are carried forth by unearnedprestige.Thus,We have no need to protect the Name of this humble institution—for it hastaught us skills that need no Name to carry them.There is little support for this institution save for those who have entered itsgates as pupils, and those who have seen their competence firsthand. Being theinstitution we are, however, we depend dearly on those few who support us withoutknowledge of who we are. If they knew what happened here; if theyscratched the surface and heard the whispers in the hall, they would be horrified.Racism, blatant sexism, and harmful ignorance abound in ways that would sinkan established institution—and this is only tapping the transgressions upon thefirst class alone. Generals, appointed by the service in which they first commissioned,have been relieved for less.This suggests, hopefully, why Haeflich andhis friends found the term Mazombo so appealing.Mazombos had great privilege, like first classmen doat Kings Point, but were kept from positions of authority.My sense is that today’s Zombos, like thosein Haeflich’s day, think that part of the reason theydid not get leadership positions is because they couldnot be fully trusted. This is parallel to the situation ofMazombos within the Portuguese empire.Interestingly, though occasionally tensionsexisted between Mazombos and Reinois, usually theygot along well together. They married into each other’sfamilies to consolidate Mazombo economic powerwith Reinol political power. All hoped that theycould keep the Portuguese crown from being too involvedin Brazilian affairs. Mazombos knew that themore involved the crown became in running thingsthe more taxes they would have to pay. They alsoliked the freedom that came with having the crown sofar away. Reinois hoped to keep the crown out ofcolonial affairs too. They figured that more royaloversight would limit their own power and make itmore difficult to become wealthy by ingratiatingthemselves into the Mazombo community.The Mazombos did, however, resent the royalauthorities that appointed the Reinois over them.Again, there may be a Kings Point analogy. In myexperience, though some frictions may exist betweenthose students with officer positions and those without,normally they get along well. If there is tension,it is in how Zombos relate to the larger authority.In the Portuguese Empire, the term Mazombohad a technical meaning based on one’s place of birth,but suggested a larger set of historical relationships aswell. It defined one’s potential power, one’s positionin the empire, and where one’s loyalties could be assumedto rest. As Mazombos came to see themselvesas a class stuck between the less privileged groupsand the Reinois, they created a distinct hybrid culture,borrowing much from the Portuguese, but also adoptinga more independent sprit. Rather than a term denotingsecond-class citizenship, it became an expressionof pride in one’s place of birth.From my perspective, the term Zombo atKings Point is much the same. It means student in thefirst class without officer rank, but much more. Itsuggests a student is caught in a complex relationshipwith the rest of the student body (those without extensiveprivilege), with students who have regimentalpositions, and the larger holders of power. Especiallyin the second officer rotation, it is also essentiallyimmutable. Zombos do not become officers, and thushave a different perception about how to respond toinstitutional concerns. This complexity is why theterm has lasted and Midshipmen continue to find itappealing, even though it long ago lost its connectionto the historical circumstances of the Portuguese Empire.Within the culture of Kings Point, Zombos havea subculture with distinct understandings about theServiceBy A Concerned Midshipmanlarger culture. It is used as an expression of pride inone’s place within the overall hierarchy.As a member of the faculty, and having neverattended Kings Point as a student, I am confident thatI do not, and cannot, fully understand the complexityof Zombo culture, but I know it exists and I know it isidiosyncratic.Thinking about the term Zombo and its particularuses at Kings Point can help in developing agreater understanding about the power of language inthe construction of identity and culture. As a uniqueinstitution with many sets of hierarchies, languagehelps us place each other within those hierarchies andallows us to navigate within them more securely. Italso clarifies the potentially subversive quality oflanguage. Depending on one’s perspective, Zombocan be an insult, an affectionate way to refer to others,or a term of individual or group empowerment. Zombosare not supposed to be proud of their secondaryrole, but they often are. They use the term to flip anegative connotation into a positive one and to embracea secondary role by suggesting they are superiorto non-Zombos because of their lack of authority.Even more broadly, no matter what one’s relationshipto Zombos are, the use of the term, and thedozens more like it at Kings Point, serve to create acommunity and a shared history. Only a person with aconnection to the school would understand manywords we say on a daily basis. Our use of these wordsindicates that we are insiders and of the culture, and ithas the practical result of defining those who do notknow the meanings of the term as outsiders. DuringIndoc (itself one of these terms), part of the goal is toteach new students the language of Kings Point.Hopefully, by Plebe Acceptance Day (again anotherKings Point-ism), they have mastered the basics ofthat language and become part of the community.However, thinking about the term Zombo suggeststhat there are many distinct languages at KingsPoint and meanings to words based on one’s position.As a member of the faculty I am unaware, generallyblissfully, about the much of the language of the barracks.Students are unaware (and should be blissful)that they know little of the terminology that facultyuse behind closed doors.Perhaps one day the word Zombo will cease tobe a part of the language of Kings Point. Yet, the distinctivenessof the Kings Point vocabulary will remainas long as the institution exists. It binds us togetheras a community and helps us remember that weare only the most recent links in a chain begun manyyears ago. Verba, as much as Acta, makes KingsPointers.Personally, I would like to thank Jack Haeflichand his friends for their clever and insightfulunderstanding of social hierarchies in the PortugueseEmpire so many years ago. The moral of the story, tome, is that the study of foreign cultures helps us understandour own lives in a far more meaningful way.ibility of our fair Academy. The Logistics department is responsible for items asbasic as whether or not base housing has warm water. These positions have beenentrusted through necessity, not intent of extended training. Every Midshipmanis charged with convincing the naïve and ignorant to enter these walls and serveas the next Round.We have not the fundingWe have not the credibilityWe have not the resourcesThis institution has not the ability to forgo these services by its pupils.Should this institution prove resilient enough to not require outside support, itmay prove to require assistance from its pupils. Midshipman Company TrainingOfficers carry the responsibility of training the 4 th class to be upstanding membersof our seagoing society. The Honor Board is charged with carrying the cred-Picture from Newsday’s article “A Pledge to Take Better Care of Academy”

KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDE KP PRIDEPage 9 Since 1943 USMMAA Remedy for Weak Cell SignalsBy MIDN James Flowers, Staff WriterThe Midshipman PubBy MIDN Maxwell Rowland, 2013Along the grounds of the Academy and in other places across KingsPoint, acquiring a cell phone signal can be a frustrating task. Often times, theonly place where one can receive a proper signal strong enough to make a callor even send a quick text message is up on your nicely made, tight rack, oroutside in the freezing weather. Despite any hope for a long term solution,there is an inexpensive and easy remedy for this inconvenient hindrance.The area where you live in is divided up into, in telecommunicationlingo, cells. Each cell, typically sized around ten square miles, has its ownmobile phone base station. When your phone is turned on, it sends out signalscreated by the phone’s chip set. These signals are picked up by mobile phonebase stations located one per base station, which send all the information to amobile phone network computer which works out which is your nearest basestation. When you’re ready to make a call, you type the number into your mobilephone and this sends your number, and the number you want to contact, tothe nearest base station. The network computer checks to see which base stationthe person you are calling is near and sends a message to their cell phoneto tell them that you are trying to call. If that person chooses to take your call,the computer opens a channel between your phone and the other person’sphone. When you speak, your voice is converted into an analog electric signalby a microphone in your cell phone. This is then turned into a digital signalusing a device called an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The digital versionof your voice is then sent using microwaves to your nearest base station. Themicrowave signal is then converted back to a digital electrical signal and sentthrough the computer to your friend’s nearest base station. It is transmittedusing microwaves to your friend’s mobile phone. The digital signal is thenconverted back into an analog electrical signal, amplified, and changed backinto sound by the loud speaker in your friend’s cell phone. When your friendreplies, it all has to happen again in reverse.A cell phone is basically nothing more than a radio frequency transmitter.Each cell phone antenna sends a broadcast signal at a certain frequencywhich communicates with a cell phone tower that is listening and broadcastingat the same frequency. For instance, AT&T Wireless phones use the 850 mhzradio spectrum, while T-Mobile offers the 1900 mhz spectrum. Essentially, acell phone operates very similarly to a walkie-talkie via an antenna - by broadcastingthe frequency that is sent from the device’s processor.A walkie-talkie sends a “half duplex” signal which means it broadcastsand listens on one frequency only. This is the reason one cannot use a walkietalkieto talk and listen simultaneously. Cell phone antennas send "full duplex"signals, meaning that as the antenna is broadcasting the phone’s location totowers it is listening for incoming signals at the same time. This is how cellphones can be used to talk and listen at the same time.Cell phone towers communicate with each other on when to switch thephone’s signal to the closer tower when the phone moves away from one towercloser to another. A cell phone's proximity to a tower is a function of thesignal strength being broadcast by the phone's antenna. It is not actually thephone’s antenna that creates a radio frequency but is the phone's chip set. Thechip set matches the appropriate signal broadcast channel. The antenna purelyamplifies the chip set's frequency and then sends signals to the nearby celltowers. Therefore, in order to amplify, or strengthen your cell phone signal tocall your parents and tell them how much you love them, you need to simplylengthen your cell phone antenna.Here’s a morale booster – the Midshipman Pub! An introduction tothose who don’t know me: My name is Max Rowland, Pub Master for theClass of 2013! I love bringing happiness to the First Classmen in liquid form.The plan is to give an explanation of the events leading to the Grand Re-Opening of the Midshipman Pub as well as the logistics Student Council and Ideal with weekly to keep the Pub working smoothly.Let’s go back to the beginning of the academic year. The MidshipmanPub has been contracted through Melville Hall since the 1950’s. Before thisyear, the Pub Master was essentially a liaison between Melville Hall and theStudent Council, setting times for the pub operation and advertising. Since theloss of Melville Hall’s contract, the Pub was temporarily suspended while theStudent Council fought long and hard with the Commandant’s department tohave a 100% Midshipman-run Pub. After due diligence, M/N Spencer Fletcher,2013’s Class President, and Nick Cerny, 2013’s Class Vice President, successfullygot approval to operate the First Class Pub.I was asked to be the Pub Master one week before approval. Weworked many hours organizing Land Hall, cleaning equipment and the mostvisible improvement – the decorations of the Pub area! We have searchedhigh and low for bar signs, pictures and cool nautical stuff to hang on thewalls. In the future, we will have two new flat screen TV’s in the corners ofthe bar area – further enhancing the Midshipman Pub.Student Council and I have been in contact with the previous managerof Melville Hall. He has pointed us to a reliable and cheap beer supplier.Weekly, I inventory the beer in stock and place orders for more beer, based onthe consumption from previous weeks. I find what is popular and make surewe keep in stock. I also cash in empty bottles and cans for the deposit and themoney rolls back into the class account.A few weeks ago, the tap lines cleaned and sanitized. The MidshipmanPub is now set up for beer on tap! We have three different draft beers aswell as a few others in bottles on hand – for the more sophisticated palates.I would like to invite all First Class Midshipmen to come to pub nightsand support the Class Fund. All profits from the Pub are put into the classaccount and are used to fund events like 150 nights as well as pay for food andpopcorn at the Pub!I am currently looking for a beer motivated 2 nd Classmen who wouldbe willing to be the Pub Master Petty Officer. I’m looking someone whowants to learn the ropes of running a bar and wishes to be the Pub Master Nextyear. You will get face time with suppliers and learn the logistics of the operationso Class of 2014 can enjoy a well-operated Midshipman Pub. Pleasecontact me if you are interested, and we can schedule an interview.If you enjoy the First Class Pub, be sure and thank three of the fewpeople for making it happen:M/N Fletcher, 1/CM/N Cerny, 1/CM/N Schmidt, 1/C2013 Class Vice President2013 Class Vice PresidentAssistant to the Pub MasterAn extremely inexpensive and quick way to strengthen your cell phonesignal is to find, or purchase two things. You will need:15-20 feet of copper wireEmpty playing card boxNow simply follow these simple instructions and you are on your wayto setting up your very own cell phone signal strengthening station:1. Wrap the copper wire tightly around one end of the empty playing cardbox without bending the cardboard (10-20 turns).2. Without cutting the wire yet, stretch out an additional 3-5 feet (longenough to rest the box on your desk).3. Use the excess 3-5 feet of wire and tack it to your wall near your deskor up your bed post.4. Rest the box on your desk and slide your phone inside the box.The excess wire serves as your signal amplifier (antenna) based off ofthe chip set’s frequencies sent from your phone through the wire. The windingshelp pick up the frequency. Experiment with the number of windings andthe length of the antenna in order to maximize your cell phone signal strength.A simple lookCan send a jolt through my bodyGentle electricity tingling.When I see you smileI smile too becauseI’m glad to see you happy.My best friends tease meBecause I get excitedWhen I can be with you.Even if this doesn’t last foreverEven if we don’t go any furtherAnd life takes us on separate pathsI may be sad,But when you’re with meHere and now,I realize that I don’t need forever.Just you.My Kind of LovePoem By Plebe Alisha SakoDrawing By MIDN Jackie Hong, Staff ArtistHappy Valentine’s Day!

KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTSPage 10 Since 1943 USMMAKings Point Hockey: What it all MeansBy MIDN Tim Rice, Staff WriterIf any of you are like me, you have been hearing people (namely thehockey players and the RAD) talk about what a great season our hockey teamis having this year, but you may not understand exactly what that means.Since the hockey team is not a varsity sport, it receives no mention on theschool’s sports website, USMMASports.com. Therefore, I, along with someothers, had a lot of unanswered questions about how a good season is measured.Hopefully this article will answer some of those questions.The KP hockey team is one of the nine members of the MetropolitanCollegiate Hockey Conference. The other eight teams are County College ofMorris, Columbia, Fordham, Hofstra, SUNY Maritime, SUNY New Paltz, St.Thomas Aquinas, Stevens, and Suffolk County Community College. This conferenceis a part of Division 3 the American Collegiate Hockey Association,which includes 140 teams in 10 conferences plus independents. These teamsare divided into 4 regions: Atlantic, North, South, and Pacific. A total of 16teams qualify for the national tournament (the top 4 teams from each region).The top 2 teams from each region receive automatic bids in the national tournament,while the 3 rd through 10 th ranked teams play in the regional tournamentto decide the final 2 spots at nationals.So, in short, if the Mariners can maintain their standing in the top 4 ofthe MCHC standings, they will make the postseason for the first time sincejoining the ACHA in 2010. If they win the conference tournament, they willhave the chance to compete in the Atlantic region tournament for a spot in thenational playoffs.The hockey players would also like me to mention that their head coachBob Plansker and their two assistant coaches, Jason Leavy and Joe Bosnack,put in a ton of work purely as unpaid volunteers, and they do an incredible job.Visit KingsPointHockey.com for up to date information on Merchant MarineHockey.The ACHA utilizes a point system similar to that of the NHL: 2 pointsfor a win, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for a loss in overtime. The top 4 teams inthe MCHC at the end of the regular season receive spots in the conferencetournament, and the winner of that tournament moves on to the Atlantic regiontournament to compete for a bid to nationals. The Mariners are currently 9-2in conference play. (They are 10-3 overall including a win over D-2 club opponentCoast Guard and a loss to D-1 NCAA opponent West Point, but thesegames do not count toward the conference record). Their only 2 losses are atthe hands of SUNY Maritime and Fordham. They are currently tied for 2 nd inthe conference with Fordham and County College of Morris, all teams having18 points. SUNY Maritime is in first with 22 points.Roshenda JosephsAn Interview by MIDN Tim Rice5’6” Senior GuardGames: 21Minutes per game: 28.2FG %: 35.5Rebounds per game: 5.8Assists: 43Points this season: 222Points per game: 10.6Tamara KailehAn Interview by MIDN Tim Rice5’2” Senior GuardGames: 20Minutes per game: 26.0FG %: 37.9Rebounds per game: 5.0Assists: 35Points this season: 243Points per game: 12.2Which game do you think was your best this season and why?“Our first game against Berkeley College. We trailed by 12 points andfought back to win the game as a team.”The Mariners won 57-54. Roshenda scored 10 points in 22 minutesplayed.Which do you think was your worst and why?“Game at Catholic. We didn’t come out ready to play and it definitelyshowed.”The Mariners were defeated 67-30. Roshenda scored 11 points in 33minutes played.Which win has been the most fun so far and why?“Not exactly a win, but definitely the first half of the game vs. WestPoint. We went into the second half trailing 24-27. It felt good beingable to keep up with a D1 team.”The Mariners ended up falling to Army 77-40. Roshenda scored 5points in 26 minutes played.Which road trip did you have the most fun on and why?“West Point. The team was able to have the feeling of playing in a D1gym.”Who is your favorite player?“Dwayne Wade.”Who is your favorite team and why?“Don’t really have one, but if I had to pick it would be the Miami Heatonly because of D Wade.”What was the most memorable moment in your basketball careerso far?“By far my most memorable moment was being able to play basketballin front of my whole family for the last time at Goucher College.”The Mariners fell 60-55. Roshenda scored 23 points while playing anastounding 39 minutes.Which game do you think was your best this season and why?“Against New Jersey City, scored 24 points and shot 7-10 from thefield.”The Mariners dominated 64-45. Tamara played 32 minutes.Which do you think was your worst and why?“Game against Berkley College; underestimated them and didn’t play aswell as I should have.”The Mariners won 57-54. Tamara scored 5 points in 23 minutes played.Which win has been the most fun so far and why?“The most fun is going to be when we beat Coast Guard on Feb 11 th .”Which road trip did you have the most fun on and why?“When we went to play Army. We got a tour of the campus and learneda lot about West point; concluded that Kings Point is still a betteroption.”The Mariners fell 77-40. Tamara scored 11 points in 30 minutesplayed.Who is your favorite player?“Kobe Bryant….BEAST.”Who is your favorite team and why?“My favorite team is the New York Knicks. I’ve lived in New York allmy life so I have to support my NY teams!”What was the most memorable moment in your basketball careerso far?“No moment sticks out the most; I have had a great basketball careerhere at the Academy and have enjoyed every minute of it. I havethe best teammates anyone could ever ask for.”QuotePeople don't play sports because its fun. Ask any athlete, most of them hate it, but they couldn't imaginetheir life with out it. Its part of them, the love/hate relationship. Its what they live for. They live for thepractices, long bus rides, and countless pairs of shoes. They live for the way they become a family withtheir teammates and for the coaches they hate but appreciate. They live for the way it feels when they beatthe other team, and knowing those two extra sprints they ran in practice were worth it. They live for thecompetition, the friends, the memories, and the pain. Its who they are. -Unknown

KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTS KP SPORTSPage 11 Since 1943 USMMAThrough the Eyes of Reed BuckInterview By MIDN Tim Rice, Staff WriterWhich game do you think was your best this season?“The game against Embry-Riddle in Daytona, FL. Weplayed at a really high level, and I think I helped contributeto that.”The Mariners lost 81-65 to the nation’s 4th ranked team,despite leading at halftime. Reed played scored 31points going 9 for 21 from the field in 35 minutes played.Which do you think was your worst?“The home game against Catholic. Shooting-percentagewisethat was definitely my worst game.”The Mariners lost 54-42 to the nation’s 9th ranked team.Reed scored 10 points going 3 for 17 from the field in 33minutes played.Which opposing player do you have the most respectfor?“Ross Danzig for Scranton. He’s a cool guy, and he’s areally good player.”Danzig has played a total of 697 minutes for the Royalsand is shooting 44.5 percent on the season.Which win has been the most fun so far?“The win at Scranton. They were the number 9 team inthe nation at the time, and we beat them. It was huge.”The Mariners won 67-54 over the nation’s 9th rankedteam. Reed scored 22 points going 8 for 20 from thefield in 31 minutes played.How does it feel to be in the 1000 point club?“It’s a little bit of a relief, actually. I can relax and justplay. I feel honored.”Reed scored his thousandth point on a free throw duringhis 22-point performance in the 76-65 loss at Wesleyan.When you were approaching 1000 points, did itchange the way you played or the way you approacheda game?“I tried not to let it. I didn’t think it did, buy statistically,it does look like it.”Reed averaged just over 11 points in the three gamesbefore Wesleyan, when he reached the 100-pointmark.Who is your favorite player?“It’s a tie between my dad and Michael Jordan. Mydad played at Middle Tennessee State. He could touch2 to 3 inches above the square on the backboard. Hewas a freak of nature.”Who is your favorite team?“The Atlanta Hawks, even though they’re usually notvery good.”Which player do you think your style most closelyresembles?“Kyle Singler (who played for Duke and now plays forthe Detroit Pistons). The only difference between himand me is he’s 6 foot 8.”1,000 POINT CLUB!Stats6’8” Junior ForwardGames: 20Minutes per game: 31.1FG %: 40.6Rebounds per game: 4.4Assists: 49Points this season: 374Points per game: 18.7Career Points: 1003Recent ResultsMen’s BasketballUSMMA 61Goucher 522/6Moravian 83USMMA 692/9Juniata 57USMMA 702/13Drew 68USMMA 82Women’s Basketball2/2USMMA 55Goucher 602/4New Rochelle 51USMMA 802/7Medgar Evans 20USMMA 712/9Juniata 70USMMA 732/11USMMA 62USCGA 532/13USMMA 66Drew 58Sporting Notes!Upcoming HomeEventsMen’s Lacrosse2/23 1300FDU-Florham3/16 1300CatholicBaseball3/3 1300Widener3/4 1000Alvernia3/6 1000Anna Maria3/7 1300USCGA3/13 1600William PatersonWomen’s Lacrosse3/12 1700Mt. St. Vincent3/23 1300St. ElizabethQuoteI've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career.I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've beentrusted to take the game winning shot and missed.I've failed over and over and over again in my life.And that is why I succeed. -Michael JordanWrestling2/2Academy Champs5 th out of 8 teams2/6USMMA 26USCGA 152/9USMMA 13Johns Hopkins 202/9Muhlenberg 6USMMA 452/14Stevens 13USMMA 25Pictured: Senior Dan BaxterThe USMMA men’s track andfield team competed at the NYUFasttrack Challenge on Friday,February 18. The distance medleyrelay ran the fastest time in thehistory of the Landmark Conferencewith a time of 10:33.87!

Page 12 Since 1943 USMMARECOGNIZE 2016?I guess throwing snowballs at the RC isone way of doing it...Our Deputy Superintendent, Continued from Page 1… and turning it to a form of energy and thenconverting back to water, that was pretty fascinating to me. I’ll tell you what though, knowing bothsides of the fence is good. I think it makes you a better captain because with that broad understandingof how the ship works, you really are very knowledgeable.Now that we know you enjoyed your time onboard ships, what was your favorite post?I think my very favorite would be a toss-up between my navigator tour on the USS Boxer and my executiveofficer tour on the USS Rushmore. The navigator tour was great because I made the Boxer’smaiden journey, its maiden deployment to the Red Sea. The other great thing that happened on thatdeployment was that I was the first navigator to take a LHD through the Torres Strait which is justnorth of Australia. That was a challenge because there are some very strong currents in that part of theworld, and if you don’t go through at a high tide, then the depth is too shallow for an LHD. I think Ifound those challenges and that part of the world that we went to was really great. Then my tour onthe Rushmore; It was just a kick being the Executive Officer. You’re in charge of the daily operationof the ship. My captain was great. He let me have full reign, and I ran the ship. There’s nothing, nogreater feeling, except for being captain, that you have so much say over the daily routine and whatthe folks are doing. Here I am leading that group and training the ship to be a fighting machine. So itwas a very rewarding tour because we were very successful. We [the crew] really pulled together as ateam and you’ll find in your careers that that’s one of the most rewarding things.I understand you have had exposure to commercial sailing as well. What was that like?Yes; I had a pretty good exposure to the commercial side of things with the maritime prepositioningships. When I was stationed in Singapore, I led the Sealift and Logistics Command Far-East. I had themaritime prepositioning squadrons both in Diego Garcia and in Guam/Saipan. The third thing I did,before that tour was take six maritime prepositioning ships from Diego Garcia to Shuaiba, Kuwaitprior to the second Gulf War. All were commercial ships, and I actually rode them from Diego to Kuwaitand that gave me a really good feel. Being around those ships and those captains and riding thoseships and then when we got to Kuwait, I ship-hopped for three weeks before moving into a tent at thebase. But that would be where I learned that commercial ships are great feeders, much better thannavy ships. I learned the crew structure; the roles of the mates were a lot different from the navystructure. But I certainly would like to expand my experience with commercial shipping. I’d love toget out on the training ship. I actually volunteered to go out and be the training ship navigator, but wearen’t sure yet how we are going to crew the training ship so we’ll wait for that to work itself out.How did you become interested in working here, at the Merchant Marine Academy?The Merchant Marine Academy first came on my radar back in Singapore. I had a Kings Pointerworking for me and I’ll tell you what, he was the sharpest guy I had in the office. He was very proudof the school and just loved to talk about KP and his experiences, so he was the one who first broughtKP onto my radar. Now put it in fast forward. Here I am after 28 years going to retire, not reallyknowing what I wanted to do. I didn’t know if I wanted to put on a backpack and hike around Europe.Finally, I retired and moved back out to California. I’m on USA jobs and I see the deputy superintendentjob pop up. And so right away, I went ahead to the Merchant Marine Academy website and Iread Admiral Helis’ bio and I said, “You know what, I think I would be the perfect match with AdmiralHelis. He’s bringing his army background and knowledge to the job and I being a female, with mymaritime experience and background, I think we’d really complement each other.” Well I guessMARAD and the DOT must have thought the same thing because next thing I knew, I was goingthrough a series of interviews and here I am today.That’s great. Well, now that you are here, what is your first impression?My first impression: I love it. I love being back in an academic environment. It’s fantastic just beingable to look across the water at Throgs Neck Bridge and Manhattan on the other side. It’s great beingon the water. I saw a composite unit go by the other day. And you guys. One of my favorite aspectsabout the Navy was working with young sailors because they are so creative and so inventive aboutthe ways they come up with doing things. I never really had to worry when something was broken orsomething was happening. A sailor would come up with a way to fix it. I don’t know if you ever sawthe movie, Sand Pebbles, no, the one with Katharine Hepburn, where they use a piece of pantyhose asa belt to run a piece of machinery, but that’s what sailors do. I really liked how creative and ingeniousthey [sailors] were and coming here, you guys have that same energy.Are you looking at joining any of the schools clubs? Skiing, sailing?I did tell Admiral Helis that I would love to go out and sail, and I guess if I had any thoughts of anymidshipmen activities I’d like to join in particular, it would be sailing.The Commandant Shot Tupac!By Plebe Woodrow Buck, Staff WriterWhen I first heard that Facebook had been blocked, I didn’tbelieve it. I wanted to scream out, “No way! Who would block Facebook?You must be mistaken!” Unfortunately, I was wrong – Facebookhad been blocked. The next 12 hours were full of oddness I hadn’tseen since Y-2K. No kidding – the way people talked about it, youcould replace “blocked” with “shot” and “Facebook” with “Tupac” andit would’ve had the same connotation. Then again- imagine the Commandantshooting Tupac…now that’s stuck in my head.For 12 hours, Twitters were created, MySpace’s were checked,and some people mentioned Google Plus!!! (The horror!) Although itwould be a bit much to act as if blocking Facebook was the end of theworld, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that blocking Facebook severelycrippled communication Regiment-wide. Plebes don’t have cell phonesso the best way to pass along information within the Regiment is, withouta doubt, Facebook.There are some people who don’t read all of their emails inOutlook, but never fail to see every update on Facebook. As a BandCompany plebe in engineering section 4E6, I check one official andone unofficial 2016 page, two company pages, one section page, andone CDX club page, for a total of six Facebook pages. I also use theinstant messaging feature to relay short messages across campus to myroommate to grab something I forgot or to update my accountabilityboard or to section-mates for questions about homework assignments.To a non-Facebook-user, it might sound a bit ridiculous that I dependon social media to manage all of the various Regimental and academiccommitments I have within my class, company, and section – but it’strue! If Outlook were used to pass along all this information, I have nodoubt it would be too much to digest, just looking at one program, andsome of the important details would be lost in translation.Yeah, some would say we are too dependent on the internet forcommunications. I heard some people say that since Facebook wasgone, they had one less thing to distract them from their studies. I don’treally agree with them; usually you’re only distracted by something asmuch as you want to be.So, as important as Facebook is to the Regiment, it didn’t takemuch for the Commandant to just shut it down, which plays into theunsettling thought that has continued to occur throughout this schoolyear. The thought goes like this: The Commandant can do as little asflip a switch to send the whole Regiment over the edge. So is KP,Kings Point, or does it stand for Kennedy’s Prison? And this all startedbecause of a joke, geez…SIR II: Seriously Irrelevant Report?By the Hear This! StaffOnce again, we fill out those evaluations that are forced uponus at the end of every trimester and once again, we wonder why weeven bother. No matter what bubbles we fill in or what comments wewrite, none of it seems to matter. It seems as if these documents arepresented to the students as no more than an accreditation procedurethat gets stashed away in the dusty achieves of the “Puzzle Palace”without serious review. Really, is there an elusive room wholly dedicatedto storing these documents or are they just paper-fuel for the furnaceto heat the rooms of Wiley Hall during the cold winter months?These are the assumptions we’ve gathered from time spent atthe Academy, and we’re sure many midshipmen hold the same notions.You can then imagine how surprised we were when one of our professorsassured us that the surveys are taken seriously by the academicdepartments! In his words, “Department heads use the surveys to assessinstructor effectiveness, reward teaching excellence, inform administrativedecisions, and help analyze teaching strengths and possibilitiesfor improvement.”Okay, so just consider for a moment the possibility that thesesurveys are being taken seriously. What does that say about the hurriedway in which we scribble bubbles so we can get out of class as quicklyas possible?!! Our teachers not only instruct us but play a large role inproviding our “world-class foundation in the maritime industry.” Consideringthe importance of teachers to the institution, how is our current“assessment by frantic-bubble-filling-to-beat-the-clock” method in anyway valid for making decisions about faculty? I mean, doesn’t it matterthat the ones who perform the most critical, eligible, and necessaryevaluations simply do not care?We midshipmen are in constant contact with these professors,whether it be in the academic setting or extracurricular activities. Fromthese experiences, and after spending most of our lives in the educationalsystem, we should be able to differentiate a good teacher from a badone, and we may have a duty to shed light on a poor teacher (or helppromote a good one). Rather than filling out surveys, maybe it wouldbe helpful to grab a few midshipmen from every section for a focusgroupon non-tenured Professors at the end of an academic term. Orperhaps the flawed, rushed, and lightly-taken method in whichstudents fill in the SIRs would be improved if the actual importanceof these documents was explained. After all, it seems that ifwe are demanded to provide feedback about our professors, weshould be assured that our time and effort is being well spent andthat concrete action is being taken as a result. Indeed, it seemsthe administration to choose a side: take us seriously ordiscount us. Either way, make a decision that renewsthe stance toward the SIR II and erases the commonstudent notion that they are a complete waste of time.