Ex- Army colonel to lead Merchant Marine Academy

[Steamer]

Agreed. KP needs to be reformed and improved. So do the state academies.

The best (in my opinion) change to KP would be to close it and sell the property. It serves no useful or justifiable purpose to the American taxpayer. There is simply no justification for its continued existence.

At least state academies are subject to public scrutiny and their budgets and costs are known to the taxpayers who have the power of the purse. They are essentially "local" entities that are in full view of the state residents and taxpayers. KP is hidden from most Americans, it is funded through mysterious routes by people and agencies that most Americans don't even know exist.

Ask anyone at random on the street if they know what MARAD is and what it spends for what? Ask them if they know what KP is, who runs it, who pays for it, and what its product is. It may as well be an academy for horse cavalry, it has about the same relevance in today's maritime world.

[Sweat-n-Grease]

Ask anyone at random on the street if they know what MARAD is and what it spends for what? Ask them if they know what KP is, who runs it, who pays for it, and what its product is.

Ask anyone at random on the street who was the first President of the United States.

It may as well be an academy for horse cavalry,

Oh my goodness, that is funny, true but funny. Say, the USA has two horse cavalry institutions, one in Charleston, another in Lexington, both run by their respective States.

it has about the same relevance in today's maritime world.

I agree.
The primary mission of all organizations is to perpetuate themselves.
Kings Point has to change or shut down. There is way too much dead weight at KP, folks pushing back at any reforms.
Then there is the USMMAAA - talk about dead weight!

[KPEngineer]

No, that was actually the premise on which KP fails, the money is not spent reasonably well or even close to reasonably well. The school continues to fail in delivering the product it is funded to provide and it serves nothing other than its own existence.

Every graduate has the credentials required to enter the maritime industry as licensed officers. How is that a failure? What exactly do you think the school is supposed to provide?

You might not like how it does it, you might think it costs too much and you might even think the whole thing is pointless. You certainly are entitled to your opinion, but you can't objectively say that it fails in its basic purpose.

[Steamer]

Every graduate has the credentials required to enter the maritime industry as licensed officers. How is that a failure? What exactly do you think the school is supposed to provide?

You might not like how it does it, you might think it costs too much and you might even think the whole thing is pointless. You certainly are entitled to your opinion, but you can't objectively say that it fails in its basic purpose.

You make a good point that each graduate has the credential required but I take the position that since only around a third of the graduates ever go to sea and the remainder either go play soldier or some other job that could as easily be filled with a graduate of any military academy or university, the fundamental reason for KP's existence is no longer valid.

KP's most important product today is growing its alumni population.

Remove the emotional aspect of keeping the place open and there just isn't any rational reason to tap the public for the millions KP absorbs. I look at KP the way the government looked at the Naval Aircraft Factory at the end of WW2 ... it was a pointless and expensive duplication of effort that was better served by private industry, industry that paid taxes rather than vacuumed cash from the public purse.

[KPEngineer]

You make a good point that each graduate has the credential required but I take the position that since only around a third of the graduates ever go to sea and the remainder either go play soldier or some other job that could as easily be filled with a graduate of any military academy or university, the fundamental reason for KP's existence is no longer valid.

You can't really lay that on the school though, those are personal choices of the new graduates. I put the blame for that on MARAD though not the school for letting them go active duty to fulfill their obligation. I am not happy with the growing military focus of KP either. Its nothing new, I sensed a change when Matteson took over as supe in the mid-90s.

KP doesn't set the rules within which it operates, MARAD does. If MARAD was actually serious about ADministering MARitime policy and made everyone actually sail for five years instead of just working in the "maritime industry" or going active duty then the school might actually be forced to get serious about the direction it is going and actually keep up with the industry.

Sure, I admit I have an emotional connection to the place. That is why I say fix it instead of closing it. Can't say I'll always feel that way but thats how it is right now.

[c.captain]

Remove the emotional aspect of keeping the place open and there just isn't any rational reason to tap the public for the millions KP absorbs. I look at KP the way the government looked at the Naval Aircraft Factory at the end of WW2 ... it was a pointless and expensive duplication of effort that was better served by private industry, industry that paid taxes rather than vacuumed cash from the public purse.

Before you had just mentioned it, I had only heard of a brief reference to the Naval Aircraft Factory but in doing research just now I learned more about it especially during WWII and see well your using it an analogy for KP. The cost to build a seaplane there vs. at a commercial factory must have been a whole order of magnitude higher and probably much slower as well. The simple economics of the place killed it (as did almost all the Naval shipyards) but I am sure it did not have a huge chorus of vocal supporters screaming to Congress to keep it open and in fact had quite the opposite. Other than the few of us who know about KP and don't believe in its value there is no vocal opposition out there. The only hope for change is in those in Congress who wield the budget axe and see a big fat tree to whack down for its timber. The SBX is being mothballed so somebody in Washington can see useless projects and institutions when they see them so maybe KP will fall under the same scrutiny? Maybe it already is? Sacred cows do get slaughtered from time to time even in the looneyland that is our Nation's capital.

[leadline]

Some interesting information
the Assistant Superintendent Level positions have been eliminated, including:
The Chief of Staff and. the Assistant Superintendent for Facilities
And Additionally, a 2^nd Deputy Commandant will be hired.

[leadline]

Leadership changes at Kings Point

The following positions have been eliminated, including:
The Chief of Staff
The Assistant Superintendent for Facilities
The Assistant Superintendent for Strategy & Policy

Regimental Chain
Additionally, a 2^nd Deputy Commandant will be hired for this department.

[leadline]

Just FYI

Dr. Helis will be commissioned RADM Helis, USMS during this ceremony. The event will take place on Monday, July 30, 2012 at 1615 and will be held on the Sound side patio of Wiley Hall.

[leadline]

Col Helis USA (ret) is going to be sworn in as the 12th Superintendent on 30 July 2012 at Wiley Hall at 1615.

[Sweat-n-Grease]

Col Helis USA (ret) is going to be sworn in as the 12th Superintendent on 30 July 2012 at Wiley Hall at 1615.

Well now, we shall see what an Army man can bring to the table. Doubtful a West Point grad will eliminate the regimental system, so the cadets who take delight in such nonsense are in luck - but'cha never can tell, changes are needed, what and when are the questions. For me I took note, KP class of 1962 graduated on 30 July. WOW - was that really 50 years ago? Yepper, t'was indeed.

[Sweat-n-Grease]

Well now, we shall see what an Army man can bring to the table. Doubtful a West Point grad will eliminate the regimental system, so the cadets who take delight in such nonsense are in luck - but'cha never can tell, changes are needed, what and when are the questions. For me I took note, KP class of 1962 graduated on 30 July. WOW - was that really 50 years ago? Yepper, t'was indeed.

What it is today is certainly not a US Merchant Marine Academy. OK - phuck it - make the shoe fit !

[leadline]

Video of the installation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxHuW...e_gdata_player

[leadline]

On Monday, July 30, 2012, Rear Admiral James A. Helis, USMS, was installed as the 12th Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. His wife Jan and his two sons, Corbin, a 2011 West Point graduate, and Ian, a plebe candidate from the Kings Point Class of 2016, were by his side.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood led the commissioning ceremony. Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda gave the opening remarks. Other distinguished guests, Academy faculty and staff, the Regiment of Midshipmen, alumni, family, and friends also attended

[c.captain]

On Monday, July 30, 2012, Rear Admiral James A. Helis, USMS, was installed as the 12th Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. His wife Jan and his two sons, Corbin, a 2011 West Point graduate, and Ian, a plebe candidate from the Kings Point Class of 2016, were by his side.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood led the commissioning ceremony. Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda gave the opening remarks. Other distinguished guests, Academy faculty and staff, the Regiment of Midshipmen, alumni, family, and friends also attended

and there was much rejoicing....including flourishes and huzzahs by the KP Marching Band Fanfare Trumpet Squadron led by the inimitable Captain Kenneth R. Force, USMS



...hurray


.

[leadline]

The whole thing is disgraceful.

[c.captain]

The whole thing is disgraceful.

I hope you're referring to me!

[leadline]

Nope! To KP, KP is disgraceful.

[Sweat-n-Grease]

On Monday, July 30, 2012, Rear Admiral James A. Helis, USMS, was installed as the 12th Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. His wife Jan and his two sons, Corbin, a 2011 West Point graduate, and Ian, a plebe candidate from the Kings Point Class of 2016, were by his side.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood led the commissioning ceremony. Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda gave the opening remarks. Other distinguished guests, Academy faculty and staff, the Regiment of Midshipmen, alumni, family, and friends also attended

I'm a persona non grata - the USMMAAA doesn't send me their money begging rag any more

[Sweat-n-Grease]

Nope! To KP, KP is disgraceful.

You sure had me fooled.