Prof. Fleming writes a pretty effective teardown of the Annapolis mystique. As an alum, I had a hard time staying dispassionate while reading—my pride was alternately stung and swelled.
The big thing that Fleming is missing is perspective. Two decades of observing midshipmen must provide tremendous insight into the leadership of midshipmen. His experience with Naval Officers and the demands placed upon them, however, is quite limited. I’d argue that the disillusionment and frustration that I felt coming down from the Plebe Summer high was exactly the training I needed to prepare me for the fleet. I had been broken and, afterwards, made stronger at the broken places (to paraphrase Hemingway), in more ways than just the physical. USNA taught me to cope with imperfections of character and to temper my idealism with pragmatism, skills which are absolutely necessary to the Naval Officer. I think Prof. Fleming paints an excellent picture of one side of the coin.
I think my alma mater has made more news lately than since all that rape stuff. The outspoken Prof. Fleming expands on the topic of diversity (at seemingly great personal peril). A mid is in the brig for being a drug mule on summer cruise. This after some newly-minted butter bars shot some protected waterfowl. Despite these scandals, applications are up 40%. Some want to shut down the service academies, and others think they’re valuable institutions (after consideration, I’ve decided I’m in the latter camp). And finally, not even the august walls of USNA are impenetrable to loony chain-emails.
[via Jeff]
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