What in the world was Sharon van Wyk thinking?
Not enough attention has been paid to Sharon van Wyk’s role in the false narrative that SA/SH on commercial ships is so significant that the […]
Articles by Andy Simpson, KP '82
The Academy’s Public Affairs Officer knows that sea year is safe
In a recent post, I identified the various people and groups who know that sea year is safe and the only three people who claim […]
Have I been unfair to Jaenichen and Helis?
There are some who think I have been unfair to Maritime Administrator Jaenichen and Superintendent Helis by calling for them to be fired. The individuals […]
Why Jaenichen and Helis must both be fired
In the editorial I posted the other day, I called for the firing of Maritime Administrator, Chip Jaenichen, and Superintendent James Helis. A number of […]
A sample letter for Congress
I previously posted a “pony” or sample letter that midshipmen could use for contacting their Senators and Representatives. Here are a couple of more detailed […]
Just thrown over the transom — an amendment to the RFQ
The confidential tip page continues to bear fruit. I just received a copy of Amendment No. 2 to the RFQ. It is the amendment that […]
Word is leaking out that LMI may be “wired” to get the RFQ
My hunch that a company named “EverFi” was “wired” to get the RFQ may have been wrong. We have received word that employees of a […]
So who thinks sea year is unsafe for midshipmen?
Someone pointed out to me tonight that every single stakeholder — other than three people — thinks sea year is safe. Let’s review: We know […]
Editorial: The ultimate conclusion to be drawn from the SAGR statistics
Yesterday, I posted the results of my analysis of the Academy’s SA/SH statistics. As an alum, it pained me to report those results; because, they […]
RFQ: Need information about yesterday’s DOT meeting at KP (updated)
Reportedly there was a meeting yesterday at the Academy in which a statement was made that indicated that a company has already been chosen as […]
FAQ’s About the SAGR Survey Reports
Yesterday, I posted my analysis of what I think are the critical findings (at least as far as they relate to the sea year stand […]
An analysis of the Academy’s SA/SH statistics
Midshipmen should never have been removed from commercial ships and MARAD owes the maritime industry an apology. This weekend, I finally had an opportunity to […]
Maritime TV interviews a midshipman
Maritime TV has obtained an interview with a midshipman about the Sea Year stand down cancellation. You can listen to it here. Even though the […]
Looking for midshipmen willing to be interviewed by a reporter
A reporter from a newspaper has contacted me seeking information about the sea year stand down cancellation. This reporter is interested in interviewing midshipmen but […]
A “pony” for midshipmen wanting to contact Congress
Dear Midshipmen: You CAN help in the efforts to restore Sea Year and get the Academy re-accredited! Please contact your Congressman and two senators. If […]
AMO editorial — “bizarre threat to U.S. merchant fleet”
In addition to joining with three other major Amercian seafaring unions in the letter to Secretary Foxx that I posted yesterday, the AMO has now […]
Did the administration talk its way out of accreditation probation?
There have been rumors that the Academy was supposed to get probation but that someone persuaded MSCHE to give the Academy only a warning, instead. […]
Need tips: What can you tell me about EverFi’s relationship with KP?
The RFQ and the short time given to submit responses to it suggest that DOT and MARAD have pre-selected who will get the contract. I […]
NJ Congressmen weigh in
Here’s a link to a letter from four New Jersey Congressmen weighing in on the sea year stand down cancellation. I particularly like this: “[T]he […]
The sacrifice Helis is willing to make
I posted the transcript of the meeting between Superintendent Helis, Deputy Administrator Rodriguez and the National Parents Association here. My classmate, Mark Bonatucci, has posted […]
Transcript of the NPA meeting from Sept 1, 2016
This is a link to the transcript of the meeting that Superintendent Helis and Deputy Administrator Rodriguez held with the National Parents Association on September […]
The Unions get it — this is an existential threat to more than “just” KP
H/t to the Facebook page, “KPBack2Sea” for this news. AMO, MEBA, MMP and SIU have signed a joint letter to Secretary Foxx calling the DOT-MARAD […]
Time to complete scope of work under RFQ now only 60 days
(Headline revised) Looks to me like MARAD is sensing that it blundered with the RFQ. Today, it shortened the time from for completing the scope […]
Is the RFQ is seeking alternatives to Sea Year?
I had missed this in my review of the RFQ, but one of the many people working in the background on these issues pointed this […]
Initial thoughts on the RFQ
Here’s my initial take on the RFQ. It incorporates observations of others who are working in the background on this. This RFQ does not appear […]
What did they know and when did they know it?
Another title for this post might be, “What happened between May 20, 2016 and June 16, 2016?” In early August, I pointed out (here) that […]
The Request for Quotation is out
Some of you were aware that the Academy was planning to issue a Request for Proposal (actually “Request for Quotation”) for analyzing and addressing the […]
Copy of the Service Obligation Agreement
Some parents have asked for a copy of the Service Obligation Agreement and apparently are having trouble getting it from the school. You asked, we […]
Inspector General Reports on KP
Here’s the Inspector General’s 2014 report on SASH at KP. Here’s the Inspector General’s August 2016 follow up. Look at the progress — or lack […]
Middies — You are not abandoned
I’ve heard from some parents about how frustrated the midshipmen are. They are effectively under a gag order from the administration; they are afraid to […]