Op-Ed: I Graduated From KP in 1978 and Came Through Cadet Shipping Unscathed. The People Posting Stories to this Site are a Bunch of Cry-Babies and Wimps.

*This Op-Ed was originally submitted to MLAA as a comment to a previous Op-Ed by the author, who claims to be a member of the USMMA Class of 1978. MLAA does not know the author’s identity*

     Having read many of the posts to this site all I can say is "Cry me a river"!!! What a bunch of crybabies and wimps!

Apparently USMMA doesn't fulfill all the wishes of these "beautiful dreamers" who envision a world of "gentlemen" seafarers and perpetually smooth seas! Perhaps they should have done more research into the maritime industry prior to entering it. 

     I thoroughly researched the field before entering it and became well aware of the good and the bad. In high school I read plenty maritime related materials, both factual and some historic novels. I am willing to bet that many of these "posters" never read "Two years before the Mast", "Captains Courageous" the Nordhoff & Hall Trilogy and especially "The Sea Wolf" by Jack London. I was well aware that times have changed since the writing of these books but guess what, the nature of the men drawn to this livelihood has changed very little! Testosterone is indifferent to feminist wishes. 

     Having obtained this knowledge I realized the seagoing life would be a refining furnace for me and I was confident I would pass through it and come out a stronger, more confident man as a result. I did not expect the environment to change to accommodate my sensibilities. I steeled myself to overcome the drawbacks of the environment but also to enjoy the rewards of a sailing life. 

     To "expertly" prepare me for this adventure I had the blessing of attending USMMA. Looking back, I appreciate the demands of the paramilitary environment that made me more self-reliant and mature. The academics were spot on as far as developing my skills to become a marine engineer as stated in the Academy mission. Thank God for my sea year experience! My initiation into the "real world" as a 19 year young man with the preparation King's Point gave me was incredible. I was able to handily deal with "the good, the bad and the ugly" in ALL aspects. Thanks to KP, I came through it unscathed and was more than able to accomplish my Sea Project as expected. 

     The KP experience allowed me to accomplish my Chief Engineer Steam and Motor Any Horsepower license and after 10 years of sailing experience I entered and excelled in the power generation industry becoming the manager of several plants in the then ground breaking field of cogeneration. 

     Regarding the issue of "sexism" at the Academy, I had the opportunity to see the historic admission of women as I was a member of the class of 1978. I believe in the simple mantra of "God made men to do the things a woman can't do and women to do the things a man can't do". In a nutshell, I saw the bending of requirements and standards (that I thought were inviolable) to accommodate the females. 

     When I sailed for an oil transport company, I sailed with female KP grads and witnessed their shortcomings firsthand. I was especially perturbed when I was ordered to do the work of the third engineer ( I was the 2nd engineer) because she was physically incapable of accomplishing her tasks. Sorry, but I am not in with the politically correct crowd that is always cheering and crowing over every single accomplishment of a female mariner. 

     Now they are crying to Big Brother to please remove all threats from their environment. Just what the merchant marine needs: federal police aboard all ships à la flight marshals aboard airplanes. I could go on and on but I have said a lot already. 

     Lastly I will offer this solution to the shipping companies: to eliminate the sexism issues, why not take a page from US Navy experience and set aside one or more ships crewed with an all female staff from captain down to the wiper. 

     I would love to see how it turns out!

—KP ’78