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Three alumni earn a post-graduate "Black N"
Enthusiasm trumped common sense for three (3) alumni attending Blue & Gold Officer training at USNA during the week of 13-18 July 2003.
Background
Our class of 98 alumni and parents were being formally trained as BGO’s and listening to all the changes at USNA while agreeing ‘our’ class was the last to have a true Plebe experience.
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We soon came to appreciate the caliber of Midshipman being recruited and selected today for admission to USNA and a new philosophy to "develop and retain" these fine young men and women. Privileges are granted, individually and collectively, for exceptional performance and are rescinded for failure to meet rigid standards.
Positive reinforcement and recognition boost morale and foster desire to exceed personal and professional expectations. Thus was our intent to recognize the Class of ’07 with some public display to boost their morale during a very hot Plebe summer.
We were staying in Bancroft Hall (no air conditioning) and dining in King Hall, so we had first-hand knowledge of their conditions.
Plan
The three "perpetrators" decided to construct and display a "sheet banner" in T-Court for members of the Class of ’07 to see during a formation. After all, we had hung sheet banners many times in our day for pep rallies and other special events.
Our poster would read "BGO’s SALUTE ‘07" and consisted of four (4) sheets sewn together at the Tailor Shop with some ambiguity, albeit no Honor Concept violation, regarding our true position within the Brigade and Alumni Association (they still charged us $3.00)!
Test Run
Time constraints and limited "secure" work space resulted in an acceptable masterpiece, but not up to Plebe academic year standards. Nonetheless it was remarkable for alumni with a full daily schedule augmented with evening hours spent at the Officers & Faculty Club.
We made an unauthorized access onto the 4th deck of the 4th wing, found an unoccupied room and ventured out on the ledge to reconnoiter suitable access points above the main doors of Bancroft. This was a daunting task at 2330, but we were focused on mission success.
We amended our original mission to a daring ‘daytime’ launch of the banner after the Plebe regiment marched to Worden Field for an evening parade by the Marine Corps 8th & I silent drill team. Our plan would have them see the banner upon return to Bancroft Hall.
Execution
On or about 1830, Thursday, 17 July 2003, Seal Team BGO made their way with said banner to the outside ledge above the main entrance to Bancroft and "hung the evidence". Despite having a combined five (5) engineering degrees among us, we forgot the required ballast at the bottom of the banner as it wafted in the light air. Emergency improvisation was required.
We raced to King Hall, "procured" four milk cartons, filled them with water, and returned to the scene securing the ballast as required. It was a beautiful sight over our shoulders as we repaired to Worden Field and mingled with the spectators.
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(Select Image for HIGH Resolution. Will take time to download.)
Mission Failure
We returned to T-Court after the parade to see the reaction as Class ’07 marched down Stribling Walk. But alas, the banner was gone! We followed the water trail to the Main Office and asked the Midshipman on duty if he had seen a banner. He said it was there and that the OOD was less than pleased. We usurped our authority, entered the office, "appropriated" the banner and went back to 4th deck to reinstall our handiwork before the Regiment returned.
Communications on the Yard are much improved from previous years. A witness on the ground, Dan Istvan who was also attending BGO training and acting as our lookout, reported that as we were beating a retreat into the 4th wing, the MOOW was coming out of a 3rd wing window and immediately removed our banner.
A civilized confrontation with the OOD, a Lieutenant who shall remain nameless, but later identified as the Brigade Activities Officer, said he appreciated our spirit and that we could recover our banner the next day at the Commandant’s office. We retired once again to the Officers & Faculty Club to drown our disappointment.
Personal Accountability
Our last BGO training event Friday, 18 July 2003, was a briefing from the Commandant of Midshipmen. Our smugness the previous evening had us take digital pictures of our handiwork. We had the picture projected "larger than life" on the screen in our lecture hall for all to see. We really weren’t feeling as cavalier that morning as we "braced" for the inevitable.
[Now might be a good time to note that most "perps" leave some "fingerprint" at the scene of the crime and we were no different. The banner had our class years prominently displayed and would no doubt limit the investigation to all BGO attendees from the three (3) classes.]
Consequences
Colonel John R. Allen, USMC, Brigadier General "select" and graduate of the Class of 1976 arrived on or about 0815 (per published schedule).
The "DANT" had his 2/C aide (carrying clipboard) one step behind and a Plebe with a rather large box in tow. The Plebe was dismissed and Colonel Allen explained that there had been an "incident" on the Yard last night. He asked the perpetrators to identify themselves.
L to R: Colonel John Allen ('76) , Mike Philbrook
(‘83), Les Gable (’70), Frank Bendik (‘90)
The "DANT" is a rather imposing figure and we hesitated before standing and were directed to report to the front of the lecture hall. Our spirits were buoyed by a standing ovation from the rest of the BGO class, none of whom would be facing civil charges, expulsion from the BGO program, public humiliation or worse, a "come around" to the Commandant’s Office!
Colonel Allen retrieved our banner from the box, neatly folded and covered in plastic, and handed it to us. Only then did we catch a slight smile as he reached into his pocket and slid a "Commandant’s Coin" into his palm. He shook our hands while applauding our enthusiasm.
Our joy was short-lived. He then explained the "personal accountability" concept and handed each of us a Conduct Report and said "You’re Down!" When Colonel Allen uses this expression with a Midshipman, it means a Class-A offense and sentencing includes six (6) months loss of leave and liberty. (It was difficult explaining to our families that we might not be home until after Christmas.)
The "DANT" signed our Conduct Reports, dismissed us and continued with his briefing.
Epilog
Colonel John R. Allen ‘76 impressed us with his handling of our situation and his ability to adapt new policies for the Brigade without diluting USNA traditions that all alumni treasure. He went on to explain that current regulations prohibit displays in the Yard that might detract from the visual integrity of our institution for visitors and dignitaries.
He allowed us to display our banner the following day on Farragut Field for PEP (Plebe Exercise Program) where a Cdr. McCormick told the entire Class of ‘07 that the USNA alumni and Blue & Gold Officers supported them. (Mission accomplished!!)
(Select Image for HIGH Resolution. Will take time to download.)
(Select Image for HIGH Resolution. Will take time to download.)
The Commandant awarded us "Black N’s" with oak leaf clusters in lieu of second awards for our multiple offenses. (We pleaded guilty to all charges on the Midshipman Conduct Report.)
We soon came to appreciate the caliber of Midshipman being recruited and selected today for admission to USNA and a new philosophy to "develop and retain" these fine young men and women. Privileges are granted, individually and collectively, for exceptional performance and are rescinded for failure to meet rigid standards.
Positive reinforcement and recognition boost morale and foster a desire to exceed personal and professional expectations. Thus was our intent to recognize the Class of ’07 with some public display to boost their morale during a very hot Plebe summer.
Respectfully submitted,
Les Gable ’70
Mike Philbrook ‘83
Frank Bendik ‘90
BEAT ARMY!!
(But, don’t try to beat the system.)
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