Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

USNA’s Leadership Example: Violate Laws and Regulations – Mission Effectiveness: Don’t Measure It
US Defense Watch ^ | November 1, 2017 | Captain (Ret.) David Tuma

Posted on 11/01/2017 11:16:41 PM PDT by pboyington

Our service academies have been in the news for the failure of students and faculty to meet standards. In an apparent effort to get around Congress’ failure to provide enough money to the Naval Academy through increased funding from charities, USNA has violated U.S. law and U.S. and DoD regulations. USNA also controls a charity to ensure better support for its varsity sports.

Leadership:

Based upon the USNA’s example, midshipmen learn it’s okay to break laws and regulations if it brings in more money and support for your command.

Charities provide about $100M each year in gifts for or support of USNA programs.

A few of USNA’s violations of law and regulations based upon FOIA responses.

USNA charters midshipmen organizations that solicit money in the Federal workplace for a charity that then provides money to USNA.

USNA puts Appropriated Funds into Non-Appropriated Fund accounts with instructions for excess funds to be given to a charity that then provides money to USNA for unrestricted purposes.

Using government resources, the SUPE mails Navy Federal Credit Union membership applications to prospective Mids – but only for NFCU. He tells them to “return them to the Academy without delay.” ~100% of the 1200 new Mids become NFCU members. Their pay is deposited with NFCU. NFCU advertisements support varsity athletics. (Is the SUPE an NFCU member?)

USNA uses official websites to link to charities and commercial businesses that give money or support to USNA programs.

USNA allows midshipmen in uniform to be photographed to support the fundraising activities of charities donating to USNA.

USNA controls a charity by appointing a majority of its Board of Directors. The charity is able to raise funds and support USNA varsity sports in ways USNA is not allowed to do. The appointments are made in violation of U.S. law and DoD regulations.

During official business while representing USNA, the SUPE and midshipmen wear the logo of a commercial business that supports USNA varsity sports.

USNA uses volunteers to accomplish government purposes not authorized by the Anti-Deficiency Act. USNA also violates the ADA by not having liability waivers signed by the volunteers.

USNA provides charities with highly sensitive Privacy Act information that requires special access and storage. They strip the sensitive markings from the records and use the information to provide money and better athletes to USNA. They don’t provide required protection and USNA doesn’t ensure their personnel are trained or that records are properly maintained. The Navy allows charities providing USNA with money and support to use the USNA “Seal” online and in correspondence. It allows them to use the USNA name or abbreviation without this required disclaimer: “THIS IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY. IT IS NOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS AND IT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS.”

The Naval Academy is unable to document its Mission Effectiveness

USNA’s Mission: “to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development … to assume the highest responsibilities of command….”

USNA is required to establish quantified goals and measures linked to the above statement and to annually evaluate its performance.

In FOIA responses, USNA states that it hasn’t developed the metrics to measure the effectiveness of its stated mission.

USNA should be able to answer these questions but is unable to:

Are USNA graduates better leaders or better career officers than past graduates?

Are USNA graduates better leaders or better career officers than those officers produced at a fraction of the cost from NROTC and OCS programs?

Have USNA’s program changes produced graduates who are better leaders or better career officers than past graduates?

The CNO told his commanders that “…what you accept–what you walk past–that is your standard…. If it doesn’t measure up, we need to stop, fix that and don’t move on until it does meet our standard.”

If the Superintendent, a 3-Star Admiral reporting directly to the CNO, hasn’t taken corrective action, why think the rest of the Navy will comply? 1000 midshipmen a year graduate to become leaders of our sailors – but USNA taught them the wrong ethics lesson.

It’s time for DoD to require a thorough investigation of the relationships between USNA and its supporting charities and put a stop to USNA’s violations of laws and regulations.

It’s clear that Admiral Farragut’s message has gotten garbled at USNA:

“Damn the regulations! Full moneybags instead!”


TOPICS: Government; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: annapolis; corruption; usnavy

1 posted on 11/01/2017 11:16:41 PM PDT by pboyington
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: pboyington
He lost me when he complained about mids being pointed to NFCU. There is (or at least was) a branch located right in the basement of Bancroft. Considering that plebes don't even have the opportumity to get into town during banking hours until the academic year, it's a no brainer. And I really struggle with the idea that mids appearing in photos for things like supporting Navy Athletics is some horrendous sin.

It reads like the author bilged out and carries a grudge.

2 posted on 11/02/2017 12:55:19 AM PDT by Bruce Campbells Chin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bruce Campbells Chin

the appropriate funds into un-appropriated accounts getting funneled to charities for washing is an issue... but yeah a lot of the other stuff is penny-anty nonsense that has come up through the years as a way to support programs for the Midshipmen.

The one that always ticked me off was the bad looks from commands (USNA-ships-shore commands - didn’t matter) if you decided not to give any money for the Combined Federal Campaign. I think they finally fixed that when they said if you mark no it isn’t counted against the commands numbers for participation - it only counts against if they don’t get any paper back now. But that was all branches.


3 posted on 11/02/2017 2:21:51 AM PDT by reed13k
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Bruce Campbells Chin
David Tuma is a 27 year career naval officer and graduate of USNA. As a class officer and class president he helped raise significant donations for charities supporting USNA. He served on the Council for Annual Giving (to USNA) and was Chairman of the Council of Class President’s Class Gifting Committee. He has years of experience with non-profits including serving as chairman of a non-profit for 5 years.

He didn't bilge out (he's a retired Bubblehead), but does, as an insider, seem to have a chip on his shoulder and wants to be seen as a whistleblower. His main beef, I believe, is with the NAAA, its control of Navy athletics, and the accession of athletes through NAPS and the Naval Academy Foundation prep school program. A (take it with a block of salt) NYT article:

"Navy Opens a Back Door, And In Come Athletes And Victories"

He's in Proceedings and other places with the same mantra. Claims he wants USNA to exist, but questions its "best value" proposition over ROTC or OCS...the usual B.S. for decades.

USNA Alum

4 posted on 11/02/2017 2:32:23 AM PDT by nickedknack ("Your time is up!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: pboyington

The entire article is stupid. I want military officers who get the job done. If they lack the resources, they should find what they need elsewhere, in any legal manner. Those are good traits for a military leader, not flaws.


5 posted on 11/02/2017 2:44:07 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bruce Campbells Chin

‘Prospective’ Midshipmen. I read that as HS students who have expressed some interest in applying through the appointment process.


6 posted on 11/02/2017 3:29:43 AM PDT by Tallguy (Twitter short-circuits common sense. Please engage your brain before tweeting.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: pboyington

Hasn’t he ever heard of Comshaw? That’s how most divisions used to get extra supplies ...


7 posted on 11/02/2017 4:06:39 AM PDT by 11th_VA (Kudos to President Trump for denouncing ALL violence)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickedknack
The service academies in general provide a lot of benefits. They serve as a magnet to draw highly qualified, high achievers into into military service, who otherwise might seek challenges outside the military. They help foster military traditions, officer fraternity, and institutional knowledge. Every other advanced nation has elite military academies as well.

If the author's primary concern is lowered standards for athletes or for the sake of diversity...he's probably got a valid point. But broadside attacks on the entire institution aren't going to win him any allies in that fight.

8 posted on 11/02/2017 4:33:40 AM PDT by Bruce Campbells Chin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Bruce Campbells Chin

As a USNA alum, I heartily agree.


9 posted on 11/02/2017 4:45:58 AM PDT by nickedknack ("Your time is up!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: pboyington

And his article appears to be timed for publication just prior to the Thursday Navy-Temple game, to be nationally televised on ESPN.


10 posted on 11/02/2017 4:50:15 AM PDT by nickedknack ("Your time is up!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickedknack

Ditto. And I was going to flame, bilge, and agree with him on the lack of metrics.

Perhaps it’s anecdotal, but I am still irked by a sense that the Navy is first in line with every stupid social engineering program, and that the millennial Mids are right with them. Have to ask my classmates teaching there now.

Phinneous, ‘95


11 posted on 11/02/2017 5:21:58 AM PDT by Phinneous (Moshiach Now!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Phinneous

The Supe has so much influence, and I frankly have zero confidence in anyone approved by Ray Mabus. Hopefully, there will be a bit of tightening up when the influence of Mattis has more time to percolate down.

Class of ‘84.


12 posted on 11/02/2017 5:35:49 AM PDT by Bruce Campbells Chin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Phinneous
Perhaps it’s anecdotal, but I am still irked by a sense that the Navy is first in line with every stupid social engineering program, and that the millennial Mids are right with them.

I'm not so sure the USNA is first in line as the USAFA is right there, neck and neck, trying to implement every bad PC piece of BS known to man.

13 posted on 11/02/2017 6:36:56 AM PDT by OldMissileer (Atlas, Titan, Minuteman, PK. Winners of the Cold War)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Phinneous
...the Navy is first in line with every stupid social engineering program, and that the millennial Mids are right with them.

My kid sister is a prof @ the USNA. Your assessment is true from what she tells (she's a far left dingbat and she's ok with it).

14 posted on 11/02/2017 9:36:24 AM PDT by ex91B10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Phinneous

I thought the armed forces could weather the predations of the Left, but after eight years of a Communist usurper at the helm, I have my doubts. Combined with an educational system that preaches a constant drumbeat of American malevolence, it’s a wonder there are still enough patriots to fill the ranks (barely).


15 posted on 11/02/2017 11:20:56 AM PDT by nickedknack ("Your time is up!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson