News From Fort Schuyler

January 24, 2003 - Volume 7, No. 2

BEST BARGAIN IN TOWN - The new Cadet Appointment Program for talented New York State high school seniors just got a lot more valuable with SUNY announcing a 41% tuition increase. The appointment program provides 284 four-year full-tuition scholarships - 1 appointment per Assembly District, 2 appointments per Senatorial District. According to the Queens Tribune, "Prospective students now have until Feb 1 to return their completed application packets to SUNY Maritime College." Applications can be obtained from the Admissions Office -call 718-409-7220. Time is short, but there's always Express Mail or FEDEX.

OURS IS BIGGER THAN THEIRS - "For those interested," writes PETER BACI, Class of 1964, "the February/March issue of the Professional Mariner has an article about Mass Maritime's new training ship, the T/V ENTERPRISE...The article also talks about the T/V STATE OF MICHIGAN, a training ship going to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. The STATE OF MICHIGAN, a 224-foot former U.S. Navy ship, is a sister to the KINGS POINTER, the training ship currently used by the USMMA. Re the ENTERPRISE, the author observes that the ship is 'second only in size to the 565-foot EMPIRE STATE VI, operated by the State University of New York Maritime College.' So, not only are we the best maritime academy, but we have the largest training ship as well !" [Ed. - Sorry, there is no link for this article without a subscription.]

SMALL WORLD DEPARTMENT - In last week's issue OTTO LIEPIN, Class of October 1946, praised CAPT D. MICHAEL ABRASHOFF's book, 'It's Your Ship.' CMDR ALLEN STUBBLEFIELD, Commanding Officer of Fort Schuyler's Naval Science Department ('...the only NROTC unit in New York City') writes: "I was Mike Abrashoff's Executive Officer on USS BENFOLD (DDG 65) from 1998 to1999. ...I learned a tremendous amount from his ideas and how they worked. BENFOLD was a great ship with an even better crew!"

In a followup to last week's item, Otto expands his comments about Abrashoff's book and his management methods: "What was accomplished on the BENFOLD may change the way that ships are 'commanded' forever. The Navy has been very slow in 'wanting' to make changes, which is a carryover from the days of how the British navy handled sailors and which we acquired in our early days as a nation and retained thru these past 200 plus years. Capt. Abrashoff decided that he would give his crew, from the lowest rate up thru the chiefs, the opportunity to think, believe in themselves, and they rose to the occasion in admirable fashion, so that most all of the admirals in the chain of command realized that something different was happening in their midst. ....The book is easy reading and should be a 'must read' for all cadets who want to be enlightened and to learn that there is another side in 'controlling' subordinates. Not only in the ranks of military service, but also in the corporate world." [Ed. - And also in academia ?]

In another message, Otto writes: "Interesting to note that ADM. RYAN is from a small town in Pennsylvania (Mt. Home) and Capt. Abrashoff grew up in Mt. Union and Altoona, PA. Our state can be quite proud of these two men."

SYNCHRONIZE WATCHES - The annual meeting of the Alumni Association takes place at Fort Schuyler on Thursday, 30 January in the Special Events Room of Vander Clute Hall. Cocktails at 1800, dinner an hour later. Agenda: Greet - Meet - Eat - Vote - followed by an update on alumni activities from President TED MASON, Class of 1957. If you go to http://www.fsmaa.org/MembershipMtg/ you can make a reservation and even pay your $30 online - a real bargain.

QUARTER CENTURION QUESTIONS - "The Class of '78 is celebrating its 25th anniversary year in 2003. Is anyone coordinating plans for activities around this occasion ? PETER A. JENSEN sends. (peter.a.jensen@exxonmobil.com)"

VERMONTBORG PHOTOS - The brand new Dutch multi-purpose ship, VERMONTBORG, was stranded off the west coast of Guernsey on 3 January when a towline parted in a Force 10 gale. The ship was being towed from Romania to Holland for fitting out . Photos of the beached ship are posted on the Welland Canal website at http://www.wellandcanal.ca/salties/wagenborg/vermontborg/vermontborg2.htm. Amazingly enough, according to a posting on the Port of Rotterdam website, Smit Salvage re-floated the ship on 18 January (see http://www.portpress.com/UK/News/2003_ANP/2003_01_ANP/ANP_18012003_01.asp?lng=UK Preliminary indications were that the damage to the ship was not too serious. (Thanks to JANE B. FITZPATRICK, Associate Librarian at the Luce Library for the heads up to NFFS about this stranding.)

POLITICALLY INCORRECT ? Although the Alumni Association says it is seeking nominations for the distinguished 'alumnus' of the year, rest assured that it applies equally to any of Fort Schuyler's distinguished and successful 'alumna.' "The candidates must meet the following qualifications: Outstanding success in his or her professional life; Significant contribution to higher education or public service; Demonstrated support of a SUNY campus and/or alumni association." Nominations are due 15 February, the Awards Dinner is 27 March. Visit the Alumni Association website for particulars at http://www.fsmaa.org.