Bill would require nominations to CG academy

[unhappycamper]

Bill would require nominations to CG academy
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Oct 23, 2009 15:42:38 EDT

WASHINGTON — The House voted overwhelmingly for a bill that includes a provision giving members of Congress a say over who is admitted to the U.S. Coast Guard’s 1,000-cadet service academy in New London, Conn.

The measure — part of a multi-billion-dollar authorization bill that passed 385-11 on Friday — was sponsored by Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., who argues that congressional nominations are needed to help increase the number of blacks enrolled at the academy and graduate as commissioned officers.

The school is the only service academy that does not have congressional nominations and has no requirements for geographical distribution.

Four blacks graduated in the spring. More recently, five blacks were admitted for the class of 2013. At present, the academy’s four classes include 25 blacks.


Article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/10/ap_coastguard_academy_blacks_102309/

[sabbat hunter]

1. before I would back this

I would want to know how many minorities applied to the CG academy. If lets say 5000 blacks applied and 5000 whites applied and the above ratio was the result, then I would say yes there needs to be reformed.

If it is something along the lines of 10 blacks and 5000 whites, then I would disagree. Unfortunately the article does not say.


I have an issue with having congressional nominations as it very well could (and probably does)lead to giving favors/nominations to the children of powerful/rich families not necessarily deserving ones.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

2. I don''t think the children of the powerful and rich often apply to ANY military academy

But I don't really understand the whole Congressional nomination thing anyway. I would have the concern that the children of the families in the same party would be given preference under s spoils type of system.

The applicants should be judged soley on the basis of their qualifications and not if they knew someone who knew someone who could pull some strings with a legislator.

[sabbat hunter]

3. you would be surprised

there is some prestige with going to West Point, etc.

[Crowman1979]

4. I think only those who are currently enlisted should be allowed into a service academy.

And should a hybrid of congessional nominations of the state/district/terriroty the enlisted person originally resided from, and those from a division/wing command.

[sabbat hunter]

5. I disagree

service academies are also colleges. You need to give people coming out of HS the option to go straight into West Point, etc etc.