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commentary from capt. bushy (MMA sea term)
i was reading the ship's/captain's log today and came across this as "his commentary"
feedback?
shame on those 2 cadets for being stupid.
capt. bushy's remarks re: the aruba police?
andrea
One situation last night has nearly compromised our "good behavior" incentive strategy. After the first port, we told the cadets that their good behavior lead to no involvement with local police or port authority guards. Since they started off so well, we instructed them that if they repeated the good behavior in Golfito, then they would earn a night off inspections, and if they managed to compete the whole cruise as such, then they would be awarded an Admiral's Inspection off in the spring semester.
So, here is the problem. At 2200 last night two freshman failed to return from liberty. Because of the early hour, not too much concern was raised. By midnight, when all the seniors had returned, the two missing freshman were a real concern. Efforts to search for them onboard were repeated and their friends were awakened and interviewed. "When did you see them last?' "Were they drinking, alone or with local folks." Our fear was that they were injured and had been unable to notify the ship or that they had been arrested and were unwilling to tell the police they were cadets.
At 0100 the Comcad Duty Officer sent the Cadet Officer of the Watch out to the main port gate to notify them that two cadets were still missing and to see if they could call the police to determine if they had been arrested or an accident had been reported. At 0200 no word from the cadets or the police had been received. Very casually, at 0220, the two cadets were dropped off at the main gate. They had been drinking but were very cognizant of the situation. They had elected to remain ashore with their friends from back home to have a little more fun.
The situation troubles me - the police were called, but they had nothing to report to us. They never came to the ship to gather physical information for missing person reports. There was no police reaction at all.
It seems obvious that the police barely took notice of two college age kids slightly overdue. In a port that handles thousands of tourists a year, both from ships and air - a few college kids a little late can't be too much of a concern. But to me, the port itself is a real factor in the judicial process. Oranjestad, and the infamous Carlos and Charlie's Bar dominated US television news for months a few years ago (and as recently as last week) about a missing young American girl. And believe me, the cadets were told that story. These two fourth class cadets put their own desires ahead of the well-being of their 486 shipmates and stressed-out many an officer. Their cavalier attitude and irresponsibility is precisely the behavior we seek so hard to remove from our students.
Yes, we'll have to consider this more deeply over the next few days, particularly as we dole out the punishment to the two cadets. But, we can't ignore the positive behaviors of so many. I believe we can admit the obvious, and be willing to award the vast majority, the reward they so well deserve.
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View of Rennaissance Island
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