<p>Just when you thought it was safe to get back into the water…</p>
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<p>[Naval</a> Academy Theft - WMAR ABC2 News Baltimore Maryland](<a href=“http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=a524d418-b097-4bd4-bcbf-2c80717a3d66]Naval”>http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=a524d418-b097-4bd4-bcbf-2c80717a3d66)</p>
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<p>I guess we could consider this as a mixed bag of news…and look on the bright side; at least we know there are some steaks and ribs worth stealing…</p>
<p>Im surprised he was allowed to work at the academy with a prior felony conviction.</p>
<p>I had the same thought…</p>
<p>I assume he was employed by the company contracted for food services by the academy. If they failed to do a background check, (one would hope such a check is stipulated within the contract) he could have worked there without anyone being the wiser</p>
<p>I will also never understand the logic of contracting for services when military personnel could do the job. I realize there are some exceptions; temporary jobs or to fill unanticipated requirements or even to secure capabilities not available within the service. I assume we could train people to cook? </p>
<p>Same way we play games with forces in Iraq and end up paying a contractor like Blackwater $250k a year to provide a warm body that can carry a gun and then have those guys stand next to kids doing the same job and while making $16k a year. But hey “it’s money from a different account”…</p>
<p>$3500 worth of food??? that’s a lot of food!!! i remember in another article from the fall it said the academy spend $6.95 per mid per day. So… $3500 is like ~503 days of food for one mid or a days worth of food for ~503 mids (more than 3 companies!)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-academy0327,0,3480556.story[/url]”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-academy0327,0,3480556.story</a></p>
<p>I was also shocked to read that an ex-felon worked at the Naval Academy. However, it seems like the majority of employees on military bases these days are civilians who aren’t terribly well paid (could that be a security risk?). For example, I live several miles from a naval weapons station where large amounts of ordnance are stored and transferred to US Navy ships at least four or five days a week. The c/o of this weapons station and several others in California is a Naval Academy grad. At a parents’ club dinner I asked him how one gets assigned to his facility-since it’s a beautiful location with excellent officers’ housing. He said that practically everyone who works there, including the personnel who load weapons/ordnance on the ships, is a civilian employee! I was pretty shocked to learn that civilians are loading weapons on Navy ships. Would that include nuclear warheads too?</p>
<p>On another topic, tonight I was on the Yard and the place was a virtual ghost town during mandatory study hours. Did see a couple of drags (wearing jeans) with plebes (in blue&gold) though.</p>
<p>I only go as far back as 1974, and since that time I have always seen civilians involved with the loading of weapons onto ships. Sailors then do the majority of loading the munitions into the magazines. Food service at military bases has long been contracted out. Just for your information, the British Navy actually contracts out their shipboard food service and laundry service.</p>