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<p>Bill, you may be on to something. If one carefully reads the news articles of the past few days, we have both the Commandant and the Food Services Officer stating that, except for the first Saturday that the Brigade returned, that there has been no food shortage. This has been verified by quotes from actual midshipmen. Are we to believe them or should we accept hearsay such as the following:</p>
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<p>To find well-meant quotes based on hearsay false is understandable, but to discount those of personnel who were actually there and in charge would be tantamount to calling them a liar.</p>
<p>2010, you question “portion control”. This is how us old goats did it and, until USNA became a yacht club a few years back, seemed to continue to do so. Upon the order of “seats”, the plebe at either end of the table would immediately commence pouring drinks for the upper classmen seated at their ends. When the containers reached half full, they would be passed to the center of the table and a plebe would “marry” them, pouring all the contents into a single container, pass it back to the plebe responsible for the senior unserved upper classman and then raise the empty over his head. A serving steward would replace it with a full container. This would continue with all the items on the menu, serving in the order of potential for seconds, to be the first in line for same. When servings ran out, and an item was desired by an upperclassman, a plebe was occasionally sent with a plate to another table searching for an unused portion. Since this detracted from his ability to eat, getting the empty containers in the air early was paramount. The humor in all of this was the occasional surly lazy steward who would immediately announce “no more” to whatever container that was raised. This immediately called for the emptying and raising of the water pitcher just to hear him announce “no more water”. Classes were dismissed by bells in order of classes, with the plebes being allowed the last five minutes or so, usually alone. Heaven was when the last departing Youngster allowed carry on (one of their few rates). Thus, all leftovers were quickly scarfed down. In my time, the only ice cream that made it to the plebes was coffee. Consequently, within the year, one became truly sick of it, thus perpetuating the ability for future plebes to “enjoy” their coffee ice cream. </p>
<p>Managing the table while simultaneously being rated was an important part of a plebe’s education. The normally four plebes at the table would rotate on a daily or meal basis through each of the four seats. I applaud that this existing tradition is being incorporated into the economics of not having to over serve the tables, thus causing unnecessary waste. I am actually kind of sad that it seemed to have passed into history and Captain Klein has to take the blame for no one being aware of it.</p>
<p>Is it possible, just maybe, that Capt Klein, in totally unjustifiable deference to the Brigade, used the term “probably” in her “acceptance of responsibility” because she knew that the midshipmen actually knew this procedure but were so bent on finding fault in the mandatory meals, that they stormed out, whining, crying, and spreading unfounded rumors, rather than exercise the in-place system? I think we either have to accept something along these lines or call both a Navy Lcdr and Captain liars. Your choice.</p>