Busy Week

Good Evening,

This week sure is a busy one. Naval Science project due Thursday, Rules of the Road test Thursday, and Coastal Navigation 2 Lab final on Friday. These final weeks are the weeks we have been preparing for all semester. With the days dwindling down one by one we all look forward to take that last final and pack up our rooms for winter break. Some are going to go off on commercial ships or co-ops, others will be setting sailing on the training ship for the winter, and the rest will likely reside here at MMA for winter classes. I will be enjoying the seven weeks of Sea Term aboard the T.S Kennedy this winter.

On another note fall conditioning for spring track and field continues this week. Track to me is an amazing workout where we work hard everyday. Also my teammates are all great people to share a few laughs with at practice.

Upcoming Events:
-Underclass Portraits
-Project, Exam, and Final (In that order)
-Winter Ball aboard the Spirit of Boston

Signing off,
3/c Joshua Lamm
Cadet Blogger
joshua.lamm@maritime.edu

Happy Holidays

Good Evening,

I hope that everyone enjoyed this years Thanksgiving. I know I did. The food was excellent this year as always. It is always nice to reflect and give thanks for all of the things that we are able to appreciate. I know I am thankful to be here at MMA and take part in an amazing education. As well as for my family who have always supported me among my endeavors.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This semester has been flying by. I remember that first semester freshman year did not go by this fast by any means. That is probably due to the fact the sophomore year is a lot less stressful as far as the regiment goes than freshman year. We have already adapted to being on our own in a college atmosphere. While this years freshmen might still be adjusting to the maritime life.

Sea term is just around the corner. The freshmen have a meeting with Captain Bushy tomorrow evening to discuss sea term and what it involves. For many this years trip will be their first experience on the open ocean. Many of the sophomores going this year including myself are itching to set sail on the training ship down to the Caribbean. In the upcoming weeks we will be sharing stories from last year as we get ready to make new ones very soon.

With finals approaching everyone is putting in the extra effort to finish the semester strong.

Until next time,
3/c Joshua Lamm
Cadet Blogger
joshua.lamm@maritime.edu

ARMY VS. NAVY

Good Evening,

Last night MMA's Army ROTC Program took on the Navy SIP Program in an epic battle of flag football. The game went back and forth all night. First Navy would score and then Army would score right back. The game was tied 14 - 14 sending it into overtime. Army scored first setting the score 20 - 14. Navy blocked the extra point giving them the chance to score for the win. Navy scored again tying it up 20 to 20. Navy then had the chance for the extra point. 1/c Andrew Mullen scored the extra point for the Navy giving them the win 21 - 20 . From what I have been told this is the closest game to date. I'm sure next year Army will be looking for a little payback.

The sophomore shuffle is when all sophomores get moved to a new company after fall semester. These new companies are to be the companies we will stay in for the rest of our time here at MMA. My roommate and I have been shuffled over to Fifth Company. We look forward to joining the ranks of Fifth Company with the other sophomores being shuffled their as well.

Signing off,
3/c Joshua Lamm
Cadet Blogger
joshua.lamm@maritime.edu

Coming to a close

Good Evening,

I think it dawned on me for the first time just the other that the semester is almost over. The finals schedule has already been posted, the talk of sea term has begun, and Thanksgiving is around the corner. With the end of the semester near, we begin to pick our classes for next semester. It is a very exciting process as we get to plan our daily lives for the spring. Also, the chance to take more exciting classes in our major.

Tonight we attended a leadership meeting taught by Professor David Palmer. He talked about ethics and how they apply to leadership. We learned about moral blindness and using moral courage. The part that got through to me the most was the Front Page Test. Mr. Palmer talked about how if we are to make a decision and act on it; could we then publicize that in the newspaper that our friends, family, peers, and other read. Would we have been comfortable with that? If we were not it would mean that we had made the wrong choice. Mr. Palmer left us with a lot to digest as we prepare to take on leadership roles and postions.

The included picture is from last weeks charity volleyball game.

Upcoming Events:
-Annual Army vs. Navy Game
-Friday




Signing off,
3/c Joshua Lamm
Cadet Blogger
joshua.lamm@maritime.edu

The Big Win

In an effort to raise money for charity the school hosted the first ever volleyball tournament. The teams were the regimental staff, our very own girls volleyball team, and COMCAD. The regimental staff made comprised of our most senior ranking cadets on campus. COMCAD was made up of the officers from the commandants office; their team was also know as "Faded Glory".

I had the chance to see history in the making. First round was COMCAD vs. the Volleyball Team. COMCAD not only won the first game; they won three in a row to emliminate the girls from the tournament. Next up was the regimental staff. Again COMCAD destroyed the regimental staff. It was quite the sight to see. COMCAD was truly an underdog coming in the tournament as many wrote them off as old men. They showed true skill and clear determination to gain their win.

Overall the night was full of fun and great laughs. I'm sure next year the other teams will be looking for the win.

I took some great pictures and will be posting them soon.

Until next week,
-3/c Joshua Lamm
Cadet Blogger
joshua.lamm@maritime.edu

Maritime Underwater

Another fresh start to the week. Sunday night brought forth the rain. It has rained all day here, and the forecast is showing rain for tomorrow as well. Have no fear it's nothing that we can't fix we a little positive attitude. I mean we have a small campus, therefore can never get too wet walking to class. Another bright side to the rain is that is washes off my car. Saves me the few bucks of going to the car wash or doing itself. Now only if the rain could change my oil too.

My Monday was actually better than most Mondays. After Rules of the Road Class we had the chance to go over to the Electronic Navigation Lab for some exercises. Captain Modic presented a few scenarios in which we needed to use our knowledge of the rules to maneuver properly. It is also one of the first chances that we have had to actually get a good look at what these situations look like. It is easy to say what to do on paper, but applying it to real life situations, or in this case the simulator, is a another beast in its self. I can't wait to get another chance at the practice lab.

Upcoming events:
- Regimental Staff vs. COMCAD Staff in volleyball
- Dryer Weather
- Friday

Until next time,
-3/c Joshua Lamm
Cadet Blogger
joshua.lamm@maritime.edu

Fridays Lab

Good Afternoon,

Friday brought on another awesome lab in the Electronic Navigation Lab. This lab was very similar to the lab that we had over a month ago. Except this time it was all up to us. We had to figure out our own courses and make course changes. Adding to the difficulty of the lab, was that it was at night. The simulation started at 1700 and got dark immediately. To make things more difficult our instructor turned out the lights so the room was dark except for our instruments, screen, and a small light over our chart table. We also had to make sure we were maneuvering according to the rules of the road. Our ship was a 250 meter tanker. Our location was Block Island Sound which is off the eastern end of Long Island, New York. We took fixes every twelve minutes. Most of our fixes came off Montauk Light as well as a radar range from the shore. As we moved north, we got the chance to see a lot more action. Numerous vessels were in our area. Two in particular were Navy ships displaying the lights for a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver. We also had a car carrier astern of us and a another tanker off our port bow. Another interesting part was the buoys that we encountering. All of them were marked on our chart, because the exercise was done at night we needed to confirm the buoys by looking at their light characteristics. I know that a buoys showing morse code alpha is a safe water buoy. As well as a green light flashing 2+1 is a bifurcation buoys. Using this knowledge, we knew which buoys were which.

Fortunately there were no collisions or groundings. We did quite well and had a great time applying our knowledge on more than just paper.

Coming up soon:
-Winter Ball tickets go on sale.
-Veterans Day (no classes)
-Friday

Until Next time,
-3/c Joshua Lamm
Cadet Blogger
joshua.lamm@maritime.edu

Changing of Season

Good Afternoon,

Crew season ended with great finish at the Head of the Fish in New York. All the boats rowed well. Especially the young novice men, for most of them this was there second regatta ever. My hat is off to them for a great performance. I'm very glad that crew is over. I no longer will have to get up at 0400 every morning to go to practice. I'll be able to attend a little something called morning formation. I will also have the chance to reduce the amount of coffee that I drink everyday, in which I am sure will be a lot healthier.

Now with crew over, track and field begins soon. I know it seems a little off that track would be starting in the fall, but the fact is that we need to start preparing for the spring months in advance. As a team, we will meet about four days a week and begin our fall conditioning. If we are successful in our conditioning it will give us a solid foundation for the Winter months. As most of will be going on the ship this winter it will be hard to stay with it. The goal is however to keep conditioning with a couple of my teammates on the ship. This way we can come back to the season in shape and ready to run.

Yesterday was of course November 1st. November has surely arrived, it is cold and a little extra windy here at MMA. Today marked the first frost of the season. Winter is just around the corner and with that is soon to be the second annual Winter Ball on the Spirit of Boston. I did not attend last year, but I sure do look forward to going this year. From what I understand it will be a night to remember.

Upcoming Events:
- Leadership Meeting @ 1900
- Special Event (details to follow)
- Friday
- Colder Weather

Signing off,
3/c Joshua Lamm
Cadet Blogger
joshua.lamm@maritime.edu