Military service academies feel shutdown's impact

Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY | USATODAY

The government shutdown is affecting the five U.S. military service academies -- but in very different ways.

Students at the United States Merchant Marine Academy won't have classes or any sports activities until Republicans and Democrats agree on a new federal budget. But, those students can watch as other academies play football games this Saturday.

The Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Military Academy and the Coast Guard Academy have all found ways to keep classes and football going.

"We are kind of the forgotten academy," said Carol Kennedy, whose son, Connor Kennedy, 21, is scheduled to graduate from the United States Merchant Marine Academy this year. "If they can find football funding for the other schools, they should be able to fund our civilian teachers. You would think they could find a better place for these men and women then coaching on the sidelines."

Students at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. have been out of classes since Tuesday and have received little information about when they might expect to resume their studies, Kennedy said.

A message posted Thursday night on the Merchant Marine Academy's website explained the situation and shutdown's unique impact on the school.

"While all the service academies are being forced to make changes as a result, the impact on the USMMA is the most severe due to the fact that our faculty and staff are nearly all civilians, and therefore subject to the shutdown furloughs that do not impact active duty military personnel," Rear Admiral James A. Helis, the academy's superintendent said in a statement.

The school has also swapped a fall break that would have begun in November. Starting Friday through Oct. 14th, students will be on that break. The move is aimed at lessening the academic impact of the shutdown on students, Helis said.

Food and housing facilities remain operational but students are being kept busy through random inspections of their rooms and other activities, Kennedy said.

Kennedy's son, who said he was not authorized to comment, is a football captain for the school and has been told practice and games are also cancelled, she said. The Department of Transportation handles funding for the Merchant Marine Academy.

However, the Department of Defense is allowing an already sold out football game between the Air Force and Navy to go on as scheduled Saturday. The Army is also scheduled take on Boston College that day.

The Coast Guard Academy will play a home game against Western New England University. But, because of furloughs, everyone will have to pick up any trash left behind at the game. Employees who normally would do that work have been furloughed, said Lt. Megan Mervar, a public affairs officer for the school.

One hundred and forty two civilian employees at the school in New London, Conn. have been furloughed including secretaries, maintenance staff members and civilian library workers.

"We kind of have to step in and take over those roles," Mervar said, adding that many have picked up extra tasks voluntarily.

All sports programs will go on as scheduled this weekend though and home games will also be played past that time period, Mervar said. Away games after this weekend however may be impacted.

Still, classes at the Coast Guard Academy have not been affected by the shutdown because a special exemption from the Department of Homeland Security has allowed civilian faculty members to continue teaching, Mervar said.

Had the exemption not been granted, Mervar said the Coast Guard's operations and readiness may have been severely affected.

"Cadets' schedules were not disrupted at all," she said.

On the United States Military Academy's website, a message says the school in West Point, N.Y. remains open but the commissary, visitors center and museum are all closed. Seventy percent of faculty members are military personnel who were also not affected by the shutdown.

"We acknowledge that our civilian workforce is deeply impacted with temporary furloughs beginning this week," said Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr., West Point's superintendent.

At the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., 20 percent of classes have not met "as scheduled this week," the school said in a statement. In the meantime, military faculty members have picked up as many classes as they can to substitute for the civilians, the school said.

A similar situation is playing out at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., where 20 percent of classes have been suspended. Cadet study centers including the library, media lab, and tutor centers are all closed. The commissary and base fitness center are also closed while custodial services in dorms and informational technology support have also stopped.

The situation has frustrated many including a now furious Kennedy who is hoping the Merchant Marine Academy will begin having classes soon.

"I just want my kid back in school," she said.