"They f***** me...and my friends."

Oh boy.

       Don't fret, the title sounds much worse than what I'm about to tell you. However, do take heed to the following disclaimer: This story is based on one (1) sailor's testimony. The validity of this story is not 100%, and the actual occurrences described herein may be exaggerated or misinterpreted. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author. Reader discretion is advised. 
       
       The other day I got a text from Anthony while I was at work. He starting going on about something that happened after his ME3 (Mechanical Equipment test 3). I got a text that read, "They f****** me. They f***** me and my friends." Immediately my head started going places it shouldn't. Thankfully he called shortly thereafter. It was about 4:30, thirty minutes before closing time. He doesn't often call while I'm at work so I knew something was up. He talked for 20 minutes almost without taking a breath. He went on to explain to me that his class was being treated differently than the others next door. The story began to unfold and I could not believe what I was hearing. Then again, it is the government. 
   
        Anthony told me that his class has one of the highest GPAs (Grade Point Average). So much so that they were weeks away from being in the Hall of Fame. Now that goal has fallen by the wayside. This test was described as one of the hardest they'll have to face. When they got their scores back it showed. Some of Anthony's friends failed. The sailor with the highest GPA was even in shock. The entire class was down. Some believed it to be a conspiracy. Some may be correct. His class learned that the class next door, who has had one of the lowest GPAs throughout A School, scored higher than Anthony's class. The class was in an uproar. They all knew that this had to be some mistake. Twenty-three sailors put in for a "re-grade" and all but one were denied.  

       He goes on to explain to me that the instructors actually told the class that they will be given whatever grade the instructors decide. This insinuates that the hard work of our sailors is of no consequence at the whim of the instructors. This is when I started to get angry, but at the same time, I knew this. It's the government. They will do whatever they want to get whatever they need. Just take a look at the state of our nation. They could fix things if they wanted to, but there's so much more to it than we know, and more than they will ever tell us. Anthony's class was doing "too well". They were "too far above average" and had to be marked down. Why hold back the sailors? Why take away Hall of Fame? Because thats the governement. Because the more you make the more they take. The better you do the harder it will become if under the ever watchful eye of our government.
        
       So it appears that at times there is a complete disregard for the actual academic achievements of the sailors. Of course Anthony, being Anthony, had to be one of the sailors to speak up. He said that he could do a bunch of calculations to prove that this test was graded unfairly. That, among other sailors comments, opened the door for additional higher-ups to come in and tell the class how they run things. Is this because they want to push the higher-scoring sailors to do even better? Then why simply hand the lower-scoring sailors a better grade? Should they not push the lower-scoring sailors just as hard? No, because they dont want high scores. All the system wants is individuals (in this case, our sailors) to do what they command, when they command, without question. The higher-scoring sailors will question the orders if they smell foul play. That is unacceptable. It appears that all they want to do is teach sailors how to operate all necessary equipment properly, not to make decisions. That right is reserved. 

        It is a harsh reality.