Captain Ken Force is handicapped, has lived on campus for decades and provides a vital role for midshipmen at USMMA.

Captain Kenneth Force, USMMA’s legendary, award winning, and internationally acclaimed Midshipmen Regimental Band Director, has been informed by Superintendent James Helis that he has changed the Academy housing policy and Capt. Force will no longer have a place to live on the Academy.

After decades of renting Quarters G, a modest home next to the Academy’s warehouse, Capt. Force’s home is no longer his. Instead, Superintendent Helis has decided to offer Quarters G to future, to-be-hired new employees. What has changed at Kings Point such that Captain Force is suddenly being forced off the campus? Seven previous Superintendents clearly saw the value in having Capt. Force aboard the Academy.

For 44 years Capt. Force has enhanced the lives of midshipmen and improved the Academy with his selfless devotion to Kings Point. He has led the Midshipmen Regimental Band, and the Regiment of Midshipmen, in 10 Presidential Inaugural parades – an experience which no Kings Pointer ever forgets. He introduced the now famous midshipmen extravaganza "Beat Retreat" that distinguishes Academy events to this day. The New York Times has covered his numerous accomplishments and Capt. Force himself is honored on the John Phillip Sousa MemorialStatue at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C.

The problems here are greater than that of just a simple loss of housing for Capt. Force. Capt. Force is handicapped. He has severe mobility problems caused by Guillain-Barré Syndrome. His housing on the grounds of the Academy has enabled him to continue to work and be fully functional as the music director because of his proximity to the midshipmen.

The second, and no less important issue, is that Capt. Force is the Academy’s certified alcohol and substance abuse counselor. He is available 24/7 to midshipmen from Quarters G. Although we would all like to believe that such a position is not necessary, the records speak for themselves and Capt. Force has an incredible 90% success rate in his counseling. Ironically, when Capt. Force wanted to publish his successful AA results, the Academy refused, fearing it would draw attention to our student alcohol usage. Moving off campus would greatly reduce midshipmen access to Capt. Force's alcohol and substance abuse counseling expertise and make it excessively difficult for the disabled Capt. Force to transport students to off campus AA meetings.

Finally, Regimental Band duties often require Capt. Force's presence at early morning hours for colors and travel and late hours for practices, some of the very reasons that athletics and other departments are allowed to have on campus housing for faculty and staff. According to Superintendent Instruction 2014-05, Section 5(e)(i), housing can be assigned based on "Employee availability for off hours duties, responsibilities, and emergencies during the past year." Capt. Force's duties clearly meet these qualifications.