The United States Naval Academy, located in Annapolis, Maryland, is the second oldest service academy, having been founded on October 10, 1845, by George Bancroft.
Several notable people have graduated from here, such as Admiral Chester Nimitz, John McCain, Jimmy Carter, and Ross Perot.
Those who attend the Naval Academy are known as Midshipman, who go through a four-year course of study where they earn a Bachelor of Science degree in one of the 26 majors offered.
Graduates will either move on to serve as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. More on that later.
From year one to year four, the Midshipman are referred to as fourth class, third class, second class, and first class Midshipman, respectively.
Informally, the fourth-class midshipmen are also referred to as plebes. And like all service academies, they have extra responsibilities that they have to deal with until they move on to be upperclassmen.
Military Training and Academy Curriculum
Because of the college curriculum throughout the school year, a majority of military training occurs during the summer spent at the Naval Academy.
The first taste starts at what is known as Plebe Summer, which is the Naval Academy’s version of a boot camp all attendees must go through.
It lasts approximately seven weeks, is separated into two sets, and consists of rigorous physical and mental training to turn civilians into midshipmen.
In the second summer between the Plebe and third class or youngster years, you’ll go to sea for three weeks in a yard patrol craft to various New England ports and spend three weeks in either Naval Academy sailing sloops or attending naval tactical training.
The third summer turns things up a notch and is action-packed. In what is called Pro Termit,” or the professional training of midshipman, you’ll fly in Navy aircraft, go in a nuclear-powered submarine, and patrol with the Marine Corps. Not only that, but you’ll become part of a ship’s crew for four weeks.
Career Preferences and Choice of Branch
This all serves to give you firsthand experience of the daily routine of the various aspects of the US Navy so you know what you like and don’t like.
By your last summer, you should have honed in on what or where you want to go and will spend 4 to 8 weeks in an operational unit in any of the areas the Navy or Marine Corps can offer.
Those wanting to become Marine Officers will go through a four-week course known as Leather Neck, which brings us to how Midshipman can choose whether to go Navy or Marine Corps.
Essentially, you need to know that getting into the Naval Academy does not guarantee you’ll be commissioned into the Marine Corps.
Steps to Becoming a Marine Officer
By default, you’re going to go to the Navy unless you express interest and work on the prereqs to get into the Marine Corps.
Sparing the finer details, Midshipman must pass various Marine Corps PT tests and submit the requisite paperwork to get a shot at going to Leatherneck, where they will be further evaluated to see if they’re a good fit for the Marines.
They may also get the opportunity to do four weeks of MAGTAF, which is being attached to an operational Marine Corps command.
If ultimately selected, upon graduation, they’ll be commissioned as Marine Officers and will move on to the basic school in their follow-on training. Nearly 30% of each graduating class may be chosen for commissioning in the Marine Corps.
Assignment Preference and Selection Night
Bringing things back to all midshipmen, they get the opportunity to state their career preferences early in their senior or first-class year.
Obviously, the job or unit you want is dependent on the needs of the Navy. But with that said, 93% of the class of 2021 received their first or second assignment preference.
And yes, for those of you wondering, you can become a SEAL out of the academy, provided you put in the work. Naval Academy graduates tend to have the lowest attrition at BUDS compared to other candidates.
Fun fact: a cool tradition happens that’s called Ship Selection Night, where those going to be Surface Warfare Officers get to pick their ships in the order of how well they did in their class.
To wrap up the Naval Academy, we’ll leave you with the basic requirements you need to be accepted, which are:
- To be a US citizen by July first of the year of entry,
- At least 17 and not have passed your 23rd birthday on July first of the year of entry,
- Unmarried,
- Not pregnant,
- Have no dependents,
- To have a valid Social Security Number.
With the Naval Academy covered, let’s move on to the Air Force Academy.
Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, he graduated from George State University with an MBA in Actuarial Science. His hobbies include beach volleyball, hiking, fishing, and lifting weights
George is also a certified nutritionist with a passion for health and fitness.
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