I’m not a gung-ho, flag waving, “love it or leave it” sort of person. But you’d have to be a stony-hearted soul to not have your patriotism needle moved by a tour of the U.S. Naval Academy.
We were in town for Plebe Parents’ Weekend and it was nice to see the white uniformed plebes walking around town with parents mostly, a few younger siblings, an occasional girlfriend or boyfriend in tow.
We toured the US Naval Academy today. I thought about the proud parents in a different way after reading the welcome booklet parents were given, There was the obligatory warm welcome from the commandant in a letter that also “warned” parents that the kids they dropped off at the academy would be drastically changed from the boys and girls they were just a short six weeks ago. Considering the incredible physical training that goes on (described as exhaustion) and the strict routines to instill discipline, the memorization of USNA traditions and lessons in naval history — it would be impossible for anyone not to be transformed.
Here’s a tiny slice of the muster. There are groups filling both sides of the quad and each group is shouting out different numbers, cadences and words. They stand at attention some of the time and then are given orders to go to parade rest. They are occasionally looking at booklets which much have some things they need to memorize. I think an improvement in the treatment of plebes is that each of them has a canteen….they seem to drink only as allowed by a group order.Now here’s where a sound machine would be terrific. This shot shows the end of the 20 minute ceremony. The cacophony of the noon muster where all 1200 of the plebes gather before going tol lunch, each company shouting out various memorized cadences and then reporting “all accounted for” before marching (literally) off to lunch. They also muster for breakfast and inner and I’m hoping it isn’t quite so structured. I have a video of this chaos, so ask to see it when we see each other! A band plays as the plebes march off to lunch. All of the band members were plebes…so I am thinking that the algorithm for admittance includes slots for tuba, trumpet, drum, etc.
Even going to muster is organized. Here they are semi-marching and shouting out the cadence as they go along.
The facility itself is top notch, a medley of French architecture from the early 1900’s, modern places for sports of every kind and totems of tradition across the grounds. You have to feel proud that “the best of the best” are striving here. I am sure that West Point and the Air Force Academy also have this boast….and many other places….but while you are at USNA you BELIEVE it!
The Olympic size swimming venue in the athletic center than also housed wrestling, basketball and other sports. Not every USNA student arrives knowing how to swim, but they certainly will in short order. Plebes are required to swim five laps of the Olympic sized pool in 15 minutes, sophomores do 10 laps, juniors do 15 and seniors do 20 in 30 minutes….in their khaki uniforms. They are also required to jump off the 10 meter diving platform, also in uniform. (I may have these distances and times wrong, but you’ll get the idea.)Students are required to do 2-3 hours of physical activity each day which can be a sport or even jogging around the track. I overheard a guide explain that “if you are not a star, you can participate in an intramural sport.” We were also told that women must participate in all of the sports including wrestling!! I did not see a badminton court.
It was a wonderful experience.
Our guide (Mel) was terrific. He did not attend USNA but has been involved with government organizations for most of his career. He and his wife are “sponsor parents” which means that each year a USNA student can spend time on their leaves at their home (and do their laundry there too). They’ve had the pleasure of watching a dozen or so plebes make the four year journey through USNA. He proudly wore a hat from a ship command of one of his sponsored students.
Our guide Mel — in the yellow shirt — was terrific. He was incredibly knowledgeable and had a strong sense of being part of the USNA community.
On an entirely different note, I’ve determined that the steamed crab experience is one of those things that is better in the rear view mirror than in person. Our cracked crab dinner at Buddy’s was not nearly as wondrful as I imagined it would be. Cliff and I cracked crabs with our kids, parents et al about 40 years ago. I’m thinking once every 40 years is about right.
We look soooo much cheerier than we felt as we picked through steamed crabs. Not an A+ event. Not even a B- event. But a memory for sure. We’ll be recalling it for years I think.
