Opportunities in company leadership at the Naval Academy

Can someone explain what company leadership roles exist at the Naval Academy? What responsibilities do these roles entail and how does one become a leader within their company?

At the United States Naval Academy, the "company" is the basic organizational unit for Midshipmen, similar to how a high school might organize students into homerooms, and there are a variety of leadership roles within these companies. A company is made up of about 150 to 160 midshipmen, from all four years, much like a cross section of the brigade.

The structure of a company's leadership is quite similar to that of a Navy or Marine Corps unit, and there are several key leadership roles that midshipmen can take on:

1. Company Commander: Usually a First Class Midshipman (senior), the Company Commander is responsible for everything the company does or fails to do. They interact directly with officers and enlisted personnel assigned to the company and are the primary liaison between the company and the rest of the Brigade.

2. Executive Officer (XO): The XO assists the Company Commander with the administration of the company. The XO is responsible for standards regarding uniform and room inspections, and performs other duties as prescribed by the Company Commander.

3. Company Adjutant: The adjutant maintains the Morning Report to track the accountability of the company and assists the executive officer.

4. Platoon Commanders: Platoon commanders are responsible for the well-being, discipline, training, and conduct of the platoon. They are directly responsible for the platoon's appearance, military bearing, cleanliness, and physical condition.

These positions often rotate every semester, or yearly to give as many midshipmen as possible an experience in leadership. Positions are generally filled based on merit and performance in previous roles and classes.

Additionally, the Naval Academy takes a multi-year, stepped approach to leadership development. Freshman year (Fourth Class year) is about fellowship and understanding systems and rules. Sophomore year (Third Class year) is about leadership in small teams. Junior year (Second Class year) you're leading groups and dealing with individual performance, and senior year (First Class year) you're in high-level leadership understanding organizational behavior—leading those teams and groups.

It's a well-structured system designed to expose midshipmen to increasingly responsible leadership positions in preparation for their future careers as Naval officers. It's what distinguishes service academies from traditional colleges.