What is included in the Naval Academy's summer training program?

I'm thinking about applying to the Naval Academy and want to know more about their summer training program. What kinds of activities and experiences are part of it, and how intensive is it compared to other parts of the year?

The United States Naval Academy's summer training program is designed to provide a real-life exposure to life at the Academy and in the Navy in general. The program varies from year to year based on the class level, but it is typically a mix of physical, academic, and professional training.

For instance, the program for plebes, or freshmen, is called Plebe Summer. It's a seven-week long program designed to transition incoming students from civilian to military life. Plebe Summer is rigorous and physically demanding, involving conditioning exercises, swimming classes, seamanship training, and instruction on Naval traditions. It initially involves the notable Plebe Indoctrination week (also known as I-Day), which marks the beginning of the Plebe Summer. It is an intense week that includes uniform issue, haircuts, medical examinations, and a variety of in-processing procedures, culminating in the Oath of Office ceremony.

Moreover, upper-class students also engage in training during their summers at the Academy. These can include attending professional training in operational Navy or Marine Corps units, leadership training programs, or taking supplementary courses. For example, second-class Midshipmen (juniors) can participate in PROTRAMID (Professional Training for Midshipmen), where they sample four major warfare areas: Surface Warfare, Submarine Warfare, Aviation, and the Marine Corps.

It's worth mentioning, however, that the intensity of the summer training program tends to exceed the regular school year in terms of physical demand, though the academic year has its own rigors with a packed schedule of classes, athletics, and extracurricular activities.

In terms of comparison with other institutions, it's hard to give a one-size-fits-all answer, as it often depends on the structure of those programs and personal aptitude. What is sure, however, is that the US Naval Academy's summer training program is an essential part of officer development which reinforces discipline, leadership and physical prowess, similar to other service academies.