How does officer training work at the United States Naval Academy?

I'm curious about what the officer training entails at the United States Naval Academy. How intensive is it, and what kind of leadership skills do you develop through the program?

At the United States Naval Academy (USNA), officer training is an integral part of the academic and military programs. The program's primary aim is to equip future officers with practical leadership skills and instill a deep understanding of the Navy's professional values and standards. It's quite intensive and combines academic studies, military training, physical fitness, and character and ethical development to ensure midshipmen are prepared for their roles in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

In terms of practical leadership training, midshipmen start understanding the basics of naval leadership from their plebe (freshman) year and progressively assume higher leadership positions within their company over their four years at the Academy. The structure of the academy itself facilitates this, with upperclassmen taking on various leadership roles within their company of around 150 students.

In addition, the Naval Academy's leadership education and training include classroom instruction, workshops, experiential learning opportunities, and assessments. These can include courses in ethics, military law, management, and naval leadership. For example, the "Naval Leadership" course simulates real-world leadership scenarios and the development of leadership skills through experiential learning.

Also, significant emphasis is placed on teamwork and developing leadership skills through physical programs, including competitive athletics and various extracurricular activities. There is also a Professional Training-Midshipmen (PROTRAMID) program for third-year midshipmen carried out in the summer, which further exposes them to the Fleet and operational Navy and Marine Corps units.

Overall, the officer training at USNA is designed to be rigorous and highly formative, developing midshipmen into leaders with character, competence, and compassion.