What is officer training like at the US Naval Academy?

I'm curious about the officer training process at the US Naval Academy. What does it involve, and what are the key skills and experiences I'll gain if I pursue this path?

Officer training at the U.S. Naval Academy involves an intensive, four-year program designed to instruct, challenge, and prepare midshipmen for their careers in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. The program incorporates a blend of both academic and physical education, in addition to leadership training and military development.

Upon admission to the Naval Academy, all midshipmen embark on a rigorous regimen called "Plebe Summer" during the first summer at the academy. This period is designed to transition students from civilian life to military life. The summer consists of intense physical and mental training, including drills, inspections, and physical fitness sessions, among others.

During your four years, you'll be partaking in academic coursework, including majors that range from aerospace engineering to political science. The Academy places a heavy emphasis on STEM fields, but offers a solid liberal arts education as well.

Also integral to your training will be ongoing physical education classes and athletic activities, which ensure that all incoming officers meet the high physical standards of the Navy or Marine Corps. The Naval Academy believes that competitive sports build leadership, resilience, and team spirit, so all midshipmen participate in an NCAA, club, or intramural team each semester.

Character and leadership development is also crucial. Through experiences like leadership courses, participating in competitive ethics essay contests, leadership workshops, interactive role playing, and puppet shows on moral decision-making, midshipmen are encouraged to cultivate a strong moral compass and gain a better understanding of ethical decision-making.

In addition, throughout their training, midshipmen are assigned different leadership positions within the Brigade of Midshipmen, ranging from squad leader all the way up to the brigade commander, providing hands-on leadership experience.

Lastly, midshipmen also partake in Protramid and LREC during their summer breaks. Protramid is a program for second-year (third-class) midshipmen where they experience what life is like in various fields in both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. LREC allows midshipmen to immerse themselves in an unfamiliar culture to better understand international relations and diplomacy.

Upon completion of the program, midshipmen graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as officers in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps. The newly commissioned officers then embark on a five-year active duty service obligation. Many graduates go on to hold positions of significant leadership in the U.S. military, and many have had distinguished careers in business, academia, politics, and other fields.