NStar Articles

Throughout their time at the Academy, midshipmen must regularly prove their strength. It starts as soon as they arrive; Plebe Summer is the first test of physical, mental, and emotional endurance, lasting approximately seven weeks. At the end of their Plebe Year, midshipmen must also conquer a “capstone event,” the extremely difficult Navy Sea Trials, which take place in May and are not open to the public. Sea Trials represent the culmination of an incredibly challenging and fulfilling year.

There’s nothing that brings people together like breaking bread and sharing a meal. When you’re bringing more than 4,400 midshipmen together, that’s a lot of bread and a lot of meals. In the Naval Academy dining hall, King Hall, this feat is performed three times a day. It’s run like a ship because they’re preparing the future Navy for the rhythm of mealtimes aboard a ship. Also, how else can you feed that volume of people so efficiently?