The pool was cold, the instructors were unrelenting, and the first week of summer training seemed designed for one purpose only: to make candidates quit. For Midshipman 1/C Lily Williams, that was exactly the point. She hadn’t signed up for Navy Search and Rescue (SAR) school in Jacksonville, Florida, expecting it to be easy - she had signed up to be tested.
3 min read
Shows of Strength: The USNA Sea Trials
At the United States Naval Academy, strength isn’t just measured in muscles—it’s tested through character, teamwork, and sheer willpower. From the very beginning of Plebe Summer to the final march across the stage at graduation and commissioning, each midshipman is shaped by a series of physical and mental challenges. One of the most grueling—and meaningful—of these milestones is the USNA Sea Trials, held each May.
3 min read
Navigating Toward Leadership: The USNA Summer Training and Yard Patrol
[UPDATED FOR 2025]
While a classroom is a great place to acquire knowledge, some skills are best learned through on-the-water experience. As midshipmen put their classroom instruction to practical use, these lessons are reinforced and retained more effectively. While topics like navigation and seamanship may begin with textbooks and lectures, true mastery comes through immersive, real-world training.
