Orientation

Summer Orientation is a week-long event designed to familiarize incoming midshipmen with the Navy and Marine Corps. Midshipmen are instructed on basic military knowledge such as: how to properly wear different uniforms, knowing and recognizing different military ranks and insignias, familiarizing themselves with the Uniform Code of Military Justice and particularly the laws that apply to them, and knowing their Chain of Command. They are also trained to march as a unit, and are expected to perform rigorous physical exercises.

A handful of select Midshipmen and active duty Marines and OCs already in the unit volunteer to guide the new Midshipmen recruits to this training evolution. These volunteers devote many days of their vacation time, preparing for the orientation months in advance to ensure that the evolution goes smoothly.

A typical day for the Midshipmen-in-training starts early: they are woken up at 0500 and run as a unit to the field, performing physical exercises. They run back to their barracks, shower, and march to the mess hall for breakfast. Then they march onto the drill pad, are taught basic marching moves, and practice marching as a unit. They march to the mess hall for lunch, and march back to the classrooms where they are trained on military knowledge. More marching practices in the afternoon, followed by dinner at 1700, and back to the barracks where they are drilled by their Sergeant Instructors on knowledge that they have learned for the day. Some time in the week, the midshipmen perform their first PFA, an assessment on their physical fitness, as well as pass their Swimming qualifications, a requirement for all Navy/Marine Corps personnel. At the end of the week, there is a small gathering/picnic, where midshipmen can socialize with their peers as well as their future Officer Instructors.

Summer Orientation not only helps the Midshipmen acclimate to a military environment, the night-and-day proximity with their fellow midshipmen fosters familiarity and camaraderie.

Midshipmen at the Mess Hall

Running during Morning PT