Plebe Summer

During this time, the parents of the plebes are given a glimpse of the summer that their son or daughters will be going through in the form of a presentation by an administrator of the Academy.

After the 45 minutes is up, the plebes re-assemble by company on Stribling Walk and march into Bancroft Hall, starting their time at the Academy.

The plebe's rates consist of knowledge of the enlisted and officer ranks of all branches in the military, proficiency in the NATO phonetic alphabet, information on all current Navy and Marine Corps ships and aircraft, and certain quotes which promote esprit de corps.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself on a worthy cause; who at the best in the end knows the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.The plebes learn to live based on the "Plan of the Day", a planned list of activities (all mandatory) which the plebes will experience each day.

The plebes' days begin at 5:30 in the morning (referred to as 0530 Military time) as they are loudly awoken by the cadre and escorted to a field where they participate in PEP (Physical Education Program).

[4] PEP consists of various calisthenics and a run (either as a regiment or in groups based on an initial strength test) of increasing distance.

[4] The rest of the average daily schedule is composed of various physical activities in addition to numerous classes on Naval oriented study.

On most days the plebes practice marching in formation with their issued rifles in what is called "close order drill".

Every night of Plebe Summer ends the same way: 30 minutes of free time to write letters followed by the singing of the Navy Blue and Gold before mandatory lights out at 2145.

[11] Official parades are commonly held every week to provide the town of Annapolis with a glimpse of the new class and also to solidify the plebes' drill ability.