Women at USNA

june4th

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2010
Messages
20
How are women treated at the academy?

Also heard Plebe summer was being shorten to 5 weeks? Any truth to that?
 
I would also like to know the answer to this, my mom seems to be worried that I wont be treated well while there.
 
I'm female and I'd answer but for the fact that my data is over 25 yrs old:eek: and I'm pretty sure things are different/better today. Also, it's hard to answer how women are treated in a general sense. Rest assured that, even in my day, when women were 8% minority, we weren't mistreated. Now that women make up closer to 25% of each class, things are better for that reason alone.

If you have specific questions, please ask here or PM me.
 
I would also like to know the answer to this, my mom seems to be worried that I wont be treated well while there.

A question similar to this was recently asked on the USNA parents list serve. While I cannot repost any answers here, I can assure you that dozens of parents responded with descriptions of the positive experiences their current or former female Mids had at USNA.

I can tell you from my daughter's experience that women at USNA are treated as equals so long as they pull their weight. Classmates and upperclassmen want to see each person trying their hardest and doing their best. She has made many great friendships in her almost two years there, and even though she would never want to repeat Plebe year, she is certain that USNA is right for her.
 
Female Mids are treated the same way male Mids are. In other words, they are treated the way their behavior dictates they deserve to be treated.

Carry your weight and do your best, and you'll likely be treated better at a SA than at your average "enlightened" institute of "higher learning".
 
A few years ago I asked a female mid (USNA 97 or 98) I had worked with a similar question - her response was that it was pretty much like high school - it was about as much as she wanted to make of it. If someone was being offensive she would tell them she didn't have time for the nonsense and most guys got the message. She was very busy with cheerleading and other school activities in addition to her academics, etc, and really didn't have time to be overly concerned. She did note that she felt very safe at NAVY, safe enough to put on her joggers and run around the Yard at night, knowing that it was well patrolled and that she could go to any quarters in the Yard and would be safe and helped as needed. A 2009 grad reported pretty much the same feeling. I am sure there are problems from time to time, but as above, take a look at many of the civilian schools and the problems they have.
 
The hardest part for many women is the fine line b/t "being one of the guys" and maintaining your femininity. I found that the women who tended to be happiest and most successful were "one of the team" rather than "one of the guys" and yet were comfortable being women (not just mids) when that was appropriate.

The biggest thing that you can do as a woman to prove yourself, especially early on, is to BE IN SHAPE, especially when it comes to RUNNING. Take it from someone who was physically fit (not overweight), could do pushups and situps and swim, etc. but could not run well for the life of me. It was noticed.

So, ladies out there, if you do nothing else between now & I-Day, work on your speed and endurance in running. Be able to run 7:00 minute miles or better for 3-5 miles and you'll be golden. You don't have to outrun the guys -- you just want to be in the pack with the women (and be able to outrun the slow guys). I cannot stress this enough.

As for everything else, don't stress. Women now make up nearly 25% of the brigade (as compared to 8% in my day). There are lots of other women in your class and in the brigade as a whole. You'll be fine from a safety standpoint, a harrassment/hassling standpoint . . . and you'll make female and male friends for life.
 
The only thing I can say, as a guy, is don't get off on the wrong foot with the other girls in your company, because you run out of roommate options really quick. We had one girl, that created a big fight every year because none of the other girls wanted to room with her.
 
The hardest part for many women is the fine line b/t "being one of the guys" and maintaining your femininity. I found that the women who tended to be happiest and most successful were "one of the team" rather than "one of the guys" and yet were comfortable being women (not just mids) when that was appropriate.

The biggest thing that you can do as a woman to prove yourself, especially early on, is to BE IN SHAPE, especially when it comes to RUNNING. Take it from someone who was physically fit (not overweight), could do pushups and situps and swim, etc. but could not run well for the life of me. It was noticed.

So, ladies out there, if you do nothing else between now & I-Day, work on your speed and endurance in running. Be able to run 7:00 minute miles or better for 3-5 miles and you'll be golden. You don't have to outrun the guys -- you just want to be in the pack with the women (and be able to outrun the slow guys). I cannot stress this enough.

As for everything else, don't stress. Women now make up nearly 25% of the brigade (as compared to 8% in my day). There are lots of other women in your class and in the brigade as a whole. You'll be fine from a safety standpoint, a harrassment/hassling standpoint . . . and you'll make female and male friends for life.

She's right. Running is the thing guys look at the most when it comes to physical fitness, especially with the plebe workouts. I know there have been times where I was injured and had to fall out and was met with disappointed looks and other times where I kept up with the guys and got a lot of respect for it.

Basically: Pull your own weight, as much as you can, and show that you're trying the hardest you can.
 
So, ladies out there, if you do nothing else between now & I-Day, work on your speed and endurance in running. Be able to run 7:00 minute miles or better for 3-5 miles and you'll be golden. You don't have to outrun the guys -- you just want to be in the pack with the women (and be able to outrun the slow guys). I cannot stress this enough.

Oh man.... if the girls have top run 7 minute miles for 3-5 miles, then what should the guys run to be towards the front?!?
 
Oh, 7 minutes/mile for 3-5 miles isn't the fastest woman's time. My daughter, who considers herself a slow runner, can do that. :shake:
 
7 minutes? Uh, oh im in big trouble for a person thats never played a sport. How do I even get down to a 7 minutes mile? just run?
 
7 minutes? Uh, oh im in big trouble for a person thats never played a sport. How do I even get down to a 7 minutes mile? just run?

If it makes you feel better, four years ago the same daughter who can now comfortably run long distances at 7 min/mile, took over 14 minutes for her first timed 1.5 mile "run." :eek:

Between now and I-day, just follow the DAILY workout plan that USNA sends out (or get it from the USNA phys ed dept web page), and you'll be fine. Be sure to alternate running with swimming, biking, or some other aerobic exercise that's low impact. You do NOT want to develop shin splints.

During Plebe Summer, they will start out with running by company, but eventually they do the runs by timed groups (i.e., fast runners of all companies together). You don't want to be so slow that you "fall out" from your company, and you don't want to be in the last timed group if you can help it. Prepare well now, and then just do your best. If you ever feel that you can't keep up, look around at your classmates, and help each other. Stick together. You really will be fine.
 
This running thing is good advice. My son, a non-runner, went to NAPS and became friends w/ a former Marine Sgt. She is tough as nails, more than a foot shorter than he is, different race, and also not a runner. I treasure plebe summer photos of the two of them @ the back of the pack, so physically dissimilar except for the frothy sweat covering them both.

RUN NOW. You will be so glad you did!
 
7 minutes? Uh, oh im in big trouble for a person thats never played a sport. How do I even get down to a 7 minutes mile? just run?

I ran cross country for a season. Our races were 3 miles so the way we trained was running long slow distance during the summer for awhile to build up endurance. Then we added a few speed workouts in which consisted of running shorter distances at a faster pace (such as 1/4 miles, 1/2 miles and 1 miles). So I would recommend to look at the USNA workout plan thing but yes, just get out there and run for now haha.
 
Check with the track coach at your h.s., even if you don't run track. Tell him/her your goals and where you are now in terms of running fitness and ask for help with a program. (The USNA one works well too).

The key is NOT to quit in June. It's very easy once you start graduation week, beach week, whatever week to start sitting around and munching popcorn. Be sure to stick w/your program until a day or two before I-Day.

Guys should be able to run 6:00-6:15 miles for 3-5 miles to keep up with the middle of the pack of guys. I think the only thing worse than a slow female runner is a guy who is slower than the mainstream girls (not the female trackletes).
 
Check with the track coach at your h.s., even if you don't run track. Tell him/her your goals and where you are now in terms of running fitness and ask for help with a program. (The USNA one works well too).

The key is NOT to quit in June. It's very easy once you start graduation week, beach week, whatever week to start sitting around and munching popcorn. Be sure to stick w/your program until a day or two before I-Day.

Guys should be able to run 6:00-6:15 miles for 3-5 miles to keep up with the middle of the pack of guys. I think the only thing worse than a slow female runner is a guy who is slower than the mainstream girls (not the female trackletes).

No sports teams at my school so no coach but I will definitely be running a lot. Thank you for the advice.
 
As a parent of a midshipman daughter, I can't comment on the day to day life of female midshipman because I'm not there to see it. What I do see are the results and opportunities that life at the Academy bring to every midshipman. The Academy is a leadership school and the opportunities to lead are based on desire and talent not just gender.

Some general observations I've learned from my female mid:

Respect as a female is all important. It's earned not given.

Plebe Summer starts the process of team building. Even if you're not a good athlete if you give 100%+ effort your squad will rally around you so you finish together and they will respect you. If you quit or say you can't it will not be good for you.

Yes, females have lower physical standards but the real goals for females are the minimum male standards. Your female Firstys will impart this knowledge on you as it is a respect issue. True example: To get her plebes ready for PRT's, my mid had the company plebes out at 0500 for a 5 mile run in the snow. About half way through the run she passes a mid-pack group of male plebes and tells them to get their #### in gear. She then accelerates to catch up with the lead pack, as she does she hears a male voice behind her say "#### she's fast". That is respect at the Academy and she was laughing inside.

If you are not already a varsity athlete, tryout for some of the club or top intramural teams. These teams can give a brief respite from normal plebe life and present great opportunities for lifetime friendships outside the Company. Also, these teams travel and complete against other colleges. It's a huge sense of pride to pull on a jersey and say you play for Navy.

Parents , you daughters will adapt and do fine at the Academy.
 
I strongly recommend to all my candidates that they include distance running as part of their fitness program. It will build stamina and improve their capacity to recover from exertion. These traits will serve them well during plebe summer in the former swamplands of the Bay Area.
 
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