When you're in your 2/c year you said about weekends and a car! Could you elaborate on that
Once you have ready access to a car, your social life picks up a bit. Of the three service academies, the Naval Academy is, by far, the strictest with regards to cars. That has a lot to do with the fact that it is, by far, the smallest (in acreage) of all the academies and parking space is limited.
Plebes - basically, can never even be
in a car. (there are a few exceptions)
Youngsters - can
ride in cars but can't
drive them.
2/C - can drive cars but they can't drive them or park them in the Yard.
1/C - can drive cars and park then in the Yard.
Ironically, in the "old days", when things were ostensibly "tougher", 2/C
could park their cars in the Yard (although they were really crappy parking spots). But additional buildings have been built since then and the available parking spots have decreased - thus necessitating the stricter policy.
It is hard for Naval Academy midshipmen to wrap their minds around the fact that Doolies (that is USAFA for "Plebe") actually borrow the cars of the firsties during liberty. But it's SEVEN MILES from the dorms to the front gate at the Air Force Academy. At USNA, you can easily walk to the front gate, take a few steps into town, order a pizza, and bring back to your room.