USNA VISIT

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seb.g.b

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Not sure if this is the correct place to post this but if it's not if any of the mods can let me know I'll be more than happy to take this down and post it in a more appropriate place.

I'll be visiting USNA in a week and was wondering if there's anything on the site itself worth taking a while at or anything special about the Yard I should take big note towards? As well as any locations around it that is worth visiting as well? Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
 
We will be there tomorrow. Never been before, so I am no expert. I will post my impressions.

We have been in Baltimore for a couple of days. Enjoyed a game at Camden Yards, the most beautiful ballpark I have ever been to. Went on a sailing tour of Baltimore harbor. Looked at the museum ships. Walked around Ft. McHenry. Rode the water taxi. Had some crab cakes. I would say Camden Yards has been the highlight.
 
I know there are tours available of the yard (I think admissions or the visitors center gives them, but I am not 100% sure....you can find it on the website). You would get more information, historic tidbits, etc. from something like this vs. just wandering around by yourself.
 
Tour of the yard. Sign up at visitor’s center. Admissions brief is given daily. Check the website for times. The USNA museum is great also.
 
NJROTC-CC said:
We will be there tomorrow. Never been before, so I am no expert. I will post my impressions.

We have been in Baltimore for a couple of days. Enjoyed a game at Camden Yards, the most beautiful ballpark I have ever been to. Went on a sailing tour of Baltimore harbor. Looked at the museum ships. Walked around Ft. McHenry. Rode the water taxi. Had some crab cakes. I would say Camden Yards has been the highlight.
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Thank you. Let me know any suggestions you have and what you thought!
 
I second 'Just-Do- it', and Hoops The USNA Museum is a nice place to spend an hour or two. Much better if you have an USN event/s or person/s that you have an interest in. If you have time a book like 'Six Frigates', 'Dawn like Thunder', 'Shattered Sword', 'Neptunes Inferno','Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailor', Etc.. Will add some feeling for the role the USNA has played in US/World History. If you don't have that kinda time, I like this site https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/ships/ships-of-sail/uss-constitution-Americas-ship-of-state.html or just google for some vids on Midway, Guadalcanal, War of 1812 , etc., -----Spend 2 hrs on background of the place and it will be more fun to be there. I mean unless you know what a Long Lance torpedo is and why the USNA thought it worthy of preserving/displaying------------ its just a big-ass torpedo.

I'd also take a 1/2 hour to just randomly look at some of the Mids who have given their lives in service of the USA. Go here: USNA_Virtual_Memorial_Hall pick year after 1890 (because there wasn't a Lucky Bag annual before 1894). If you pick war years, I guess some of the entries are more interesting. Whatever period year or name you pick, you will get their Lucky Bag description (how other Mids saw their classmate). You can read entries from friends/shipmates about their fallen comrade, along with citations, Obits, medals, Etc. I can't think of anything that brings home what the USNA is, Who the Mids are as a group, and what they collectively represent better than reading a few entries from https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/USNA_Virtual_Memorial_Hall.

BTW: I think that the USNA is better in the morning than afternoon-----cooler/tighter/more about the business of the USNA and less about tour groups.
 
O.K. We just finished our visit to USNA and we are at BWI waiting for our flight home. We were not disappointed. The beauty of the grounds and the architecture lived up to and exceeded my expectations. We went on the public walking tour. We caught the noon formation just after the guided tour ended. It was impressive, but it was a very hot day (between 93 and 96) and I felt sorry for the plebes in formation. We visited the museum. There was a funeral for a flag officer when we arrived and we heard the cannon salute. I was very impressed with the 15 minute video overview of the Academy that we watched in the visitors center. We also go a chance to chat with a young Marine Major from Arizona in the visitors center. We did not stay for the admissions briefing because our schedule did not allow for it. However, I feel that we have learned just about all we need to know about the admissions process from this forum (thank you all) as well as the USNA web site.
 
NJROTC-CC said:
… It was impressive, but it was a very hot day (between 93 and 96) and I felt sorry for the plebes in formation. ...
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The air outside is thick and lazy today. It's getting hotter too. The forecast doesn't look good for the next 7 days … or more.
.
 
Dr. Strange Love said:
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The air outside is thick and lazy today. It's getting hotter too. The forecast doesn't look good for the next 7 days … or more.
.
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Rx:
Pool. Tart cold beverages. Send DH to grill and keep the oven off. Enjoy homegrown tomatoes and Eastern Shore sweet corn. Go to Italian Market on Defense Highway, eat gelato, get gelato to go.
 
NJROTC-CC said:
We did not stay for the admissions briefing because our schedule did not allow for it. However, I feel that we have learned just about all we need to know about the admissions process from this forum (thank you all) as well as the USNA web site.
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Given your time constraints, I generally agree with this - DS and I attended a daily admissions briefing last winter and we (plus DW) also sat through the same presentation (different officer) on the first night of CVW in the spring. DS remarked to me both times that, while it was very informative and worthwhile, there was little he didn’t already know in terms of the admissions presentation material.

That said, here are a few points that were stressed by admissions which we found helpful:
* DO NOT be discouraged if you apply to and do not get into NASS - continue your USNA application regardless
* Take standardized tests early and often - USNA superscores and there’s NO maximum amount of scores a candidate can submit
* Although the admissions statistics are daunting, understand that just by completing the ENTIRE application and passing CFA and medical, a candidate’s odds of receiving an appointment increase notably (though still quite difficult, of course).

If you return to USNA for either a regular visit or CVW, definitely plan to attend the briefing. Glad you had an enjoyable trip!

(Btw, this is my first time replying and quoting another post, so hopefully it came out correctly!)
 
Also, I got video of the Battalion of Plebes as they marched into Bancroft Hall as the Plebe band played John Phillip Souza's "The Thunderer" at the end of formation. I am very glad we caught that. I would say noon formation is a must for all who visit
 
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Just Dad said:
I second 'Just-Do- it', and Hoops The USNA Museum is a nice place to spend an hour or two. Much better if you have an USN event/s or person/s that you have an interest in. If you have time a book like 'Six Frigates', 'Dawn like Thunder', 'Shattered Sword', 'Neptunes Inferno','Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailor', Etc.. Will add some feeling for the role the USNA has played in US/World History. If you don't have that kinda time, I like this site https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/ships/ships-of-sail/uss-constitution-Americas-ship-of-state.html or just google for some vids on Midway, Guadalcanal, War of 1812 , etc., -----Spend 2 hrs on background of the place and it will be more fun to be there. I mean unless you know what a Long Lance torpedo is and why the USNA thought it worthy of preserving/displaying------------ its just a big-*** torpedo.

I'd also take a 1/2 hour to just randomly look at some of the Mids who have given their lives in service of the USA. Go here: USNA_Virtual_Memorial_Hall pick year after 1890 (because there wasn't a Lucky Bag annual before 1894). If you pick war years, I guess some of the entries are more interesting. Whatever period year or name you pick, you will get their Lucky Bag description (how other Mids saw their classmate). You can read entries from friends/shipmates about their fallen comrade, along with citations, Obits, medals, Etc. I can't think of anything that brings home what the USNA is, Who the Mids are as a group, and what they collectively represent better than reading a few entries from https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/USNA_Virtual_Memorial_Hall.

BTW: I think that the USNA is better in the morning than afternoon-----cooler/tighter/more about the business of the USNA and less about tour groups.
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Thanks so much for this! (2023 plebe parent still learning)
 
NJROTC-CC said:
Also, I got video of the Battalion of Plebes as they marched into Bancroft Hall as the Plebe band played John Phillip Souza's "The Thunderer" at the end of formation. I am very glad we caught that. I would say noon formation is a must for all who visit
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I’d love to see that!
 
NJROTC-CC said:
It was impressive, but it was a very hot day (between 93 and 96) and I felt sorry for the plebes in formation
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This statement just caused a traumatic flashback...complete with the smell of new whiteworks soaked in sweat ! After graduation I swore that I would never visit Annapolis/DC again during the summer months, but have broken that vow a few times over the years.

It's funny, last week one of my classmates made a post on social media commemorating the 38th anniversary of our I day. I was on vacation in New England at the time, and just coincidentally had decided to wear a Plebe issue , blue ring t shirt that day. (Many of my tshirts are Navy/USNA related!). It was a hot and humid day, and I quickly realized that those blue ring tshirts are simply sweat generators , and had another Plebe summer flashback !

As an aside, I don't feel sorry for the Plebes at all .... it's great to see that some things don't change !
 
My DS (a current Plebe) is an excessive sweater when he's active - always has been - just the way he is. May have something to do with the fact that his genetics are influenced by centuries of living above the Arctic Circle. When he nordic skis he cannot wear more than one layer of clothes and cannot wear gloves because he sweats so much through his hands (even at 20-below). He keeps hydrated and the machine (body) does what it's supposed to do (and very well, apparently). But he told me it has alarmed his detailers. They were put into a front leaning rest and he had what he describes as "a swimming pool of sweat" forming on the floor under him - so much so that they have pulled him aside and asked if he is okay. It will be interesting to find out how he does in the current heat wave. But he told us in the first call that everything he wears needs to be wrung out over the sink.
 
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