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USMC1550

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Jul 4, 2015
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Hi, I'm currently a newly minted 3/C midshipman and I'm willing to answer any questions you all may have, from NASS to NAPS to academy life itself.
 
I am to USNASS tomorow and I don't know how to swim. What should I do or tell them? Do they tolerate it?
 
DS took SS last year and he said they asked before going in, and the participants that couldn't swim stayed off to a particular area. When we took the tour, our guide said that you don't need to be able to swim one stroke to get into the academy (but you will know how by the time you leave). Good luck, it's a great experience.
 
Just tell them you can’t swim. If you decide USNA is the path for you, then I would highly recommend swim lessons during the application process. It’s a great workout and life long skill. It will also make swim class much easier at USNA and one thing you don’t have to stress about.
 
I have a few questions boss about Plebe summer. I read in the PTR that books like daily devotionals are not recommended. Just wondering if items like these and journals or diaries will be allowed or confiscated. Thanks for the help.
 
NavyHoops said:
Just tell them you can’t swim. If you decide USNA is the path for you, then I would highly recommend swim lessons during the application process. It’s a great workout and life long skill. It will also make swim class much easier at USNA and one thing you don’t have to stress about.
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^ This ! You don't need to be able to swim to attend USNA, but being comfortable in the water is a life skill that may save your life someday. First, even if you "tell them you can't swim", "they" may make you prove it. I recall one of my NAPS classmates telling the training staff that he couldn't swim, but they made him do the tower jump anyway, and picked him off the bottom of the pool. (Classmate was a a roommate for a year at NAPS before he got ac boarded out, and to this day I think that was one of the bravest things I've ever seen -- jumping into a pool knowing you cant swim). He was put on sub-squad and learned to swim before NAPS was done.

You don't have to be a great swimmer....but most of what you do in the Navy will be in and around water. I live near the Mississippi River, and so many people drown unnecessarily because they fall in, can't swim. You don't have to be a great swimmer, you just need to be able to get yourself to safety.

Finally, if you have dreams of flying, alot of preliminary Aviation Indoctrination involves swimming. It's like some mad scientist comes up with ways to torture people in the water. The Single seat dunker (watch Officer and Gentleman), parachute drags, and my favorite , the help (or multi -seat) dunker. Being comfortable in the water makes life alot easier.

I was fortunate, I was a swimmer when I was young ...so all this was easy. USNA recognizes that not everyone has that background, so swimming is a major part of the physical ed program. If you are a swimmer, you can validate (and as a Plebe, that extra 2-3 free hours a week was welcome !) But if you aren't a swimmer...Navy will teach you.
 
Actually if you don’t know how to swim and go with the others who can’t and give it a shot, it will look good. You will stand out. It will show effort. They won’t let you drown.
 
Get swim lessons before you go. You may not validate a class, but it will make life easier.

Funny story about validation. Both Mids are strong swimmers, but one was All State. He had a wrist injury in the late summer and thought he might need a cast. Would have missed validation swim and been forced to take the swimming class. The time for a score of 100 was about twice his best time (not quite but close enough), so that would have sucked. So, he delayed getting wrist checked and gutted out the swim. Said his stroke was weird but still got the 100. Whoever was timing him told him he might want to get that wrist checked. It was a sprain.
 
JC2022 said:
I have a few questions boss about Plebe summer. I read in the PTR that books like daily devotionals are not recommended. Just wondering if items like these and journals or diaries will be allowed or confiscated. Thanks for the help.
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I don't remember anyone bringing any sort of books for my PS. I make the occasional entry into a journal but did not bring it to PS. To be honest, you won't have any time for extracurricular reading/writing. If it is truly important to you, have your parents send it to you while in PS. When you open the box at B&G in front of the detailers, they will determine if you can keep it or not. Worst they can say is no and you get it back at the end of the summer.
 
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