Boyfriend/Girlfriend

jimbob

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2011
Messages
20
Hey,

I was just wondering whether or not anybody on this forum had a boyfriend/girlfriend during their time at the academy. :shake: thanks!
 
I'm aware of sometimes inside of the Brigade, but I was referring to someone from your home town or even a local college.
 
I can think of a few of my classmates who had significant other from the outside that lasted....a majority however did not last. Different academy, but I would suspect the same is true elsewhere.

It's just hard to keep it going. Get close to your classmates, have little time for other things....they find others too. BUT it CAN work!
 
I live in china my boyfriend lives in america... we're going on three years, it can work.
 
Over the years we have been sponsoring midshipmen, both men and women, all have had some degree of lovelife. Some are serial daters, and never seem to have a problem with finding someone. Some experienced extended droughts, but used that time to bond with company mates, same-sex friends and "just friends" of the opposite sex. A few, very few, managed to stick with the pre-USNA girl or boyfriend. Many dated other mids. Others met sisters/brothers/friends of roommates/teammates/classmates, or students at the many area colleges in DC and Baltimore. One met the daughter of an officer on the Yard during plebe book issue, and they are now married. Several used match.com, with one marriage coming out of that. With that many single, fit young people circulating on the Yard, all variations and intensities of "lovelife" can occur. Logistically, with liberty/car/duty/civvies restrictions, it can be a bit more challenging, but mids have been managing to have dates for as long as USNA has been around.
 
Hey,

I was just wondering whether or not anybody on this forum had a boyfriend/girlfriend during their time at the academy. :shake: thanks!

Yeah, I had a girlfriend when I went to the Naval Academy (1970's) - but I hardly ever saw her. We met in high school. She was a freshman and I was a sophomore. We dated for seven years and now we've been married for 31 years. As I tell her, "I'm too lazy to divorce you." :smile:

By the way, she graduated from the University of Missouri (i.e. Mizzou) and was actually pulling for Navy when Navy played Mizzou in the Texas Bowl a couple years ago - which just goes to show you how fickle women are.

Not too many people keep their girlfriend/boyfriend once they enter the academy. The standing joke (with no substantiation) is that only 2% graduate with the same girlfriend/boyfriend they started with.

But, I'm guessing you wanted a more contemporary viewpoint, huh?
 
Alot of Midshipmen come to the Academy with boyfriends/girlfriends, but very very few leave with the same ones. I can only think of three relationships that survived the Academy and are currently still married over a decade later. There were more who survived the Academy and were married Commissioning Week, but the marriages didn't survive. It is difficult, because as mentioned above logistics, schedules, etc. It becomes easier when you become a 2/C with cars, weekends, etc. Also those four years of school are huge growth spurts in life in general. With two people growing in maturity, goals, likes/dislikes and doing them separately it does not always match up in the end. Nothing wrong with it, just life.
 
My Youngster DS and his girlfriend are still together. She's at Notre Dame. Her family is full of USNA grads so that might help her perspective. Don't know their future, but getting through Plebe year was a huge accomplishment. They then backpacked through China together over the summer.

Whatever will be will be, but for any relationship to survive it will take thoughtfulness, complete trust, and understanding. Handwritten letters have become treasured momentos of their relationship.

It will be difficult but it shouldn't be a chore.
 
When you're in your 2/c year you said about weekends and a car! Could you elaborate on that:shake:
 
You cannot drive 3/C or 4/C year (except while on leave). 2/C year you can own and operate a car, but not drive or park on the yard (without specific permission). 1/C year you can own, operate and park your car on the yard. Parking is pretty limited.

Every class rates a certain amount of liberty, to include weekends or overnights. Traditionally plebes do not get any weekends or overnights, although they have been given. When Navy beat Delaware the other day the Supt gave the Brigade an overnight. Not sure on the amount of weekends given to upperclass now, but by the time you are a firstie there are quiet a few. I think I had nearly one every weekend I did not have duty. Some Supt's give more weekends then others.
 
That's USNA....for cadets at other academies, make sure you can have a car 2/c before you get one.... if you're at CGA DON'T do it.... big ole Class I offense if you do.
 
DS (plebe) and his girlfriend are still together. They have been dating approx 3 1/2 years. It isn't easy, but they are making it work so far. She came to PPW and will visit him on her fall break in October. He made sure he wrote to her often over plebe summer, took her on a date over PPW, and sent her flowers after she got settled into her dorm this fall. It takes effort on both sides.
 
When you're in your 2/c year you said about weekends and a car! Could you elaborate on that:shake:

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.
 
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).
The "old days" of which I am familiar, no one was allowed to have a car within the seven mile limit prior to spring break of their first class year. A lot of local citizens rented their garages to second and first class (and even a few youngsters). As a youngster, I had my car right outside Gate 1. Second class year, a little more nervous, I kept it further out in Eastport. First class year, with graduation looming, I kept it "legally" outside the seven mile limit in Severna Park.
 
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