Naval academy traditions

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vibesonly2234

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Hey guys! So I was at west point yesterday, and I witnessed their ceremony in which they do everyday at 5, and its called retreat. I was wondering if the Naval Academey did anything like that?
 
There are tons of military traditions throughout all the services. And the service academies are no different. From noon formation in T-Court to chow calls throughout the day.

Check YouTube for USNA noon formation, Herndon climb, march-on to the football games, etc.

If there is one constant in the military, it is the adherence to "traditions." (At least until they are deemed inappropriate or offensive). Some are silly, some are beautiful to watch and will bring tears to a parent's eye every time. (Oops, I mean allergies).
 
IronmanDaremo said:
There are tons of military traditions throughout all the services. And the service academies are no different. From noon formation in T-Court to chow calls throughout the day.

Check YouTube for USNA noon formation, Herndon climb, march-on to the football games, etc.

If there is one constant in the military, it is the adherence to "traditions." (At least until they are deemed inappropriate or offensive). Some are silly, some are beautiful to watch and will bring tears to a parent's eye every time. (Oops, I mean allergies).
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Oh wow ok! Thats great to know, thanks so much! Very insightful I was there and I was like hmm idk if usna does this. Everyone has to stand at attention, so i'd assume that maybe they did do that.
 
Every day there is the posting and retreat of the colors. It is at a designated time. If you are anywhere on the Yard, you will stop, come to attention and salute if in uniform. All others on the Yard should stop as well, civilian or military.

That actually happens on all military bases. If you are on the color guard (the group assigned to raise and lower the flag daily), you will march on as a detail to the flagpole and have designated activities to do. While enlisted, this was one of the standard rotations you did as a young soldier (in my case in the Army).
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Every day there is the posting and retreat of the colors. It is at a designated time. If you are anywhere on the Yard, you will stop, come to attention and salute if in uniform. All others on the Yard should stop as well, civilian or military.

That actually happens on all military bases. If you are on the color guard (the group assigned to raise and lower the flag daily), you will march on as a detail to the flagpole and have designated activities to do. While enlisted, this was one of the standard rotations you did as a young soldier (in my case in the Army).
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To add to this; "Morning Colors" is always at 0800 and "Evening Colors" at sunset. Unless underway, then the Ensign/Flag remains up. "First Call" is played about 5 minutes before Morning/Evening colors letting everyone know it's about to happen basically. Taps is at 9:00PM/2100 and signifies "quit hour" / the end of the day. Also good note to add is that if you ever find your self driving on a Navy/military instillation while Morning/Evening colors or Retreat is going on, you should stop driving (when/if safe) until it ends. First time this happened to me while driving, I found it odd that everyone stopped their cars in the road until I lowered my windows and looked at the clock and realized.
 
fleet_app8771 said:
To add to this; "Morning Colors" is always at 0800 and "Evening Colors" at sunset. Unless underway, then the Ensign/Flag remains up. "First Call" is played about 5 minutes before Morning/Evening colors letting everyone know it's about to happen basically. Taps is at 9:00PM/2100 and signifies "quit hour" / the end of the day. Also good note to add is that if you ever find your self driving on a Navy/military instillation while Morning/Evening colors or Retreat is going on, you should stop driving (when/if safe) until it ends. First time this happened to me while driving, I found it odd that everyone stopped their cars in the road until I lowered my windows and looked at the clock and realized.
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Wait until you set foot aboard a USMC installation...people making a mad dash for the closest building when "First Call" is played :cool:
 
There is a plethora of traditions around Army-Navy week, or the week before the Army-Navy football game.One of my favorites is called, "carrier landings" I highly recommend looking up videos of it, it is quite the sight .

While I was touring the Academy, our guide was a member of the Class of '76 (fastest Herndon climb time) and he said that while he was there the kitchen and janitorial staff HATED Army-Navy week. In his time the food throwing got to the point that they would turn over tables to create cover.
 
TexasApplicant said:
There is a plethora of traditions around Army-Navy week, or the week before the Army-Navy football game.One of my favorites is called, "carrier landings" I highly recommend looking up videos of it, it is quite the sight .

While I was touring the Academy, our guide was a member of the Class of '76 (fastest Herndon climb time) and he said that while he was there the kitchen and janitorial staff HATED Army-Navy week. In his time the food throwing got to the point that they would turn over tables to create cover.
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Showed the littlest dude this, then we called in the Mid from his room to ask (Spring Break here). He said they've locked that down a lot and he didn't see that this year or last.

He did explain why the "Dirty 30" has that nickname and maybe something the Plebes hypothetically might do every year, but likely not ..... :bleh2:
 
GrilledCheese94 said:
Wait until you set foot aboard a USMC installation...people making a mad dash for the closest building when "First Call" is played :cool:
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Definitely second this…but I always scratch my head on what is so painful to stop and salute the raising or lowering of colors. It’s one thing if the timing works out and your pace gets you indoors before attention is sounded, but to run to get indoors before being caught by colors has always boggled my mind. And trying to get into a car really won’t help since you won’t be driving through colors. 🤔🫡

But one of the best parts of a CDO duty day (afloat) was observing evening colors as the sun sets on the waterfront, whether in homeport or overseas.
 
TexasApplicant said:
One of my favorites is called, "carrier landings" I highly recommend looking up videos of it, it is quite the sight .
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If still an applicant, you haven't seen " carrier landings". Possibly a USNA or "yawn" USAFA variant, but the real thing only occurs in the Fleet.. usually far removed from home and suitably lubricated. ( Is it still a thing in this kindler gentler Navy?).
 
Maybe it's too obvious, but is there a USNA tradition that's cooler than noon formation? I know it's not universally loved by mids. I realize it's as much for the tourists and visitors as it is for determining who's present and accounted for. It's still cool. Very cool.
 
While not tradition (as in repetition) itself, I think some of the clever hi jinx that some of the MIDN come up with contribute to morale and “traditions”…like the time one company moved (scrambled) the parade plates on Worden field for a parade about two weeks prior to Herndon. Every company was out of order, the alumni were laughing their rears off, and one company didn’t even have a spot to line up on and had to march back to Bancroft. The Marine Dep Dant was the only one not laughing.
 
vibesonly2234 said:
Hey guys! So I was at west point yesterday, and I witnessed their ceremony in which they do everyday at 5, and its called retreat. I was wondering if the Naval Academey did anything like that?
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As many have stated noon meal formation (loved by parents and tourists, not enjoyed by MIDNs), march on at all home football games, singing Blue & Gold after all sporting events, parades, morning and evening colors....

When visiting USNA for DS CVW, DW and I were just walking around the yard after a long day of presentations and tours. That Friday evening just before sunset, while strolling around the yard and taking in the sights of busy MIDNs running and walking around we heard the bugle call to attention. To our instant amazement every MIDN stopped where they were (including some that were running and others working out) turned to the nearest flag and came to attention until the final bugle sounded to carry on.

As a civilian, it was something that I found really inspiring. It reminded me of an awesome story the great Robin Williams told about a USO tour/show he was doing in I believe Afghanistan where mid joke, the whole crowd stood and turned their back on him when a bugle for colors played. It took him a second to realize what was happening and he joked that he thought his last joke really bombed when everyone turned their back to him. He later in an interview commented how moving it was to him.

I'm not sure if this link will work, but this video is also very cool.
At a club lacrosse game a couple weeks ago on Rip Miller field vs Towson the bugle blared during the game. Navy had possession, laid down their sticks, took off their gloves and helmets….and Towson followed suit. Just awesome. this is a great video of it...

navalacademytourism.com

Morning Colors On and Away from the Yard

You can visit and see the morning colors when you spend time at the Yard. Come and experience this important bit of Naval Academy history and feel its power.
navalacademytourism.com navalacademytourism.com

#NotCollege
 
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