I always kind of felt like this made us "real".
"During times of war, members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard engage in combat, but the students at their respective service academies do not. However, the students of the USMMA receive an integral part of their training at sea, and in the Second World War often found their lives in peril as they sailed through enemy-controlled waters or unloaded precious cargo in overseas combat areas. In all, 142 such cadet/midshipmen never returned to home port."
Taken from
https://www.usmma.edu/about/battle-standard
No self-respecting service academy graduate would disparage another beyond good natured joking, because they know what it takes to get through any of them.