Who are the "detailers" or "upperclassmen" at NAPS?

[ABCDE_2026]

Hello. This is a pretty random question, but I was wondering who teaches the new students who go to NAPS since it's only a one year long program? There isn't really much time to have an upper-class and lower-class, right? Do Naval Academy Midshipmen "staff" their indoctrination or something? Thank you.

 

[The pilot guy]

The incoming USNA 1/C's and incoming 2nd class cadets at USCGA details for NAPS indoc. The rest of the year, it would be run by the millitary staff and the stripers. Stripers are peer leadership. These positions are given to the NAPSters by the mill staff and switches every trimester. As a former NAPSter I can assure you that YOU ARE NOT TREATED LIKE A MIDSHIPMEN. Hence the term, midshipmen candidate. You are treated like someone who is trying to get a spot at the academy. Therefore, the rules at NAPS can differ according to the current CO there as opposed to USNA.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

NAPS has a short indoc period (I think it was 7-10 days) , where they issue uniforms, do very basic military training (how to wear uniform, march, chain of command, clean room etc). The indoc was run by USNA Midshipman, with oversight from the NAPS military staff (the Company Officers and Battalion Officer , and Senior Enlisted ). After indoc, the initial stripers are often prior enlisted or those with other military experience , but change over the course the program and others get a chance, It is certainly peer leadership, as no one uses their actual rank (for example, we had a Marine Sgt in my class, but he was a Midshipman Candidate like the rest -- my recollection is that he was the NAPS Battalion Commander immediately after Indoc). I also recall that our Company Officer and Asst Company Officer (a Master Chief) were more directly involved than my USNA Company Officers (we didn't have Senior Enlisted Advisors at the Company level in my time).

As a former NAPSter I can assure you that YOU ARE NOT TREATED LIKE A MIDSHIPMEN. Hence the term, midshipmen candidate. You are treated like someone who is trying to get a spot at the academy.

To echo Pilot Guy, NAPS is not like USNA -- it is primarily an academic preparation program, and there was little formal military training going on.... The role of the NAPS military staff was primarily maintaining good order and discipline, and making sure we got through the program.

Therefore, the rules at NAPS can differ according to the current CO there as opposed to USNA.

. Abnsolutely, we had a lot more freedom at NAPS than USNA. Now that you mention it, I am wondering what the command relationship between NAPS and USNA is . I don't recall USNA being in the NAPS chain of command , but would expect that somewhere NAPS has a reporting duty to USNA.

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

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@Old Navy BGO .... NAPS indoc is approximately 3 weeks now. I am looking at picture of the “key dates” PowerPoint slide from Captain Howes I keep on my phone, and NAPS I-day 2019 was Tuesday July 23rd, and 1st day of classes was Wednesday August 14th. That is 22 days.
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[OldRetSWO]

I don't recall USNA being in the NAPS chain of command , but would expect that somewhere NAPS has a reporting duty to USNA.

I'm pretty sure that the NAPS CO's reporting senior is Supt, USNA

 

[Old Navy BGO]

I'm pretty sure that the NAPS CO's reporting senior is Supt, USNA

That would make sense...but I don't recall the USNA Supe being in the chain of command when I learned it at NAPS.

 

[The pilot guy]

NAPS has a short indoc period (I think it was 7-10 days) , where they issue uniforms, do very basic military training (how to wear uniform, march, chain of command, clean room etc). The indoc was run by USNA Midshipman, with oversight from the NAPS military staff (the Company Officers and Battalion Officer , and Senior Enlisted ). After indoc, the initial stripers are often prior enlisted or those with other military experience , but change over the course the program and others get a chance, It is certainly peer leadership, as no one uses their actual rank (for example, we had a Marine Sgt in my class, but he was a Midshipman Candidate like the rest -- my recollection is that he was the NAPS Battalion Commander immediately after Indoc). I also recall that our Company Officer and Asst Company Officer (a Master Chief) were more directly involved than my USNA Company Officers (we didn't have Senior Enlisted Advisors at the Company level in my time).



To echo Pilot Guy, NAPS is not like USNA -- it is primarily an academic preparation program, and there was little formal military training going on.... The role of the NAPS military staff was primarily maintaining good order and discipline, and making sure we got through the program.

. Abnsolutely, we had a lot more freedom at NAPS than USNA. Now that you mention it, I am wondering what the command relationship between NAPS and USNA is . I don't recall USNA being in the NAPS chain of command , but would expect that somewhere NAPS has a reporting duty to USNA.

There was more freedom at NAPS than USNA first class year?

 

[Old Navy BGO]

There was more freedom at NAPS than USNA first class year?

It's been a long time (35 years !), but my recollection is that we could do whatever we wanted at NAPS from last class Friday to Sunday study hours, as long as you didn't have the watch, and were academically Sat (I struggled with that one for most of my stay !) and there was little adult supervision on weekends. At USNA , Midshipman are always under the microscope , even as First Class.

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

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This past year, NAPS Liberty ended at 10 or 11 pm on Friday/Saturday, and 6pm on Sunday. During the Covid thing in March and April, they were confined to the Base. They couldn’t go into Newport.
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