Naval Academy sex abuse training programs praised

1/2/2010: The Naval Academy has done an excellent job of implementing programs aimed at reducing sexual assaults, according to the new Defense Department report. The Naval Academy, with 4,400 midshipmen, had eight reported sexual assault cases during the 2008-2009 academic year. That was about average for recent years, and was down from 15 cases in 2005, but up slightly from six in the year ending in 2007. Full story

Dolphin Club provides firsthand view of the submarine fleet

1/3/2010: Midshipmen at the Naval Academy have many opportunities to learn about the different communities they will become a part of upon their graduation. Those interested in submarine warfare have the luxury of joining the Dolphin Club, allowing them to take part in activities that reveal more about the community and share those experiences with like-minded mids. Full story

Academy: Lessons learned from color guard flap

1/4/2010: The superintendent of the Naval Academy said that the flap over racial makeup of a color guard that marched at the World Series had provided "some good lessons learned" for the Brigade of Midshipmen, and explained that the whole thing had been caused by a "misunderstanding."

The academy's color guard made arrangements to march at game two of the World Series in New York without vetting them with the administration, Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler told Navy Times. He said the administration often changes the makeup of groups - to make sure midshipmen get equal chances to represent the school. Full story

Academy: Lessons learned from color guard flap

1/4/2010: The superintendent of the Naval Academy said that the flap over racial makeup of a color guard that marched at the World Series had provided "some good lessons learned" for the Brigade of Midshipmen, and explained that the whole thing had been caused by a "misunderstanding."

The academy's color guard made arrangements to march at game two of the World Series in New York without vetting them with the administration, Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler told Navy Times. He said the administration often changes the makeup of groups - to make sure midshipmen get equal chances to represent the school. Full story

Two Midshipmen earn Mitchell Scholarships

1/5/2010: Two First Class Midshipmen have been awarded Mitchell Scholarships, which provides each of them with one year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Mitchell Scholars Program, named to honor former U.S. Senator George Mitchell's pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, is designated to introduce and connect generations of future American leaders to the island of Ireland, while recognizing and fostering intellectual achievement, leadership and a commitment to public service and community. Full story

Midshipmen research project affects how fleet does business

1/7/2010: Six first-class Midshipmen from the mechanical and aerospace engineering departments are making significant contributions to a major research project aimed at investigating ship air-wake impact on naval helicopters. Full story 

YP Squadron teaches Mids vital leadership and navigation skills

1/9/2010: Five Yard Patrol (YP) Squadron crews got underway from the Naval Academy last month to transit the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River as part of the weekend-long activities of the 110th Army-Navy football game. The YP Squadron is a surface warfare oriented extracurricular activity that provides Midshipmen with a small-scale but realistic view of life on a ship while teaching them seamanship, navigation and leadership skills. Full story 

Spring Yardtales deadline set

1/10/2010: The deadline for the spring issue of Yardtales is Monday, January 25. Submit articles and photos (in JPEG or TIFF formats) to Jan Haupt. If preferred, hard copies of photos can be mailed, will be scanned and promptly returned.

Blue Angels to perform in Wisconsin

1/11/2010: The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, first performed in 1946 and is currently the oldest flying aerobatic team, performing graceful aerobatic maneuvers with precision flying. The squadron's six demonstration pilots fly the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet in more than 70 shows at 34 locations throughout the United States each year. The Blue Angels will perform in Wisconsin June 5-6 in Eau Claire and in Milwaukee June 12-13. The Blue Angels' mission is to enhance Navy and Marine Corps recruiting efforts and to represent the naval service to the United States, its elected leadership and foreign nations. The Blue Angels serve as positive role models and goodwill ambassadors for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. See schedule

NAPS welcomes new commanding officer

1/16/2010: Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) in Newport, Rhode Island held a change of command ceremony Jan. 12. Capt. Jim Cunha, of Rumford, Rhode Island, relieved Capt. Anthony Barnes as commanding officer. Barnes temporarily held the job after Capt. Leland Hart Sebring was relieved of duty in August. NAPS is responsible for strengthening academic skills of about 300 potential candidates each year for the Naval Academy. Full story

Kinkade steps up to lead brigade

1/17/201: Last week, Midshipmen recently returned to the Yard after a three-week semester break. And, while most acclimate themselves to their schedules, classes and professors, Midn. 1/C Keegan Kindade has another added pressure - he is responsible to, and for, all of them. Kinkade has assumed the duties as the Brigade Commander, the highest position within the Brigade of Midshipmen. He relieves Midn. 1/C Ryan Steenberge, who held the position during the first semester of the academic year. Full story 

World War II veteran speaks to Midshipmen

1/18/2010: World War II veteran Woody Story recently spoke to Midshipmen at the Naval Academy's Uriah P. Levy Center about his experiences aboard the destroyer escort USS Levy (DE 162), commissioned in 1943. Story, a native of Virginia, was a sonarman first class during his tour on Levy, serving as the captain's talker at special sea detail and on the sound stack listening for a torpedo attack, at general quarters. Levy's duties included anti-submarine and anti-air protection. Full story

U.S. astronauts visit Naval Academy

1/20/2010: Three U.S. astronauts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) most recent shuttle mission visited the Naval Academy Jan. 12 to speak to the Brigade of Midshipmen. Marine Col. Charles Hobaugh (USNA '84), Navy Capt. Barry Wilmore and retired Capt. Michael Foreman (USNA '79) attended noon meal at King Hall then headed to Alumni Hall to describe their last mission to an audience of Midshipmen, faculty and staff. Full story

Widespread problems found on LPDs, other ships

1/24/2010: Navy engineers are tackling a raft of problems discovered aboard warships built at the Gulf Coast yards of defense giant Northrup Grumman - including faulty welds, lube-oil problems and a defective engine - in the latest installment of the ongoing saga between the Navy and its largest shipbuilder. Full story

Navy's newest warship tops out at more than 50 mph

1/25/2010: USS Independence (LCS 2) will be the sixth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named for the concept independence. It is intended as a small assault transport with a variety of capabilities depending on the mission module installed. The ship is a trimaran design capable of over 45 knots (52 mph) in two minutes. Destroyers and frigates top out at roughly 30 knots. A traditional navy commissioning ceremony took place on Jan. 16, 2010 marking the entrance of the USS Independence into the Fleet. USS Independence official web site

Midshipmen provide training, advice to Scouts

1/26/2010: Midshipmen assisted the National Eagle Scout Association during the weekend of Jan. 16, developing future Eagle Scouts and helping current scouts earn difficult badges, such as wilderness survival, orienteering, radio and first aid. Roughly 85 Midshipmen camped out at Camp Letts for three days and two nights along with approximately 650 Scouts and adults from the local community, fighting the frost and cold temperatures. Full story 

Tom Brokaw calls for 'all hands on deck'

1/28/2010: He may have been preaching to the choir, but that didn't stop NBC correspondent Tom Brokaw from returning to the refrain of public service when he addressed the Brigade of Midshipmen Jan. 25. Brokaw was the guest speaker at the January installment of the Forrestal Lecture Series at the Naval Academy. Full story

USNA player's drug test causes 'uproar'

1/29/2010: A Naval Academy football player is being permitted to continue as a midshipmen even after testing positive for drug use, according to multiple sources and Web sites that have sprung up to criticize the decision. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, the player smoked a cigar packed with a mixture of pot and tobacco - also known as a "blunt" - deeply enough for the drug to show up on a random urinalysis test performed in December. But he told the Naval Academy leaders he didn't know he was smoking marijuana and is being permitted to continue at Annapolis, the sources said. Full story

Naval Academy staff member receives MLK Award

1/31/2010: Naval Academy Director of Governmental Affairs Joe Rubino received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award at the 22nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards dinner Jan. 15 in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated a propensity and commitment to the dream of Dr. King and  is given annually to recipients locally and nationwide. Full story