Students soar into naval future

A 21-gun salute to the citizens of New York city and state

11/2/2009: At approximately 8 a.m. (EST) today, the yet-to-be commissioned ship will come to a halt in the Hudson River. There, opposite the former World Trade Center site, USS New York (LDP-21) will dip her colors, fire a 21-gun salute to the people of her namesake city and state, and proceed to Pier 88 to be formally inducted into the fleet at a shipboard ceremony Nov. 7. More information

EagleBank Bowl announces bowl lineups for 2010-13

11/5/2009: The EagleBank Bowl announced an agreement on Nov. 3 to extend its contract with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Conference USA, Navy and Army while announcing a new agreement with the Big 12 Conference for the 2010-13 bowl cycle. The EagleBank Bowl will maintain its selection from the ACC for all four years. The opponent is Conference USA in 2010, Navy in 2011, Army in 2012 and the Big 12 in 2013. If Navy or Army is bowl-eligible in their respective years, a team from the Big 12 will be selected in 2011 and from the Conference USA in 2012. Full story

Honor has bumpy history at Naval Academy

11/6/2009: Midshipmen are persons of integrity. They stand for that which is right. They tell the truth and ensure that the full truth is known. They do not lie. They embrace fairness in all actions. They ensure that work submitted as their own is their own, and that assistance received from any other source is authorized properly documented. They do not cheat. They respect the property of others and ensure that others are able to benefit from the use of their own property. They do not steal.

Since its amendment in 2005, the Navy Academy Concept - based on the statements above - has filled a 95-page book that explains what honor is and how honor violations are to be handled. Other service academies rely on honor codes, but the Naval Academy sets a higher standard. A code, according to Naval Academy officials, is a list of prohibited activities; a concept that sets higher goals and aspirations. Full story

Navy vs. University of Hawaii

11/7/2009: USNA Alumni, family, friends and Navy football fans are invited to attend the Honolulu Chapter Friday Night Cocktail reception on Friday, November 27 from 5:30-8 p.m. and the USNAAA tailgate on Saturday, November 28 in Hawaii. Two tailgate menus are being offered: Hawaiian style Ono Grindz all-you-can-eat for $45 and Mainland style traditional All-American tailgate for $25. More information

Naval Academy accepts bid to Texas Bowl

11/9/2009: After Saturday's victory over Notre Dame, the Naval Academy has formally accepted an invitation to play in the Texas Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 31 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas against a projected opponent from the Big 12. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN and the game is set for 3:30 p.m. EST (2:30 p.m. CST). The bowl bid is a landmark achievement for the football program as it marks the first time in school history that Navy has gone to seven-straight bowl games. To order tickets, go to Navy Sports or call 1-800-US4-NAVY (1-800-874-6289).

Navy can achieve another first by winning the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy for a school-record seventh-consecutive year on Dec. 12 when the Mids play Army in Philadelphia (1:30 p.m. CST on CBS). Full story

Funeral for East Troy pilot set for Nov. 13

11/12/2009: Lt. Bret Travis Miller - USNA Class of 2001, son of former WISNAPA members Rick and Judy Miller, East Troy, died on a training mission in Texas. His body was recovered after the plane he and Lt. John Houston of Houston were flying lost communication with the base tower while on a routine training mission in a T-34C Turbomentor. On a web site set up to honor the pilots, Miller is remembered as an outstanding student and athlete while attending East Troy High School and role model for young people. More information

Masqueraders hone teamwork, leadership skills

11/13/2009: The Naval Academy theater group, Masqueraders, will be performing Les Blessing's, Fortinbras as its annual fall production, and according to Cmdr. Mark Larabee, what makes this year's production special is the unprecedented amount of talent available. The play is a comedy that begins where Shakespeare's Hamlet ends. Fortinbras is the Norwegian prince who marches into Denmark as the royal family lies dying in the final scene of the original tragedy. Hamlet, after securing his friend Horatio's promise to tell the truth about their deaths, dies leaving Fortinbras to take over the Danish throne. Full story

U.S. postal service announces holiday mailing guidelines

11/14/2009: U.S. Postal Service officials have announced recommended mailing dates for delivery by Christmas to U.S. service members serving in Afghanistan and other overseas locations. First-class and priority mail for service members stationed in Afghanistan should be sent by Dec. 4, 2009 for arrival by Christmas. The deadline for parcel airlift mail is Dec. 1, and space-available mail bound for Afghanistan should be sent by Nov. 21. Officials recommend that parcel post mail to all military overseas locations should be sent by Nov. 13. More information

Sources: USNA subbed mids to look more diverse

11/15/2009: Naval Academy leaders removed two midshipmen from a color guard that performed at the World Series last week because they were white men, and replaced them with a non-white man and a white woman so the academy could present a more "diverse" profile, according to several sources, a move that has reportedly angered mids and alumni. As it turned out, the color guard still ended up all white because the male replacement forgot parts of his uniform. Full story

2nd Company wins YP Color Company competition

11/17/2009: With the closest final score in recent history, 2nd Company emerged as the winner of this fall's Yard Patrol (YP) Craft Color Competition with 211 out of 219 points. Second place went to 20th Company with 209 points. The competition is part of the annual Color Company Competition that recognizes the company that excels in academics, athletics and professional accomplishments. Full story

Academy hosts conference on Asia-Middle East relations

11/19/2009: The Naval Academy's Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies, in conjunction with the U.S. Asian Cultural Academy, the Shanghai International Studies University and the Library of Congress Asian Division, hosted its 2009 Biannual International Forum on Asia-Middle East Studies Oct. 16-17. The goal of the two-day conference, entitled Transcending Borders: Asia, Middle East and the Global Community, was to provide a platform for western and Asian scholars to converge and exchange views on major issues concerning the Middle East and its relationship with Asia, the U.S. and the rest of the world. Full story

Naval Academy Preparatory School readies midshipman candidates

11/20/2009: The mission of the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) is to prepare selected candidates morally, mentally and physically, with emphasis on strengthening the academic foundation of individual candidates for officer accession through the U.S. Naval Academy. Roughly 300 Academy candidates attend NAPS each year. Full story

Army/Navy tickets mailed

11/21/2009: Tickets for the Army/Navy game on Dec. 12 were mailed the end of last week or beginning of this week. If tickets have not been received by Monday Nov. 30, contact the Navy ticket office at 1-800-US4-NAVY (1-800-874-6289).

Midshipmen give back for the holidays

11/23/2009: Naval Academy Midshipmen are taking time out of their own preparations for the holiday season to give some hope and charity to those less fortunate. Since Oct. 15, Midshipmen from 14th Company collected and assembled baskets with Thanksgiving food items collected throughout the Academy during the Giving from the Heart Thanksgiving Food Drive and delivered them to local charities. Full story

Female mids eager for submarine duty

11/24/2009: As top U.S. Navy Officials deliberate on a policy change that would allow women to serve on submarines, Naval Academy officials said they've been advised to canvass female students for the possible historic opportunity. Full story

Mids give helicopter pilots a hand aboard ship

11/25/2009: Looking to reduce the risks inherent in landing helicopters aboard ships, a team of six Naval Academy midshipmen is documenting the air currents and atmospheric disturbances that pilots must navigate on a regular basis. If successful, the three-year project, funded by a $500,000 Office of the Naval Research grant, will take some of the guesswork out of helicopter landings. Full story

Thanksgiving

11/26/2009: This year, as you give thanks for all your blessings, remember those not home with family, those in dangerous places, those who help and comfort, and the families that watch and pray. Thanksgiving, we have much to be thankful for. Watch video

NAPS visit the academy

11/27/2009: Midshipmen candidates from the Naval Academy Preparatory School visited the Naval Academy to gain further insight into life at the Academy. In their four-day visit, the candidates received tours of the academic and military facilities at the academy. They were also paired up with a midshipman sponsor, whom they shadowed during regular classes and athletic activities. Full story