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For the definitive source for all Naval Academy terms, buy a copy of Ross Mackenzie's, "Brief Points: An Almanac for Parents and Friends of the US Naval Academy Midshipmen," which can be purchased online at the Mid Store: http://www.navyonline.com/

Academic Board

Discipline board that convenes at the end of each semester to review poor academic performance and to determine separation or retention.

ADEO

Alcohol and drug education officer; a Midshipman in each company who deals with alcohol- and drug-related affairs.

Anchor

The graduating Firstie with the lowest order of merit in the class. Traditionally he/she gets a dollar from each classmate. The anchor is also the center point of King Hall where prayers are given, announcements are made and the meal is begun with the ringing of a bell.

ASTB

Acronym for Aviation Selection Test Batter, a two-and-a-half-hour, five-part test for prospective aviators; it has a math/verbal section similar to the SAT, as well as parts on mechanical comprehension, spatial perception, aviation and nautical information and aviation interest; usually offered in second class year. Those failing to achieve minimum requirements are ineligible for flight assignments

Bancroft

Bancroft Hall (Mother B), the largest dormitory in the world and home to more than 4,400 Mids.

The Basic School

Training facility located in Quantico, Virginia; where US Marine Corps second lieutenants go for training after graduation; frequently called TBS.

Basket Leave

Thirty days of leave given to all Midshipmen upon graduation; they must use it within ninety days of graduation, or not at all.

Battalion

Unit of organization within the Brigade; each regiment has three battalions; each battalion is composed of companies.

BCGs

Birth control glasses - Eyeglass frames issued to all Mids requiring eyesight correction.

BGO

Blue & Gold Officer

Bilge

To undercut, stab in the back or make another look bad.

Blocks

Usually refers to the three segments of summer training, called first, second and third blocks; each approximately a month long.

Blue rim

Standard-issue Midshipman T-shirt.

BOV

Board of Visitors

Brigade

The entire group of Midshipmen.

Cadre

First class Midshipman assigned to Plebe detail, formally knows as a detailer.

Capstone

Acronym for Capstone Character Excellence Seminars - Seminars for 1/C Midshipmen that provide ideas and solutions to Fleet-related problems. In addition to topics appropriate to their future commissioned service, a guest speaker usually of flag rank, is invited to add an experienced perspective. These non-academic programs complement classroom teachings on leadership and ethics.

CCC

Acronym for Color Company Competition - Designed to support the mission of the Naval Academy by stimulating the professional, academic, and athletic development of Midshipmen through intra-Brigade competition.  This competition is coordinated by the Midshipmen Activities Officer.

CDO

Acronym for company duty officer, a first class Midshipman who is head of a duty section the company.

CDS
 

Acronym for Character Development Seminars - Designed for second class midshipmen to focus on the core value of Commitment. Four years of Character Development programs culminate in a Capstone Character Excellence Seminar.  All of these non-academic programs are linked to provide an effective complement to classroom teachings on leadership and ethics.

Chit

Written permission or excusal; examples include special liberty or excusing a Midshipman from obligation such as classes or athletics because of injury or illness.

Choker Whites

Formal nighttime version of dinner dress whites; the equivalent of a civilian tuxedo.

Chop

Short double-time steps (about 160 steps per minute) Plebes must move in Bancroft Hall's halls and stairways.

Chow Calls

Plebe rates; 10 to five minutes before breakfast and lunch if formations are inside; 12 minutes and seven minutes before those meals if formations are outside. Plebes recite, by shouting, (1) where formation is, (2) the uniform for formation, (3) the menu for the meal, (4) the Midshipman and officer of the day, (5) the week's professional topic, and (6) the day's major events on the Yard. Plebes memorize chow calls every day and must recite on command.

Class Rank

See order of merit

CIP

Acronym for Career information Program - Midshipmen briefs concerning service selection.

CMOD

Acronym for company mate of the deck, a Plebe or Youngster standing watch in a company area; also called a mate.

CO

Color Company

The Company with the most accumulated color points including academics, athletics, parades and military activities. The wining Color Company is honored during Commissioning Week receives extra privileges the following academic year.

Commandant

USNA's second-ranking military officer (after the Superintendent) or the dean of military affairs overseeing discipline and professional training; frequently call "the Dant."

Company

Company Officer

A commissioned officer in charge of the company.

Conduct

USNA's system of administrative discipline.

Con Locker

Short for confidential locker; the only lockable locker in every Midshipmen’s room.

Cover

CQRP

CSNTS

Acronym for Command, Seamanship and Navigation Training Squadron - Summer sailing cruise on a 44-foot sailboat.

D&B

Short for drum and bugle corps.

Dant

Short for the Commandant of Midshipmen or dean of military affairs overseeing discipline and professional training.

Dark Ages

Period between Christmas and spring break characterized by cold temperatures, snow, rain and overwhelming poor attitudes; easily the most depressing period of the academic year.

Dark Side

A phrase connoting the dating of another Midshipman.

Dean's List

The list of Midshipmen with a SQPR of at least a 3.4 with no grade below a C with the following minimum grades: B in conduct, B in military performance, C in physical education and a C in PRT.

Deck

A Navy term for any floor or on the ground.

Dixie Cup

The blue rimmed sailor's hat worn by Plebes during Plebe Summer.

Drag

A guest shown around the Academy by a Midshipman or an Appointee for the Naval Academy visiting the Yard. Hosting a drag provides "carry on" status for the Midshipman.

Drill

Parade practice and/or march-on practice, usually several times in a week.

Drydock

Restaurant in Dahlgren Hall used by faculty, Midshipmen and their guests.

Duty

Navy-wide term for a daily watch.

ECA

Acronym for extra-curricular activity

ED

Acronym for extra duty

EI

Acronym for extra instruction. It is voluntary or mandatory, depending on academic status.

End of
Semester Leave

After spring semester exams and prior to Commissioning Week; usually called Intercessional leave.

Eyes in the Boat

Plebes must keep their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Firstie

A member of the first class of Midshipman (1/C) or a senior at a civilian college.

Five & Dive

Slang phrase for serving the five-year obligation after graduation and then leaving the naval service.

Formation

Any assembling in ranks and taking a muster, usually in reference to formations prior to morning and noon meals.

Forrestal Lecture

Generally a once-a-semester address to the Brigade and public by a well-known speaker from outside the Academy.

FPW

Acronym for Firstie Parent Weekend - Generally held in September.

Fry

An indictment from a large number of demerits which may result in restriction depending on the offense.

Goat Court

Either of two enclosed areas of Bancroft Hall formed by Bancroft's third wing in the First Regiment and by Bancroft's fourth wing in the Second Regiment. The rooms overlooking the goat courts have a view of a lower roof below with no trees or shrubbery to soften the view and it is noisy.

Gouge

Assistance or a shortcut to information on any subject.

Graduation Salute

First salute give by a new ensign or second lieutenant following graduation. By custom, the recipient of the salute receives a silver dollar.

Head

Navy-wide term for a toilet.

Herndon

Symbolic end of Plebe year; Plebes climb the Herndon monument, a 21-foot granite obelisk.

HERO

Acronym for human education resource officer; providing support to the chain of command relating to human relations issues and to help resolve peer issues within the company.

High and Tight

A Marine haircut, very close on the sides and short on top.

Honor Concept

A statement dictating behavior at USNA; "Midshipmen will not lie, cheat or steal."

Honor Nazi

Slang for any Midshipman who is diligent in turning in other Mids for honor offenses.

Hospital Point

Quasi-peninsula where the medical clinic is located and most 1/C Midshipmen park their cars.

Hundreds Night

On a February night, 100 days from graduation.

I-Day

Induction Day for the Plebes; the start of Plebe Summer.

Intercessional

One of three periods: prior to reform, following winter vacation and prior to Commissioning Week.

International Ball

Spring brigade-wide dance that draws foreign officers and embassy personnel from the international community as well as foreign-exchange students from nearby schools.

JCS

Acronym for Joint Chiefs of Staff.

JO

Acronym for Junior Officer.

Johnny

A student at St. John's College.

King Hall

The mess or where Midshipmen eat.

Leatherneck

A four-week training course conducted by Marines at The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. Topics covered include amphibious assault and ground warfare.

LANTPATRAMID

Acronym for Atlantic Professional Afloat Training for Midshipmen. Better known as the YP Cruise. (Also known as LANTPAT.)

LMO

Acronym for last military obligation.

Love Chit

Chit submitted for moving a Midshipman out of a company to another because of a dating relationship within the original company.

Lucky Bag

USNA's yearbook (from the term for a ship's locker for stowing miscellaneous confiscated, lost or adrift items).

MAC

Acronym for Military Airlift Command. Active military have an opportunity to fly MAC flights at a discounted rate, providing seats are available.

MAG

Acronym for Midshipman Action Group - Directed and led by Midshipmen involving the Brigade in community service with Annapolis area organizations.

MAPR

Acronym for Midshipman academic performance report.

March-over

Process of the Brigade marching from the Yard to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium prior to home football games.

Masqueraders

USNA's drama club, believed to be the nation's oldest collegiate theater group.

MCTRAMID

Acronym for Marine Corps Training for Midshipmen

MDS
 

Acronym for Midshipman Development Seminars. Reinforces Naval Service core values to complement classroom teachings on leadership and ethics.

MGSP

Acronym for Midshipman Group Study Group.

Mid

Short for Midshipmen (unacceptable nickname is "middy").

Midn.

Common and acceptable abbreviation for Midshipman in written forms of communication.

MIDS

Acronym for Midshipman Information Data System; web site and online data base used exclusively by the Academy and not open to the public.

Mini-BUD/s

A three-week summer training course at the basic underwater demolition school in Coronado, California for first-class Midshipment considering SEALs as their warfare specialty selection.

MGSP

A program providing support for Midshipmen, by Midshipmen as tutoring assistance in a variety of subjects from chemistry, calculus, physics, navigation and more.

Mother B

Bancroft Hall, the largest dormitory in the world.

MOM

Acronym for Military Order of Merit or acronym for main office messenger, usually a Plebe.

MPO

Acronym for Midshipmen Personnel Office.

Muster

Any roll call or formal taking of attendance (accountability) for meetings, taps formations, etc. While in restriction, muster is required and taken at a designated time and place in an inspection-ready uniform.

NAF

Acronym for naval air facility

NAPS

Acronym for Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island.

NAPster

Anyone attending NAPS or a Midshipman who previously attended NAPS.

NASS

Acronym for Naval Academy Summer Seminar, any of three one-week sessions that take place each summer to expose high school students to the Naval Academy

NFCU

Acronym for Navy Federal Credit Union, the on-Yard bank.

NFO

Acronym for naval flight officer.

OIC

Acronym for Officer-in-Charge.

ONI

Acronym for Office of Naval Intelligence

OPINFO

Acronym for Operation Information, an Academy program during Thanksgiving break, which allows a Mid to come home the weekend before Thanksgiving to visit and speak at local schools to any prospective student about the Naval Academy. 

OOM

Acronym for order of merit or class rank.

Order of Merit

Class rank; a Midshipman's relative standing in his or her class, combining academic, performance, conduct and physical education standings.

Over the Wall

The act of leaving or entering the Yard without permission.

PE Deficient

Failing to meet any physical education standard.

PEP

Acronym for physical exercise program; an early-morning calisthenics program during Plebe Summer.

PFT

Acronym for physical fitness test.

Performance Grade

A ranking among the Midshipmen within a company every semester, determined by the first class in the company and ultimately the Company Officer. The grade in included in the final OOM calculation.

Performance Board

Boart that considers reported cases of substandard military performance by Midshipmen.

Platoon

Unit of organization within the Brigade; each company consist of four platoons, each platoon has three squads.

Plebe

A member of the fourth class of Midshipman (4/C) or a freshman at a civilian college.

Plebe Hack

Cough many Plebes get toward the end of Plebe Summer as a result of persistent yelling.

Plebe Informal

Periodic fourth class dances.

Plebe Recognition Ceremony

See Herndon.

Plebe Summer

The six-week boot-camp period beginning with I-Day and ending with Reform.

PPW

Acronym for Plebe Parent Weekend, held near the end of Plebe Summer.

Priors

Short for Midshipmen who were enlisted prior.

Professional Knowledge

Part of Plebe training; information about military matters.

PROTRAMID

Acronym for professional training of Midshipmen; a training course that introduces aviation, submarines, and Marine Corps communities, usually taken the summer before the second class year.

PRT

Acronym for physical readiness test. Navy-wide exercise that Midshipmen must perform each semester, including a 1.5-mile run, push-ups, sit-ups and a passage of the sit-and-reach flexibility test.

PT

Physical Training

QPR

Acronym for Quality Point Rating or GPA. Then Naval Academy includes military and physical training points in the score.

Quantico

The US Marine Base in Virginia where USMC Officer training is conducted, along with the four-week long Leatherneck training course.

Rack

A bed.

Rates

Designated military or professional information a Plebe is required to know.

Recon

One of the after-hours adventures in which a Mid may participate. Evening runs to the 7-11 store are fairly common.

Reform

When the entire Brigade returns from summer vacations at the end of Plebe Summer.

Regiment

One of two equally divided units of organization within the Brigade; first and second regiment. (Note: during Plebe Summer, there is only one regiment: the fourth class regiment.)

Regs

Short of regulations, from Midshipmen regulations.

Restriction

Serving of time for an infraction within the administrative conduct system. During restriction, a Midshipman is not allowed off the Yard.

Return of
the Brigade

Night at the end of Plebe Summer when the Brigade return from summer training.

Ring Dance

A dance at the end of the second-class year when Mids can officially wear their class ring.

RFT

Acronym for Reach for Tomorrow - A program to expose students to relevant role models such as Naval Academy Midshipmen who have come from similar backgrounds and can communicate why they chose to prepare for top colleges at the beginning of high school.

SAT

Short for satisfactory. Midshipmen must have minimum GPA of 2.0 to graduate.

SDBs

Navy-wide acronym for service dress blues, the standard Midshipman uniform for evenings, weekends and off-campus wear during winter months.

SEAL

Acronym designating the Navy's sea, air and land special forces.

Seawall

Any reinforced water's edge on the Yard along the Severn River or along Spa or Dorsey Creeks.

Second Class

A member of the second class of Midshipman (2/C) or a junior at a civilian college.

Second Class Loan

Popular name for a career starter loan offered to Midshipmen at the end of their second class year.

SEL

Acronym for senior enlisted leaders

Separation

Act of leaving the Academy for any reason.

Service Selection

The assignment of a first-class Midshipmen's career choice after graduation.

Sets

Half of Plebe Summer, called the first and second sets, each with a different set of cadre.

Shirtstays

Elastic straps connecting shirt-tails to socks to ensure proper tucked-in-ness.

Shotgunning

Mixing up Plebes among all other companies, scattering throughout the Brigade acquiring a new group and company mates.

Shoulder Boards

Shoulder designations of rank.

Shove Off

To leave, often used in King Hall.

Shuffling

Moving Plebes together in a group from one company to another at reform.

Skivvies

Navy-wide term for Navy-issue underwear or briefs.

SOP

Military-wide acronym for standard operating procedure.

Sponsors

Annapolis area residents who open their homes to Midshipmen.

Sprint Football

The Navy lightweight football team.

SQPR

Acronym for the semester quality point rating, including academic, performance, conduct and physical education standings.

Squad

Smallest unit of organization within the Brigade, generally consisting of about 12 Midshipmen. There are three squads in each platoon and 12 squads in each company.

Squad Leader

A first class Midshipman (with a one-striper billet), changed each semester.

Square Corners

In Bancroft Hall, Plebes must make all turns at ninety degrees saying, "Go Navy, sir (or ma'am)! Beat Army, sir (or ma'am)!"

St. John's College

liberal arts college located across the street from USNA.

Striper

A 1/C Midshipman officer with three to six stripes on his or her shoulder boards and sleeves, usually carries a negative connotation.

Summer Seminar

Any of three one-week sessions that take place each summer for expose high school students to the Naval Academy (see NASS).

Summer Training

Training Midshipmen spend during the summer months before graduation.

Summer Whites

The summer equivalent of SDBs.

Supe

Short for Superintendent of the Naval Academy.

Superintendent's List

SQPR of at least a 3.4 with no grade below a C in any course, an A in conduct, A in military performance, A or B in physical education and at least a B in PRT. Also knows as "Supe's List."

SWO

Acronym for surface warfare officer.

Tango Company

A company during Plebe Summer only for those Plebes that want to leave the Academy.

TBS

Acronym for The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia; the first place Marine Corps officers report to.

T-Court

Short for Tecumseh Court, in front of Bancroft Hall.

Tecumseh

The bronze statue that stands in front of Bancroft Hall.

Town Liberty

Liberty within the 22-mile radius of the Naval Academy.

The Trident

Weekly newspaper produced by the Academy's public affairs office.

Trident Scholar

A program for a limited number of 1/C Midshipmen to engage in independent study and research during their first class year. 

Two for Seven

Service commitment papers second class Midshipmen sign committing themselves to complete two years at the Academy and serve as Naval officers for five years after graduation.

Two Percent Club

Nondocumented percentage of Midshipmen who retain steady dating relationships prior to I-Day until graduation.

Unreg

Action, behavior, procedure, condition or attire contrary to regulations.

Unsat

Short for unsatisfactory; having an academic average below 2.0 or having and F (or two D's). If grades are unsatisfactory, a Mid loses weekend privileges and has to spend extra time studying. (See academically deficient)

USAA

Acronym for United Services Automobile Association; an insurance company and bank used my many Midshipmen and military personnel.

Validate

To test out of a class, particularly as an incoming Plebe.

Wardroom

USNA's equivalent of a civilian college's dormitory common room; located in the company area. It usually has a TV, VCR, DVD player, refrigerator, microwave and other electric amenities. Plebes rarely have wardroom privileges.

Watch

Duty of all Midshipmen and Navy personnel; an obligation in Bancroft Hall consisting of rotating watch duties such as CDO, CMOD, MOM, OOW and BOOW.

Whites

Short of summer whites (uniforms).

Yard Card

A prepaid card program that can be used at various locations on the Yard. Money can be added to the Yard Card by calling the Drydock office at 410-293-2434.

Yard

The Naval Academy campus.

Yard Libderty

Liberty on, but restricted to, the Yard.

Youngster

A member of the third class of Midshipman (3/C) or a sophomore at a civilian college.

YP

Acronym for yard patrol craft; any of several 108-foot-long boats stationed at the Academy. These ships can be toured by families on I-day, PPW and FPW.

YP CCC

Acronym for Yard Patrol Color Company Competition - Part of the profession color company competition (CCC).

Go Navy! Beat Army!

WISNAPA, Inc.
(Wisconsin Naval Academy Parents' Association, Inc.)
Board of Governors

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