USNA News Article

1st Company Named Color Company

Jan 13, 2012

By Jessica Clark, U.S. Naval Academy Public Affairs

The Naval Academy's 1st Company won the fall semester Color Company competition. Results were announced Jan. 10 after the final competition tally showed the “Shipmates” of 1st Company edged out 15th Company for the title.

The Color Company competition, a tradition that began in 1867, recognizes the superior performing company with the honor of carrying the flags in color parades. The purpose of the semester-long competition is to stimulate the professional, mental and physical development of midshipmen through intra-brigade competition.

“I am extremely happy with their achievement,” said Marine Maj. Timothy Brady, 1st Company Officer. “Every single midshipman contributed to this team effort. 1st Company is their company. They are the leadership. They are the ones who take ownership, understand their roles and responsibilities, hold themselves and others accountable, and deserve all the credit.”

Throughout the semester, each of the brigade's 30 companies is evaluated on a variety of criteria within three categories: professional, athletic and academic. The companies receive points for each variable within these categories, and the company with the highest total wins the title of Color Company.

Intramural standing, physical readiness test scores, military knowledge, conduct, grade point average . these are all examples of what the companies are graded on. Each variable is assigned a total number of points prior to the start of the competition.

“The members of 1st Company did an outstanding job of working together as a team this past semester,” said Midshipman 1st Class Andrew Marthy, the company commander for fall semester. “Achieving Color Company was a testament to their overall dedication to accomplishing the Naval Academy mission.”

1st Company finished the competition with a score of 66.56. 15th Company placed second with 61.79 points, and 22nd Company came in third with 59.31 points.