Press Release

SCHEDULE OF NAVAL ACADEMY MAY EVENTS OPEN TO THE MEDIA

NOTE TO EDITORS AND REPORTERS: If you wish to cover any events between May 15-29, please send in the attached May Event R.S.V.P. form. You may also contact the Public Affairs Office at (410) 293-2292 by 3 p.m. the day prior for credential requests to events occurring between May 15-25.

*Credential requests for the Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony on May 29 must be received by 2 p.m. Friday, May 25.

Tuesday, May 15 - USNA
SEA TRIALS
Media Opportunity: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Check-in time: 8:30-8:45 a.m.
Mandatory Media Brief 9 a.m.
NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Sea Trials is modeled after the Marine Corps’ Crucible and the Navy’s Battle Stations recruit programs. It is a “capstone” event for the fourth class midshipmen (freshmen or “plebes”) and serves as a leadership challenge for the upper class. Sea Trials is led by academy upper class and provides a final physical and mental challenge to the plebes, designed to test their teamwork and to reinforce their bonds as a company and class. At the end of Sea Trials, the company of plebes who demonstrated the top unit performance through endurance and spirit during the entire course will be recognized with the “Iron Company” award during a brief presentation.

Tuesday, May 22 - USNA
HERNDON MONUMENT CLIMB
Media Check-in: noon - 12:30 p.m.
Mandatory Media Brief 1 p.m. Event begins at 1:30 p.m.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Members of the fourth class (freshmen or “plebes”) climb the 21-foot obelisk in order to retrieve a white plebe “dixie cup” hat on top of the monument and replace it with an upperclassman’s hat.

Wednesday, May 23 - Worden Field, USNA
COLOR PARADE
Media Check-in: 9 - 9:30 a.m.
Event begins at 10 a.m.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

(Please note: Seating available only to USNA faculty, staff, family and friends of graduating midshipmen): The highlight of the Color Parade is the formal presentation of the colors (flags) by the superintendent, the company commander and the “color honoree” to the newly designated spring color company. Each semester, the color company is designated by virtue of its excellence in academics, athletics and professional accomplishments throughout the semester. The color company competition began in 1867.

Thursday, May 24 - Worden Field, USNA
USMC BATTLE COLOR DETACHMENT SILENT DRILL PERFORMANCE
Media Check-in: 10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Event begins at 11 a.m.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon from the Marine Corps Barracks at 8th & I, Washington, D.C., will perform with a Drum and Bugle Corps and Color Guard. Their performance will be preceded by a 10 minute performance of the USNA Silent Drill Team. The Marines will execute a series of calculated drill movements and precise handling of their hand-polished, 10 and one-half pound,   M-1 Grand rifles with fixed bayonets. The routine concludes with a unique rifle inspection sequence demonstrating elaborate rifle spins and tosses.

Tuesday, May 29 - Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
GRADUATION AND COMMISSIONING CEREMONY
Credential requests for the Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony on May 29 must be received by 2 p.m. Friday, May 25.
Media Check-in: 6:30 - 8 a.m.
Mandatory Media Briefing at 8:20 a.m.
Event begins at 10 a.m. and ends at approximately 1:30 p.m.
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (By invitation only)

The commissioning and graduation ceremony is the culmination of the four-year education and training of the men and women of the Class of 2012. Each graduate receives a Bachelor of Science degree and takes the oath of office as they are each commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy or as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Parking: As always, there is very limited parking available on academy grounds. For each event, please plan to arrive at the time listed on the check-in time sheet to allow ample time to park, check-in with Public Affairs staff for your media credentials and get to the event site. Media without credentials will not be granted access to the event.

Graduation: The graduation and commissioning ceremony will be held Tuesday, May 29 at 10 a.m. As with most academy graduation ceremonies, expect heightened security and increased restrictions on media access and credentialing.

Contact: If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the USNA Public Affairs Office at (410) 293-2292 or send detailed requests for story ideas to mediarelations@usna.edu. Please ask for Jennifer Erickson when calling the office for any credentialing-specific questions or concerns.

Commissioning Week press releases and additional media information will be posted online and available through www.usna.edu/PAO. Photos of these events will be available through the Naval Academy’s Facebook and Flickr pages.

For more information about the Naval Academy, visit www.usna.edu.

USNA