Reacting to Naval Academy Basic Training! 

Quick Note: I found out females no longer have to cut their hair above their chins anymore 🙌🏼. Anyways, what do you guys think of Day 1 at the Naval Academy?

Still brings up emotions watching that video for class of 2023 after being there watching my sibling that day. I'll be in the plebe's shoes next year with the class of 26. Go Navy!

This was awesome to see. I dated a Navy guy for two years who went to that academy. Eventually he switched to the Marine Corps. Annapolis is beautiful! My favorite city to go to when I lived in Northern Virginia.

I'm coming here more than a year after this was published. "Midshipman" is an actual rank in the Navy, dating back to long before we even thought of independence from Great Britain, and was used in the U.S. Navy to denote officer candidates before the Naval Academy was founded. There are a few changes from when I went through Induction Day in 1995, but it is generally the same - mainly, we did not conclude with a ceremonial march into the Rotunda through the Great Doors, we just went to our company spaces. What you didn't get to see was the "fun" that ensues after the Plebe Regiment returns to Bancroft Hall after the swearing-in. Part of that is that Plebes who are not standing watch as Company Mate of the Deck have to "chop," or double-time, down the center of every hallway (called "passageways") or the outer edge of every stairwell (called "ladders"), square each corner while sounding off with either "Go Navy, Sir" or "Beat Army, Sir," and slow to a walk to verbally greet every upperclassman (by name if they knew who they were). Chopping is required from Reveille until about 2000 hours, after which point they don't have to chop or sound off but are still required to use the center of the passageway and square their corners. Some of the ladders are reserved for certain classes - there are some which are reserved for Youngsters (Midshipmen Third Class) and higher, while others are reserved for Midshipmen Second Class and higher (I believe those are only in 3rd and 4th Wings). Any Plebe caught using any of those ladders was in for a massive scolding; I even caught a Youngster using the 3rd Wing Second Class ladder one day and embarrassed him into using the correct ladders. Fun fact: Bancroft Hall is the largest single dormitory building in the world. Another fun fact: The Great Doors of the Rotunda (which you saw closed at the end of the video) are off-limits to Midshipmen at all times except for ceremonial purposes, such as morning quarters and non-meal formations or morning and evening Colors. A lot of brand new Ensigns and 2nd Lieutenants will return to Bancroft Hall after Commissioning to get their pictures taken standing in the Great Doors. I've been back a few times, and as a matter of tradition and respect, I will not walk through the Great Doors since I ended up not graduating.

Your positivity is infectious, great video.

Thank you all for taking care of our country it really is greatly appreciated!

Hey Sam! I want to thank you for all the great content. It has kept me inspired and excited for the academies! After applying to both, I decided I am going to be attending USAFA this next year in the class of 2025. Go Air Force, sink Navy!

Thanks for giving props to your rival service academy. They're all impressive.

Amazing vid. Keep up the good work.

I graduated HS is 1984. One of my classmates had no talent in almost anything but he was a very hard worker. His father was an NJ State Trooper and for many years, the Troop did not pay well. He knew his parents could not afford to send him to college. But one thing my friend did have was a burning desire to work his ass off. He studied late at night and then work up early to continue to study. He did not play sports but he earned varsity letters for Marching Band and being the manager for basketball. He won a scholarship to the Naval Academy. Moral of the story, work your ass off for good things to happen to you. This is a lesson I did not learn until my early 40's.

My dad taught at the naval academy when I was younger. Annapolis is such a beautiful area and I love going there every few years. The naval academy is right there. I was there last weekend and the class of 26 was there with their parents presumably after this summer.

These videos are so cool! Please keep doing videos like this.

At 8:30 my son is in the back with his glasses. it's awesome to see him. He is a Second Class (Junior) now, time flies.

Sam, as a new subscriber, it was a pleasure to watch this video you presented from your own Air Force Academy experiences as opposed to what the Navy folks go through. As a Navy veteran (NCO), I have 3 different friends who graduated from each of the military academies spanning from 1969 to 1974. These were all guys I knew in high school. This was several years prior to the admission of women (I believe that was in 1976). They all had military careers beyond their minimum 5-year post-graduation requirement. I currently have two nephews who are NCOs in the Air Force and they both love their careers. Both are E-5's, however, the younger one will be attending OCS at Maxwell AFB shortly. My Dad was an Army Air Force/Air Force veteran just after WWII. Refreshing to get a young officer's perspective. 👍

I just finished my Plebe Summer last month. Unreal experience that I’ll never forget.

Thanks ❤️ my son just completed Plebe Summer 2022 for class of 2026 USNA. I had tears in my eyes on last couple of minutes. Such a privilege and honor for our service academy students or plebes or cadets.

@Sam Eckholm - Thank you for your service. You have to do the other 3 Service Academies. Army, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine.

In the Royal New Zealand Navy, there are two courses for officers and rates. Also in the New Zealand Defence Force, they pay for your university degree if you want to get one but you have to give time back for however long your uni course is.

Thanks for showing this. What they did not show is what happens after the Plebes enter Bancroft Hall, and the doors shut. That is less heartwarming. lol. But I'd do it again if i could. #GoNavy - Class of 1995. (There is a lot more to the Plebe Summer video on RU-vid as well).

Why am I so early, anyways ty for your service and hoping to be serving one day too 🙌🏼

Great video!

Wow amazing video keep it up

Now you gotta react to the coast guard academy!

Hey Sam, this is Cadet Third Class Ryan, I'm currently serving as a Cadet in AFROTC. You motivated me in joining!

i like how Sam barely pauses the video and talks thank you man

Nice work Lt.

9:45 those upper classmen sounding fierce 😂🤣

Hey Sam! You're my favorite RU-vidr by far and I've been inspired to go into AFROTC this August! I can't wait!

Maybe Q&A with Swayne?

Thanks for the video. I liked hearing your commentary. When I went there over 40 years ago, I do not recall being able to meet with parents after swearing in. It might have happened, but my mother headed for home at 7am. Crewcuts were not required, but a long haircut was about a half inch long, not long enough to comb. During the day we had enough drill that we could march (poorly) by 4pm. The food was good, but as a plebe I learned at lunch on the first day to not spend much time in the dining hall because that was open season for squad leaders grilling plebes. I lost 10 pounds the first month. Also we were not allowed more than 3 chews per swallow.

I'm looking to enlist to go through BMT either this winter or next summer (in the air force)

Great video Sam! Can you do one of the US Merchant Marine Academy? I’m going there in a couple weeks to begin my journey with the class of 2025. It would be great to hear what you think and how it compares to the bigger academies.

Getting ready for plebe summer right now! I liked the perspective from a USAFA alum. Really great video.

You should do a video of the two lesser know service academies, Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy. Everyone knows of Annapolis, West Point and USAFA.

please do one on the army academy

Can’t wait to do this in 9 days!!!!!

Alternate universe Sam: boat photography

Nice video!

Hey Sam, awesome video! I will be joining the Air Force soon and it's a little personal to ask but that nice place of yours, is a good portion of it paid through BAH? Would love to one day have such a kickass place while in the AF and was curious how you got yours. thanks a bunch!

I've been to Anapolis & wondered what all the ice cream uniforms around town were for - lol. I knew a few Anapolis grades through the years including a Physics Prof for a few years before he went back to the Marine infantry. There was a USAF Col I worked for that was a West Point grad. Before getting to Marine boot camp I did much running & I had very short hair so wasn't too bad. Then interservice transfer & USAF OTS back in 1980.

Can you do a reaction to the USCGA's swab summer? My brother is currently a freshman there!

you should do a video on your equipment

All I can say is that Plebe year at USNA today is a far cry from what it was for the Class of 1971! For starters, it was a full year of hazing and pressure. From videos I have seen on RU-vid, during the Plebe academic year, it is basically college with uniforms. While many would say it is for the better, with the recent rash of relieved commands, I wonder if it has gone too far the other way.

* Meanwhile in Wespoint USCC: Finally a worthy opponent

That's nice. How about West Point where the first Air Force officers started before the Air Force Academy was established.

Hey Sam, you planning on making it to the abbotsford intl airshow this year? The F22 is flying!!! I'd love to meet ya, I volunteer there every year.

Thank you for your service, can you do a video on officer or enlisted?

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Can you make a video on the application process for joining USAFA?

Never sweat more in my life than during plebe summer. The humidity was crazy

well now I feel like we have to see West Point, to finish it out.

Fun fact I know many people who went to the service academies because it was their only offer to play athletics at the next level and then transferred out after getting an offer somewhere else so your 5 years isn't mandatory of your transfer before graduation but that was for athletic reasons so I don't know

I am heading to Australian Navy.

You should react to coast guard boot camp

Do U.S. Merchant Marine Academy!

Hey Sam! I’d love a Coast Guard academy video!

You should do West Point!

When I saw the title I was a bit curious, more skeptical, hoping it wasnt a bashing on the Navy. Well done. Finishing up 30 years in the Navy I get what you are feeling. Thank you for your service and GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY! (and Air Force).

Dixie Cups. The naval enlisted and pleebe cover is the dixie cup.

Hey Sam I got a video suggestion:Reaction to the businesses insider boot camp videos

You should react to West Point!

They should bring in Navy RDCs and Marine Corps DIs to be detailers.

Plebes short for Plebians roman commoners . Your still a plebian civilian until you finish plebe summer when you become a midshipman. West Point also has Plebes. It shows how ingrained classical influences are on military training. Annapolis is a colonial seaport and also the State Capitol. The hair shaving or first tonsure is part of the leveling process of civilian privilege and that their bodies are now the governments. Monks in the catholic religious orders do a similar thing if they're traditionalists. Upon graduation that money accumulated is greedily sought by car dealers.

Do US Coast Guard Academy!

I really appreciate the video! As a member of USNA ‘24, my experience with this was quite different (our I-day was more similar to that of Air Force), but it’s neat seeing what this year’s youngsters went through. And as always, beat Army!

West Point next? 👀

You should do a reaction video with Swayne.

When do you learn to sail a sailboat during plebe summer?

Just a random question. Where did you get that awesome blue bomber jacket? Is it from the Air Force?

Stronger united⚽💝

That's so soft compared to going to Boot in '90 Great Lakes. It's nice you can cuddle one last time... Be happy you weren't enlisted. haha

Now, please do the West Point Academy, Sam!

Can you do West Point?

Wow. These guys are Firsties (seniors) now! Very impressive group of young men and women. My beautiful daughter is class of 2025. :)

Super video, hello from Russia. Alex👍👍👍

Hey mr Eckholm I like what you did with the officer POV at the naval academy. I’m also an sophomore in high school that is doing the navy summer stem program and been accepted at the ace program at a community college and also going to west Mec to do street law and football sport.should this be good enough for now?

I’m gonna be in the class of 2026. Watching this is both terrifying and exiting.

Okay so, I am only in 10th grade right now and all I want is to be a fighter pilot either for the usaf or air national guard. Do you have any tips on how to reach that goal?

When I first walked in, It looked like a Hotel.

Please do West Point 😩😩😩

It's completely free as long as you don't flunk the course. If you do you end up as enlisted or you end up paying back the tuition. They are VERY picky about whom they admit into the course to eliminate drop outs

Annapolis is gorgeous, West Point is beautiful also. but there is nothing outside the gates...

I want to study in USAFA someday

I think it’s very popular to say that the Air Force should follow the army and navy and return to the WWII uniform look, who doesn’t like the Hap Arnold uniform after all

I'm a retired Commander who went to Annapolis. Before I entered USNA, I took a tour of USAFA. Differences I rapidly recall: -Cadets run outside. We ran INSIDE. We were not allowed to run in uniform outside at all. -Cadet barracks are carpeted and you walked inside. We had PVC tiles and when the maintenance contractors wax it, running, or "chopping" as we call it, could be hazardous. -Navy NEVER required us to square our movements during what you call "chow" and what we Mids called "meal." -Our football team is better. But we don't get mad when USAFA beats USNA. Air Force Week is basically practice for A/N pranks and any pranks that go far enough to warrant demerits and restriction serve as lessons learned for A/N week. Most folks would rather lose Turkey Day than lose Christmas leave. All and all, similar experiences but as you point out, USNA has LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! down. The "Point" is in the middle of nowhere. "Springs" is in the middle of nowhere but the Rockies make everything spectacular in terms of scenery. I don't remember pregnancy tests... But I'm a dude. I'll ask my wife later (she's a USNA classmate). As for hair, wife is Black so she didn't get much of a haircut. As for your uniform commentary, they are called "Dixie Cups." Flip it and it becomes Gilligan's hat. Toward the end of my career, I taught leadership in Luce Hall. Very rewarding. Very fun to be on the other side of the podium. As for how many women enter Annapolis, when my wife and I entered in 1997, it was 15% women. Today, over 30%. Most of us incurred a 5-year committment. The Aviators add on two extra years of commitment. Lastly, any young person who wants to serve and has the smarts should ABSOLUTELY apply to a Service Academy. Whether (BEAT) Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, or Merchant Marine, you will get a first-rate education AND have at least five years of guaranteed employment. It's rewarding, you go all over the world, and whether you serve out the commitment and transtion, or go Reserves, or do a full career like I did, you will be proud. P.S., the Class Ring is a great beer bottle opener. ;-)

What interesting

And I love your videos team sam

I remember I-day like it was yesterday - FORTY-THREE years ago. Crikies, I'm getting old.

Im going to be part of the class of 2025. Fingers crossed for plebe year and summer

I went to the Naval Academy Class of 2020. Best thing I have ever done.

Hey if some has the control to shot the jet in the air force can they fly the jet to?

What about seal are the navy or other kind of army?

Where you ever close to a AH 64 apache

Hey Sam I’ve had interested on joining the Air Force to become a pilot. I’m currently 25 going to be 26 in September. With that being said is there a certain age I must be commissioned by or have started pilot training?

Go Navy Beat Airforce! Go Navy Beat Army!

Thank you for the great comparison. USNA '81... When the doors slam shut, the screaming at the plebes starts. They have to run back to their company areas and find their rooms. I had a very rough plebe year. At USNA all live in that interconnected dormitory with eight wings and five floors on each wing. I was back at the Naval Academy on Induction Day for '82, in the basement storage area. When that screaming started at them, it brought back the chills from the previous year.

I have, or I'm assuming that i do have some restrictions from my personal health that's stopping me from joining the air force, such as allergies and eyesight, that i can definitely get through. Besides that, i don't even care if my head is shaved, in fact, I'm more than happier lol

DO USMMA!!!

How in shape should I be before joining the Air Force?

Hello Sir how are you? I have 1 question I can not apply to the university and if there is any chance that I will get directly to the Aviation Academy? This is my dream❤️thanks