The Academic Year (2025-2026)
Sep 29, 2025
The Midshipman's Daily Routine: What Changed This Academic Year (2025-2026)
As a supporter of a United States Naval Academy Midshipman, you're probably curious about what your midshipman's daily life looks like now that they've transitioned from Plebe Summer to the academic year. Let me walk you through the typical schedule and some key changes that have been implemented recently.
The blog will be a brief recap. I highly encourage you to listen to the podcast (linked at the end of the blog) for full context and perspective into these items.
The Daily Battle Rhythm
The academic year at the Naval Academy follows a structured routine that balances military training, academics, and physical fitness. Here's a breakdown of a typical weekday:
Early Morning
The day can start as early as 5:30 AM, particularly for Plebes who have a workout block from 5:40 to 6:30 AM. These workouts are part of the new "STEEL" PT program, which we'll discuss in more detail later.
Morning Formation and Breakfast
At 7:00 AM, all Midshipmen attend morning quarters formation for accountability and announcements. Breakfast follows immediately after.
Formations, depending on your company and its associated culture, could be a very quick, informal event or a very rigid, structured event with uniform inspections. In most cases, it's just an avenue to make sure everyone is alive and pass any announcements for the day.
Academic Classes
Classes now begin at 7:45 AM and run until 11:35 AM, with four 50-minute periods. The afternoon classes now start at 1:40pm or 1340 for you military types and run until 3:30pm, with two 50-minute periods.
This is a change from previous years in which morning classes started at 7:55am and the afternoon classes started at 1:30pm. This 10 minute earlier shift in the morning and 10 minute later shift in the afternoon has extended the after lunch period to 12:30 - 13:30, allowing for a full 1 hour block. This block is known as the Trident Period.
Trident Period
Last year (Spring semester of 2025) the Naval Academy did a mock trial of the Trident Period and found it to achieve its intended purpose. As a result, it was implemented for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The Trident Period runs from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. This hour-long block is designated for various activities:
- Tuesdays and Fridays: Academic support
- Wednesdays and Thursdays: Military training
- Mondays: Flexible use
Afternoon Athletics
Two more class periods follow in the afternoon, ending at 3:30 PM. After classes, Midshipmen participate in athletics, whether it's varsity sports, club activities, or intramurals.
Varsity athletic practices usually run from 3:30 - 6:00pm and leave athletes running to catch the tail end of dinner!
Evening Routine
Dinner is served from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, followed by a four-hour study period from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The day concludes with TAPS, where Midshipmen sign in to confirm their presence in Bancroft Hall.
Key Changes and New Programs
"STEEL" PT Program
The "STEEL" PT program is a new initiative designed to provide structured, effective workouts for Midshipmen. Unlike in the past, where upperclassmen with little fitness training experience led workouts, the Steel program is developed by certified trainers and the PE department.
This program is designed for Midshipmen who do not have an otherwise structured workout regiment. For example, Varsity Athletes who go through their own strength and conditioning program would not be obligated to follow the STEEL PT guidance.
This is an interesting change from my time as a midshipmen where Plebe morning workouts were led by the company training staff. And while those workouts were very difficult, they were likely ineffective in actually helping the plebes prepare to pass the PRT. The STEEL guidance ensures midshipmen are going through a legitimate workout program.
Trident Period
This new addition to the schedule aims to provide dedicated time for academic support and military training. It's an attempt to reduce the burden of after-dinner events and protect study time.
This is the first year of the "T-period" and I'm sure there will be multiple opinions of the pros & cons associated with its implementation.
Changes in the Plebe Training Program
- No Physical Punishments: Unlike in the past, Plebes are no longer subjected to physical punishments like push-ups during the academic year. They are only allowed to be "dropped" during Blue and Gold, which traditionally takes place on Sunday evening after the end of liberty. This change has led to an increase of other forms of remediation and punishment, like written letters, research projects, and other reflections. Which, in all honestly, I believe is WAYYYYY worse becasue of the time associated with the completion of those tasks. I would much rather knock out 20 pushups and be done in 30 seconds then have to write a 30 minute paper on why I messed up lol.
- Napping Allowed: Plebes, per MIDREGS guidance, are now permitted to nap in their racks from 0755-1145 & 1340-1530, a significant departure from the past where napping was strictly prohibited.
The days of having to go to the second deck of Nimitz library and try to find an isolated area to sneak a nap are now over - you can just head back to your room, jump in the rack, and get a solid 30 minute nap before your next class.
After a long conversation on the podcast with John Cordle about the long term effects of sleep deprivation, and the power naps hold in improving overall performance and health, I do believe this is a positive change.
Now with all that being said, companies are usually allowed to be more restrictive when it comes to these guidances. So it is possible that some companies may not allow their plebes to take a nap, but the default guidance does allow them to return to their racks during the Academic Day.
The Why Behind the Changes
- Better aligning with fleet practices
- Promoting physical recovery
- Teaching upperclassmen to lead without relying on physical punishments, which is not allowed in the fleet
- Prioritizing academic success and overall well-being
While some may view these changes as a departure from tradition, they represent the Academy's ongoing efforts to prepare Midshipmen for their future roles as naval officers while prioritizing their health and academic/physical success.
Again - every Midshipman's experience can vary slightly depending on their company and leadership. The Naval Academy continues to evolve, always striving to balance its rich traditions with modern leadership practices and the well-being of its Midshipmen. Additionally, any decision is subject to change at any moment by the Naval Academy leadership. This blog and episode is designed to just provide a little context and perspective into what is ongoing in Annapolis.
As parents/loved ones, understanding these changes can help you better support your Midshipman through their Academy journey. Stay engaged, keep communication open, and remember that despite the changes, the core mission of developing future naval leaders remains steadfast.
If you want to learn more about the program, watch the full interview here!
Or listen to the audio podcast here!
--
Founder of Academy Insider and Podcast Host Grant Vermeer
Grant Vermeer is the founder of Academy Insider and the host of The Academy Insider podcast. He was a recruited athlete which brought him to Annapolis where he was a four-year member of the varsity basketball team.
He was a cyber operations major and commissioned into the Cryptologic Warfare Community. He was stationed at Fort Meade and supported the Subsurface Direct Support mission.
He separated from the Navy in 2023 and now owns The Vermeer Group, a residential real estate company that specializes in serving the United States Naval Academy community with nationwide consulting and connection.
Connect with Grant Vermeer, The Academy Insider here:
Author
