Youngster yearU.S. Naval Academy · Third class

Duties

Leadership roles grow each year, from company up to Brigade¹. USNA's public pages don't list specific youngster duties, so we don't either.

These milestones are described, with sources, in the sections on this page.

Summer training before youngster year

official pages describe it differently.

• The Blue and Gold Book describes a cruise on a surface ship or submarine to see "a 'day in the life' of Fleet enlisted personnel," standing underway watches as part of the crew¹.
• The Summer at USNA page describes three weeks at sea on Yard Patrol craft to New England ports, plus three weeks on 44-foot sailing sloops or in naval tactical training².
• Both pages say summers include Fleet time. The Blue and Gold Book says each summer has about four weeks "immersed in the Fleet"¹. Ask USNA which model applies to your class.

Academics

Formal coursework in your major begins in the youngster year³.

Privileges

5 base overnight weekends per semester⁴. Third class midshipmen still may not drive except on authorized leave⁵. Upperclass midshipmen 21 or older may drink legally¹.

When it becomes binding: We didn't find this point stated on the official pages we reviewed. Ask the academy.

Midshipmen are generally granted leave for Thanksgiving, end of fall semester, spring mid-term, a short liberty period before Commissioning Week, and three weeks of summer vacation¹⁵. Liberty depends on duty, performance, and seniority, and USNA notes schedules "are subject to change with little prior notice"⁵⁶. Optional summer school replaces summer leave².