Naval Academy Preparatory School

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Coordinates: 41°31′06″N 71°19′24″W / 41.518399°N 71.323254°W / 41.518399; -71.323254
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Naval Academy Prep School
Federal military academy prep school
Established1915
Parent institution
United States Naval Academy
Commanding OfficerCaptain Thomas E. Clarity, USN (2023–present)
Administrative staff
around 20 military faculty and around 40 civilian employees
Studentsapproximately 250 students
Location
Newport
,
Rhode Island
,
United States
CampusAt Naval Station Newport
ColorsNavy blue █ and gold █
Websitewww.usna.edu/naps

The Naval Academy Preparatory School or NAPS is the

preparatory school for the United States Naval Academy (USNA). NAPS is located on Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. The mission of the Naval Academy Preparatory School is "To enhance Midshipman Candidates' moral, mental, and physical foundations to prepare them for success at the United States Naval Academy".[1]

History

The Naval Academy Preparatory School is the Navy's fourth oldest school; only the Naval War College, the Naval Postgraduate School, and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland are older. Informal preparatory classes began as early as 1915.

In 1918, the

Franklin D. Roosevelt
(future 32nd President) also allowed for a school to be founded to prepare Sailors and Marines for entry.

The first official classes were established at

San Diego, California
. San Diego classes were later disestablished and NAPS classes remained solely in Norfolk until 1942, when the new Naval Academy Preparatory School opened in Newport, Rhode Island.

In early 1943, NAPS moved to the

Baltimore, Maryland. NAPS returned to Newport while the Bainbridge Center was temporarily inactive during 15 months around 1950. When Bainbridge was reactivated in 1951 because of the Korean War, the preparatory school returned to Maryland. In August 1974, NAPS returned to its permanent home in Newport and in 2006, named their newly built dormitory in honor of alumnus Colonel John Ripley[1][2]

From 1915 to 1968 NAPS was exclusively for Sailors and Marines who were of "Officer Caliber" but lacked the academic foundation for the rigors at the USNA. In 1968, the first male "Direct Entries" were admitted to NAPS. Following the congressional authorization of women to attend all military service academies, women were admitted in 1976.

Although NAPS primarily serves as an institution to prepare midshipman candidates to attend the USNA; from the years 1958 to 2008 it also began to prepare cadet candidates for the United States Air Force Academy (1958–1961) and the United States Coast Guard Academy (1979–2008, 2016–present) and, midshipman candidates for the United States Merchant Marine Academy (1991 to 2004).

Aerial view of Naval Station Newport

Admissions

To gain admission to their respective academies upon graduation, midshipman/cadet candidates must have a grade point average (GPA) above 2.2, no failing grade in any subject, meet the body fat standards, pass the USNA's Physical Readiness Test (PRT), improving or sustained course grades and SAT scores, favorable conduct and honor aptitude, and get a favorable recommendation from the Commanding Officer.[3]

Midshipman candidates who might be below the standard may still have a chance of admission to the USNA. After finals are over, their fate is decided on a day known as Black Monday.[according to whom?]

Organization

Students standing in formation.

The student body, organized as a battalion, is divided into three companies, which are then divided into two platoons. Each platoon is divided into four squads in order to carry out orders with effective results. While attending NAPS, all midshipman candidates, affectionately known as "NAPSters",[4] are on active duty military status,[3] holding the rank of Midshipman Candidate, equivalent to the Navy's Seaman Recruit, at the enlisted pay grade of E-1, although this is significantly reduced in an effort to allocate funds into the Battalion Activity Fund (BAF) and to pay off all debts owed due for issued uniforms and miscellaneous items. The BAF is used to pay for physical fitness clothing and equipment, textbooks and various student activity expenses, such as the Army-Navy game, Graduation Ball and the like.[4]

Within the battalion there exists a midshipman candidate-led chain of command. Those holding positions of authority are called "stripers", because they wear collar devices with the number of stripes that are assigned to each position.[4] Stripers are selected by the senior military staff and serve the term of one marking period,[clarification needed] after which they rotate out with new midshipmen candidates. The responsibilities of stripers are: delegating orders from the senior military staff to the students, taking accountability of the battalion, writing the watchbill for other students, organizing their respective companies and platoons for each event the midshipmen candidates attend, and maintaining general cleanliness of Ripley Hall. The head of the entire battalion is the Battalion Commander, Battalion Executive Officer (XO), and MA[clarification needed]. The Battalion XO is in charge of Taps sheets, a nightly process that ensures all midshipman/cadet candidates are accounted.

Athletics

NAPS athletics consist of football, lacrosse, men's and women's basketball, baseball, wrestling, men's and women's track & field, and men's and women's cross country running.

USCGA.[1]

In 1998, a NAPS platoon created the chant

USNA where the cheer team adopted it for its sporting events.[5]

Notable Alumni

Notable Past Military Staff

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Naval Academy Preparatory School :: Naval Academy Preparatory School :: USNA". Usna.edu. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  2. ^ "NAPS - Naval Academy Preparatory School". navyonline.com. U.S. Naval Academy Store. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b "NAPS Information Brochure (AY2012-2013)" (PDF). Retrieved February 28, 2015.[dead link]
  4. ^ a b c "Naval Academy Preparatory School Reefpoints." MS. Naval Academy Preparatory School, Newport.
  5. ^ Eisenberg, Jeff (20 June 2014). "The improbable story of how the trendiest chant in sports began". Yahoo!Sports. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  6. ^ "LinkClick.aspx". Headquarters Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Socci's View: While the NFL offers a 'Salute to Service,' a former Patriot answers his call to serve". 98.5 The Sports Hub - Boston's Home For Sports. Retrieved 2023-07-09.

External links

41°31′06″N 71°19′24″W / 41.518399°N 71.323254°W / 41.518399; -71.323254

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