USNA Graduates Class of 2015

An estimated 30,000 people filled the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, May 22 to witness the swearing in of the U.S. Navy's and Marine Corps' newest officers.

 The Naval Academy Class of 2015 graduated 1,070 men and women, including 790 Navy ensigns and 264 Marine Corps second lieutenants.

Graduating first in the class is Ensign Michael K. Johnson, an electrical engineering major who will serve as a submarine officer after finishing a master's degree in computer science at Stanford University.

The class included 11 foreign exchange students from Bangladesh, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Maldives, Mexico, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Tunisia.

The ceremony recognized three honorary graduates, including Commandant of Midshipmen Capt. William D. Byrne Jr. The other honorary graduates were Dr. Jeffrey Fair, associate director of athletics for sports medicine and retired Capt. Douglas S. Borrebach, former supply officer for the Brigade of Midshipmen.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden delivered the commencement address, focusing on the global role of the U.S. Navy in establishing commerce, conducting humanitarian operations, and deterring conflict, particularly in the Asia-Pacific area of operations.

"Your presence matters," said Biden. "Pacific peace and prosperity has depended on and will continue to depend on U.S. naval power."

The continued "diplomatic and military supremacy" of the U.S. also depends on its naval forces, said Biden.

Biden called the graduating class "the real one percent who protect the other 99 percent" of the American people.

"We continue to count on you to protect world security," he said.

Biden encouraged the graduates to remember all they've learned during their four years at the Naval Academy.

"This place has given you bonds that will last your entire lifetime," said Biden. "There's no title you can more proudly bear than being an officer in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps."

This is the Naval Academy's 165th traditional graduation ceremony. Since it was established in 1845, the academy has graduated approximately 82,600 midshipmen including this year's graduates.

Midshipmen Collect Shoes For Those in Need

Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy’s Midshipman Action Group (MAG) collected more than 550 pairs of shoes from the Class of 2018 May 18 to donate to Planet Aid.

Photo by MC2 Jonathan Correa

The shoes were collected as the plebes began the traditional Herndon monument climb that marks the end of their plebe year. Midshipmen from MAG gathered the shoes, tied the pairs together so they wouldn't get lost, and sorted them by size.

“This is just another great thing that MAG does to help out the community,” Midshipman 3rd Class William Kruger, 12th company and volunteer. “I donated because I felt like the people of Annapolis needed them more than I did. I am fortunate enough to get those shoes issued to me and I felt someone else could use them more than I could.”

Photo by MC2 Jonathan Correa

The midshipmen bagged the shoes and transferred them to a van to take them to the local Planet Aid chapter where they will be distributed to families in need.

“This is changing people’s lives,” said Marine Col. Bobbi Shea, deputy commandant of midshipmen. “Can you imagine needing something like this? My family did not come from a lot of means, and just to have resources like this changed the way a family feels about themselves. It’s really great, and I really appreciate it.”

Photo by MC2 Jonathan Correa

The Midshipman Action Group was established in 1992 and is supported by the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. MAG organizes more than 50 educational, environmental and social service volunteer projects on the local and national level, employing more than 500 midshipmen throughout the academic year.

During the 2014-15 academic year, the midshipmen contributed 26,000 hours of community service.

Class of 2018 Triumphs over Herndon Climb

U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen from the Class of 2018 conquered the final hurdle of their freshman year during the annual Herndon Monument climb May 18.

Every year, the roughly 1,000 members of the academy's plebe class form a human pyramid around the 21-foot tall Herndon Monument to replace a plebe hat, or "dixie cup," that upperclassmen have placed on the top of the obelisk and with the midshipmen cover.

Photo by Gin Kai

“This is a great and iconic moment for each and every one of us at the Academy,” said Vice Adm. Ted Carter, Naval Academy superintendent. “It is an act of teamwork, strength, and perseverance that represents the transformation of being followers as plebes to future leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps.”

This year, Midshipman 4th Class Javarri Beachum, from Port St. Joe, Fla., reached the top and replaced the cover in 1:38:36, the fastest time since 2013. According to legend, the plebe who replaces the plebe cover with the midshipmen's cover will become the first member of the class to become an admiral. So far, the legend has not come true.

Photo by MC3 Nathan Wilkes

“It’s an awesome experience working together with these guys and girls," said Beachum. “It took our whole class, just pushing together, to get the job done. It isn’t a one-man thing. Everyone contributes.”

The Herndon Climb is considered the capstone of the freshman year at the Naval Academy. Once the freshman class completes this obstacle, they are “plebes no more,” a phrase the midshipmen don’t take lightly.

“It’s so exciting to finally be able to say ‘plebes no more,’” said Midshipman 4th Class Meghan Brophy. “Climbing Herndon was an amazing experience, and we are all feeling so good and looking forward to liberty.”

Photo by MC3 Nathan Wilkes

“I plan to stay active in the company and stay active for the new plebes that will be here soon,” said Midshipman 4th Class Stephen Steckler. “It’s so important for us to keep the motivation up from Herndon and be a positive force as we become upperclassmen.”

The Herndon monument is dedicated to Cmdr. William Lewis Herndon, who died in an attempt to save the crew of his steamer ship Central America during a storm off Cape Hatteras, N.C., in 1857.

USNA Holds Memorial Service for Midshipman Zemser

The Naval Academy held a memorial service today in honor of Midshipman 3rd Class Justin Zemser.

Photo by MC2 Jonathan Correa

Zemser was one of the passengers who lost his life in the Amtrak train crash which occurred in north Philadelphia Tuesday, May 12. Zemser was on leave and enroute to his family’s home in Rockaway Beach, N.Y. when the accident occurred. 

“My wife, Lynda, and I join the Brigade, staff and faculty in mourning the loss of Midshipman Justin Zemser,” said Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Walter “Ted” Carter. “Justin was a talented, highly respected young man with a tremendously bright future. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the Zemser family, and our extended USNA family, during this very difficult time.”

Zemser was a member of the 17th Company, an English major and an academic honor student at the Academy. He was a member of the Navy Sprint Football Team, the Jewish Midshipman Club, and the Semper Fi Society (a Marine Corps club). 

Photo by MC2 Jonathan Correa

Approximately 160 midshipmen from the Naval Academy’s 17^th Company, Sprint football team and Jewish Midshipman Club also attended the funeral service in Hewlett, N.Y.  Friday. The funeral included full military honors, including a bugler and burial detail from Naval Station Groton, Conn. 

Naval Academy Commandant, Capt. Bill Byrne attended on behalf of the Naval Academy administration. Marine Corps Capt. Brandy Soublet, Zemser’s company officer, gave a eulogy. Naval Academy Jewish chaplain, Lt. Yonatan Warren, presided over the service.

The Naval Academy remains deeply saddened by the death of Justin Zemser, and we will continue to support his family during this very difficult time.