The roughly 1,200 optimistic, yet timid, young men and women of the U.S. Naval Academy’s class of 2029 arrived Thursday morning in Annapolis for Plebe Summer.
Induction Day, otherwise known as “I-Day,” marks the beginning of Plebe Summer, an exhaustive six-week training period. Over the course of the summer, the incoming plebes — as they are historically known — learn basic seamanship skills, navigation, damage control and how to shoot 9 mm pistols and M-16 rifles, among other things, that will help them through their first academic year.
They must first survive I-Day.
Ahead of her 9:15 a.m. sign-in, Susie Kennedy, of Plattsburgh, New York, expressed nervousness and excitement. Her older brother, a Marine, had earlier shared some advice.
“He honestly says just to go through it,” Kennedy said. “It’s going to suck and I know it’s going to suck — but just keep going and push through. It’ll all be over soon.”
The new plebes are processed throughout various stations in Alumni Hall as they become official members of the class of 2029. Stations include physical measurements, uniform issue, medical examinations, haircuts and learning to properly salute.
“I’m excited but definitely nervous as well,” Jason Keiser, a native of South Brunswick, New Jersey, said. “I want to buzz my head, the hair is getting annoying, especially when it’s hot. I’m looking forward to that.”
Keiser, who will join the Navy track team this year, intends to major in engineering.
“I think [they’ve] been excited for me,” Keiser said of his parents during the leadup to I-Day. “I think my mom’s a little nervous because I’ve been living with them my whole life, so it’s just a change.”
During Plebe Summer, the fresh-faced plebes have no access to the internet and restricted access to cell phones — they are only allowed to make two calls all summer.
The incoming plebes will take the oath of office in a 6 p.m. ceremony at Worden Field. Then they’ll say final goodbyes to family members until Plebe Parents’ Weekend in August.
Tim and Jenny Fansler, of Muskegon, Michigan, watched their son, James, as he entered Alumni Hall. They’re accustomed to military goodbyes and seeing their son with a shaved head after previously dropping James off to attend the New Mexico Military Institute, a prep school in Roswell, New Mexico.
While emotional, the Fanslers agreed that any negative feelings were trumped by pride. They issued a final piece of advice for him as he begins the four-year process of commissioning in either the Navy or Marine Corps.
“Be yourself and don’t be afraid to fail,” Tim Fansler said. “Because they’re going to find a way to make you.”
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