Leave Periods at USNA and PRT Testing

Leave Periods

Every leave begins after completion of the Mid’s last scheduled exam or military duty. A movement order gives authorization for a group of Mids to leave the Academy for various events (i.e. sports, club and drills). There is a specific criteria for every leave.

Fall Days 

In the fall, everyone has Labor Day, Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day liberty and at least two days off for Thanksgiving weekend.

Army vs. Navy 

Around Thanksgiving, the big event of the year takes place—Army vs. Navy in football, usually the first weekend in December. All Mids are transported to the game and are required to sit with the Brigade.

At times Firsties have been permitted to sit with their parents if they are in attendance at the game. This decision is often left up to the Company Officer to decide.

Christmas 

Mids can usually count on going home for Christmas leave after their last exam or last military duty, and this period usually occurs between December 16th and 20th. The entire Brigade must report back the same day and it’s a few days after the New Year, which equates to about 2 weeks of vacation time.

"The Dark Ages" 

The return from Christmas break brings about “the Dark Ages”, a time at the Academy when things seem to shut down for the winter and the bitter cold sets in for Florida Mids.

Everyone has Martin Luther King’s birthday and George Washington’s birthday off.  The next break isn’t until Spring Break in March. After this break, the Brigade returns for an intercessional period and scheduled Forrestal Lectures and other events that cannot be scheduled during other times of the year.

Early cruises are scheduled to begin following the intercessional and a very few Mids are already gone when graduation occurs at the end of Commissioning Week.

PRT Tests and Scoring

During Plebe Summer and throughout their four years at the Academy, Midshipmen are required to maintain their physical fitness. To determine their state of fitness, a Physical Readiness Test (PRT) is administered - once during Plebe Summer and twice more before graduation.

The PRT consists of three parts which are equally weighted and are averaged together to determine a Midshipman's Grade in PRT. The grades are set up as A, B, C, D, and F as are all Academic Grades. The three parts and the minimum requirements to pass are

• Curl Ups
• Sit Ups 
• 1.5 Mile Run. 

A 500 Yard Swim is sometimes substituted for the 1.5 Mile Run.  The minimums given above are just that... MINIMUMS.   Remember that each activity accounts for 1/3 of the PRT grade and the combined grade must be D- or better.  Passing the PRT is a requirement for Commissioning.