Naval Academy Preparatory School

Naval Academy Preparatory School
Motto	Success from Knowledge (Ex Scienta, Succesus)
Established	1915
Type	Federal military academy prep school
Admin. staff	approximately 40 faculty
Students	approximately 300 students
Location	Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Campus	At NETC Newport
Athletics	11 varsity teams, called "Naval Rams"
Colors	Navy Blue █ and Gold █
Website	The official NAPS website

The Naval Academy Preparatory School, or NAPS is the preparatory school for the United States Naval Academy. NAPS is located on a hill at Naval Station Newport, RI. The mission of the school is "To enhance Midshipman Candidates' moral, mental, and physical foundations to prepare them for success at the United States Naval Academy". The student body, which is organized as a battalion is divided into three companies which are then divided into two platoons each. Each platoon from there is divided into four squads in order to carry out orders with effective results. While the students attend the NAPS they hold the rank of an E-1 which is the equivilant of a Seaman Recruit, but they claim the title of a Midshipman Candidate. A common nickname for the Midshipmen candidates is "NAPSter".^[1]

History

The Naval Academy Preparatory School is the Navy’s fourth oldest school; only the Naval War College, the Naval Post Graduate School, and the Naval Academy are older. Informal preparatory classes began as early as 1915.

In 1918, the Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels signed a provision to have up to 100 sailors from the fleet to be eligible for entry to the Academy. Due to the difficult nature of the Naval Academy's entrance examination, then Undersecretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt also allowed for a school to be founded to prepare Sailors and Marines for entry.

The first official classes were established at Naval Station, Newport and Naval Station, San Francisco in 1920. A year later the schools were moved to Norfolk, VA and San Diego, CA. San Diego classes were disestablished and NAPS classes remained solely in Norfolk until 1942, when the new Naval Academy Preparatory School opened in Newport, RI.

In early 1943, NAPS moved to the Bainbridge Naval Training Center, a facility of several hundred acres located above the Susquehanna River, some 40 miles northeast of Baltimore, MD. NAPS returned to Newport while the Bainbridge Center was temporarily inactive during a 15-month period around1950. 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.

In the 1970s, civilian applicants began to be considered for entry and women were first admitted to NAPS in 1975 following congressional authorization of women to attend all service academies.

In 1979, NAPS began preparing prospective Coast Guard Academy students. The Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, selects students for assignment to NAPS.

In 2006, The Naval Academy Preparatory School named their newly built dormitory in honor of alumnus Colonel John Ripley. Ripley Hall is located on 197 elliot street in Newport Rhode Island.^[2]

In 2008, NAPS stopped taking Coast Guard Academy Candidates.

Admissions

It was once possible for enlisted sailors and Marines to apply directly to NAPS for admission. In the late 1980s, NAPS was brought under the authority of the USNA Superintendent and the admissions process was unified. Since then, students must apply for admission to either the U.S. Naval, or U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Those students who are deemed qualified but who may require an extra year of preparation may be offered an appointment to NAPS. The U.S. Coast Guard recently disemployed the use of NAPS as a preparatory school for the Coast Guard Academy.

Course of Instruction

All midshipmen candidates complete a standard course of study—calculus, physics, chemistry, and English— to help them increase their knowledge and competitiveness at the United States Naval Academy. The academic year is divided into three trimesters. Varsity athletics are also offered, and is now the mainstay of NAPSter life. Throughout the academic year the battalion of Midshipman Candidates takes multiple battalion trips, including attending the Army Navy football game and a trip to New York City. During the first three weeks upon reporting, midshipman candidates complete an indoctrination period to introduce them to a military life. Towards the end of this period(Indoc) the Midshipman Candidates take placement tests, based on how well the Midshipman Candidates do, they are placed in either Remedial, foundation,intermediate, or advanced classes. Midshipmen candidates are also offered the opportunity to receive extra instruction during an E.I period. The E.I period it's held on the Academic or Athletic Wing at Nimitz Hall right after the last class of the day has ended.

Stripers

In the battalion of midshipmen candidates there exists a "striper" chain of command. The midshipmen candidates which hold these positions of authority are called "stripers" because they wear collar devices with the amount of stripes that are assigned to each position. Stripers are selected by the military staff and serve the term of one marking period, after which they rotate out with new midshipmen candidates.

References

1. ^ "Naval Academy Preparatory School Reefpoints." MS. Naval Academy Preparatory School, Newport.
2. ^ "Ripley Hall Dedication Ceremony." Ripley Hall Dedication Ceremony. USNA Alumni Staff, 13 July 2006. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.usna.com/NAPS/images/photos/07/august/ripley/pages/IMG_0627.htm>.

External links

• Naval Academy Preparatory School's official website
• NAPS Parent Page
• United States Naval Academy's official website
• United States Coast Guard Academy's official website
• NAPS Student Brochure
• Prepare for the US Naval Academy

Coordinates: 41°31′12″N 71°19′34″W / 41.52001°N 71.32605°W / 41.52001; -71.32605