On 10 January, MIDN Jordan Foley ’12 took on the role as most senior midshipman as Brigade Commander. “This opportunity doesn't come very often to a 23-year-old,” said the Pennsylvania native. Foley said his four key principles are respect, self-worth, sustained effort and a positive outlook.

It was a busy year for midshipmen and alumni alike. Whether you were a “Survivor,” Carrie Underwood fan, or tracking down Osama, all were in the top most-read stories in WaveTops during 2011. Petraeus even made the cut.

Since 2004, the Naval Academy has partnered with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) to offer leadership development opportunities in the wilderness to midshipmen, augmenting summer Fleet cruises. These midshipman video testimonials prove the value of their participation and why the Superintendent has included NOLS as a high priority candidate for private gift support.

Colonel Richard Rothwell ’36, USMC (Ret.), one of the 18 battalion commanders who landed under enemy fire on the Japanese Island of Iwo Jima on D-Day, shares his memories of that infamous battle.

LtCol Jason Morris ’92, USMC, served during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and witnessed heavy combat in the push toward Baghdad. But it’s his experience in Afghanistan during the past year that lingers—he commanded the Marines of the 3/5 “Darkhorse,” who had the highest casualty rate of any Marine unit during the Afghan war.

CAPT Dan McCarthy ’77, USN (Ret.), spent years as a JAG prosecuting those whose sense of right and wrong were askew. Now, he Joined the Wounded Warrior Project team in Jacksonville, FL, a group he says does “nothing but right.”

Last December marked a shift in how Trident does business. The last of the paper issues rolled out, then the presses were stopped. Trident has gone electronic and downright stylish. Now you can get your Academy news around the globe with just a click.

The first necklace came to be while cleaning out old body armor. Now, Bullets2Bandages, the bullet repurposer started by Erik Spalding ’04 and Cole Evans ’04, is belts and bracelets too, recently recognized for their philanthropy with veterans groups like the Travis Manion Foundation.

In the Lone Star Battalion, there are five actual sets of brothers serving together in Afghanistan. One set, Daniel and Joshua Beans, are the grandsons and great-grandsons of Beans Marines from the Naval Academy, BgGens Fred ’30 and Daniel ’57. 60 Minutes investigated the unprecedented number of siblings in service together in this Texas battalion.

Last summer I provided a Situation Report (SitRep) to offer an additional perspective of events at the Naval Academy and Alumni Association and Foundation in addition to what you read in Shipmate, WaveTops and on www.usna.com. This Winter 2012 SitRep provides an update regarding ... (read more)

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