Sponsors may house midshipmen during upcoming spring semester
At least 200 first and second class midshipmen may live at home or at a sponsor’s home during the spring semester, according to a letter from Superintendent Vice Adm. Sean Buck obtained by The Capital.
The Naval Academy plans to bring back the Brigade of Midshipmen for the spring semester, with the first day of classes on Jan. 19.
The academy will still need to keep space at Bancroft Hall for any midshipmen who need to isolate or quarantine due toCOVID- 19.
Last semester, the academy used St. John’s College dormitories, but with the college planning to bring its students back for the spring semester, thatwas no longer an option for the academy. Approximately 380 midship men were housed at St. Johns last semester.
One option the academy elected to explore was housing midshipmen at homes, Buck wrote in the Dec. 29 letter to the academy community. At least 100 midshipmen have families within 35 miles of the institution, meaning sponsors and academy friends would likely need to volunteer to take in about 100 more.
“I fully understand that this is a substantial undertaking — even for close family — and this is on top of all the sacrifices that you currently make to support our midshipmen, but I wanted to formally present the information for your careful consideration. I sincerely thank all of you who have already volunteered,” Buck wrote.
The academy is still looking for volunteers, according to the letter. The academy did respond to a request for comment on the letter.
Living at home or a sponsor’s home is only open to senior and junior midshipmen, with participation voluntary. Midship men who volunteer must be approved by their chain of command and have a friend, family or sponsor hosting them within the 35- mile radius.
“If you can provide a bed and an internet connection for your midshipmen, we will provide the rest,” Buck wrote.
Midshipmen must have access to a vehicle, with the academy providing parking. The academy will also give midshipmen three meals a day and continue support services, such as laundry, for commuters.
The academy will not give midshipmen reimbursement for commuting costs, and it is not clear if host families or sponsors will receive any.
It is also not clear how liberty will work for commuting midshipmen, with the letter saying specific regulations were still in the works.
All midshipmen returning from winter break, regardless of where they will live, will be given a COVID- 19 test and required to quarantine for 10 days. Commuters will go through the restriction of movement period at the home where they will be staying.
Commuting midshipmen will be tested for the presence of SARS- CoV- 2, the coronavirus that causes COVID- 19, every week. Also, 15% of the brigade will be tested eachweek, according to the letter.
If a commuting midshipmen tests positive, they will bemoved to the quarantine/ isolation section of Bancroft until they can be released.
“These are truly unprecedented times, but I am confident that we will be successful again in the spring semester due to the strength of our Naval Academy family,” Buck wrote.