POSTED ON: Friday, June 13, 2025 10:04 AM by MC1 Sarah Thielen
At the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), service isn’t just a future promise — it’s a present commitment. Throughout 2024 and 2025, the Midshipman Action Group (MAG), the largest student-led volunteer organization in the Brigade of Midshipmen, undertook hundreds of community service initiatives that positively impacted lives from Annapolis to Washington State.
Volunteer events ranged from tutoring elementary students and organizing large-scale food drives to supporting the Special Olympics and mentoring youth at Boys & Girls Clubs. MAG participants contributed thousands of hours of service and built enduring partnerships with civic leaders, educators, and nonprofit organizations.
In Academic Year 2024-2025 alone, 835 midshipmen within MAG volunteered 1,783 times across 119 unique events, culminating in 14,402 hours of service. Their work supported 29 impactful projects spanning four focus areas: youth mentorship, environmental sustainability, veterans and convalescents, and in-kind giving initiatives. Additionally, MAG, alongside other midshipmen-led service organizations across the Brigade of Midshipmen, engaged in a total of 189 service events, totaling 16,943 hours through 10 midshipmen-led service organizations.
Their efforts were recognized nationally when The Princeton Review ranked the Naval Academy as No. 1 in the country for “Great Town-Gown Relations,” a reflection of USNA’s unparalleled engagement with the local community. The accolade, which the Academy will hold through 2025, reflects the deep trust and collaboration between midshipmen and the City of Annapolis neighbors.
“The countless acts of selflessness, compassion, and commitment to others—these things are not just good deeds, they’re force multipliers,” said Cmdr. Kyle Bandermann, the MAG officer representative. “They’re the bedrock on which our readiness for war is built.”
Throughout the year, more than 4,000 midshipmen volunteered their time, reaching thousands of individuals in underserved and high-need communities. One of the Academy’s flagship programs, “Mids for Kids,” deployed over 100 midshipmen each week into Anne Arundel County public schools where they provided mentorship and academic support in subjects such as math, science, and English as a second language.
The outreach didn’t stop at the county line. During spring break, MAG volunteers traveled across the country to Washington State, working with three major Boys & Girls Clubs, including those serving Indigenous youth. The trip included a visit to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, sparking conversations among teens about service and military careers.
“The extracurricular activities that draw the largest participation on the Yard are the ones focused on service to our neighbors and the people most in need,” Bandermann said. “Yes, our community relationships and service are the soft power, but these soon-to-be commissioned officers would never mistake soft for weak. Service is the discipline behind the uniform.”
Last fall, the Brigade mobilized for significant events such as the annual 9/11 Remembrance Day when 2,997 flags were placed along Stribling Walk and midshipmen ran in tribute to those who perished. Later, a campus-wide food drive resulted in over 9,000 donated meals for families throughout the Baltimore-Washington corridor, informed by guidance from local food bank experts on emerging trends in food insecurity.
Service was equally strong during the Academy’s high-profile Army-Navy Game week, with midshipmen facilitating STEM workshops at a Washington, D.C. high school and leading hands-on learning projects for over 80 youth at the city’s largest Boys & Girls Club. They also visited the Armed Forces Retirement Home to connect with retired veterans in honor of their legacy, and visited the Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Washington to donate linens.
“These acts of service are not distractions from military training,” Bandermann said. “When midshipmen serve the hungry, when they mentor a child, when they lead with humility in a local shelter, they aren’t stepping away from warfighting. They are stepping toward it with character and clarity.”
The Academy also served as the site of Maryland’s largest Special Olympics qualifier, with a record number of participants from both athletes and midshipmen. Volunteers supported every aspect of the event, from logistics and event coordination to one-on-one encouragement of athletes.
During commissioning week, 17 graduating midshipmen were awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) by Capt. Walter Allman, the Commandant of Midshipmen, recognizing their sustained commitment to community service throughout all four years at the Academy.
“Some of you did it with physical labor, some with beautification, tutoring, the recent Special Olympics event—your work has made all the difference,” said Allman. “You’ve set the example for your peers through your selflessness and humility.”
Midshipmen donated more than just their time. As they moved out of their dorms for summer assignments, they collected over 500 boxes of gently used clothing, school supplies, and athletic shoes. These donations were distributed to shelters in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., reaching hundreds of individuals and families in need.
With over 390 colleges evaluated, the Naval Academy’s top ranking in community relations reflects its consistent impact and deep-rooted culture of giving back. As the Academy’s mission states, “Service to the Nation begins with service to the community.”
“Not only have each of you signed up to serve our country, but you’ve sacrificed your time to serve this community,” Allman added.
Category: General Interest, People, Midshipman
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