Before the sunrise, young Naval Academy Summer Seminar Attendees, such as senior Mackey Totten, gather on a misty field. Their faces painted the aspiring midshipmen ready for their charge. At once, the young men and women yell “Freedom!” as loud as their lungs will allow, raise their flags and sprint across the dewy lawn. For senior Jack Smith, his day at the Air Force Academy Summer Seminar beings with a loud knock at his door at 5:30 AM. From there, he jumps right into intense physical training, testing both his physical and mental strength.

Smith and Totten both attended summer seminars for their respective branches of the military this past summer, with Smith at the Air Force Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Totten at the Navy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, Maryland. Smith and Totten’s days started with a round of physical training, followed by classes on various subjects. Smith sat in on classes with topics from economics and politics to the ins and outs of being an officer in the Air Force. He describes the classes he attended at the seminar.

“They were just like the ones you’d have at the academy,” Smith said.

Totten learned things such as damage control and how to put out fires on a ship, in addition to some martial arts. Both said that they engaged in team-building exercises.

Both hoped to gain a preview of their aspirations. Smith said that he hoped to gain knowledge of what the Air Force Academy is like.

“I want to go to the [Air Force] Academy … [the camp] kind of shows you what the Academy is like,” Smith said.

Smith’s element leader Leah Vincuilla added that being at any military academy is difficult, especially due to the rigorous academic courses. Vincuilla described the difficulty of the courses.

“Some of the classes I took at the Academy were harder than some I took at civilian college,” Vincuilla said.

Totten expressed his desire to attend the Naval Academy in order to eventually join the Marine Corps to help others overcome adversity just like he has faced in his past.

“Adverse life experiences help me to go and help other people face adversity … [Being in the Marine Corps] would help me to go help other people face adversity. People have all different types of adversity … I’d love to help them,” Totten said.

Both met people from all over the country. Smith said he met people from California, Louisiana and Virginia. Totten met one who hailed from the Philippines. Totten and Smith’s fellow attendees were the same age as Totten and Smith, as both seminars were open only to those entering their senior year.

Current cadets and midshipmen led Totten and Smith. Totten described the respect he held for his instructors.

“[The instructors were] all real good people,” Totten said.

While at the seminar, Smith got the chance to look at jets like the F-4 Phantom, the F-14 Tomcat, the F-16 and the F-15. Totten rode on Navy boats during his seminar.

During his stay, Totten slept in the oldest living quarters at the Naval Academy, Bancroft Hall. He spoke of his experience in the dormitory.

“I thought that was really [great] because we stayed in the actual midshipman dorms,” Totten said.

Throughout his stay, Totten did not use his phone, despite having it. He explained why he refrained from using it.

“I didn’t feel like [using my phone] because when you’re there, I like the camaraderie; you get to meet new people and you want to get involved with your team,” Totten said.

While at the Air Force Academy, Smith’s dining habits were similar to those in the military. Smith explained his memory of dining at the seminar.

“When you eat for basic training, you have to sit at attention, like straight posture, have both of your hands on your knees, and you have to stare at your plate at 12 o’clock, take your fork, grab a bite, but it back down, chew, and you can’t look around, you can’t talk or anything,” Smith said.

Totten noted that the camp was “a great experience.” Both Totten and Smith were happy they went.

Both Smith and Totten attended seminars for their branches of the military. They hoped that through their attendance, they could gain a better understanding of what the military is like. Completing various exercises, attending numerous classes and interacting with their fellow hopefuls, they gained experience towards their aspirations of protecting freedom.