Once the Second Class Year begins the Midshipman cannot resign from the Academy without incurring a military or financial obligation. The first day of class, the "Point of No Return," is called Two for Seven, meaning two years down and five years to serve.

Summer Training - During a two weeks schedule, 2/C Midshipmen are introduced to aviation life at Pensacola, Florida and submarine life at Kings Bay, Georgia. They experience a four to six week cruise on a ship or submarine, learning about shipboard life, experiencing first-hand knowledge of the daily routine of a ship at sea, and working essentially as enlisted petty officers to gain direct knowledge of shipboard life and the important relationships between Naval officers and enlisted personnel. Other options include participating in leadership positions for Plebe Detail (training of Plebes during Plebe Summer), foreign exchange cruises, language training abroad and internships.

Uniforms - Midshipmen rotate into and out of seasonal uniforms. The Second Class (2/C) Midshipmen is designated by two gold stripes on the left jacket sleeve of service dress blues, two gold diagonal stripes plus anchor on shoulder boards of summer whites and anchor on left and right collar of uniform shirt of working blues worn during academic year.

Academics - The Second Class year is traditionally the most difficult academically. The average 2/C takes between 19-21 credit hours. 2/C Midshipmen have five required courses; Electrical Engineering, Weapons Systems, Leadership, Strategy and Tactics. Additional classes are required for their major.

Professional Responsibilities - The 2/C Midshipman assumes a greater position of responsibility within the Brigade, especially when the 1/C are absent. The 2/C carry the major responsibility for the Plebe Indoctrination System. They sign off the Plebe's Qualification Knowledge Books and certify that they know the required professional material. They also administer weekly exams to the Plebes. At the beginning of the second semester some 2/C Mids prepare for Striper Boards for Plebe Detail and the next year.

Physical Requirements - All Second Class Mids must pass the "Tower Jump" and the "40 Year Swim" to graduate. The "40 Year Swim" means swimming one half mile in 40 minutes, fully clothed.

Service Selection Physicals and Career Knowledge Tests - The road to service selection begins in earnest during the Second Class Year. Midshipmen go through two days (a couple of weeks apart) of intense medical exams known as pre-commissioning physicals to determine which fields are open to them.

The aviation tests are also given during the Second Class Year, called the ASTB. A portion of this test is like the SAT, but it also includes parts on aviation maintenance knowledge, visual perception, and mechanical aptitude. Each Mid has two opportunities to take this test, but retakes must come no less than six months aprart (for a maximum of three tests). A passing score on this test is one step in qualifying for Navy or Marine Corps Aviation.

Ring Dance - Midshipmen receive their Class Rings during the spring semester, but cannot wear them until the night of the Ring Dance, which occurs on the Saturday night of Commissioning Week. The dress is formal. The Midshipman's date wears his ring on a blue ribbon necklace or her ring on a wrist chain. The date dips the ring into a binnacle containing water from the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, the Antarctic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the Severn River, water that was flown into space by graduates of the United States Naval Academy and water melted from ice, which fell as snow in the Antarctic the year Christ was born. This ceremony represents the impending worldwide travels as Naval or Marine Corps officer. The couple steps into a large likeness of the class ring. The ring is slid onto the Midshipman's finger. The ring's Academy Seal is worn facing outward and Class Crest inward until Commissioning Week the following year, when the ring is turned around.

Another highlight of the evening is the wedding lottery. Interested members of the Second Class fill out Academy marriage applications for the lottery. Numbers are then drawn by each applicant to determine who will have the first choice of time slots available at the Academy Chapel for the next year. This is not too early, as Chapel weddings in the days following graduation and commissioning ceremonies are popular and scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis.

Career Starter Loans - In May of the Second Class Year various financial institutions offer loans, widely known among Midshipmen as "car loans." They amount to approximately $15,000-$25,000. Initial payments are scheduled after graduation. Few Mids turn down these loans.

Leave and Privileges - The 2/C Midshipmen may wear civilian clothes going on and off the Yard. Town and overnight liberties vary from year to year but traditionally increase in number from " Youngster" to "Firstie" year. Additional special leaves may be granted for those on the Superintendent's and Commandant's Lists.

Second Class Midshipmen may have a car, but must keep and operate it off the Yard.