When Harlingen, Texas, native Diana Barrera entered the U.S. Naval Academy last month, she cried as her long, dark hair was drastically trimmed, and she appeared frazzled when complete strangers barked commands in her face.
Now the 18-year-old has survived plebe summer training and has no regrets about entering an alien military society half a world away from home.
“I feel now that I can do things I couldn’t ever do before,” said Barrera, standing next to her proud parents, who were carrying a large Texas flag.
The 1,200 plebes who entered the academy July 2 had their first liberty Friday and saw their parents for the first time since Induction Day.
They were given until 10 Friday night to enjoy the day, but had to stay within a 30-mile radius.
During their six-week training, plebes perform daily physical workouts to get them in shape.
Their training includes marching, drilling, marksmanship classes and basic navigation skills.
The intent is to prime the plebes for their next four years in Annapolis, academy officials said.
The plebes also must conquer a 1.5-mile endurance course set with hills and obstacles.
“A lot of what we did was to train us to work as a team, and it took a while to adopt the whole military lifestyle,” said Michael Cave, of Lansdowne, who was still standing at attention even though he had been dismissed for the day by his commanders 30 minutes earlier.
But 23 of the plebes inducted in July left the academy, officials said.
Friday was as much for the plebes as for the parents, who witnessed the lunch formation in which plebes donning white uniforms filed into ranks in the courtyard of the Bancroft Hall dormitory.
Following the drill, the plebes quickly escaped their commanders and embraced their parents, boyfriends and girlfriends.
Suzanne Bell, of Rosedale, said she was apprehensive about her 17-year-old daughter Madison attending the academy.
“I felt a little scared, wondering if she could handle it,” Bell said.
“But I look at her now and I’m very proud of what she has accomplished.”
