Naval School Admissions…circa 1911

As I browse through the 1911 Culver Summer Naval School catalog over at Judi Burns’ Lake Maxinkuckee history site I’m finding some fascinating things. From the 1911 Summer Naval School Catalog, here are the admission requirements for the naval program that summer:

"Cadets are not accepted under 14 years of age or less than five feet two inches in height. No boy will be accepted who is not of excellent moral character. The applicant must furnish two references who are competent to give unbiased testimony of his character.

The corps of cadets under authority from the Legislature of the State is organized as the "First Naval Battalion of Indiana." This law gives the corps added prestige, equipment, and opportunities and, to meet the special requirements of the school, provides: that the battalion shall be under the command of the Commandant of the school, that the term of enlistment shall be one year, so that the cadet is under no obligation to attend the school expect for the one term unless he so desires.

A cadet entering the school unless excused by previous request of parent for physical or other reason enlists as above indicated and acquires the prestige of service recognized by the State and National Government."

Height requirement eh? Interesting. I also like how the writer feels the need to tell his readers, not once, but twice, how prestigious it is to attend the program. Notice also that even in 1911 there was an expectation that many students wouldn’t be completing the full three summer program.

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