Rankings at the Naval Academy can feel like a a mystery until you learn the language behind it and understand the system. We walk through how midshipmen are constantly evaluated, why class rank matters at graduation and commissioning, and how USNA measures performance in a way most civilian universities simply do not. If you have a midshipman in your life and you’ve heard terms tossed around like Order of Merit or QPR, this is the clear, plain English guide you’ve been looking for.

We break Order of Merit into its major parts: Academic Order of Merit (driven by a Midshipman's QPR, the USNA equivalent of GPA), Military Order of Merit (built from factors like the PRT, PE, military classes, and conduct grades), and the Overall Order of Merit that blends them. Along the way, we explain why acronyms show up in writing but usually aren’t spoken, and how semester performance versus cumulative performance can change the picture at the end of the year.

Then we get into the part people are most curious about: peer rankings and aptitude grades. We talk about squad and fire team goal setting, mentorship, and feedback, plus the company wide evaluation process that can feel like “everyone ranks everyone.” We also explain the infamous “murder board,” why advocacy is a learned leadership skill, and how these uncomfortable conversations at USNA mirror what officers must do in the fleet when promotions and careers are on the line.

We close by laying out the recognition lists and what they mean in practice: the Superintendent’s List, Commandant’s List, and Dean’s List, including how gold, silver, and bronze stars are earned and worn. If this helped you understand the Naval Academy evaluation system, subscribe, share the episode with a USNA family, and leave a review so more people can find it.

For any real estate questions, please text me at 650-282-1964

The Vermeer Group is a residential real company matching military families with trusted real estate teams across the country. If you have any real estate questions at all, please text Grant at (650) 282-1964 or email grant@thevermeergroup.com

To stay most up to date with Grant, Naval Academy updates, and real estate insights, follow him on LinkedIn

The mission of Academy Insider is to guide, serve, and support Midshipmen, future Midshipmen, and their families.

Grant Vermeer, your host, is the person who started it all. He is the founder of Academy Insider and the host of The Academy Insider podcast. He was a recruited athlete which brought him to Annapolis where he was a four year member of the varsity basketball team. He was a cyber operations major and commissioned into the Cryptologic Warfare Community. He was stationed at Fort Meade and supported the Subsurface Direct Support mission.

He separated from the Navy in 2023 and now owns The Vermeer Group, a residential real estate company that matches service academy families with trusted real estate teams all across the country. Text (650) 282-1964 with any real estate questions.

We are here to be your guide through the USNA experience.

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If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, have an idea, question or topic you would like to see covered, reach out: email podcast@academyinsider.com or text Grant at (443) 951-3064.

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