Nov 3 Daily Shipmate

Monday, 3 November 2025

1799 - The frigate United States departs Newport, Rhode Island, bound for France carrying envoys Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth and North Carolina Governor William Richardson seeking to negotiate peace.

 

1841 - Personnel of the Mosquito Fleet endure hardships during two unsuccessful forays into the Florida Everglades. On one march, sailors under the command of LT John Rodgers take five days to cover a distance of 25 miles, wading through waist-deep mud. By 23 December, nearly one quarter of the Mosquito Fleet's sailors and Marines are incapacitated by illness. (3 November – 23 December)

2002 - LCDR Robert Clukey, III '91, USN was lost when the F/A-18 Hornet he was piloting crashed in the Adriatic Sea. “Trey” was a native of Orono, Maine; in high school he was a member of the ski patrol, an emergency medical technician, and a state-ranked competitive skier. At the Naval Academy he majored in Oceanography and was a member of the offshore sailing team. In his first operational tour he deployed twice to the Persian Gulf, flying 38 combat missions in support of operations Southern Watch and Desert Strike. A graduate of “Top Gun,” his final deployment was again to the Persian Gulf, where he flew another 20 missions over Southern Iraq and Afghanistan. Trey was survived by his parents and two sisters.

Academy & Graduate happenings

The Alumni Association engagement staff wrapped 2025's roadshows with final stops in Austin and Dallas, where more than 60 alumni and parents attended events featuring TJ Grady '96, EVP of the Alumni Association; Nancy Murray '22 parent and Executive Director of Engagement and Outreach; and Foundation staff AJ Bauer, Ted Ahrens and William Seiferth. Throughout 2025, the engagement team visited 25 chapters and 19 parent clubs. Since launching the roadshow in 2024, they have connected with more than 1,000 Naval Academy community members across 61 chapters and 44 parent clubs. The roadshow brings the latest from the Yard, shares updates on Association and Foundation initiatives and gathers feedback to strengthen programming and support. These efforts have revitalized dormant chapters, boosted membership in active affiliates and deepened members' connection to the Naval Academy. Locations for 2026 include Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.

In Podcast Episode 7 retired Marine and Naval Academy graduate Michael Kuiper '06, joins the Stockdale Center to discuss the future of warfare, innovation and leadership in the age of great power competition. From his experiences in Afghanistan and Ukraine to his work leading the A.R.I.E.S. drone team at the Academy, Kuiper shares insights on modern warfare, unmanned systems, ethical decision-making and cultivating adaptability in the next generation of military leaders.

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello '99…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the U.S., across the seas and around the world. This week…Navy shipbuilding, the future of unmanned surface warfare, and now something called The Golden Fleet. We'll dive into those topics and more with Greg Glaros '86, a former Top Gun Naval Aviator widely known as a technical innovator and entrepreneur who has special insight into the administration's push to boost domestic shipbuilding.

Government & Military News

Sailors and Marines received their pay on 31 October 2025 despite the ongoing government shutdown. Funds were reallocated from other accounts to cover this round of payments, ensuring those in uniform were compensated on time. Defense officials cautioned that future paydays could be delayed if the shutdown continues. The situation highlights the continued commitment of the Navy and Marine Corps to mission readiness and service while federal leaders work toward a resolution to stabilize funding.

The City of Philadelphia's celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the establishment of America's Navy and Marine Corps continues this November with Marine-themed events. In addition to ceremonies honoring the birth of the Continental Marines on 10 November (see schedule below), an effort is underway to construct a replica of a location revered in Marine Corps memory: the Tun. Although the historic tavern called the Tun was destroyed in 1781, it lives on in the heart of all Marines. Every recruit learns that the first Marines were recruited at the Tun in 1775, and its image is burned in each Marine's memory. Each year on 10 November, U.S. Marines worldwide toast the memory of the Tun as the acknowledged birthplace of the Corps.

The Marine Corps is dialing back its vision for shallow-water littoral regiments, but greenlighting a new unit with special high-speed boats as it continues to develop a Pacific-focused future force. That's according to an update to the Corps' Force Design 2030, published earlier in October. The 24-page document — the first Force Design update in two years — cites a “continuous Campaign of Learning” that's helping the service make fielding decisions faster and alter course as needed. “We are modernizing at a time when the character of war is shifting rapidly,” Commandant Gen. Eric Smith wrote in a preface to the document. “Adversaries are fielding advanced weapons and employing new methods designed to erode our warfighting advantages. Drones, long-range precision fires, cyber effects and electronic warfare are now daily features of conflict. The lessons drawn from contemporary battlefields underscore what Marines have long understood: combat is unforgiving, and victory belongs to the side that adapts faster, fights harder and endures longer.” (Story)

Local, Education & other academy news

More than 2,700 alumni have paid the ultimate price in combat or in training and are memorialized in Memorial Hall at the Naval Academy. These heroes are also remembered online in Virtual Memorial Hall. Each fall, we welcome the families of our fallen heroes back to Annapolis in reverence for their loved one's service and sacrifice. This year's Honor Our Fallen Heroes ceremony is 15 Nov at the USNA Chapel at 9 a.m. ET.

The next Service Academy Career Conference is coming to Chicago on 19–20 November 2025. SACC is your chance to connect with top employers, graduate schools and fellow Service Academy grads—all in one place. Whether you're actively job hunting, exploring advanced education or simply networking, this event opens doors to opportunities you don't want to miss. Registration is open now! Get all the details and secure your spot.

Allowing a game-tying touchdown with under 90 seconds to play, Army drove 65 yards over seven plays – highlighted by a stunning 42-yard pass play from Cale Hellums to Brady Anderson – and gained a 27-yard game-winning field goal from Dawson Jones for a 20-17 victory over Air Force on Saturday, 1 November at Falcon Stadium in Colorado. The victory keeps alive Army's bid to recapture the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. A win over Navy on 13 December in Baltimore will return the prize to West Point. Army also needs two wins over its next three games to qualify for a bowl berth.

Mike Krzyzewski, a distinguished graduate of West Point '69, and renowned NCAA Division I head coach, will be honored at Army's Veterans Day game against Duke on 11 November. This ceremony recognizes his monumental impact on college basketball, highlighted by his status as the winningest coach with 1,202 career victories. The event will reflect on his unparalleled leadership and commitment to excellence, embodying the values instilled at the Military Academy.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Tickets are on sale now! You can purchase by calling the BSC Front Desk at 410-293-9700. Act fast, as they will sell out quickly!

Today's Matchups

Men's Basketball at Presbyterian - Clinton, S.C. - 7:00 p.m.

Weekend Results

Women's Cross Country at Patriot League Championship - 3rd Place

Men's Cross Country at Patriot League Championship - 1st Place

Women's Volleyball at Holy Cross - W 3-2

Men's Soccer vs Bucknell - L 1-0

 

Rifle vs President's Trophy Match - 1st of 4; 5891 points

Men's Swimming & Diving at George Washington - W 184 - 111

Women's Swimming & Diving at George Washington - L 136 - 164

Football at North Texas - L 17 - 31

Women's Rugby vs Penn State - W 53 - 0

Wrestling vs Pittsburgh - L 12 - 20

Sprint Football at Penn - W 36 - 21

Men's Water Polo vs Wagner - W 14 - 9

Women's Volleyball at Army - L 2 - 3

 

Offshore Sailing vs Kennedy Cup - Completed - 2nd out of 10

Women's Tennis vs Navy Blinds - NTS

Men's Lightweight Rowing at Princeton Chase - 8th in Lightweight 8+

Wrestling vs Navy Classic - 3rd of 10 Teams / 1 Champion

Men's Water Polo vs #5 Fordham - L 14-16

Men's Water Polo vs Johns Hopkins - W 15-14

USNA and AA&F Events

12 Nov - GSMC Social & Business Mtg. Brudergarten - 5-6 p.m. - 22725 Duke St, Leonardtown, MD 20650 - Online event: Meet - toh-nvgs-yvn

14 Nov - Run to Honor's annual pre-Honor Our Fallen Heroes Gathering (FAC) - 6:30 p.m. - Register

 

10 Dec - Greater Southern Maryland Chapter Social & Business Mtg. - 5-6 p.m. - Brudergarten, 22725 Duke St, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Online event: https://meet.google.com/toh-nvgs-yvn