A recent report claiming that graduating midshipmen were told not to wear their ceremonial swords has made the rounds on the internet.

SOF has contacted the Naval Acadaney’s Public Affairs Office, which denied the report.

UPDATE:

The Naval Academy’s press office provided additional comments, reprinted below:

Unfortunately, this article is extremely misleading. Midshipmen are not required to have swords as part of their normal uniform issue unless they are Brigade Officers, and then they are issued temporary swords for parades and other ceremonial events.

Officers may add the sword and wear it at ceremonial events such as change of commands, weddings, etc. as designated. They are not, nor have they ever been worn by Midshipmen at graduation.

Many parents give swords to graduates to be worn with their officer uniform after commissioning, but they along with many other items are routinely banned from being carried into the graduation ceremony for obvious security reasons.

I sincerely hope that this explains the issue.