Students of the Spanish Navy at the United States Navy officers academy

Midshipmen from both countries have been participating in exchanges for years

Students of the Spanish Navy at the United States Navy officers academy

@DefAviation Esp 2·08·2025 · 22:37 0

The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is a very prestigious military academic institution.

The armament of the Spanish training ship 'Juan Sebastián de Elcano' for its defense
Spanish cadets at West Point, the United States Military Academy

The Annapolis Academy is world-famous and has been training officers for the United States Navy and Marine Corps since 1845. Covering an area of 137 hectares, officers are trained there for four years, specialising after completing their studies at the institution. More than 4,500 students are trained at the academy each year, and it has all kinds of services at its disposal, including its own police department.

A parade at the Naval Academy in Annapolis on May 24, 2018 (Photo: United States Naval Academy Photo Archive).

As with naval academies in other countries, Annapolis offers student exchanges with other similar institutions. Each academic year, up to 60 students from other countries attend the school. In addition, Annapolis students attend other naval academies.

Then US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro and Spanish Ambassador to the US Santiago Cabanas along with two Spanish Navy officers and several Spanish midshipmen on a visit to the Annapolis Naval Academy on December 6, 2023 (Photo: U.S. Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jared Mancuso).

The Spanish Navy's Naval Military School (ENM), in Marín, is one of the institutions that conducts exchanges with the Naval Academy in Annapolis, exchanges that have been taking place for years. For the Spanish midshipmen who are selected for these exchanges, studying in Annapolis is a great honor and also a great responsibility, since they are representing their country.

A plaque placed on September 25, 2017 at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, recalling the bonds of friendship between the Spanish Navy and the United States Navy. The plaque commemorates the Spanish origin of Admiral David Farragut (1801-1870) of the US Navy, son of the Spanish military man Jorge Farragut (Photo: Embassy of Spain USA).

A few days ago, the Spanish Embassy in the United States published an interesting video interviewing several Spanish students in Annapolis. In the video, these future officers recount their experiences at the American academy and also explain the differences between the training programs at the ENM in Marín and its counterpart in the United States: