The “prisoner swap”—actually the return of cadets and midshipmen to their respective schools following an exchange program—has now taken place at the Army-Navy game for 50 years.
On Saturday, the Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy edged out the Black Knights from the United States Military Academy at West Point at the annual football matchup. It was one of the closest games in recent memory involving the heated rivals.
The 126th Army-Navy Game was also notable for each team wearing football uniforms honoring the 250th anniversaries of their respective services. The Army Black Knights from West Point wore Nike uniforms that honored the soldiers who have defended the United States over the past two and a half centuries. The Naval Academy’s Midshipmen paid homage to the USS Constitution, one of the original six frigates authorized by the United States Congress with the Naval Act of 1794.
Even before the players met on the gridiron for what is one of the longest-standing rivalries in college sports, there was no shortage of ceremony—although social media was widely derisive of President Donald Trump’s coin toss, as he literally tossed the coin in the air instead of flipping it in a more traditional manner.
Understanding the Army-Navy “Prisoner Swap”
Also, before the game, the two sides conducted the 50th anniversary “prisoner exchange.” The long-standing tradition didn’t involve mascots or literal prisoners; it was a carefully choreographed moment in which cadets participating in the Service Academy Exchange Program (SAEP) were returned to midfield to their home side of the stadium after spending the fall semester at the rival academy.
“The Service Academy Exchange Program is a voluntary and competitive application process at West Point,” explained Noah Keith, a class of 2027 West Point cadet. “At the beginning of the second semester sophomore year, everyone with a cumulative GPA over 3.3 is invited to apply.”
According to the Department of Defense, participating West Point cadets and Naval Academy midshipmen spend the fall semester at the rival academy, where they live in barracks, attend classes, and train with the other service.
“The memorandum of agreement between each school’s commandant formalized the process. Today, it is considered a one-for-one swap in most cases,” the DoD noted.
The “Prisoner Swap” Is Now 50 Years Old
Attendance at home football games at the US military’s service academies is mandatory. In the case of the Army-Navy Game, the matchup is now usually held at a neutral site—typically in Philadelphia, Baltimore, or the New York/New Jersey area, roughly midpoint between the two academies.
There had been informal, periodic exchanges of cadets and midshipmen since the 1940s, but the formal semester-long program began only in 1975. As a result, those in the program would attend the Army-Navy football game. It was also decided that this would mark the end of time spent in “enemy territory” and allow the students to rejoin their classmates in the stands and cheer on their team.
As part of the ceremony, the US Military Academy’s first captain leads the midshipmen “prisoners” to the midfield, followed by the US Naval Academy brigade commander bringing out the West Point cadets.
“The exchange serves as a symbol of unity between branches despite the competitive nature between both service academies,” the DoD added. “The midshipmen and cadets may battle fiercely on the athletic fields, but they share the same ultimate mission. After graduation, they will serve together in defense of our nation.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
.jpg){kind=link}