--- title: "7 of the coolest things to watch for during the Army-Navy Game" description: "The Army-Navy Game might not crown a national champion, but its 100-plus years of history mean it carries a lot of fun traditions." date: "2021-12-10" modified: "2025-12-08" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/army-navy-game/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "Sports" tags: - "Army-Navy Game" - "Sports" --- # 7 of the coolest things to watch for during the Army-Navy Game ![Army navy game coolest things traditions]() *It starts with special uniforms. (U.S. Navy)* Every November, the halls of the Pentagon are torn apart in one of the biggest and oldest rivalries in college sports: the Army-Navy Game. While the outcome of the game may no longer determine who will win the College Football National Championship (and the combatants tend to be unranked anyway), it *will* affect interpersonal relationships within the Department of Defense for days, maybe weeks, afterward. #### Related: [A brief history of Army-Navy Game special uniforms]() It also may affect who gets the biggest prize of all, the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, and a trip to the White House to have it presented personally by the President of the United States. So yeah, it's about a lot more than pride. The game is a spectacle, full of more than a century of traditions, pranks, and the best military showmanship the two service academies can muster. ### 1. Spirit Spots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OioVi2n0Qhk Ranging from the highly-polished, well-produced masterpieces like the video above to simple iPhone-shot music videos or the [destruction of idols and mascots](), West Pointers and Midshipmen shoot, edit, and publish numerous videos about how their school is going to beat the other school, how their school is superior to the other school, and how their culture is more fun. And sometimes, it's not just students and staff, either. All over the world, troops and graduates make their own videos and upload them to YouTube, DVIDS, and anywhere else someone might see their work of art. ### 2. The Army-Navy Game Prisoner Exchange ![Army-Navy game traditions]() *(U.S. Army)* For one semester every year, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy choose select members of their classes to attend the rival school. At the beginning of the annual Army-Navy Game, these students are returned to their proper academy to cheer on the appropriate side. The swap at the beginning of the game is known as "The Prisoner Exchange." ### 3. The March On https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtqYfvkzV5A If you're into watching military formations on the march as a military band plays on, be sure to catch the pre-game events before the Army-Navy kickoff. One of these events is called "The March On," and features the entire student bodies of both service academies marching in formation across the open field. It's really quite a sight. ### 4. Military Hardware https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNs0Y75M4Ng Lots of football games get flyovers. The Army-Navy Game is no different: it always starts with a huge show of military power, either in the form of Blue Angels flyovers, Army helicopters, the Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team, the [Navy]()'s Blue Angels, or who-knows-what-else. But it always has two flyovers. It's always an awesome sight: not many football teams can boast that their pregame show can actually invade a small country. ### 5. New Uniforms ![Army-Navy game traditions]() *(U.S. Navy)* Every year, both Army and Navy take the field in their newest digs, ones designed to honor a part of their individual histories or traditions. Army's uniforms are created with Nike, while Navy's are created with Under Armour, making for a true "showdown-before-the-showdown." Past uniforms have honored Army World War II Paratroopers, the 10th Mountain Division, types of Navy ships, and the original Navy frigates. ### 6. Presidential Traditions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEDZxyzW928 When the Commander-in-Chief is present at the Army-Navy Game, he must follow traditions of his own, which includes the coin toss. Of course, the POTUS is the person in charge, and in reality, he can do whatever he wants, but he's always expected to cross the field at the 50-yard line at halftime and watch the game from the other side, a tradition dating back to [President Theodore Roosevelt](). ### 7. Honoring the Fallen The goal for both teams is to "sing second." No matter who wins or who loses, both teams will not leave the field without singing both schools' alma maters. The winners go to the losing team's fans and sing to them, taking the sting out of such a heated rivalry loss (at least a little bit). Then the two teams will sing the winners' song. That's sportsmanship. ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty #### • [10 fun facts about the Army-Navy Game]() #### • [The Army-Navy Game of 1944 stopped World War II]() #### • [Previews and predictions for the 2025 Army-Navy Game]() ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()