The Navy and Marine Corps will welcome 1,065 new officers Friday at the Naval Academy commissioning ceremony.
The event marks the completion of four years of study at the elite college in Annapolis and is the first step in the midshipmen's careers as military officers.
Vice President Joe Biden will deliver the commencement speech at the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in front of an expected crowd of 36,000.
Outside the stadium stands Friday morning, family members milled around and midshipmen flashed an occasional salute to someone in the crowd.
The 167 women who will be commissioned as Navy Ensigns stood out in the sea of white uniforms. They are testing out a new women's dress uniform with a high collar designed to more closely resemble that worn by male officers.
Shortly before 9 a.m. the graduating class lined up to enter the field, and a smattering of applause and cheers rippled out from the stands.