In the lead-up to the iconic Army-Navy football game, a different kind of rivalry will unfold in Washington, D.C., as West Point Cadets and Navy Midshipmen engage in a spirited debate. This annual intellectual contest is not merely about scoring points but explores crucial questions about U.S. military funding and strategy.
Every year since 2012, this debate serves as a platform for future military leaders to showcase their analytical prowess. While the main event is the Army-Navy football game, the debate offers a cerebral counterpart, tackling pressing issues such as the allocation of resources within the military. This year, the topic is a hypothetical $500 million budget cut from the Air Force, with the funds potentially redirected to either the Army or Navy.
As Major Anthony Davila, the Army debate coach, notes, “There’s a bunch of other sideshow stuff that happens the day before [the Army-Navy Game], called the Patriot Games.” The debate stands out as an intellectual challenge amidst the physical competitions, providing a unique prelude to the big game.
Danielle Verney O’Gorman, an adjunct professor and coach of the Naval Academy‘s debate team, emphasizes the educational value of debating: “I think debate is one of the best forms of education that anybody could do as an undergraduate.” For cadets and midshipmen, it sharpens their ability to make quick, strategic decisions.
Major Davila, an alumnus of West Point and the Army debate team, shares the importance of this annual face-off: “This exhibition doesn’t go into our national standing at all. But I probably spent more time specifically preparing with our team and thinking about this one, just because it is a huge rivalry.”
Collegiate debates are judged based on persuasion and strategy. O’Gorman explains, “A lot of it comes down to strategic decision-making. Are you winning an overarching claim?” The focus is on presenting evidence and making strategic use of research.
While regular competitions involve the national topic of U.S. decarbonization policy, the Army-Navy debate allows participants to flex their expertise in military affairs. This year, the debate will address which branch deserves additional funding, a topic of interest to members of Congress who may serve as judges.
Davila notes the unique format for this event: “What you’ll see on Friday [before the Army-Navy Game] is a little bit more of a public-facing debate. We’ll speak more slowly and be a bit more about the presentation.”
The stakes are high in this rivalry, where the outcome is not just about winning but also about earning bragging rights and camaraderie. O’Gorman remarks, “It is really fun to get to win for the bragging rights, but in the end, we enjoy the camaraderie of this competition being together on this stage.”
The 2024 Army-Navy Debate will be held on Friday, Dec. 13, at noon in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. Follow the Army Debate Team and Navy Debate Team on Instagram for updates.
The 125th Army-Navy Game is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
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