Setting Sail is a condensed version of Navy Compass, a spouse mentorship program, and was created specifically for the future spouses of graduating Midshipmen.

‘‘Life as a Navy or Marine Corps spouse is rewarding beyond measure, but it isn’t always easy. Setting Sail helps give these spouses-to-be the best possible introduction to Navy and Marine Corps life and access to the many resources available,” said Shelley O’Neill, Setting Sail coordinator. ‘‘[Setting Sail] is not intended to be an alternative to Compass, but rather a way for these fiancÈes to get information to get them started on their journeys.”

There is a dramatic difference between being engaged to a Midshipman and being married to a Navy or Marine Corps officer. The Setting Sail program hopes to prepare future spouses for some of the unique challenges of that lifestyle, and gives them a chance to ask questions of those more experienced military spouses.

With spouse mentors acting as discussion leaders during Setting Sail, participants are introduced to many aspects of the Navy, including its history and traditions, as well as information about deployments, pay, moving, and interpersonal communication. Participants also learn about military benefits including Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs, Tricare, and commissaries, and O’Neill will introduce the future spouses to Navy Compass.

‘‘Another important benefit of Compass is the opportunity for spouses to establish a peer network,” said O’Neill. ‘‘Because experienced spouses pass on their Navy lifestyle and insight, the concept of ‘helping others to help themselves’ is clearly observable [during the program] and becomes an on-going action-oriented process.”

According to O’Neill, many of the Midshipmen’s fiancÈes enter Setting Sail as strangers, nervous about the experience, but they leave as friends eager to meet up at their respective duty stations, and they do meet again.

‘‘It is an added bonus for those of us who present Setting Sail to hear from past participants that they encountered friends from their session in the commissary or the exchange in Hawaii or Norfolk or Groton,” said O’ Neill. ‘‘That’s an intangible benefit, but one of the most important ones to be sure.”

This year’s Setting Sail mentors are experienced, trained Navy spouses who have all attended Navy Compass. Amy Solo and Martha Merz, Navy spouses from the Washington, D.C., area, and Naval Academy Ombudsman Naomi Sullivan will also be on hand to answer questions. Chaplain John Owen will present a brief on maintaining healthy communication.

Setting Sail will take place at 29 Upshur Road, beginning at 8 a.m. Any Midshipmen who wish to have their future spouse invited to the Setting Sail program can send his or her fiancÈ’s name and contact information to Anna Ward at amward@usna.edu.