How are leadership opportunities created for midshipmen during their training?

Leadership opportunities for midshipmen during their training are primarily created through assignments as squad leaders and team captains. These roles are designed to develop essential leadership skills, such as decision-making, communication, and teamwork. By engaging in these assignments, midshipmen gain practical experience in guiding their peers, managing conflicts, and leading teams in various situations. This hands-on approach fosters a deeper understanding of leadership dynamics and allows midshipmen to learn from real-life scenarios, ultimately preparing them for their future roles as leaders in the Navy or Marine Corps.

The other options do not encompass the comprehensive leadership development that occurs in the training program. While summer internships and observing senior officers may provide valuable insights and experiences, they do not offer the same level of active participation in leadership roles that assignments like squad leaders and team captains do. Additionally, academic-only roles focus more on knowledge acquisition rather than the practical application of leadership skills in dynamic environments.