I visited the elite United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. An 8-minute ceremony gave me goosebumps.

At the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, trains future Navy and Marine Corps leaders.

Campus tours include a sports complex, the world's largest dorm, and the Naval Academy Chapel.

The Noon Meal Formation, a century-old tradition, is worth watching.

At the United States Naval Academy, even walking comes with rules.

First-year midshipmen, known as "plebes," follow regulations dictating how to walk, eat, speak, and countless other expectations as part of their transition from civilians to officers in the US Navy and the US Marine Corps .

This decorum, tied to a deep sense of duty and pride in long-held military traditions, was on full display when I visited the 338-acre waterfront campus in Annapolis, Maryland.

The grand architecture, historic rituals, and unfailingly polite greetings from uniformed service members created a palpably reverential atmosphere.

Even visitors like me are tasked with upholding certain standards, with signs that forbid jogging, biking, or walking pets in designated ceremonial areas.

I toured the United States Naval Academy in August during Plebe Parents Weekend, when plebes complete their all-consuming, seven-week basic training and reunite with loved ones before the start of the academic year.

The 90-minute public tour brings visitors inside a sports complex, the world's largest dormitory, and the Naval Academy's landmark chapel.

The most memorable part of my visit, though, came after the tour was over.

Take a look inside the elite Naval Academy.

Founded in 1845, the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, trains future officers in the Navy and the Marine Corps.