On 16 July 1912, Frank Wilbur Wead (aged 16) was admitted into the United States Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 1916.
His classmates included John D. Price, Ralph E. Davison and Calvin T. Durgin.
The Class of 1916 graduated on 29 May 1916.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy and leave, Wead reported to his first sea-duty assignment, USS San Diego, on 28 June 1916.
He was a line officer with a date of rank as an ensign of 3 June 1916 and a precedence of 17 within his group of "running mates."

Wead was next assigned to USS Pittsburgh on a cruise from San Francisco, departing 25 April 1917.
 The ship reached Rio de Janeiro where, with several other officers, he departed Pittsburgh on 21 September.
Wead was granted a temporary promotion to lieutenant on 15 October 1917.
He was booked for passage to the Port of New York aboard SS Zeelandia, which departed Rio de Janeiro on 25 September and arrived in New York on 17 October.
Wead reported to the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, for sea duty orders.

Wead reported aboard USS Shawmut to assist in preparing the vessel for war.
USS Shawmut departed New York Harbor in June 1918, and for the remaining months of the war operated in the area of the North Sea Mine Barrage.
Following the armistice with Germany, Wead returned stateside aboard Shawmut, arriving at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts.

In February 1919, a kite-balloon division of six balloons was assigned to Shawmut and other ships.
The ships participated in fleet exercises and, after seven weeks, returned to the United States after demonstrating the capability to operate without land-based support.
With the knowledge that the Naval Aviation Division was seeking naval officers with a strong aptitude in naval engineering, having a desire to accept projects with a certain amount of risk, and with the combat-proven ability to lead naval personnel by example, Lieutenant Wead began the process for obtaining endorsements to his application to be nominated for flight training.
On 16 July 1912, Frank Wilbur Wead (aged 16) was admitted into the United States Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 1916. His classmates included John D. Price, Ralph E. Davison and Calvin T. Durgin. The Class of 1916 graduated on 29 May 1916.
Following graduation from the Naval Academy and leave, Wead reported to his first sea-duty assignment, USS San Diego, on 28 June 1916. He was a line officer with a date of rank as an ensign of 3 June 1916 and a precedence of 17 within his group of "running mates."
Wead was next assigned to USS Pittsburgh on a cruise from San Francisco, departing 25 April 1917.  The ship reached Rio de Janeiro where, with several other officers, he departed Pittsburgh on 21 September. Wead was granted a temporary promotion to lieutenant on 15 October 1917. He was booked for passage to the Port of New York aboard SS Zeelandia, which departed Rio de Janeiro on 25 September and arrived in New York on 17 October. Wead reported to the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, for sea duty orders.
Wead reported aboard USS Shawmut to assist in preparing the vessel for war. USS Shawmut departed New York Harbor in June 1918, and for the remaining months of the war operated in the area of the North Sea Mine Barrage. Following the armistice with Germany, Wead returned stateside aboard Shawmut, arriving at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts.
In February 1919, a kite-balloon division of six balloons was assigned to Shawmut and other ships. The ships participated in fleet exercises and, after seven weeks, returned to the United States after demonstrating the capability to operate without land-based support. With the knowledge that the Naval Aviation Division was seeking naval officers with a strong aptitude in naval engineering, having a desire to accept projects with a certain amount of risk, and with the combat-proven ability to lead naval personnel by example, Lieutenant Wead began the process for obtaining endorsements to his application to be nominated for flight training.
Frank Wead