The National Defense Academy’s academic year begins in April and ends in March of the following year.
The main annual events at the academy are as follows:
| Early April: | Matriculation |
| Late April: | Cutter Race |
| July: | Summer Military Training |
| Late July: | Long-Distance Swimming(8kiro-meter) |
| August: | Summer Vacation |
| September: | Swimming Race |
| Early October: | First Semester Examinations |
| November: | NDA Anniversary(Pole Fight) |
| December: | Sports Contest Iwojima Training Camp |
| Late December to Early January: | Winter Vacation |
| January: | Ski Training Camp |
| Late February to Early March: | Second Semester Examinations |
| Early March: | International Cadet Conference |
| Mid-March: | Cross-Country Race |
| Late March: | Graduation |
| Late March: | Spring Vacation |
