Jim Scott and his younger brother Tony are both midshipmen at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and Jim’s devotion to his brother prompts him to tutor him in a difficult subject so that Tony can play in the upcoming Navy vs. Army football game. Tony passes his test and helps to win the game, much to the delight of Jim and their friends, Spud Dooley and Willie Warren. After the game, Tony is subdued, for although he helped his team to score, the coach benched him for not following directions. Jim tells Tony that he must place teamwork and discipline ahead of his own desires, then persuades him to attend that night’s dance to meet Peggy Lord, Jim’s girl friend. Jim then goes to pick up Peggy, whom he met three years earlier when he was an enlisted sailor at San Diego. Jim and Peggy have not seen each other in the two years since he has been at Annapolis, but their romance is quickly rekindled, and Jim enthusiastically introduces her to Tony. As the rest of the term passes, the brothers study hard, and Jim reaches the top of his class. At the year-end dance, Peggy convinces Jim to wait to propose marriage until he returns from the “summer cruise” aboard a Naval vessel that all the midshipmen must make, especially as regulations prohibit them from marrying until he is promoted in a year’s time. Jim, Tony and their friends are assigned to the same cruiser, where they are trained in numerous disciplines. One day, Jim goes up in a helicopter, while Tony is assigned to ride in a jet. After the jet malfunctions during take-off and crashes, Jim jumps from the helicopter into the ocean to rescue his unconscious brother. Worried that Tony may have a serious concussion, the Navy sends him back to the Academy to recuperate. Peggy visits Tony in the hospital, and after he is released, the couple begins spending time together, at first innocently, but soon Tony falls in love with Peggy. Overwhelmed by Tony’s charm and persistence, Peggy returns his kisses, but turns down his marriage proposals. Later, when Jim returns from sea duty, Tony admits to his relationship with Peggy, and the infuriated Jim confronts Peggy, who, provoked by his rude accusations, slaps him. Jim tries to get re-assigned to a different room, but is forced to continue sharing with Tony, who is baffled by his hostility. Jim berates Tony for “stealing” the one thing in life that he truly wanted, then, as the year progresses, continues to snub his brother. The war in Korea breaks out the week before graduation, and after the graduation ceremony, Tony, having now been promoted to ensign, again asks Peggy to marry him, but she adamantly refuses. Both brothers are sent with Spud and Willie to the U.S. Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, where they begin their training as jet pilots. After their initial classes, they are transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas, to the Advanced Training Command, and soon have graduated and are ready to ship out to the West Coast. Tony plans on spending his five-day leave visiting Peggy, but upon learning that she has traveled with her father, Capt. Lord, to his new position in Tokyo, instead goes home with Jim to bid farewell to their mother. After their leave, the brothers are assigned to the same aircraft carrier, where Jim rebuffs Tony’s efforts to reconcile. The flight squadron is rewarded with leave in Tokyo for completing several successful missions, and Tony eagerly anticipates spending time with Peggy. When they meet, however, Peggy confesses to Tony that she can no longer date him because she has realized that she still loves Jim. Tony takes her admission gracefully and advises her to tell Jim, although she believes that he will never be able to forgive her. Tony gets drunk before returning to the ship, and is still hungover when the squadron is summoned for an emergency briefing. Tony tries to talk to Jim before they take to the air, but Jim ignores him, and as a result, the squadron begins its mission to provide air support for ground troops without Jim learning that Peggy still loves him. During the air battle, Jim is hit, and as he slips into unconsciousness, his plane spirals out of control. Tony follows his brother’s plane, and his persistent pleas over the radio rouse Jim in time for him to hit the eject button and bail out before his plane crashes into the ground. Jim lands in the water, and Tony circles overhead, fighting off an enemy plane as a rescue helicopter saves Jim. Later, Tony goes to the Tokyo hospital where Jim is convalescing, and as he enters Jim’s room, smiles broadly upon seeing Jim and Peggy kissing.