8 jaw-dropping photos of Naval Academy freshmen climbing a monument covered with 50 pounds of grease
Scaling the slippery monument takes a lot of teamwork.
The monument is greased with as much as 50 pounds of vegetable shortening. To get a grip, the plebes climb up on the shoulders of their classmates and hold on as long as they can as others step onto their shoulders.
Upperclassmen leave taunts in the vegetable shortening that can demoralize the plebes.
The plebes have a lot of motivation to get to the top of Herndon and end their challenging plebe year.
Plebe year begins with Induction Day in late June or early July. Plebe Summer is the Naval Academy's basic training phase, where incoming plebes are taught the basics of discipline and military knowledge and are exercised starting at the first morning light.
Once the academic year begins, plebes must balance the demands of their coursework with the continuing fitness and disciplinary challenges.
The students form around the base of the monument to provide as solid a foundation as they can, while their feet sink into the grass and mud beneath.
Scaling the monument requires teamwork and fortitude. Mids frequently fall off the greased obelisk and onto classmates below.
Injuries to students falling on each other nearly ended the rite of passage.
Herndon is the second culminating event for plebes. The Academy also holds Sea Trials, which challenges their marksmanship, fitness, and endurance over a 14-hour day.
After an hour and five minutes, freshman Christian Schwien put the new hat atop the monument.
The class typically chants "Plebes no more!" once the hat has been replaced.
The plebes place a midshipmen's hat at the top of the monument, ending the rite of passage.
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