All images © 2013, Glenn A. Miller, Glenn A. Miller Photography for Eye On Annapolis.

All images ©2013, Kevin Carroll, A Digital Cure, for Eye On Annapolis

All images (c) 2013, Glenn A. Miller Photography

All images © 2013, Kevin Carroll for Eye On Annapolis

All Images © 2013, Wendy Marxen for Eye On Annapolis

The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the Naval Academy. Demonstrating the teamwork and perseverance they have learned during their first year at the Academy, the plebes build a human pyramid to remove the “Dixie Cup” hat at the top of the lard-covered monument and replace it with an upperclassman’s hat.

The monument is 21 feet tall and is covered with 50 pounds of lard (Crisco) by midshipmen of the 1st Company. The first recorded time was the Class of 1965 with a time of 3 minutes. The fastest time was accomplished by the Class of 1972 in 1 minute, 30 seconds (no grease). The longest time goes to the Class of 1998 which took more than 4 hours to climb.

Additional photos will follow shortly.

But that did not stop people from celebrating the race Maryland style–even Gene Simmons! And just as the Preakness party was large–so is the gallery of images for Eye On Annapolis.

All images © 2013 Glenn A. Miller Photography for Eye On Annapolis

Sea Trials is modeled after the Marine Corps’ Crucible and the Navy’s Battle Stations recruit programs.  It is a “capstone” event for the fourth class midshipmen (freshmen or “plebes”) and serves as a leadership challenge for the upper class.  Sea Trials is led by Academy upper class and provides a final physical and mental challenge to the plebes, designed to test their teamwork and to reinforce their bonds as a company and class. 

At the end of Sea Trials, the company of plebes who demonstrated the top unit performance through endurance and spirit during the entire course will be recognized with the “Iron Company” award during a brief presentation.

The Sea Trials events will take place at various locations throughout the Yard and Naval Support Activity Annapolis and include emergency re-supply, shore defense, Spartan relay, combat fitness test, military operations on urban terrain, damage control (pipe patching and fire hose handling),  hill assault, two-mile regimental run, ground fight, stretcher relay, land navigation, survival skills, simulated bridge defense and demolition, paintball, endurance course, obstacle course, pugil stick jousting, riverine operations, rucksack run and casualty evacuation.

Due to the unusually cold temperatures, any water challenges were eliminated this year.  To see what happens when you add water, please look at our coverage from last year!

All photos © 2013, Kevin Carroll.