Throughout their time at the Academy, midshipmen must regularly prove their strength. It starts as soon as they arrive; Plebe Summer is the first test of physical, mental, and emotional endurance, lasting approximately seven weeks. At the end of their Plebe Year, midshipmen must also conquer a “capstone event,” the extremely difficult Navy Sea Trials, which take place in May and are not open to the public. Sea Trials represent the culmination of an incredibly challenging and fulfilling year.
14 Hours of Tribulations and Teamwork
The Sea Trials are a relatively new test in the course of USNA history, devised in the spring of 1998 for the Class of 2001. The first Sea Trials ran from 3:00 AM to 5:00 PM and put the Fourth Class Midshipmen through the paces, with stations that promoted extreme teamwork, endurance, and bonding. If you’re thinking they remind you of Navy SEAL trials, you’re not far off—although the ones at USNA are less strenuous.
They’re actually based on the Marine Corps’ Crucible and the Navy’s Battle Stations recruit programs. They are fourteen hours of pure adrenaline, with an incredibly long list of physically and mentally straining activities engineered to strengthen plebes' teamwork and unity as a company and as a class.
Navy Sea Trials are also an important leadership teaching tool for the upperclassmen who run it.
The Grueling Details
It’s hard to imagine how so much can be packed into a fourteen hour period. The trials begin at 2:30 AM in the pitch dark and run through 4:30 PM. In this grueling time period, plebes must accomplish an impossibly long tally of difficult tasks. Some are hard but fun, like the grappling activity, where plebes twist and wrestle each other on the ground. Another rigorous event has them pummeling each other with padded pugil sticks. The obstacle course throws up poles and logs to traverse, and there’s also a muddy trench they need to cross while avoiding barbed wire overhead. At one point, they’ll lift a tree-sized trunk over their heads in unison, performing sit-ups with it and moving it down the field together.
The plebes also participate in emergency re-supply, shore defense, Spartan relay, combat fitness test, military operations on urban terrain, damage control (pipe patching and fire hose handling), underwater events, aquatics challenges and endurance, water tactics, hill assault, two-mile regimental run, ground fight, stretcher relay, land navigation, survival skills, simulated bridge defense and demolition, paintball, endurance course, riverine operations, rucksack run and casualty evacuation. This enormous coordination takes place across the Yard, as well as at the Naval Support Activity Annapolis.
The water activities are especially suited for a fighting team that will one day be seabound. The plebes are wet, cold and muddy the entire time, so they’re prepared for any conditions. For a recent Navy Sea Trial, they were in the water at 5:30 AM in 40 degree weather to complete their exercises. They conquered all of the challenges.
At the end of Sea Trials, the Plebes are running on fumes, but prevail thanks to the encouragement of both classmates and upperclassmen. Sea Trials are an excellent team building exercise. Plebes ultimately learn how to work together and communicate well. They understand they’re only as strong as their weakest link, and the trust they’ve built up over the course of their entire Plebe Year culminates in these trials. They’re inspired to be there for each other, no matter the conditions. As some fall down from exhaustion, others pick them up and carry them to the finish. It’s amazing to see their dedication to each other.
The End: Pride and Perseverance
After fourteen hours, the plebes are beyond exhausted, but incredibly fulfilled. Their reward? The plebe company that delivered the top unit performance through endurance and spirit becomes the “Iron Company” and receives a plaque at a ceremony at the conclusion of Sea Trials. Yet it is unspeakable pride and perseverance that’s the greatest reward.
As evidenced by this tradition, the Naval Academy is definitely not your typical college and the midshipmen are surely not your typical college students. The Navy Sea Trials are only one of many challenges they surmount and transcend with flying colors, preparing them for the tribulations and teamwork that lie ahead as they go on to serve their country.
We salute their untiring efforts every day and celebrate their strength. You can support them as well. Be a part of USNA history. Come visit the Yard, take a USNA tour, dine in our restaurants and shop our shops. Every bit goes back to the Brigade to fund extracurricular activities like cultural arts, music, theater, club sports, and more. Show them you’re on their team too.
