May 14, 2013

In a test of physical and mental strength, plebes challenged themselves during Sea Trials Tuesday in a daunting 14-hour obstacle course that marks the end of their first year at the Naval Academy. The training exercise is modeled after the Crucible by the Marine Corps and the Navy’s Battle Stations recruit program and includes a wide array of activities from shore defense to Spartan relay, paintball, land navigation, hill assault and water tactics, according to the Naval Academy.

Photos taken by Baltimore Sun photographer Kim Hairston.

: Some plebes do push ups as others hold ropes above their heads. The fourth class midshipmen are several hours into SeaTrials, physical and mental challenges that promote teamwork and company and class bonding at the United States Naval Academy. They are on the grounds of Naval Support Activity Annapolis. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Left, Mark Brashears, 19, Annapolis, and other plebes hold a Zodiak above their heads as they fo thorough the rigors of SeaTrials. The daylong challenge promotes teamwork and company and class bonding at the United States Naval Academy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. They are on Hospital Point, one of various stations located at the Academy and Naval Support Activity Annapolis. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes buddy rush on Hospital Point during USNA Sea Trials. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes cross Severn river bridge during Sea Trials. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Dylan Bonitz, 19, Ellenville, NJ, lifts Alejandro Maldonado, 23, Orlando, FL, as he does “buddy squats” on Hospital Point. Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. The test takes them through various stations located across the Academy and Naval Support Activity Annapolis. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Christopher Huynh, 20, Houston, a plebe in the 13th Company, makes his way under fishing line, trying not to touch it. He and other fourth class midshipmen are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Left to right, Mark Brashears, 19, Annapolis, Ricardo Atiles, 20, Athens, GA, and Benjamin Rice, 19, Somerset, KY, hold a Zodiak above their heads while seated. Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonding at the United States Naval Academy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Jesse Fine, 19, Bembroke, MA, 6th Company, stuggles holding up the end of a heavy rope as he other plebes, fourth class midshipmen, in his company endure “Rope PT” during SeaTrials. The physical and mental challenge promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Jesse Fine, 19, Bembroke, MA, 6th Company, stuggles holding up the end of a heavy rope as he other plebes, fourth class midshipmen, in his company endure “Rope PT” during SeaTrials. The physical and mental challenge promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. They are on the grounds of Naval Support Activity Annapolis. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Top, Michael Sappio, 20, and Samuel Peters, 19, Valdosta, GA, 10th Company plebes wrestle for control during ground fighting. Fourth class midshipmen are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonding at the United States Naval Academy. They are on the grounds of Naval Support Activity Annapolis. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Mark Brashears 19, Annapolis, looks for a way around fishing line, strung to resemble barbed wire, during Sea Trials at the United States Naval Academy. Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, physical and mental challenges that promote teamwork and company and class bonds. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes, fourth class midshipmen, are put through SeaTrials, a physical and mental challenge that promotes teamwork and company and class bonds at the United States Naval Academy. The test takes them through various stations located across the Academy and Naval Support Activity Annapolis. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

STORY
For Naval Academy plebes, a grueling end to the year
By Pamela Wood, The Baltimore Sun
4:00 p.m. EDT, May 14, 2013

The wake-up call came at 3:15 a.m. Tuesday, but Midshipman Alberto Salabarria was ready well before then.

Anticipating a grueling, thrilling, muddy day of the Sea Trials at the Naval Academy, Salabarria and some of his classmates couldn’t wait.
“Everyone was listening to music, trying to motivate themselves,” Salabarria said.

Staying motivated and upbeat is key to surviving Sea Trials, a 14-hour test of strength, endurance and will that marks the end of the freshman, or “plebe,” year at the Naval Academy.

Under the guidance of older midshipmen, plebes beat each other with padded sticks, crawled through muddy trenches under barbed wire, searched for a faux hostage at a water treatment plant and lifted logs as thick as telephone poles over their heads again and again.

Sea Trials test Naval Academy plebes in grueling 14-hour obstacle course

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