May 13, 2014

More than 1,000 Naval Academy freshmen slopped through mud, clambered over obstacles and beat each other with padded sticks Tuesday in a rite of passage known as Sea Trials, marking the end of their plebe year.

: A plebe crawls under his mates as part of the exercises in the “Wet and Sandy” segment of the Sea Trials. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Station corporal Kai Gamble leads a group of plebes in calisthenics. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Muddy gear lies on the ground waiting for the next group of plebes to use. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Midshipmen row the Zodiac raft as part of the “Wet and Sandy” section of the Sea Trials. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Midshipmen cross the bridge as part of the two-mile regimental run. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Midshipmen watch as fellow plebes Jules Murphy, left and Liam Cator joust with pugil sticks. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Midshipman Luis Pedrazacolon from San Juan, Puerto Rico balances on part of the obstacle course. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Midshipman Justin Reed from Bentonville, Arkansas, moves through the trench covered with barbed wire. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Midshipman Molly McAuliffe from Wichita, Kansas holds on to her helmet as she crawls through a trench. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: 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. Plebes will be physically and mentally tested through a variety of challenges in different stations located across the Academy and Naval Support Activity Annapolis. (Photo by Algerina Perna / Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes carry a Zodiac as part of the drills during the Sea Trials. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Midshipmen cross the bridge during the sea trials. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Michael Greer from San Diego, CA participates in a gun drill with his fellow plebes. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Midshipmen cross the Naval Academy bridge during the Sea Trials. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Shawn Park from New York, NY, center, and his fellow plebes exercise by zodiacs. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Plebes take part in the obstacle course. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: With linked arms, plebes do push-ups in the water as part of the “Wet and Sandy” exercises. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Members of he 24th Company bow , then raise their arms in a “be a star” exercise in the “Wet and Sandy” segment. The United States Navy held its Sea Trials today, a 14-hour Navy and Marine Corps-related team challenge that includes water tactics, an obstacle course, a two-mile run, pugil stick jousting, and several other survival skills. (Photo by Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

The rite of passage at Sea Trials

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