For those who visit my blog regularly, you know that my son is in his first year at the United States Naval Academy - he's a Plebe.
Today, the class of 2011, the Plebes, participate in Sea Trials. U.S. Naval Academy Freshmen, known as plebes, participate in "Sea Trials" at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., May 17, 2005. "Sea Trials" is an 11.5 hour action-oriented event, modeled after the U.S. Marine Corps' 54-hour "Crucible" and the Navy's "Battle Stations" training tests, which requires plebes to use skills they have learned during their first year at the Naval Academy.
Sea Trials, which begins well before dawn, consists of six phases lasting approximately an hour and a half each. During these phases, the freshmen, or “plebes,” are tested physically and mentally in a variety of challenging scenarios.
Under the supervision of upperclassmen, senior enlisted leaders and company officers, the midshipmen navigated challenging obstacle courses, confronted realistic damage control scenarios, and motivated each other through long-distance runs. Squads of midshipmen also tackled riverine training, zodiac boat drills, and endurance courses. More than 1,000 plebes participate in the capstone event, modeled after the Navy’s “Battle Stations” and Marine Corps’ “Crucible."
My son Morgan has actually been looking forward to this day. He is ranked 79th out of 1142 Plebes militarily, and has outstanding scores of 96% in his PRT's (Physical training). He played on the Brigade Championship 6th Company Field Ball team and is described by his commanding officer as a "Warrior."
He is ending his first year having not just survived, but thrived.
Academically, he is ranked 377, and
overall, ranked 257 - the top 23% of the class. He has worked very hard academically; his grades are stellar, with a solid "B" average. This is how he spent his year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxi_hfRJHFI&NR=1Click
this to watch a short video of the USNA Sea Trials. You'll be glad you are already out of school.
And then The plebes will become third class midshipmen, or sophomores, upon graduation of the Class of 2008 on May 23.
What a Year. What an accomplishment. Three more years to go.
This summer he is assigned to a submarine, with three weeks off in August. Did I already say what a year?
************************
photos: Winter Formal event, Snow for a California boy, "C" Company Jackalope warriors during Plebe Summer