Tougher Challenge for Naval Academy Students

PlusTougher Challenge for Naval Academy StudentsTougher Challenge for Naval Academy StudentsThe Associated PressFor 10 years, the annual Sea Trials event has been the physical culmination of a midshipman's "plebe" year at the Naval Academy. This year, the academy put greater emphasis on service members' wartime sacrifices, (May 22)(NATS 10:58:28 LINE EM UP. FALL IN.)It's still dark out when a thousand first-year midshipmen gather on the football field at the U-S Naval Academy. The plebes--as they're known--are about to begin a 13-hour ordeal called the Sea Trials. (NATS)(10:51:47) I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MEN AND WOMAN CRAWLING THROUGH THE MUD, AND LAYING IN THE DUST AND EATING MRE'S AND THERE ARE PEOPLE SHOOTING AT THEM. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. A few minutes later, as the sun rises over Annapolis, Maryland, the plebes are beginning what will be a physically and mentally challenging 30-station endurance test. (NATS OF RIVER RESCUE)Much of the day is spent doing activities in the water--or the mud.(SOT: BRADLEY MAA, MIDSHIPMAN 4TH CLASS FROM COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO)AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT IS OR AS PAINFUL AS IT GETS SOMETIMES - IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING THROUGH IN IRAQ OR OTHER WAR ZONES.(NATS OF PAINTBALL)The tone of the Sea Trials has changed. Plebes used to play dodgeball as their parents watched from the stands. Now, each activity is dedicated to a fallen service member.(SOT: BENJAMIN ENGLISH, MIDSHIPMAN 4TH CLASS FROM ZONA, TEXAS)SOME PEOPLE CAN GET OUT HERE AND BE LIKE 'WELL WHAT WE ARE DOING IS POINTLESS' ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE GOING SWIMMING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW 'WHY ARE WE OUT HERE DOING THIS KIND OF STUFF'. BUT WHEN YOU HEAR STORIES LIKE THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT MEN LIKE THAT, IT REALLY GIVES YOU AN INNER SENSE OF MOTIVATION.(NATS STICK FIGHTING)One plebe describes the change in the trials as making them more military focused. They recognize that they could be in a war zone once they graduate from the Naval Academy.(SOT: RYAN GOLOM, MIDSHIPMAN 2ND CLASS, FROM THE 2ND COMPANY)THEY ARE GETTING CLOSE, THEY'VE GOT ABOUT TWO HOURS LEFT. THEY MIGHT BE STARTING TO GET CLOSE TO THE HITTING THE BRICK WALL. I KNOW ALL THEIR LEGS ARE TIRED.(SOT: LAUREN COLE, MIDSHIPMAN 4TH CLASS FROM TEXAS)JUST KEEP GOING WHENEVER YOU ARE TIRED BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE ALMOST DONE AND IT IS ONLY EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING - BUT IF YOU KNOW, YOU JUST STICK TOGETHER WITH YOUR TEAMMATES EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT IN THE END.At the end of the day, the plebes have been pushed to their limits--and beyond--knowing that what they've just experienced pales in comparison to what other American service members experience every day.(NATS12:20:30)I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL. YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB(12:30:34 ALL YELLING) ___ ___, The Associated Press.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• navy
• sea_trials
• tougher
• challenge
• naval
• academy
• students

[BraveNavigator89]

hey moron, half those kids will be Marines or SEALs anyways, so shut your mouth army.

[kemosabe707]

The very best of the best! Go Navy! Beat Army!

[NavalAcademy1]

I remember doing this back in the day, but it sure helps a lot to prepare for combat.

[lilszoch]

15th company @ 0:11, get'm chief!!!

[pettyofficer30]

@BraveNavigator89 LOL! NO THEY ARE NOT!

[chillaxer1993]

stockin up on the peanut butter hehe

[i0nPuNk182]

Guys common... don't compare which branch is better... you're serving the same country in different ways doesn't matter which

[JFM94]

@iggy409 If they ever set foot in a classroom why is USMA ranked #1 college

[panerican4life]

at the summer seminar we did I guess like a mini sea trials oh god I was soooooo tired at the end of it I was dying. So props to these guys

[acpreysler]

those 13 hours in nothing compared to the hell experienced in actual combat. But it makes you better prepared for the sacrifice demanded of life in the service.

[BaNgItLiKeAcHoLO]

@chipotleism also in the army u dnt get treated as well but im gonna appy to all of the academys

[BaNgItLiKeAcHoLO]

@chipotleism i go navy army i dont think its worth it may be if u wanna go delta force but the navy is more technical any one can get in the army and thats my opinion