 The freshman class of U.S. Naval Academy, Mid Shipman, or Plebes, participated in the annual sea trials May 14th. Sea trial events are modeled after the Marine Corps crucible and Navy battle stations recruit training exercises, the final events for Marine Corps and Navy enlisted recruit training. The senior class of Mid Shipman plan, organize, and execute sea trials. The planning stages starts in August when the seniors report for their final year at the academy. Also, for the first time, this is the culmination event for them. This is their final event. I mean, they've been working on this since August, and finally it's coming to fruition. For the Plebes, it's the beginning of the end for their Plebe year. They started with Plebe summer, and then they're going to finish with herning. But sea trials is the last event that shows exactly where they are. A lot of these Plebes will struggle, and they will find out through that struggle that they become better officers and better leaders in the fleet. Sea trials begin at 3 in the morning with group physical training and team building exercises. Once all the squads rotate through the morning evolutions, the Plebes compete in exercises ranging from pipe patching and zodiac raft physical training to paintball, and the ground fighting course dubbed the bear pit by the previous sea trial competitors. The Plebes compete to earn the title of Iron Squad, the highest performing sea trials team. Naval Academy is a great experience. I'm glad I'm here. I'm being mentally, morally, and physically challenged every day. And this is today during sea trials. This is my ultimate test, as well as my use of teamwork along with my comrades. From the Defense Media Activity, I'm Petty Officer Jonathan Pancall.