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Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
A member of the United States Naval Academy freshman class wears body armor, helmet and carries a rifle through a mud-filled ditch as part of the "Wet and Sandy" challenge during the rigorous Sea Trials May 17, 2011 in Annapolis, MD. Under strict safety supervision, about 900 freshmen, or "Plebes," faced 14 hours of 32 rigorous physical and mental challenges during the trials, a daylong, action-oriented event modeled after the Marine Corps 54-hour Crucible and the Navy's Battle Stations.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Members of the United States Naval Academy freshman class participate in the pipe patching exercise during the rigorous Sea Trials May 17, 2011 in Annapolis, Maryland. Under strict safety supervision, about 900 freshmen, or "Plebes," faced 14 hours of 32 rigorous physical and mental challenges during the trials, a daylong, action-oriented event modeled after the Marine Corps 54-hour Crucible and the Navy's Battle Stations.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Members of the United States Naval Academy freshman class link arms and lay back into the Severn River as part of the "Wet and Sandy" challenge.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
A United States Naval Academy freshman pours water out of her boot and eats a quick snack during the rigorous Sea Trials in Annapolis.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Members of the United States Naval Academy freshman class push through tough physical exercise.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Members of the United States Naval Academy freshman class Company 16 lead a two-mile run across the Naval Academy Bridge during the rigorous Sea Trials.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
A member of the United States Naval Academy freshman class carries another during tough physical exercise.
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Is there a point to this? Is this because of the Navy's recent action in Pakistan? Any young man or woman enlisting in any of the Armed Forces today goes through this for months, not hours. And those months don't even begin to compare to SEAL training. Pay respect to these young people when they graduate, in the meantime , pay respect to those putting thier lives on the line everyday.
These 14 hours are the culmination of the first year of training, designed to be an equivalent to Battle Stations or the Crucible. The year starts with two months of indoc built similarly to basic. A small number of the freshman here will use this experience to help prepare for SEAL training in the future.
@crazyhorse -- True. My point was that we have enlisted people doing this in basic training on a weekly basis. Where is their news story? The Crucible is 96 hours. This is a typical, although short, day in Marine bootcamp.
What is the purpose? Why are we in Iraq? What a complete waste of money.
"What is the purpose?" Are you kidding? Sara, you just don't get it!
Sara and all,
Trough the years this type of total training has produced citizens that have been astronauts, SEALS, Commanders of fleet and Nato forces, Presidents, great ethical corporation executives and just plain excellent individuals and leaders. Many of them are heroes for their Country and some are buried in unknown soldier tombs in this and other lands. Some have gone to Irak as you question, after graduation, there is time for this for those that volunteer and are qualified for this.
Hopefully in the future, as leaders, they will help us see that scarcely 60 years ago we all engaged in World Wars with millions, yes millions, of dead with nations and people that are now ournext door neighbours and business partners.
I hope you agree that it is better for the US that they edure this ipreparation nstead of scholarships at Patrice Lubumba University or an Al Quaeda center.
Please understand that freedom is a commodity that must be protected by qualified persons at all levels.
I hope we all continue to have a good day!
Just more cannon fodder for our nation's objective of perpetual warfare. These guys don't realize it but they are fighting for their corporate rulers and world domination. We have become the greatest menace to peace that the planet has ever known. Heil capitalism!
All pics great EXCEPT for the rifle in the mud photo. It looks as if the young man is more worried about getting his clean, delicate hands dirty than keeping the muzzle of his rfle out of the mud. A Marine DI would have him drinking the mud. Hopefully he stays with the Navy-probably a pilot. They like soft beds, hot meals and showers.
Its an old M16A1, so it doesn't matter. I remember getting my helmet smashed in the mud by the DI when I was looking up. Semper Fi.
Its just a rubber rifle.
Man in the Arena
Doesn't matter? It makes me angry just looking at it in the mud. UNSAT!
This is the beginning of the Naval Academy Midshipman training - four years of academics and physical training to prepare each for the challenges awaiting them as Officers in the Navy and Marine Corps. It is indeed unfortunate that civilians don't see the necessity of this training - these young people are the future leaders of our military. They have made the choice to serve their country, if you don't make that choice or refuse to serve your country then you have little credibility with which to express your opinion. Bear in mind, one of these future leaders may well lay down their life such that you can express your First Amendment right - so engage your head before you engage your mouth.
exactly.
Brian, I hope Sara (see earlier post) reads your comments! Great post!
Thank you. I was going to make this same comment. I will add it is team building. These evolutions show these young men and women that that have to rely on one another to get through successfully. I recently retired after 26 years in the Navy and was proud to serve under and train many a junior officer.
Pretty Good! Except for the first photo - Never let go of your Rifle, and Never drop it in the mud. Or you will be mud.
Semper Fi,
- Omar W. Rosales
CAPT USMC 97-03
i used to be navy. boy hope you got a lot of q tips for that rifle. gun + mud = epic fail.
No one ever shows the pains that the cadets at the air force academy go through....way harder than navy and army.
Ha! Good one. Their indoc year ends a month earlier and they get privileges as sophomores that Army and Navy don't get as seniors.
Now THAT was funny!!
A prime example of wasting taxpayers money. There is no useful purpose to these exercises. Nothing is gained by anyone nor is anything useful being taught to the cadets.
Been their, done that.
The purpose of these exercise is to teach these kids how to react and make decisions under stress. It's easy to make a decision when you're sitting in a comfy chair and you have the luxury of time. However, when you're tired, wet, and hungry, your ability to make sound decisions quickly and logically is degraded. By placing them in these situations, they learn not only are their bodies able to take more than they thought, but how, through mental focus, they can still make sound decisions in very unforgiving environments. In short, they are teaching them to be leaders.
In addition, they are learning teamwork and esprit de corps with their classmates through the shared experience. It's the same reason corporations have team-building retreats (i.e Outward Bound), using paintball, geocaching, trust-building exercises, etc. to strengthen the bonds of management teams. Teamwork is probably the most fundamental aspect of military success. Only in very rare circumstances does a Soldier, Sailor, or Airman, or Marine operate on an island. They rely on those to their left and to their right, their leaders and their subordinates, to execute as a team.
Well Gosh Randy - bet they can spell better than you...Been their done that.....wowzers
The purpose of this is when this country collapses in two years, millions are starving and living with no energy due to a collapse of our currency, no one is going to protect us from ourselves inside America.
Is this considered torture or is torture defined by "military training that some suits in DC assume enemy combatants shouldn't be subjected to"
Ron-298159; KMA and go live some place other than the USA with your candy-assed Bolshevik attitude. We simply don't need you here; bad-mouthing the very people who give their lives so you can overuse your Freedom of Speech. You have no honor. Or, integrity, come to think of it.
Since freedom is not free, I salute those who are preparing to do what many of us can not or will not do. Thank you for all you do and will do to keep our nation free.
Be grateful to those men and women who volunteer to serve our country. It is because of them you are free to say what you like. Instead of complaining about our men and women in uniform, why don't you go meet one and thank them for their service.
In the first picture you see a cadet with his weapon's muzzle in the mud. Marines would not let that happen. The weapon gets priority care.
btw- They are proud MIDSHIPMEN not cadets.....and yes Sea Trials are an essential team building evolution at the end of an extremely tough and challenging year ...GO NAVY BEAT ARMY !
Although Army has a hard time on the football field, they are never far from hard work on the battle field!
All service men and women from all branches kick butt for our freedom! I love them all, God Bless them all!
Its not just about the "exercise", its pushing yourself to mental and physical limit to see what you are really capable of. GO NAVY
just an fyi to all the marines or marine fans in here, your USMC officers go through the naval academy
It's actually a mock-up of an old M16A1, you can tell because the "holes" on the hand guards are not actually holes at all. Still matters that he (a) has it in the mud, and (b) isn't even holding it, since you repeat what you do/learn in training during actual events. Been a while back, but seems my entire summer Plebe year at West Point (USMA '81) was one long string of training like this......
As an Army veteran, I have respect for any man or woman that chooses to serve... but I can't help but think how funny these little Navy cadets look. I mean, since when do you get to empty the water out of your boot, much less enjoy a Cliff Shot?! I have seen some backs higher in the pushup position, but not many. And please cadet, put your muddy little hands back on your weapon, and stop resting it in the mud!
You obviously havent been there done that or you'd know they're called Midshipmen, not cadets.
The purpose for these drills is far comprehensive then your feeble mind could start to comprehend. The amount of camaraderie and confidence they gain through these 14 hour trials is something that will serve them well in the future as Naval Officers and is something that can not be duplicated in the class room.
For those hippies who have comments about "capitalism" or "waste of tax payers money", you obviously have never served in the military and don't want to serve, matter of fact you wouldn't make past day 1. You plan to sit around and enjoy freedoms in the USA , but of course you are the ignorant ones who don't realize something as free speech is a freedom and not every country enjoys it. The same people with these comments couldn't hack it during the 1st hour of a smoke session such as these trials. As for the reason for these trials, it's to see if you can hack it not only physically but mentally to be a leader in the US military.
Great pics, except for the 1st one of the cadet with his rifle in the mud. Every soldier and marine knows your weapon stays off the ground.
Thank you to those men & women, an the many others in uniform. That is what makes us strong, and what made us strong in the past. People that mouth off, have no idea, what it takes to make us free. I did 13 years, and it is the best thing I did with my life. The money and sucess obtained later in life was the result of the training I learned as a member of our Armed Forces.