First-year midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2029 scaled the greased Herndon Monument on Wednesday morning [1].
The annual event serves as a traditional rite of passage that signals the transition of plebes to fourth-class midshipmen at the end of their freshman year [2].
The climb took place at the academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 13, 2026 [3]. To successfully complete the challenge, the students had to scale a 21-foot obelisk [4] that had been coated in grease to make the ascent difficult.
The Class of 2029 finished the climb in two hours, 17 minutes, and 36 seconds [5]. The event is designed to be a collective effort rather than an individual achievement, requiring the midshipmen to work together to reach the top.
"You can't do this alone," a plebe said [6].
The atmosphere during the climb was characterized by high energy and intensity as the students pushed one another toward the goal. "Everyone's screaming. Everyone's fired up," a midshipman said [7].
This tradition remains a cornerstone of the academy's culture, emphasizing teamwork and persistence under physical stress. By overcoming the slippery surface of the monument, the midshipmen symbolically leave behind the restrictions of their first year.
“"You can't do this alone."”
The Herndon Monument climb is more than a physical challenge; it is a psychological tool used by the U.S. Naval Academy to instill cohesion. By forcing a large group to solve a nearly impossible physical problem through cooperation, the academy reinforces the military necessity of teamwork over individual glory before students enter their second year of training.
