Naval Academy Herndon Monument Climb 2015

It’s that time of year again – Commissioning Week at the U.S. Naval Academy, when graduating midshipmen become officers in the Navy or Marine Corps, and first-year plebes become midshipmen.

The Herndon Monument climb is a highlight of the week, symbolizing the final hurdle of a grueling year for the freshman class. Nearly 1,000 plebes rushed the 21-foot-tall obelisk and made a human pyramid to get to the top, which was coated in lard beforehand by upperclassmen. 

The Class of 2018 had to replace the Dixie cup hat that was there with an upperclassman’s hat, symbolizing their advancement to second-year status. 

This year, the monument was capped in 1 hour, 38 minutes and 36 seconds by Midshipman 4th Class Javarri Beachum, 19, of Port St. Joe, Florida.