First-year students at the U.S. Naval Academy are participating in the annual Herndon Monument Climb, a tradition that marks the end of their plebe year and is seen as a predictor of future career success. The Class of 2027 will work together to scale the 21-foot obelisk, which is covered in vegetable shortening, in order to replace a white plebe “Dixie cup” hat with an upperclassman’s hat. There are approximately 1,300 plebes in the class, and once they complete the climb, they will be known as fourth class midshipmen, not plebes. It is believed that the first person to successfully reach the top of the monument and replace the hat will go on to become the first admiral in the class.
The Herndon Monument Climb has been a tradition at the Naval Academy since 1940, with the placement of an officer’s cap atop the obelisk to signify the conquering of the plebe year added seven years later. In 1949, upperclassmen began greasing the monument to make the climb more challenging, and in 1962, they started placing the Dixie cup hat at the top of the monument before the climb. While records of the time it takes each class to scale the monument are not complete, the shortest time is believed to be 1 minute and 30 seconds in 1969 when the monument wasn’t greased, and the longest time was over four hours in 1995 when the Dixie cup was glued down by upperclassmen.
This year’s Herndon Monument Climb is expected to be a test of teamwork and determination for the Class of 2027 as they come together to achieve a common goal. The climb is not only a physical challenge but also a symbolic one, representing the transition from plebe to fourth class midshipmen. As they work together to navigate the greased obelisk and replace the hat at the top, the students are learning valuable lessons about cooperation, perseverance, and the importance of working towards a common objective.
The Herndon Monument Climb is a highly anticipated event at the Naval Academy, with students, faculty, and staff rallying together to cheer on the participants. The ceremony is a celebration of the hard work and dedication that the plebes have put into their first year at the academy and marks the beginning of a new chapter in their naval careers. The tradition of the climb, dating back over 80 years, instills a sense of pride and camaraderie among the midshipmen and serves as a reminder of the unity and strength of the naval community.
The history of the Herndon Monument Climb is rich and storied, with each class adding its own unique twist to the tradition over the years. From the introduction of greasing the monument to the placement of the hat before the climb, each element of the event holds significance and adds to the challenge and excitement of the climb. The climb serves as a rite of passage for the plebes, marking their transition into more seasoned midshipmen and setting the stage for their future success in the Navy. As the Class of 2027 prepares to take on the challenge, they are following in the footsteps of generations of midshipmen who have gone before them and left their mark on this time-honored tradition.
The Herndon Monument Climb is not only a physical feat but also a mental and emotional one, pushing the participants to their limits and testing their resilience and strength. The climb symbolizes the obstacles that the midshipmen will face throughout their careers in the Navy and emphasizes the importance of perseverance and determination in overcoming challenges. As the Class of 2027 scales the monument and replaces the hat at its peak, they are demonstrating their readiness to take on the challenges that lie ahead and their commitment to upholding the values of honor, courage, and commitment that are central to the Navy’s mission.
