A first-year midshipman, or plebe, is splashed with mud while participating in Sea Trials May 15, 2012, at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Sea Trials, modeled after the Marine Corps’ Crucible and the Navy’s Battle Stations recruit programs, is an annual capstone event for fourth class midshipmen and serves as a leadership challenge for upper class midshipmen, who lead each activity during the exercise.