【Hong Kong Archives】

The Hong Kong ArchivesU.S. Naval Academy notoriously treats its freshmen to the roughest year of their lives: plebe year.

What we didn't know was that to officially complete their plebe year and start their summers, first-years must place a hat on the top of a 21-foot larded obelisk while being sprayed with hoses, which this year was broadcast live on Facebook.

It is, as the Facebook Live commentator described it, "a writhing mess of humanity."

It's grotesque and sloppy and extremely entertaining. Who will make it to the top!? Will anyone get hurt!? What do hundreds of greasy sailors look like climbing on top of each other!? All this and so, so much more.

According to the Washington Post, legend has it that the plebe who manages to successfully land the hat will be the first in their class to become an admiral.

At the time of writing this article, the plebes were entering their second hour of the challenge, with dozens of painfully close calls already passed. Spending more than two hours on the task is not unheard of.

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Go Navy, beat lard!

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