page_title: Greasy pole
section_title: Annapolis, Maryland - United States Naval Academy
hierarchical_section_title: Greasy pole / United States / Annapolis, Maryland - United States Naval Academy
caption_attribution_description: English: Herndon Monument climb at USNA 2011 (Class of 2014) - May 24, 2011
context_page_description: Greasy pole, grease pole, or greased pole refers to a tall pole that has been made slippery with grease or other lubricants and thus difficult to grip. More specifically, it is the name of several events that involve staying on, climbing up, walking over or otherwise traversing such a pole. This kind of event exists in several variations around the world. It is also used as a metaphor for the difficulty in achieving the top of one's career.
context_section_description: While not technically a "pole", each year, U.S. Naval Academy freshman (Plebes) climb a greased Herdon Monument to represent formal completion of their first of four years. At the top of the greased monument, upper-classmen place the famous Plebe "dixie cup" sailors hat ... a blue-rimmed version of the classic white sailors hat. Unlike the other greasy pole competitions that have individuals competing against each other, the Herndon climb is a team event where the Plebe class works together to hoist one of their members to the top to replace the "dixie up" Plebe hat with the standard mindshipmen hat ... signalling the end of their journey as Plebes. Each year, the latest Plebe class races to complete the challenge as fast as possible, with times compared against previous classes. By tradition, the class member who successfully switches out that hats will become the first admiral from that Class. 
  The ceremony also marks the beginning of Commencement Week.
caption: U.S. Naval Academy freshment ("Plebes") climb Herndon Monument.
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