WATCH: Navy Herndon Monument Climb tradition continues | LiveNOW from FOX

First-year naval students at the US Naval Academy are taking part in the annual Herndon Monument Climb on Wednesday morning, often informally called the “greasy pole climb“, an annual rite of passage marking the end of their first year in the service. The Class of 2027 will work as a team climbing the over 20-foot tall monument pole covered in vegetable fat oil to replace a white plebe “Dixie cup“ hat with an upperclassman’s hat, according to the Naval Academy. There are about 1,300 plebes in the class, according to academy spokesperson Elizabeth B. Wrightson. After the climb is complete, they’re called fourth class midshipmen, not plebes. Subscribe to LiveNOW from FOX! Where to watch LiveNOW from FOX: Follow us @LiveNOWFOX on Twitter: Raw and unfiltered. Watch a non-stop stream of breaking news, live events and stories across the nation. L