Inside the US Merchant Marine Academy on day zero

We got an inside look at what it's like on the first day for new plebes at the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. 287 plebe candidates arrived on campus for the beginning of "indoctrination," a 16-day period full of intense mental and physical tests. During our visit, we saw plebe candidates getting their heads shaved, learning proper movements and responses, and enduring an event known as "the Grinder," where their instructional cadre commands and corrects them…