Traditions

Mids use the force to beat Army in game day spirit spot

By Meghann Myers on November 30, 2015 Army, Aviation, Chief of naval operations, Football, Humor, Movies, Naval Academy, Navy Times, Traditions, Uncategorized

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svU2317XiPw Midshipman 1st Class Rylan Tuohy promised a blowout for his final Army-Navy game spirit spot, and he has delivered. With cameos from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and Naval Academy superintendent Vice Adm. Ted Carter, the video wraps together the academy’s prospective 14th-straight Army-Navy game win with the fall’s “Star Wars” fever in what’s more of a short film than a quick spot. But rather than capitalize on the forthcoming “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Tuohy kept it old school, re-imagining “Star Wars: A New Hope” as the tale of a mid in distress. Midshipman Leia is held captive…

Russian Navy's Neptune tradition under fire

By Kevin Lilley on July 31, 2013 Foreign navies, Navy, Traditions

All navies have traditions. Some of these traditions involve Neptune, who had a good run as “god of the sea” a few years back, according to an online reference of note. Ask any shellback. Changes to such traditions have stirred up strong emotions throughout the fleet, with terms like “hazing” and “political correctness” often finding their way into the debate — and the debate often finding its way onto the cover of Navy Times (Subscribe now!) But you rarely see a religious leader wade into the fray and call out the Navy for encouraging “dark spiritual powers,” or have a…

Royal Navy dumps 'wives and sweethearts' toast

By Kevin Lilley on June 24, 2013 Life at Sea, Marital life, Traditions

One of America’s closest naval allies — and the source of many U.S. naval customs — underwent a significant script change over the weekend. The traditional Saturday toast aboard a British Royal Navy vessel, up until last Saturday, had been a simple one: “To our wives and sweethearts.” The traditional response, either from the youngest officer present or the resident smart aleck, had also been simple: “May they never meet.” Both are gone. The Associated Press reports the new toast will be to “our families.” Also, the Tuesday toast to “our men” will become “our sailors.” A British military statement…

Academy grad's first salute comes from deployed brother

By Jacqueline Klimas on May 24, 2013 Naval Academy, Navy, Officers, Traditions

Newly commissioned officers often share their first salute with close friends or family members who have served before them, so it’s not remarkable that Ensign Andrew Wondolowski, who graduated from the Naval Academy on Friday, received his first salute from his brother. What is remarkable is that the salute came from over 7,000 miles away, where Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Philip Wondolowski is deployed on the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in 5th Fleet. “It’s a privilege to be his first salute,” the machinist’s mate said in a Navy release. “I was a first salute for one of my chiefs when…

Wreaths Over the Water honors those lost at sea

By Jacqueline Klimas on December 19, 2012 Coast Guard, Navy, Traditions

This weekend, volunteers laid wreaths on military graves across the country as part of Wreaths Across America. Service members at Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet in Florida also laid wreaths on the water Dec. 15 to honor those lost at sea. Five years ago, Coast Guard Auxiliarist Ed Greenfield realized that even if every grave on land was covered, some who perished while serving their country were being forgotten, according to the Coast Guard’s official blog. The first annual Wreaths Over the Water memorial was held on Dec. 15, 2007 at Station Lake Worth Inlet. This year, representatives of…

Shellback ceremony, circa 2012

By Gidget Fuentes on May 18, 2012 Life at Sea, Marine Corps, Morale, Navy, Traditions

Their ship’s maiden deployment now on the homestretch to San Diego, Calif., after duty in the 5th Fleet region, the crew aboard amphibious assault ship Makin Island took a little time to mark that long-held seagoing tradition of crossing the equator, the Shellback Ceremony. No, it’s not exactly the casting call for the next sequel to “Pirates of the Caribbean.” But from the looks of these photos, a little fun was had by the pollywogs, even the “Boss Wog.” Not as crazy as those ceremonies of years gone by, for sure, but for the sailors aboard the ship, it gives…

Rudy's one-liners

By Bill McMichael on January 27, 2012 Don't ask, Historical, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story, Naval special warfare, Navy, Photos, Retired Navy, SEAL Team 2, SEALs, Traditions

Retired Master Chief Rudy Boesch earned more than a few laughs Friday during his remarks at the East Coast SEALs’ celebration of the SEALs’ 50th anniversary (the West Coast SEALs marked it two weeks ago), both centered around his post-SEAL Team 2 days. The 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act helped spark the 1987 formation of U.S. Special Operations Command. That same year, Boesch, coming up on 26 years as a member of SEAL Team 2, was one of three senior military enlisteds called to Coronado to interview with Gen. James Lindsay, the command’s first commander-in-chief — as the position was…

Elves in orange vests

By Jenn Rafael on November 29, 2011 Coast Guard, Entertainment, Historical, Traditions

The seagoing buoy tender Alder has a new mission: spreading holiday cheer. The cutter is carrying hundreds of trees to needy Chicago families as the city’s “Christmas ship.” On Monday, the cutter’s crew took on the holiday cargo in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The seagoing buoy tender/icebreaker Mackinaw normally does the honors. Its crew delivered more than 1,200 Christmas trees to Chicago families last year. But for this holiday season, Mackinaw is headed to a Wisconsin shipyard for repair of a leaking bow-thruster. Alder’s mission is the continuation of a Chicago tradition. The original Christmas ship, the Rouse Simmons, brought…

A solemn duty

By Bill McMichael on October 23, 2011 Burial at sea, Carriers, Navy, Photos, Traditions

It takes place about 20 times each month: The casketed or cremated remains of an eligible individual are buried at sea. It’s an ancient tradition that’s probably been practiced as long as people have gone to sea, according to Naval History & Heritage Command. On Saturday, Oct. 22, crew members of the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower carried on that tradition as the ship was training in the Atlantic. Ceremony procedures do not change. “All hands bury the dead” is passed over the ship’s intercom; the ship is stopped, if practicable; the colors are displayed at half-mast. The casket bearers, firing…

By region, Navy swaps whites for blues

By Sam Fellman on October 3, 2011 Navy, Traditions, Uniforms

It may be time to break out your blues. The date of the semiannual uniform change over from whites to blues is set by each of the 12 Navy regions, but wide swaths of the U.S. are changing over now. Blues became the official dress uniform for sailors from Maine to Maryland on Monday, just in time for a cold snap hitting the east coast. Sailors in the Washington, D.C., area are also switching to blues. But sailors in North Carolina and Virginia will have to wait two more weeks, until the third Monday in October, to don their blues.…

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