Navy loves acronyms (even the word NAVY supposedly means "Never Again Volunteer Yourself..lol), so it is easy to "misslead" a new sailor straight out of boot camp
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Re: Oh my...dream_talesOctober 5 2007, 13:09:47 UTC
The worst part is that I'm only writing the PG stories....it gets worse as time goes on, which is probably (especially now that females have entered the military scene) why the Navy is on a big hunting party to squash what we used to call "traditions". Including: "Red Belly" "Newcommer's initiation" "Pollywogs to Shellbacks initiation (here is a "nice" version of it, if anyone is interested http://ux1.cts.eiu.edu/~csjdn/ben_web/Index.htm) And many more such "traditions which had been with the military since forever but is quickly and fastidiously being squashed because of the "nature" of the new Navy. To get an idea of what I'm talking about, think of a college fraternity initiation..with a current member count of hundreds or thousands (carriers about 5,000 people), on a place which you can't get away from (middle of ocean), and even the Dean is part of it (Captain has to go through some of these too). Now also take into account that these people have been in the middle of the ocean for months, frustated and overworked, and you can only imagine how devious your "friends" can be when given the opportunity. It is definitely NOT a pretty picture. Now..imagine that next year, you're the one "passing" these traditions instead of receiving them...trust me, you'll be surprised what you can come up with to top your own initiation.
"Red Belly"
"Newcommer's initiation"
"Pollywogs to Shellbacks initiation (here is a "nice" version of it, if anyone is interested http://ux1.cts.eiu.edu/~csjdn/ben_web/Index.htm)
And many more such "traditions which had been with the military since forever but is quickly and fastidiously being squashed because of the "nature" of the new Navy.
To get an idea of what I'm talking about, think of a college fraternity initiation..with a current member count of hundreds or thousands (carriers about 5,000 people), on a place which you can't get away from (middle of ocean), and even the Dean is part of it (Captain has to go through some of these too). Now also take into account that these people have been in the middle of the ocean for months, frustated and overworked, and you can only imagine how devious your "friends" can be when given the opportunity.
It is definitely NOT a pretty picture.
Now..imagine that next year, you're the one "passing" these traditions instead of receiving them...trust me, you'll be surprised what you can come up with to top your own initiation.
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