So.....
It's been a while since I've been on this thing. I really haven't had anything significant happen in my life that most of you would be interested in. I went and got certified in the Key's a week ago. Great diving, bad bus trip. I got some cool pics, so I'll try and make them available just in case you're interested. I went down to Busch Gardens with Kyle and Sara, which is probably the best trip I've ever been on. It can't get any better than an 8 hour car ride with your best friend and girl friend, oh wait, that's only if they wouldn't have messed with me all the time! Better watch it buddy! We had fun. My time is coming to a close. Pretty soon, I'll be boarding a plane to Connecticut, and I all want you to help me with something. I know Sara's going to be sad, and that's inescapable. I'm going to be sad too. But if you guys could keep her busy and make sure she does stuff, that would be great. I can't stand the thought of her sitting at home all summer being sad. You know, have that Goverment meeting with the scrapbook, see movies, do stuff, just keep her active. It would mean a lot to me, and I'm sure it would mean a lot to her too. I got my music for the Coast Guard Band. A lot of John Philip Sousa, fun stuff, but easy. It was freaky, it was the first time I've played a second part since sixth grade. I got a kick out of that. I'm also doing a banquet in Lousiana for a bunch of people that got into service academies. I don't know if I will go, but I probably should represent. Well, that's it. I'm going to attach my "Running Light." It's a whole bunch of stuff that I have to memorize, some of it pretty funny. Read it if you have the chance to.
P. S. Jordan, take a good look at Question 5.
Mission
The mission of the United States Coast Guard Academy is to graduate young men and women with sound bodies, stout hearts, and alert minds, with a liking for the sea and its lore, and with that high sense of honor, loyalty, and obedience which goes with trained initiative and leadership; well-grounded in seamanship, the sciences, and the amenities, and strong in the resolve to be worthy of the traditions of commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard in the service of their country and humanity.
Traditional Questions
Q. What is your first duty?
A. To the truth Sir/Ma'am
Q. Who owns honor?
A. I own my honor and will guard it against temptation o sacrifice it for personal gain, Sir/Ma'am
Q. Who lives here?
A. Who lives here reveres honor, honors duty; we neither lie, cheat, steal nor attempt to deceive, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. How long have you been in the Coast Guard?
A. All me bloomin' life, Sir/Ma'am. Me father was King Neptune, me mother was a mermaid. I was born on the crest of a wave and rocked in de cradle of the deep. Me eyes is stars, me teeth is spars, me hair is hemp and seaweed; and when I spits, I spits tar. I's tough, I is, I am, I are, Sir/Ma'am
Q. What is the Coast Guard?
A. Sir/Ma'am, the Coast Guard is the hard nucleus about which the Navy forms in times of war.
Q. How's the cow?
A. She walks, she talks, she's full of chalk. The lacteal fluid extracted from the female of the bovine species is highly prolific to the nth degree, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. What does a ship weigh when she leaves port?
A. Her anchor Sir/Ma'am.
Q. How many square feet in the main sheet of a sailing ship?
A. None, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. How do you get a rat out of the lee scupper?
A. Come about, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. How many bricks did it take to finish Chase Hall?
A. One, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. What's the good word in (any sport)?
A. Sir/Ma'am the good word in (sport requested) is Go Bears, beat (opponent's name), Sir/Ma'am
Q. How many days to (graduation), (leave), (long weekend)?
A. Sir/Ma'am, there are now (#) days to go until (graduation, leave, long weekend, or any other requests), Sir/Ma'am.
Q. What is your piece?
A. Sir/Ma'am, my piece is a U.S. rifle, caliber .30, M-1 gas-operated, clip fed, air-cooled semi-automatic shoulder weapon Sir/Ma'am.
Basic Responses
There are five basic responses that should be given by a Fourth Class cadet in response to a question by a superior. They are as follows:
… Yes, sir/ma'am
… No, sir/ma'am
… No excuse sir/ma'am
… This swab will find out, sir/ma'am
… Aye, Aye, sir/ma'am
Note: the basic response of Yes/No, sir/ma'am is used when replying to a question. The basic response of Aye, Aye sir/ma'am is said after given an order that you understand and will carry out.
Swab Rules
1. Swabs will uphold and defend their honor at all times.
2. Follow the chain of command.
3. Obey orders promptly, and report back from all details.
4. Always use Sir/Ma'am when addressing officers and upperclass.
5. Salute and greet officers at all times.
6. "Gangway" for officers and "Make way" for upperclass at all times.
7. Preserve a net and professional uniform appearance at all times. Never put your hands in your pockets.
8. Swabs will no longer refer to themselves in the first person. When speaking to anyone else, they will refer to themselves as "Swab (Last Name)."
9. Maintain proper table etiquette at all times.
10. Remain seated in the wardroom for three minutes after "Leave at will."
11. March in section during training periods and the academic day.
12. Keep under the lights in the corridors and on the outside of all ladderwells. Keep on the inboard side of the corridors and square around all fire hydrants in the "B' annex.
13. Do not traverse the Quarterdeck except when on official business.
14. Do not walk in the bilges between Chase and Hamilton Halls or between Hamilton and Satterlee Halls. Do not cut across quadrangles.
15. Carry a black pen and Running Light at all times.
16. Do not use profanity.
General Orders
1. To take charge of this watch and all government property in view.
2. To stand my watch in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the watch office than my own.
5. To quit my watch only when properly relieved.
6. To receive, obey and pass on to the watchstander who relieves me all orders from the Commanding Officer, Chase Hall Duty Officer, Officer of the Day, and Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch.
7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.
8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
9. To call the Petty Officer of the Watch in any case not covered by instructions.
10. To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.
11. To be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persona on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
Traditional Spewage
1. I do not understand.
Sit/Ma'am, my cranium consisting of Vermont marble, volcanic lava, and African ivory, covered with a thick layer of case hardened steel, forms and impenetrable barrier to all that seek to impress itself upon the ashen tissues of my brain.
Hence, the effulgent and ostentatiously effervescent phrases just directed and reiterated for my comprehension have failed to penetrate and permeate the somniferous forces of my atrocious intelligence, Sir/Ma'am.
2. 180 Seconds
Sir/Ma'am, one hundred and eighty seconds have fleetingly flit into the dark ages of the past since the cadet in command gave abandon at random. May I please be excused Sir/Ma'am?
P. S. Jordan, take a good look at Question 5.
Mission
The mission of the United States Coast Guard Academy is to graduate young men and women with sound bodies, stout hearts, and alert minds, with a liking for the sea and its lore, and with that high sense of honor, loyalty, and obedience which goes with trained initiative and leadership; well-grounded in seamanship, the sciences, and the amenities, and strong in the resolve to be worthy of the traditions of commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard in the service of their country and humanity.
Traditional Questions
Q. What is your first duty?
A. To the truth Sir/Ma'am
Q. Who owns honor?
A. I own my honor and will guard it against temptation o sacrifice it for personal gain, Sir/Ma'am
Q. Who lives here?
A. Who lives here reveres honor, honors duty; we neither lie, cheat, steal nor attempt to deceive, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. How long have you been in the Coast Guard?
A. All me bloomin' life, Sir/Ma'am. Me father was King Neptune, me mother was a mermaid. I was born on the crest of a wave and rocked in de cradle of the deep. Me eyes is stars, me teeth is spars, me hair is hemp and seaweed; and when I spits, I spits tar. I's tough, I is, I am, I are, Sir/Ma'am
Q. What is the Coast Guard?
A. Sir/Ma'am, the Coast Guard is the hard nucleus about which the Navy forms in times of war.
Q. How's the cow?
A. She walks, she talks, she's full of chalk. The lacteal fluid extracted from the female of the bovine species is highly prolific to the nth degree, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. What does a ship weigh when she leaves port?
A. Her anchor Sir/Ma'am.
Q. How many square feet in the main sheet of a sailing ship?
A. None, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. How do you get a rat out of the lee scupper?
A. Come about, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. How many bricks did it take to finish Chase Hall?
A. One, Sir/Ma'am.
Q. What's the good word in (any sport)?
A. Sir/Ma'am the good word in (sport requested) is Go Bears, beat (opponent's name), Sir/Ma'am
Q. How many days to (graduation), (leave), (long weekend)?
A. Sir/Ma'am, there are now (#) days to go until (graduation, leave, long weekend, or any other requests), Sir/Ma'am.
Q. What is your piece?
A. Sir/Ma'am, my piece is a U.S. rifle, caliber .30, M-1 gas-operated, clip fed, air-cooled semi-automatic shoulder weapon Sir/Ma'am.
Basic Responses
There are five basic responses that should be given by a Fourth Class cadet in response to a question by a superior. They are as follows:
… Yes, sir/ma'am
… No, sir/ma'am
… No excuse sir/ma'am
… This swab will find out, sir/ma'am
… Aye, Aye, sir/ma'am
Note: the basic response of Yes/No, sir/ma'am is used when replying to a question. The basic response of Aye, Aye sir/ma'am is said after given an order that you understand and will carry out.
Swab Rules
1. Swabs will uphold and defend their honor at all times.
2. Follow the chain of command.
3. Obey orders promptly, and report back from all details.
4. Always use Sir/Ma'am when addressing officers and upperclass.
5. Salute and greet officers at all times.
6. "Gangway" for officers and "Make way" for upperclass at all times.
7. Preserve a net and professional uniform appearance at all times. Never put your hands in your pockets.
8. Swabs will no longer refer to themselves in the first person. When speaking to anyone else, they will refer to themselves as "Swab (Last Name)."
9. Maintain proper table etiquette at all times.
10. Remain seated in the wardroom for three minutes after "Leave at will."
11. March in section during training periods and the academic day.
12. Keep under the lights in the corridors and on the outside of all ladderwells. Keep on the inboard side of the corridors and square around all fire hydrants in the "B' annex.
13. Do not traverse the Quarterdeck except when on official business.
14. Do not walk in the bilges between Chase and Hamilton Halls or between Hamilton and Satterlee Halls. Do not cut across quadrangles.
15. Carry a black pen and Running Light at all times.
16. Do not use profanity.
General Orders
1. To take charge of this watch and all government property in view.
2. To stand my watch in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the watch office than my own.
5. To quit my watch only when properly relieved.
6. To receive, obey and pass on to the watchstander who relieves me all orders from the Commanding Officer, Chase Hall Duty Officer, Officer of the Day, and Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch.
7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.
8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
9. To call the Petty Officer of the Watch in any case not covered by instructions.
10. To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.
11. To be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persona on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
Traditional Spewage
1. I do not understand.
Sit/Ma'am, my cranium consisting of Vermont marble, volcanic lava, and African ivory, covered with a thick layer of case hardened steel, forms and impenetrable barrier to all that seek to impress itself upon the ashen tissues of my brain.
Hence, the effulgent and ostentatiously effervescent phrases just directed and reiterated for my comprehension have failed to penetrate and permeate the somniferous forces of my atrocious intelligence, Sir/Ma'am.
2. 180 Seconds
Sir/Ma'am, one hundred and eighty seconds have fleetingly flit into the dark ages of the past since the cadet in command gave abandon at random. May I please be excused Sir/Ma'am?