Does the Navy still do shellback?
The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have well-established line-crossing rituals. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs.
What is a Navy Golden Shellback?
The shellback is simple enough: A sailor on official duty “crosses the line” of the equator. A golden shellback is more impressive; it means they’ve crossed the International Date Line. Even rarer, crossing at the Prime Meridian grants you access into the Order of the Emerald Shellback.
What does the shellback certificate say?
This achievement certificate commemorates crossing the equator. This certificate is entirely customizable with: Ship’s Crest, Commanding Officer’s Signature, Date and Time of Crossing, and Sailor’s Rate and Full Name.
What happens when you cross the equator in the Navy?
It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. When a ship crosses the equator, King Neptune comes aboard to exercise authority over his domain and to judge charges brought against Pollywogs that they are only posing as sailors and haven’t paid proper homage to the god of the sea.
What is a blue nose in the Navy?
The “Order of the Blue Nose” is a Navy tradition which dictates that when Sailors cross into the Arctic Circle, they enter the realm of Boreas Rex, King of the North. The only way to be accepted into the order is to successfully complete his list of challenges.
What is a Navy Crow?
A crow is an unofficial Navy term for the petty officer rank insignia, which includes an eagle above one to three chevrons, depending upon a Sailor’s rank.
What is a blue nose sailor?
What is a blue nose certificate?
An ‘Order of the Blue Nose’ certificate, awarded to sailors to mark their first crossing of the Arctic Circle. Such certificates were unofficial and the design was unique to individual ships.
Why do sailors have bell bottoms?
Although no one has been officially accredited with inventing the bell bottom trouser, the flared out look was introduced for sailors to wear in 1817. The new design was made to allow the young men who washed down the ship’s deck to roll their pant legs up above their knees to protect the material.
What is crossing the line in the Navy?
The ceremony observes a mariner’s transformation from slimy Pollywog, a seaman who hasn’t crossed the equator, to trusty Shellback, also called a Son or Daughter of Neptune. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness.
The United States Navy holds a massive, two-day line crossing ceremony wherein experienced sailors (those who have been across the equator) are called Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks and Honorable Shellbacks, the Sons of Neptune. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs.
Why is the equator crossing ceremony?
Equator crossing or the line crossing ceremony is a centuries-old ritual to inaugurate seafarers who have never crossed the Equator, the imaginary line on the Earth’s surface. Began with the Navy over 400 years ago, the tradition is aimed to let Equator-crossing virgins to prove they are worthy to make the transition.
What is a US Navy Golden Dragon?
The Domain of the Golden Dragon is an unofficial but highly coveted award of the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard. It is given to crew members of ships which cross the International Date Line.
What is a pollywog and Shellback?
Members of a ship’s company who have never crossed the equator onboard a warship are known as ‘Pollywogs’ or ‘Tadpoles’. Members who have previously paid homage to Neptune and who have been inducted into his realm are known as trusty ‘Shellbacks’.
What is a Golden Shellback in the Navy?
Do submariners become Shellbacks?
Submariners often become “Top Secret Shellbacks” having crossed the equator at a classified degree of longitude. Similar “fraternities” in the navy include: The Order of the Blue Nose for sailors who have crossed the Arctic Circle.
What is an emerald shellback?
The Emerald Shellback or Royal Diamond Shellback for maritime personnel who cross at 0 degrees off West Africa (where the Equator crosses the prime meridian ) The Realm of the Czars for maritime personnel who crossed into the Black Sea . The Order of Magellan for maritime personnel who circumnavigated the Earth.