Do sister services have anything like the Navy's Crossing the Line Ceremony?

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 04:31:14 -0500

So, let me start with a caveat: in today's PC world, I can't imagine that the Navy still allows this in the form that I experienced it -- I have to believe it's significantly watered down. Perhaps some currently-serving Shellbacks can chime in on the issue. Anyway, do any of the other Services have anything like this?:

So, in the Navy, any Sailor that has never crossed the equator is termed a 'Wog'. Sailors that have crossed, and gone through the ceremony I'm about to describe, are 'Shellbacks'. This is (or at least, was) a VERY coveted title, and you will find that most most Shellbacks guard their card (which newly-minted Shellbacks receive upon completion of the Ceremony) with as much care and attention as they eventually do their DD-214...because without it, the next time you cross, you're going through all this again.

On my ship, preparations began 3 weeks in advance, on WESTPAC. These preparations took the form of...the mess decks began saving up ALL their garbage. And they were wily bastards about it, too, because every Wog on the ship was looking for it, to toss as much as we could (in those days garbage went over the side). They hid it, put it in locked compartments, etc etc. Sometimes it was maddening because as you can imagine, a Sailor might walk past a compartment and SMELL the contents, but be unable to do much about it....usually. Sometimes, those locks got mysteriously broken. Regardless, there was probably at least half a ton of nasty, rotten, disgusting slime and garbage on the day of crossing.

The next important thing you need to know is the concept of non-skid. You'll see why in a moment: as you can imagine, the weather decks of most ships generally have two states: wet, or freaking HOT if you're operating somewhere warm...like, ya know, the friggen equator! Being constructed of steel...that's not good. So they're all coated with non-skid. Imagine large grains of sand covered in tar, and then epoxied, to be hard, and applied with a paint roller, leaving hard, jagged ridges that are VERY effective at traction...and really, really suck for Wogs.

The final pre-knowledge you need is that rank goes out the window for this ceremony. I've never heard of it happening, because most Captains are Shellbacks by the time they get a command, but if the CO was a Wog...he'd be on his hands and knees with the rest of us. At least, back then. That's an extreme example. I've never seen that. I did, however, see PLENTY of Ensigns through Lt. Commanders, and senior enlisted sharing the suck.

So the big day arrives. We go to morning formation as usual, where we are instructed to return to quarters, and report to the main deck...with our dungaree pants on backwards, and in t-shirt, not the usual dungaree blouse. Being an obedient Sailor, I did just that..but tried to stand behind a refueling rig. You know. Just to be less visible. I was not alone in this...obfuscation, but I'll get to that in a bit.

So the first thing that we notice is that most of the Shellbacks (easy to recognize, because they had their pants on right. And were grinning evilly, to a goddamned man!) were holding lengths of 1.5" fire hoses. And there were eggs. Lots and lots of eggs. Thousands, it seemed like. And peanut butter. Tubs and tubs of the stuff.

Wogs are ordered to hands and knees. And THIS is why that non-skid comes into play: the ceremony lasted at LEAST 6 hours. On burning hot, sharp non-skid. By the end of it, your hands and knees are literally bloody. (This isn't happening today, I can almost guarantee). Then, they run the gauntlet, crawling. As they pass Shellbacks, eggs are stuffed down their open pants, peanut butter is slathered on heads and bums...and then they're whipped by those hoses, shattering the eggs...etc etc. By the end of it, it's highly likely that a Sailor's bum is bleeding, too. Personally, I just bruised really heavily.

After a few hours of that, Wogs are ordered up to the flight deck...where all the garbage is. In enclosed, vinyl chutes that they have to crawl through. In giant wooden chests that are filled to the brim with garbage and water that they have to climb into, and submerge. It's another gauntlet, all the while being yelled at and whipped. Some are ordered to blow out tie-downs...with 3" fire hoses blowing into them. This will continue for another couple of hours.

Finally, at the end of it all, Wogs are sent to the rails, where they are required to call for Flipper the Dolphin. Repeatedly. Loudly. My ship was in formation with a couple of destroyers, and we could hear the other crews calling from about a half mile. I imagine they heard us, too.

There was a lot of screaming, yelling, whining, whimpering. I think it's not hard to imagine, heh. Thing is, I don't remember anyone dropping out (which was an 'option'....but one you'd never live down).

My experience was slightly different, because of the 5 minutes or so that I tried to be less visible lol. A wily Chief Shellback collared me and promptly named me the Wog Dog. So I got to do the whole experience on a leash, while barking and growling and trying to bite people. There was also the Wog-Bitch (a Wog dressed, make up and all, as a woman. Forgive the term, that's what it was actually called, then), King Neptune (The CO in my case), and Davey Jones...the chubbiest Chief, Senior Chief, or Master Chief on the ship. Wogs were required, in the gauntlet, to rub their faces in Davey Jones' belly.

Remember the 'rank is out the window' thing? So, yeah. Being young and stupid, but wanting to be the best Wog-Dog I could be, I bit King Neptune on the shin, marking probably the only time in military history that a junior enlisted can accost his CO! He just cursed, kicked at me, and laughed while glaring at the Chief holding my leash.

So after all that, we're exhausted, drooping, stinking to high heaven, and we're told to form up, whereupon they blast us with fire hoses (by this time, that's actually a relief, what with all the garbage and eggs and peanut butter and bloody knees and palms, etc. And finally, FINALLY issued our Shellback cards....and dismissed, given the next day entirely off (this is unheard of at sea in any other situation, so that might tell you how...severe...the Ceremony can be!)

All in all, it really sucked. It also ranks as one of my proudest moments in the Navy. You see, this is a tradition, a Naval tradition, that dates far back to before the Americas were even discovered.

By the way, I think embarked Marines have to do it, too.

So how about it? What's YOUR service's tradition like this?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 8 at 2015 4:40 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 04:40:27 -0500

I too went through a very non-PC Crossing the Line ceremony!
When I was a Shellback on the USS Nimitz, our XO was a slimy Wog. Unfortunately this was in the PC days.

Response by SCPO Joshua I made Dec 8 at 2015 4:43 AM

SCPO Joshua I — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 04:43:56 -0500

Yeah, it's not like it was.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Dec 8 at 2015 5:20 AM

Maj Mike Sciales — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 05:20:47 -0500

The USAF makes a habit out of celebrating passing 10,000' by tossing Airborne troops out the door. Best we can do.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Dec 8 at 2015 5:47 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 05:47:00 -0500

I actually enjoyed it to a degree...lol Ate a lot of raw eggs, Tabasco down the butt crack. I was designated "Wog Dog" so my Chief had me on a leash. Then i raised my leg and pretended to pee on the XO's leg, which got me designated a "Special Case", the BM1 then spray painted a "S" on my back and shoved a potato in my mouth that i had to hold there for the rest of the ceremony. My jaw was so sore at the end..lol I was the 4th from last to finish, it was a long 8 hrs. I still smile every time i think about the ceremony.

That was for Golden Shellback. For the non-Navy folks that's crossing where the Date Line and Equator intersect.

One of the most memorable was on the USS Stethem (DDG-63), the CO was a wog and he insisted on the traditional ceremony. He was the last person to go through.

Fun times.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 8 at 2015 6:01 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 06:01:50 -0500

Every Generation It gets watered down a bit. Just the nature of things as it probably should be. They didn't lay into me with a Shelayly (Section of Fire Hose Fashioned into a Paddle) like the Previous Sailors did but damn straight Skippy got plenty of eggs down my pants with hot sauce (So Wonderful for ones Hemorrhoids). Ate some nasty stuff for Breakfast that Day and yes I got to kiss the Sea Baby's Belly, Got nailed with a 125 psi fire hose with stinging saltwater and crawled through several days of previous trash from the Galley. Had to throw all my clothes overboard because of the stench afterwards. Yeah I'm a Shellback.

Response by CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter made Dec 8 at 2015 6:46 AM

CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 06:46:14 -0500

I became a shellback in 1970. I'm sure it different now. My butt still hurts.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 8 at 2015 6:48 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 06:48:05 -0500

Shellback and Golden Shell back. Given as how the Army has more ships than the Navy does, I have to imagine the Army's maritime Soldiers have an equivalent. I know one unit had the Order of the Shark. I don't know that it's service wide, but I believe at unit level these things exist..

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Dec 8 at 2015 6:51 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 06:51:28 -0500

I went thru on The Enterprise. OMG The lines where long and hard on knees and butts. What was amazing was that every Navy did it. Within site the Russians did the same thing as us. I actually still have my Shellback Certificate hanging framed on my wall at home. I was a MAA at the time so I was kind of rushed thru so I could get back on duty to make sure tempers didnt flare too bad.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Dec 8 at 2015 7:24 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 07:24:00 -0500

Marines participate in the Crossing the Line with our Navy brethren.

I became a Golden Shellback on the Essex, and assisted others in earning the title on our next voyage.

This was the beginning of the digital recording era, so things started getting much tamer. Shillelaghs were props not used,and Tabasco was locked away because like all good things a few folks take it too far.

I do remember taking forever to get that stupid green sea dye off though.

Response by PO2 Mark Lucier made Dec 8 at 2015 7:38 AM

PO2 Mark Lucier — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 07:38:36 -0500

Yes pretty much the same starting at 0430 ending the day of hell 2330. I became a shellback in "77" when it first turned voluntary. Plenty of officers were slimy wogs with myself and I remember two butthead officers ended up being flown off of the ship due to shock. I'd do it again.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2015 7:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 07:53:26 -0500

SN Greg Wright I heard rumors of a promotion ceremony to Sergeant that involved duct tape and water being poured upon the newly promoted Noncommissioned Officer but if asked I would deny any knowledge of it or any participation in one.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2015 7:55 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 07:55:41 -0500

eventually ... that will be branded as hazing too :) lol

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2015 8:24 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 08:24:41 -0500

I believe anyone who is on a Navy vessel regardless of branch is expected to go through the Wog Day ceremonies, including the few Air Force and Army members who on rare occasions end up on the aircraft carriers and the command and control ships.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Dec 8 at 2015 8:25 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 08:25:18 -0500

As a Trusty Shellback, I can tell you that I know some soldiers who participated, if they happened to be TDY to a Navy ship...

Response by MSgt Daniel Attilio made Dec 8 at 2015 10:03 AM

MSgt Daniel Attilio — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 10:03:42 -0500

Became a Shellback on the USS Belleau Wood. In '97 or so when the hazing order came out my Shellback document (NAVPERS 1070/613) was removed from all of our SRBs and returned to us. I guess it was an acknowledgement of hazing? It was many years later that I was able to get a scanned electronic copy placed back into my OMPF.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Dec 8 at 2015 11:54 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 11:54:19 -0500

When I came in as a PVT, picking on the Privates was the thing to do, and when you got promoted, you had to walk the gauntlet. It wasn't an option even though you were told you "didn't" have to. In the gauntlet, everyone that outranked you would line up on each side (usually E2-6 with the rare E7 joining in) and you would have to walk past each one as they punched you in the arms. Once you got to the end, you had to turn around and walk back down the line so they got both arms. It was painful but at the end, everyone that was there congratulated you on your promotion and most (minus the NCO's) would be with you that weekend drinking your new raise away.
Blood Stripes and wings were cool too. It was very cool until one of the guys in my unit was getting his PFC pinned on, and there are no dammits on the bottom of the rank (hence the name). When they pounded the rank on, one of the pins at the bottom of the rank got lodged in the collarbone. After that, there was NO MORE of that type of hazing allowed. Informally it was still happening.
When I deployed to Bosnia, we had rolling. It could be squad vs. squad or PLT vs. PLT. You clean everything out of the middle of the tent, and go... We'd be in there breaking all KINDS of stuff, and it would last until one of the NCO's said stop or we actually broke something that mattered (shit happens). In the end, we had some of the best camaraderie I've ever seen. No one got seriously hurt, no one got into trouble, and even the PLT SGT's would get in on it.
I miss those traditions, but admit they really served no purpose other than esprit de corps (but who needs that when you have regulations to determine when you can have fun). They were abused at times, and in todays climate, it wouldn't last long before someone turns into that ONE who gets butthurt and wants to tell 1SG (as if he didn't already know what was going on) and the fun times turn into Art15, Bars to reup, or worse.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Dec 8 at 2015 11:57 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 11:57:02 -0500

As in general "belonging" ceremonies? Yes, but they tend to be branch or unit specific. Army still does "Spur Rides", "Prop Blasts" and the such. Things like the "Manchu Mile" have gone the way of the Dodo unfortunately.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Dec 8 at 2015 11:58 AM

SSG Todd Halverson — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 11:58:11 -0500

Rumor has it that at one time when a Soldier earned their jump wings, they would stand in line to let everyone punch their wings with the back clips removed.

I also heard that when a Soldier earned the rank of E5 or above, the CO/1SG would leave the backs of the rank and then they stood at attention while the company went through and pressed the rank on to make sure it was secure. It was also rumored that some NCOs would get doused with water and flour while doing 10 push-ups for each rank they have earned ie E5 = 50 push-ups on up.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Dec 8 at 2015 12:05 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 12:05:04 -0500

All I would add, Greg, is the fact that when someone refused to participate, they were shunned by the entire crew for an indefinite period. I thought about sending a photo of my certificate, but was too lazy to look for it.

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Dec 8 at 2015 4:12 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 16:12:33 -0500

It has been scaled back a lot since the first time I went across the first time in 89. Last time I went across was in 97 on USS Boxer LHD4, we had a steel beach picnic, and flooded the well deck for a swim call. No ceremony, the marines were under strict orders not to be involved with any Shellback ceremony. We had taken care of most of our Sailor a few years earlier in 94, still scaled back, they ate a wog breakfast, crawled to the flight deck, blow water out of some pad eyes, kissed the royal baby, and got dunked in the dunk tank. There were less than 100 shellbacks and over 800 wogs.

Response by MAJ Steven Szymurski made Dec 8 at 2015 6:13 PM

MAJ Steven Szymurski — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:13:25 -0500

I had heard of the Navy's initiation ceremony when crossing the equator from my father who was a Navy CPO. The Army had traditional initiation rites but they were usually unit specific and not as universal as the Navy's. While in the 82nd Airborne Division I was Prop Blasted into the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment and while in Korea I was initiated into the 17th Infantry Regiment. However both of these where were relatively tame compared to the Navy's ceremony.

Officers initiated new officers separate from what ever the NCOs and EMs might have done in the enlisted ranks. For the Prop Blast, initiates reported to their battalion headquarters in BDUs, helmets and web gear. Then double timed as a group to the Prop Blast site. In this case the Airborne Annex of the Officers Club. There they were quizzed on unit history, customs, songs and had to demonstrate jump proficiency. After some time of grilling with push-ups for wrong answers, they would go through jump commands and exit through a mock door followed by jumping off a table and doing a PLF, then reporting to the Prop Blast Board consisting of the Brigade Commander and the three Battalion Commanders of the Regiment. The was a prescribe reporting format that had to be stated word for word.

For the 17th Infantry, the initiation ceremony was some what less elaborate without the parachute jump items. The 17th Infantry, know as the Buffalos, had a buffalo nickel with the unit crest on one side of the nickel as its initiation coin. The Buffalo nickel as dropped into a tall grass with a flaming cocktail. The initiate had to catch the coin in his teeth while consuming the flaming drink.

Response by Lt Col John Tringali made Dec 9 at 2015 7:35 PM

Lt Col John Tringali — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 19:35:51 -0500

When you first Solo in the AF they used to throw you into a pool.

Response by SMSgt Clyde Hunter made Dec 10 at 2015 10:23 AM

SMSgt Clyde Hunter — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 10:23:09 -0500

Airborne right outta jump school used to have to carry around a "cherry" helmet and protect it from theft until they made their first jump with their unit....then his "brothers" would line up for blood wings and 10 pushups for every airborne present...I couldn't sit up in bed for 3 days, had to roll out, my chest was so sore and bruised...but I think they call it hazing nowadays....old skool memories...

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Dec 10 at 2015 2:38 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 14:38:50 -0500

I was Shellbacked as a Midshipman in '89. The first thing I did after commissioning was make sure my S-1 Officer added that to my OQR. After going through it once, I was NOT going to do it as a 2ndLt. I do have to say, however, I derived great pleasure in serving my S-3 and CO "green eggs and ham" on my second crossing!

Response by CDR Kenneth Kaiser made Dec 23 at 2015 10:32 PM

CDR Kenneth Kaiser — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 22:32:21 -0500

Remember the "Sea Bat and the mail buoy watch as well. Fond memories. Usually this occurred in a long at sea period too so it broke up the monotony.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Jan 4 at 2016 1:47 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:47:47 -0500

I crossed in 1983 onboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), I was assigned to the Flag mess at the time.
COM7THFLT, Vice Admiral Trost was a WOG, he was a submariner for a majority of his career so he crossed like the rest of us, probably got a little bit of assistance from the CO and other senior officers but he was crawling around like the rest of us and getting a good old fashioned initiation.
Shaving your left leg from the toes to the knee under the watchful eye of some honored Shellback, participating in the WOG beauty queen contest, fortunately I lost that contest because I later found out that the WOG Queen winner went through last instead after watching all the other WOG's go though sitting with the Royal Court.
We go no sleep the night before because the shellbacks had us doing WOG fights, WOG bowling, WOG PT. By 0600 when revile sounded and we had to crawl along the passageways to the mess decks for our special WOG breakfast served in troughs before going to the main deck through the Forecastle. The funny thing I remember is right before going up one of the Shellbacks said if we keep dry it won't be as bad, funny because as soon as the next group of 50 WOG's go to the main deck they soaked us with a fire hose, so much for keeping dry.
I remember keeping my head down and trying to just move through the line as quick as possible but being a cook all the Filipino Shellbacks knew us and brought us to Filipino Alley where they comenced to pour Patis (a type of fish sauce), Bagaoong (salted, minced shrimp that's been fermented), on us and had us eat a Baluot (ducky embryo). Yeah we smelled like rotten fish and some guys puked out the Balout, but in the end it was fun. At that point I was so mentally spent that getting smacked with the Sheligh didn't seem to faze me much.
Looking back it was one of the most fun days of my Navy career and we were welcomed into a Brotherhood, but at the time
I have heard from a friend that now its just a day for the ship to do a steel beach picnic and everyone gets a card.
I know that the reason its been toned down is because too many people got out of hand and instead of doing an initiation it turned into a beating, and thus like any initiation that has gone too far off track it gets ended.

Response by CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter made Jan 27 at 2016 5:51 PM

CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:51:48 -0500

Went thru in 1970 on the USS Shangri la it was my turn in 1983 on the USS Coral Sea. My turn was a lot more fun.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Jan 28 at 2016 6:35 AM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 06:35:38 -0500

I'm sorry, in today's gender neutral world the correct term is "Sibling Services". I will wait while you make the appropriate changes.....

1996, USS Essex, Golden Shellback

Response by PO2 Bob Lane made Jan 28 at 2016 10:51 AM

PO2 Bob Lane — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 10:51:37 -0500

That was an excellent summation of the process - the only thing I remember being much different is we wore only our underwear! And ya that non-skid had us bleeding pretty quickly.

Response by SFC Josh Billingsley made May 25 at 2016 12:30 AM

SFC Josh Billingsley — Wed, 25 May 2016 00:30:52 -0400

When I graduated Airborne School one of the black hats stood up and read the Army a regulation on hazing and asked if anyone wanted to leave the formation. We were all then "voluntarily" pinned. Every rank I received from PV2 to SGT, our unit would form up and everyone who out ranked you would come down the line and punch your backless rank into your shoulders. When I made 5 a fellow soldier hit me with a ballistic helmet so hard the rank embedded in my shoukder. I was proud to wear those bloody BDUs for the rest of the morning we also had an NCO induction ceremony that emphasized the responsibility of leadership and what sacrifices must be made to be the kind of leader the army needs. I miss those days...

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made May 25 at 2016 12:50 AM

Capt Mark Strobl — Wed, 25 May 2016 00:50:37 -0400

Shellback card was laminated. My butt hurt for a week. I hate green eggs & ham. I lost a complete uniform! And, still scared of the "cat O' nine tails. Yes, it is (was) a grand tradition! Fellow Shellback, SN Greg Wright

Response by CSM William Payne made May 25 at 2016 8:11 AM

CSM William Payne — Wed, 25 May 2016 08:11:46 -0400

My dad was in the Navy from 1937 to 1967. He served on the USS Indianapolis from 1937 - 1943. So his gained his Shellback status on her. Every Sailor has their ship, and the Indy was his. He had a lot of former shipmates on her when she sank in July of 1945. I remember seeing the documentation about becoming a Shellback in his effects. Going to have go back and look for it. This is SFC Payne at his retirement in 1967.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 9:48 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:48:15 -0400

Does getting the crap smoked out of you on Day 1 of Basic Training count as a "Welcome to the Club" ceremony?

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Aug 26 at 2016 7:07 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 07:07:13 -0400

The Cav has their "Order of the Spur" and Spur Rides New comers to the Cav have to earn their spurs but going through what was once likely a hazing ritual. Now they have to complete basic skill level 1 Cav related tasks.