Does "hazing" occur in the Navy? [Archive]

Anonymous

12-31-1969, 08:00 PM

Josie,******Hazing is technically not allowed in the Navy anymore, but it does occur to some degree.**At this point it's semantics.**Many old seafaring traditions are still in place, but they've been significantly "watered down".**Any of the ceremonies that incoporate "hazing" have safety observers to ensure it's all "good clean fun" and that nobody gets hurt.**Alcohol is no longer allowed to be part ceremonies, also to ensure nobody gets carried away.**Senior leadership is VERY concerned about ensuring this, because if somebody gets hurt or complains, it is a career-stopper for everyone involved.**Some of the hazing you can expect to realistically encounter are:..................1. “Crow tacking”.**This is a tradition that has been distorted through time.**When you’re advanced to Petty Officer (E-4, E-5, E-6), you get a patch on your arm, & part of the insignia is an eagle, commonly referred to as a “crow”.**Tradition was that newly selected POs would have their crows “tacked” (sewed) on, but through time the “tacking on” was distorted to mean that other POs would punch the crow to “keep it from flying away”.**Although intended to be a “good luck” wish, a lot of people got very carried away.** When I made E4 in 1984, my arm was green, blue and purple from my shoulder to my elbow.**Attitudes have changed dramatically toward “tacking” in the past decade, & although it does occur still to a MUCH lesser degree, the Navy’s policy CLEARLY prohibits it.**My husband recently transferred from a small all-male combatant ship.**While deployed, one young man had a small bruise on his arm after promotion.**It was reported by medical, and a team of investigators came aboard.**My husband (also a Chief), supports the “no hazing” policy, but he had clasped the young man with an open hand over his crow before shaking his hand.**He was read his rights by a legal officer before questioning.**He was found innocent of assault, but I think it illustrates my point of the VERY serious stand the Navy has taken against hazing.**You may encounter crow tacking, but it won’t be ANYTHING like it used to be, and since it is considered assault, you can report it.**(I recommend you first make your position very clear to your supervisor when you’re promoted.**“Ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” kind of thing.)....................2. “Crossing the line”.**This is a VERY old tradition.**When crossing the equator, legend tells us that Davey Jones will board your ship, and if you are not a “shellback” (somebody who has already crossed the line and been tried) you’ll be summoned to the royal court of King Neptune.**It used to be accompanied by lashings by pieces of firehose, but that’s pretty much obsolete now.**It’s a very messy affair, and certainly degrading, but in honesty, it’s fun.**Anyone, however, has the right to decline to participate.**It’s a purely voluntary affair, and like the other ceremonies, there are safety observers....................3. “Blue nose”, “Golden shellback”, etc.**Other ceremonies like crossing the line.**Haven’t gone through these myself, but understand they’re very much like crossing the line. Also optionaly events..............4. Chief’s initiation.**If you**are selected for Chief (E-7), you’ll go through Chief’s initiation, if it’s still around by then.**(You won’t be eligible for E-7 for about another decade).** I can’t tell you much about this, or I’ll really spoil it for you, but it, like the other ceremonies, is really harmless and has been tamed significantly in the past years.** (You could elect not to participate in this too, although I wouldn’t recommend it.**=) !.....................**There may be a few more I missed, but not many.**The bottom line is, they’re safe, and you can elect not to participate.**As far as considering boot camp hazing…. Hmm.**Well, I haven’t been to bootcamp in so long that I can’t intelligently speak to current practices.** Yes,**I remember it as somewhat degrading,**and people did yell at me and make me do a lot of pushups.**I wouldn’t really call it hazing, though.**I feel it’s a necessary process to prepare you for the different lifestyle most people aren’t**accustomed to.**Specifically and most importantly, discipline.**It’s FAR from dangerous, and the intentions aren’t**really to degrade you. I really wouldn’t worry about it.********Hope this answers your question!

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