SHUTTLEtheUSS Enterprise (CVN 65)- Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Photo by MC2 Brooks B. Patton

-There will be no wog revolts; such activities will be interfering with the safety of the ceremony.-There will be no striking of wogs or Shellbacks, physical restraints or any touching other than to ensure the safety of the participants.- There will be no shaving, haircuts or any other activities considered hazing.- Shellback “sheriffs” are responsible for safety during events. There regulatory decisions and orders are final. When events are complete, Neptunus Rex and his royal court will greet all Sailors aboard as trusty Shellbacks, upholders of one the Navy’s oldest legacies. “I can smell the wog stench already,” said Neptunus Rex in an exclusive interview. “I won’t tolerate it. Not on my watch!”

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USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – Neptunus Rex sits majestically on his shell and seaweed throne, impatiently waiting as another ‘pollywog’ or ‘wog’ reports. Neptunus asks why the ‘land lubbah’ thinks he or she is worthy before declaring his intent to cull the pollywog infestation on the ship. This playful scenario is but a small scene in what Enterprise Sailors can expect as they take part in one of the Navy’s, and indeed the sea-faring world’s oldest traditions, ‘crossing the line,’ after the deployed aircraft carrier USS Enterprise crossed over the Equator. Neptunus Rex, the mythological god of the sea, plays a central part in this ceremony. Typically, he is represented by a senior U.S. Navy Sailor aboard who has previously crossed the line and become a ‘shellback.’ For Enterprise, the role will be filled by Lt. Cmdr. Michael G. Topping, who crossed the line in 1982. “It’s a proud moment for me to take Neptune’s crown and lead my fellow Big ‘E’ Sailors from life as lowly pollywogs to the esteemed status of shellbacks,” said Topping. “It’s up to the shellbacks and me to ensure this tradition is upheld honorably and in-line with the Navy ethos.” Honorably upholding the crossing the line ceremony means keeping its high spirit while divorcing the ceremony of its previous excesses. Crossing the line dates back to the Middle Ages and was passed down to the Angles, Saxons, and Normans from the Vikings.

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from the goal of bringing the crew together.” The Jolly Roger, a black banner with white skull and crossbones, is the personal flag of Neptunus Rex. Davy Jones is his first mate and assistant. They are just a part of the larger royal court in the ceremony. Sailors can expect a wog talent show the night before followed by the arrival of Davy Jones in the morning. Once the ceremonies begin, wogs will be led through the ceremony, dressed in t-shirts, old sneakers and inside-out pants by Shellbacks from their department. Although wogs are widely accepted as slimy, unworthy sea creatures, they will be treated respectfully within the following guidelines:

Big ‘E’ Sailors to become ‘Shellbacks’

Then, it represented passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and was intended to test the new crew members to see if they could endure the hardships of a life at sea. As it passed into Navy tradition, overzealous Sailors added hazing as part of the tradition. The Navy, and Neptunus Rex himself, have worked hard to make sure this no longer the case and that the ceremony reflects the traditions that date back centuries. “The Navy does not tolerate hazing and harassment, and neither will I during the ceremony,” said Topping. “Both Davy Jones and I will not allow hazing, by Shellback and pollywog alike. You don’t have to haze to make this memorable or important. If anything, hazing takes away

By MC2 William Blake and MC2 Aaron ChaseUSS Enterprise Public Affairs

Old USS Enterprise (CVN 65) cruisebooks contain pictures of crossing the line ceremonies, if the aircraft carrier crossed the equator during the deployment. This collection of photos is from Enterprise’s 2006 deployment.

Photo by MC2 Aaron Chase

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FUN ZONE!Down1 Tabula ___2 Brio3 “Sixteen Tons” singer4 Helen’s mother5 Shown plainly6 It’s more than most lifetimes7 Apples and oranges?8 Airline to Stockholm9 German resort10 More clamorous11 Bell towers12 Burger garnish13 Isle on which Apollo was born14 First abode22 Coached23 Cry over spilt milk?24 Anticipated25 Unwanted messages26 “Doctor Zhivago” heroine27 Branding tool28 “Ratner’s Star” author32 Fight like a knight33 ___ dixit34 The enemy36 Founder of Carthage39 Alfresco40 High ball41 Eyelike spot42 Beaming45 “It’s only ___”46 Bundles47 Boadicea’s people48 In the distance50 Arab chief51 Shuttle group52 Enterprise counselor53 Enraptured55 Analysis site56 AccomplishedAcross

1 Newts5 Shellfish9 Health resorts13 Small combo14 Anchorman’s summary16 Folksinger Guthrie17 Meet halfway19 Work hard20 Bray21 Disconnected23 Bed and breakfast sites25 Act impatiently26 Played a part29 Unit of electric charge

31 Feathery wraps32 U.K. fliers33 Consecrate36 Neighbor of Leb.37 Circumscribe39 Casual shirt40 Jeweled headpieces42 Superlative ending43 Munich Mister44 Old kingdom in the Pyrenees46 Wore47 Leader of the Huns48 Chapters in history50 Like an eagle

52 Sham56 Saintly symbol57 Pseudonym59 Former Israeli statesman60 “The Three Musketeers” author61 E in Q.E.D. 62 Assemble63 Northumberland river64 Actor Andrews