'USNA Youngster Shellback' Not Adequately Preparing MIDN for Their Sea Tours

Shellback ceremonies are fun. But do they really have anything to do with preparing MIDN for the fleet? So it got us thinking….

We vote for a ceremony more closely aligned with the responsibilities of a Junior Officer - Administrative Readiness and Safety Examination (ARSE). ARSE will take place during the historic June Week. Friends, family, and loved ones will be able to watch their soon to be ensign or second lieutenant route message traffic, conduct surveillances (as the junior monitor, of course) practice ORM, review their electronic service record, and more, all while on less than five hours of interrupted sleep.

While taking 1/C MIDN away from their families during a time that is usually designated for joyous festivities is a tough call to make, many times in the fleet you won’t be able to attend funerals, weddings, and other personal events due to operational necessities.

The ceremony is slated to begin at 0630 on the first Monday of Zero Block with a monitored pre-watch tour and a watch team turnover exercise.

Following watch relief, a 28-hour period of non-stop administrative drills will commence. The drills are designed to test each MIDNs attention to detail, procedural compliance, and ability to survive a duty day.

The conclusion of the event will be marked by a LCDR relieving the MIDN 3 hours late, representing the time-honored naval tradition of getting bagged with the watch by a DH.