A shipmate of mine on USS Biddle (DLG-34) had been a member of C6906 at NAVOCS. The cohort 6906 had been the class that started OCS on January 4, the day after 6902 had graduated and 6903 became “seniors.” He recently sent me a copy of the 6906 Seachest, which was more advanced as a yearbook than our edition. Besides more photos from their time in Newport, that edition was bigger. It had to be, because 6906 was bigger.
Each of the company cohorts of that class, e.g., A6906, B6906, C6906 . . . started out with 21-26 members, compared to the 14-15 of 6903. And 6906 was also more diverse. Maybe not “looking like America,” but the cohort had five African-Americans and at least two Asians.
They also started off the section of Seachest containing photos from all the companies with a set of terms and phrases culled from their experiences. Those experiences were essentially the same as ours, so I share them with you below. I bet quite a few of them will be familiar and will light up a neuron or two.
FORWARD MARCH!
Form up. Clothing issue. Working blues. Boonies. Boonie powder. Haircuts. Covers. Smiles. Reefers. Two-blocked. Inspections. Tucks. Loose material. Low quarters. PT. Square your corners. Shots. Eagles flying. Lockers. Small store. Steamers. Parallel rulers. OO-ahs. Gear adrift. Dust. Pelican hook. Pop quiz. Super jock. Masking tape. MOD. Column by files. 7-Bravo. Maneuvering board. Barber shop. Wind. Swimming tower. Jump! Snatch block. I and C interviews. RYBWG. Cotton balls. OTUs. Fitting. Squared away. OOD yeoman. Laundry trucks. First liberty. Viking. Section leader. On the gouge.
DOUBLE TIME!
New class. Cum in. Liberty. EMI. Platoons. Cold. Sleet. Mess director. Captain’s inspection. EI. Building 302. “Now hear this: Now. Now.” Brasso. Inflate. Float. Azimuth. Kool-aid. P-works. Hurley’s. Linen detail. Cliquot Club. Choir. Five laps. Wax. Code of Conduct. Reef. Current triangle. OCS Regulations. Duty company. Gyro error. True bearing. Pelorus. SLOD. Wardroom etiquette. Lubbers line. Cherry pickers. On the tree. Roll back. Ship’s tours. Late lights. Charlie formation. Dempster dinosaur. Running fix. JFK’s. Band. Sine curve. “Roger.”
RIGHT FACE!
Peel tape. Upperclassmen. PIR. Linseed oil. Chow. Muster. White nametags. Engineering. Officers Club. Gedunk. Parking lot watch. Buffer. White ball. Duty day. Colors. Gigs. Gross lint. Choice Charlie. “T-too, t-too.” Pork Chop. Shoring. “You have the conn.” Snow detail. Suction pump. Dream sheet. Buttercup. Cross gouge. Winter. Spiffy. 2.5 and survive. Snow Condition I. Corfams. Darts. Baby Batt Boards. Expedite. Preliminary orders. Seabee. Building 1801. CNO. Bupers Manual. 4.0. Admiral’s barge. Cotton balls. YP sentry. Friday athletics.
ABOUT FACE!
Company Commander. SWO. Loran. Bad gouge. Color girl. Regimental Ball. Batt staff. Cut out. Orders. DCA. Snipe. Comm School. Cooperate and graduate. Reg Comm. Settle accounts. Squad leader. Evolution. “Very well.” Bridge. OCOOD. Mile run. Yippies. BZ trainer. Baggage locker. UCMJ. Secured. Mail call. Payday? Alfa Avenue. Gross IPs. Say again. Tug team. Lunchshots. DR track. Attention to detail. Confidentials. Burpees. Over. Guidon. Reveille. O course. Quarterly exams. Word. Deck. Grinder. “Mill about smartly.” NWP-50-A. Chin straps. Charts. Graduation. ENSIGN!
There were 384 ensigns commissioned in 6906, compared to 221 in 6903.