I recently visited our lovely CG training facility in Yorktown, VA. During the first day of class myself and other fellow E6's were warned by the class Chief that things had changed at the E-club on base. The Chief told us that it was now a lounge, not a "club", and you were allowed to wear hats inside. Where is the tradition going?? We were also advised not to tell people to take there hats off, for we would be the ones to get chastised. I may be mistaken, but every time I turn around an E-club is being closed down and more and more tradition is being lost!! It makes me sick!! Just wanted to see if I was the only one that felt this way!

Traditions in the Coast Guard? We had Traditions? Come’ on.. Where you been? Hiding under a rock? Traditions are just something for someone to complain about as being degrading, demeaning and a host of other non PC terms or something they can go around and achieve the same results (like initiations). Same thing has been happening in our schools, in everyday life. Maybe some religious fanatic complained that removing his/her cover violated some religious rule and felt persecuted..

Ok.. now the above was a little sarcastic but I think it might be pretty much true.

Some how that just doesn't surprize me... of course other than you Travis (& ME) who really cares? You probably won't get the senior enlisted to back you up on this, although I sure wish they would. Regardless of the name (lounge vs club) the no hat tradition should remain in tact, in my opinion.

Pretty soon, during colors you will probably have no obligation to do anything out of the ordinary.... same philosophy. A much more serious thing in my opinion.

I enjoyed my career, but I'd say when I retired in 1999 most of the traditions such as this had started to fade away... Damn glad I'm retired.

Sad but true.

Wray...

P.S. I hope you noted this on your critique as you left Yorktown. What school were you there for?

Now a days theres more tradition at the local watering hole around the corner. Case in point is a place called Boyles Backyard in Palm Harbor, Fl. The place is full of USCG memrobelia.Boyle is retired CG.

cgjohnboy,
The loss of tradition is CG wide for sure, in fact every training center I am aware of in the CG makes it a point to ensure everyone knows it's okay to wear a hat in the club. This is one I do not understand. If they don't want "little johnny" to have to buy a round, fine just tell him to take off his hat or leave. Maybe it's because more and more positions, once filled by active duty members have been reallocated to civil service? Once in the position of overseeing clubs, in the name of profits they don't want to do anything that would cause a "customer" to leave (their jobs may depend on it). Not realizing or caring about the loss of tradition.

ag

The same thing happened in Boston at the All Hands Club probably 15 years ago. We had a sign that stated, "All those that enter covered here must buy the bar a round of cheer". One day, a Navy Commander came in covered and the bell was rung. He refused to buy the bar and was not served. When he complained to the command, the sign came down a few days later. So much for tradition. It signaled the beginning of the end. Now, the All Hands Club is primarily a coffee shop called "Coastie Joes".

Does anyone remember the tradition of the last shot out of the bottle was free?

quote:

The place is full of USCG memrobelia. Boyle is retired CG.

I think he is a retired AMT1

It appears he has done well for himself... When I get over that way I will have to stop in for a cold one....

Cheers...

Wray...

I attended "A" school back in '98 and distinctly remember forking over about $20 to buy the folks at the bar a round due to the hat rule. I liked it then; even when I was a rule breaker. I walked into the "lounge" a few months ago and extremely disappointed to see the tradition had been lost.

It's just one more tiny piece of our identity being allowed to erode away because of a bunch of nervous nancys.

CPO's how'd you like your CCTI? Pretty lame? How about the new crossing the line ceremonies? I've heard those have lost their effect too. Pretty soon retirements will be just another day on the calendar, colors will be an inconvenience!

Semper P

quote:

Originally posted by Ropechocker:
Now a days theres more tradition at the local watering hole around the corner. Case in point is a place called Boyles Backyard in Palm Harbor, Fl. The place is full of USCG memrobelia.Boyle is retired CG.

Wish I had known about that place. I lived in Palm Harbor '02-'06. Is it on Eastlake, 19 or Tampa Rd?

I sure hope "Hogger's Night" hasn't faded away. I know a few guys who found some steady girlfriends that way at the Support Center, Boston.

Don

quote:

Originally posted by Wray:
Some how that just doesn't surprize me... of course other than you Travis (& ME) who really cares? You probably won't get the senior enlisted to back you up on this, although I sure wish they would. Regardless of the name (lounge vs club) the no hat tradition should remain in tact, in my opinion.

Pretty soon, during colors you will probably have no obligation to do anything out of the ordinary.... same philosophy. A much more serious thing in my opinion.

I enjoyed my career, but I'd say when I retired in 1999 most of the traditions such as this had started to fade away... Damn glad I'm retired.

Sad but true.

Wray...

P.S. I hope you noted this on your critique as you left Yorktown. What school were you there for?

One word decribes the reason, IMHO, "careerism!" (to quote a former member of the board)

How sad this really is. I recall having to buy round walking into the Gator Den as a non-rate. Considering my pay check at the time, a lesson that was learned rather quickly.

Unfortunately Yorktown is not alone in this, the ISC Portsmouths Club is the same way. I can remember back in the 80's while serving onboard CGC Cowslip, CGC Taney and CGC Ingham that the E-Club was the place to go and it could get quite expansive to wear a cover inside the E-Club. Now most nights it's not even open and when it is the covers stay on, and the bell behind the bar remains silent. I agree in part that it has alot to do with the influx of civilians in the work place, those not being retired military have no idea or respect for our traditions. The ratio of civilians to military in the CG used to be relatively small now it seems more of a equal number and in many shops there are more civilians then active duty members. I think the lack of attendance is also due to a tighter policy on alcohol incidents as well as smoke free building so the e-clubs are happy to get anyone through the doors and don't want to chase anyone away by making them shell out cash for wearing a cover indoors, it's one theory anyways.

The service had some pretty heavy drinkers in the 70's. The boys would get banged up pretty good at the nco clubs.

Peace,
Dick

A tradition that has its roots with removing your hat when entering a Sick Bay, Crews Mess, while the crew is eating, a CPO quarters, or Wardroom. Other "quaint" little traditions. Saluting the Ensign and Quarterdeck, the salute in general, traditions that involved removing ones hat, a sign of respect.

Might as well get rid of them also, no real place for them in any government agency.

Look at our culture, we don't even wear are pants up above our a$$ now. Kids go down the street holding up there pants with there a$$ hanging out of a pair of hanes? I have to tell the kids that have dinner at my house to constantly remove thier hats. In our golf club people will be eating in the dining room with golfs hats on, with a total disregard to the old fashion of removing your hat indoors.
Peace,
Dick

Where are the manners that parents teached years ago. Follow the rules, don't lie, don't steal, don't hurt anyone.........gangs abound old people are scared to go out after dark, I don't drive in certain areas........
Oh,for the good old days. they weren't so bad

It is really too bad how things are going but going they are and it comes from disrespect period. I am an old poop and proud of it. Nobody eats at the same table with me covered. Now you see it all day everyday.

quote:

Pretty soon, during colors you will probably have no obligation to do anything out of the ordinary.... same philosophy. A much more serious thing in my opinion.

Too late Wray. As I have mentioned here many times; of all places The Academy is where stopping and rendering honors to colors is requested but not required of the civilians. The lib professors know this by heart as one of them doesn't recognize the playing of our national anthem as a reason to stop. I questioned her on it and was told to see the union rep if I had a problem.

Brian

quote:

The lib professors know this by heart as one of them doesn't recognize the playing of our national anthem as a reason to stop. I questioned her on it and was told to see the union rep if I had a problem.

Typical cheap shot: She was blaming the Union for a lack of tradition and patriotism.


For the record, I've never been to a Union meeting where the Salute to the Flag wasn't the first item on the agenda!

...gjd

quote:

The service had some pretty heavy drinkers in the 70's. The boys would get banged up pretty good at the nco clubs.

You forgot to add...and then get up the next morning to do a weeks worth a work (compared to todays standards) and meet back at the club to unwind.

Last time I went to the movies on base they did not play the National Anthem before the show.
I hope it is was just a one day oversite and not a permanent change.

On the hat thing I constantly remind my boys "Unless you are planning on robbing the place remove all hoods/hats when you enter a building." This started when just before entering a bank, a year or so ago I noticed my then 7 year old had decided to pull his hat down into a ski mask.