Of all the branches of service, the Navy has the strangest customs. Naval History and Cherished Command describes them as, “cherished rites that tie together generations of Sailors with a common bond. They reflect the true story of the Navy, and honor a shared legacy of pride, history, and heritage.”

These unofficial certificates document where a Sailor has been, what they have done, and what they are.

Many certificates have to do with line-crossings at sea. Sailors crossing into the Antarctic Circle are said to have entered the Domain of the Emperor Penguin. It’s at this point he/she becomes a “Royal Stiff.” Alternatively, if a Sailor crosses the Arctic Circle, they become a “Blue Nose.”

Crossing the International Date Line from east or west into the Domain of the Golden Dragon earns you the title of “Golden Dragon.”

Should a Sailor make use of the Panama Canal they become a member of the “Order of the Ditch.” And if the ship sails south around Cape Horn, Chile, he/she becomes a “Mossback.”

If you’re like me and you’ve never crossed the Equator, you are considered a “Pollywog.” Once traversed, you are dubbed a “Shellback” in a ceremony many Navy veterans are too embarrassed to describe.

Some are easier to obtain; a Sailor is a member of the “Goldfish Club” when they have spent time in a life raft. If they’re in the raft for more than 24 hours, they become a “Sea Squatter.”

Others are quite difficult, such as joining the “Order of the Caterpillar,” which VBC detailed in a recent blog.

Whether you’re a Pollywog or a Centurion, join us this week for part two of our six-part series focusing on the military branches. Up next, you guessed it, the Navy! This and our weekly Mail Call, Phrase of the Week, headlines from around the military, and a Scuttlebutt you won’t want to miss.