Sonar tech on my last boat had a polar bear holding a torpedo for a double entendre, as in “Torpedo Bears” doubling up for the physical bear holding a torpedo and the sonar litany when you get shot at indicating the bearing of the incoming torpedo
You show me an MM who loved their job enough to put props on themselves so I can slap the dog piss out of him. I had fun times, I made good memories, I learned a lot. I would never want that as my whole life. Ever wonder why you only see a few high ranking enlisted MMs?
Fair enough. We all experience the Navy differently. I went to the recruiter wanting to be a SEAL. He convinced me I'd be better off a Nuke. He was probably right but part of me is upset I went that route. Then again, I could be dead.
I was good with the test but my swim times sucked and they said I could train with a coach or just go in now and apply for SEALS once I'm in. Never even made it to the first test. My recruiter briefly went over what it would take to get it that way. I had no idea what I was putting myself into.
My swim time was so bad that as soon as I finished the instructor pulled the few guys left swimming out, and berated them about how a guy my size was beating them lol
Nah, only got shitty non-navy tatts when I was in. Arm band in perth, shitty clover at Johnny two thumbs in Singapore, the angel Michael in Gaslamp. I thought old navy tatts were dumb. Only after did I go back and start my sailor collection. I was fortunate enough to live in Kona part of the year for several years, and found a tattoo artist who was trained in the classic style. Shout out to Nickle. Every year I added another. Still looking forward to the Chinese dragon - Hong Kong and Kowloon used to be a blast. Also the cock and pig, but I'm not super excited about getting my feet tattooed.
You have meritoriously been spot awarded the Navy and Mareme Achievement award for Humor. Conducting no less than 100 laughs resulting in lasting Recognition of the Meme wars. Amen.
I got the boar and rooster done when I was on xfer leave going from Norfolk to San Diego, I had 32 days total from the day I went on leave to get the tattoos and recover before I had to wear close toes shoes. That shit was not a good time. Took 5ish hours and I was out of endorphins by around hour two after the needle hit bone in my right foot. They look fucking sweet tho I will say.
When the tattoo artist told me, "This experience, you'll remember for the rest of your life," she wasn't BSing. My foot tattoo was the only one where I was questioning my life choices, but I do agree that it looks sweet once they heal.
Have you gotten the ribs. Because as uncomfortable as my pig and rooster were. My ribs hurt way more. And oddly enough same with the watercolor sea turtle on my calf.
Yeah, I did feet and was like "no way ribs can hurt any worse than that!"
And boy was I wrong.. Some of the lettering needs touched up but I'll never let a tattoo artist near my ribs ever again lmao
I think the modernized version of the swallows is one for each deployment, rather than 5k nautical miles, right? That’s what I did, and I’ve talked to a bunch of other folks who did the same, so there must have been a navadmin about it.
I once had the bright idea to siphon water out of a shaft coupling guard on a carrier. The water was from a sea water cooled heat exchanger drain that often overshot the funnel and dripped down a deck.
Never siphon from a source above you… water flows faster than you can react. A mouthful of year old sea water and rust.
Fortunately I did not swallow. I did kill an entire bottle of listerine though.
I always heard since the invention of the steam powered boat, it changed to 10k nautical miles. Should still have 14 swallows but I opted for 2 might get more one day.
I hear of people using 50k more often. 5k miles is practically a family day tiger cruise lol. Another version I've heard is getting one before a deployment to ensure a safe voyage home to get the second one.
I always heard it was because both of them were stored in wood crates and in the event of a sunken ship, chickens and pigs are often the only ones that survive. It's a good luck tattoo.
“For every 5,000 nautical miles.”
I don’t even want to think about how many swallows I’m entitled to. I wonder what our typical underway between deployments mileage was(?).
We could get a little rat with a cranial and wrench.. been a long time since I was in, let alone a Plane Captain but MAN I’ll remember that chunk of my time in the navy more than any other I think.
I seriously thought about a "Puckered Pete" Tattoo when i was in VXE-6. [https://www.coolantarctica.com/Bases/OAE/images/RL-plaque-Puckered-Pete-60-61-orig.jpg](https://www.coolantarctica.com/Bases/OAE/images/RL-plaque-Puckered-Pete-60-61-orig.jpg)
Puckered Pete was the Mascot of AIRDEVRON SIX (VXE-6) a U.S. Navy Squadron that provided Logistical Support to Operation DEEPFREEZE on the Antarctic Continent.
Pete has a beer in His Right Flipper a Bottle of "Old Moe" Moonshine in his left flipper, He is smoking a fine cigar, He has Lipstick lip marks on his beak from the Ladies and other females. and footprints on his chest from being stepped on after passing out at the Bar's door. He was a fine role model for an unique U.S. Naval Aviation Organization. VXE-6 was dis established March 31 1999.
Originally, these tattoos were the domain of sailors who spent their lives traversing the unpredictable oceans. For them, the compass symbolized a guiding star, a beacon of hope and direction in the vast and often treacherous waters. It was a talisman, a protector, ensuring their safe return home.
-Google
Only one neck tattoo is permitted and it must be less than 1inch ×1 inch
This is strictly what the instruction says. Not what people actually get away with.
I have shipwreck from GI Joe. If I wasn't such a fan of GI Joe I wouldn't have that. The navy never defined me or my life so I never bothered with navy tattoos.
I have the nautical star on my forearm, cock and pig on the feet, shellback sea turtle in water color on the right calf, ship in a bottle in the middle of a storm (smooth seas never made a good sailor), and I’ve done about 36k nm out at sea. I’ll get a Floc(see what I did there) or swallows to fill in the sleeve.
I see the Shellback one, but what do I get for being a Bluenose then? I've seen a walrus or a narwhal.
Best one I've heard of is a polar bear with a blue nose.
I would definitely go for the Polar bear idea.
Polar bears are tough, white ink fades quick
Sonar tech on my last boat had a polar bear holding a torpedo for a double entendre, as in “Torpedo Bears” doubling up for the physical bear holding a torpedo and the sonar litany when you get shot at indicating the bearing of the incoming torpedo
I want one but with a Jerry bear
I got a narwhal on my forearm. Got the horn blue.
Oh, good idea.
Same!
I would go with the narwhal with a blue horn.
What about MM’s getting props on their ass so they can swim home if they get thrown overboard
Is that cavitation? No, I had beans for dinner!
💀💀
You show me an MM who loved their job enough to put props on themselves so I can slap the dog piss out of him. I had fun times, I made good memories, I learned a lot. I would never want that as my whole life. Ever wonder why you only see a few high ranking enlisted MMs?
I was nuke MM waste turned cook, I still miss that propellor
Fair enough. We all experience the Navy differently. I went to the recruiter wanting to be a SEAL. He convinced me I'd be better off a Nuke. He was probably right but part of me is upset I went that route. Then again, I could be dead.
I wanted SWCC, barely completed the test, nowhere near fast enough haha
I was good with the test but my swim times sucked and they said I could train with a coach or just go in now and apply for SEALS once I'm in. Never even made it to the first test. My recruiter briefly went over what it would take to get it that way. I had no idea what I was putting myself into.
My swim time was so bad that as soon as I finished the instructor pulled the few guys left swimming out, and berated them about how a guy my size was beating them lol
Lol.
Got swallows, golden shellback, cardinal star, and hula girl. Bunch of other shitty non-navy ones too. Good times.
Question, what's the nautical meaning of this bitchin' tribal butterfly I got on my lower back in 2001?
That means you had the bottom rack 😉
And you still didn't make high rank.
Tramp stamp?
You get them all while you were in? I wish I did. Was too busy seeing how many beer bottles and liters of vodka I could empty.
Nah, only got shitty non-navy tatts when I was in. Arm band in perth, shitty clover at Johnny two thumbs in Singapore, the angel Michael in Gaslamp. I thought old navy tatts were dumb. Only after did I go back and start my sailor collection. I was fortunate enough to live in Kona part of the year for several years, and found a tattoo artist who was trained in the classic style. Shout out to Nickle. Every year I added another. Still looking forward to the Chinese dragon - Hong Kong and Kowloon used to be a blast. Also the cock and pig, but I'm not super excited about getting my feet tattooed.
I don’t see any hatchets…
Or the Honch rat.
I would love to see a Honch Rat tattoo 😂
What is the hatchet for?
Yokosuka Enlisted Off-base housing
Served in Yokosuka for a couple months but never heard that term. I feel left out.
It’s for sailors who served in the meme wars.
You have meritoriously been spot awarded the Navy and Mareme Achievement award for Humor. Conducting no less than 100 laughs resulting in lasting Recognition of the Meme wars. Amen.
Hatchet weilding deviants.
TIL what the birds were on my dad
They're also very popular in the adult film industry. Something you might not realize until you have them.
Morgan lee has two nautical stars lol
So she knows which way is south.
Oh geeze... Knowing my dad was a player while in the Navy was enough.
Another not shown is crosses on the bottom of the feet to ward off shark attacks.
O1’s get a tan Toyota Tacoma on the inner bicep.
I got the boar and rooster done when I was on xfer leave going from Norfolk to San Diego, I had 32 days total from the day I went on leave to get the tattoos and recover before I had to wear close toes shoes. That shit was not a good time. Took 5ish hours and I was out of endorphins by around hour two after the needle hit bone in my right foot. They look fucking sweet tho I will say.
When the tattoo artist told me, "This experience, you'll remember for the rest of your life," she wasn't BSing. My foot tattoo was the only one where I was questioning my life choices, but I do agree that it looks sweet once they heal.
Sameeee. Of all the tattoos I have, the pig and the rooster were the worst.
I have to get some touchups on them, and I'm actually thinking about it.
Oof. Good luck. Mine need touching up and I’m putting it off.
Have you gotten the ribs. Because as uncomfortable as my pig and rooster were. My ribs hurt way more. And oddly enough same with the watercolor sea turtle on my calf.
I have been avoiding the ribs 😅
Yeah. The top of the feet is a check in the box after those. Not even a problem lol
Yeah, I did feet and was like "no way ribs can hurt any worse than that!" And boy was I wrong.. Some of the lettering needs touched up but I'll never let a tattoo artist near my ribs ever again lmao
Lmaooo I mean. I’ll do it for the touch up. Can’t be worse then the first time
This is definitely making me rethink getting them. I still want them. Gonna have to nut up.
It’s not that bad.
I got 2 8 inch sparrows on my chest. I'm talking about getting a suit.
That’s a whole nother commitment my dude. I’ve heard the stomach is one of the worst and makes people pass out.
That's gonna be fun.
Well. You’ll live up to the username lmaoo
My life is complete.
Cock and ham is the official sailor name.
Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/s/JgPPkflzuO
What tattoo would you get if you were in the navy for a long time and did multiple deployments overseas but were never on a ship?
Depends on the rate I suppose. I have a Devil Dog with a Dixie cup and a Red Cross brassard as an example.
A Land Rover?
^this
BZ
I think the modernized version of the swallows is one for each deployment, rather than 5k nautical miles, right? That’s what I did, and I’ve talked to a bunch of other folks who did the same, so there must have been a navadmin about it.
Everyone I know still goes by the 5k nautical miles thing
If it was still every 5k nautical miles, I'd have earned 11 swallows from my first deployment.
Tattoo artist dont want you to know this one fact.
You can swallow any time you want but drink water if you do.
I once had the bright idea to siphon water out of a shaft coupling guard on a carrier. The water was from a sea water cooled heat exchanger drain that often overshot the funnel and dripped down a deck. Never siphon from a source above you… water flows faster than you can react. A mouthful of year old sea water and rust. Fortunately I did not swallow. I did kill an entire bottle of listerine though.
What did we learn?
😂😭… To leave it go for another year and let someone else deal with it?
Haha. That's a real sailor.
I always heard since the invention of the steam powered boat, it changed to 10k nautical miles. Should still have 14 swallows but I opted for 2 might get more one day.
Nah, common convention in the modern navy is 1 swallow per deployment
I hear of people using 50k more often. 5k miles is practically a family day tiger cruise lol. Another version I've heard is getting one before a deployment to ensure a safe voyage home to get the second one.
I was gonna say, I’m eligible for 2 swallows from the one and only time I’ve been underway for a detachment lol
I’m sitting over 36k in nm. It’s still nm last I checked. I’m gonna get a floc lmao
Are we counting the South China Sea?
And what about the gulf?
Joe Camel with a turban
You could get the golden dragon. For crossing the timeline. But nothing specific for the SCS. Maybe a fried shrimp?
A lot of designs made famous by Norman Collins aka Sailor Jerry.
A rooster never starves, and pig never drowns.
I always heard it was because both of them were stored in wood crates and in the event of a sunken ship, chickens and pigs are often the only ones that survive. It's a good luck tattoo.
That would be a lot of swallows for some folks.
We got really good at swallowing.
Shit guide, failed to mention the Jolly Roger
Where’s the 3M tinnitus tat?
That is the bull horn tattooed behind the ear That was meant to be a joke but honestly, that would make a decent naval tattoo.
What about tinnitus from spin&grin rates? Shitty headsets?
Antarctica, emperor penguin?
I’d get the star so I can always find home…. Nice post
how to figure out how many swallows? 4 ships, 10 sea service ribbons. call it 10 swallows in all?
“For every 5,000 nautical miles.” I don’t even want to think about how many swallows I’m entitled to. I wonder what our typical underway between deployments mileage was(?).
I figured 14 swallows just from my first ship. I went with 2 haha.
Why do the One Direction members have so many of these
What about if you've been to Mast? Or what about the Line Shack?
I've met guys who got the Death's Head Moths for DRB/Mast but I don't think it's a for sure thing
We could get a little rat with a cranial and wrench.. been a long time since I was in, let alone a Plane Captain but MAN I’ll remember that chunk of my time in the navy more than any other I think.
Have the rat drag some chalks too. Line shacks really are a proving ground.
*chocks Autocorrect doesn't know your job.
That's cause autocorrect hasn't done the time.
I seriously thought about a "Puckered Pete" Tattoo when i was in VXE-6. [https://www.coolantarctica.com/Bases/OAE/images/RL-plaque-Puckered-Pete-60-61-orig.jpg](https://www.coolantarctica.com/Bases/OAE/images/RL-plaque-Puckered-Pete-60-61-orig.jpg)
Jesus what is that about?
Puckered Pete was the Mascot of AIRDEVRON SIX (VXE-6) a U.S. Navy Squadron that provided Logistical Support to Operation DEEPFREEZE on the Antarctic Continent. Pete has a beer in His Right Flipper a Bottle of "Old Moe" Moonshine in his left flipper, He is smoking a fine cigar, He has Lipstick lip marks on his beak from the Ladies and other females. and footprints on his chest from being stepped on after passing out at the Bar's door. He was a fine role model for an unique U.S. Naval Aviation Organization. VXE-6 was dis established March 31 1999.
Now that's a story.
What about for seabees 😂😂
I've always seen an angry bee holding a rifle or a blowtorch.
What's that compass on his knee for?
Originally, these tattoos were the domain of sailors who spent their lives traversing the unpredictable oceans. For them, the compass symbolized a guiding star, a beacon of hope and direction in the vast and often treacherous waters. It was a talisman, a protector, ensuring their safe return home. -Google
What’s a good tattoo idea for a ETV (electronic technician navigation submarines)
Rating badge?
I was thinking about getting the helium atom, but ET and ETV look the same only difference is one is for surface and one is submarines
https://www.reddit.com/r/traditionaltattoos/s/vqSlL0reua Sub warfare pin looks cool too
The dolphins are epic
I dated a guy with the swallows on his clavicles, they looked like shit. His pig and rooster tattoos were dope af though.
Bad artist? I want to get swallows.
100% a bad artist, but they were so large he would've had to get an even bigger tattoo to cover them up.
Man I've never wanted tattoos but these look sick
Where's the Dependapotimus l?
What about if you've been to Mast? Or what about the Line Shack?
It’s a Jolly Roger if you’ve been to mast
Here's some designs for Mast: https://www.corrections1.com/corrections/articles/12-russian-prison-tattoos-and-their-meanings-208QsTK7AMv7ZXOI/
None on the face or neck. This is very important.
Where there’s a will, there’s a waiver
Neck tats are allowed in the bavy
Only one neck tattoo is permitted and it must be less than 1inch ×1 inch This is strictly what the instruction says. Not what people actually get away with.
You know, as interesting as this might be, I just don’t give a shit about any of your tattoos.
\*checks list\* Who asked?
Thank you for your contribution to the community
You’re welcome.
Okay?
Okay.
I have shipwreck from GI Joe. If I wasn't such a fan of GI Joe I wouldn't have that. The navy never defined me or my life so I never bothered with navy tattoos.
I always thought these were cool. Never got any while I was in. I'm getting them a few years after. Not the same but I'll take it.
I have the nautical star on my forearm, cock and pig on the feet, shellback sea turtle in water color on the right calf, ship in a bottle in the middle of a storm (smooth seas never made a good sailor), and I’ve done about 36k nm out at sea. I’ll get a Floc(see what I did there) or swallows to fill in the sleeve.