US Naval Reserve Midshipmens School - Capstan Yearbook (Notre Dame, IN)

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. it evidence on your rear flank. And don,t worry about the electricity that comes charging through you in the mornings when you make your bunk. Itis just another part of the toughening-up pro- gram. But if your father was ever scared by an electric chair, you might as well quit now. Soon after arriving youall be assigned to your room. If you are lucky enough to arrive during the daytime it won't be so bad, but if you come in at night it may be days before you can find your way to the quarters. If you do get lost and have to sleep on the golf course all night, don't worry about it. Demerit,' and his cask of sulfanilimide will Hnd you in the morning. The first thing that will impress you will be the lN1ess Hall. They were very nice to us while we Qs. were at Notre Dame. They gave us the same menu every morning so we wouldn't have to play guess- ing games while marching to chow. But we played guessing games after we were through. You'll meet up with the 'fmystery ballsu and if you are able to guess what the ingredients are, you will receive your commission immediately plus the Navy Cross for bravery. After the first time, however, you'l1 agree with us that it isn,t worth it. Before long you will know what it means to muster on-the-double . In running to morning chow formation, you will learn to be careful. Dur- ing our first few weeks we lost quite a few men who, because of the darkness at that time of day, ran into trees thinking they were officers. As your eyes grow accustomed to the 0630 darkness, you will be better able to distinguish officers from the trees. - U-W H951 im,

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gw9mw HDia' I ever tellyou I was voted :Most Likeb lo Succeed, ai Lafayette in 7938.9', HILE sitting in Demerit's' ofhce under the bench in Morrissey Hall one day, we decided that it might not be a bad idea to give those who are to follow us some idea of what they can expect at Notre Dame. After consulting some of the offi- cers, the following report was submitted and ap- proved. To the Apprentice Seaman of the 2nd Midshipman class, we offer it as conclusive evi- dence that the V-7 course is impossible. We know we couldrft get through it and we are sure that you WOI'1,t be able to do it either. The first lesson you will learn when you get off the train in South Bend, trying to look as military as you can in your gray tweeds, is that it is easy enough to get into the Navy. The Navy trucks will pick up you and your baggage at the depot and will take you out to the station. Ifyou happen Min Ol' f194l to arrive there safely, the fight is half over. We should remind you that the ship,s company who drive the trucks have been recruited from the Wild West shows and Coney Island roller coasters throughout the country, but don't let that bother you. They havenit got driver's licenses so at least the cops can't stop them. ' The first Government Issue that you receive will be your bedding and there are a few things you ought to know about the blankets in the United States Navy. If you ever get the temptation to break regulation number 657 and lounge on your bunk, be sure you put newspapers, your towel or the letters from the girl friend betwixt you and those blankets. They are built to shed lint at the slightest provocation, and no matter what you tell the officer who notices it, there is still the tell-tale

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f1961 One of the first trips you will make as an Appren- tice Seaman will be to the Sick Bay for your shots. And here we would like to ease your minds. We know that you will have read many fearful stories of the gruesome happenings that go on inside the Sick Bay door but it isn't nearly as bad as some writers have portrayed it. Most of it is nothing more than pure, untouched Scuttlebutt. And to prove that he means you no harm, the Pharmacist Mate gives you back your arm when you leave. You will learn many interesting things in your classes but much of your education will come out- side of class. Take for instance Athletics and Ex- ecutive Drill CNavy for shin splintsj. Everything is on a competitive basis. You will run around the two-hundred acre drill field and those who don't collapse after 15 laps will have to carry the others back. That's to teach them it doesn't pay to be a show-off in the Navy. The Chief who directs your setting up exercises will situate himself on a plat- form high above you. You may think he's doing all the knee-bends with you but clon't let him kid you. He just sits up there and does it all with mirrors. If you get tired and want to rest for a while, thatls all right, too. The Navy doesn't want your shipmates to get ahead of you so you'll catch up later on when you run an extra fifty laps around the field. You'll probably wonder and worry quite a bit about how your uniforms will fit but you may as well forget it. The Storekeepers at Notre Dame will do all the worrying for you. They are a well trained group who can look at the size of your head and fit you with hats, shirts, jumpers, pants, pea coats and socks. You won't believe it until you see it. And while you're picking up your clothing you will become acquainted with the two eternal axioms of the supply corps. If it's too bigwshrink it,'. Ulf itis too small-stretch it',. But what do you care. After you get your Navy haircut, your mother wouldn't recognize you anyway. You won't be an Apprentice Seaman for twenty- four hours before you discover of what the Watch Bill consists. It will take some time to master its more detailed refinements but when the Security Watch awakens you at midnight, when you have patrolled on a Roving Watch beat', for two hours, and when you have finally been secured from your nightstick and flashlight, then you will know more