Comment

Comment by madre37 on September 9, 2010 at 9:15am

@Paymaster where can you get these coins???

Comment by Paymaster on September 9, 2010 at 9:06am

cekj5.....From what I understand the students at OCS don't have any extra time to run errands, so you should just plan on taking the coin with you.

Comment by cekj5 on September 8, 2010 at 10:58pm

Thanks, I didn't know that but I'm sure my son is familiar with it. What a really nice tradition! I'll have to talk to him because I'm not sure if he'll want us to get one and bring it up or if they'll get a chance to get one while at OCS. How special that your son got to give the coin from his grandfather.

Comment by Paymaster on September 8, 2010 at 9:14pm

The “Silver Dollar” Salute. It is a tradition in our military that newly commissioned second lieutenants and ensigns present a silver dollar to the first enlisted Soldier or Sailor who salutes them. The coin symbolically acknowledges the receipt of respect due the new rank and position. [p. 95, "Customs of the Service," Army Officer's Guide, 45th Edition, Lt. Col. Lawrence P. Crocker, U.S. Army (Retired), (Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, 1990).]

No one really knows the origins of the tradition, but the tradition dates back to the 19th century. Some hold that the tradition even comes from the British during the Colonial Period.

Some families have coins from their childs year of birth. Mine was given a hundred year old silver dollar by his grandfather to use. Some go to a coin shop and purchase a new coin. Its your choice.

Comment by cekj5 on September 8, 2010 at 9:07pm

Hi everyone. I was catching up on the posts and SallyG had mentioned not to forget the silver dollars at graduation and to bring two. I don't know what these are used for? Can someone explain what they do with these at graduation? Thanks in advance. Everyone is always so helpful...

Comment by pgrlisa on September 7, 2010 at 6:35pm

My daughter went in with 15-10 and graduated with 16-10. She let the Navy cut her hair. Later, when I asked why she didn't cut it before hand, she said they do it as much for humiliation as for shortness, so it didn't matter. By the end of OCS, all the ladies pinned their bangs back with bobby-pins before putting on their covers. It was cute. I'm not sure how she wears it now, almost 2 months later.

Comment by egbot on September 7, 2010 at 5:53pm

My son pretty much shaved his head and when he got there for the haircut, they made him sit down, put the plastic thing around him. Then said they were done! They didn't cut his hair, but he still had to pay the $8.00! So bottom line... let them cut your hair - you're going to pay for it anyway!

Comment by LZ27 on September 7, 2010 at 1:37pm

the class behind my son's (20-10) changed the requirement for young ladies. they are letting them have longer hair. By longer who knows what the length is. But the young ladies in his class (19-10) were a little put off by the change coming a class later.

Comment by navymom9875 on September 7, 2010 at 11:52am

Question about hair when preparing to start OCS. Did you LO's go ahead and just get a short haircut before going or did they leave their hair as is, knowing they would get one after arrival?

Comment by navymom9875 on September 6, 2010 at 12:48pm

My son hasn't even left for OCS and I've tried to get reservations at the Navy Lodge for his projected graduation date and they are already full (this is for January 2011).

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