Shellback

The term Shellback refers to a person that has crossed the equator, they are often also refereed to as Sons of Neptune. This is a popular tradition in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. The term is often used as an initiation rite. The tradition has no regard for rank but does follow a leveled system. A person is first refereed to as a pollywog, and therefore uninitiated. Besides becoming a shellback a pollywog can also obtain the status of a Gold Dragon (a person that has crossed the international date line). The most coveted of these terms is A Golden Shellback, who has inherently obtained both statuses. Being named a Shellback is viewed as a major accomplishment in such circles and in fact the Navy has a patch for both shellbacks, that depicts Neptune battling a sea serpent with his trident. Originally it was created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long rough times at sea, but in modern times has become a rite of passage, the tradition follows that the shellbacks must prepare the vessel for the arrival of Neptune and the Royal family and his party (usually including his first assistant Davy Jones and her Highness Amphitrite and often various dignitaries). This tradition, in modern times, is also being carried out on many U.S. merchant ships but without the oversight of military justice and can often get out of hand.