FRIDAY FOTO (October 5, 2018)
October 5, 2018 at 11:27 am Leave a comment
Cutting edge.
(U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Spencer Fling)
New sailors march inside Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall during a graduation ceremony on September 28 at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois.
And yes, that weapon held by the parade leader is an honest-to-god cutlass. The Navy jealously guards its traditions and this time-honored sword is one of them. The cutlass was an official Navy personal weapon until 1949. However, a cutlass is still carried by the recruit designated as the Recruit Chief Petty Officer for each training company while at Great Lakes, the Navy’s only boot camp.
On March 31, 2010, the Navy said it would permit optional wear of a ceremonial cutlass as part of the Chief Petty Officer dress uniform, pending final design approval. That approval came in January 2011.
For another view of the cutlass in the Great Lakes graduation ceremony, click here.
Entry filed under: FRIDAY FOTO, National Security and Defense, Naval Warfare, Navy, Photos, Skills and Training, Traditions, U.S. Navy, Weaponry and Equipment. Tags: cutlass, FRIDAY FOTO 2018, Great Lakes Recruit Training Command, Navy, Navy recruits, training, U.S. Navy traditions.
4GWAR 
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