Thought you were in trouble didn’t you? That is the thought for a lot of sailors who are out in the fleet. When you are walking down a passage way, and from behind you hear the word “shipmate”, more than likely you will think you’ve done something wrong, or those who are out in the fleet will think that. Those who have not yet reached the fleet, and are either in DEP or in boot camp are unaware of the context shipmate is used out here. Those in DEP hear the word shipmate from your recruiters meaning “Welcome to Our Navy”, while in boot camp you hear those words from your RDCs meaning “You are now a sailor,” when you complete battle stations and receive your Navy ball cap. Out in the fleet, it has come to mean “You are jacked up.”
Somehow the Navy has let the word shipmate turn negative, and I believe that to be true. Actually, the first time I heard it used in a negative context was when I reached A school and by the Chiefs. If you were talking in the passage way, forgot to take off your cover indoors, or caught falling asleep in class, the word shipmate came from his mouth followed by “why are you jacked up?” It wasn’t the term itself, but the tone of voice it was used in. The majority of the time it was in a yelling manner and no one wanted to hear it.
From A school to this ship, it is still used the same way. Many sailors consider it a curse word and feel disrespected when being called a shipmate because of how it was used to them and others. I have a buddy in particular who tells me to fuck off every time I call him it. It has got to the point that I do it to piss him off.
When was the last time you heard someone call a Chief or an Officer a shipmate? I have never heard anyone ever use it towards a Khaki. It is used mainly by the Chiefs towards an Officer or blue shirt because they had done something wrong and needed to be corrected, and unless the Officer is a mustang, they don’t understand the term like the enlisted community. When it is used from blue shirt to blue shirt, though, What is unfortunate is that it comes from a raised voice and can’t help but believe we did something wrong.
In order for this term to be turned into what it once was, it is up to senior leadership to start using in a way that it doesn’t make me feel like I’ve fucked up. Obviously if you can’t see someone’s name tag, don’t yelling shipmate, it will piss them off because they are already aware they did something wrong, but they’ll still do what they are told. Instead walk up to him or her, and say “Shipmate, can you pull your hands out of your pockets.” They will understand that they were not supposed to have their hands in their pocket and do it without the attitude and/or facial expressions. Note I didn’t use a question mark because it is not an option to debate because you are not supposed to have your hands in your pockets in uniform. If you are able to identify that person or their rate, the best bet would be to say “Hey GM3, or ENS Jane.” Those are just some small tips on getting the word back on track.
Earlier this year, a contest announced to all hands who could best define the word shipmate. Though many were entered, only 16 were listed at the CPF website, but only one could be a winner.
This is what Chief Todd Brown described as a shipmate:
What “Shipmate” Means to Me
“Shipmate” is a term with inherent connotations of teamwork, camaraderie and belonging. It embodies duty, honor, courage, commitment and excellence.
“Shipmate” exclaims the spirited commonality of all Sailors: One Team! One Fight! It illustrates hardships shared, victories won.
“Shipmate” defines common purpose: ships, seas, defense of freedom. It carries echoes of war, heroes, and the fallen.
“Shipmate” is a fire-hardened, selflessly earned title that boasts, “I am a United States Sailor”!
It would be nice to leave this Navy and call a buddy shipmate with this meaning behind it.
I’m convinced the winning essay was picked only because the other essays were full of spelling and grammatical errors, and read as if they were written by someone who learned English as a second language.
I really enjoyed reading this; I have experienced being called a ”Shipmate” not in a good way. I feel that in the Chief’s community it is used often in negative context .In leadership school I know that they teach you proper skills to deal with those out of order or those who have somethings that need to be corrected. To me “Shipmate” isn’t good quality of someone who is in leadership .Instead I feel I should have been pulled to the side ,and had the situation addressed instead of a scene of people around me while I’m being chewed out . I know we all need a leadership course refresher with this one -
(Praise in public, reprimand in private)
Just the other day a Chief admitted that when she hears “Shipmate” from the CMC, she knows that nothing good is about to come. Obviously it’s not a Khaki to Blue Shirt word, and it is no surprise to me either. The Navy should just save Sailors the trouble and not make it seem as a word to be proud of, but something condescending. It would be a whole lot easier than trying to change it back to what it was.
Don’t get me wrong, I was proud when I graduated boot camp and was referred to as a shipmate by my RDCs, but I was disappointed when I realized how it was used outside those walls.