Rum Ration
the Navy Network

I think it's more the senior officers rather than the senior rates, we all still like to let off some steam.

NAS Oceana Dance of the Flaming arseholes Championship.

1976 Squadrons from Ark Royal were disembarked to NAS Oceana. As there was insufficient accommodation at Oceana junior rates were accommodated at Dam Neck about 5 miles away and right on the beach. I was duty CAG PO one Saturday and being bored decided to take a trip to make sure everything was OK at Dam Neck. Arrived at the gate to be greeted by a USA patrol who informed me that they were suprised that I had arrived so quickly. It seems that the troops had decided to go to the beach and have a banyan. Only problem was the beach was also used by families who for some reason didn't appreciate the entertainment being supplied by jack. I went to the beach, turned down a tinny and told the guys to get into the back of the pickup truck that I had parked. Them being a bit pissed got into the back of the pickup with the blue flashing light. Rapidly explaining that they could go in that one if they wanted a ride to cells or if they wished they could get into mine and go to the barrack block.
No contest I transported them to their accommodation where they enjoyed the rest of the beer.
Back to the main gate I got the duty officer to phone the ship and cancel the request for assistance.
Result was only one in cells (put in before I arrived) the US Navy impressed at how easily the guys had left the beach and a two page report to write at the end of my duty.
Seems that Americans don't appreciate the dance of teh flaming arseholes.

Re the original question, a succinct answer was taught me by a fellow I met in hospital in 1976 who had been a Stoker PO in Fiji when she was fished in the Med:

'A matelot is a comical bird,
He flits from pub to pub.
Bastard is his favourite word,
And arsehole is his grub.'

Originally Posted by Seaweed

Re the original question, a succinct answer was taught me by a fellow I met in hospital in 1976 who had been a Stoker PO in Fiji when she was fished in the Med:

'A matelot is a comical bird,
He flits from pub to pub.
Bastard is his favourite word,
And arsehole is his grub.'

That rules out most members of RR then?

Here's another old definition that I always liked:

http://www.axfordsabode.org.uk/rn-ships/sail01.htm

A crusty old battleship admiral died and found himself standing before Saint Peter at the pearly gates. Peter welcomed him warmly, "Come right in, Admiral - you've served your country well and you may enter Heaven!"

The Admiral looked thru the gates and stepped up to Saint Peter, "Just one thing, sonny. I hope there are no Chiefs here. They are the rudest, most obnoxious variety of human ever, and if there are any of them here, I'm not going in; I'd rather go to the other place."

"Don't worry, Admiral," said Saint Peter. "No Chief has ever made it into Heaven. You'll find none of 'em here."

So, the Admiral goes on into Heaven. Moments later, he comes upon an amazing sight. It is a swaggering figure in blue, cap cocked slightly on his head, a mostly empty bottle of woods in one hand, and a beautiful woman on either arm. Incensed, the Admiral rushes back to Saint Peter and gets in his face. "Hey! You said there were no Chiefs here! So what the hell is THAT?!?"

"Don't worry, Admiral," says Saint Peter gently. "That's God. He just THINKS he's a Chief."

reading what nutty posted about the demise of jack tar does ring a bell with me. ive only been in for 5 years. however when i compare the stories of old & bold chiefs to what i see in my oppo's i do sometimes think where the f**k am i?..
p.s. my old chops (m)/ cpo (aww) / chief GI or what ever you want to call him had that as a poster on his office door... (if i was unlucky enough to get called up there. ha ha)

All true, I can be considered a sprog myself (albeit 4th generation) but even so fresh juniors and YOs don't have an ounce of Matelot or moral fibre in 'em. That said I do recall a WEM trying to "put a couple of ounces of Matelot" in me, so perhaps I understand their resistance.