Navy custom dictates when Sailors cross into the Arctic Circle, they enter the realm of Boreas Rex, King of the North, and should full a collection of challenges earlier than being deemed worthy of the title “Blue Nostril.”
On the time of the ceremony solely 9 Sailors and Marines aboard the ship had been beforehand designated as “Blue Nostril”. They had been crucial within the planning and execution of the ceremony to make sure security and enjoyable for individuals who selected to take part.
“I turned a ‘Blue Nostril’ in 2016 with 1st Battalion, eighth Marine Regiment in Norway,” mentioned Non secular Program Specialist 1st Class Brandon Peterkin. “Getting to assist plan it this time for my shipmates was lots of enjoyable. All of the selfmade costumes and totally different traditions made this a priceless expertise stuffed with enjoyable and laughter for everybody concerned.”
Arlington Sailors and embarked twenty second Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines accomplished 4 chilly water challenges earlier than presenting themselves to Boreas Rex, performed by Arlington’s Grasp Chief Engineman Arcent Vazquez and Sergeant Main Gerald Furnari, Sergeant Main of Troops aboard Arlington, for acceptance into the “Order of the Blue Nostril.”
“When the Chief’s Mess was placing the plan collectively, we wished to make sure we delivered an enduring impression for the crew,” mentioned Vazquez. “That is my final deployment and to have been requested to play Boreas Rex and supply everybody with an expertise they are going to cherish was one thing I’ll endlessly be pleased about.”
The ceremony is 100% voluntary and all those that take part obtain a certificates notating their crossing into the Arctic Circle. Receiving the certificates is solely morale-based and doesn’t profit the Sailor in any skilled method. The Navy has the same line-crossing custom on the equator, known as a “Shellback” ceremony.
“It was a privilege to take part in a time honored Navy custom as enjoyable and distinctive because the ‘Blue Nostril’ ceremony,” mentioned Cpl. Henry Rodriguez, hooked up to the twenty second MEU. “That is one thing I’ll always remember from my time aboard the Arlington.”
After not too long ago finishing train Northern Viking 2022 off the coast of Iceland, Arlington made the trek north to cross into the Arctic Circle. Northern Viking 2022 is a U.S. European Command-directed and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led, U.S. Sixth Fleet deliberate and executed Joint and Coalition stay train that strengthens interoperability and pressure readiness between the U.S., Iceland and allied nations and permits execution of multi-domain command and management of joint and coalition forces in protection of Iceland the Sea Strains of Communication within the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) hole.
USS Arlington, hooked up to the Kearsarge Amphibious Prepared Group and twenty second MEU, is on a scheduled deployment underneath the command and management of Activity Drive 61/2 whereas working in U.S. Sixth Fleet in assist of U.S., Allied and accomplice pursuits in Europe and Africa.
