Academy and Officer swords

unitedstatesAFA2013

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I was on Google the other day, stumbled upon this subject, and I was wondering how swords were given out. As graduates, do you receive an "Academy" sword? Are they given or do you have to buy them yourself? ..an "officer sword"? And what have you done with them (if you have them)? Do you display them at your houses or keep them in a storage/from view? Just wondering.:rolleyes: they look so nice.
 
I can post from the USMC side...

They are purchased just like uniforms...

My ex hubby had a nice wall display made and it hung in the hallway. He only used/wore the sword twice during our marriage... once to cut our wedding cake, and once when he was in a wedding ... (the bride was smacked in the butt and welcomed to the Corps as a wife)...

Other then that... it hung on the wall. :smile:
 
I was on Google the other day, stumbled upon this subject, and I was wondering how swords were given out. As graduates, do you receive an "Academy" sword? Are they given or do you have to buy them yourself? ..an "officer sword"? And what have you done with them (if you have them)? Do you display them at your houses or keep them in a storage/from view? Just wondering.:rolleyes: they look so nice.

First off, its a saber, not a sword.

You will have to buy it, not given to you. Most will have it displayed once they commission.
 
I can post from the USMC side...

They are purchased just like uniforms...

My ex hubby had a nice wall display made and it hung in the hallway. He only used/wore the sword twice during our marriage... once to cut our wedding cake, and once when he was in a wedding ... (the bride was smacked in the butt and welcomed to the Corps as a wife)...

Other then that... it hung on the wall. :smile:

That's awesome.

My girlfriend keeps nagging me with questions like "Oh I'm going to get to walk under swords right? right?" and "you should've applied to the navy and joined the MCs because they have nicer uniforms" :rolleyes:. Silly girl.

But yeah, if ever I graduate from the academy it'll be on my list, as well as one of those nice watches they display on the academy sites :thumb:.
 
I've seen AF weddings too.. yes under the arches of the sabres/swords.. but no butt smacking.... wonder why ?! :)
but yes the Corps Uniforms are awesome. :biggrin:
 
USCG and USN are swords, I can't speak about the other services though.


At least at CGA, you "receive" your sword during your junior year and get some training with it. It's "given" to you, but really, you paid for it (and they are expensive, breakable, and not toys).

The Academy sword IS the officer sword at the Coast Guard Academy, however once your graduate you add a little device called a "knot" to it, which only officers wear. At CGA seniors (aka 1/c) drill with swords, all other underclassmen drill with M-1 rifles.
 
The USAF and USAFA Cadet "SABER" is just that: a saber.

Grad's can purchase them. Grad's can also "borrow" them for wedding from the AOG if they're members. Postage both ways though...get's expensive.
 
OK, AFA2013. In a round-about way, you've stumbled on another aspect of life in the military: the proverbial "I Love Me" Wall.

What exactly is THAT? Well, thoughout your career, you will be collecting momentos from all of your assignments, A LOT of momentos. You'll start off with your diploma from the Academy, and possibly your Sabre (if you bought one). Next, if you go to UPT or UNT and get an aeronautical rating, you get this nice big certificate for that, suitable for framing (which most of us did). Then, for EVERY assignement you go to, you get a plaque with the unit logo with perhaps a engraving stating your time there plus a clever saying from your squad mates on it, or perhaps a litho of the of the squadron's plane or the building you worked in (if you're in a staff job) with the signatures of all your collegues on it, or most likely BOTH. Plus you have some photos of friends you've been with, events you accomplished (1000 hour in the plane is an example), coins, flags, and other such things. The probelm is: where do I KEEP all these things?

When you get to a command position, you get an office. LOTS of the commanders keep their momentos in their offices (you should see the offices of the big-wigs in the Pentagon! It's like their own personal museum to themselves! :biggrin:). You just have to remember to take them all down by the time you do your official change-of-command to the next guy (or gal).

Some of us keep them at home, displayed in a home office or den. What we called the "I Love Me" wall. Some spouses are OK with it, some are not. I have my own office in my house filled with the stuff, collecting dust. Pima has her own office for her momentos.

Word of advise. You'll know when certain things from throughout your career are "special memories" for you. Spend the extra dough and get them set up nicely for display. At my retirement, I had a guy paint up my old flight helmet with an Eagle and an Aardvark, add my squadron patches, then put my name and wings on it. Looks great, and is sitting in my office next to my bar. I also had a guy make a display case for all my old coins, rank, medals, and ribbons. Also had a flag or two, one I carried on a combat sortie, another that flew over the Capitol building for my retirement. Spent the extra money on a nice frame and matting for these things. LOOKS GREAT! And when I'm feeling a little old and useless lately, I can always look at them and say, "I was somebody, once....":thumb:
 
Alright so they're "sabers" but technically swords lol ok.

And Bullet, that sounds awesome, I can't wait to get on with that path of "becoming somebody" and having memorabilia to show for it!
 
"Technically", they're useless parts of the formal uniform, kept because of "tradition" (like the wheel cap).

Looks nice, but if we're going to be in combat "drawing swords" while dressed in our blues, I think we've aready lost the war!:shake:

Oh, and they look good in your wedding album!

And J Collins, why would us AF guys want to smack our bride's butt and say "Welcome to the Corps"? Doesn't make sense to me...:biggrin:
We'll stick with the AF tradition of calling our new brides the first Friday night after we get back from the honeymoon, saying "honey, come pick me up at the Club. Oh, and can 4 of my suadron buddies crash at our place? They're too drunk to drive! They'll want eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Honey? Honey? You still there?" :yllol:
 
And J Collins, why would us AF guys want to smack our bride's butt and say "Welcome to the Corps"? Doesn't make sense to me...:biggrin:


We'll stick with the AF tradition of calling our new brides the first Friday night after we get back from the honeymoon, saying "honey, come pick me up at the Club. Oh, and can 4 of my suadron buddies crash at our place? They're too drunk to drive! They'll want eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Honey? Honey? You still there?" :yllol:

LOL..

too funny
 
Sabers and swords are not the same, some branches have swords and some have sabers. My sword is hanging in a closet. The more you use it, the uglier it gets.
 
"Technically", they're useless parts of the formal uniform, kept because of "tradition" (like the wheel cap).

Looks nice, but if we're going to be in combat "drawing swords" while dressed in our blues, I think we've aready lost the war!:shake:

Oh, and they look good in your wedding album!

And J Collins, why would us AF guys want to smack our bride's butt and say "Welcome to the Corps"? Doesn't make sense to me...:biggrin:
We'll stick with the AF tradition of calling our new brides the first Friday night after we get back from the honeymoon, saying "honey, come pick me up at the Club. Oh, and can 4 of my suadron buddies crash at our place? They're too drunk to drive! They'll want eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Honey? Honey? You still there?" :yllol:


Bullet, I thought Air Force officers get limo service where ever they go. :wink:
 
Sabers and swords are not the same, some branches have swords and some have sabers. My sword is hanging in a closet. The more you use it, the uglier it gets.

They call the AFA and AF swords "sabers" for some reason.

How does the Coast Guard use it? and I'm sure that the "uglier" it gets, the more "antique" it looks right? That's always cool. At least no blood stains.
 
They call the AFA and AF swords "sabers" for some reason.

How does the Coast Guard use it? and I'm sure that the "uglier" it gets, the more "antique" it looks right? That's always cool. At least no blood stains.

well a saber is just one type of sword if we all want to get technical lol but friend cut his wedding cake with it and then handed to a little kid to hold later...the runt smacked the flat of the blade on some thing hard and broke it. so they must be fagile! LOL

Imagine drawling that and being like " oh dam! my sword is broke. Rain check?" lol
 
I'm not positive, but I thought the difference between a saber and a sword was the curve in the blade.

We rarely wear the sword, but mostly for fancy-schmancy things....changes of command, weddings, very formal events...........fighting for damsels in distress, and fighting ninjas. If you cut the head off of another cadet, you acquire some of their power (do not try this).
 
Also remember, when cutting a cake with your sword, always remember to wipe off the blade before returning the sword to the sheath.
 
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