Companies

B

bc2121$

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2021
Messages
33
Just curious, what is 25th companies reputation/traditions? I haven’t heard much from people I’ve been talking to. I know 13th does the ball run and I think 6th does the giving tree thing but I’m just wondering
 
Company culture will probably vary a lot in all companies from previous years because the current firsties did not “grow up” in their current company, and the class of ‘25 was just shuffled around. However, the class of 25’ from 24th company will be 25’s youngsters next year, so they are very familiar with 25’s traditions. 25th company is the “bearsharks.” It is common for plebes in other companies to try to steal the bearshark.

I personally was never in 25, but it has historically been notoriously difficult for plebes. They live on 6-4, so no one really visits unless they have a reason because their deck is up a lot of stairs and is not a thoroughfare. However, they are also part of 5th Batt, which gets pretty chill towards the end of the year.
 
tweety_bird said:
Company culture will probably vary a lot in all companies from previous years because the current firsties did not “grow up” in their current company, and the class of ‘25 was just shuffled around. However, the class of 25’ from 24th company will be 25’s youngsters next year, so they are very familiar with 25’s traditions. 25th company is the “bearsharks.” It is common for plebes in other companies to try to steal the bearshark.

I personally was never in 25, but it has historically been notoriously difficult for plebes. They live on 6-4, so no one really visits unless they have a reason because their deck is up a lot of stairs and is not a thoroughfare. However, they are also part of 5th Batt, which gets pretty chill towards the end of the year.
Click to expand...
The first reason is one of many why shotgunning was brought back. Companies had established climates. Some were lax, some middle of the road, and some were very demanding/unforgiving. When mids spent their entire four years there, they would continue the culture. The Dant at the time didn't like the fact that companies had self-sustaining reputations.

During my time in the Brigade, 25th was known as one of the toughest companies. They had a "plebe screener" since you had to "earn" your way into the Bearsharks. In a good-natured way, 25th was the company the Brigade loved to hate. It was an all-out war in the Midshipmen section when another company made a run at the plebe dressed as the bearshark, though. I saw a plebe from 25th once get another plebe into a choke hold and hold it until the plebe lost consciousness. Nothing wrong with good-natured rivalry, but that crossed the line.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
The first reason is one of many why shotgunning was brought back. Companies had established climates. Some were lax, some middle of the road, and some were very demanding/unforgiving. When mids spent their entire four years there, they would continue the culture. The Dant at the time didn't like the fact that companies had self-sustaining reputations.

During my time in the Brigade, 25th was known as one of the toughest companies. They had a "plebe screener" since you had to "earn" your way into the Bearsharks. In a good-natured way, 25th was the company the Brigade loved to hate. It was an all-out war in the Midshipmen section when another company made a run at the plebe dressed as the bearshark, though. I saw a plebe from 25th once get another plebe into a choke hold and hold it until the plebe lost consciousness. Nothing wrong with good-natured rivalry, but that crossed the line.
Click to expand...
I can attest to getting hit with the 25th company guideon during a scuffle at a football game!! Football games seemed to change a lot over the last year for plebes. They really cracked down on ripping shoulder boards/ribbon racks off so games became a lot less violent.
 
Rarely27 said:
So what about 15th. What can you guys say about that one ☝️
Click to expand...
Our mid was in 15th last year, he liked his company and company mates a lot. Plebe summer was hard (expected) and he's sad to have to move. They have a good CO. They're in topmost level of 8th wing and in back so are sometimes "hidden" which is a good thing, but they have to climb many stairs and square many corners. You will not seem them for any morning/noon formation since they're way in the back! They are the last in the first regiment (1-15). Oath ceremony they march out last from left side (facing Mother B) and he sat right in front of us. They march right in front of the Flags in a parade. And we know some new youngsters from 13 moving to 15 company who are nice too. Hope that helps. YMMV! Go Fiesty Goats!!
 
george44 said:
Our mid was in 15th last year, he liked his company and company mates a lot. Plebe summer was hard (expected) and he's sad to have to move. They have a good CO. They're in topmost level of 8th wing and in back so are sometimes "hidden" which is a good thing, but they have to climb many stairs and square many corners. You will not seem them for any morning/noon formation since they're way in the back! They are the last in the first regiment (1-15). Oath ceremony they march out last from left side (facing Mother B) and he sat right in front of us. They march right in front of the Flags in a parade. And we know some new youngsters from 13 moving to 15 company who are nice too. Hope that helps. YMMV! Go Fiesty Goats!!
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
15 lives on the top of 7th wing (7-4), and was color company last semester. They live above the post office and 7th wing gym, so the location isn't terrible.

15's youngsters are moving to 29, and 29's youngsters are moving to 27 so will probably be making the trip up 2 decks frequently to visit. They live on 8-3, which is very close to Gate 1, Lejeune, Rip Miller, and Halsey. It is the furthest wing away from the academic buildings, so expect to be late for class every time you have watch during free periods, especially if you have to get to Hopper Hall. You will be doing a lot of walking, but no officers ever make the trip up so you will never have to call attention on deck and don't have to walk far to pick up food delivery or go on liberty.

29's culture has changed a lot recently, especially with the 2nd class who will be firstie leadership next year. They were last in the color company rankings in the 2020-2021 school year, but were 2nd in the rankings first semester of last year, mostly due to the shotgun and their new CO who is a sub officer. Their CO is very heavily involved in company leadership and plebe development.

Plebe life is hard, and 6th battalion as a whole is known as very "trained on," but in general they had a lot of fun as a company and the upper class were generally pretty great mentors. 29 generally doesn't do punishments such as 24 hour uniforms or allowing upperclass to drop plebes in Bancroft, but in the past training consisted of beat down workouts almost every morning during 1st semester, buddy systems, racetracks, and not rating blue and golds most of the year. Expect to be chopping until Herndon and not rating spirit gear until you're a youngster. Getting the little things right is heavily emphasized.
 
Also, the plebes live all together in the "plebe shaft," so you will get one of the best views in the company if your room looks out over the 8th wing basketball courts, Rip Miller, and the Bay.
 
Manage your expectations here, folks. YMMV. The reason USNA scrambles and shotguns companies is to ensure more of a uniform brigade culture, and to not let companies get too far in any one direction. So mids come and go, leaders come and go, and therefore cultures come and go. When new company officers and SELs find a culture that’s too lax or too strict, they’ll do something about it.

You may hear of reputations — and the stories that go with them — but they likely have a short shelf life. So take it all with a grain of salt or two. Mids may revel in — or lament — their company’s culture. But that may apply more to their particular class within the company than to the company itself. Again, YMMV.
 
Pretty much what @MidCakePa said

Academy leadership is constantly changing. This goes for both mids and officers. You are pretty much guaranteed the following: a CO change, an SEL change, a Batt O change, a Dant change, a Supe change, and a POTUS change. And with the exception of a few year-long billets, the mid CoC changes every semester.

In the Fleet, you are always one change of command, failed inspection, etc. away from a different way of doing business and/or command climate.

Also, keep in mind that how company X treats plebes doesn't always tell the whole story about the company. Some companies are very close-knit, high performing, but tough on the plebes. Others might be cliquey, have a bunch of drama, but aren't hard on plebes. And yes, there are companies that have some of that switched (e.g. high-performing and easygoing).

Regardless, every company will have reindeer games/punishments, brutal morning workouts, chopping, and all the other stuff plebe year entails.

I'll give some non-reputation facts about 8th:
1. Mascot is the Ballers (8 Ball)
2. Their company duty is the goat squad (A few upperclass take care of and handle the live Bill the Goats)
3. They live on 3rd Wing, 2nd Deck. Pretty centrally located.
4. Plebes usually live in rooms facing Goat Court. Goat Court can be wild sometimes.

@tweety_bird 19th is the Space Cowboys now, right? They were Free 19! when I was there,. I think the higher-ups weren't keen on a mascot that might give people the idea that picketing the Dant's house is okay...even if it meant the entire company being on restriction.
 
Last edited:
Aloha, is there some place to see where each company is located in Bancroft? Like my daughter is 11...but she has connections in 4, 13, and I think 1
 
aklore said:
Aloha, is there some place to see where each company is located in Bancroft? Like my daughter is 11...but she has connections in 4, 13, and I think 1
Click to expand...
Not really. Companies (like mine) are sometimes spread across multiple decks or wings. Here is the general scheme:

First Reg (1st-15th Companies):
1st Wing: First Batt (1-5)
3rd Wing: First Batt, First Batt O, Brigade Striper Alley
5th Wing: Second Batt (6-10)
7th Wing (aka the Jungle when I was there): Third Batt (11-15)

Second Reg (16th-30th Companies):
2nd Wing: Fourth Batt (16-20)
4th Wing: Fourth Batt, Fourth Batt O
6th Wing: Fifth Batt (21-25)
8th Wing: Sixth Batt (26-30)

When you are looking at Bancroft from T-Court, First Reg is on the left and Second right is to the right.

1st and 2nd Wings extend past the walls of T-Court. 3rd and 4th Wings connect to the Rotunda. 5-8th Wings extend to back part of the Yard.

For Noon Meal Formations during the Ac Year, you'll only see 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Battalions. 3rd and 6th Battalions are in a back courtyard known as Smoke Park, which is out of sight to most. The entire 4/C Regiment will be in T-Court for Plebe Summer, though.
 
During plebe summer, plebes will be living in 1st reg spaces. They will move during the last week into their ac year company spaces. Some of my friends consider that to be the worst day of plebe summer because it’s terrible to have to move all of your issued items all the way across Bancroft while still having to square corners/chop/stay in center of p-way/not rate upperclass ladder wells, and being under time constraints.

8th company won Iron Company during last year’s Sea Trials.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top