A NEW YEAR'S NOTE

As some of you know, a ship’s deck log is the legal record of all events on the ship, all courses steered, all speeds run, all comings and goings—everything that may be worthy of notice.  The mid-watch entry is the first entry of the day and notes the ship’s status at midnight, the start of the new day.  It includes the ship’s location, mission and tasking, who has operational and tactical command, the whereabouts of the captain and the senior officer on board, the status of any restricted personnel, and the status of all major equipment such as engines, generators, and important auxiliary equipment.  It is traditional that the first mid-watch entry of the New Year be written in verse.   Some are extremely clever; this one, not so much, but that said, here, with great apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, is MHS NJROTC, The Night Before New Year:

“Twas the night before New Year’s and all through the school,

Not a creature was stirring, not even the little fish in the pool.

The grades were all entered by the faculty with care,

By Master Sergeant and Commander, so suave and debonair.

Tiffany’s the CO and she’s having a good year,

Except when she drives, which fills us with fear.

We’d like to think next year she’ll do okay

But either way she’ll be gone (Oh happy day!).

Jessica as OPS is scheduling and tracking,

To keep us moving ahead, not backing.

She’s short and she’s cheerful, except when she’s nailing

Some other cadet whose standards are failing.

The Chop, the Chop, who could ever deny

That she lives the thug life, Crip walkin’ on by.

In this regard, why it’s worthy of note,

Fish who write on the board, they often get smote!

The Ferg-Burger, he’s bilging and sneaking, he’s silently creeping,

It all makes one wonder just what secrets he’s keeping!
And A. J. G., all hands on deck!
You can tells where he's been, 'cause the place is a wreck!

In a couple of days and a fortnight [it’s poetry, get it?] we’ll be on our way

To Linden High School for the big MLK!

Lanae and the drill team, they’re trying their best,

From the jaws of defeat a victory to wrest.

The rest of the group, well what can be said

Of a bunch of cadets who make me see red?

The seniors are all primed, they’re ready to go,

Their motto it’s said is “All ahead, slow.”

Oh, but now we’ll soon hear them rue

When in January their research papers come due,

How sad to see them gimble and wail,

“Please take this work late, or else I will fail!”

The juniors, of course, they think they are done,

MoBd, they have learned, is just not much fun.

Then wait ‘til Navigation he said with glee,

With celestial, DR, and piloting—why it’s better by three!

And now for the sophomores, well what is the squeal?

Of a class whose symbol is the noble NJROTC weasel?

Of Jorge, Justin, Eric, Jewell, and all the rest,

We know and we trust that they’ll meet the test.

Of Voodoo Zombie Queens, of sickness and snakes,

Why it’s stuff such as this of which legends we makes!

And of the freshman, all happy, not sad,

The strength of their best, why it makes me all glad.

Maybe someday, someday so soon, they’ll even learn what to do

When faced with polish and a new leather shoe!

So now the cadets are all home for the break, all stable and steady,

All cheerful and ready, all “Ready, Aye, Ready.”

And of all the rest of you by name not cited,

Please rest assured you were not intentionally slighted;

We watch you all closely, the rumors we hear,

And be assured when you trip that we will be near!

So now here’s a wish from Master Sergeant and me

Here it is now, we give it with glee:

See you on the third, we say with delight!

Happy New Year to all, and to all a Good Night.