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Bart "Sledge" Hammer named VP-6's "Bull"
The Barbers Pointer, November 1, 1985
By LT Bruce Hagaman
A long-standing Navy tradition holds that the senior Ensign of a unit is designated the Bull Ensign. This exalted position is one of extreme responsibility, albeit almost no authority, as the Bull serves as the
focal point for the unit' s expressions of spirit and pride. The World Famous Blue Sharks of VP-6 recently had the pleasure of installing ENS. Bart" Sledge" Hammer as their new Bull Shark, replacing the
outgoing co-Bulls (a.k.a. Bull-ettes) LTJG's Pete Bouffard and Harry Mann.
ENS. Hammer, as Bull Shark, will be charged with, among other things, attending all squadron functions, parties,
get-togethers, etc., and, whenever appropriate, will bring with him the sacred emblem of the squadron- The Drinking Flag. In those cases, he will be alert for representatives of other units who might have nefarious
designs on the sacred emblem, and he will take all steps necessary to guard and protect said emblem from kidnapping, defacement and/or unauthorized modification. He will, though, whenever possible, arrange for the
kidnapping, defacement and/or unauthorized modification of any other unit's flag.
Another vital spirit-raising function of the Bull Shark is to liven up what might otherwise become dull All Officers'
Meetings (AOM's). He does this by opening the weekly AOM's with a joke. If he is lucky enough to survive the catcalls and heckling from the rest of the wardroom, he then gets to sit down and become the butt of
everyone else's jokes for the rest of the hour-long meeting.
The Bull Shark is always on the C.O. and XO.'s minds if there is an important spirit-related task to be done, so his job is a demanding
one. All of his duties and responsibilities, of course, are assigned and carried out with the best of intentions -namely to promote intra-squadron spirit and pride, and friendly inter-unit rivalry and competition.
But, as his job is often taken for granted within the unit, and is lit-tle known elsewhere, the Bull Shark, as far as squadron pride and spirit goes, is largely an Unsung Hero. Good Luck, "Sledge"!
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