Rocks and Shoals

The term "Rocks and Shoals" was Navy slang for The Articles of Government for the U. S. Navy which laid out, among other things, articles and offenses. In May 1950 Congress passed a law enacting the Uniform Code of Military Justice and it was signed into law by President Truman and the UCMJ became effective 31 May 1951.

Therefore, I suspect you are going to have to consult with members whose service predates the Korean War.

Semper Fi - Duke

Rocks & Shoals

Remember it well it was in effect for my time April 1942 until UCMJ became efective 1951 as in Dukes post. It gave the CO considerable power in punishment. He could use without a Court Martial. "Piss & Punk" was the most memorable. That was Brig time up to 30 days with Bread & water with regular meals only each 3rd day during those 30 days ,if he determined that length of time. At one time in 1948 at AES-41 we had a CO with an alcoholic problem & he had about 20% (near as I recall) of the Command in the brig. CMC sent an Inpector General & relived him of Command. A CO could also reduce a man in rank without a Court Martial (many ranks than were temporary) As I recall it took a Court Martial if it were a designated "permanent" rank. We had the "Rocks & Shoals" read to us and an entry in our training page once a month. It certainly resulted in a more disciplined units, as a fear factor! SF PM

Anyone

As I scrolled down through the thread I knew there'd be an answer from Paul.

Anyone on the boards have a Marine enlistment prior to 7 Dec 1941?

My Dad said

After hearing the expression from my DI's in 63, I ask my dad (Sgt James W. Hayes, USMC 42-46) what it ment. His answer was "non-official correction" meeted out by NCO's. It ran the full gambit from endless extra details, lost weekend pass's, "thumping" etc. He also indicated that the "strip your blouse" expression we hear in the John Wayne movies was fairly common and accepted. Bottom line, just about any infraction less than a major screwup was handled unoffically. He went on to say that "it didn't leave major scares or black marks on the record and there was no ACLU in those days". He also said that once it was completed it was over and the NCO's seemed to have short memorys.

Pre UCMJ

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Articles for the Government of the United States Navy, 1930
Department of the Navy -- Bureau of Navigation

Article 4
The punishment of death, or such other punishment as a court martial may adjudge, may be inflicted on any person in the naval service --
1. Who makes, or attempts to make, or unites with any mutiny or mutinous assembly, or, being witness to or present at any mutiny does not do his utmost to suppress it; or, knowing of any mutinous assembly or of any intended mutiny, does not immediately communicate his knowledge to his superior or commanding officer;
2. Or disobeys the lawful orders of his superior officers;
3. Or strikes or assaults, or attempts or threatens to strike or assault, his superior officer while in the execution of the duties of his office;
4. Or gives any intelligence to, or holds or entertains any intercourse with, an enemy or rebel, without leave from the President, the Secretary of the Navy, the commander in chief of the fleet, the commander of the squadron, or, in case of a vessel acting singly, from his commanding officer;
5. Or receives any message or letter from an enemy or rebel, or, being aware of the unlawful reception of such message or letter, fails to take the earliest opportunity to inform his superior or commanding officer thereof;
6. Or, in time of war, deserts or entices others to desert;
7. Or, in time of war, deserts or betrays his trust, or entices or aids others to desert or betray their trust;
8. Or, sleeps upon his watch;
9. Or leaves his station before being regularly relieved;
10. Or intentionally or willfully suffers any vessel of the Navy to be stranded, or run upon rocks or shoals, or improperly hazarded or maliciously or willfully injures any vessel of the Navy, or any part of her tackle, armament, or equipment, whereby the safety the vessel is hazarded or the lives of the crew exposed to danger.
11. Or unlawfully sets on fire, or otherwise unlawfully destroys any public property not at the time in possession of an enemy, pirate or rebel;
12. Or strikes or attempts to strike the flag to an enemy or rebel without proper authority, or, when engaged in battle, treacherously yields or pusillanimously cries for quarter;
13. Or, in time of battle, displays cowardice, negligence, or disaffection, or withdraws from or keeps out of danger to which he should expose himself;
14. Or, in time of battle, deserts his duty or station, or entices others to do so;
15. Or does not properly observe the orders of his commanding officer, and use his utmost exertions to carry them into execution when ordered to prepare for or join in, or when actually engaged in, battle, or while in sight of an enemy;
16. Or, being in command of a fleet, squadron, or vessel acting singly, neglects, when an engagement is probable, or when an armed vessel of an enemy or rebel is in sight, to prepare and clear his ship or ships for action;
17. Or does not, upon signal for battle, use his utmost exertions to join in battle;
18. Or fails to encourage in his own person, his inferior officers and men to fight courageously;
19. Or does not do his utmost to overtake and capture or destroy any vessel which it is his duty to encounter;
20. Or does not afford all practicable relief and assistance to vessels belonging to the United States or their allies when engaged in battle.

Barts Dad NCO action

I agree that NCOs of those dates wielded considerable leeway sanctioned by most good COs. They didnt want to impose the heavy items unless they were pushed by some of the 10%. We had lots of responsibility and at one time we were standing Officer of the Day & were authorized to certify documents. There was 4 duty sections with a Staff NCO in charge of each section. On the duty days there was no liberty for the duty section of that day or weekend. Sgts & below had to sleep on base during their duty section days Only Staff Sgt & above could go home unless he was standing Officer Of the Day or Duty NCO that period. Only Staff NCOs & Officers could bring a vehicle aboard the base. With that said NCOs officially had no power under "Rocks & Shoals". It was only the CO that had that authority. Privlages was a great incentive to make the grade of Staff Sgt. Certainly it was not much in monetary advance. I started at $21.00 a month & after 21 years & Msgt E7 my base pay was $380.00 a month. And as I have indicated my Msgt title was changed to GySgt 3 months befire I retired as the E-8/E9 ranks was phhased in completely in July 1963. I was required to send a request for retirement one year prior to retirement & thus removed myself from the promontion zone. I had attended Sgt Major School at PI in 1954 & would have been selected for Sgt Major had I not selected retirement & had not fell on my sword in that period. Those were my favorite days in the Corp I had made Staff Sgt in April 1945. SF Gy///Msgt type Moore