Acolyte-
A person who assists the deacon, particularly, and more generally the priest or bishop, in the mechanical details of worship, e.g., carrying a cross or a candle in a procession. (Formerly, "acolyte" was one of the so-called "minor orders" in the ladder of ministries leading up to the major orders of subdeacon, deacon, and priest / bishop.)
Alb see Vestments
Aspergillum see Church Furnishings
Aspersorium see Church Furnishings
Athletic A see Uniforms
Athletic B see Uniforms
Barracks Inspector-
At AMA, not, in fact, a person who inspects a barracks for military cleanliness and order (that task is carried out by the Commandant's office), but rather a faculty member posted in the barracks from 1900 hours until one hour after Taps, to assist the cadet officers in maintaining order.
Bastogne-
World War II battle site, occupied by American troops of the 101st Airborne Division and other units under the command of Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe during the Battle of the Bulge; surrounded by Germans, December 19-27, 1945; when invited by the German commander to surrender, McAuliffe famously replied, "Nuts!"
Battalion-
Organizational level consisting of two or more company-level units, in the Infantry and Artillery; at AMA, the equivalent unit for Cavalry and Aviation is the Squadron.
Battalion Staff Sergeants-
Cadets in the 11th grade (Second Classmen) posted to the battalion / squadron staff, one from each company-level unit, ostensibly to carry out miscellaneous tasks for the Battalion officers; frequently treated as a sinecure both by the cadets and by the company counselors who make the appointments.
Battery-
The company level unit in the Artillery.
BI see Barracks Inspector
Cassock see Vestments
Chasuble see Vestments
Church Furnishings
  • Aspergillum-A device, often made of brass, though even a tree branch will work, for sprinkling holy water on persons or things.
  • Aspersorium-The bucket used to carry holy water to be sprinkled with the Aspergillum.
  • Aumbry-From an obsolete English word for cabinet, a small safe, built into a wall, in which the consecrated bread and wine can be kept, in case they are needed between services, e.g., to give communion to the dying.
  • Font-The container of water in which a baptism takes place; varies from a small bowl, where baptism is done by pouring water over a baby's head, to a good sized pool, where adults are baptized by full immersion.
  • Paschal Candle-A large (usually two or three feet long, at least) candle, solemnly blessed at the Great Vigil of Easter (hence "paschal," from the Latin "pascha," "Easter," where "pascha" is simply the Hebrew word for Passover). The Paschal Candle burns at all services during the Great Fifty Days of the Easter season, and is also lighted at Baptisms and Funerals, to signify the relationship between the individual Christian life and Christ's own death and resurrection.
  • Tabernacle-Essentially the same as an Aumbry, but usually placed on an altar rather than in a wall.
  • Thurible-A censer; a more or less elaborate perforated metal pot (suspended from a chain), in which are held burning charcoal and incense.
CO see Commanding Officer
Collect-
A prayer, said or sung by the person presiding at a service, which "collects" the individual prayers of the congregation, or the ideas of the readings. Most, though not all, follow a set grammatical pattern: Opening address to God, remembrance of some divine action or quality, petition, statement of hoped for result, conclusion. For example: "Most merciful Father, you forgive all those who truly repent; help us so clearly to know ourselves, that we may turn from our sins and come again to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Commandant-
The administrator, usually a retired military or naval officer, responsible for "student life" (including discipline and the performance of military duties) at AMA; the equivalent of a dean of residential life and a vice-principal.
Commanding Officer-
The military officer in overall charge of a unit, especially at the company level.
Cope see Vestments
Counselor-
The faculty member, whether an officer or a civilian, responsible to the Commandant for a unit level organization, with full authority over minor disciplinary infractions (and, ordinarily, a considerable say in dealing with major ones). The Counselor recommends to the Commandant promotions to the various unit level positions (such recommendations are always followed), and promotions to higher levels are similarly made on the recommendation of the groups of counselors involved (though the regimental officers who act as Aides de Camp to various faculty and staff are often picked by those persons). A dorm parent, deputy principal, coach and confidant for the cadets in the unit.
DRC (Dinner Roll Call) see Formations-Daily Schedule
Deuce-and-a-half-
The M35A1 two and one-half ton truck, used by the artillery battalion at Annandale to transport enlisted cadets of the batteries during Full Garrison Mounted Parades (see Formations-Parades); the cadets theoretically sit at attention on benches along the sides of the truck beds. A cadet NCO drives.
Dress A see Uniforms
Executive Officer-
A Commanding Officer's immediate deputy and chief of staff. At the unit level, the XO may be kept fairly busy with administrative tasks; battalion and regimental XO's are more like vice-presidents, called upon mostly when their CO's are unavailable.
Faculty Executive Committee-
An attempt to reduce the number of meetings of the whole AMA faculty by commiting any questions which require research or lengthy debate to a small elected group-though in fact so few people are willing to serve that "recruited" would be more accurate than "elected."
Fatigue A see Uniforms
Fatigue B see Uniforms
FEC see Faculty Executive Committee
First classman-
One in his or her last year at a high-school age Annandale institution: at AMA, a high school senior; in the summer Naval, Cavalry and Aviation programs, always a third-year person, but (owing to different ages at entry) possibly a rising junior, rising senior or (infrequently) rising college freshman.
Font see Church Furnishings
Formations
  • The daily schedule:
    • Reveille-signalled by the bugle call of the same name, and the firing of the cannon: the beginning of the school day, usually at 0630.
    • BRC-Breakfast Roll Call; typically an actual formation of the units, by battalion, before marching to mess, and usually involving reports of attendance by squad leaders, rather than an actual roll call by the First Sergeant-but breakfast is "BRC" regardless, even if, as on most Saturdays, there is no formation and cadets go to the meal on their own-hence the oxymoron, "optional BRC."
    • DRC-Dinner Roll Call
    • Retreat-The bugle call accompanying the lowering of the flag, indicating the end of the military day. See also Retreat Parade.
    • SRC-Supper Roll Call
    • CQ-Call to Quarters, i.e., a time when cadets are required to remain within barracks (e.g., for evening study), unless they have specific permission to be elsewhere. AMA further distinguishes "open CQ" in barracks from "closed CQ," when cadets are confined to their own rooms. Closed CQ each evening begins five minutes before Taps.
    • Tattoo-The bugle call (or, at AMA, more frequently, the bell) indicating the end of evening activities and recall to the barracks-half hour warning for Taps.
    • Taps-The bugle call signaling lights out and bed time. A cadet officer, the Taps Inspector, goes through each unit room by room to confirm that each cadet is either present or accounted for.
  • Parades
    • Full Garrison Mounted Parade-A military ceremony, typically, at Annandale, scheduled on Sunday for the benefit of visitors, involving the cadets (and, in the summers, of the Indian Scouts) according to their various branches of service-troopers on horses, artillery units in jeeps and trucks, with howitzers, infantry on foot with (nonfunctional) rifles, select aviators flying over in the school's training planes, and so forth. Full Dress B is worn, and officers wrap and carry. Ceremonies, after the parade is formed, include "Trooping the Color"-marching the flag up and down in front of the assembled troops, originally to allow them to recognize it in battle; "Officers (and persons to be decorated) Front and Center," in which the unit and battalion level officers march forward to salute the Regimental Commander-originally an opportunity for the commander to give instructions to his subordinates, now used mostly as an opportunity to present medals; "Publishing the Order"-the Regimental Adjutant's announcement of school-wide duties for the following day; Sounding of Retreat; The National Anthem; and "Pass in Review," in which the various units march past, and salute, the Reviewing Officer (usually the Superintendent or the Commandant) and the Regimental and Battalion-level staffs.
    • Garrison Parade-as Full Garrison Mounted Parade, but without horses, trucks, jeeps and airplanes.
    • Retreat Parade-Less elaborate than a Garrison Parade: typically conducted in Dress A, rather than Full Dress A; never mounted; and, in the summers, often involving only the high school or elementary-aged programs, rather than both together.
Full Dress A see Uniforms
Full Dress B see Uniforms
Full Garrison Mounted Parade see Formations-Parades
Glenarm's Bay-
That part of Lake Annandale around which the school campus extends. Named for John Marshall Glenarm, eccentric architect and early benefactor of the school.
Gold Star Man-
In general, an American killed in war, from the custom of hanging in the window of the service person's home a red-edged white flag with a blue star for each child in service, the star being exchanged for gold if the service person was killed. At Annandale, an alumnus lost in war, the school having a large gold star flag for each of the conflicts in which its alumni fought.
Haddam Hall-
Modelled on a city gentlemen's club, the exclusive-and fiercely defended-haven of Annandale first classmen: underclassmen are forbidden even to walk on its lawn.
NCO see Non-Commissioned Officer.
NCO belt see Uniforms
NCO in charge of barracks-
A second class NCO, appointed on a rotating schedule by the XO to supervise the unit area of a barracks at all times during the day, other than classes; the Orderly is the NCO's assistant. Sergeants whose duties involve forming the unit (e.g., platoon sergeants and the first sergeant) are exempt from the duty, as are battalion staff sergeants.
Non-Commissioned Officer, in Army and Air Force terminology (the Naval equivalent is Petty Officer)-
Corporals and sergeants, as opposed to Warrant Officers (an adult title not used in AMA's cadet system) and Commissioned Officers. Typically at Annandale, the lower NCO ranks are filled from third and second classmen, the higher from second and first classmen, while commissioned officers are exclusively drawn from the first class.
Officer in Charge-
The member of the Commandant's staff (including unit counselors) who carries out necessary adult supervision of the day's ordinary formations and of the cadet guard posted at Sally Port.
Officer of the Day-
The cadet commissioned officer who is in command of the guard detail posted at Sally Port; analogous on a campus-wide basis to the NCO in charge of barracks.
Officers' Figure-
An elaborate courtly "dance" performed at Annandale balls by the commissioned officers and their ladies (often dates, but, particularly at the parents' weekend ball, mothers), culminating in an arch of sabres through which the regimental commander and his lady walk to greet the superintendent and his.
Orderly, Orderly desk-
(1) The third or fourth classman assigned (except during class time) to sit at a desk, usually near the counselor's office, answer the unit telephone, maintain records of which cadets have excused absences from any formation, and generally assist the NCO in charge of barracks. (2) One of several cadets performing analogous duties as a part of Main Guard, at Sally port.
Orders of the Day-
The order, prepared by the Commandant and, at parades, published by the Regimental Adjutant, appointing the Officer in Charge and Officer of the Day for the next day.
Pachal Candle see Church Furnishings
PE-
Physical Education, including both gym classes and team sports; also, the time of day set aside for this, also known as "rec period" or "recreation period": "'What are you doing during PE?' 'Nothing, I sprained my ankle the other day.'"
Petty officer-
Naval equivalent of the military "Non-commissioned Officer." As more of Annandale's programs are military than naval, "NCO" is used in some connections even within the summer naval program, e.g., NCO in charge of barracks.
Purple and white ribbon-the ribbon indicating award of the Purple Heart.
Retreat see Formations-Daily Schedule
Retreat Parade see Formations-Parades
Reveille see Formations-Daily Schedule
Sabre-
A weapon with a curved blade and basket hilt; an unsharpened replica is distinctive of a commissioned officer's full dress uniform. Compare Sword.
Sick Call see Formations
Sick squad-
At any formation, those cadets who have been "excused from ranks and exercises" by the Academy physician and thus do not take part in marching, etc. At meals, the unit sick squad simply walks in behind the last platoon; at parades, battalion staff sergeants are detailed to supervise the regiment's collective sick squad, who watch from the edge of the parade ground.
SO see Special Order
SOP see Standard Operating Procedure
SOS-
Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast, as an abbreviation for "Shit on a Shingle"
Special Order -
A written order from the Commandant or Superintendent for a particular purpose, more often than not the imposition of a punishment such as demotion, extra duty, or even expulsion; but military honors are also awarded by SO's.
Squadron-
At AMA, Cavalry and Aviation organizational level consisting of two or more company-level units; in the Infantry and Artillery, the equivalent unit is the Battalion.
SRC see Formations
Subdeacon-
Formerly an ordained ministry in the Church; now, a sort of specialized acolyte with specific functions at the Eucharist carried over from those formerly exercised by the ordained minister.
Sword-
A weapon with a straight blade and cross hilt; an unsharpened replica is a distinctive ornament of the higher-ranking NCO's ("sword-bearing sergeants"). Compare Saber.
Tabernacle see Church Furnishings
Taps see Formations
Thurifer-
The acolyte in charge of incense; carries the thurible at the head of ecclesiastical processions, hands it to various ordained ministers when their liturgies require its use.
Tunicle see Vestments
Uniforms
  • Athletic A: Regulation athletic shorts and the standard issue unit T-shirt, usually reflecting a unit nickname or tradition.
  • Athletic B: As above, with regulation warm-ups.
  • Dress A, Dress B: The Annandale cadet's equivalent of sport coat and tie: a blue military coat ("blouse"), worn with ribbons rather than full medals, blue chambray shirt and blue tie. For dress A, all cadets wear straight cadet grey trousers, with stripes in the color of their battalion; for dress B, troopers wear riding breeches.
  • Dress C: The hot-weather dress uniform, substituting an open collared white shirt with shoulder-boards for the shirt, coat and tie of Dress A and B.
  • Fatigue A, Fatigue B: Dress A & B, without the blouse. The necktie is worn tucked into the shirt between the second and third buttons.
  • Fatigue C: Fatigue A or B, worn with a letter jacket in cold weather.
  • Fatigue D: Fatigue A or B with a short-sleeved shirt.
  • Full Dress A, Full Dress B: The cadet formal dress. Instead of the shirt, tie, and blouse, a high-collared cadet grey blouse in West Point style is worn with full medals. The dress hat is a shako; commissioned officers wear a black eagle plume, the Regimental Commander a white one.
  • Full Dress C: The Full Dress blouse worn with white duck trousers-used only during June week, leading up to graduation.
Wrap and carry-
On formal occasions, cadet officers at Annandale carry sabres, while the higher ranking cadet sergeants carry swords. Under the sword belt, the sergeants wear a six-inch wide sash that wraps around the waist and hangs roughly to the knee on the wearer's left side. This is a "half-wrap," in contrast to the officer's "full wrap," a similar sash which goes over the wearer's right shoulder as well as around the waist and down the side. The sash is of the characteristic color of the cadet's battalion: Infantry blue, Artillery red, Cavalry yellow and Aviation silver. The order to wear these ornaments is abbreviated to "officers wrap and carry," added to the usual description of the uniform, for example, "Uniform: Full Dress B, Officers wrap and carry."
Verger-
An acolyte-usher; walks in front of a procession, carrying a staff (verge) indicative his office. Usually wears a vestment resembling an academic gown.
Vestments-
  • Alb-A long white robe, usually with relatively narrow sleeves, that is the basic garment worn by persons participating in the Holy Eucharist (communion service) and various other liturgies. Sometimes combined with the Cassock. Compare Surplice.
  • Amice-A detached cloth fastened around the shoulders and over the head, before donning the alb, then pushed down to make a hood at the back of the neck. Sometimes replaced by a hood or collar made as part of the alb.
  • Cassock-The basic long black narrow-sleeved robe of the clergy. In church, usually worn under a surplice ("choir vestments," because worn for those daily prayer services formerly sung by the monastic choir) or under an alb.
  • Chasuble-A poncho-like garment of green, red, purple, white, or less commonly gold, blue or black, worn over the alb by priests and bishops at the Eucharist and similar services, the color depending on the occasion. Usually decorated, sometimes elaborately. Descended from the dress coat of the late Roman empire.
  • Cope-A flowing cape, usually elaborately decorated-essentially a floor-length chasuble slit up the front center. Worn over the Alb or Surplice, and associated particularly, though not exclusively, with bishops.
  • Mitre-The distinctive headgear of a bishop or abbot, with points in front and back, lower sections over the ears, and two ribbons trailing from the back. May be white or cloth of gold.
  • Surplice-A medieval development of the Alb, somewhat shorter, with very loose fitting body and sweeping sleeves-originally intended to be worn over a fur coat in an unheated medieval church. Thus the name, from Latin super + pelliceum, "over a fur."
  • Tunicle-like the almost identical dalmatic, a sort of giant t-shirt-another relative of the chasuble, with short sleeves and partially closed sides. The tunicle was associated with the sub-deacon, while the dalmatic is the distinctive dress of the deacon.
Wabana County-
County in northern Indiana in which Annandale is located.
Withougan-
County seat of Wabana County, some fourteen miles north-east of Annandale
Wolf Creek-
Town some ten miles east of Annandale, home of the Wolf Creek Round Barn Festival.
Wrap and carry see Uniforms
XO see Executive Officer