Order of the Broom

The IdaBlue Research Division, Digital Imaging Section, has obtained a better look at the medal awarded Bubblehead by the Navy, as shown in the photo in the previous post.

Apparently he was awarded the "Order of the Broom" medal, or OBM, shown at right. In the Army, this medal would be called a Meritorious Service Medal and is a medal of significant accomplishment. Many soldiers never earn one.

It seems that the Navy, or perhaps just the submarine Navy, awards the OBM for some superlative cleaning effort, and they call it "sweeping the seas clean". IdaBlue does not understand how sweeping water works, but then IdaBlue has never been in the Navy and can barely swim.


Submariners, and perhaps others in the Navy, are so proud of the janitorial exercise that the OBM winner stands on deck (or whatever odd nautical name they use) proudly waving the broom in the wind, making a sweeping-up motion, as the boat comes skimming into port.

The IbRD DIS is hard at work enhancing the medal certificate being held by Bubblehead and hopes to post the actual citation. So far we've been able to clarify only the title of the medal. The enchanced pic is not of Bubblehead's certificate. The lengthy citation on the one shown is much longer than what appears to be a single sentence describing Bubblehead's achievement.

Don't forget to vote for Bubblehead in the weblog awards. Link below. Maybe he can "clean up" there as well.