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Old Salt
Old Salt
Old Salt
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Old Salt
Studio album by
Valient Thorr
ReleasedJuly 29, 2016 (2016-07-29)
GenreHeavy metal, hard rock
Length57:08
LabelNapalm Records
ProducerBenjamin Earl, Ian Millard
Valient Thorr chronology
Our Own Masters
(2013) 		Old Salt
(2016)

Old Salt is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Valient Thorr.[1] It was released in July 2016 under Napalm Records, making it their first album not to be released under Volcom Entertainment since their 2003 debut Stranded on Earth.

Track list

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Mirakuru"4:06
2."Lil Knife"3:48
3."Cut and Run"4:19
4."No Count Blues"3:17
5."The Trudge"5:21
6."Worm Up"5:45
7."Spellbroke"4:15
8."Linen Maker"2:02
9."The Shroud"3:44
10."Looking Glass"3:39
11."Jealous Gods"3:35
12."Somnambluance" (bonus track)5:27
13."Deillumination" (bonus track)8:15

References

[edit]
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Old Salt

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Old Salt is an honorary designation and in the United States given to the active-duty surface warfare officer (SWO) with the earliest qualification date in , recognizing unparalleled tenure, expertise, and institutional knowledge in naval surface operations. Initiated in 1988, the draws from the nautical idiom "old salt," denoting a seasoned mariner, and is symbolized by a bronze of a naval officer on a ship's pitching deck, cast from metal recovered from historic vessels. The designation is typically held by senior flag officers, such as fleet commanders, and transfers to the next eligible officer upon the incumbent's retirement or departure from , ensuring continuity of experience within the surface warfare community. Notable recipients include , , and Kurt W. Tidd, underscoring the 's role in honoring leaders who have shaped modern through decades of service.

Idiomatic expression

Etymology and historical usage

The term "old salt" originated in early 19th-century as nautical for an experienced , with "salt" evoking the briny essence of the —constant exposure to saltwater spray that encrusted clothing, skin, and gear, symbolizing the resilience forged by prolonged service. This metaphorical usage drew from the literal saltiness of maritime life, distinguishing veterans from novices ("pollywogs" or landsmen) and implying a toughened, knowledgeable character akin to preserved provisions enduring long voyages. The earliest documented appearance in print dates to , in the second edition of A Mariner's Sketches by American physician and sailor Nathaniel Ames, who applied it to hardy crew members on U.S. naval vessels during the early republic era. Prior oral traditions among American ship crews likely predated this, though no British naval records from the same period employ the phrase, suggesting a distinct transatlantic development tied to U.S. and seafaring expansion post-1812. By the , "old salt" gained wider currency in seafaring narratives, often portraying such figures as yarn-spinners recounting gales, mutinies, and ports-of-call with authoritative detail, as noted in compilations referencing sea salinity as the core imagery. The expression persisted through the Age of into steamship transitions, embodying respect for empirical over formal rank, and appeared in accounts of whalers, privateers, and blue-water traders who valued these veterans for their intuitive and survival instincts honed by decades under canvas.

Modern connotations in maritime culture

In contemporary maritime culture, "old salt" denotes a mariner with substantial experience, often connoting practical , resilience, and storytelling prowess rather than advanced age alone. The term is invoked to honor those who have logged extensive time at , distinguishing them from "landlubbers" or novices through their intimate of patterns, vessel handling, and nautical lore. This usage persists in professional seafaring, recreational , and naval communities, where it symbolizes authenticity forged by prolonged exposure to saltwater environments, including the physical encrustation of salt on and from spray and sweat. Among modern sailors, the phrase carries a tone of respect for , as "old salts" frequently share hard-earned lessons on , such as navigating adverse conditions or maintaining equipment under duress. For example, in 2023 publications on , veteran captains labeled as "old salts" are profiled for their bluewater expertise, emphasizing skills like heavy-weather tactics that remain relevant amid evolving technologies like GPS and synthetic . In merchant marine and fishing circles, it similarly highlights individuals who embody traditional values of and , often recounting tales that preserve oral histories of maritime hazards and triumphs. The extends to a cultural of the gruff yet sage advisor, evoking reliability in high-stakes scenarios where institutional alone proves insufficient. This is evident in nautical glossaries and forums up to , where "old salt" implies not just tenure—typically decades of service—but a tempered by repeated voyages, including mastery of "salty" (profane or blunt) as a hallmark of unvarnished truth. While has reduced some traditional rigors, the term endures as a of empirical , countering perceptions of over-reliance on automated systems by valuing firsthand causation in maritime .

United States Navy designation

Origins and establishment

The "Old Salt" designation was initiated in 1988 by the Surface Navy Association (SNA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the interests of the U.S. Navy's surface warfare community. The award was created to formally honor the active-duty surface warfare officer (SWO) possessing the earliest date of qualification as Officer of the Deck Underway, thereby recognizing the recipient's accumulated expertise, leadership, and extended sea service within the SWO community. Establishment of the designation addressed a need to celebrate institutional knowledge and continuity in operations amid evolving naval technologies and personnel rotations. Unlike official ranks or medals, it functions as a ceremonial title passed informally within the community, emphasizing and historical ties to maritime traditions. The award's physical emblem is a bronze statue depicting a naval maintaining balance on the deck of a ship in heavy seas, cast from metal recovered from decommissioned vessels to symbolize enduring naval heritage; this artifact is transferred during change-of-title ceremonies upon the predecessor's or departure from active SWO status. The SNA's role underscores its influence in fostering esprit de corps, distinct from Department of the awards, by highlighting peer-recognized longevity over meritorious achievement alone.

Criteria and selection process

The "Old Salt" designation recognizes the active-duty United States Navy officer holding the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) qualification with the earliest qualification date among all eligible personnel, signifying the longest tenure in that specialty. Eligibility requires current active-duty status and verified SWO qualification, typically evidenced by the gold SWO pin awarded upon completing required surface ship training and examinations. The title is not a formal Navy rank or billet but an honorary distinction sponsored by the Surface Navy Association (SNA), emphasizing sustained expertise in surface warfare operations. Selection occurs upon vacancy, such as the or transition to non-active status of the , through a review process conducted by personnel offices to identify the with the next-earliest SWO qualification date. This cross-references service , including commissioning dates, completions, and qualification logs, to ensure precedence based solely on chronological order rather than command level, metrics, or other subjective factors. Approval requires endorsement from the Navy's Director of (N96) and the SNA president, formalizing the transfer without competitive application or peer nomination. The process prioritizes objectivity, as the designation inherently favors career longevity in over recent achievements, reflecting the SNA's focus on honoring in naval surface operations.

Transfer ceremonies and traditions

The transfer of the "Old Salt" designation occurs when the current holder retires or otherwise ceases to hold the earliest Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) qualification date among active-duty officers, passing custodianship to the next eligible recipient. Established by the Surface Navy Association (SNA) in , this process symbolizes the continuity of naval expertise and honors the Navy's tradition of recognizing seasoned officers as "Old Salts" for their accumulated knowledge and adherence to core values. Central to the transfer is a depicting a naval officer on a ship's deck, cast from metal salvaged from historic U.S. vessels, including the sunk in 1898. The features brass plates engraved with the names of previous recipients and an inscription of words from Arleigh , emphasizing the enduring legacy of experience. During the ceremony, the outgoing "Old Salt" physically hands over the to the successor, often accompanied by remarks on the significance of surface navy traditions and the passing of institutional wisdom. Upon retirement, the former holder receives a miniature replica of the as a permanent memento. Ceremonies typically take place at SNA events, such as national symposia, or formal settings like , attended by fellow officers, past recipients, and community members. For instance, on June 22, 2015, Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III transferred the designation to Vice Admiral Kurt W. Tidd at , highlighting the tribute to customs amid a gathering of shipmates and surface warriors. Similarly, on January 13, 2023, at the SNA's 35th National Symposium in Arlington, , the designation passed to Admiral , marking him as the 21st recipient effective October 27, 2025, following Admiral Philip Davidson's retirement. These rituals reinforce the SNA's parallel "Old Tar" designation for enlisted personnel, fostering a culture of and respect for longevity in roles. The tradition underscores causal continuity in naval leadership, where empirical experience from early qualifiers informs ongoing operations, distinct from mere seniority by title.

List of titleholders

The Old Salt designation, informally recognized within the for the active-duty (SWO) with the earliest qualification date, was formalized as an award by the Surface Navy Association in 1988 and is accompanied by a bronze statue of an on a ship's deck. The title transfers upon the holder's retirement or separation from to the next-eligible SWO based on qualification records verified by personnel offices. Known titleholders, in approximate chronological order of tenure (with ranks as referenced in official announcements), include: The pre-2018 holders are drawn from U.S. Navy records of prior transfers; the designation emphasizes continuous sea service expertise among flag and senior officers.

Significance in naval service

The Old Salt designation, conferred by the Surface Navy Association since 1988, symbolizes the Navy's prioritization of sustained operational expertise among surface warfare officers, particularly in an environment where technological complexity demands both tactical proficiency and historical perspective. It is awarded to the active-duty SWO possessing the earliest qualification date under the Surface Warfare Officer pin program, often representing over 30–40 years of sea service, including multiple ship commands and fleet assignments. This recognition counters potential erosion of hands-on knowledge by affirming that seniority in qualification correlates with irreplaceable insights into ship handling, damage control, and combat readiness derived from direct exposure to real-world maritime challenges. In naval service, the title enhances institutional continuity by positioning the recipient—frequently a in strategic roles—as a living repository of the surface fleet's evolving doctrines and lessons learned, from Cold War-era confrontations to contemporary distributed maritime operations. For instance, recipients like Adm. , who assumed the designation in 2021 as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, leverage their tenure to mentor subordinates and influence policy on fleet modernization and training regimens. The award's bronze statue, forged from metal salvaged from historic vessels such as the , embodies this lineage, with engravings of prior holders tracing a chain of command that links past sacrifices to present capabilities. Transfer ceremonies, conducted aboard ships or at commands, cultivate esprit de corps and reinforce core naval values of resilience and tradition, as noted in official proceedings: "The issuance of the Old Salt Award is a to the Navy's and traditions which call the respected, experienced, knowledgeable and senior officer the 'Old Salt.'" By publicly honoring this archetype, the signals to its officer corps the premium on sea time over shore-based specialization, thereby sustaining a culture where empirical maritime judgment informs at operational and strategic levels. This is evident in the designation's progression among leaders like Adm. (2018–2021) and Adm. (2025–present), whose commands have shaped Pacific deterrence and Atlantic readiness.

References

  1. https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2592599/fleet-forces-commander-becomes-navys-old-salt/
  2. https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2025/10/02/adm-james-kilby-receives-old-salt-award-for-tenured-service/
  3. https://seapowermagazine.org/old-salt-designation-passes-to-adm-christopher-grady/
  4. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/o/origin-navy-terminology.html
  5. https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/1669590/indo-pacific-command-chief-receives-old-salt-award/
  6. https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/497231/where-does-the-term-old-salt-originate
  7. https://marine-cafe.com/a-deep-dive-into-the-meaning-and-origin-of-old-salt/
  8. https://ijnh.seahistory.org/old-salts-in-the-new-steel-navy/
  9. https://gcaptain.com/salt-earth/
  10. https://www.yachtworld.com/research/seamanship-7-lessons-from-old-salt-captain-andy-mason/
  11. https://www.lighthousedigest.com/digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=3372
  12. https://bviyachtsales.com/beginners-guide-to-boat-terminology-top-yachting-terms-every-boater-should-know/
  13. https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/define-old-salt/1614
  14. https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?PortalId=1&ModuleId=523&Article=2248675
  15. https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/old-salt-designation-passes-to-vice-adm-kurt-tidd/
  16. https://www.marinelink.com/news/designation-passed-salt393879
  17. https://www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/news/front_center/mullen-named-old-salt-by-surface-navy-association/article_e0865633-fa7e-548c-accf-72c8e2f7edc8.html
  18. https://www.marinelink.com/news/designation-passes-salt313957
  19. https://www.history.navy.mil/news-and-events/news/2014/locklear-named-surface-navy-associations-old-salt.html
  20. https://surfacewarfare.org/programs/awards/
  21. https://www.marinelink.com/news/snas-old-salt-award-passed-adm-davidson-443093
  22. https://myusna.com/news/1417793
  23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idAO7j6JXcw
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