International
Code of
Signals (ICS)
OSCAR

A Brief History of the Origins of our Logo

USNA Out has never officially adopted our current logo design. Now through common usage, the “Oscar with Trident” has become the symbol known the world around as the mark of USNA Out.

The original design came from the need for a “FAV ICON” for our website placed into service in February, 2005. A favicon is that little icon in the web browser page address field, sometimes on the webpage tab. Favicons are 16x16 pixels. Some examples of other favicons are on our “links” page.

There was no specific reason other than thinking of “O” for “Out” that the Oscar flag popped into mind of our web guru. The oscar flag was a simple, two color design, easy to create the .PNG and .ICO files needed for our website favicon. The Oscar flag was temporarily inserted into the headline banner of our web pages until a organizational logo could be developed.

Joe Soto ‘83 sporting
the USNA Out T-shirt running
the Annapolis Ten Miler

In February 2005, USNA Out sponsored a “Logo Design Contest” amongst the members with a deadline of 1 April. With no entires, the deadline was extended until after tax day, yet still no entries were received. As a nautical icon had already been recognized by most every alumnus of the Naval Academy who had a plebe year, the Oscar remained the favorite and accepted icon through common usage.

The OSCAR with
contemporary
tridenti sine polum overlay

Prior to the 2008 Annapolis 10 miler, a graphic artist friend of Jeff Petrie modified the Oscar flag with the overlaid contemporary tridenti sine polum. USNA Out legal counsel Randall Henderson '69 then acquired on behalf of USNA Out the unrestricted universal rights for USNA Out to use the logo with the overlay from the designer for use in the OUT of ANNAPOLIS film.

Today, the Oscar with Trident design can be found on tailgater flags, our racing t-shirts and on the lapels of USNA Out members who have made contributions to USNA Out.