Did anyone else get "Blood Rank" and did it give you a greater sense of belonging over those who didn't get it?

2015-10-01T18:13:29-04:00

When I got my Sergeant Rank in Iraq I was given "Blood Rank", which for those who don't know is when the old Metal Insignia was put on you and your NCO's would pound them into your shoulders without the backs on, which caused you to slightly bleed. This was a somewhat normal thing in the old army from my understanding of my Uncle who was in Vietnam. I somehow felt closer to him & my fellow NCO's after that and was wondering if that is a normal consensus among those who had it done? I know in today's Army even if they still used Metal Insignia this wouldn't fly, but I always felt like an NCO even when I was demoted & was treated by many as such regardless. Has anyone else had this done & do you feel the same way?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 6:22 PM

2015-10-01T18:22:54-04:00

This was pretty normal (I participated a few times as a recipient). It didn't make me feel any closer or give me a better sense of belonging though.

The problems came from it being abused as a form of punishment. And then the fact that it didn't add any "value" only pain. Haha.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Oct 1 at 2015 7:20 PM

2015-10-01T19:20:18-04:00

Yep. Had this done upon commissioning and each promotion thereafter. When I commissioned my wife (and promoted her), I returned the tradition. Now, such shenanigans are pushed underground... and out of sight. The evolving rules regarding hazing has all but, eliminated this practice (at least with witnesses). Shellbacking was WAY worse than getting "pinned."

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 7:26 PM

2015-10-01T19:26:31-04:00

As a Marine when I picked up Cpl I was given both "blood ranks" and later that day all the NCOs got together to give me my Blood Strips. That's where you are kneed or punched in the thighs until you bruise and your thighs are just about completely black and blue. In my case I couldn't walk for about a day. But those where good times. I doubt that stuff happens anymore in any branch.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Oct 1 at 2015 7:26 PM

2015-10-01T19:26:44-04:00

I got my blood stripes. It was a proud if painful moment.

Response by SGT David T. made Oct 2 at 2015 9:00 AM

2015-10-02T09:00:41-04:00

I have always felt that this practice was absurd and never allowed someone to do it to me. I never did it to anyone either.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 2 at 2015 10:19 AM

2015-10-02T10:19:04-04:00

Never had the rank blooded on, but I DO remember "running the gauntlet" and "being rolled" after being promoted. Both hurt like hell a few hours after the adrenaline wore off. Ahh the good old days of hazing and no one GAF....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 12:01 PM

2015-10-02T12:01:48-04:00

When I got mine it was 3 females & 2 guys all standing beside each other. The guys got it but none of the females did from the 1st & CO. So after formation we did it to each other. One of my male NCO's said he would have done it to us because he knows how we felt about it. It does make you feel like you belong.

Response by 1SG Antwan Nicholson made Oct 2 at 2015 1:55 PM

2015-10-02T13:55:18-04:00

Ahhh, one of my fondest memories.... For me, it was not a wrong but excellent experience.

In March 1991 I was promoted to Sergeant in Saudi Arabia. During one of our overnight stops while traveling back from Iraq to our Division AO (Camp Eagle II) at King Faud International Airport, our 1SG had a GP medium set-up and all of NCOs were instructed to report there after chow (dinner).

Me and another recently promoted Sergeant stood outside of the tent (without backings on our medal rank of course) waiting to be inducted into the NCO Corps. When we went into the tent, the other NCO and I stood at attention while all of the NCOs in the Company (about 20 or so) lined up, read an inspirational passage from the Army Leadership Manual, poured red Kool-Aid (because there was no wine available) over our collars (from cups, canteens, five gallon cans, buckets...whatever they could find), then slammed both of their hands (some fist) onto our rank saying, "Welcome to the Corps". After we were totally drenched, cold, and bloodied, together we had to read the NCO Creed out loud (looking and sounding like idiots in the process) while the rest of the NCOs looked on. After that, 1SG welcomed us to the Corps then told all of the NCOs that for next seven days SGT Nicholson and SGT ? "will perform any detail in the Company you don't want to perform yourself...." Needless to say, we were stuck with all of the nasty details that come with a company on the move in the desert to in include human waste burning, garbage burning, human waste trench digging/buring, Sergeant of the Guard, etc.... I must say it was a very long and humbling week. I encountered leadership challenges along the way and I was able to get guidance/advice from all the NCOs. This advanced my learning curve exponentially faster than if I was left to learn at the "normal" pace.

Going through that experience, I really felt as if I was part of a brother/sisterhood. No one was allowed to be there but the NCOs. No Officers. No lower Enlisted. It was personal. I'm glad it wasn't a dog and pony show. To me, the way I've seen them done later on always appeared to be for the masses (the audience) and not the inductee.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 2:26 PM

2015-10-02T14:26:27-04:00

When I made Petty Officer Third Class, I got my Crow "tacked on," and then, when I qualified Submarines, a similar undertaking with my Dolphins. Later that night, I was brought the biggest beer I've ever seen in my life and my Dolphins were dropped in. I had to "drink my fish." Say what you will about hazing, but I for sure felt like an outsider until those "ceremonies."

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Jan 10 at 2018 9:37 PM

2018-01-10T21:37:30-05:00

I never received blood stripes as described by most of the comments here. When I came up we wore chevrons on the fatigues and dress greens. The practice, then, was to stand between your platoon sergeant and the first sergeant, and at a signal from them, they would ball up a fist and "plant" the stripes with such a jolt my arms were black and blue for a week.
To my understanding at that time, a "blood stripe" was one that was forfeited by demotion by another NCO and that stripe went to the next qualified man.

By the time metal rank insignia came on board (1966), no one pounded my E6 and E7 stripes to my fatigues.
Back in the early days, it was customary to soak your new stripes in a mug of beer (stripe baptisms) and drink it down before drying them and getting them sewn on the uniform.

Response by SPC(P) Mike Conley Jr. made Mar 28 at 2019 4:03 PM

2019-03-28T16:03:55-04:00

When I got my E3 and my E4 my 1SG punched me right in the rank before shaking my hand. Not the same thing but it's still kind of a fun tradition.

Response by SP6 James Curry made Mar 14 at 2020 3:17 PM

2020-03-14T15:17:57-04:00

Got blood rank in BNOC
In the woods. 11B . Ft Bragg. 3 E-5's, including me. 15 E-6. All E-6 gave me the blood rank. One pin broke off in skin. Hooah.

Response by SGT Justin Brothen made Mar 14 at 2020 4:23 PM

2020-03-14T16:23:17-04:00

Blood ranked in basic, upon making sgt just punched..... Alot in the chest. Didnt make me feel any more a soldier or nco to be honest.

Response by SGT Brianna MacKinnon made Mar 11 at 2021 4:26 PM

2021-03-11T16:26:19-05:00

I looked forward to having my Sgt's insignia pinned to my collar and then having them hit to welcome me to the NCO Ranks. The same when I was given my blood wings on graduation from the Air Assault Course at Ft Campbell KY.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2021 11:00 AM

2021-03-12T11:00:11-05:00

Getting my blood rank and blood stripes when I made Corporal in the Marines was my proudest day! I had to get carried up the 3 flights of stairs afterwards to my room and literally drag myself to the bathroom but I’m glad I was part of the breed that did get them.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2022 4:53 PM

2022-03-08T16:53:09-05:00

When I got my e4. Still in bdus God I miss them.

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made Mar 8 at 2022 5:21 PM

2022-03-08T17:21:27-05:00

To this was a right of passage for me. I have had not just rank but also Airborne & Air Assault wings done the blood way. some of my fondest memories of my 26 year US Army career. It gave me sense of belonging and brotherhood. In My opinion, service members today just don't get that feeling nor do they understand it. Sad to see some of these unspoken traditions go away to the more kindler & gentler military. Again, just my opinion.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 8 at 2022 5:31 PM

2022-03-08T17:31:16-05:00

Yes of course. Although I did put a moritorium on it for a while (in one of my units) when a soldiers pin got stuck in the shoulder collar bone. It picked up again when everyone stopped talking about it and Sokdiers asked to start it back up again.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Mar 9 at 2022 10:47 AM

2022-03-09T10:47:58-05:00

Not sure about that. I always thought of blood rank is that the soldier ahead of you got KIA or WIA, and the next in line got his stripes. It was not uncommon, back in the day before Shake and Bake Schools, for a draftee to come out in two years as a SGT or SSG, if he had his poop together.

Response by SGT Bobby Floyd made Mar 10 at 2022 12:11 PM

2022-03-10T12:11:56-05:00

I’m very proud to have gotten pinned. I smiled the whole way through