Tell the community: Does anyone have or had "rituals" that they perform before training events. i.e wearing lucky socks on a foot march.

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 23:02:43 -0400

blog.uspatriottactical.com/military-superstitions/

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2015 11:15 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 23:15:04 -0400

Nope, I just ruck up and make it happen.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 13 at 2015 11:40 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 23:40:51 -0400

Didn't eat or drink coffee before a pistol match. It made my hand shake.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Jun 13 at 2015 11:51 PM

MAJ Ron Peery — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 23:51:42 -0400

I used to play the theme song for "Star Trek: Voyager" over the battalion net before starting a major road march. It pumped up the troops.

Response by SGT Edward Perez made Jun 14 at 2015 2:01 AM

SGT Edward Perez — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 02:01:38 -0400

Im a typical grunt, when i was in. Only luck device i (we) had was BEER. In the 82nd you really dont use relics other than your religious medals. And a oh shit i hope i get up from this.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2015 5:52 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 05:52:06 -0400

I had a specific shirt and pair of compression shorts, boots and socks I preferred to wear, especially for competitions.

Response by SGT Edward Thomas made Jun 14 at 2015 9:05 AM

SGT Edward Thomas — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 09:05:59 -0400

For the APFT, on the night before I would eat spaghetti and before the three events I would take a good shot of honey. Never failed.

Response by SSG Adam Wyatt made Jun 14 at 2015 9:14 AM

SSG Adam Wyatt — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 09:14:09 -0400

A couple cups of coffee and a smoke right before (and sometimes during) APFT or ruck.

Response by 1SG Cameron M. Wesson made Jun 14 at 2015 10:49 AM

1SG Cameron M. Wesson — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 10:49:13 -0400

Not I. Depending on the risk of the event I might throw a prayer to "Big Sky 6"... but normally i'd ruck up and move out.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 14 at 2015 4:28 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 16:28:11 -0400

Used to kiss my St. George medal.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 14 at 2015 4:30 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 16:30:31 -0400

Made sure that there were no apricots on the tank. Bad juju.

Response by SFC John Birks made Jun 16 at 2015 6:21 PM

SFC John Birks — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 18:21:57 -0400

I don't know about travel, but I had a few rituals I would do before a tank gunnery. Like have the Chaplain bless the tank, when at all possible use even numbered lot numbers on my .50 cal ammo.... :)
I had a gunner that would wear his "lucky" cravat around his neck.
A lot of us had our superstitions about stuff like that..

Response by SGM (R) Antonio Brown made Jun 18 at 2015 12:58 AM

SGM (R) Antonio Brown — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 00:58:31 -0400

While on Jump Status, before every Airborne Op I would get dressed and put left boot on then my right. Dust my boots off twice and once we made to Pope Air Force Base I would make a collect phone call to my Mom. When deployed, I would count vehicles and personnel twice and I would touch each vehicle before we went out on a convoy.