What are the weirdest Army (or other branch) Traditions you know of?

SFC Joseph James — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 11:53:37 -0400

Do/ did you all have any interesting traditions in your unit? As a Forward Observer we used to make the new guys "Qualify" or "Koala fy" by straddling a tree upside down and either sing the Army song, or the 101st song. Also people who ETSed would throw their boots up on electric wires. What about you guys?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 9:26 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 09:26:21 -0400

I haven't seen any around, when I watched Jarheads I thought that I had to do something when I got to my 1st Unit but, this is a MI unit, I guess is different.

Response by MAJ Thomas Person made May 24 at 2016 9:05 AM

MAJ Thomas Person — Tue, 24 May 2016 09:05:06 -0400

ever try the Prop Blast? OMG what am I thinking. There is cussing and yelling and drinking....Relief for Cause!!!

Response by SGT Gary Sokol made Jun 2 at 2016 1:01 PM

SGT Gary Sokol — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 13:01:33 -0400

Engineers (heavy equipment operators)...had to be thrown in the mud hole.

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Jun 24 at 2016 4:39 AM

CPT Chris Loomis — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 04:39:58 -0400

Okay I have to ask, why would a Soldier that ETSd toss his boots on a wire???????

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 9:28 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 09:28:33 -0400

From what I gather, those officers who are leaving the service or are PCS-ing, will take their flight deck boots (usually tan) and tie them to the catapault system to have them fly off at 180 mph into the water.

I think it's a sign of passage. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, help me out in what the actual activity is.

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2016 12:36 PM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:36:36 -0400

My tankers (very sneakily) took their new commander's patrol cap and fired it out with a round to welcome him to the unit. However, these are the same tankers who are absolutely certain that apricots attract tank gremlins...so take it for what it's worth.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 4 at 2016 11:54 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 11:54:04 -0400

The truly weirdest all involve alcohol in copious amounts

Response by SFC Wayne Theilen made Aug 9 at 2016 8:44 AM

SFC Wayne Theilen — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 08:44:56 -0400

When there was a border mission. At a place called camp Gates. We use to take the new guys and tape them to the flag pole and cover them in whatever was at hand. Old food,shaving cream, GAA who knows what.

Response by LCpl Kenneth Heath made Aug 9 at 2016 9:04 AM

LCpl Kenneth Heath — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:04:32 -0400

"Pinning on" of rank. When promoted, everyone basically beats the shit out of you one shoulder at a time... we decided to stop the tradition when one guy passed out when hit from both sides at once.

Response by SPC Tommy Dean made Aug 9 at 2016 9:12 AM

SPC Tommy Dean — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:12:03 -0400

Tradition in the Army's 1st battalion 7th infantry, 3rd inf div. One didn't say good morning sir, or good evening sir, to an officer. One said to all officers of any rank, "Cottonbaler by God". To which the officer said, "Damn fine soldier". Kind of weird huh? I miss it though.
http://www.cottonbalers.com/about/creed.asp

7th Infantry Regiment Association | Cottonbalers | Cottonbaler Creed

The 7th Infantry Regiment Association

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Aug 9 at 2016 9:17 AM

CWO2 Shelby DuBois — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:17:32 -0400

"Buying' your first salute. Once commissioned, an officer should buy the first salute received and is expected to earn every one after that. Traditionally, it's paid for with a Silver Dollar. I was promoted to WO inside a building, and a young Corporal shadowed me for a couple hours just to run out and be the first to salute me and get that dollar. Either he really respected me or he was flat broke...either way, I was humbled.

Response by PO1 Gery Bastiani made Aug 9 at 2016 10:24 AM

PO1 Gery Bastiani — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:24:52 -0400

In the Navy when a ship crosses the equator all the newbees have to take the right of passage from being a paliwag to shell back. They are made to perform all kinds of stunts, crawl through rotten food, drink plenty of alcohol, then at the end they have to kiss the greased up belly of the fattest Chief on the ship

Response by GySgt Thomas Reichard made Aug 9 at 2016 10:38 AM

GySgt Thomas Reichard — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:38:29 -0400

Goes back a long way but at one time you'd see boots hanging from power lines outside the gates. When Marines EAS'd they'd tie the laces together and toss them over the lines when leaving for the last time. "I don't need these anymore."

I have a worn out pair of Jungle Boots hanging in my garage.

Response by CPT Steve Curley made Aug 9 at 2016 10:58 AM

CPT Steve Curley — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:58:27 -0400

With "Tongue firmly in cheek"

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Aug 9 at 2016 11:25 AM

SSG Mark Franzen — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 11:25:31 -0400

SEND SOMEONE DOWN TO THE FLIGHTLINE FOR A CAN OF AIRSTRIP.HAVE HIM GO ASK FOR STRIPPED PAINT.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Aug 9 at 2016 11:39 AM

SFC J Fullerton — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 11:39:55 -0400

"Challenge Coins". I know they are big deal to some, but never to me. I just threw them in a drawer or box and forgot about them. Every once in awhile one will turn up in a junk drawer or box of crap I haven't opened in years. Always thought it was funny when someone would have a shrine on their desk of all the coins they collected like it was a museum piece or something.

Response by Lt Col Robert Canfield made Aug 9 at 2016 11:49 AM

Lt Col Robert Canfield — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 11:49:43 -0400

"Dead bug" and "Carrier landings" during the final hours of a formal dining in. Yes it does involve copious amounts of alcohol. ..."Point of order Mr Vice...."

Response by MCPO Tom Miller made Aug 9 at 2016 12:01 PM

MCPO Tom Miller — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:01:24 -0400

Personally, traditions were brought about by years of service and stems from morale builders used to keep pride of service! All very important in their day and still useful in many respects! An old sailor who enjoyed them with laughter!

Response by CAPT Hiram Patterson made Aug 9 at 2016 12:53 PM

CAPT Hiram Patterson — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:53:56 -0400

Not weird, but the old, and sometimes infamous Navy Chief initiations. I was invited to one on Okinawa in '86 by one of my corpsmen as a defendant. Needles to say, it involved a lot of activities using raw eggs and liberal applications of "truth serum." It was a rarity if an officer ever attended one unless he was a Chief at one time. My CO on Guam was an O-6 who attended them on occasion as he was a former Master Chief Petty Officer.

Response by LTC Zachary Hubbard made Aug 9 at 2016 12:58 PM

LTC Zachary Hubbard — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:58:40 -0400

Artillery Punch...a concoction consumed in vast quantities by new inductees (and other willing FA-natics) to the Order of St. Barbara during induction ceremonies that traditionally takes place at an annual Field Artillery Ball or dining in. The recipe is simple...start with a punch bowl containing a big block of dry ice. Add a shot or two (or more) of every hard liquor available at the bar. (Purists of the British tradition only use Bourbon, Cognac and rum in what is known as Chatam Artillery Punch). Soften the mixture with a sufficient amount of red Hawaiian punch, cherry Kool-aid etc., to enable the inductees to drink the stuff without gagging. The mystical brew is traditionally consumed from a spent brass 105mm shell canister. Only the strong survive! I can't say I recall too many folks other than new St. Barbara's inductees drinking Artillery Punch willingly.

Response by SGT David Robison made Aug 9 at 2016 1:41 PM

SGT David Robison — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:41:34 -0400

My favorite was Black Cat Day in A Co 2-501 AVN CP Humphery's Korea. It does not happen often only on Friday the 13th that falls on a full moon. Basically black cat paw prints are painted all over the post and most any where else in the country were a Black Cat's maybe. Because of the post SGT Major's rock was covered in paw prints one year A Co lost the right to have our rock painted. It is a plain white rock, until midnight every night when the CQ has to paint a single black paw print on it. At 0600 everyday is painted over to revert back to a plain white rock. It is actually a post SDO and BN SDO check every night to make sure it is done. Black Cat forever

Response by CW3 Geoffrey Cline made Aug 9 at 2016 3:27 PM

CW3 Geoffrey Cline — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 15:27:42 -0400

"Tacking" on your stripes when you get promoted (enlisted).

Response by CW5 Donna Smith made Aug 9 at 2016 3:30 PM

CW5 Donna Smith — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 15:30:40 -0400

Send a brand new 2LT to the supply for a box of grid squares!! Once the LT left the building, we would call the supply SGT and give him/her a heads up. It was great fun. Finally the LT would return exacerbated and we would then point to the 1:50,000 map on the wall and show him what grid squares really were. Great fun, no harm.

Response by SPC Christopher Perrien made Aug 9 at 2016 3:46 PM

SPC Christopher Perrien — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 15:46:54 -0400

Short-timer's wheels. Little Curtain holder in Germany worn under pocket at 30 days or less. Seeing how many days on a tank you could go without touching the ground in field in Germany, particularly Hohenfels because of the mud. (11 days for me, till finally ordered by TOP to show for chow). Tank Loader wearing split shined boot for gunnery and you could tell how well the tank did by the number of melted spots on the boots afterwards. Same thing with wearing spit shined boots in the field and that first time you had to jump off into 1-2-3 foot of mud.

Beast Master award- Given to the winner of the Beast Master Contest. A case of beer given to whoever picked up and did the ugliest girl at the bar. This sort of thing typified how Fort Polk and Leesville/Sleazville was at the time.

Hate life award- (a case of beer also) Who could be the most hungover for morning PT, also whether you vomited or not during the avg. 3-5 mile run counted. Criteria varied a lot and comedy was important.

Funkmaster award , an actual plaque given to out to platoon members who went 2 weeks or more without taking a shower.

Response by SSG Marty Hallgren made Aug 9 at 2016 4:57 PM

SSG Marty Hallgren — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 16:57:34 -0400

While assigned to an engineer battalion in the early 70's the 1SGT had a "tradition" with new officers. He would circle the company around a bulls-eye of engineer tape. He then would go into a long speech about trusting your men and how great leaders listen to their troops. After that he launched into a veritable ode to the pickaxe/mattock. Upon producing said pickaxe and blindfold he further explained that with the blindfold the initiate would have to listen to the directions of the shouts to swing the axe into the bulls-eye. The new officer's smooth entry into the culture of the engineers was dependent on successful listening and obliteration of the target. Needing to be accepted the officer readily accepted the challenge and grabbed the pick with gusto making several test swings nodding his approval to the tribal circle gathered to accept him. The 1SGT would then approach the subject ask for his cap...so new and sparkly with a fresh gold bar...he would hold it for him. With the blindfold in place the 2LT was given a short spin around and directions where given to the circled mass to "help" him find the target. All during this prelude the troops were noticeably silent not sure how to react. The 1SGT then would hold the cap aloft...displaying it like a ghoulish trophy and with all the respect he could muster throw the cap into the bullseye. Suddenly the gathered throng had a purpose and erupted in yelps, screams and shouted directions. As he swung the pick with gusto and slowly dug a furrow closer to the glistening bar the crowd noise swelled. Finally, reaching his target and impaling this brand new cap and bar on the pick the roar became deafening and the officer assumed a maniacal like demeanor destroying the turf with the cap stabbed on the tip of the axe...the gold bar now mangled beyond recognition. Finally, the 1SGT would call a halt to the devilish event. The officer now was in a sweaty lather, out of uniform and out of breath. The axe was carefully handed over and the blind fold removed. "Sir", bellowed the 1SGT, "you have now been inducted into the PickAxe Hall of Fame. Welcome to Charlie Company.". The gathered throng erupted in applause and approving cheers.

Not sure why we stopped the practice might have had something to do with the base commander driving by and seeing what appeared to be the public humiliation of one of his officers.

Response by SPC Timothy Hager made Aug 9 at 2016 5:18 PM

SPC Timothy Hager — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 17:18:38 -0400

Apricots where not even allowed on my tank. Very much bad luck .

Response by LTC William Bridgeman made Aug 9 at 2016 8:54 PM

LTC William Bridgeman — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 20:54:19 -0400

The strangest tradition I ever heard of was told to me by a great soldier I was privileged to work for back in the late '60s, MAJ Ed Fricke. It seems that in the 173d Airborne, when it was on occupation duty in Japan after WWII, each company had a mascot appropriate the company designation. "C" company had a cat, "D" company a dog, "H' company a hog, etc. The mascot was expected to jump just like the troopers, the smaller ones as accompanying loads, but the larger ones rigged out alone. Fricke, then a PFC, had the misfortune to be in "B" company, which had a bear. It was his further misfortune to be assigned to rig the bear. The bear, however, didn't like to jump, and he knew what awaited him when the harness came out. A desperate battle ensued every time an attempt was made to rig the bear, get it aboard the aircraft, and get it out the door. "H' company hardly fared better, the hog hit the ground undamaged, derigged itself, and ran away.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 9:18 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 21:18:31 -0400

send some one for bulkhead (wall) remover, to get a yard of flight line, take an exhaust sample, to find the keys for the jet, get some prop wash, or a personal favorite that I never got to send anyone for sound powered telephone batteries.

Response by CPT Geoffrey Lea made Aug 9 at 2016 10:22 PM

CPT Geoffrey Lea — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 22:22:59 -0400

At Airborne school, used to be when you were pinned with your Airborne wings after your last jump (night jump), an instructor followed and pounded the wings which did not have the backs on, into your chest drawing blood. Some folks would tape something under their fatigues before the last jump. Most took it as it was meant, a mark of honor.

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 10:54 PM

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 22:54:03 -0400

SFC Joseph James the Navy by far has the strangest traditions you could find anywhere. The one I strictly adhere to is never washing a coffee mug. In the navy such an action is a mortal sin. The inside of my coffee mug is a dark brown, almost black from all the years of coffee that have been drank from her. Shipboard Sailors can tell you Naval traditions that would turn the stomach of a lesser man. ;)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 9:43 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 09:43:35 -0400

"Blood Pinning." But Airborne School and Infantry School were pretty well-known for it. When you earn your wings or your Crossed Rifles, your instructor/DS would come by, pin them on you and then slam them home with a solid punch. with the Crossed Rifles, the pins went on your collar, right above your collar bone. You ever tried to pull a .16 gauge pin out of your own collarbone? It hurts. But it was absolutely worth it.

Response by SSgt Paul Esquibel made Aug 10 at 2016 10:21 AM

SSgt Paul Esquibel — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:21:58 -0400

Unfortunately today allot of traditions that were done in the past have now been labeled harassment or objectifying, which makes you feel bad because within those traditions you get a story, some espr de corp and bring most people together. In Korea we call it your "Green Bean" & "Brown Bean", your Green Bean is your first night in Korea or weekend where you are introduced to the wonders of Soju and the effects it has on you to include it's tastless, which by end of the night if your not covered in BBQ from chicken on stick and speaking random Korean words you didn't accomplish it correctly. Your Brown Bean is when your leaving Korea which usually is like your Green Bean experience times 100 because you have built up some tollerance over the past year

Response by LTC Tim Ellis made Aug 10 at 2016 10:33 AM

LTC Tim Ellis — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:33:43 -0400

I recall an Aviation BN that used to hold naked chem light races, that's kind of weird.

Response by SFC Don Vance made Aug 10 at 2016 10:45 AM

SFC Don Vance — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 10:45:14 -0400

In the Korea in the early 80s the new guys had to participate in a "thunder run". Very few were able to complete it but there was copious amounts of alcohol!!!

Response by SGM Harvey Boone made Aug 10 at 2016 4:09 PM

SGM Harvey Boone — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 16:09:25 -0400

Tossing a hat in cooper river on the return from sea.

Response by CPT Dave Brest made Aug 10 at 2016 4:42 PM

CPT Dave Brest — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 16:42:11 -0400

As an Army officer, we were told that , unlike other services, Army officers were NEVER to carry an umbrella. Officers of the other services were permitted, but we were to rely on only the plastic , elastic cover that fit over our uniform cap. Very strange custom !

Response by Sgt Lowell Tackett made Aug 10 at 2016 6:48 PM

Sgt Lowell Tackett — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 18:48:46 -0400

The Marine Corps has some very strict (i.e. no committee discussion allowed) traditions. A couple of them go hand-in-hand. A Marine is NEVER covered (wearing a 'hat') indoors, nor uncovered out of doors; additionally, a Marine will NEVER render a salute if uncovered (mostly, of course, indoors). Here's the twist: A Marine indoors, while armed, MUST be covered, and will therefor render a salute to an appropriate recipient. Confused yet?! Boot camp took care of the confusion for all who survived it. Years and YEARS later I was pondering this quirky rule, and came up with my own answer. Makes sense to me. The Marines were originally founded to provide a police and fighting force aboard American [Naval] ships. This was back 'in the day' when I [believe] that officers suffered a legitimate threat from an often disgruntled and always dangerous crew. Marines were therefor on board to act as a body guard force, as well as being the combatants when required (the Navy guys were busy manning the ship). Any Marine (perhaps while on guard) who was armed, needed to be instantly recognized as so, and thus the tradition of being covered while armed, and uncovered when not, aided the officers in knowing who around them carried a weapon and [may] be a threat. Additionally, the armed (and covered) Marine would render a salute to nearby officers, following the old tradition of knights greeting one another with an open palm displayed, to symbolically gesture a "no weapon, no threat" message. The British standard of saluting with the palm displayed forward more directly reflects that older style. And, woe be to the man who remained uncovered and was found to be carrying a weapon...! This is purely my take, and I've never researched it (what're the odds I'd actually find an answer...?!). And, I'm sticking to my story.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2016 1:41 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 01:41:47 -0400

As a Submariner when you earned your Dolphins they would throw you off the pier and then you would have to drink a water pitcher with alcohol, soda and what ever the bar tender put in to it till the dolphins were in your month and of course they would tack them on you.

Response by SSgt Rick Glime made Aug 11 at 2016 2:01 PM

SSgt Rick Glime — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 14:01:16 -0400

We got tossed into the "Alligator pond" at Ft. Stewart on our last day. There was 1 alligator in that pond, by the way!

Response by Sgt John Koliha made Aug 11 at 2016 5:54 PM

Sgt John Koliha — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:54:53 -0400

Marine Corps has to have the weirdest.

When Marines die and go to heaven, they have to pull GUARD DUTY!!

Response by SGT Armando Nunez made Aug 12 at 2016 1:01 PM

SGT Armando Nunez — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 13:01:47 -0400

On my old company(761st Chemical company at Ft. Ord, CA, a smoke & Devon unit). We used to have 2,000 gallons collapsible water tanks called blivets. During desert storm we had one for the field shower. When someone got promoted, got tossed on it(yes I got tossed). Later, to have a good laugh after morning formation, we tossed someone. Even the 1SG was thrown once! One day,a group of soldiers from the headquarters platoon went to the supply tent,after a few minutes they came out carrying the supply sergeant completely naked. They threw him so hard that he flipped in the air and went head first in the blivet! We kept the tradition the last time we did it was on our company's COC ceremony! Both the old & new CO were tossed. Those were the days!

Response by SGT Armando Nunez made Aug 12 at 2016 1:33 PM

SGT Armando Nunez — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 13:33:17 -0400

During PLDC, we went to a dine out ceremony. One of the rituals was drinking ”grog". It consisted of the following. The cadre wheeled in the "punch bowl" that looked like an old interior of an outhouse, with a toilet seat to boot. One of the Sergeants read on the podium the battles were the army was involved & the liquor from that area. The other Sergeant poured a reddish liquid inside the " punch bowl".After they finished with the ceremony, we brought our canteen cups,scooped the grog from the " punch bowl" & drank it. It tasted HORRIBLE!, If we did a bad skit or did an infraction, the punishment was to go and get a cup full of grog.

Response by SFC Charles Temm made Aug 14 at 2016 1:08 PM

SFC Charles Temm — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:08:32 -0400

When I was in 1/27 Inf (25th ID), the platoon I was in had a tradition of dumping a bucket of crap on newly promoted troops. Garbage, ketchup, mud, beer to symbolize the trials & tribulations of a grunt...it was one of the only tradition I ended once I became PSG.

Response by SSG William Schaffer made Aug 19 at 2016 12:13 PM

SSG William Schaffer — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 12:13:51 -0400

You know I got a chuckle reading this post. I must tell you guys......damn I miss it. And of course no real Infantryman would look up at the dark clouds and say "Dang, looks like R#%$'

Response by CW3 Geoffrey Cline made Aug 25 at 2016 6:51 PM

CW3 Geoffrey Cline — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 18:51:19 -0400

At times Army E-6s that make SFC happen to be stationed at Joint Service facilities. If you happen to have friends in the Navy, you may be invited to undergo the famous "Chief's Initiation Process". If you are successful, you will receive your "Anchors", which you then wear underneath the flap of your pocket on your fatigues. Awesome.