What causes the hatred between POGs and Grunts?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 19:09:47 -0400

I understand that blatant stupidity (Admit it, both Grunts and POGs get really STUPID when it comes to this) and just simple ignorance contribute to it. There are a lot more Non-Infantry MOSs than there are Infantry, not to mention the fact that the minority is ALWAYS the vocal one. Most of my experiences with Infantrymen they were absolute raging clowns about their being Infantry. Though I've also noticed this is more common among Junior Enlisted Infantrymen, as well as Infantrymen who haven't deployed. To build off of that, every single person I've met who WAS Infantry at one point and reclassed have been the complete opposite of those raging clowns. I guess I might have answered my own question while filling this out, but I'd still like to see other people's thoughts. And please... If all you have to contribute is, "AT THE PX THEY BOUGHT ALL THE NICE STUFF" or "THIS ONE TIME AT THE COP THEY WERE MEAN TO ME" don't even bother commenting.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 7:23 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 19:23:47 -0400

I think this rivalry comes more from the infantry side of things. There is a culture of misconception that the grunts are the ones that are on the lines doing battle while the POGs, FOBBITS, REMFS...are "safe" back in behind the wire eating hot chow and playing HALO.

This culture is fed by media portrayal as well. I don't recall seeing many movies about the heroic battles done by support MOSs.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 21 at 2015 7:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 19:24:19 -0400

The infantryman think they are badasses which they should be, and are the salt of the earth for the army. That being said, many are so egocentric about their status of being infantry they believe they are the only game in town. Occasionally I would maneuver my tank platoon and a few of the infantrymen heckled us, to which I replied and pointed that my main gun was bigger than anything they had. Some young soldiers don't understand that fighting a war is a combined arms operation. My Armor Battalion CO told me, "Ken the Tankers get all the glory, but we have got to show appreciation for all the support soldiers and units. They make the battalion run." To which I replied, "Yes sir!" lol

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Oct 21 at 2015 7:29 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 19:29:57 -0400

Grunts are basic folks who live in mud and sling bullets. They eat weird stuff and smell funny. By comparison, POG's are extremely intelligent. They live in the barracks, take showers (sometimes twice a day), dine on lobster tail, and smell like lilacs. Most grunts who lat move into a more... how should I say... "administrative" role, usually have an epiphany: POG's work is hard in its own right.

The Corps is somewhat unique: The over-riding philosophy is developed from OCS or Boot Camp: We're all Marines FIRST. Regardless of the MOS, our mission is unified: To locate, close with, and destroy the enemy. Some just have to do this from behind a monitor. Regardless of MOS, we all support the warfighters. Those who have re-classed just grab onto this concept earlier.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 21 at 2015 8:08 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 20:08:56 -0400

Hatred is the result of ignorance (on both sides).

Combat Arms of all flavors, requires support. You can't take a hill without beans, bullets, and bandaids, or the people who do all the paperwork behind the scenes. Without Combat Arms, those fields would have no need to exist. It's a symbiotic relationship.

Generally at the lower ranks, this turns into a have vs. have not issue though, because training camps have a requirement to be located in (pardon the phrase) crapholes. Infantry needs to be near deserts, mountains, or swamps to train. Non-Infantry, such as the Air Wing or Logistics need to be near Logistically viable locations with "roads" and the ability to move equipment. This in turn means that they have better stuff, just as a matter of practicality. Why put good stuff in a swamp or a desert when you can fly it or truck it in to a perfectly good location.

So the standards of living just end up being "different," and by different I mean better. Oh so much better. And I say this after doing 4 years with an Infantry BN. This doesn't make things "bad." Camp Horno wasn't bad when I was there. It was just in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains. If you were to compare that to mainside or even the wing, we probably probably had nicer barracks.. but their proximity to "civilization" and not having the same optempo & training schedule just makes it seem like a better life.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 10:19 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 22:19:10 -0400

It's because their sole existence is to support the Infantry! I'll take it even further every infantry MOS like machine gunners and mortar men exist to support the rifleman. Inside the all volunteer military the guys who sign up for the shittest job (infantry) take a lot of pride in that. The POGs enjoying lording their "superior intellengence" over the "dumb grunts". I've haven't seen that many movies about POGs but their are a lot of movies about the infantry and their special operations cousins. Haters gonna hate!

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Oct 21 at 2015 11:38 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 23:38:55 -0400

I didn't see much hatred but we did question why a few POGs got meritorious promotions to Cpl for just typing & pushing paper while we spent so much time out in the field.. But we needed to keep good relations with our POGs so we could get the inside scuttlebutt. And they were usually pretty accurate..

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Oct 22 at 2015 12:36 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 00:36:43 -0400

It may once again have just been places that I was stationed but I didn't see any hatred between groups.

Response by SSG Keith Fosmire made Nov 19 at 2015 4:58 PM

SSG Keith Fosmire — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 16:58:23 -0500

I was originally the ultimate POG, in the AF as a R&D electronics technician for advanced weapons concepts at the AFRL. I joined the AF with the hopes of being a PJ. Well long story short, bad eyes and blood pressure have dismissed me from joining. I knew I was meant to be a front line fighter, so I switched to the Army and practically begged to be an 11B. With that being said, I have met a lot of individuals from the soft MOS's that talk a big talk and really amp up their MOS. My favorite being "we are all Infantry first". The men I served with in both Iraq and Afghanistan are of a breed most can not and will not understand. I have had soldiers that had masters degrees, from rich families, switched services when the war came along. It is in the blood, I asked a brand new soldier in Iraq that was gunning my truck as we cruised down Irish, "what the f*** did you join the Infantry for?" His response was as pure as it could get "I want to kill people SSG!".
I loved my job in the Infantry and so do most Infantrymen. We looked for the enemy like crackheads looking for crack. I loaded my squad with men like the gunner I spoke of.
So when we see or hear a POG smirk or make some remark, it is easy to look at them like gatherers while we are the hunters.
Like I said, anyone can join the Infantry. I even turned down a $35000 sign on bonus to be a 25S, but how would my soul be if I did.
Today I am finishing my degree in Software Engineering, dislocated collar bone, tore up knees and feeling quite content that I was an Infantryman and I killed bad guys!

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Dec 29 at 2015 8:41 AM

SGT John " Mac " McConnell — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 08:41:54 -0500

I'm an Old school grunt.. Never heard of POG until a few years ago. All I got to say is that we needed each other for support. Whether is was for fuel,food,supply or combat support...We had each others back...period. Just a term ! Like SNAFU......laffs......I am sure that are quite a few more terms out their..
I don't think it is hatred Just envy between The rear and the gear...