What is considered a grunt in reference to the term POG?

PO1 Christopher Gómez — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 02:55:10 -0500

Which MOSs, AFSCs, and Rates/NECs are considered grunts? Is it only Army 11B and Marine 0311 or are there others? I assume all special forces/special warfare qualify. What about groups like military police who commonly go out on patrols outside the wire with infantry units? The USAF SF is the 'infantry' of the Air force, do they qualify as grunts? It is just a term I hear disparagingly and quite often in military and veteran groups so I was looking for some clarification as "people other than grunts" is a very broad and general term open to interpretation.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2021 5:35 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 05:35:39 -0500

Depends on who you talk to honestly. Some say Infantry only, some are more accepting of all combat arms, and others include Docs so long as they served as combat medics. Different answers from different people.

Everyone else is a POG outside of those branches in general. The term annoys people, others don't care whatsoever.

Ultimately it's about bravado and MOS pride, which is important but shouldn't be taken all that seriously. I've met infantry that have never seen combat or deployed and I've met cooks that have engaged the enemy.

War's weird now, it's not like my grandad and great grandad's days with front lines and uniformed combatants. Everyone supports the fight in their own way and they should find some pride in that. If you're a a POG just be good at it, and absorb that combat training when you get it. If you're a grunt, be proud because you guys are the spear and your life probably sucks in general because Uncle Sugar needs your life to suck.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2021 6:48 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 06:48:30 -0500

MPs are the biggest POGs of them all, because they give tickets for going 2mph over the speed limit.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Mar 13 at 2021 8:43 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 08:43:46 -0500

All 11 series, not just B. Not MPs, even that was once referred to as the chick infantry at USMA back when WACs could not be in the Infantry. LOL One made a name for herself as an MP Captain and collected a SS when we invaded Panama. That is what started the moniker.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2021 11:03 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 11:03:51 -0500

Everyone's a grunt when it's time to load the connex! (I mean there is a lot of grunting)
Or time for NTC/JRTC and now everyone's a groant

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 13 at 2021 11:16 AM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 11:16:34 -0500

In my day they were REMFs. I have to go with almost all MOSs that start with a 1 as long as they servedin a combat zone.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 13 at 2021 11:22 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 11:22:31 -0500

GRUNT:
Army Infantry
Army Special Forces
Marine Infantry
MARSOC Operators
Navy SEALs

POG:
Literally everyone else.

Response by SGT Ed Matyjasik made Mar 13 at 2021 12:17 PM

SGT Ed Matyjasik — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 12:17:06 -0500

All I know is in Vietnam we were GRUNTS and proud of it, 11B.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2021 12:42 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 12:42:54 -0500

This is the age old question. Grunts are infantry. Many like to think the term encompasses others but just because you do something that is infantry-like doesn't mean you're infantry. Military Police are not a maneuver asset. They are an enabler. Maneuver units are the ones that close with and destroy the enemy as their mission. Armor and Cav are also maneuver. What makes you a grunt is that your only job is to go out and destroy the enemy.

I have never heard the USAF SF called "infantry of the AF." I know they used to have mortarmen in the past. But once again just because you are doing a basic skill doesn't mean you are qualified. Everyone in the Army should be able to go on a patrol. Army SF are not grunts. They are a different level. Pog is used in a derogatory manner often. I don't think it is a professional term. You will usually see someone that is trying to boost of their accolades call someone a Pog. Personal I love all of the sustainers and enablers. They make my life a lot easier.

Major H.G. Duncan of the United States Marine Corps once defined a grunt as, “a term of affection used to denote that filthy, sweaty, dirt-encrusted, footsore, camouflage-painted, tired, sleepy, beautiful little son of a b*tch who has kept the wolf away from the door for over two hundred years.”

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2021 1:10 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 13:10:31 -0500

POG = Person Other than Grunt.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 13 at 2021 1:23 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 13:23:43 -0500

If you have to ask..... You're a POG.

Generally speaking, grunts know they are grunts. If you call a grunt a POG, one of two things will happen. Most likely they will laugh at you. Occasionally they will prove their Gruntness violently.

If you don't know if you are a grunt, you DEFINITELY are not. If you THINK you are a grunt, you probably are not. If you KNOW you are a grunt, you probably are.

Generally speaking, if your primary duty is direct combat, you are a grunt. Combat medics are not grunts - but may be granted temporary grunt status when they are in a line platoon (and pulling their own weight). HUMINTers are not grunts - but may be granted temporary grunt status if they are attached to a line platoon - but ONLY IF they are doing all the standard room clearing shit until a bad guy is captured for their field interrogation. If they are hanging out in the MRAP waiting until everything is safe, they aren't grunts. Etc.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 13 at 2021 4:35 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 16:35:42 -0500

Better a POG than a REMF.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2021 4:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 16:54:25 -0500

I went on multiple patrols, convoys, and escort runs as a commo guy. Had multiple...disagreements...with the locals.

The Ops SGM of my battalion went out with QRF once and fired a few rounds at a retreating enemy.

He didn’t hesitate to puff out his CIB and call me a pog and say my CAB was bullshit. So whatever guy.

Response by 1SG Ernest Stull made Mar 13 at 2021 8:23 PM

1SG Ernest Stull — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 20:23:16 -0500

Infantry is your primary grunt. Every one else is support In the Army. A Marine is first a grunt before he gets is or identifier. Then you have the special operaters. Security Forces and Maps could be a grunt depends on their Combat role. How ever due to the changing of the mission just about anyone in my opinion who closes with and destroys the enemy is a grunt.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Mar 13 at 2021 11:13 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 23:13:32 -0500

In the Marine Corps the Infantry field is 0300. So any variation of that field would still be Infantry. 0311, 0331, 0321, 0317, etc etc.

Either you are Infantry or you are a person other than a Grunt "POG". Very cut and dry.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Mar 13 at 2021 11:15 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 23:15:02 -0500

I have never heard anyone in the Navy or Air Force referred to as a Grunt. Regardless of MOS. Because there are no Infantry MOS's in either branch.

Response by PO1 Christopher Gómez made Mar 14 at 2021 3:56 AM

PO1 Christopher Gómez — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 03:56:34 -0400

Thank you all for your responses. I have a better understanding of this term now and why it is used by some.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 14 at 2021 10:16 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 10:16:52 -0400

The Air Force front line warfighters are mostly aircrew and many of them are pilots. I never heard a pilot refer to themselves as grunts. In addition to aircrew, security forces, pararescue, combat controllers are combat AF members. Closer to grunts. I guess the entire Service is POGs. Some AF folks distinguish between sortie generating AFSC and non-sortie generating AFSC, called nonners. Example: aircraft crew chief is sortie generating. Finance clerk isn’t. Similar to the Grunt/POG distinction.

This whole discussion is fine for cartoons and casual conversations. It has no place in policy or official communication. We are one team one fight. Any thing else will fail.

Response by CPL Larry Frias Jr made May 13 at 2023 12:17 PM

CPL Larry Frias Jr — Sat, 13 May 2023 12:17:46 -0400

A grunt is a grunt 24/7 ….and is usually KIA MIA or AWOL at some point before he becomes ETS and a PFC …proud f…ing civilian …got it ?????