Rules for the Non-Military

[TTEscrima]

This email is making its way through the different vet organizations, thought I'd share it with the vets here.
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Dear Civilians, 'We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military.

For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance:

1. The next time you see any adults talking (or wearing a hat) during the playing of the National Anthem - kick their ass.

2. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in protest - kick their ass.

3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices
these veterans made to make this Nation great.

Then hold them down while a disabled veteran kicks their ass.

4. (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were..
Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be 'Special Forces,' and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old. Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked.

5. Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, 'Do you fly a jet?' Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are exempt).

6. If you witness someone calling the US Coast Guard 'non-military', inform them of their mistake - and kick their ass.

7. Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart.
Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her - of course, failure to do either of those could earn you a severe ass-kicking.

8. Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran. We are Americans, and we all bleed the same, regardless of our party affiliation. Our Chain of Command is to include our Commander-In-Chief (CinC). The President (for those who didn't know) is our CinC regardless of political party. We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all th ose representatives meet; all we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out. If you keep asking us the same stupid questions repeatedly, you will get your ass kicked!

9. 'Your mama wears combat boots.' never made sense to me - stop saying It! If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore could kick your ass!

10. bin Laden and the Taliban are not Communists, so stop saying 'Let's go kill those Commies!' And stop asking us where he is! Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military. That reminds me - if you see anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers, let me know, so I can go kick
their ass!

11. 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (Army), 'Squid' (Navy), 'Puddle Jumpers' (Coast Guard), etc., are terms of endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or vet, you have not earned the right to use them. Using them could get your ass kicked.

12. Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their families.


Thank our military for the sacrifices they make every day. Without them, our country would get it's 'ass kicked.'

'It's the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.'

'It's the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.'

'It's the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.'

'It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.

[Hardball]

4. (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were..
Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be 'Special Forces,' and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old. Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked.

Also, if you WERE in the Military DON'T OVEREXAGGERATE what you did while in the service. For example, if you were regular Army don't get caught with Ranger patches on your uniform. Another example, if you were a PFC DONT tell people you were a Staff Sgt. Keep it real. These are just a few examples. Remember, if you were in the Service don't overexaggerate what you did. And Finally, If your military service never took you to Combat don't pretend you saw Combat. You may not get your Arse kicked but you sure will be labeled a Wannabee.

[Tom Yum]

Some other pertinent information:

All enlisted men who enter bootcamp start at the bottom: PFC, SR (E-1). All civillian officer candidates who enter OCS get auto E-5 or otherwise retain their rank if they are a 'Mustang' officer (prior enlisted).

Most enlisted bootcamp graduates retain a rank of E-1 or get early promoted to E-2, depending on performance.

After graduation, new Marines, Sailors, Soldiers whom have college education or a certain amount of ROTC experience can get bumped up to CPL, SPC, SN etc. (E-4/E-3).

New officers graduate with the rank of O-1 (2nd LT - Marines/Army or Ensign - Navy).

An NCO is a non-commissioned officer in the US Armed Services. This is an individual who is enlisted, has served for a number of years and is responsible for getting things done through delegation or hands on oversight.

A commissioned officer has completed ROTC (college-based military training) or OCS (officer bootcamp) is in charge of planning/oversight and is on a higher rank structure than enlisted men.

Enlisted men salute officers. Officers return the salute, dropping their salute first, then the enlisted drop their salute.

[TTEscrima]

Some other pertinent information:

All enlisted men who enter bootcamp start at the bottom: PFC, SR (E-1).

Not all, unless they've massively changed things in the last year. Granted I joined the Navy when when the ships had wooden hulls, LOL but I know Boar and I were both E-3's from day one of boot camp due to special programs we both qualified for with promotion to Petty Officer 3rd class upon graduation from our respective schools.

[Hardball]

Not all, unless they've massively changed things in the last year. Granted I joined the Navy when when the ships had wooden hulls, LOL but I know Boar and I were both E-3's from day one of boot camp due to special programs we both qualified for with promotion to Petty Officer 3rd class upon graduation from our respective schools.

I was E3 in Boot also. Probably because I had a college degree and scored High on the entrance exam.

[TTEscrima]

I was E3 in Boot also. Probably because I had a college degree and scored High on the entrance exam.

Yeah, when the administer the ASVAB's they also study how people carry themselves. For instance, if you can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time they offer you Officer Candidate School if you'll join the Marines.

[Hardball]

Yeah, when the administer the ASVAB's they also study how people carry themselves. For instance, if you can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time they offer you Officer Candidate School if you'll join the Marines.

Well, the old school NCO'S didn't really like us "College Boys". They gave us a really hard time. There were a couple of us in my unit.

[Tom Yum]

Not all, unless they've massively changed things in the last year. Granted I joined the Navy when when the ships had wooden hulls, LOL but I know Boar and I were both E-3's from day one of boot camp due to special programs we both qualified for with promotion to Petty Officer 3rd class upon graduation from our respective schools.

Special Programs/College-Education/High-Scores will get you E-3 in your contract, which kicks in after completion of bootcamp but while you are in bootcamp, you're an E-1.

[Tom Yum]

Well, the old school NCO'S didn't really like us "College Boys". They gave us a really hard time. There were a couple of us in my unit.

It depends. Nowadays, it seems like most NCO's have completed a good deal of college themselves if they don't already have a degree.

[Hardball]

Special Programs/College-Education/High-Scores will get you E-3 in your contract, which kicks in after completion of bootcamp but while you are in bootcamp, you're an E-1.

Things have changed since 1981 because I was E-3 (Army PFC) in boot camp and put on the E4 promotion list 4 months after my first duty station.

[Hardball]

It depends. Nowadays, it seems like most NCO's have completed a good deal of college themselves if they don't already have a degree.

I served when the Army was rebuilding from Vietnam. Most NCO's were Nam vets.

[TTEscrima]

Special Programs/College-Education/High-Scores will get you E-3 in your contract, which kicks in after completion of bootcamp but while you are in bootcamp, you're an E-1.

That sucks!! I drew E-3 pay from day one, didn't get to sew my stripes on until graduation but at least I got paid for it. Then I had two weeks paid leave until my school had a billet! 17 years old and a pocket full of cash!! Boot was longer in those days, but we didn't have to wear those silly leggings they started making them wear about 1981.

[Hardball]

That sucks!! I drew E-3 pay from day one, didn't get to sew my stripes on until graduation but at least I got paid for it.

I got to wear my E-3 stripes from day one. I will never forget the deep resentment from some of the E-1's. Perhaps thats why they changed the rules.

[Tom Yum]

New Uniforms

Do you know about the new uniforms?

I got issued all standard old-school uniforms during bootcamp and behold about a year later, the uniforms have changed.

- Blue-digitized BDUs are replacing the old jumpers for all enlisted/officers

http://www.new-navy-uniform.com/picture-nwu.html

- Black slacks/Khaki tops are replacing the working blues/whites.

http://www.new-navy-uniform.com/picture-nsu.html

- The Navy has a standard issue PT uniform that's Blue and Gold. No longer is there random mix & match of civillian atire.

http://www.new-navy-uniform.com/pt_uniform.html

- Specwar/Combat-related Programs still issue UDTs and brown shirts and old-school jungle cammies.

Talking to friends who were prior-enlisted, the Navy is becoming a more professional and direct action organization. They're bringing back the ole Riverine Units, beefing up combat training skills for Seabees, offering Infantry training and deployments (IA) and upping the recruiting for NSW.

In addition, the Navy is looking for more globally-skilled sailors. The linguist rate and foreign area officers seem to be sought after as well.

[TTEscrima]

Do you know about the new uniforms?

I got issued all standard old-school uniforms during bootcamp and behold about a year later, the uniforms have changed.

- Blue-digitized BDUs are replacing the old jumpers for all enlisted/officers
Navy Working Uniform Pictures

- Black slacks/Khaki tops are replacing the working blues/whites.
New Navy Uniform Picture

- The Navy has a standard issue PT uniform that's Blue and Gold. No longer is there random mix & match of civillian atire.
Navy PT Uniform

- Specwar/Combat-related Programs still issue UDTs and brown shirts and old-school jungle cammies.

Talking to friends who were prior-enlisted, the Navy is becoming a more professional and direct action organization. They're bringing back the ole Riverine Units, beefing up combat training skills for Seabees, offering Infantry training and deployments (IA) and upping the recruiting for NSW.

In addition, the Navy is looking for more globally-skilled sailors. The linguist rate and foreign area officers seem to be sought after as well.

Yep I'm up to date on the uniform changes. I'm glad I got out before that happened.

All the "upgrades" you're seeing are part of the new gen warfare concept we're slowly gravitating towards, which is the rest of the military supporting the SF community instead of the other way around. It's the first smart move I've seen in a loooong time. Talk about a force multiplier.

The Navy has been at the "Tip of the Spear" for the US Military in many parts of the world for a long time and I think as technology continues to advance they will become even more dominant.

I always felt life and the food/creature comforts were pretty good in the Navy, especially compared to some of the services. You work your ass off on sea duty, but then there usually isn't sand in the crack of your ass.

Oh yeah, "Globally Skilled Sailors", I wonder how much the guys who create these the euphemistic buzzwords get paid?