Posted on Mar 20, 2015
Blood rank. Did you do it, did you get it? Was it wrong?
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Since we don't get pin on rank anymore this isn't really an issue as it used to be. Below is a picture of me giving blood rank to one of my old Soldiers. He actually asked for it and was very proud as you can see in the photos. This was done in a Company formation. What are your thoughts? And by thoughts I am not referring to what you think about my nursing whites.
Side note: This picture is over 12 years old and has surpassed the statute of limitations so don't dime me out!
Side note: This picture is over 12 years old and has surpassed the statute of limitations so don't dime me out!
Tradition
Rank
Promotions
Hazing
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 120
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I got blood rank, gave blood rank, and got blood wings (which took some effort to get out of my chest). That does not make it right. Traditional is a lame answer for why do dumb stuff... It is like walking the gauntlet after getting promoted...
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SFC (Join to see)
Sir,
I would argue respectfully that a large portion of what we do in the military is, for all intents and purposes, pointless for anything other than tradition. Change of command ceremony, DNC, customs and courtesies. We could introduce new "bosses", get from point A to point B, and say hello without any of the aforementioned, but it remains in place largely due to tradition. Or atleast that is my understanding. I loved my bloodwings, felt like an accomplished proud young PVT. If i didnt want blood wings, i would simply say no. I dont for see someone forcing that on me, and i wouldnt let that happen.
V/R
I would argue respectfully that a large portion of what we do in the military is, for all intents and purposes, pointless for anything other than tradition. Change of command ceremony, DNC, customs and courtesies. We could introduce new "bosses", get from point A to point B, and say hello without any of the aforementioned, but it remains in place largely due to tradition. Or atleast that is my understanding. I loved my bloodwings, felt like an accomplished proud young PVT. If i didnt want blood wings, i would simply say no. I dont for see someone forcing that on me, and i wouldnt let that happen.
V/R
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
COL Charles Williams Guantlet after being promoted? As in 'Gardens of Stone'?
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SSG Ken Schiffner
Sir, I respectfully disagree. I was a young man when I got my blood wings (30 something years ago). If I remember correctly it was done on the LZ, and was definitely done by the black hats. The wings were pinned on your uniform, and you had to request blood wings from the black hat. Dumb? Probably, but I asked for and received them. I would have felt cheated if I didn't get blood wings. I was never a fan of blood rank. I too saw blood rank get out of hand. I honestly can't remember if I received blood rank, but saw a fight start as a result of someone else getting blood rank. In the context of a controlled environment (Airborne School), with only one "assailant" (black hat), I don't see a problem with it.
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Gave and received. We didn't call it blood rank, simply pinning on your chevrons. When you pick up NCO you rate the blood stripe on your trousers. That got you a knee to the thigh in addition to pinning on of the chevron. That smarted.
I never saw anyone get seriously hurt. A right of passage that in today's society might be calle hazing. If you cannot take having a chevron pinned on you might be in the wrong line of work.
I never saw anyone get seriously hurt. A right of passage that in today's society might be calle hazing. If you cannot take having a chevron pinned on you might be in the wrong line of work.
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1SG (Join to see)
There is a part of me that is flattered by guys like this because as a grown man he is still playing dress up and he chose us to impersonate when he could have copied Drs, Lawers, etc. The part that makes me laugh is cost, I mean I cringe at the price of buying chest lettuce which seems to be a never ending journey, this guy is doing it for sport.
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CDR (Join to see)
Let's not even mention the sunglasses kicked up on the top of his head. I'm not familiar with U.S. Army uniform regulations (AR 670-1?), but I'm pretty sure the sunglasses are NOT good to go.
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CDR (Join to see)
Just read an article on this guy (Rahn)...what a douche. You can see the article here: http://kstp.com/news/stories/s3774203.shtml
On a lighter note, reading that article also turned me on to the Guardian of Valor website, which helps to expose the posers in this world. you can see that one here: http://guardianofvalor.com/
On a lighter note, reading that article also turned me on to the Guardian of Valor website, which helps to expose the posers in this world. you can see that one here: http://guardianofvalor.com/
Stolen Valor: Military Imposter Upsets Minnesota Families
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS discovered a crack in Minnesota law that allows certain imposters to parade around posing as highly decorated veterans. It’s a growing trend around the country that includes an incident in one Minnesota town that left a veteran’s family, law enforcement and Legion members frustrated...
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SFC Rick Teeter
MAJ (Join to see) - If you look closer, I don't even think it's Infantry insignia. Looks more like MP Insignia (crossed pistols).
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When we hard-striped some of our E4s while deployed, it was the rainy season in Iraq, so we had them do PT in mud puddles.
They enjoyed it, we enjoyed it, it made a memory.
As long as all parties are willing, why complain?
They enjoyed it, we enjoyed it, it made a memory.
As long as all parties are willing, why complain?
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BLOOD RANK x 6 (PFC, LCPL, CPL, SGT, SSGT, GYSGT)
BLOOD STRIPE x 1
BLOOD WINGS x 2 (Basic Parachutist & Navy/Marine Corps Parachutist)
BLOOD STRIPE x 1
BLOOD WINGS x 2 (Basic Parachutist & Navy/Marine Corps Parachutist)
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GySgt George Vukovich
Wayne, I had my chevrons 'pinned' for each promotion, plus my 'blood wings' [semi-permanently attached for two minutes :) ] upon graduation from Army Airborne School. Didn't mind it a bit! Each and everyone of these events were, in my opinion, 'rights-of-passage' and I was only one of thousands to have it done. Didn't mind a bit!
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I enjoyed it...the first five times or so. It got old. The pain wasn't the issue; it was the long line of people, many whom I didn't respect that could take their turn with me knowing that not only did I wonder how they earned , but also not knowing how little I respected them as leaders.
I remained conflicted throughout my career -- I wanted others to experience the good of it, the "whooah-ness" of it; but I also knew it could go off the rails quickly. I never looked the other way if I had a whiff of it going on, but I wouldn't necessarily turn CSI if I overheard a conversation.
There are things that we went through back in the day that we didn't like but understood. As COL Charles Williams says, none of this makes it right.
Difficult question. Good, but difficult.
I remained conflicted throughout my career -- I wanted others to experience the good of it, the "whooah-ness" of it; but I also knew it could go off the rails quickly. I never looked the other way if I had a whiff of it going on, but I wouldn't necessarily turn CSI if I overheard a conversation.
There are things that we went through back in the day that we didn't like but understood. As COL Charles Williams says, none of this makes it right.
Difficult question. Good, but difficult.
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Ok, so really, it is both a tradition AND hazing... is it right? Is it wrong? by the book, technically, it is wrong. By tradition, it is a "right of passage". I got my blood rank when I promoted from Spc to Sgt in the Army. I was proud of it and still look back fondly at it. If I look hard enough, I THINK that I can still find the pin hole scars to prove the rank!! ;-)
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I received this from E2 to E5 but what made sense at the time, no longer makes sense today. We have many traditions and most are worth keeping and should be kept. The problem with this type of tradition is how easily it can get out of hand and the perception. I am ok with pushups, getting wet or other forms of a right of passage with promotions etc., but the days of bodily harm are in the past for the most part. I say for the most part because there still may be units where it is an accepted practice
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MAJ (Join to see)
Of course and anytime you have to ask yourself if this would look bad or if you might get in trouble if you do something, you should know at that point not to do it.
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CPT (Join to see)
CPT Michael Barden I am sure they were sweating. It is some foolish to purposely add risk to something.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
It has long been a tradition to give blood rank in the Marines, but to also have a pinning ceremony for airborne (basic) and again for gold wings, and also Diver badge....on only one occassion do I know of a Marine Sgt. getting a pneumothorax (punctured lung) and losing his jump and dive status because of the pressure with both....some traditions need to toned down, if you've never seen a gold wing pinning ceremony, it will make you glad you joined another service, just saying.
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BC Army Sgt. hit with mallet in hazing
Sgt. Phillip Roach.
got em (multiple times), gave em (multiple times).....as I've matured, I do not condone blood stripes/blood wings as this gets out of hand very easily...and it does happen regardless whether it is pin on rank or not!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG1YC0Okbts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG1YC0Okbts
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SGM Mikel Dawson
It was things like this which let to the change of rules to Drill Sergeants. I know blood strips and such are "tradition", but many times things get out of hand. And there is no benefit to the soldier receiving.
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SGT Matthew Einsla
This is obviously on a completely different wave length than "blood rank" or wings.
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