Posted on Oct 1, 2015
Did anyone else get "Blood Rank" and did it give you a greater sense of belonging over those who didn't get it?
18.9K
64
37
6
6
0
When I got my Sergeant Rank in Iraq I was given "Blood Rank", which for those who don't know is when the old Metal Insignia was put on you and your NCO's would pound them into your shoulders without the backs on, which caused you to slightly bleed. This was a somewhat normal thing in the old army from my understanding of my Uncle who was in Vietnam. I somehow felt closer to him & my fellow NCO's after that and was wondering if that is a normal consensus among those who had it done? I know in today's Army even if they still used Metal Insignia this wouldn't fly, but I always felt like an NCO even when I was demoted & was treated by many as such regardless. Has anyone else had this done & do you feel the same way?
Rank
Sergeant
Officer
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 20
1
1
0
Getting my blood rank and blood stripes when I made Corporal in the Marines was my proudest day! I had to get carried up the 3 flights of stairs afterwards to my room and literally drag myself to the bathroom but I’m glad I was part of the breed that did get them.
(1)
(0)
SPC James Seigars
This is one of those replies that I really like because it shows two things that many people don’t think about or understand and that is the fact that 1. ALL branches can bond over this IF they were lucky enough to have been given this, in my opinion, HONOR and 2. Even though we went through TEMPORARY pain we ended up with a LIFELONG memory. Thank you for your service.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Blood ranked in basic, upon making sgt just punched..... Alot in the chest. Didnt make me feel any more a soldier or nco to be honest.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Got blood rank in BNOC
In the woods. 11B . Ft Bragg. 3 E-5's, including me. 15 E-6. All E-6 gave me the blood rank. One pin broke off in skin. Hooah.
In the woods. 11B . Ft Bragg. 3 E-5's, including me. 15 E-6. All E-6 gave me the blood rank. One pin broke off in skin. Hooah.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
When I got my E3 and my E4 my 1SG punched me right in the rank before shaking my hand. Not the same thing but it's still kind of a fun tradition.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I never received blood stripes as described by most of the comments here. When I came up we wore chevrons on the fatigues and dress greens. The practice, then, was to stand between your platoon sergeant and the first sergeant, and at a signal from them, they would ball up a fist and "plant" the stripes with such a jolt my arms were black and blue for a week.
To my understanding at that time, a "blood stripe" was one that was forfeited by demotion by another NCO and that stripe went to the next qualified man.
By the time metal rank insignia came on board (1966), no one pounded my E6 and E7 stripes to my fatigues.
Back in the early days, it was customary to soak your new stripes in a mug of beer (stripe baptisms) and drink it down before drying them and getting them sewn on the uniform.
To my understanding at that time, a "blood stripe" was one that was forfeited by demotion by another NCO and that stripe went to the next qualified man.
By the time metal rank insignia came on board (1966), no one pounded my E6 and E7 stripes to my fatigues.
Back in the early days, it was customary to soak your new stripes in a mug of beer (stripe baptisms) and drink it down before drying them and getting them sewn on the uniform.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
When I made Petty Officer Third Class, I got my Crow "tacked on," and then, when I qualified Submarines, a similar undertaking with my Dolphins. Later that night, I was brought the biggest beer I've ever seen in my life and my Dolphins were dropped in. I had to "drink my fish." Say what you will about hazing, but I for sure felt like an outsider until those "ceremonies."
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
1
1
0
Yep. Had this done upon commissioning and each promotion thereafter. When I commissioned my wife (and promoted her), I returned the tradition. Now, such shenanigans are pushed underground... and out of sight. The evolving rules regarding hazing has all but, eliminated this practice (at least with witnesses). Shellbacking was WAY worse than getting "pinned."
(1)
(0)
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
The advent of cameras on cellphones killed the festivities of the Shellback ceremonies.
(2)
(0)
Cpl Clinton Britt
Nothing like getting your blood stripes. Or any rank walking the gauntlet. That was the way it was and it didn't hurt any of us. Made us closer as a unit when we all felt like we had a contribution
(3)
(0)
1
1
0
This was pretty normal (I participated a few times as a recipient). It didn't make me feel any closer or give me a better sense of belonging though.
The problems came from it being abused as a form of punishment. And then the fact that it didn't add any "value" only pain. Haha.
The problems came from it being abused as a form of punishment. And then the fact that it didn't add any "value" only pain. Haha.
(1)
(0)
SPC James Seigars
I think the reason I had more a sense of belonging is that my Uncle also had it and I always looked up to him.
I didn't know that it was used as a form of punishment, but can see where some would try to make a promotion seem like one.
I didn't know that it was used as a form of punishment, but can see where some would try to make a promotion seem like one.
(1)
(0)
LCDR (Join to see)
SPC James Seigars it was never supposed to be, but "disliked" individuals who were getting promoted definitely got hit "harder" at times to the point of abuse (not in the unit I was in at the time for the record).
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
Not sure about that. I always thought of blood rank is that the soldier ahead of you got KIA or WIA, and the next in line got his stripes. It was not uncommon, back in the day before Shake and Bake Schools, for a draftee to come out in two years as a SGT or SSG, if he had his poop together.
(0)
(0)
SPC James Seigars
Major Reams, I never thought about that and you are the first in six years to bring it up. But I do remember an old war movie with Audie Murphy showing how he got his rank and most of his metals & there were a few scenes like what you are describing where his SSG I believe it was was Kia so he got that rank and a little later his LT was also Kia and he received a battlefield commission. I thought at the time that was part of the made up stuff Hollywood does, but apparently it was true.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google