Did or do you practice any unwritten traditions?

Does drinking your dolphins fit into this catagory?

How about showing the top of your socks so people knew you didn't use fuel oil on them to keep the ants from crawling up your leg to chew on your candy-azz?

I understand these days in the kindler gentler military these types of events are called hazing; however, in my time in the military it was just what was done. I looked forward to receiving my initiation into the ranks of the have vs. the have-not. Most memorable was picking up Cpl-E4, earning the blood stripe and walking the guantlet was very painful, but I would not change it for the world. I was accepted into the ranks of all the NCO's who came before and I was glad for it. And I indeed ended up with very bruised and bloody calves as I walked the gauntlet as an MP attached to a wing, the entire wing's NCO lined up. As well "Pinning" on my MP badge and "Pinning" on my PSB, those bad boys have 3 prongs each, painful yes; would I trade the experience never.

I understand that these rights of initiation have gone to far in the past, and that in some instances people have been injured. However, we are not the Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts. We are/were instruments of war. If we cannot stand up to a little bit of pain during these moments, how should we fare against the deprivations of war?

Do I condone hazing? No not really, hazing is a label, it is the deliberate denigration of another. Do I condone initiation and acceptance into a brotherhood, absolutely.

Hey brothers. I remember when I got promoted to Sergeant my Platoon sergeant hit me so hard the chevrons got stuck in my collar bones and needed a Gerber to pull them out. It was a great day. When I pinned on my Staff Sergeant since the Army has frowned upon our traditional hazing rituals, my wife had to do it. She grabbed our staple gun and stapled my rank to my chest. To me when you earn something, you feel proud on your accomplishments and love the corky traditions the military has.

I think there is something to be said about all of these "unspoken traditions".  It goes beyond what people outside can ever understand.  The pratice of blood wings or blood rank isn't an excuse for us to beat up on someone.  During the process of earning those wings or that rank, you give a lot of yourself.  You bleed on the training field so what is wrong with the last act of earn that rank or wing being you bleeding some more?  To me it was never a bad thing.  

I don't know about Marine regulations but you will not find standing at parade rest for an NCO in Army regulations. My 1SG in basic told me it was an unwritten tradition but after being given a direct order to do it the first time it will always be followed.

The only traditions I can think of is the punching of the rank and saying the NCO Creed after being promoted. I remember being pinned SPC while we were at NTC and after the ceremony, myself and other promotee were put in the push-up position. Every member of the PLT had filled their Camelbak up and doused us while we pushed. Afterwards we rolled around in the mud. I wouldn't trade that for anything. The picture is after the "celebration."

yeah every time someone makes me sing the Army Song...