Posted on Jun 10, 2017
Do you find the term "butter bar" offensive or demeaning?
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As a newly minted O-1 I have no problem with the term, but some of my fellow ENS/LTs have been scolded for using it. I never considered the term a pejorative when I was enlisted and I still don't now that I'm on the officer side. I always thought it was sort of a rite of passage that goes along with being a new Officer. Am I missing something? Do you consider the term disrespectful or demeaning?
ENS
Officers
2LT
Professionalism
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 318
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Butter Bar. Jarhead. Squid. Dogface. POG. REMF. Puddle Jumper. Chair Force. Personally, if any of those names offends anyone in those categories, then their skin is a little too thin for this type of work and should probably seek life elsewhere. We either kills things or support those that kill things. If those names offends people, then how are they going to act/react when the bullets fly and the IEDs go off?
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MAJ Ron McCauley
When I was a butter bar, we would call other butter bars "butter bar". It would help us count down the 24 months to have it turn silver and finally make more $ than the Staff Sergeants.
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MAJ Ron McCauley
SSG(P) (Join to see) -That's OK. The older I got the more I realized the NCO experience was worth a lot.
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PFC John Lanni
A right of passage that has been around a lot longer than I have. Any "Butter Bar" that would take offense should be busted down to "Snowflake" and pull OD for a month.
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Frankly, if an officer finds it offensive then there is probably a reason (hint: the officer is the one that is offensive). In all my time, I found that enlisted service members are fair. If you treat them with common decency you will get the same. The officers I found that had problems, had problems because they were the problem.
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SFC Frank Lizama
They love to being saluted even though you don't see them! Fresh out of school! My commander before he left for the U.S. from Jordan said SFC, you are in-charge but technically the second Lt. from the Reserve is in-charge because he is an Officer. His men don't respected him at all.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
I just love it...that was great, absolutely fantastically hysterical, honest...buttercup? Snowflake? LOL...you know, it's funny...we had a MSgt in my unit, who'd been RIFd as an O-3 going up for O-4, so he was given the usual option to stay in as, I think, SSgt, to start...when I'd gotten to the unit, obviously, being a total newbie, he'd call me "Dan" on occasion...now, I obviously knew he was really experienced, only once did I ever ask him about it, though, given his obvious seniority, I knew better, even at that neophyte stage, and just let it go, of course, knowing he'd meant well by it, certainly...I did love that one, though...buttercup...snowflake...LMAO....
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COL (Join to see)
In 1967, I was commissioned out of Fort Sill, OCS. It took me 23 weeks to earn the rank of 2nd LT. I went to Vietnam and did my best to do what I could to come home alive and keep those that served with me alive. I loved my time in the Active Army and you have to start somewhere. Butter Bar was a rank and a starting point. I did my best to not be one.
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Q: What has a soldier wearing mosquito wings accomplished that a butter bar hasn't?
A: He's been promoted.
If you can't ridicule yourself every now and then, you will never learn one of the most effective ways to overcome fear and stress.
A: He's been promoted.
If you can't ridicule yourself every now and then, you will never learn one of the most effective ways to overcome fear and stress.
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CPT Jim Gallagher
I was a butter bar once and I sure as hell never took offense to it. We can't allow the pussification of our Military like what's going on in the world. Thru my career I was a squid, grunt and butter bar and you know I miss it now !
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SSG Joey Waller
Can’t poop without a GRUNT either, lol started my career as 11B and ended as a 95B, I know, MPs are no longer 95 series but that’s what’s on my DD214SGT David Leona
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Cpl Michael Forner
SFC Jim Ruether the acceptance is part of the leadership. If a first and second lieutenant was out of touch with is platoon, how in the world is he expected to lead after the first round is fired at them. And just like acceptance, it's something that is kept within the platoon. Being able to control what others see in here is also a major aspect of leadership and will build confidence in that leader.
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