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?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 392
Rank Hath Its Privileges (RHIP). If someoen is calling you a "butter bar" it is mostly them having rank over you and just poking a little fun at you. At the end of the day. Being an O-1, we are here to learn from those around us. If you dont personally like the term, then take that and dont call other O-1s "butter bar" when you get into the higher ranks. Personally, I have no problems with it because at the end of the day I am a "butter bar". Being prior enlisted doesnt make any difference. My current rank is ENS and therefore "butter bar". You are only a "butter bar" for two years and then you rank up (most likely). It is a "tradition" more or less.
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I didn’t mind in the slightest, being referred to as a “butter bar”. I, too, was enlisted before being commissioned.
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If a person gets offended by some tongue-in-cheek humor, he/she will REALLY have a problem with getting shot at............. Sincerely, "Snake-eater".
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Well, yeah, it's kind of disrespectful, but no, it's not a big deal.
Here's what I mean by that. Yes, we all have to respect the rank but, respect from one man(or woman) to another is earned, not given. Regardless of the situation. So, yes, it is slightly disrespectful to the person until that person has earned the respect of their troops. But, at that point, they cease to be a "butter bar" and become a Lieutenant.
On the enlisted side it's kind of like saying are your a (Chief, Gunny, SFC, or Msgt) who takes care of his troops, or are you just an E-7 collecting a check.
Here's what I mean by that. Yes, we all have to respect the rank but, respect from one man(or woman) to another is earned, not given. Regardless of the situation. So, yes, it is slightly disrespectful to the person until that person has earned the respect of their troops. But, at that point, they cease to be a "butter bar" and become a Lieutenant.
On the enlisted side it's kind of like saying are your a (Chief, Gunny, SFC, or Msgt) who takes care of his troops, or are you just an E-7 collecting a check.
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While I was in ROTC, my dad, a WW2 veteran (10th Mt.Inf.Div.), would say, "When you're a butter bar you need to ..." So, I was raised with it and never offended by it. Probably because he also said that you have to earn their respect.
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