Posted on Mar 25, 2014
Is placing rank on a newly promoted Soldier and pounding him/her in the chest a tradition or hazing
35.7K
57
62
4
4
0
Posted in these groups: 
Hazing
Hazing
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 35
11
11
0
SSG Schoepp hit the nail on the head. It's a tradition this redleg will proudly keep alive and true. Now we have females so the "punch" has been relocated to the arm, otherwise the tradition is kept free of harm and malice and is more symbolic than anything else. Obviously these young Joe's will be missing out on the pleasure of pulling their rank out of their collar bones like we used to.
(11)
(0)
SFC William Swartz Jr
Believe me I have NO ISSUES with it at all, I had to pry my ShamShields outta my upper-pecs when I was promoted way back in '89, had a big CO that I was the driver for on his tank, and it was a point of pride for him to try and make anyone he promoted flinch away from him giving blood rank, well as I had seen the prior driver get promoted and flinch, I wasn't gonna give the prick the satisfaction. Hurt like hell, but I didn't move an inch when he struck that shield into my chest, had twin blood trails trickling down my chest, and a nice bruise for a week or two, but I didn't flinch!! In today's Army, that whole scenario would be a GO preceded by a NO, at full speed sounds like, NOGO!!
(3)
(0)
CPL Paul Metevier
Ive been out for a decade, but it was common when I was in...Rank was paid for in blood. Infantry unit I was in would line you up against a pillar to ensure you didnt fall. Everyone in your platoon with more that congratulated you had the ability to pound your rank. Only a few usually did,...but it was enough...but it did instill a sense of respect lost a lot today and honor....
(1)
(0)
CMSgt James Nolan
Here is what I have to say about enlisted stripes and having them "pounded" in. It started for me in 1985...USMC. You got promoted, you walked the Gauntlet and everyone at your new rank or higher was on either side, and they were punched in. You remember that for the rest of your life. When you made Corporal, the "Bloodstripe" was Kneed in to the meaty part of your legs-both sides and the stripes were pounded in...<div>That tradition has carried on with me into the Air Force and I have had each set of mine punched in. The hits get fewer, and less intense (because there are fewer and fewer as the pyramid goes up-and the hitters are older..). But it is important. I considered each hit and honor, and would not trade my experience. Is it hazing? I think not. Those stripes mean something to me. They were earned. And quite frankly, the mere fact that we are talking about this saddens me a little because I really do think that we as a society are getting soft. Maybe we should eliminate PT tests, because if someone is struggling, they will be embarrassed and wouldn't that be like hazing?</div><div><br></div>
(2)
(0)
MSgt (Join to see)
I agree concerning promotions/stripes being "tacked on" as we called it in the Navy. When I qualified Submarines I was awarded my "Dolphins" which were "tacked on," meaning the pins on the back did not have their backing/fasteners. Everytime a qualified Submariner punched your Dolphins into your chest the pins sunk deeper. This made you realize the effort which went into qualifying was much worse than having the Dolphins buried in your chest, made you a part of a pretty exclusive group, and made them even more special.
(0)
(0)
6
6
0
I was always told that the Soldiers equal and above did it so the 'rank or badge would not fall off your chest.' We still have a similar version of this where you 'hit' the person in honor of the tradition but no one is competing to try and make the person collapse. If it is being done in a nasty manner or to injure the Soldier that is wrong. I was blood pinned my Ram's Head Device and I was proud to have had that done. All goes back to the intention of the tradition and the overall feeling of the unit.
(6)
(0)
5
5
0
You know....this is the kind of crap that gets out of hand.....I have no issue with guys / gals within my own unit/division/group "tacking on my crow" or "pinning my warrior pin"...its the jackasses that come in and try to hurt someone "just cuz". I recall a ship that had this "Mongo-type" behemoth that would deliberately try to do damage to someone who got promoted, etc. He knocked one of my guys so hard the kid popped his shoulder out in the fall. Now...I'm not normally the type to pull dirty stuff on someone - but frankly, this guy (Mongo) was just out of control, so I decided it was time to fix him...if you know what I mean.
If anyone has ever worked in a lab...you know what phenolphthalein is used for and what happens when it's "accidently" ingested. I took the time to educate my newly promoted sailor on the finer points of using intelligence to overcome brute strength and I sat back and watched. Mongo had the trots for weeks upon weeks and would just as suddenly clear up, only to go thru weeks of misery again.
I was out on the fantail about 3 months into this situation when the Chief Engineer dropped by. We had a few moments of quiet chat - when he asked me straight "do you think it's time to let "Mongo" be?" I looked at him and said " well, sir, I wouldn't have the foggiest idea what you're talking about, but I'll ask around and see what the general consensus is. Who knows? Maybe his shipmates are thru using science..." To which the Cheng replied: "I'd hate to have to send "Mongo" home early from the cruise because of an unknown illness - he'd miss all the fun - and you guys would have to take up his slack"
I smiled. "That would be rough, sir. I'll see what I can do. But you know, when we return and he goes on leave this affliction just might happen again." To which the Cheng replied: "He'll be on his own time - I don't give a damn if he @#$%@ himself blind while he's on leave." "Very well, sir, I'll see what I can do."
Moral of the story - it ain't over till it's over - sick MF's can always be fixed, if you're willing to do the legwork.
(5)
(0)
2
2
0
The two aren't mutually exclusive. A lot of traditions can be considered hazing, and a lot of hazing has been done as a matter of tradition.
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
I joined the Navy in 1994 and when I was promoted to E4 my work center "tacked" my "crow" on my left arm. People took turns holding my arm out while someone else beat my upper arm where the rank was positioned. I hated this "tradition", as they called it, so when I joined the Army in 1998 I decided I wouldn't let anything like that happen again. In 17 years I haven't let one person beat a rank or badge onto me, nor have I ever done it to anyone. And guess what? I still get to wear it every day. I believe stoking anyone, no matter how soft or hard, is frat house behavior, it's immature, and has no business being part of the Army. It is absolutely hazing.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Tradition!
In my experience the person who you hit/ hit you hardest was the one you were closest to, spent the most time with and had invested the most into his development. It was a sense of pride to give or receive that thump because of all it took to get there. The Soldier I PTed with, studied with, had long heart to heart reflections on life and service, counseled, mentored and guided? Invited to my house, played with my children and could call me at 0300 on a Saturday night to break up a fight, pour his ass into his truck and throw a blanket over him on my sofa until morning? Not only did I light his ass up, but he KNEW it was coming and welcomed it!
In my experience the person who you hit/ hit you hardest was the one you were closest to, spent the most time with and had invested the most into his development. It was a sense of pride to give or receive that thump because of all it took to get there. The Soldier I PTed with, studied with, had long heart to heart reflections on life and service, counseled, mentored and guided? Invited to my house, played with my children and could call me at 0300 on a Saturday night to break up a fight, pour his ass into his truck and throw a blanket over him on my sofa until morning? Not only did I light his ass up, but he KNEW it was coming and welcomed it!
(1)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
It's only hazing if the soldier expresses that he/she doesn't want it. We tend to say the Army has gotten soft b/c we don't do things like this anymore. We actually still do, do things like this it all boils down to communication. Simply ask the soldier before hand; usually the soldier has requested you to promote them anyway so they obviously respect the person so reciprocating that respect back by asking them keeps the bond between the two. As far as all of the other personnel walking by and banging them in the chest them in the chest or having them run through the gauntlet.... Those days are long gone.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I know that when my SGT stripes we pinn..er..velcro..er.. hook-and-loop'ed on my chest.. I may or may not have whispered 'noooo balls..' to the rather large SGM who then 'congratulated' me nearly completely over the desk behind me. :)
(1)
(0)
SFC K. E. Woolfork
Ha!
When I recently laid into a knuckle headed SGT who finally came around to understanding his station his obligation as an NCO and earned Staff Sergeant, as soon as he doubled over I heard a loud and thunderous "COME HERE SERGEANT!" from my Sergeant Major who lectured me on end about hazing versus tradition and why not to do it at a Battalion promotion ceremony.
When I recently laid into a knuckle headed SGT who finally came around to understanding his station his obligation as an NCO and earned Staff Sergeant, as soon as he doubled over I heard a loud and thunderous "COME HERE SERGEANT!" from my Sergeant Major who lectured me on end about hazing versus tradition and why not to do it at a Battalion promotion ceremony.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
The placement of the rank is not the issue here, but the previously heralded "pounding" is where the problem comes in. Of course, there are no more pins to be stuck into the collar bone or even break the skin. But, the force of "hitting" the Soldier is (in "today's Army") is wrong. We can't do that anymore.
Many opinions on this and other actions that are now considered "hazing" . . . but, all that really matters is right/wrong - that's how I try to view things (regardless of personal opinion).
Many opinions on this and other actions that are now considered "hazing" . . . but, all that really matters is right/wrong - that's how I try to view things (regardless of personal opinion).
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
No that is not hazing. Now taking a over-sized mallet and hitting a soldier in the chest with a full swing while another soldier records would be hazing.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Its traditions like this that the Army frowns on now, that I feel, is were the disconnect is. Newer Soldiers are far to sensitive to understand. They have been brought up in a touchy feely world. As in, don't touch anyone because they might get offended and don't tell people the truth because it might hurt their feelings. No one has a backbone anymore.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google