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Was anyone actually offended by being referred to as any of these things?
When i was at Bragg an official memo came out starting the term "leg" was offensive and all non-airborne personnel would henceforth be referred to as "NAP". Now some people are offended by that term.
When i was at Bragg an official memo came out starting the term "leg" was offensive and all non-airborne personnel would henceforth be referred to as "NAP". Now some people are offended by that term.
Posted in these groups: 
Airborne School
Fort Bragg
Airborne School Fort Bragg
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 67
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MSG, These guys and gals need to learn that the army is not the place to wear their heart or feelings on their sleeve. Just buck up and dish it back. People feed off of the aggravation of others.
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I was never offended. Being a Fobbit was not by choice. I was a mechanic, and though my unit was supposed to send a minimum of two on every convoy escort, the leadership in the unit I deployed with was lacking, and we never went outside the wire, save for local test drives. We did, however, go through all of the same combat and patrol training, and could do the job, if necessary. <br><br>On that note, Sgt. Ben, I would respectfully request you check your combat history:<br><br>"While there's no way we could maintain the same level effectiveness in combat without support MOS's, the same would be true about removing the Infantry."<br><br>During the Korean War, our Infantry was all but decimated. It was the Ordinance Corp., called in from the rear, that turned the tide of battle and caused us to close the combat actions in Korea effectively, and as the victorious force. Yes, Sgt. Ben, it was the mechanics (around 40,000 strong) that won the war for the Good Guys.
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MAJ Joseph Parker
SGT(P) Alan R.: There used to be in the Infantry's Anti-Armor FM an anecdote about an ordnance SSG during WWII who was repairing a piece of artillery in the road. A German tank came around the corner and machine gunned the area. The SSG jumped in a ditch while the tank ran over the artillery piece; but got high centered and stuck. The SSG was incensed that the Germans had spoiled all his good work, and when they poked their heads out of the tank to see how to get off high center, the SSG would plink away at them with his 45. The SSG climbed on the tank and banged on it with his pistol in frustration. Unable to move, but buttoned up, the Germans thought they were safe. Then the SSG got an idea. He took off his shirt, smeared it with grease, and lit it near the tank's air intake, filling the tank with greasy smoke. The crew came out and surrendered. Hence, the ORDNANCE SSG captured a German Panzer with his fatigue shirt! As an Infantry 2LT I used this lesson from the FM to teach my light Infantry soldiers to overcome their fear of tanks. So to you, SGT(P) Alan R. and the Ordnance Corps, I say: HOOAH!
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PFC Bradley Campbell
people dont realize how easy a ww2 Tiger is to kill. satchel charge or grenades on the engine cooling grates and it is done.you will blow up the Solex carbs or break the distributor cap and it is dead.
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When it's all in good natured, friendly ribbing, no, I'm not offended. When I do start to have a case of the ass is when there is real condescension in those terms.
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MSG Wyatt S: Really? "Being called a "leg" is offensive? Sounds a bit PC to me. "Leg" is short for "straight leg", which refers to soldiers who get around only by walking. Since in today's Army that is almost nobody, it has evolved into meaning anybody not Airborne qualified, is it really all that offensive? I've been retired awhile, but I had no idea that today's soldiers had such sensitive feelings! It must be difficult for 1SGs and CDRs everywhere, having to deal with long lines of sobbing soldiers with bruised egos, bullied by other soldiers with jump wings who called them (gasp) "legs". Now REMF, although a classic, is at least obscene; but traditionally so.
Every soldier has chosen their specialty. Every soldier should take pride in what they do (See CW2 JD W.'s post - it is perfect). If they don't, then change specialty. The military is all volunteer and brimming with opportunity. We cannot begrudge status to those who have accomplishments and we must understand that pride and competition within our forces is healthy. Conversely, there are limits. We are a team. Competition ends at the battlefield's edge. We don't need to be racial, sexist, or talk about your mama, sister, or commanding officer. And for Pete's sake; will somebody in the Chain of Command grow a spine? NAP? How many staff meetings did it take to come up with that?
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CW3 (Join to see)
You can have pride in yourself without tearing people down. The one time I did TDY at Bragg, when I got called a Leg, the tone of the person using it was the same as when the n-word has been thrown at me because I'm black....
Since I outranked the person calling me a Leg...let's just say they proceeded to have a Very Bad Day (tm)
Since I outranked the person calling me a Leg...let's just say they proceeded to have a Very Bad Day (tm)
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MAJ Joseph Parker
Chief Walker, I like your attitude! That happened to me once at Bragg as well, by a PFC whispering behind my back. I wasn't wearing any awards or patches, INCLUDING my jump wings and Ranger tab. The PFC and his battle buddy learned a lesson in deportment while building excellent upper body strength.
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guys let me just say and this goes to all. We may have all different MOS's through the branchs, but when it comes down to it when the SHIT hits the fan and we all have to leave the wire we all revert back to our initial Basic Training. We get our head on a swivel and we protect our buddies backs, and when it is all said and done when the day is done we are all brother in arms and Soldiers First and job specific second.
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Nope, I still introduce myself today as a POG, after all that's what I was :)
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Gentlemen, gentlemen, civility please! We must be cognizant and sensitive to the feelings and emotions of our infantry/airborne/ranger/special operations-impaired and disabled brothers and sisters in arms.
1. Do they have mean names for 11Bs?
2. Don't we impose on them during off-duty hours every time we need some extravagant luxury; like a hot meal, an ammo resupply, a drop or insertion at night, or a fire mission?
3. Don't they always regard all us ground-pounders with empathy and tenderness?
3. And think about this: the last time you needed something in the field and didn't get it; it took that so-called "POG" years of tough, demanding military training to say: "negative, out".
So let's have some decorum out there in RP land! :-)
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I wore my Stetson in ACU's on Sand Hill , trying to help a friend find the Knife shop that sells to the Trainee's there (Which on a side note, is a pretty stellar location).
The above listed names were pretty polite compared to what some of my blue-cord, Drill Sergeant, Brethren had to say. I smiled, we laughed briefly, and I knew the men were just displaying the pride of the Infantry.
The above listed names were pretty polite compared to what some of my blue-cord, Drill Sergeant, Brethren had to say. I smiled, we laughed briefly, and I knew the men were just displaying the pride of the Infantry.
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1LT (Join to see)
I should probably clarify I had just finished attending a Cavalry Social event - and that I don't just wear a Stetson while roaming around Fort Benning - hah!
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
<p>All MOS should have pride in their speciality. I am proud to be a Chaplain Assistant and honored to have the opportunity to minister to all of the different MOSes even the SF.....they never called me names and they are the true professionals</p><p> </p>
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In the Navy, the worst thing you can be called is "shipmate." You hear that and you know you are going to get chewed for something.
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During Viet Nam, "Leg, "Hump", "Grunt" were all derogatory terms for the rifleman on the front line - made by "REMFs" - which was the derogatory term the riflemen used for those that stayed behind the wire. The military is full of these expressions that men use to rag on others while making their own service look superior.
It is all done in fun and anybody that gets upset about it is a snowflake.
It is all done in fun and anybody that gets upset about it is a snowflake.
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Sgt David Hesser
I was thinking the same thing. it is amassing how it has taken a 180, but it was wrong of us to look down on them then.
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Meh, if you really get that offended by words what do you think bullets will do to you in combat? Give you a little bit of the Jessica Lynch syndrome, that's what. Get over it, if you don't want to be a leg, go to Airborne school. As far as being a POG, you gotta understand something, being an Infantryman is far more difficult than you probably think. I know, I served in an Infantry unit while in the 'Stan, and as an Artilleryman, earned their respect because I was with them on every mission. By the end of that tour it didn't matter that I wasn't an Infantryman, I was one of them because I endured beside them as a Combat Advisor. Earn respect through your actions, and don't be so sensitive if you get heckled a little bit.
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Leg was soooo much cooler! I don't care what people want to call me, I know my value to both the Army and myself...
I do think that we have become a bit to sensitive, maybe on the 'smaller' issues, we should dig out the sand wedged into 'those places' and focus our attention on things that matter...you know, like training, mentoring and teaching those that will replace us!
I do think that we have become a bit to sensitive, maybe on the 'smaller' issues, we should dig out the sand wedged into 'those places' and focus our attention on things that matter...you know, like training, mentoring and teaching those that will replace us!
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If I ever get called "leg" I will ask if Airborne is sort of like Ranger or Special Operations training and they will hopefully say no and I will respond with, "thought so".
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No because I understand our job involves the killing, or support killing, of enemies of our country. Why would I care if my own team calls me names I know to be good in nature.
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IMHO, if you are offended by any of the above appellations you are afraid you aren't providing enough value.
While everyone wants the glory, not everyone can be the root toot shootin' end of the Spear.
But if you examine the proposition, the Spear is made much more useful by the Logistical support of the Shaft that extends it towards the enemy. Sure that cutting edge could do it's work on it's own, but much less effectively and with much less Power and Reach.
I'm a REMF POG who also happens to be a Leg, if the PC world changes Leg to NAP what do I care?. Not a problem for me. I know I delivered value.
While everyone wants the glory, not everyone can be the root toot shootin' end of the Spear.
But if you examine the proposition, the Spear is made much more useful by the Logistical support of the Shaft that extends it towards the enemy. Sure that cutting edge could do it's work on it's own, but much less effectively and with much less Power and Reach.
I'm a REMF POG who also happens to be a Leg, if the PC world changes Leg to NAP what do I care?. Not a problem for me. I know I delivered value.
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As far as NAP?? Never been on Bragg, so never been referred by that.
As far as POG? Yeah, I've been called that to my face. Never more than once, when I point out that we're one team, one fight.
But my favorite is REMF. I'm Signal, so I'm not always in the rear, but I think we all know what the MF stands for... the last time someone called me that, my response was "You know what MF stands for...how do you know it's not YOUR mother?"
He never called me that again.
As far as POG? Yeah, I've been called that to my face. Never more than once, when I point out that we're one team, one fight.
But my favorite is REMF. I'm Signal, so I'm not always in the rear, but I think we all know what the MF stands for... the last time someone called me that, my response was "You know what MF stands for...how do you know it's not YOUR mother?"
He never called me that again.
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MAJ Joseph Parker
Chief: You are a hard man! The first thing those of us that are Infantry Airborne Ranger for life are taught about signalmen is this: "If you're outta commo, you're outta beer." We can pay no higher tribute to non-Infantry personnel, except the unspoken bond with medics.
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CW3 (Join to see)
Nah, I'm not a hard man, I'm just a sarcastic son of a ...... who can adjust to the situation.
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CW3 (Join to see)
*LOL* because I come from a family of smart-asses.
Case in point, it was one Thanksgiving, where I was back in RI visiting family. My aunt Joanna was moaning and griping about how her son (my cousin Darryl) was over 30, and it made her feel old.
My mom (her sister) piped up with "Oh shut up Joanna, my oldest (meaning me) is over 40! What does that make me??"
I could NOT stop myself...I piped up and said "Ancient!"
My mom said "Shut up you son of a b-----"
With the biggest sh** eating grin I said "Whatever you say, Mom!"
She threw a dishtowel at me. It was 10 minutes before anyone in the family could stop laughing.
Case in point, it was one Thanksgiving, where I was back in RI visiting family. My aunt Joanna was moaning and griping about how her son (my cousin Darryl) was over 30, and it made her feel old.
My mom (her sister) piped up with "Oh shut up Joanna, my oldest (meaning me) is over 40! What does that make me??"
I could NOT stop myself...I piped up and said "Ancient!"
My mom said "Shut up you son of a b-----"
With the biggest sh** eating grin I said "Whatever you say, Mom!"
She threw a dishtowel at me. It was 10 minutes before anyone in the family could stop laughing.
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I didn't know I was a POG, until I wasn't one anymore. Signal, then Infantry. Didn't really care then, and I'm completely over it all now that I am retired.
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We use the term "Nonners" in the Air Force. Nonners are why the Air Force is seen as the "Chair Force". The term "nonner" is usually used by flightline personnel to describe those who are "Non-mission essential personnel".
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It never offended me. However, when someone calls me a POG, I have to wonder if they know what that term really means.<br>
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SFC (Join to see)
Its not the word itself that bothers me so much as how they are using it. If they intend it as an insult, an insult is how I'll take it.
SIGNAL!
You can talk about us, but you can't talk without us.
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