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I find this to be humorous and also a legitimate issue. Recently I was at large training compound with multiple units there, basically a "mock up" of a FOB. So while in the latrine some soldiers, that must have been in one of the support units there were talking. They were complaining about the soldiers from the infantry unit calling them "POGs." And without missing a beat someone yells from a stall in the same building "Shut up POG." I couldn't help but to laugh.
I usually don't care what you do in the Army as long as you are doing your job and are maintaining your professionalism. These units that we were running into were far below the expectations of maintaining professionislism. There were so many uniform violations our CSM had to wear blinders where ever he walked so he could make it there without correcting every soldier on the way. If he did he would never make where ever he was going. I was just wearing ACUs. It was a bit chilly but I saw a soldier with the ECWCS gen III level 7 jacket, aka the marshmallow jacket. With some sort of toboggan cap that was not anything to do with the army. There was no uniformity and it seemed like no one in their unit cared.
I am not calling anyone a POG in this post. I have our support personnel in our unit that we view as peers. They were harder than anyone in that other unit. They act like soldiers just like we do.
What is your take on this? Do you think they are asking for it by they way they are? Should anyone be called a POG? Should they be expected to maintain the same standard as everyone else in the Army? And what is their CSM doing when this is happening?
I usually don't care what you do in the Army as long as you are doing your job and are maintaining your professionalism. These units that we were running into were far below the expectations of maintaining professionislism. There were so many uniform violations our CSM had to wear blinders where ever he walked so he could make it there without correcting every soldier on the way. If he did he would never make where ever he was going. I was just wearing ACUs. It was a bit chilly but I saw a soldier with the ECWCS gen III level 7 jacket, aka the marshmallow jacket. With some sort of toboggan cap that was not anything to do with the army. There was no uniformity and it seemed like no one in their unit cared.
I am not calling anyone a POG in this post. I have our support personnel in our unit that we view as peers. They were harder than anyone in that other unit. They act like soldiers just like we do.
What is your take on this? Do you think they are asking for it by they way they are? Should anyone be called a POG? Should they be expected to maintain the same standard as everyone else in the Army? And what is their CSM doing when this is happening?
Posted in these groups: 
Combat Arms
Support
Combat Arms Support
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 148
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As I read a lot of these comments it reminds me of the band bitching about the football team lol
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If you don't want to be called a POG, stop acting like a POG. From my experience, being a POG was less about what you did than what you didn't do. Every career field had its POGs, even the Combat Arms.
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CPT (Join to see)
That is the truth. That is the issue. people act like POGs and they get called out. Maybe wearing every piece of snivel gear possible when it is 50 degrees outside is not the best way to go about things.
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MSG Brad Sand
My last assignment was in Ohio, had a new soldier arrive in the Fall, and he was wearing all his cold weather gear before Veteran's Day...I kept asking him what he was going to do when it got cold? He thought I was joking. Of course, it not fair bring soldiers from the South North in the Fall, but the Army always seemed to do it that way?
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CMDCM Gene Treants
Totally off topic MSG Brad Sand, but when I got married my wife and I were stationed in Hawaii. Our follow on tour when we were transferred from Hawaii in October to Report in November was for Great Lakes, IL. Talk about COLD!
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SGT Stephen George
Great Lakes ...that's not cold. Cold is being an Arctic Paratrooper under silk 1200 feet above the Arctic Gem Cap at - 60 Fahrenheit ... true story.
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A couple of notes:
#1) - I was a recruiter from '07-'10, believe it or not 0300 Infantry was the first MOS to be completely filled up when the new fiscal year opened up the MOS slots. It was hard for anyone who joined later who wanted infantry, to actually get that contracted MOS.
#2) - 20% of the Marine Corps is Infantry related. Chances of being a POG is pretty high... obviously, so quit complaining.
#3) - 90% of the kids that I did put into infantry scored 50 or higher on the ASVAB. Why do smart kids want to be in infantry? Because they know they are smart, and honestly want a different kind of challenge; such as being a grunt, and testing their body and physical performance. They want to do something the rest of everyone else does not want to do. Seriously, all the Bravos (32-49 ASVAB) want smart MOS's 50+, and all of the Alphas (50-99 ASVAB) want combat related which you need a 32+ on the ASVAB to be a grunt.
#4) - I am a POG. F-18 & AV-8B Ordnance. Next time they need air support on the ground, think about who is actually bringing the steel rain for grunts.
#5) - Al Asad, 2006 - we had grunts come and work with us for a day. Needless to say, they said our job sucked and couldn't keep up with the ordnance loading evolutions. They would have rather be back out in the field than doing what we do.
Lastly - Everyone supports each other, and I don't care what MOS you have, what you chose or voluntold to do as an MOS, or forced to take because that was the only MOS available when you contracted. We are all brothers and sisters, we all fight the good fight. POGs, Infantry, or AirWingers... we all bleed the same color. If being called a POG offends you, then I do apologize that you have soft skin, and actually let that kind of trash talk get to you.
SF,
POG
#1) - I was a recruiter from '07-'10, believe it or not 0300 Infantry was the first MOS to be completely filled up when the new fiscal year opened up the MOS slots. It was hard for anyone who joined later who wanted infantry, to actually get that contracted MOS.
#2) - 20% of the Marine Corps is Infantry related. Chances of being a POG is pretty high... obviously, so quit complaining.
#3) - 90% of the kids that I did put into infantry scored 50 or higher on the ASVAB. Why do smart kids want to be in infantry? Because they know they are smart, and honestly want a different kind of challenge; such as being a grunt, and testing their body and physical performance. They want to do something the rest of everyone else does not want to do. Seriously, all the Bravos (32-49 ASVAB) want smart MOS's 50+, and all of the Alphas (50-99 ASVAB) want combat related which you need a 32+ on the ASVAB to be a grunt.
#4) - I am a POG. F-18 & AV-8B Ordnance. Next time they need air support on the ground, think about who is actually bringing the steel rain for grunts.
#5) - Al Asad, 2006 - we had grunts come and work with us for a day. Needless to say, they said our job sucked and couldn't keep up with the ordnance loading evolutions. They would have rather be back out in the field than doing what we do.
Lastly - Everyone supports each other, and I don't care what MOS you have, what you chose or voluntold to do as an MOS, or forced to take because that was the only MOS available when you contracted. We are all brothers and sisters, we all fight the good fight. POGs, Infantry, or AirWingers... we all bleed the same color. If being called a POG offends you, then I do apologize that you have soft skin, and actually let that kind of trash talk get to you.
SF,
POG
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I have no issue with being called a POG by most, as I am not a grunt. The issue that I have is when other Combat MOSs try to tell other people how to do their job. The reason that I am here is to do my job, I don't need you to tell me how to do it. You don't see me telling you how to do your job, so just tell me what you would like us to protect and we will provide a detailed COA of how to best do the job.
I also like it when other Combat Arms guys are surprised that there are Air Defenders out there that have Ranger Tabs and can still talk the manuever fight.
Other than that, stop having such thin skin.
I also like it when other Combat Arms guys are surprised that there are Air Defenders out there that have Ranger Tabs and can still talk the manuever fight.
Other than that, stop having such thin skin.
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CPT (Join to see)
I'm still not really sure what ADA does. Kudos to any of them that are tabbed. That is an automatic sign of combat effectiveness.
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This doesn't bother me for the most part. We all have nicknames for each other, but this one is a term of endearment to the grunts and borderline amusing to the rest. That being said, I have a lot of respect for the infantry and combat arms in general - it's just disappointing when you hear this as an insult from people who don't reciprocate that respect.
When I was a cadet at LDAC, I had some reservist SPC call me a POG like it was supposed to hurt my feelings...but I'm just thinking, alright. I'll be a POG with a college degree and a commission straight into my dream job in Army Medicine. Enjoy your life, specialist.
When I was a cadet at LDAC, I had some reservist SPC call me a POG like it was supposed to hurt my feelings...but I'm just thinking, alright. I'll be a POG with a college degree and a commission straight into my dream job in Army Medicine. Enjoy your life, specialist.
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CPT (Join to see)
That is funny. I am sure he was a ten year specialist too. I love me some POGs. Just do being all jacked up and I am fine.
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1LT(P) (Join to see)
He also made the mistake of telling one of us "you're not in charge of my Army yet, cadet!".....and said cadet was a former E-7. He ripped the specialist a new one and the cadre just looked the other way.
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I get called POG by blue cords all the time. Doesn't bother me because i know they don't mean it. As an FO I've been sleeping right there with them in the mud and rain. I've kicked in doors and cleared buildings with my guys. The only ones who call me POG are the fatties and shit heads.
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CPT (Join to see)
LOL. I recall having a Turd ID guy come to my guard unit claiming about how badass he was and how the Guard sucks. He couldn't pass a PT test if his life depended on it. Guess like that should even be talking.
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SSG (Join to see)
I watched a Captain almost come to tears when he was told he couldn't wear his blue cord anymore after he rebranched to logistics. The price he had to pay to be promoted to major.
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SGT (Join to see)
Lol. To the LT:
Yea there are a few guys in the RA that talk a big game and hold a big gut. I'm glad I'm finally in the position to get people chapters started when they bring nothing to the table.
Yea there are a few guys in the RA that talk a big game and hold a big gut. I'm glad I'm finally in the position to get people chapters started when they bring nothing to the table.
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I lived both sides of the fence as a medic, going from hospital to combat arms and back and forth. For me, when I was a POG, I was a POG - it was accepted and understood. When I was running any gunning on the line -I reveled in it and I never felt more alive. But, in retrospect, it was the POG positions (balanced with the CA assignments) that ultimately led to my success after retirement! The civilian world needed to see that I could manage and lead in a fixed environment - without the balance of assignments....I'm not sure the same opportunities would have been available.
As far as the POG label issue - thicken your skins...your in the military for goodness sake. If a simple word offends you I would hate to see your reaction when you get shot at, or find your first IED the hard way...get over it and move on!
As far as the POG label issue - thicken your skins...your in the military for goodness sake. If a simple word offends you I would hate to see your reaction when you get shot at, or find your first IED the hard way...get over it and move on!
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A POG is a POG and that's not always a bad thing. I don't see why folks get butt hurt about it. I've met some POGs harder than woodpecker lips, but they still aren't infantry MEN
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I dont have a problem with being called a POG. I'am a POG and proud of it; i tryed to join the infantry and did not qualify due to being color blind. Heck even with in the grunt community they argue about what grunt MOS is more of a POG then others. I think the only time i get upset over it is when a Grunt will minimize something i did and say you don't know what your talking about your just a POG.
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CPT (Join to see)
That is true. Even in the infantry world the airborne community always rips on the mechanized infantry. It is the nature of the beast.
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POG means nothing other than People Other-than Grunts. Infantry have been using it as a jest and to poke fun of anyone not in the infantry as do the POGs tease the grunts about being brain less. Other words like Poggie Bait (candy) is also derived from POG. I am willing to help those sensitive, whining, thin skinned Soldiers and Marines that cannot seem to take a little ribbing. Here it goes. POG POG POG POG POG POG POG POG POG POG POG. Glad to be of service. From one POG to another
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