Posted on May 18, 2015
Rules we all think are true, but not written anywhere?
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Every service has one (or a couple dozen) of "rules" that "everyone" knows but somehow you can never find where they are actually written down.
What are some of yours?
What are some of yours?
Posted in these groups: 
Army Regulations
Regulation
Army Regulations Regulation
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 107
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How about this old classic from the Air Force.
E-1 to E-4 = Achievement Medal
E-5 to E-6 = Commendation Medal
E-7 to E-9 = Meritorious Service Medal
E-1 to E-4 = Achievement Medal
E-5 to E-6 = Commendation Medal
E-7 to E-9 = Meritorious Service Medal
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1SG Sidney Whitt
Vietnam: As a Huey Crewchief with one-year in a combat zone I was awarded an ACM and our pilots were awarded a Bronze Star.
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SSG Donald Prosper
My long time best friend from 74 to 88 Sfc Seany. He and I were the only 2 in the unit wearing beards. We are both retired and still Rocking Beards.
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LTC (Join to see)
In 22 years I have only seen 2.
One was at Fort Campbell. I looked at him and he said "sir, do you need to see my profile?" I just said "If you made it this far you have one on you"
One was at Fort Campbell. I looked at him and he said "sir, do you need to see my profile?" I just said "If you made it this far you have one on you"
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SGT Dan Wirtz
SGT Dan Wirtz - a lesson learned when I had to put the M151 I was driving into the pucker brush at 40MPH, The XO was pretty pissed at me when he told me about that un-written rule that he thought I knew, I had only been there for 2 mos
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SGT Leland Williams
SGT Dan Wirtz - That's true SGT Dan! Beside those hills are so steep, you couldn't see anything farther the a few feet anyway!
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While in Germany on a CAV post (I was not in any way affiliated with) had several people, including a 1SG, inform me that it was ARMY Reg you wear the color of PT belt that reflects your rank--Yellow for PVT-SPC, Green for NCO....ect. They weren't just blowing smoke--they actually believed they were right. They are not right. There is no Army reg that states you must wear a PT belt color that correlates with your rank. I started wearing bright orange. No one would so much as look at me after that because they had no idea what I was (LOL). Also had a 1SG confront an E6 in my company outside the gym and inform him that wearing a long sleeve PT shirt before OCT was against Army regulations. The 1SG actually believed he was in the right. There were a lot of "Hooahs" and "Rogers" that day I can tell you.....
Let me also say that if you're an NCO of any rank, and you haven't bothered to read the regulations and just take some other NCO's word (high ranking or not) and pass on misinformation to your Joes ... You're a dirtbag....Go smoke yourself.
Let me also say that if you're an NCO of any rank, and you haven't bothered to read the regulations and just take some other NCO's word (high ranking or not) and pass on misinformation to your Joes ... You're a dirtbag....Go smoke yourself.
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SSG (Join to see)
670-1 has no provisions for reflective belts. The wearing of reflective belts is usually outlined in the unit's "Blue Book".
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SFC (Join to see)
Cpl Vic Eizenga It’s a life saving device that will protect the wearer from all manner of malicious and evil intent.
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MAJ Micah Duke
Who was the tool that reported this comment? Something about spreading the hate. Please get over yourself. The PT belt thing was stupid and went way overboard. One of the sadest representation of group think "this is reg" things I have ever seen.
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SPC James Jackson
They (officers) don't wear them so that you don't know the cooks are better shots... rotf...
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CW3 Harvey K.
This matter was discussed at some length elsewhere. The conclusion I drew from it was that this 'tradition" had no consistency over time, nor over the vast number of U S Army units. In other words, it was far more an "invention" enforced by browbeating of subordinates by those who wished to foster this so-called "tradition".
The motives of those "inventors of tradition" are more reasonably surmised as an attempt to conceal a lack of skill, than by acceptance of the rationalization offered --- "All officers are assumed to be experts in everything, including marksmanship".
Sure, next they will piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.
The motives of those "inventors of tradition" are more reasonably surmised as an attempt to conceal a lack of skill, than by acceptance of the rationalization offered --- "All officers are assumed to be experts in everything, including marksmanship".
Sure, next they will piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.
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SPC James Jackson
Ketchup is fine on a hotdog. Now mustard on the other hand DOES NOT go on TOP of a hotdog. It goes between the dog and the bun. A mess it will make...
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SPC James Jackson
LCDR Steve Hall, you better not put sugar and milk on some grits! I will find you and beat you with a stick of butter (And a honey jar if you want some sweetness to it)! Milk and sugar.. *spits towards the floor* SACRILEGE I tell you!... lol...
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SPC James Jackson
Yeah well, the worst thing you can do to a dog or sausage is to boil or steam it. If you're not gonna grill it or cook it over a fire don't bother.
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o Officers don't wear qualification badges
o You can add to but can't take away
o Can't PT after a phase II physical
o 1SG determines the uniform (sorry guys, that's the training schedule, blessed off by the CO)
o "Well the Sergeant Majors' policy is..." ( Sorry again, unless he's a school's commandant, CO's set policy, the CSM is his advisor. It might be his idea, but the CO says yay or nay)
o 2LT's don't salute 1LT's (SORRY! I hate it too!)
o Don't get a sunburn, you're government property! (it kills me that the gullible still believe that)
o What's in the truck of the flagpole?! (nothing. The answer is nothing. It's an urban legend)
o You can add to but can't take away
o Can't PT after a phase II physical
o 1SG determines the uniform (sorry guys, that's the training schedule, blessed off by the CO)
o "Well the Sergeant Majors' policy is..." ( Sorry again, unless he's a school's commandant, CO's set policy, the CSM is his advisor. It might be his idea, but the CO says yay or nay)
o 2LT's don't salute 1LT's (SORRY! I hate it too!)
o Don't get a sunburn, you're government property! (it kills me that the gullible still believe that)
o What's in the truck of the flagpole?! (nothing. The answer is nothing. It's an urban legend)
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SGT Jon Creager - Done it twice, got a coin each time. Of course, I had the regulatory guidance on hand each time... It's all about methodology and tact. Rank doesn't make right.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SGM Erik Marquez - You are correct, it is the BN CDR, which is why I said "Commander". I'm not sure why you assumed company level. And yes, the CSM's at each level are advising their respective Commanders, that's their bailiwick. But it's ultimately those Commanders decisions.
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SGM Erik Marquez
SFC Michael Hasbun - SSG(P) Michael Hasbun BBA ACS PMP DSL 1 h
SGM Erik Marquez - You are correct, it is the BN CDR, which is why I said "Commander". I'm not sure why you assumed company level"
Because you did not say Commander, you said CO, an abbreviation commonly used for a company level commander.. Not something I see used in Regular Army for the BN CDR, or BDE CDR But in any case, you totally missed the point.
You said "1SG determines the uniform (sorry guys, that's the training schedule, blessed off by the CO)"
The Company Commander only sets the general uniform (said request approved by the BN CDR), The 1SG does indeed prescribe the specific uniform for the next formation, based on standing policy, BN/BDE guidance or company task specific unit needs. .. If you see otherwise I'll show you a CO that is a micro-manager and overall a dysfunctional command team doing a disservice to the unit.
SGM Erik Marquez - You are correct, it is the BN CDR, which is why I said "Commander". I'm not sure why you assumed company level"
Because you did not say Commander, you said CO, an abbreviation commonly used for a company level commander.. Not something I see used in Regular Army for the BN CDR, or BDE CDR But in any case, you totally missed the point.
You said "1SG determines the uniform (sorry guys, that's the training schedule, blessed off by the CO)"
The Company Commander only sets the general uniform (said request approved by the BN CDR), The 1SG does indeed prescribe the specific uniform for the next formation, based on standing policy, BN/BDE guidance or company task specific unit needs. .. If you see otherwise I'll show you a CO that is a micro-manager and overall a dysfunctional command team doing a disservice to the unit.
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SCPO (Join to see)
PO2 Dan Shulla no it was not in Navy/Marine regs. It is or could be Malingering, Art 92 or 134 however
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You can't use a .50 cal machine gun against personnel, only equipment (so shoot the equipment the enemy's wearing). That's a dumb reg or law of war to believe. .50 cal against personnel is a beautiful thing.
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CPT Jim Schwebach
SGT Chester Beedle
DMZ, Korea 1964 - The NK's would pop a .51 at us ever once in a while just because. We were authorized to reply round for round with our M2(single shots only).
RVN, 1966 -1970 - We had quad-fifties on our fire bases with no targeting restrictions. Had they been limited to equipment only there would have been few, if any, targets for them to engage. Saw M2's at SF A camps and launch sites as well.
DMZ, Korea 1964 - The NK's would pop a .51 at us ever once in a while just because. We were authorized to reply round for round with our M2(single shots only).
RVN, 1966 -1970 - We had quad-fifties on our fire bases with no targeting restrictions. Had they been limited to equipment only there would have been few, if any, targets for them to engage. Saw M2's at SF A camps and launch sites as well.
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SGT Leland Williams
I was told that was in the Geneva Convention rules to shot personal with a .50 cal. so I shot at the hand gun the poor bastard was caring...and missed. opps
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SGT Jon Creager
Nothing in the GC rules about not shooting personnel.
There may appear to be a basis for a prohibition on the use of such weapons against individual enemy soldiers in Article 23e of the Annex to Hague Convention IV of 1907, which prohibits the employment of arms, projectiles, or material calculated to cause unnecessary suffering. (A historic inconsistency of the law of war is that while it is legally permissible to kill an enemy soldier, should you only wound him, the wound should not cause unnecessary suffering.) In theory, if an enemy soldier can be disabled by a single bullet from, for example, an M16, then two bullets from an M16 or a round from anything larger may cause unnecessary suffering. The theory pales when considering the lethality of the 20th century battlefield. Statesmen, diplomats, and lawyers, recognizing the impracticality of such theory, wisely have avoided any attempt to define the concept of unnecessary suffering.
There may appear to be a basis for a prohibition on the use of such weapons against individual enemy soldiers in Article 23e of the Annex to Hague Convention IV of 1907, which prohibits the employment of arms, projectiles, or material calculated to cause unnecessary suffering. (A historic inconsistency of the law of war is that while it is legally permissible to kill an enemy soldier, should you only wound him, the wound should not cause unnecessary suffering.) In theory, if an enemy soldier can be disabled by a single bullet from, for example, an M16, then two bullets from an M16 or a round from anything larger may cause unnecessary suffering. The theory pales when considering the lethality of the 20th century battlefield. Statesmen, diplomats, and lawyers, recognizing the impracticality of such theory, wisely have avoided any attempt to define the concept of unnecessary suffering.
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Capt Edward Hannan
it was the same deal with shotguns in 'Nam 50 years ago. we had a few M2 50 cals but I never saw anyone shot by one. how about white phosphorus and napalm? it seems that both would have been handy in places like Tora Bora.
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I have always heard that the military only ships your household goods to your home of record when you ETS. But when I asked Transportation they will ship it anywhere. You just might have to pay the difference depending on where it goes.
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SPC Anthony Molnar
Trans will send your stuff anywhere you want them to on ETS. If the distance to the desired location is greater than that of your home of record, there is a charge for the difference with a rate template.
I ETS'd in 13, I had my stuff sent to where I was going to be living, not my home of record. I had to pay the difference, however it wasn't like I actually handed out any cash or anything, just deduction like always.
I ETS'd in 13, I had my stuff sent to where I was going to be living, not my home of record. I had to pay the difference, however it wasn't like I actually handed out any cash or anything, just deduction like always.
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Sgt Carlos Barrera
they were happy to send my stuff from Cali to Colorado, since my HOR was in Illinois
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CW4 Keith Dolliver
SPC (Join to see) - If they actually did change that person's HOR then they were wrong. (We all know people that have access to change things even though they are not allowed to by Reg.) You are half correct though, HOR can be changed, but it can only be changed when you reenlist. The HOR is exactly that, your home of record at the time you enlisted. So for enlisted the only time they can change their HOR is when they reenlist or if they change to become Officers. I think (but not 100% sure) it can also be changed when you switch Compos.
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I used to love this because I would always ask what reg they were quoting (Some may have changed since then)
1) Brown Sweater is unauthorized (Love my brown sweater)
2) Cant walk and talk with a cell phone.......I can walk and talk with a radio.
3) Mustaches....loved when I was told I could not have one, or being told it was out of reg. just because I had more than the "Hitler" stash.
4) You have to starch your Uniform (670-1 and BDUs had a warning label on them not to starch)
5) falling out of a plane automatically makes you a better Soldier
1) Brown Sweater is unauthorized (Love my brown sweater)
2) Cant walk and talk with a cell phone.......I can walk and talk with a radio.
3) Mustaches....loved when I was told I could not have one, or being told it was out of reg. just because I had more than the "Hitler" stash.
4) You have to starch your Uniform (670-1 and BDUs had a warning label on them not to starch)
5) falling out of a plane automatically makes you a better Soldier
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SGM Erik Marquez
MSgt (Join to see) -
A: I was referencing and citing Army Regulations as the poster is Army as was I.
B: it would not surprise me at all that the Air Force Regs allow you to have a cellphone taped to your ear when eating a ice cream cone and walking on the flight line as long as no head gear was worn.
C: what some PA dude(dudeette) does and claims is vital but still against policy or reg would surprise me not at all....Lots of self important service members out there that think rules or regs are not for them...Often we read about them in the monthly court marshal reports or here on RP as former servicemen claiming this or that sucks because it was unfair to me when i did not get promoted, was kicked out, not sent not school.....its was all "there" fault" I was awesome, really just ask anyone, well except my commander, and senior NOC's , and peers, and some subordinates ..but other than those idiots people I worked will tell you how awesome I was and how wrong everyone else was. ...Oh, and would you like fries or tots with that???
A: I was referencing and citing Army Regulations as the poster is Army as was I.
B: it would not surprise me at all that the Air Force Regs allow you to have a cellphone taped to your ear when eating a ice cream cone and walking on the flight line as long as no head gear was worn.
C: what some PA dude(dudeette) does and claims is vital but still against policy or reg would surprise me not at all....Lots of self important service members out there that think rules or regs are not for them...Often we read about them in the monthly court marshal reports or here on RP as former servicemen claiming this or that sucks because it was unfair to me when i did not get promoted, was kicked out, not sent not school.....its was all "there" fault" I was awesome, really just ask anyone, well except my commander, and senior NOC's , and peers, and some subordinates ..but other than those idiots people I worked will tell you how awesome I was and how wrong everyone else was. ...Oh, and would you like fries or tots with that???
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MSgt (Join to see)
Just so everyone knows none of this shit is being made up to counteract "unfairness" or rules and regs not applying to certain individuals, I give you this verification. And I will take tater-tots with this...
According to the updated AFI 36-2903, "While walking in uniform use of personal electronic media devices, including ear pieces, speaker phones or text messaging is limited to emergencies or when official notifications are necessary. Military customs and courtesies take precedence."
According to the updated AFI 36-2903, "While walking in uniform use of personal electronic media devices, including ear pieces, speaker phones or text messaging is limited to emergencies or when official notifications are necessary. Military customs and courtesies take precedence."
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