Posted on Apr 2, 2019
What are some ideas for a platoon name and motto?
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We are an Area Clearance PLT, I have both 12B and 12N attached. I'm thinking of something along the lines of 'To clear, blast, and build' but open to ideas. Additionally, I would like a Plt name that doesn't come right from a basic training name (Bayonets, Apaches, Rough Riders etc)
Posted in these groups: 
Reserves
12B: Combat Engineer
12N: Horizontal Construction Engineer
12A: Engineer Officer
Esprit de Corps
Reserves 12B: Combat Engineer 12N: Horizontal Construction Engineer 12A: Engineer Officer Esprit de Corps
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
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Have you asked your non-coms for ideas, 1LT (Join to see)?
Regardless of whether it's snarky or earnest, as CPT Ray Gilmore says, it should be something which means at least as much to the platoon as to the BBIC (Butter Bar In Command).
Regardless of whether it's snarky or earnest, as CPT Ray Gilmore says, it should be something which means at least as much to the platoon as to the BBIC (Butter Bar In Command).
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CPT Ray Gilmore
1LT William Clardy blunt, maybe, honest yes, snarky no.
It is for the service members in the platoon...... not the platoon leader.
Let them be part of the decision, I had no choice in the "Hell Fish" I inherited it.... but they loved it, so why change it.
It is for the service members in the platoon...... not the platoon leader.
Let them be part of the decision, I had no choice in the "Hell Fish" I inherited it.... but they loved it, so why change it.
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Have you looked at the unit lineage? CMOH has resources for both mottos and nicknames.
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We were the "Fighting Hell Fish".... Grandpa Simpsons Unit. B/2E/2ID.
And Team9805 was "Team Old School", because our Team Leader, came out of retirement to be a combat advisor... after starting his career in Vietnam.....
"EOBC" was "Breach Kill"
It doesn't have to be anything meaningful, to anyone other than your unit....
It can be an inside joke, it can attempt to be intimidating, it can be what you want it to be.
And Team9805 was "Team Old School", because our Team Leader, came out of retirement to be a combat advisor... after starting his career in Vietnam.....
"EOBC" was "Breach Kill"
It doesn't have to be anything meaningful, to anyone other than your unit....
It can be an inside joke, it can attempt to be intimidating, it can be what you want it to be.
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Blast From The Past (1999) - Entering the bunker.avi
The scene where Calvin takes his wife into the underground bunker.
I was thinking of Brandon Frazier and "blast from the past." Not sure if the name would work, blast from the past? Here is the f-86 pilot has an in-flight emergency and he bails out but the f-86 crashes into the house and the family believes that that is a nuclear war the Kennedy is warning about from the Cuban Missile Crisis.
https://youtu.be/8e5OF-jF56U
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 PO1 William "Chip" Nagel MAJ Eugene Chu LT James Jones SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint LTC (Join to see) CPT Jack Durish LTC Stephen F. LTC John Mohor LTC John Shaw Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen PO3 John Wagner CPT(P) Jake Ledgerwood COL Mikel J. Burroughs SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LT Brad McInnis SPC (Join to see)
https://youtu.be/8e5OF-jF56U
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 PO1 William "Chip" Nagel MAJ Eugene Chu LT James Jones SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint LTC (Join to see) CPT Jack Durish LTC Stephen F. LTC John Mohor LTC John Shaw Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen PO3 John Wagner CPT(P) Jake Ledgerwood COL Mikel J. Burroughs SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL LT Brad McInnis SPC (Join to see)
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1LT William Clardy
I loved that movie, Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen.
A distant second to "Doctor Strangelove", but still with some classic scenes...
A distant second to "Doctor Strangelove", but still with some classic scenes...
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
1LT William Clardy Have a great back story to seeing this movie in the theater that I may share some time.
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Does the PLT not already have something in place? If it does, why do you feel the need to change it? If it does not, have you asked why?
My recommendation would be to sit down with PSG and SLs and ask THEM do input before asking RP. They have a mush better idea of where that PLT is right now. More importantly, they know where the PLT has been.
That being said, "we're the 'overcome' in adapt, improvise, or overcome". A bit long, I know.
My recommendation would be to sit down with PSG and SLs and ask THEM do input before asking RP. They have a mush better idea of where that PLT is right now. More importantly, they know where the PLT has been.
That being said, "we're the 'overcome' in adapt, improvise, or overcome". A bit long, I know.
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1LT (Join to see)
There is nothing in place now. Prior leadership didnt care from what I've been told.
I've been asking but nothing really stands out so I figured I would widen the search
I've been asking but nothing really stands out so I figured I would widen the search
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SFC Casey O'Mally
1LT (Join to see) When I was in an EN BN, everyone seemed to take pride in the title Sapper. Maybe that is a place to start while developing your PLT identity. Anytime you WOULD say 'Soldier,' say 'Sapper' instead.
I would also look at riffing on the word for motto or mascot. One of our EN Companies was very simple - Sapper Beast.
Not sure of the current culture, but if there is no esprit culture at all, that may be a good way to start building one with a bunch of young Engineers.
Also start sending them to Sapper Leader course to reinforce that Sapper identity.
I would also look at riffing on the word for motto or mascot. One of our EN Companies was very simple - Sapper Beast.
Not sure of the current culture, but if there is no esprit culture at all, that may be a good way to start building one with a bunch of young Engineers.
Also start sending them to Sapper Leader course to reinforce that Sapper identity.
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I’d look into some WWII history or older Engineer snippets for ideas. The old AT Company’s had a Mine platoon in WWII. All this units are part of the history books now. Their old unit mottos even up to regiment level would be fair game. Good luck!
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I like to consider the personality of the platoon when coming up with stuff like this. Also, will the commander be willing to put it in a frg newsletter?
A PL and I tried to use "hard, fast, and stupid" one time, commander didnt think it was as funny as we did. He didnt approve of the Latin version either!
A PL and I tried to use "hard, fast, and stupid" one time, commander didnt think it was as funny as we did. He didnt approve of the Latin version either!
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