What are the weirdest Army (or other branch) Traditions you know of?

"Buying' your first salute. Once commissioned, an officer should buy the first salute received and is expected to earn every one after that. Traditionally, it's paid for with a Silver Dollar. I was promoted to WO inside a building, and a young Corporal shadowed me for a couple hours just to run out and be the first to salute me and get that dollar. Either he really respected me or he was flat broke...either way, I was humbled.

The truly weirdest all involve alcohol in copious amounts

"Pinning on" of rank. When promoted, everyone basically beats the shit out of you one shoulder at a time... we decided to stop the tradition when one guy passed out when hit from both sides at once.

In the Navy when a ship crosses the equator all the newbees have to take the right of passage from being a paliwag to shell back. They are made to perform all kinds of stunts, crawl through rotten food, drink plenty of alcohol, then at the end they have to kiss the greased up belly of the fattest Chief on the ship

While assigned to an engineer battalion in the early 70's the 1SGT had a "tradition" with new officers. He would circle the company around a bulls-eye of engineer tape. He then would go into a long speech about trusting your men and how great leaders listen to their troops. After that he launched into a veritable ode to the pickaxe/mattock. Upon producing said pickaxe and blindfold he further explained that with the blindfold the initiate would have to listen to the directions of the shouts to swing the axe into the bulls-eye. The new officer's smooth entry into the culture of the engineers was dependent on successful listening and obliteration of the target. Needing to be accepted the officer readily accepted the challenge and grabbed the pick with gusto making several test swings nodding his approval to the tribal circle gathered to accept him. The 1SGT would then approach the subject ask for his cap...so new and sparkly with a fresh gold bar...he would hold it for him. With the blindfold in place the 2LT was given a short spin around and directions where given to the circled mass to "help" him find the target. All during this prelude the troops were noticeably silent not sure how to react. The 1SGT then would hold the cap aloft...displaying it like a ghoulish trophy and with all the respect he could muster throw the cap into the bullseye. Suddenly the gathered throng had a purpose and erupted in yelps, screams and shouted directions. As he swung the pick with gusto and slowly dug a furrow closer to the glistening bar the crowd noise swelled. Finally, reaching his target and impaling this brand new cap and bar on the pick the roar became deafening and the officer assumed a maniacal like demeanor destroying the turf with the cap stabbed on the tip of the axe...the gold bar now mangled beyond recognition. Finally, the 1SGT would call a halt to the devilish event. The officer now was in a sweaty lather, out of uniform and out of breath. The axe was carefully handed over and the blind fold removed. "Sir", bellowed the 1SGT, "you have now been inducted into the PickAxe Hall of Fame. Welcome to Charlie Company.". The gathered throng erupted in applause and approving cheers.

Not sure why we stopped the practice might have had something to do with the base commander driving by and seeing what appeared to be the public humiliation of one of his officers.

From what I gather, those officers who are leaving the service or are PCS-ing, will take their flight deck boots (usually tan) and tie them to the catapault system to have them fly off at 180 mph into the water.

I think it's a sign of passage. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, help me out in what the actual activity is.

Unfortunately today allot of traditions that were done in the past have now been labeled harassment or objectifying, which makes you feel bad because within those traditions you get a story, some espr de corp and bring most people together. In Korea we call it your "Green Bean" & "Brown Bean", your Green Bean is your first night in Korea or weekend where you are introduced to the wonders of Soju and the effects it has on you to include it's tastless, which by end of the night if your not covered in BBQ from chicken on stick and speaking random Korean words you didn't accomplish it correctly. Your Brown Bean is when your leaving Korea which usually is like your Green Bean experience times 100 because you have built up some tollerance over the past year

Personally, traditions were brought about by years of service and stems from morale builders used to keep pride of service! All very important in their day and still useful in many respects! An old sailor who enjoyed them with laughter!

"Challenge Coins". I know they are big deal to some, but never to me. I just threw them in a drawer or box and forgot about them. Every once in awhile one will turn up in a junk drawer or box of crap I haven't opened in years. Always thought it was funny when someone would have a shrine on their desk of all the coins they collected like it was a museum piece or something.

Goes back a long way but at one time you'd see boots hanging from power lines outside the gates. When Marines EAS'd they'd tie the laces together and toss them over the lines when leaving for the last time. "I don't need these anymore."

I have a worn out pair of Jungle Boots hanging in my garage.