What is considered a Nonner? Is it any AFSC that isn't a Maintainer?

2015-11-13T21:08:05-05:00

A debate started in my shop today when one of my EOD Techs (1) jokingly called another EOD Tech (2) a Nonner. (2) had never heard the word before and that started the debate. What is your definition of a Nonner? I have always been told that a Nonner is an insult for anyone that isn't a Maintainer. Others say it's someone who has a desk job. I personally find the term funny. I love being EOD so I embrace my Nonner status.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2015 9:16 PM

2015-11-13T21:16:15-05:00

Nonner = non-maintainer

At least that's how it was always explained to me and it just makes sense! But I have never felt insulted when someone refers to me as a nonner---I just smile and nod!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 13 at 2015 9:26 PM

2015-11-13T21:26:39-05:00

I never heard the term before today...

Response by SrA David Steyer made Nov 13 at 2015 10:47 PM

2015-11-13T22:47:07-05:00

It's the USAF version of POG... Persons other than Grunt.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 13 at 2015 10:51 PM

2015-11-13T22:51:25-05:00

MSgt John Carroll - you might be interested in the Urban Dictionary definition, HA!

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nonner

nonner

Shortened form of Non Sortie Producing Motherfucker. Term created by the "working" side of the U.S. Air Force. A sortie is one take-off and landing...

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Nov 14 at 2015 8:57 AM

2015-11-14T08:57:13-05:00

The flight line is a 24/7 operation, Nonner is a way for us to explain to each other why we have to wait till morning, Monday or after the holidays. Why we're not allowed to run engines or ground equipment after certain hours.
If issued, and wearing a piece of clothing to protect me from extreme heat/cold, I have to explain to a nonner that it's authorized, Where to get it and then hear their complaint, why they can't have one/it.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Nov 14 at 2015 9:19 AM

2015-11-14T09:19:52-05:00

Never heard the term used before today.. so can't help with a definition real or perceived.
But I will say.....I could not have done what needed to be done every day in support of the commander's goals or in support of my Soldiers without every one of the "Support" MOS's inside and outside the wire, fueler, clerk, Vet Tech, and all those at home as well supporting the family while we are gone. Of all the most "emotionally and aggressively charged "Discussions" I had in my career.. those "discussions" with pompous and egotistical "fighting Soldiers" about supporters were the worst and best

Response by Maj Jeff Dodd made Nov 14 at 2015 9:42 AM

2015-11-14T09:42:16-05:00

Some of us in the flying community refer to any non-operations or support personnel "shoe clerks". Not sure where this came from but I've heard it for as long as I've been flying. I've heard MX crew Chiefs use the term "nonner" and took it to mean basically the same thing as "shoe clerk". I regard EOD, firefighters, police and other first responder types in a separate category reserved for the badasses that they are!

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 14 at 2015 11:56 AM

2015-11-14T11:56:40-05:00

The way I understood it some time ago, it was any AFSC that was not a maintainer, or any AFSC that did not directly supported the flying mission. When I left Acft Maint to become a Medic, I got a rash of Nonner crap over that one... LMAO!!! Both your EOD Techs are Nonners! :)

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Nov 14 at 2015 1:20 PM

2015-11-14T13:20:03-05:00

A nonner is a term flight line guys use to whine about others not stuck on the line LOL. I worked the line for 11 years of my 24 but never whined about other AFSCs.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2015 1:23 PM

2015-11-14T13:23:36-05:00

Wow. Last time I checked, there are only 2 jobs in the Military. Infantry and support. That is all.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Nov 16 at 2015 9:39 AM

2015-11-16T09:39:50-05:00

I don't recall hearing the term before, but it's really funny and clearly a word only used among friends. I wonder how many people would use it to describe the Finance guy helping them when their pay is scr@@@ up. I just can see it "hey you Nonner, what's wrong with my pay?"

Response by SSgt Donnavon Smith made Nov 16 at 2015 12:59 PM

2015-11-16T12:59:33-05:00

Nonner is a Non-sortie generating troop. all but Fliers and flightline workers. If your shop closes for training or lunch, you might be a nonner.

Response by CCMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 10:28 AM

2015-11-17T10:28:24-05:00

Wingnuts, Nonners, FOBbits...it's time we quit feeding the trolls. Everyone has their strengths. Everyone has their part.

Response by SrA Kevin Ridenhour made Nov 18 at 2015 6:28 PM

2015-11-18T18:28:33-05:00

Anyone that's not flightline maintenance.

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Nov 19 at 2015 11:42 AM

2015-11-19T11:42:52-05:00

Oh! I thought you said NOONER! I know what that is..."Nonner" is a bullshit tag that people who want to seem self important assign to other professionals who they wish to denigrate. It is typically a refuge of small minded people who cannot understand the fact that all military actions are intertwined with operators and support...

Response by SSgt Boyd Welch made Nov 20 at 2015 5:46 PM

2015-11-20T17:46:13-05:00

I believe it's the same as the USMC "Beer Bitch"...

Response by SSgt Boyd Welch made Nov 20 at 2015 5:56 PM

2015-11-20T17:56:25-05:00

An old adage is "Never insult the people that get you paid, that work on an aircrew's EPIRB/ ELT or your egress equipment (all shop people). When I was a maintainer on F-111s, had one go down in an controlled roll. Crew module worked as advertised but came down at a rough landing angle. Hard landing with A/C commander suffering back injuries. When able, he came to the Egress shop screaming that he would rather be dead than have his back messed. Our squadrom Cmsgt said " Sir if you will give us your tail number next time, we'll be happy to oblige.."

Response by MSgt Sandra McKinney Dent made Nov 21 at 2015 10:40 AM

2015-11-21T10:40:35-05:00

Back when i was flightline and back-shop avionics maintenance (1970s-1980s), the term was NUB = Non-Usable Body. Which could mean a brand new tech school grad that cannot be left alone on the flight line, or in the shop, someone on a medical "duties" waiver after an injury or illness, or that person that cannot find their way out of a wet paperbag with a map. So inapt that they also could not hold a flashlight or pass a tool.

I have heard "shoe clerk" for non-rated officers too.

Response by Sgt Sherry Taylor-Bruce made Nov 21 at 2015 2:38 PM

2015-11-21T14:38:35-05:00

When I was acive duty I was in the supply SQ my husbnd worked on the flight line. I was responsible for the parts getting processed to waitng units and aircaft. I was very popular when a plane was red X and they needed it for the sorti goal. I was a Noner but I helped end MICAP situations as well as counting batteries. I was a proud box kicker...

Response by MSgt Jeffrey Forer made Nov 23 at 2015 12:52 PM

2015-11-23T12:52:16-05:00

EOD is technically a nonner, but not a group that it is generally directed at. Nonners are generally people that have a standard 8-430 day, or get in the way of a sortie producer. Finance and anyone in MPF I'm looking at you

Response by SrA David Steyer made Nov 23 at 2015 1:11 PM

2015-11-23T13:11:59-05:00

I never saw people in real life bitch about their AFSC like people do online. I never heard the term used in real life either.

What I did do... is if I had anyone who worked odd hours, whenever possible try and expedite their work that needed to be completed so that way they can go home, get some sleep or get on with their life.

The biggest problem with this term, is that some "nonner" AFSC's work and have 24/7 operations. Not always at every base but they do exist.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Dec 10 at 2015 8:04 PM

2015-12-10T20:04:03-05:00

I have never heard the term before. But it seems to me that every AFSC supports the flying mission in some way or another. If my troops were not protecting the maintainers on the flight line, the maintainers would be too busy protecting themselves to work. It seems to me that Nonner is a term that only applies to maintainers who other maintainers don't view as productive. Since the vast majority of the AF is not on the flight line, most of us are Nonners.

Response by MSgt Darren VanDerwilt made Apr 15 at 2016 10:34 AM

2016-04-15T10:34:06-04:00

Nonner applies to Air Force personnel that don't contribute to sortie production. A supply troop that delivers parts to the flightline or maintenance backshops is not considered a Nonner. But a supply troop working in a personal equipment issue warehouse is. Usually, the term applies to those Air Force members that provide those invaluable services such as finance and personnel. Flightline and maintenance backshop personnel refer to them as Nonners primarily because when one of these Nonners makes a mistake with an individuals pay or personnel actions they suffer zero backlash or disciplinary action compared to the aircraft equipment person who does.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2016 8:10 AM

2016-06-21T08:10:34-04:00

NAPs: Non Airborne Personnel (Formerly LEGS Low Energy Ground Soldiers). I like this saying more. Now I like it more because a lot of people not being a Nonner would be considered one of these.

Response by Rocky Romero made Oct 26 at 2016 2:42 AM

2016-10-26T02:42:23-04:00

Without support, there are no sorties - and that's all. North Dakota - South Dakota -- All the Dakotas -- get over it. Chauvinism benefits no one!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2017 11:53 AM

2017-09-06T11:53:36-04:00

Don't rightly know. But I know what a "Nooner" is. I took them all time...and still do!!!

Response by A1C Carol Taylor made Sep 11 at 2017 11:04 AM

2017-09-11T11:04:59-04:00

No idea

Response by SSgt Holden M. made Sep 11 at 2017 11:15 AM

2017-09-11T11:15:54-04:00

A nonner I was told non maintainer back when I worked in a maintenance squadron as an admin. But by actuality a nonner is somebody that doesn't have to worry about a normal shift being on the weekends or having people working 24/7 with different shifts and all that. I recon you could call some parts of EOD a nonner but you could call some parts of every job a nonner especially at the higher ranks because eventually you sit behind a desk and make informed decisions instead of out there turning a wrench or diffusing a bomb or checking id cards at the gates.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2017 5:38 AM

2017-10-01T05:38:18-04:00

Nonner originated as a shortened term of "Non Sortie Producing Motherfucker" quite some time ago. So technically yes. Buuuuuut it's main application is for the desk jockies. I've not once been on the flight line looking at EOD goin "fuckin nonners".

Response by MSgt David Roberson made Jan 19 at 2018 11:27 PM

2018-01-19T23:27:51-05:00

I wasn't in aircraft maintenance. I was however in ground radio maintenance. I am sure that makes me a "nonner." However, I would like to see that aircraft get off the ground if I took all my radios back or if some of my coworkers had turned off the base computer network or telephone switch.
Just sayin'!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2018 10:43 AM

2018-06-13T10:43:26-04:00

I'm sure the flight line has changed abundantly since you turned a wrench, MSgt Wolverton.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 5 at 2019 10:44 AM

2019-08-05T10:44:02-04:00

Anyone in the Air Force who can read above a 7th grade level is a nonner ;o)

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2020 1:44 AM

2020-02-09T01:44:10-05:00

As a proud maintainer, I can say that anyone who is a non-sortie generating motherfucker is a Nonner. However, there are exceptions for those who have to work crappy hours just like maintainers or are general harassed that are too awesome to be called Nonners. The insult of Nonners are those people who have a 8-1430 job and are closed every other Thursday for training ( MPF, medical, finance, and the like). This is not to say that their jobs aren’t important but generally they don’t understand how we can be so irate And hate them so much when they screw up our pay or come in smelling like fuel after a 12 hr shift and be asked to leave Yet they get to go home with little to no repercussions because “the system rejected it”. I would say that whole EOD is technically Nonners they are in the badass camp and are exempt from shit talking.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made May 2 at 2022 3:45 PM

2022-05-02T15:45:03-04:00

OH... "Nonner"...
I Thought I Read "Nooner"
OOPS

Response by MSgt Jimmy Mullins made Sep 16 at 2022 7:01 AM

2022-09-16T07:01:27-04:00

When did the term nonner start to be used? I was active duty and in aircraft maintenance for 21 years and don't remember that term being used.

Response by SrA Kathleen Cuyler made Dec 16 at 2022 12:04 AM

2022-12-16T00:04:22-05:00

I love working in the command post