Why do the Marines sew a name tape on the rear pockets of their pants?

2015-08-22T05:08:34-04:00

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 22 at 2015 5:29 AM

2015-08-22T05:29:04-04:00

So that if you're a superior coming up behind a Marine who is goofing off you can call them by name instead of "Hey you/Marine!!!" before chewing their ass. Same goes in the Navy.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 22 at 2015 6:28 AM

2015-08-22T06:28:07-04:00

In case someone cuts you in half they know whose ass it is :-)

The Marines do a lot of things w/o a uniform top on so I would imagine its along the lines of what PO1 John Miller says.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 22 at 2015 6:35 AM

2015-08-22T06:35:05-04:00

So we can tell who is not sitting on his ass.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 22 at 2015 6:56 AM

2015-08-22T06:56:53-04:00

There's probably several dozen reasons, however...

When you do laundry on ship, they end up in "batches" (section or squad), and it makes it a hell of a lot easier to sort that way. Rather than having to turn them inside out and find the stamp. I believe the Navy does as well.

Additionally, when you take your top off, you can see who the person is.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Aug 22 at 2015 7:17 AM

2015-08-22T07:17:35-04:00

I do not know. But what Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS says sounds about right. His statement also reminded me that the Army used to have us stamp just about everything but socks. I still have the marking kit that we had to purchase in Basic Training.

Response by TSgt Marco McDowell made Aug 22 at 2015 9:24 AM

2015-08-22T09:24:08-04:00

Lots of reasons...a few for thought. Sounds morbid but if you're out in the drink and a floater you tend to go face down. They can see who you are without rolling you, abandoning ship or fire and running up the ladderwell you can see who is in front of you,but most important is when a bum mooches your trousers out of the dryer,you can call him out on it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2015 9:32 AM

2015-08-22T09:32:27-04:00

Honestly, I had to read through all of the responses before putting my own response. Mainly because I wasn't sure if this was a serious question or not and my natural drive to be a smart ass almost kicked in.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2015 9:39 AM

2015-08-22T09:39:46-04:00

We didn't have name tags on our trousers or blouses when i graduated boot camp. I don't recall the order or when (late 80's early 90's), but I have some hanging in the closet with tags, both woodlands and the chocolate chip deserts. If I recall it was some time after Gen Kelly had us wearing those hideous V-neck t-shirts. Thankfully, those went away.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2015 10:19 AM

2015-08-22T10:19:25-04:00

Ok I give up...

But target of opportunity for a little interservice jokery.

So the Navy knows who they're dancing with..

Drops mic.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2015 11:29 AM

2015-08-22T11:29:09-04:00

CPT Chris Loomis, I don't find it odd. I use to sew a black and white nametape to the back of PT pants. I am assuming its for extra identification or an additional method of self order and discipline. Small uniformity standards like that go along way in promoting and upholding standards, something that many Armed Forces Service Members are lacking these days.

Response by Sgt William Biggs made Aug 22 at 2015 4:49 PM

2015-08-22T16:49:41-04:00

Makes laundry easy when done in bulk

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Aug 22 at 2015 7:29 PM

2015-08-22T19:29:22-04:00

That's a new one on me. We had a ink stamper and stamped our names in precise locations on every article of clothing we had. This must have occurred after I got out.

Response by LCpl Jeff Moore made Aug 23 at 2015 12:15 AM

2015-08-23T00:15:33-04:00

The true answer has been lost to time, Much why the age old question of why Marines cant put their hands in their pockets

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 23 at 2015 1:17 AM

2015-08-23T01:17:07-04:00

In the day, names were stenciled on shirts and pants as they were loose in the laundry. Socks and skivvies went in the small mesh bag which was stenciled as well. So when you're on a tin can, the laundry water is recycled through diatomaceous earth filters. That meant all finished laundry stank the same, hence we all stank the same. The 2 minute Navy shower allowed you not to stink for about 10 minutes wherein you resumed your stink by putting on a washed uniform.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made Aug 23 at 2015 10:11 AM

2015-08-23T10:11:39-04:00

It's the communal laundry thing. Navy did it too. Helps the "laundry queen" (usually an E-2 with no specialty training" get the right stuff back to the right guys.

Response by Sgt Victor Smith made Aug 24 at 2015 12:06 AM

2015-08-24T00:06:08-04:00

Some have it right before name tapes, Marines used a cloth marker to put their last name on the back center between the shoulders and back left pocket of their trousers. This was for being on ship and doing laundry. After the Gulf war and tags came out same reason. We hated the tags. The press said that they could not tell the difference in the Marines and the Army. At least that's what we were told.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 7:03 PM

2015-08-24T19:03:06-04:00

Laundry, when authorized to deblouse, anti theft, there are a million reasons.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 9:56 PM

2015-08-26T21:56:34-04:00

So SNCOS know whose ass their about to destroy

Response by MSG Nick C. made Sep 3 at 2015 8:32 PM

2015-09-03T20:32:05-04:00

To keep scumbags from stealing their pants! I used to put it the inside of my pants pockets! You should've seen Th looks on people's faces when an inspection came and they had my pants!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 1:38 AM

2015-09-07T01:38:12-04:00

A lot of soldiers sew a name tape above the pocket on the back of their trousers as well. I am one of these soldiers. I do it primarily because of laundry issues. Also, for the reason of being unbloused at times. To include when wearing a combat shirt. Also in the field when changing or sleeping in close proximity it eliminates the problem of grabbing someone else's trousers.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Sep 30 at 2015 12:55 PM

2015-09-30T12:55:33-04:00

Because Marines know full well that other Marines are thieves and cannot be trusted! (JK!!)

Response by 1stSgt Carlton Edwards Jr. made May 16 at 2018 6:16 PM

2018-05-16T18:16:31-04:00

Casualty identification

Response by Maj John Bell made Dec 10 at 2018 6:09 PM

2018-12-10T18:09:10-05:00

Aboard ship, laundry is turned in, and washed in net bags. Sooner rather than later one of the bags fails. It is a lot easier to sort out what belongs to who.

Response by PFC Rizzo Kenickie made Sep 3 at 2024 11:44 PM

2024-09-03T23:44:50-04:00

I was in AIT with a handful of prior service guys. A Navy guy told me that it's an efficient way to identify bodies floating face down