Logo uploaded by: SSG Andres Redondo
Coast Guard
Coast Guard
Posted on Oct 31, 2016
Soldier called me a POG and told me to leave the Commissary. What action can I take?
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Note: My friend Carlos is in the Coast Guard and sent me this question last night. He said he's not on RP due to OPSEC (whatever), so he asked me to ask this on RP on his behalf. He is pretty hell bent on getting this Soldier punished. Anyway, let him know your thoughts on the below.
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I’m in the Coast Guard and have been active duty for 6 years. I’m stationed in Hawaii right now. I was up by Schofield Barracks and went on base there, and went to go shop for a few things at the Commissary. I was waiting in line for some fresh meat and there were 2 Army soldiers also in line, in front of me. They were looking at me and saying things to each other. It looked like they were laughing at me. I heard one of them refer to me as a “POG” which is a slang term I am familiar with from social media stuff. I said to them “Excuse me, I heard what you just said, and I feel disrespected.” I was just trying to stick up for myself. One of the soldiers then squared up to me and said “Yeah, I did call you a POG. Because you are a POG. You need to up and leave here – this is an Army Commissary.” A few other people in line heard this and started laughing. I felt so angry that I just left the building.
I know the soldier’s last name from his top, and I would recognize his face. What actions can I take to report him to his chain of command? What other advice do you have?
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I’m in the Coast Guard and have been active duty for 6 years. I’m stationed in Hawaii right now. I was up by Schofield Barracks and went on base there, and went to go shop for a few things at the Commissary. I was waiting in line for some fresh meat and there were 2 Army soldiers also in line, in front of me. They were looking at me and saying things to each other. It looked like they were laughing at me. I heard one of them refer to me as a “POG” which is a slang term I am familiar with from social media stuff. I said to them “Excuse me, I heard what you just said, and I feel disrespected.” I was just trying to stick up for myself. One of the soldiers then squared up to me and said “Yeah, I did call you a POG. Because you are a POG. You need to up and leave here – this is an Army Commissary.” A few other people in line heard this and started laughing. I felt so angry that I just left the building.
I know the soldier’s last name from his top, and I would recognize his face. What actions can I take to report him to his chain of command? What other advice do you have?
Commissary
UCMJ
Coast Guard
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1532
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While the army soldiers were disrespectful and childish, I don't think this rises to the level of disciplinary action beyond a counseling. Advice to Carlos: Rub against Army and Marines more often...it makes your skin grow thicker. You are a POG. So am I. I'm happy to NOT be a grunt, but so what? And it's NOT an Army commissary, it's a Defense Commissary (DeCA). Remind the grunt (non-POG) we're on the same team, and he should save his BS for the bad guys.
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SSG James Mielke
LCpl Larry Morgan - Nothing wrong with being a REMF ( am old school like you) Other than the Grunts, we are all REMFs to someone. A fact I have fun with when teasing my wife, who is formerly Army Supply and Army Nurse, when she tries telling the what's what about going to the field. LOL
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SSG(P) D. Wright Downs
Sandy Linden - I guess you are a Civilian. You may work for the VA. I don’t know what “w 15-50 injuries” referee to. Is that disability rating? I have no idea where you get your fact about “majority” either.
There are many POGs who know what it is like to be up-close and personal to bombs and terrorist activities. People do not get the PTSD diagnoses as a lark. If you do not know anyone who has it, you are very fortunate. It is not a fun gig for the person or the family members. Very strong people get the diagnosis. Do you close the door to your POV before or after you start the engine? When do you put on your seat belt? Does your family dog do a sweep of the house every time you come home from a ride? When was the last time you enjoyed a fireworks display…more than 25 years ago? You see, depending on where the person was assigned and the nature of the duty, POGs don’t live in a ball of protective material. A stop by a gasthaus or taking in a beer fest could not be safe for anyone who wore an American uniform or spoke American English or spoke really terrible host nation language. REMF or POG, the mission was there and it was completed.
We al had a job to do and we did it. It isn’t nice to put people down or to question their disability or how they got it. If you really listen, you may hear some really nasty accounts of life in the military, all in the duty day.
There are many POGs who know what it is like to be up-close and personal to bombs and terrorist activities. People do not get the PTSD diagnoses as a lark. If you do not know anyone who has it, you are very fortunate. It is not a fun gig for the person or the family members. Very strong people get the diagnosis. Do you close the door to your POV before or after you start the engine? When do you put on your seat belt? Does your family dog do a sweep of the house every time you come home from a ride? When was the last time you enjoyed a fireworks display…more than 25 years ago? You see, depending on where the person was assigned and the nature of the duty, POGs don’t live in a ball of protective material. A stop by a gasthaus or taking in a beer fest could not be safe for anyone who wore an American uniform or spoke American English or spoke really terrible host nation language. REMF or POG, the mission was there and it was completed.
We al had a job to do and we did it. It isn’t nice to put people down or to question their disability or how they got it. If you really listen, you may hear some really nasty accounts of life in the military, all in the duty day.
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Sgt Tim Horton
You should have told them that you are were too smart to be a bullet sponge or ied magnet.
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If anyone is offended by being called a POG, they seriously need to get thicker skin.
My advise, come up with some clever comebacks or carry some kleenex around.
My advise, come up with some clever comebacks or carry some kleenex around.
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SGT Justin Brothen
Right, im a POG yet your company needs 200 of you and 4 of us...... 50-1. Let that sink in.
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SSG(P) D. Wright Downs
PO2 Steven Hardy - I went to DINFOS, the Defense Information school with all branches. There was always a Coastie who would remark that we practiced while they worked every day. But, they were always on tap for a party and they always helped clean up. I am surprised Carlos is taking himself so seriously. The USCG veterans I know and the ones I knew back in the day were more able to take a joke…and to make one.
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SMSgt Bob Wilson
GROW UP SSG!!! Insults are not called for in any situation. SSG, be a leader, not a winier.
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"Make me"? Challenge them to a duel and raise your dukes. Have them call the MPs and escort you out of the place. Make a big stinkie, kick them in the gonads, laugh in their face and tell them you have a contagious disease spread through body fluids. Beg them to hit you. Call "incoming" and run in while they figure out what that means. Call mom, she'll fix it.
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SPC Michael Terrell
Col Rebecca Lorraine - 'A good bluff is better than a good fight, any day of the week!'
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Sgt Brigid Totten
Col Rebecca Lorraine, Thank you for a good laugh :D I have read through the whole line of comments, some of these people need to lighten up!! Again Ma'am thank you very much, laughter is the best medicine
Fly Fight Win
Fly Fight Win
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