South African Reacts To 10 Weirdest American Military Traditions

[@josephheitzmann7745]

I watched one the other day where in the Navy when a “Shooter” (the one who launches the planes from the deck)..retires..they take his boots and put them on the catapult and hit the switch Launching the guys boots into the sea!

[@Whoozerdaddy]

I remember getting my crow tacked on when I made petty officer. Nice bruise.

[@Norbrookc]

The "grog" is meant to be disgusting (although not particularly dangerous). It's at formal dinners called "dining out" (unit only) or "dining in" (guests allowed). One of the things is for various people to call out infractions, and you get sentenced to the grog. It's actually fun. Actually, "blood wings" and "blood stripes" are pretty much out of favor now.

[@jsstars1]

The good old days of crossing the equator in the 80’s and 90’s. I’ve been told from friends kids who have been through it that it’s practically nothing to it nowadays, especially nothing that was truly disgusting that I went through.

[@heyallenify]

The "blood stripes" used to involve blood, when the rank still had sharp studs on the insignia. Now with sewn on stripes, it's most likely just going to end up with sore arms.

[@jamiepuente481]

They do it in a handshake to keep it on the down low. But yes. It’s a real thing.

[@heywoodjablowme8120]

Masterbation in the military is a real thing 😂❤😂

[@kevinbrown3075]

I got promoted to Corporal while in the middle of the Atlantic during a six month Marine Corps deployment to the Med. Once an NCO, you wear the red stripe on your dress blues pants and are both punched in the arm and kneed in the thigh ( to represent earning the stripe) by all those in your Platoon and ranked above you- for me, that was about a dozen individuals and each one gets a shot at both arms and thighs. The knee to the thigh was so painful I didn’t feel the punches. For the week after, navigating that ship with such soreness was brutal.😂

[@brucew7062]

Many of these (most actually) are no longer allowed. They are considered hazing now (we used to just call it bonding while Was on active duty). Marines have had their careers ruined by doing things we used to do for fun. Pinning on rank, pink bellies, wet downs, duct taping them into a variety of embarrassing situations, shellback ceremonies, etc. It was all in good jest. Unfortunately sometimes things get carried away and people can end up with injuries to their back, knees, neck, or shoulders that can end a career. Nowadays it’s what we veterans would call “a softer, gentler, kinder” military.

[@SITHJELLO]

When my dad was in the NAVY and crossed the equator, they saved their garbage for weeks and they had to crawl through it 🤮

[@bleachedbrother]

When I was in the US Navy ('85-'89), my ship crossed the Arctic Circle and we had a Blue Nose ceremony similar to the Shell Back (equator). My division (2nd Division/Deck) had a special "Welcome Aboard" tradition for new sailors assigned to our division; we picked them up like pallbearers, spread their feet apart and launched their family jewels into a steel support pole in the middle of our berthing compartment. 😮

[@johnhelwig8745]

As I child, I learned really quick that you never tell a parent you are bored.. They will find things for you to do, and usually not pleasant, like cleaning the basement.

[@Laura-mi3nv]

They sure did leave a lot out about the court of Neptune..... cause they usually empty the sewage system onto the deck and people slide around through raw sewage. I've seen video.

[@garynachbauer8144]

got my airborne blood wings in oct96, saw a guy who the pins on the back got stuck into his chest and one broke off, had to use a multi tool pliers to pull it out; the challenge coins are real and the one with the rarest coin wins, everyone else had to do pushups or buy drinks

[@snowflakehunter]

Don't complain about the rain until it becomes a hazard. There have been many times here in north Texas where the drought has been so bad that restaurants could not serve water. It then got so bad, that the city was forced to try something never tried before. We rerouted freshly cleaned sewer water directly back into the treatment facility to treated again with lake water. Basically, we used 50% treated sewer water and 50% treated lake water for our drinking water. The treatment facility used the most advanced treatment system in the world at the time. The EPA (environmental protection agency) and other drought stricken cities watched very closely as this project unfolded. The end result was tap water that was cleaner than any bottled water on the market. Count your blessings.

[@ScottyM1959]

No, that was real Obama was giving that air force officer a presidential challenge coin. That officer will never have to buy a drink in a challenge ever! These were fun to watch!

[@TheRagratus]

Notice the Stetson being in the background of the "Grog Bowl". That is the ONLY piece of headgear you are allowed to wear indoors while unarmed. ( I have my Stetson right here in my office, I was never nominated for Spurs). This was obviously filmed at a Spur Dinner. This is when Cav troopers receive their Spurs. Silver for passing the non combat test and Gold for being in a combat zone. A Spur Ride is a series of rigorous physical, professional, and technical activities. You must be nominated by another Spur holder. The completion of a Spur Ride recognizes the Trooper's leadership skills and excellence in the Cavalry. Throughout history, Cavalry units have been readily identifiable by their Stetsons and Spurs. "If you ain't Cav? You ain't shit." FIRST TEAM!!!. OOH RAH!!!

[@toddodell2904]

I served from 1986-2011 and still carry a challenge coin.

[@Deadcntr]

There is a hazing tradition among Navy Coast Guard. When you get promoted from Petty Officer First Class to Chief Petty Officer.

[@augl2702]

I'd love to see a reaction to: Pentagon Hall of Heroes: Staff Sgt. David G. Bellavia's Speech The Us Army

[@Smokeater4444]

It cost me 250 dollars , after that I AM NEVER without out a Military coin & yes even after we get out someone at a Veterans Club will flip a Military coin onto the bar & you see folks franticly searching pockets for there coin !!! The Blood wings didn't bother me ,what would have is if they hadn't done it !!

[@timothydixon2545]

They let out drink the gold fish, man there are so many more depending on what branch of the military you are in.

[@TheMarkc614]

The Obama challenge coin handshake was real. It is just a rarely photographed moment.

[@andrewcolombana3226]

The President and DOD Secretary has challenge coins they give out to whomever they choose. Mission crew who supported them for one. The coin has to hit a hard object so you have to knock it, drop it on a hard surface, accidently dropping it out of a pocket onto the floor is the worst, you just initiated a challenge. If you catch someone without their coin they buy a beer for all those who have their coins, which have to be produced in 30 seconds from the challenge. If all have coins, the challenger has to buy the beer for all the coin holders. We have had challenges in the shower room, so you have to have your coin EVERYWHERE but if someone finds your unaccompanied coin, they can challenge with your coin and it acts as your challenge, again if all have a coin, you based on your coin have to buy the beer. You can't drill holes in any coin to where it on a chain either. Every unit has their own rules.

[@curtjoyner4493]

If you like these traditions then I suggest you go down the rabbit hole on nautical traditions. Both naval and civilian nautical traditions go back hundreds of years and have become ubiquitous.

[@IsaacLeonforte]

Yes, challenge coins are real

[@James-tz7pe]

Hope you have a good day to

[@jskelly1979]

I don't care what anyone else says but I'm a Golden Shellback, having served aboard the USS Carl Vinson during Westpac 1998. This is where you cross the equator and international date line cross-section, I just chose not to participate in the stupid tradition.

[@revtoyota]

6:30 it is a real picture but it was staged.

[@jskelly1979]

it's not staged, it's a Presidential tradition that is not announced when it'll happen so it's rare to get a clear photo.

[@revtoyota]

I know it is a tradition, but it doesn't change the fact that photo was staged. ie. the photographer was told were to stand to get it. This was taken when Obama was not on the best terms with the military. @@jskelly1979