Rules for the Non-Military

[TTEscrima]

Some other pertinent information:

All enlisted men who enter bootcamp start at the bottom: PFC, SR (E-1).

Not all, unless they've massively changed things in the last year. Granted I joined the Navy when when the ships had wooden hulls, LOL but I know Boar and I were both E-3's from day one of boot camp due to special programs we both qualified for with promotion to Petty Officer 3rd class upon graduation from our respective schools.

[Tom Yum]

Some other pertinent information:

All enlisted men who enter bootcamp start at the bottom: PFC, SR (E-1). All civillian officer candidates who enter OCS get auto E-5 or otherwise retain their rank if they are a 'Mustang' officer (prior enlisted).

Most enlisted bootcamp graduates retain a rank of E-1 or get early promoted to E-2, depending on performance.

After graduation, new Marines, Sailors, Soldiers whom have college education or a certain amount of ROTC experience can get bumped up to CPL, SPC, SN etc. (E-4/E-3).

New officers graduate with the rank of O-1 (2nd LT - Marines/Army or Ensign - Navy).

An NCO is a non-commissioned officer in the US Armed Services. This is an individual who is enlisted, has served for a number of years and is responsible for getting things done through delegation or hands on oversight.

A commissioned officer has completed ROTC (college-based military training) or OCS (officer bootcamp) is in charge of planning/oversight and is on a higher rank structure than enlisted men.

Enlisted men salute officers. Officers return the salute, dropping their salute first, then the enlisted drop their salute.

[Hardball]

4. (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were..
Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be 'Special Forces,' and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old. Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked.

Also, if you WERE in the Military DON'T OVEREXAGGERATE what you did while in the service. For example, if you were regular Army don't get caught with Ranger patches on your uniform. Another example, if you were a PFC DONT tell people you were a Staff Sgt. Keep it real. These are just a few examples. Remember, if you were in the Service don't overexaggerate what you did. And Finally, If your military service never took you to Combat don't pretend you saw Combat. You may not get your Arse kicked but you sure will be labeled a Wannabee.

[TTEscrima]

This email is making its way through the different vet organizations, thought I'd share it with the vets here.
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Dear Civilians, 'We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military.

For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance:

1. The next time you see any adults talking (or wearing a hat) during the playing of the National Anthem - kick their ass.

2. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in protest - kick their ass.

3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices
these veterans made to make this Nation great.

Then hold them down while a disabled veteran kicks their ass.

4. (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were..
Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be 'Special Forces,' and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old. Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked.

5. Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, 'Do you fly a jet?' Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are exempt).

6. If you witness someone calling the US Coast Guard 'non-military', inform them of their mistake - and kick their ass.

7. Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart.
Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her - of course, failure to do either of those could earn you a severe ass-kicking.

8. Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran. We are Americans, and we all bleed the same, regardless of our party affiliation. Our Chain of Command is to include our Commander-In-Chief (CinC). The President (for those who didn't know) is our CinC regardless of political party. We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all th ose representatives meet; all we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military to go straighten it out. If you keep asking us the same stupid questions repeatedly, you will get your ass kicked!

9. 'Your mama wears combat boots.' never made sense to me - stop saying It! If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore could kick your ass!

10. bin Laden and the Taliban are not Communists, so stop saying 'Let's go kill those Commies!' And stop asking us where he is! Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military. That reminds me - if you see anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers, let me know, so I can go kick
their ass!

11. 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (Army), 'Squid' (Navy), 'Puddle Jumpers' (Coast Guard), etc., are terms of endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or vet, you have not earned the right to use them. Using them could get your ass kicked.

12. Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their families.


Thank our military for the sacrifices they make every day. Without them, our country would get it's 'ass kicked.'

'It's the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.'

'It's the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.'

'It's the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.'

'It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.