Think You Know the Military? These Facts Might Surprise You

When you think of the military, you might picture high-tech gear and strict discipline, but there’s much more to the military than meets the eye. Sure, there’s danger, strategy, and strength, but there are other things that make the military unique.

Military members have a language and customs all their own, including how they talk and what they eat.

Whether it’s unusual customs or surprising realities, these military facts might change what you think you know about the armed forces.

'Foo Fighters'

Turns out that Foo Fighters is not just a popular rock band. In November 1944, during World War II, pilots from the 415^th Night Fighter Squadron reported strange bright lights flying at high speed. They said the lights would disappear and reappear, sometimes flying alongside U.S. planes and even “outmaneuvering” them, though nothing ever showed up on radar.

Donald J. Meiers, a radar observer with a Bristol Beaufighter crew, referred to the objects as “foo fighters,” a nod to a popular 1930s comic strip, Smokey Stover. The comic used the made-up word “foo” to explain all kinds of nonsensical things, so “foo fighters” was a natural fit when Meiers tried to describe what they saw.

Fifty years later, Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl formed a new band in the wake of Kurt Cobain’s passing. The Foo Fighters would go on to win over a dozen Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, redefining the meaning of Foo Fighters for future generations.

Coast Guard Not Part of DoD

While all the other branches of service (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force) operate under the Department of Defense (DoD), the Coast Guard is under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. However, in times of war, the Coast Guard falls under the Navy and the DoD.

Members of the Coast Guard often work as federal maritime law enforcement, patrolling the seas and guarding ports and waterways.

Before 2003, the Coast Guard was actually part of the Department of Transportation. However, after 9/11, when the U.S. created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard the American people from threats by “land, sea, air, and cyber,”  it made sense to move the guardians of the U.S. waterways into that department.

Sweet, Sweet MREs

The military MRE (meal, ready to eat) may not be best known for its flavor, but if you’re lucky, you might get a little sugar rush. Most MREs come with a dessert, but some contain popular sweet treats like M&Ms, Skittles, or Tootsie Rolls, which are usually a nice surprise after chili and macaroni, beef strips in tomato sauce, or even, yes, the chicken chunks.

Some MREs used to contain Charms candy, but at some point, the treat became associated with bad luck. In 2003, Marines in Iraq began associating the candy with negative consequences – lemon means vehicle problems, lime means rain, and raspberry, well, that means the worst. Most tossed the candy without a second thought. By 2007, Charms were removed from MREs entirely.

MREs have seen many changes over the years in both flavor and contents. There are currently dozens of options for meals, including the popular pepperoni pizza slice, and all are specifically designed for durability, to avoid spoilage, and to fill nutritional requirements

Celebrities In Service

Service members come from all walks of life. Sometimes, they are even celebrities — or future celebrities. Some famous names of those who served may not be particularly jaw-dropping, but others may surprise you.

While not a complete list of celebrities who served our country, here are a few well-known names of former service members.

• Actress Bea Arthur (Marines)
• Comedian George Carlin (Air Force)
• Singer Johnny Cash (Air Force)
• YouTube personality Duke Dennis (Marines)
• Actor Adam Driver (Marines)
• Actor Morgan Freeman (Air Force)
• Musician Jimi Hendrix (Army)
• Rapper/actor Ice T (Army)
• Actor Leonard Nimoy (Army)
• Singer Elvis Presley (Army)
• Radio personality Robin Quivers (Air Force)
• Game show host Pat Sajak (Army)
• Rapper/singer Shaggy (Marines)

Air Force’s PlayStation Supercomputer

It turns out that PlayStation isn’t just for video gamers. In 2010, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory used 1,760 PlayStation 3 consoles to build the core of its “Condor Cluster” supercomputer, the 33^rd fastest computer in the world.

Using the PlayStation consoles helped save money, and because of its impressive graphics, the computer helped with radar enhancement, pattern recognition, satellite imagery, and artificial intelligence research.

Unfortunately, the Condor Cluster was short-lived, though. A PlayStation firmware update and the release of the PS4 model removed capabilities and options the computer relied on. If any of the core consoles failed, there was no way to replace them, marking the end of the Condor Cluster.

Four-Legged Heroes

Movies like Max, Dog, and Megan Leavey remind us of the important roles dogs serve in the military and the bond they form with other service members. According to the DoD, about 1,600 dogs work for the U.S. Armed Forces. Military dogs come from various sources, but around 13% are born and bred for military service through the “Puppy Program,” the DoD’s Military Working Dog Breeding Program. This specialized group of canine warriors are born at the 341^st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio.

Much like human military recruits go through basic training, military dogs go through the 120-day Military Working Dog Training Program to qualify for service. After graduation, the dogs are assigned to a service branch, where they will likely remain throughout their careers. When dogs retire from service, they are usually put up for adoption, ready to relax and be pampered. The dog’s military handler has the first choice of adopting their canine battle buddy.

But dogs haven’t been the only animals to serve in the U.S. military. Back in the day, horses and mules served the country by transporting troops and supplies. As a matter of fact, Staff Sgt. Reckless was a mare who served with the Fifth Marine Regiment in the Korean War. She was awarded a Purple Heart, a Presidential Unit Citation, and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, among other awards. There is also a statue honoring the war horse for her service at Camp Pendleton.

Pre-Teen WWII Hero

Calvin Graham was just 12 years old when he served in the military during World War II. Even at such a young age, the Texas native knew he wanted to help defeat Hitler and pay homage to a cousin who died in combat.

The young boy began shaving and wearing clothes to look bigger than his 12 years. Although he was worried that having his baby teeth might give him away, he depended on the country’s desperate need for service members at the time. In 1942, Calvin told his mom he was visiting relatives but shipped out to the Navy instead. After basic training, he joined the USS South Dakota as a gunner. Despite his own injuries, Calvin helped save the lives of fellow sailors during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. For his heroic actions, Calvin, then 13, was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and several other medals.

Sadly, Calvin had his medals stripped and became dishonorably discharged after his mother saw him in a news story and reported his actual age to the Navy. More than 30 years later, President Jimmy Carter restored his medals (minus the Purple Heart), and his discharge status changed to honorable. President Ronald Reagan later approved him for disability benefits.

Calvin died in 1992 at the age of 62. Two years later, his Purple Heart was restored.

Military Lingo

If you’ve served in the military or know someone who has, you’re probably aware of the many phrases and sayings unique to the military or even branch of service. Some may be funny, mean, or even inappropriate (we won’t be sharing those), but they all make sense to those using them.

Ate-up: In the Army, this describes a service member who is always messing up. If their boots are always scuffed, their uniform is a wrinkled mess, they fall out of every run, then that’s one ate-up soldier.

Battle buddy: It could be the person you’re paired with in training (whether you chose them or not) or a fellow service member who always has your back.

Bingo: While the term initially referred to aircraft carrier operations meaning to divert, it is commonly used in the Air Force to signal low on fuel. Even less formally, it could also signal “no more beers.”

Birth-control glasses: Refers to the military-issued eyeglasses which are known for a lack of attractiveness or style.

Civvies: Regular clothes, not military uniform. Used in a sentence: “I can’t wait to get out of these ACUs and into my civvies.”

E-4 Mafia: No longer a private, but not yet an NCO (non-commissioned officer), this term is for enlisted service members with the Army rank of E-4 (specialist). The Army’s specialist rank, shaped like a shield, is also jokingly referred to as a “sham shield” because those with the rank don’t have the authority or responsibilities of NCOs but have more authority than privates, who may then find themselves tasked with the duty assigned to a specialist, especially if NCOs are off doing more important things.

Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps: While this is an actual historical figure in the Corps, Marines also use this term to reference the oldest Marine in their unit.

Hooah (Army), hooyah (Navy, Coast Guard), and oorah (Marines): The different but similar battle cries within the military branches are used to show enthusiasm, acknowledge orders, or just say hi. It can also mean a lot of other things depending on who you ask and what branch they served in. (Note: Yut is what Marines say when they’re too lazy to say “oorah.”)

Hurry up and wait: It’s no surprise that adaptability isn’t just a skill learned in the military, it’s a necessity. Sure, you must be in formation for weapons draw at 0400, but the armory sergeant never unlocks the doors before 0630. Or you’re about to deploy to another country immediately, but you have no idea when (trust it won’t be immediately). So what if you have to stand at parade rest until your feet go numb or sit in a blank room staring at beige walls for hours? It builds character, while also preparing you for a lifetime of dealing with customer service.

Check your six/I got your six: Originally related to the position in an aircraft, for example, 12 o’clock would be straight ahead, so the “6 o’clock” position would be behind and, therefore, harder to see. Less formally, it means to look behind you or watch your back, while “I got your six” means to have someone’s back.

Jarhead: A nickname for a U.S. Marine. The term’s origin comes from the dress blues Marines wear, which have high and tight leather collars that make it look like their heads are popping out the top. Coupled with their “high and tight” haircuts, they were said to resemble a mason jar. While it may have initially started as an insult, it’s now lovingly accepted by the Marine Corps. (We’ll save crayon eating for another day).  

Judy: For Air Force personnel, it means no additional communication is required; controller should minimize radio transmissions. It’s also slang for “be quiet.”

Liberty hound: A Marine who loves being off duty whenever possible.

Semper Gumby: Based on the Gumby TV show, this motto refers to the Marines’ need to be “always flexible.”

Skate/Skating: What a service member does when slacking off or trying to avoid work.

Snake pit: Where Air Force military instructors eat (at the end of the chow line so they can interrogate trainees as they get their meals).

Squared away: The opposite of ate-up, this service member has it together. Their locker is always neat and orderly, their boots are always shined, they have the perfect crease down the front of their uniform pants, and they’re always at least 15 minutes early for everything. 

Zero Dark Thirty: While it may be known by many as the title of a movie about the take down of Osama bin Laden, in military terminology, it refers to12:30 am (00:30) or half past midnight.

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