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Knock, Knock – U.S. Marines attached to 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment – “The Lava Dogs” stack up for door breaching with a water charge at Lava Viper aboard Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, May 28, 2015. Combat Engineers and Assaultmen build different charges in order to breach through doors.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ricky S. Gomez/Released)
“Courtesy to Ladies” from Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin, (“All Hands Magazine”), August 1944.
Every unit in the military has a nickname, but some are way cooler than others.
1. Hell On Wheels
2nd Armored Division, US Army: The 2nd Armored Division was active from 1940 to 1995 and was once commanded by Gen. Patton. It played an important role during World War II and was deactivated shortly after the Gulf War. Gen. Patton gave the unit the nickname after witnessing its maneuvers in 1941.
2. Old Iron Sides
1st Armored Division, US Army: The “Old Ironsides” nickname was given by Maj. Gen. Bruce R. Magruder after Gen. Patton named his division “Hell on Wheels.” Feeling that his division should have an awesome nickname too, Magruder announced a contest to find a suitable name before settling on “Old Ironsides,” as an homage to the famous Navy warship.
3. Bloody Bucket
28th Infantry Division, US Army: Originally nicknamed “Keystone Division,” the unit acquired the nickname “Bloody Bucket” by German forces during World War II because the red keystone patch resembled a bucket.
4. Red Bull
34th Infantry Division, US Army: This National Guard unit participated in World War I and World War II and was deactivated in 1945. It was once again activated in 1991 and since 2001 its soldiers have served in Afghanistan, Iraq and homeland security operations.
5. Yellow Jackets
Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138), US Navy: This EA-18G Growler squadron based out of Whidbey Island, WA has a fitting name for what it does. It buzzes adversaries with electronic attacks rendering them useless.
6. Gunslingers
Strike Fighter Squadron 105 (VFA-105), US Navy: This squadron was originally commissioned in 1952 as the “Mad Dogs” and was decommissioned in 1959. It was recommissioned as the “Gunslingers” in 1969 to participate in combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin and has remained active ever since.
7. Diamondbacks
Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102), US Navy: Based out of NAF Atsugi, Japan, the Diamondbacks are attached to Carrier Air Wing 5 and deploys aboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73).
8. Bounty Hunters
Strike Fighter Squadron 2 (VFA-2), US Navy: Based out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, CA, this F/A-18F Super Hornet Squadron is attached to Carrier Air Wing 2 and deploys aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).
9. The Professionals
2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, U.S. Marine Corps: Based out of Camp Pendleton, CA, this infantry battalion consists of about 1000 Marines and sailors.
10. Betio Bastards
3rd Battalion 2nd Marines, US Marine Corps: Based out of Camp Lejeune, NC, this infantry battalion has about 800 Marines and sailors.
11. Destroyers
2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, US Marine Corps: Based out of Camp Lejeune, NC, this battalion’s primary weapon is the 8-wheeled LAV-25.
12. Magnificent Bastards
2nd Battalion, 4the Marines, U.S. Marine Corps: Based out of Camp Pendleton, CA, this infantry battalion has about 1,100 Marines and sailors.
13. Kickin’ Ass
148 Fighter Squadron, US Air Force: Based out of Tucson Air National Guard Base, AZ, this F-16A/B Fighting Falcon squadron’s main role is to train foreign military pilots.
14. Headhunters
80th Fighter Squadron, US Air Force: Based out of Kunsan Air Force Base, South Korea, this F-16 Fighting Falcon squadron has served in operations in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
15. Rocketeers
336th Fighter Squadron, US Air Force: Based out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, NC, the “Rocketeers played key roles during Operation Desert Storm dropping more than six million pounds of ordnance on scud missile sites, bridges and airfields.
Obama’s America… you can have a choice to kill your unborn baby but you can’t choose to eat fried food!
The Navy is going on a health kick and removing all fried food from dining hall menus.
“Certain foods, you can’t get the flavor and texture you can get from the fryer.”
– Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Adrian Watson
In an effort to kick up its healthy eating “Go for Green” campaign, it will stop frying foods like chicken and french fries and bake them instead. It is also axing whole milk and replacing it with skim and soy, reports Navy Times.
In May, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced the menu revisions as part of efforts to improve sailors’ food, uniforms, training and overall fitness to boost field performance and lower medical costs.
Electrician’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Roberto Rodriguez told Navy Times that he’s lost 10 pounds since the program began and said he feels “a whole lot better.”
But not everyone is welcoming the changes.
“Certain foods, you can’t get the flavor and texture you can get from the fryer, and when you’re deployed that’s one thing you have to look forward to,” Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Adrian Watson, told Navy Times.
Others took to Facebook to vent their frustration.
“This isn’t a Weight Watchers cruise, it’s the goddamn Navy! Does that mean no cakes and desserts, too? Working 18 hours a day on the roof you need carbs to keep you going. If you’re stationed ashore, you can go to the EM or PO clubs or to town and get all the crappy food you want,” wrote user Jeff King.
Some current and former service members are also blaming Michelle Obama and her healthy school initiative, although The First Lady is not involved in setting nutritional policy for the armed forces.
“I’m glad I got out when I did! I guess you guys want a mutiny! Is Michelle Obama running the food program?!” wrote user Ed Anderson.
The Department of Defense “Go for Green” nutrition program, which started in 2013 and is set to go in effect fleet wide by 2017, teaches sailors to recognize and select healthier foods. Calorie counts are now posted next to food items and foods have color coded health scores: green, yellow, or red. This comes as the U.S. obesity rate hit an all-time high of 27.7 percent in 2014. According to the latest figures, about a third of eligible Americans are fat to join the armed forces.
Those in favor of the changes, like Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jeffrey Walker, who serves as a base food service officer and recently won the Ney Award for food service excellence, recognize that it will take time for sailors to get accustomed to the changes.
“If the food is prepared right, sailors will accept the change over time,” he said.
IJ Review created a two minute video showing the evolution of United States Army uniforms over the last 240 years, from the Revolutionary War to modern day.
The U.S. Army celebrated 240 years of existence last month, and the Independent Journal Review put together a cool video of how its uniforms have evolved over that time.
From the Revolutionary War all the way up to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, soldiers have gone through numerous changes to their uniforms and gear. In fact, just this month the Army began its transition to its new Operational Camouflage Pattern, Army Times reports.
This video shows what soldiers wore into battle since 1775.
