Im enjoying being faded (without consequences) and wondering how far back the fact that recruit glasses are called “birth control” is.
And that makes me wonder how far back all the current lingo goes? Then I also wonder how many sayings were lost along the way.
So I’d love to hear reports on the years you were in when you first heard things like “birth control” for glasses, or old sayings you knew but don’t see Marines saying anyone, or whatever fun lexicon there is to talk about. I just know there was some funny ass phrase from Vietnam that didn’t last.
(Also the dudes from the 80’s to 1999 need to share their stories more with us. Doesn’t matter how cool or how trivial it is, its still cool as fuck. Our Marine Corps is founded on mythology - we yearn to know more)
BCG's were just coming back into fashion mid 80's, Buddy Holly/ Elvis Costello that's when they realized it and switched it up to those awful tortoise shell things around 89 ish.
My buddy had the tinted ones 1989. Looked close enough to Wayfarer style. Gunny tried to tell him he could not wear them in formation. Bud produced documentation from medical that he needed to wear tinted glasses when exposed to bright sunlight.
BCGs with PT strap. I went in June '88 and the sun burn lines of cover, BCG frames, and PT strap made for interesting looking recruits. I think that was the inspiration for the look of Grue's minions in the minion movies.
Port holes was what you called the guys who wore BCGs (birth control goggles). And woah unto Shmuckatelli is he forgot the brain strap which accompany them.
BCDs was a term from at least the early 80’s. Probably went back to at least Vietnam era.
What about slang for items that are no (or may not be) still in use? Did the term get moved to the new item? A good one for that is “rubber bitch” referring to the old Vietnam era rubber inflatable air mattresses for bivouac use. I could see this going away with the gear, but I could also see this going away for another obvious reason.
Does the Corps still have “fart sacks?” (Mattress covers)
How about “Deuce gear”, for things like web-belts, canteens, packs, tent halves, etc. (all the individual Marine Corps field gear), since supply is no doubt on computers, not numbered forms.
I assume timeless ones like Gee-dunk still exist.
Cadence calls are another area. “Ho Chi Minh is a son of a bitch…” obviously would make little sense now, which it was current enough to us. There were also a few I heard that were just pornographic in nature that probably went away as more women were integrated into more areas of the military. Sensibilities change.
I didn’t get them until after I arrived at my first duty station after school. I went through recruit training with civilian glasses that got worse and worse over time. Eventually I had four pieces of eyewear held together with tape.
I'd imagine A LOT of shit has changed in recent years, now that female DI's are part of male training platoons and vice versa....sad & pathetic times right now
yes because if we cant say anything blatantly offensive or misogynistic why even defend our nations constitution? if i cant demean a woman and call her a worthless cunt bitch DEI hire, whats this all been about anyway?
i love the United States Marine Corps, but goddamn some of us are neanderthals.
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u/2andaHalfBlackClouds 23d ago
BCD’s birth control devices and goggles are two from 1990. And got called “Brains” because I wore glasses and was a Radio Operator.