America's Army and the Language of Grunts

… exposure to Army lingo and terminology begins in childhood for many potential recruits and intensifies as they consider entering training. The potential Soldier becomes more exposed to the true character of military euphemisms and slang as they become further immersed in the profession of armed service to their country. Perhaps they surf the Internet early on, or pick up a brochure in a mall recruiting outlet, or more likely, they have the latest video games that entail some very realistic military scenarios, minus the deafening noise, choking cordite smoke, blinding dirt and dust, and stinging fear of real combat. Either way they begin to learn the lingo.

Phase Alpha

Attitudes Change When You Use Live Ammo tacit warning to treat people with respect and understand attitudes change dramatically when everyone in a given space is armed to the teeth with lethal hardware …

Sincere respect for other human beings serves professional Soldiers well in their careers. Insensitivity and an uncaring attitude or a lack of respect for others does not serve our Soldiers or our Nation well. Despite the fact that heartfelt respect can’t be taught in Army training or War College, the cultural legacy of Army discipline is rich with values and the deference leveling influence of respect for others –and all Soldiers learn to display respect. Unfortunately there are a few, some in higher ranks, who fail to honestly embrace the value of respect yet still manage to complete a career carrying the notion they are somehow better than other people. The formal respect they hide behind is phony –a front meant to ingratiate them with leadership and enhance their advancement. Fortunately, more often in our modern force, their narcissistic behavior is recognized for what it is and these weasel-types are marginalized and unwelcomed in professional ranks. Combat, live ammo, lethal hardware, exiting an aircraft with a parachute, or even downtown-off-post after dark, make up an array of great equalizers underscoring respect is important.

A (Alpha) popular phonetic character because it’s first in line and used so often: A company, A Team, phase alpha, reference point alpha, checkpoint alpha ...