Pogue
Encyclopedia
POG is a pejorative military slang term used to describe non-infantry
, staff, and other rear-echelon or support units. "POG" frequently describes those who don't have to undergo the stresses that the infantry does, and is generally used as a diminutive for any non-infantry personnel who disagrees or impedes the wants of a "grunt."
This term is thematically similar to the newer word Fobbit which refers to non-combat arms soldiers who never leave their Forward Operating Base
. Fobbit is a combination of the acronym FOB and term Hobbit from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
series. Hobbits never leave the Shire, while Fobbits never leave the FOB. However, the terms are not synonymous because a functionary at the Pentagon might be termed a POG or REMF but could never be termed a Fobbit.
and Marine Corps
since before World War II, entering Army
usage around the time of the Vietnam War
.In the Canadian Forces a POG is referred to as a WOG, short for "without guns" or "without guts".
Originally, the term was a sexual insult in early twentieth century gay culture, as "POG" was slang for a young male who submitted to sexual advances. This led to the related term "pogey bait", meaning candy or sweets.
Another source to which the term is attributed is the Gaelic and Irish language
phrase "póg mo thóin" pronounced [POG mahone] (literally 'kiss my arse'), applied to sycophants, suck-ups and others engaging in behaviors or practices commonly viewed by their peers to be beneath the expected degree of military bearing.
Due to having lost contact with its linguistic
source, the modern military vernacular has turned "POG" into a retronym
/backronym
. "Pogue" is now sometimes incorrectly described as the pronunciation of the acronym POG, or Person Other than Grunt
, or Posted On Garrison. It is also sometimes retronymed out to "Person On Ground with Unused Equipment" (hence the spelling). Sometimes used as People Of Good Use Elsewhere.
POG (various spellings) comes from the term "pogey-bait". In the days of the British Empire, many of the sailors aboard British naval vessels were Gaelic speakers from Ireland or Scotland. When these sailors arrived at various ports, they would purchase bags of candy to give to girls as "kiss bait", but using the Gaelic word for kiss, "póg", which can sound like "pogey" in some accents. Over time, the original reason for the term was not passed on, and soldiers would reason that if candy or other junk food was used to catch a "POG", then it stood to reason that a "POG" must be a fat, lazy person.
Another possible etymological source may be from South Korea, where the word for a woman's sexual organ is pronounced, "Pogee" or "Pojee" [Korean text needed]. Written versions may have spawned the "pogie/POG" spelling, eventually morphing into the common usage. This feeds back to attacking a man's masculinity with the common practice of denigrating other males by equating them with being/acting like females. The "worst" denigration is to be called a, "pussy" - ergo, "pogie/POG".
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, staff, and other rear-echelon or support units. "POG" frequently describes those who don't have to undergo the stresses that the infantry does, and is generally used as a diminutive for any non-infantry personnel who disagrees or impedes the wants of a "grunt."
This term is thematically similar to the newer word Fobbit which refers to non-combat arms soldiers who never leave their Forward Operating Base
Forward Operating Base
A forward operating base is any secured forward military position, commonly a military base, that is used to support tactical operations. A FOB may or may not contain an airfield, hospital, or other facilities. The base may be used for an extended period of time. FOBs are traditionally supported...
. Fobbit is a combination of the acronym FOB and term Hobbit from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
series. Hobbits never leave the Shire, while Fobbits never leave the FOB. However, the terms are not synonymous because a functionary at the Pentagon might be termed a POG or REMF but could never be termed a Fobbit.
History and etymology
It has been used in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
since before World War II, entering Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
usage around the time of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.In the Canadian Forces a POG is referred to as a WOG, short for "without guns" or "without guts".
Originally, the term was a sexual insult in early twentieth century gay culture, as "POG" was slang for a young male who submitted to sexual advances. This led to the related term "pogey bait", meaning candy or sweets.
Another source to which the term is attributed is the Gaelic and Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
phrase "póg mo thóin" pronounced [POG mahone] (literally 'kiss my arse'), applied to sycophants, suck-ups and others engaging in behaviors or practices commonly viewed by their peers to be beneath the expected degree of military bearing.
Due to having lost contact with its linguistic
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
source, the modern military vernacular has turned "POG" into a retronym
Retronym
A retronym is a type of neologism that provides a new name for an object or concept to differentiate the original form or version of it from a more recent form or version. The original name is most often augmented with an adjective to account for later developments of the object or concept itself...
/backronym
Backronym
A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely, such that an acronym can be formed to a specific desired word. Backronyms may be invented with serious or humorous intent, or may be a type of false or folk etymology....
. "Pogue" is now sometimes incorrectly described as the pronunciation of the acronym POG, or Person Other than Grunt
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, or Posted On Garrison. It is also sometimes retronymed out to "Person On Ground with Unused Equipment" (hence the spelling). Sometimes used as People Of Good Use Elsewhere.
POG (various spellings) comes from the term "pogey-bait". In the days of the British Empire, many of the sailors aboard British naval vessels were Gaelic speakers from Ireland or Scotland. When these sailors arrived at various ports, they would purchase bags of candy to give to girls as "kiss bait", but using the Gaelic word for kiss, "póg", which can sound like "pogey" in some accents. Over time, the original reason for the term was not passed on, and soldiers would reason that if candy or other junk food was used to catch a "POG", then it stood to reason that a "POG" must be a fat, lazy person.
Another possible etymological source may be from South Korea, where the word for a woman's sexual organ is pronounced, "Pogee" or "Pojee" [Korean text needed]. Written versions may have spawned the "pogie/POG" spelling, eventually morphing into the common usage. This feeds back to attacking a man's masculinity with the common practice of denigrating other males by equating them with being/acting like females. The "worst" denigration is to be called a, "pussy" - ergo, "pogie/POG".