# 필승! 3 cheers for the RoK Army **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 26, 2009, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310 "2009-07-26T08:49:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/21 "2009-07-26T22:39:50Z")
Missed the edit window: The dual nationals I referred to above are the overseas Koreans, not those who are both dual nationals and grew up in Korea. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/22 "2009-07-26T23:12:44Z")
> [@Grey\_area](#): > > My hands have become thoroughly callused from pickaxing. Me + Pickaxe = WTF. If you knew me outside you’d probably realize this is an odd combination Pickaxe + DMZ isn’t such an [odd combination](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident), sounds like you’re well prepared 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/23 "2009-07-26T23:13:22Z")
> [@Grey\_area](#): > > You break a shovel, you make one. How? Don’t know but I have to figure it out because some asshole broke one of our shovels. This is a leadership challenge, you simply find another unit with a surplus of shovels and relieve them of that burden. Or depending on how much money ya got , im sure the quartermaster has a couple of demonstrator models not inventoried. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/24 "2009-07-27T00:49:12Z")
> [@Grey\_area](#): > > I thought playing with a rifle would be cool but that blows too because it’s fucking heavy and annoying to carry everyday to guard 105mm ammo you know no one is going to steal. Amen brother. Me when I got my assault rifle: This rifle is so cool… wait, what do you mean I have to carry it everywhere? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/25 "2009-07-27T01:01:03Z")
> [@Grey\_area](#): > > … You break a shovel, you make one. How? Don’t know but I have to figure it out because some asshole broke one of our shovels… You requisition a building, or possibly a construction battalion to build one. Then a big load of machine tools, metal stampers, the whole nine yards. Then you contract with the Army to provide them with shovels at a thousand dollars a pop. That my friend, is how America builds military-grade shovels. And don’t forget to add cammouflage, so when someone orders you to dig a hole, you won’t be able to find the shovel. And when someone asks where the hole is, just point to a bare spot in the cound and say, “There. I cammouflaged it by covering it with dirt.” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/26 "2009-07-27T01:08:18Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > Amen brother. > > Me when I got my assault rifle: This rifle is so cool… wait, what do you mean I have to carry it everywhere? The worst was in Basic Training on the 15 and 20 mile road marches. Not only did you have to carry the M-16, you had to carry it _just so_…which meant carrying it at a lowered “order arms” position, but it had to be out and away from your body by a few inches. That’s all well and good for a couple miles…then your forearms and shoulders start to ache pretty bad. Woe to the soldier caught resting the rifle against their LBE…then you had to run around the formation a few times (which could be half a mile long with our road march spacing), with your weapon raised over your head. On the hills of Agony and Misery in Fort Knox. Pretty brutal. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/27 "2009-07-27T04:18:39Z")
> [@Grey\_area](#): > > So I’m an artilleryman the North/South Korean border. Why does the U.S. – or the ROK – even **have** troops on that border any more? I mean, if they all just walked away, Kim Jong Il would . . . just look embarrassed. What’s he gonna do?! He knows perfectly well that invasion would mean suicide! ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/28 "2009-07-27T05:39:38Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Even as a civilian, I am aware the droll irony is underappreciated in military circles. I dunno; military etiquette provides a lot of opportunities for subtextual commentary. Lots of officers are aware of it and approve of creative use. I saw a fresh L-T get completely flustered by repeated use of “Sir, yes, sir!”. The company commander poorly concealed the fact that he thought it was hilarious, even while appearing to chew some enlisted ass. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/29 "2009-07-27T07:02:24Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Rest assured, there is enormous variance and subtlety in the American use of the word “sir”. It can say “I am a 20-year non-comm who has forgotten more about the Army than you, a 2nd Lt. lardbutt, will ever know.” Or “I am a police officer and you are another trial of my patience.” Or “You are a civilian. I am obliged to pretend to respect your pencil neck and comfortable shoes. I am not obliged to do so convincingly.” > > All that in those three little letters. “Sir.” Yeah, it’s like “Dude” that way . . . 😉 ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/30 "2009-07-27T11:57:46Z")
Korea Tigers were (and probably still are) some bad ass motherfuckers in 'Nam. Here’s a [link](http://www.talkingproud.us/International061406Tiger.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/31 "2009-07-27T12:57:22Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Why does the U.S. – or the ROK – even **have** troops on that border any more? I mean, if they all just walked away, Kim Jong Il would . . . just look embarrassed. What’s he gonna do?! He knows perfectly well that invasion would mean suicide! I’m not sure if you’re cracking wise, but there are reasons other than full-scale invasion why the border is patrolled so aggressively. North Korea once tried to assassinate South Korea’s president by sending commandos dressed as ROK soldiers over the border and into Seoul. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/32 "2009-07-27T13:39:38Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Wow. And we always thought the \*Americans \*were crazy, what with all their saluting and calling their officers “sir”. What do you call _your_ officers? 😕 > [@Ravenman](#): > > I’m not sure if you’re cracking wise, but there are reasons other than full-scale invasion why the border is patrolled so aggressively. North Korea once tried to assassinate South Korea’s president by sending commandos dressed as ROK soldiers over the border and into Seoul. Just like that time when we sent Minnesotan National Guardsmen across the border to shoot Steven Harp… I’ve said too much. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/33 "2009-07-27T13:45:19Z")
Hey **Grey Area** , is KATUSA duty available for you? Might be a better use of your time. (three years at Yongsan, AFKN. KATUSA’s were the reason we could funtion as a unit.) ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/34 "2009-07-27T13:59:35Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > Amen brother. > > Me when I got my assault rifle: This rifle is so cool… wait, what do you mean I have to carry it everywhere? And you have to clean it. Sleep with it. Prevent your 3SG from making off with it while you are not aware Oil it Perform drills with it. Doesn’t sound so fun now right? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/35 "2009-07-27T14:03:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > What do you call _your_ officers? 😕 They have names, don’t they? (Actually, we did call higher ranking officers - generals and such - by the Israeli equivalent of ‘sir’, insomuch as we bumped into them, which was rarely. Lesser officers we weren’t on a first name basis with - or didn’t know their names - we’d generally address by their position, or at least the initials thereof). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/36 "2009-07-27T14:13:55Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > They have names, don’t they? So I’ve heard, but I remain dubious. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/37 "2009-07-27T15:35:26Z")
> [@CrazyChop](#): > > And you have to clean it. > Sleep with it. > Prevent your 3SG from making off with it while you are not aware > Oil it > Perform drills with it. > > Doesn’t sound so fun now right? It’s the same with kids. **Grey area** : I like you style, but your life _really_ sucks at the moment. Thank you for reminding me to appreciate mine. Good luck. :: off to the pool :: . ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/38 "2009-07-27T15:57:42Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > So I’ve heard, but I remain dubious. I can assure you that after basic training (which is all “sir yes sir!”), we called our commanding officers by their first names. It’s just the way things were done. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/39 "2009-07-27T16:23:04Z")
Out of curiosity, what _is_ the Israeli equivalent of “sir”? My knowledge pretty much begins and ends with _l’chaim!_ ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310/40 "2009-07-27T16:42:16Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Out of curiosity, what _is_ the Israeli equivalent of “sir”? My knowledge pretty much begins and ends with _l’chaim!_ “Hamfaked” (hahm-fah-KED). It means “the commander.” In Hebrew, putting a “the” at the beginning of a title or profession turns it into an honorific. Thus, school kids address their teacher as “the teacher” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-cheers-for-the-rok-army/504310.md?page=3)