# Going without underwear, why "commando"?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 28, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289 "2005-06-28T23:40:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/1 "2005-06-28T23:40:18Z")
Whenever there’s a thread about underwear, there’s always a few people who say they “go commando”, or without underwear. (I think it feels good myself, but I rarely do it as I like to wear things more than once.)
But how did this practice come to be called “going commando”?
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### Author:  [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/2 "2005-06-28T23:56:57Z")
Because, underwear is just one more layer of clothing that can trap bacterea, when going through, say, a swamp.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/3 "2005-06-28T23:59:21Z")
From [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_commando)
> [@](#):
>
> Earliest Uses
>
> Slate’s Daniel Engber dates the modern usage to 1974 college campuses, where it was perhaps an outgrowth of the Vietnam War [1]. The origins of the phrase are uncertain, with some speculating that it may refer to being “out in the open” or “ready for action.” According to Engber many soldiers do go without underwear to “increase ventilation and reduce moisture.” The earliest known use of the term in print is January 22, 1985 with Jim Spencer writing in the Chicago Tribune: “Furthermore, colored briefs are ‘sleazy’ and going without underwear (‘going commando’, as they say on campus) is simply gross.”
>
> Miltary significance
>
> The term can also refer to being completely naked (i.e “going commando in a sleeping bag”). On completion of their “commando” course, British Royal Marines are known to drink together whilst wearing no clothing at all. Soldiers do, on longer operations in the field, “go commando” as it increases airflow to the genitals, whilst reducing the amount of administration required to carry and change underwear daily.
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### Author:  [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/4 "2005-06-29T00:03:40Z")
I’ve also heard the practice refered to as “free-dogging”.
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### Author:  [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/5 "2005-06-29T00:09:03Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> From [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_commando)
I have to start remembering to check Wiki.
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### Author:  [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/6 "2005-06-29T00:09:18Z")
Aw…there’s a bunch of these threads already **Spectre** , but it all comes down to having ready access to your k-bar.
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### Author:  [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/7 "2005-06-29T00:11:55Z")
**Colibri** ’s Wikipedia link has an important element - _Friends_. How many people had heard this expression prior to the relevant episode?
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### Author:  [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/8 "2005-06-29T00:55:30Z")
I got into this sartorial habit when I was in Special Forces. We all went “commando”. Perhaps that was the origin, I dunno. It was far more comfortable in “tropical climes”. I’ve never seen the need to break the habit since. (perhaps TMI)
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### Author:  [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/9 "2005-06-29T01:09:28Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#):
>
> I’ve also heard the practice refered to as “free-dogging”.
or “bare balls”
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/10 "2005-06-29T01:38:36Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#):
>
> I’ve also heard the practice refered to as “free-dogging”.
Also “Freeballing.”
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### Author:  [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-without-underwear-why-commando/310289/11 "2005-06-29T01:46:18Z")
I (we) have always called the practice “free bagging”. I can remember the term back to the hippy days. I first heard it called “going commando” right here. I’ve lived a protected life, I guess.
It used to be a turn-on, sometimes. Now it’s just more comfortable. Gettin’ old. 😉
Peace,
mangeorge