“Butterbars,” because the insignia is a single bar of yellow metal. Butterbar, L-tee, “that asshole with the compass and map,” etc.
‘Rupert’ is British squaddie-speak for any officer. British upper-class people have funny names. Like Rupert.
I’ve heard one retired Air Force sergeant refer to Lieutenants as “Louies”
Granted, he was the only person I’ve ever heard use that expressioin.
My brother is a 1LT in Iraq in the US Army. He says the army has had a retention problem with captains, and has had to increase pay and be kinder about meeting requests for postings. The ROTC and academy guys fulfill their requirement and leave. This means that you do have to kind of be a screwup to not get to Captain, he says. Getting to major means a real investigation though, and farther up means less and less chance of getting the more important and fewer positions.
Back when Moffett Field (Mountain View CA) still had a significant Navy presence, the base housing also made room for Air Force personnel working at a small installation nearby. My friend created quite a stir when he called the gate identifying himself as Captain Smith and requesting special attention to his guest arriving that afternoon. The SP at the guardhouse were none too happy when they found out Smith was only an Air Force captain.