Just don’t call ‘em desert squids
November 3rd, 2009 | individual augmentees The Middle East | Posted by Andrew Scutro
At one point in the Navy’s recent history, sailors serving ashore in Iraq and Afghanistan, often as individual augmentees in Army units, took to calling themselves “dirt sailors.” The brass didn’t like that, we learned. Maybe it was due to the implied value of “dirt.” Sailors, accustomed to being at sea and surrounded by water were merely being observant, as their usual habitat had suddenly turned dry and ah, dirty.
Today however, a new light has been cast. In remarks during a ceremony for the Stockdale Award at the Pentagon, Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, was describing the current duties of the winners, both ashore in Iraq. He said they are what he “affectionately” refers to as “sand sailors.” So, sand sailors it is.
Comments
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Desert Sailor Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 9:21 amBegan my career in Bahrain in LASALLE way back when. Every ship except one has done NAG time, every cruise.
IA in ’05 saw the addition of a no-kidding “Dirt Sailor” tee shirt that I proudly wear today. And as the handle implies, I like my name just the way it is.