It’s Pogue…Not POTG

Every once in a while I have to remind the youngsters that it’s spelled “Pogue” and it doesnt stand for anything. The backronym “POG” was created by infantrymen who were Pogues, but didn’t want to be called Pogues anymore. You know it’s true, there are loads of Infantrymen who are Pogues.

This photo was taken during the Vietnam war and it clearly uses the term “Pogue” which dates back to World War I and possibly as far back as the Civil War. It likely stems from the Irish word Pogue which means “kiss” and was used as a derogatory term for homosexuals.

I had some clown on social media the other day tell me that the Army used “POG” back in the 90s. No, it didn’t. This “POG” nonsense seems to have started with the Marines during the GWOT which explains quite a bit since they were handing out ASVAB waivers like candy at the time. If “POG” actually stood for “Persons Other Than Grunts” then where is the “T”? Wouldn’t it be “POTG”?

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on Saturday, July 25th, 2026 at 10:00 and is filed under History.
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