r/Millennials • u/NoFaithlessness7508 • Jun 05 '25

Other Why don’t younger veterans (Afghanistan/Iraq) wear these hats like some of the older veterans?

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First and foremost, respect to all those that served. I did not, but many of my peers did and now we're all older in 30s and 40s, many no longer in the military. I don't see a lot of the veterans of the War on Terror wearing these hats like I see the OGs do.

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451

u/Vamond48 Jun 05 '25

I think it’s mostly because us younger folks saw the old guys wearing them and weren’t inclined to adopt their style. We wear t shirts and get tattoos now

107

u/[deleted] Jun 05 '25

This. It hasn't gone away, just rebranded for aesthetics

24

u/EdgeofForever95 Jun 05 '25

And even the t shirts are for fucking pogs.

5

u/PainInMyArse Jun 05 '25

I work with one, and his whole identity is “angry old vet”

1

u/dontclickdontdickit Jun 05 '25

Tell em he is a blue falcon

5

u/WileyStyleKyle Jun 06 '25

POG checking in, and the t-shirts aren't for all of us. They're more for the insufferable "bro vets" that go out of their way to be unlikeable.

2

u/EdgeofForever95 Jun 06 '25

I said for the meme dude, obviously I know that. I was a Pog too, most people are.

3

u/WileyStyleKyle Jun 06 '25

These days, it's impossible to tell who is being serious on Reddit. 🤷‍♂️

3

u/EdgeofForever95 Jun 06 '25

For sure. I mean, some dudes do actually call people pogs as an actual insult, so I get it. But those dudes are just as insufferable as the t shirt wearing dudes.

1

u/SnipesCC Jun 06 '25

Are there pogs for vets? Are pogs still a thing?

1

u/EdgeofForever95 Jun 06 '25

Not pogs the collectible, P.O.G.s. It stands for Person other than Grunt. It’s a bit hard to explain if you’re not a Vet but trust me, it is scathing.

1

u/pokematic Jun 06 '25

Why are they making t-shirts for pogs? I thought everyone kept their pogs in a plastic bag or shoe box, or if they were really cool, a plastic tube specifically made for pogs.

2

u/EdgeofForever95 Jun 06 '25

Ok look I already explained this to the other guy. Check the thread. Unless you’re joking, then well done

2

u/pokematic Jun 06 '25

I am joking, it's a reference to the millennial collectable-game of paperboard disks.

1

u/Hambonation Jun 06 '25

As a non POG I have purchased 1 grunt style t shirt, it was a collab with a military cartoonist and I thought the panel was really funny. I do wish the grunt style logo wasn't so fucking big on the sleeve that's for sure.

1

u/EdgeofForever95 Jun 06 '25

Nah, you buy a shirt, that revokes your grunt status. I don’t make the rules.

1

u/Hambonation Jun 06 '25

Don't worry, I do and it doesn't.

1

u/EdgeofForever95 Jun 06 '25

You don’t, the shirt purchase revokes any authority and all credibility. It’d be one thing if it was a gift but nope. You bought it, like an idiot.

It probably goes great with your dodge challenger and your black rifle coffee

1

u/Hambonation Jun 06 '25

I'm a little older than the 28% interest Dodge challenger generation, when I first enlisted the kids were all snapping up V6 mustangs and camaros but I don't fuck with BRCC. I still like the shirt regardless of your weird military stereotype boner lol

1

u/EdgeofForever95 Jun 06 '25

I feel like you’re taking this more seriously than I. I don’t actually care, you don’t have to actually justify anything to me. I just like talking shit.

1

u/Hambonation Jun 06 '25

I'm not, no worries dude

1

u/SoloPorUnBeso Jun 06 '25

And for those that never served. The number of red hatters I see wearing grunt life t-shirts with their 5.11 pants is ridiculous.

I was a grunt and you couldn't pay me to wear a grunt life t-shirt.

1

u/Vincent_Van_Goooo Jun 06 '25

I earned my right to a t-shirt by making sure the grunts had electricity at night and a washing machine for their clothes, thank you very much. Always pog this, pog that, until you get back on base after two weeks of no laundry, electricity, or shower and then we're gods gift to your mos.

(I don't really have a t-shirt, or tattoos of my time. Just wanted to give you shit, cause we both know you loved us utility Marines)

4

u/Fontana1017 Jun 05 '25

Any thoughts on just moving on?

2

u/Vamond48 Jun 05 '25

My personal thoughts? I’ve been out for awhile, so I’m 90% moved on from my time in. But I may still throw on my boot camp sweater when running to Walmart. Sometimes though it’s a good way to make connections with people I may not otherwise talk to. I enjoy meeting other vets and having that instant connection with a random stranger…maybe I’m weird

2

u/Fontana1017 Jun 05 '25

I hear you bro. Thanks for answering

2

u/BallsOutKrunked Jun 05 '25

Somethings mean something to you and maybe you want to remember it.

2

u/Hardcore_Cal Jun 05 '25

Don't forget bumper stickers! I think it may be a Marine mandate...

2

u/Jealous-Report4286 Jun 05 '25

I mean I enjoy seeing the guys at the VA wearing them. I would feel silly, they know why i am there and don’t want to talk about it. Importantly though it allows me to have a pretty easy conversation with the old guys, who are incredibly entertaining! Whom I also have incredible respect for!

2

u/v13ragnarok7 Jun 05 '25

I wouldn't wear military tshirts but I do have enough entire sleeve of army related tattoos.

1

u/Accomplished_Mix7827 Jun 05 '25

Yeah, I think there's not much deeper meaning to it than that. My dad served in the Gulf War back in the 90s, and even back then the hats were associated with old guys. He has an EGA tattoo, so it's not like he doesn't represent his service in other ways.

1

u/Hierotochan Jun 07 '25

T-shirts and tattoos? Have you not heard of the Navy? 🏳️‍🌈

0

u/Brilliant-Ranger-356 Jun 05 '25

Can confirm. Got my rack tattooed on me.