6 BIZARRE MILITARY SUPERSTITIONS THAT TROOPS ACTUALLY BELIEVE TO BE TRUE

Military superstitions have been present throughout history, stemming from a combination of folklore, tradition, and the unique circumstances of military life. While Military superstitions can vary widely among different branches of the military and culture, today, we are going to outline 6 Military superstitions examples that are believed to be true by troops.

Bizarre Military Superstitions

The following 6 Military superstitions are not only believed to be true, but they sound ridiculous to outsiders. Are these superstitions true though? Let’s take a look and see if we are able to determine that.

1. Coast Guard Bananas

This superstition suggests that bringing bananas on board can lead to misfortune, accidents, or other calamities during the voyage. Coast Guard sailors often mess with their chefs, warning that bananas would bring banana rats and their ghosts aboard. The mischievous rats would cause all sorts of mechanical and technological issues on the ship.

This superstition isn’t unique to the Coast Guard, nor is it unique to military service, either.

2. Paratroopers Beret

The superstition surrounding the beret of paratroopers is a notable aspect of military culture, particularly among airborne units. The superstition holds that a paratrooper's beret should be with them at all times, as not doing so is believed to bring bad luck or misfortune.

This superstition started off as a joke, but is now a full-blown belief that represents the importance of tradition, discipline, and camaraderie within airborne units.

3. Dr. Pepper and Security Forces

This superstition holds that you do not open a can of Dr. Pepper within the Base Defense Operation Center. Doing so is believed to bring bad luck.

“If someone opens a Dr. Pepper in the BDOC, then shit hits the fan,” said U.S. Air Force Sr. Airman, Austin Malin, “Last time someone did that on my shift, it was completely quiet beforehand, but after the crisp pop of that damn can of soda, we had nonstop 911 calls, among other stupid shit.”

4. Say It Out Loud Three Times

Superstition 4 out of the 6 superstitions that we will be outlining comes from Randy Hill, who served in the infantry for 15 years. He heard a common superstition while serving with 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment out of Ft. Drum, New York that held that platoon, grunts who said “rain” or “the rain god’s a pu—y” three times in a row would bring down torrential downpours.

While even Hill can admit that this superstition does not work everytime, it is something that he still holds today.

5. MRE Zapplesauce

This superstition holds that no one was “allowed to eat the zapplesauce” that came with certain MREs or something would go wrong. However, this curse has allegedly been broken previously. During training at 29 Palms, a machine gun grunt chugged almost an entire gallon of the zapplesauce “to break the curse.”

Military members still get nervous today despite the curse having been previously broken.

6. No MRE Spoon?

Lastly, this superstition holds that not having a spoon with your Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) would lead to bad things happening.

“A year later, we were in Honduras training, and one of the guys in the platoon had no spoon,” Dr. Mike Simpson said. On their return flight, they executed a static line parachute drop onto Hunter Army Airfield in Savanah, Georgia. “He broke his leg on the jump back into Savannah.”

How Accurate Are US Military Superstitions?

The origins of a lot of Military superstitions are unclear. Superstitions and traditions like this serve to strengthen bonds among service members, add an element of fun to daily routines, and provide a shared experience that contributes to unit cohesion.

While these Military superstitions may seem silly to outsiders, they often hold significance within the military community and contribute to the unique culture and camaraderie found in military units.