Is it hazing? I always wondered about that. Can you voluntarily be hazed? I don’t know of a single JM that ever “turned down” blood wings. It was a right of passage. Sometimes it was a big ceremony. Sometimes it was done at night at the bleacher on Sicily DZ. My Master wings were pinned on me at the AAS Schoolhouse, no pictures but I was welcomed into the club. Here the pictures are of Ranger Williams. One of our best beloved officers in 3-4 ADAR. Ranger, Jumpmaster, Leader extraordinaire. He is being ushered into the fold by Legends. CSM Adams, 1SG Edwards, 1SG Raynor, CSM Lehr, all legends. Is it hazing? Look at those smiles. Hell yes it is! Consider many of us, well hazed!
Best Hazed i ever was a victim of. I was apart of an elite group that was and still admired across the Armed forces and i bet all who got them would do it again. AATW.
I lament the passing of “the gauntlet”, as well. Being welcomed into the NCO corps was my proudest moment in the Army, and as inappropriate as it may have been, the gauntlet made it official.
I got my blood wings in 65 the scars have long since gone away but the memories are still there