it started long before twitter

Before texting and twitter there were many acronyms used daily.  SNAFU goes back to World War II.  Many of the older common acronyms come from the military.  Maybe that will change now that internet related socializing is producing so many so quickly.

I suspect most of my readers have no clue of the meaning of FIGMO.  It's not a term I've used in a long long time.  It's a military term for those about to be shipped off to their next assignment (you don't move anywhere in the military without orders).  It stands for F*&K It (or more politely Finally I) Got My Orders = FIGMO.

Over 30 years ago I wore that T-shirt proudly as I  finally reached FIGMO status.  It was at Officer Training School (OTS) at the end of a long summer of sweat and salutes.

At a recent graduation party for a nephew I met an uncle of his that was also in USAF.  To my surprise he also when to OTS that same year I did.  He managed to time his Texas training in the milder fall period.  Our sharing of common experiences reminded me of the story referenced on my FIGMO shirt.

When you went FIGMO the class behind yours would present you with a shirt that they made.  The goal was to poke some fun at you.  The golden arches with cadet standing nearby depicts an OTS story of mine.

I marched more in those 3 months than ever in my life.  We had very precise movements and wordings for the parade ground drills.  Each of us would take command of the group (called a flight), march the flight around and then transfer the command to the next one victim.  As part of the transfer of command routine the words "will that be all" and a very precised practiced reply would be exchanged.  We were graded on the words, the commanding voice we shouted, the way we looked when we said them, etc.
 

A few us were off on our first off-base weekend pass and we dropped into a Mickey D's.  As I finished my order the clerk asked "will that be all?"

Quickly without thinking words just rushed out of me. I shouted back "That will be all!"

The clerk jumped back.  He looked scared.  The other cadets with me doubled over in laughter.  The most commanding voice I've ever and will ever use at McDonald's.  Training does work.

Those shock absorbers where on there because I tended to bounce too much when I first started marching.  Once the guy behind me complained that he was getting sea sick.

Here's another FIGMO picture I found on the internet:

credit Jackson Library, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro