Mustangs

[SlingerDun]

An informal title bestowed on commisioned officers who were formerly enlisted: why is that?

Isrowei, you may have contemplated this, and why warrant officers are usually excluded as Mustangs.

--->Dave

[Isrowei]

You know.. I have wondered that. I'll find out and report back!

[Isrowei]

From http://navymustangs.com/whatis.phtml


In the Navy, a Mustang is an Officer who has promoted up from the ranks of Navy enlisted personnel through an in-service procurement program, with no interruption of his/her active duty status. It is also understood that the Mustang Officer was a career Sailor, and normally wears one or more Good Conduct Medals.

Thus, the Navy Mustang is either a Navy Limited Duty Officers (LDO), a Chief Warrant Officers (CWO), or commissioned through the Direct Fleet Accession, Seaman to Admiral (S2A) program, or through the Enlisted Commissioning Program. In the past, there were other programs leading to a commission, such as NESEP, or the Naval Flight Officer program, but these have since gone away.

LDO's and CWO's are a very unique part of the Naval service. The LDO or CWO serves in a role like no other commissioned officer can. LDOs and CWOs are enlisted people who are commissioned as Officers, and have been called to serve from their senior enlisted ranks as technical managers. An LDO or CWO has the necessary experience and technical background to perform tasks that call for the "officer" rank and protocol to carry out, but require the enlisted heart and experience to get accomplished. Currently, the US Navy and Marine Corps are the only branches of the armed forces to have such commissioning programs in place.

The term "Mustang" is a relatively modern term, originating either just prior to, or during World War II. It is believed to be a Sea Service term, although other service officers are beginging to be described as Mustangs.
It literally refers to the mustang horse, which is a wild animal and therefore not a thoroughbred. A mustang, after being captured, can be tamed and saddle broken but it always has a bit of wild streak, and can periodically revert to its old ways unexpectedly and therefore the owner needs to keep an eye on it at all times.

By the same token, however, since a mustang was formerly a wild and free animal, it may very well be smarter, more capable and have a better survival instinct than thoroughbreds. The mustang can take care of itself when things get tough, thriving on rough treatment, while the thoroughbred, having been pampered its whole life, cannot.

You can easily see the parallel between horses and Naval Officers. The term "Mustang" is used in a complimentary sense most of the time.

Another accounting for the term "Mustang" is derived from the US Naval Academy where the term "Mustang" was initially used by USNA grads as an insult to the "lower class" of prior enlisted officers. They considered themselves as thoroughbreds and, meaning to insult, called our honored predecessors, "Mustangs" because we were less than pure. Like "Yankee" the slur stuck and soon became a badge of honor.

An LDO or CWO is an officer by appearance and in the minds of the "top brass," and an enlisted technician at heart. The creed of the LDO/CWO, upon receiving their commission is: "I did it the hard way... I earned it."

[Isrowei]

Some humor I dug up...


"A Mustang's Hunting Dog"
A Mustang retired after 35 years and realized a lifelong dream of buying a bird-hunting estate in Alaska. He invited an old General friend to visit for a week of pheasant shooting. The friend was in awe of the Mustang's new gun dog, "Sergeant". The dog could point, flush and retrieve with the very best.
The General offered to buy the dog at any price. The Mustang declined, saying that Sergeant was the very best bird dog he had ever owned and that he couldn't part with him. Six months later the same General returned for another week of hunting and was surprised to find the Mustang breaking in a new dog.
"What happened to Sergeant?" he asked.
"Had to shoot him," the Mustang replied. "Another old buddy came to hunt with me and couldn't remember the dog's name. He kept calling him 'Sergeant Major.' After that, all the dog would do was sit on his butt and bark."

[huey guns]

Nice to see that you were one of us, I got to watch the 0's at OCS in Pensacola at their chow hall, what the DI did to them was a hoot.

[SkilletsUSMC]

One of my platoon commanders told us that it was becasue way back, 2nd lts were being smoked in combat at the rapid rate, and enlisted were getting alot of battlefield commisions. Essentially being promoted faster than a "Mustang".

[SlingerDun]

well thats alright thats pretty good. i'm trying to pull up the visual of a feral horse___regardless of gender and pecking order status___trottin into cow camp looking for an upgrade.

--->dave