pop culture
Serve Media dissects pop culture tropes borrowed from the armed forces and the diverse cultural portrayals of famous fighters ranging from SEAL Team Six to G.I Joe, Joan of Arc, and more.
Stripes and Bars to Stars. Top Story - September 2021.
In the hip hop genre, rappers often describe how they’ve earned stripes, and sometimes in the next breath say they’re five star generals. This is true, but only with conditions. Someone who transitions from the enlisted ranks to becoming an officer is known as a mustang, and it takes decades for officers to achieve general status.
By Skyler Saunders4 years ago in Serve
So You Think You're An African-American
I walked into the main entrance of the post medical facility. A gentleman, a fellow soldier, bypassed me in the corridor and said, "keep that smile on your face. It's beautiful." That made me smile even harder. It was so natural to me to have a smile on my face that sometimes I forgot I was smiling. I was naturally a happy person. I didn't let anything get me down or ruin my joy. I was a strong, African-American, black woman.
By Latousha Young6 years ago in Serve
First Trailer for Sam Mendes Directed '1917' Released
Director Sam Mendes is headed back to cinemas this Christmas with the release of 1917, and the first trailer has been released. 1917 stars George MacKay, recently of the controversial drama Where Hands Touch, and Dean-Charles Chapman, formerly of Game of Thrones, as soldiers in World War 1 in France.
By Sean Patrick6 years ago in Serve
Being a "Big Toe" Leader
For many of us "of a certain age" (meaning that we carry an AARP-card in our wallet), we fondly remember the movie Stripes, which came out—believe it or not—almost four decades ago, way back in 1981. Stripes became a huge box office hit, and went a long way in helping Bill Murray become, well, "Bill Murray"—a comedy legend and yes, now a golf brand.
By David Wyld7 years ago in Serve
10 Superstitions You'll Hear About in the Armed Forces
When people are put through stress or trauma, they often look to superstitions as a defense mechanism. We let these superstitions inform the way we live and interact with the world around us. Because of this, in the stressful life of military combat, soldiers will often cling to ideals of good or bad luck. Like elite savant baseball pitchers, soldiers will hold true to charms and rituals out of compulsion. Forged in the fire of chaos, these beliefs are reinforced by perceived cause and effect relationships.
By Fred Eugene Park7 years ago in Serve
How Common is Sexual Assault in the Military?. Top Story - November 2018.
When the Department of Defense decided to track data on sexual assault in the military, they were overwhelmed with requests for the data to be made available to the public. The United States military, since it has started tracking this data, has implemented numerous sexual assault prevention programs. The volume of sexual assault in the military, though, struggles with the same issues that the public faces when it comes to reporting. How can you identify sexual assault survivors who haven't reported the attack? How can you ensure that sexual assault claims aren't false? More than anything else, how can you prevent future attacks and help the survivors? The military is attempting to answer all of these questions.
By Bill Shaffir7 years ago in Serve
What's a Dependapotamus?
In military circles, especially online, you’ve probably seen or heard some of the most popular slang terms used among military members. One you may or may not have heard of though are the terms "dependapotamus," or just "dependa." What exactly is a dependapotamus though? Well, the word is pretty self-explanatory: It is a combination of “dependent,” describing someone who is a military dependent, and “hippopotamus,” as in…well, a really chubby creature that chews with its mouth open. That’s more or less how the term is used, too: To refer to military dependents, usually the wives of service members, who don’t work, and leech off of their husband’s benefits.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Serve
Best Songs from War Movies All Soldiers Should Know
War movies as a whole have so much meaning behind them. Even though they're based on wars, they're also about the individual soldiers who were significantly involved in these wars. We know that going into war is a terrifying experience that can either lead to victory or death. And these brave individuals are fighting for their country and beliefs. Yet, many of us don't entirely know the experience of heading into a battle. And these war movies made sure that we get the whole picture.
By George Nekilan8 years ago in Serve
