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When the ‘Spooge’ replaced flashbangs in Delta Force

A Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Special Reactions Team (SRT) member throws a flash bang grenade during training at MCAS Miramar, Calif., May 15. The Marines conducted this training to hone their skills in close quarters combat and further familiarize themselves with the M1911 Service Pistol. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jake McClung).

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“Spooge” somehow became the nickname for the cans of spray adhesive we used to stick paper targets, bull’s eyes, and the like to a target silhouette downrange. It simply was the quickest and most convenient way to quickly attach paper to cardboard and get on to the business of sending maximum rounds down range on almost a daily basis. In Delta, time is a valued commodity.

Spooge. That is simply the entry-level name as it was handed down to us trainees by the brothers of the training cadre. Why… I don’t even remember it ever being called anything different. If anyone had ever asked me for a can of spray adhesive, I would have blinked at them blankly. It was simply spooge; spooge is simply what it was — it was SPOOGE!

(A typical flash-bang grenade used by Law Enforcement; no fragmentation, just extreme loud noise and flash. Flash-Bangs are categorized as non-lethal riot control devices.)

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Comments

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  • Avatar
    Mic-Mac

    LOL, I had a good ole belly laugh. Because I can picture the Unit guys dreading the cartoonist more than being injured (not seriously injured that is). The fear of showing up in the cartoon book probably made them more alert and careful. I have a whole new perspective of geo since his cartoons. Love them both Hugs to geo!

  • Avatar
    Jeanettia White

    Priceless ❤😂

  • Avatar
    Joy B

    I hope someone thought to send an empty home with him to make it easier for his wife to get it out. And wrap him in plastic so he didn’t get stuck in his truck, that would have added to the insult. I’m going to go giggle about this now.

  • Avatar
    Robby Robinson

    Ah GEO, the glory of being mercilessly ridiculed is the rarest of feelings but akin to the deepest love...... between brothers. When I was fresh outta OSUT (long before I went to the Regiment) I was the FNG in an Infantry squad in South Korea. Out in the field before a CALFEX, after rucking forever, squad leader says, "alright boys, HOOCH up!!" I look around, the boys are digging in their rucks, some are smoking, talking. I walk up to my squad leader and say, "uhm, Corporal Meanni, what's a hooch???" The laughter erupted and the ridicule was merciless. From that day forward, and throughout my career, I became known as HOOCH. But I knew I was home and the love between the brothers was deep and lasting

  • Avatar
    Irene B

    I wonder how Cuz's wife got the spooge out of his hair and off his face. I would have loved to be there when he was explaining how he got drenched in spooge, but I think he would have been more worried about returning the next day to see what wrath the Unit cartoonist had in store for him. You really should make all these cartoons into a book, they are fantastic Geo.