When I was Infantry, REMF was applied to certain personnel in the line units as well, such as the company supply clerk, that guy who smiled and waved goodbye whenever the unit deployed, who handled everything from our laundry, to pencils, to furniture. He knew the term, and just plain didn't care, but if you were well supplied, your company REMFs were good people, and the term could be considered endearing.

When I left Infantry to take up Signal, I'd say about 1 out of 20 had heard the term and didn't much care for it, but then only about 10 percent of those even knew what the acronym stood for.

For me, becoming a REMF was a genuine honor. As I explained it to my people, we were supplying the front lines with timely communications that saved American Forces lives, and they could call us whatever they wished -- and if my people should disagree, I would suggest a reassignment for them -- someplace away from the air conditioning, and in the general vicinity of an Infantry line unit.

Dan