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| - Similar to the Straw Civilian, this trope shows up in Military Fiction. Unlike the civilian or the Draft Dodger, this guy joins the army when things go bad. Unlike the civilian, it's because he knows the safest place to be is in the military, in a position where absolutely nothing can go wrong. While everyone else is out fighting the Planet of Hats, he's safe and sound back in Muskogee, Oklahoma, sewing buttons on uniforms. No Real Life examples, please. Let's avoid a flame war. Examples:
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| abstract
| - Similar to the Straw Civilian, this trope shows up in Military Fiction. Unlike the civilian or the Draft Dodger, this guy joins the army when things go bad. Unlike the civilian, it's because he knows the safest place to be is in the military, in a position where absolutely nothing can go wrong. While everyone else is out fighting the Planet of Hats, he's safe and sound back in Muskogee, Oklahoma, sewing buttons on uniforms. In modern military parlance, he's the "Rear Echelon Motherfucker." Whereas a civilian might not know any better, being fat and stupid, this guy's actually been through basic training and had to pull strings and know people to get his cushy job. Or he got lucky and is assigned to a unit that's not going to combat. Either way, he gets all the perks of being a soldier (drinking and wearing a uniform) and none of the hassle (strangers trying to kill you a lot). He's the military version of the fat, lazy cop. In fiction, a REMF tends to be portrayed as someone who sought the job and got it because he knows a guy. He pulled strings. He's a Senator's son. He's a celebrity. Because fiction tends to be black and white, the REMF usually isn't portrayed as someone who got lucky, but as someone who kissed a lot of fat, rich behind. In Real Life, the REMF is often just someone who happens to not be in the shit. At the moment. The military is big and a lot (to the tune of 10-15 REMFs for every guy actually pulling a trigger) of necessary jobs don't necessarily involve you getting shot at by random [INSERT BAD GUY HERE]s; some people are just lucky. He's still a REMF, though. Motherfucker didn't get shot at. Often, the children of important and or wealthy people do join the military because they want to serve. Fortunately or unfortunately, the military brass aren't morons and know that if the child of a VIP dies on their watch, they're in for a world of trouble. Thus, through no fault of his own, the boy with the silver spoon might spend the war typing up reports. Along with REMF, "pogue" is a term with similar connotations (from POG: Person Other than Grunt). Fobbit (Forward Operating Base + Hobbit) is another similar term, specific to troops deployed but who do not go on patrols for varying reasons. It's worth noting that being a REMF in an unconventional conflict might be almost impossible, since by definition there isn't a rear-echelon (if you're in the theatre), and someone whose job normally isn't anywhere near combat might find themselves under fire (or IED attack) at any time, such as in places like Afghanistan (2001-?). This guy is often Gung-Holier Than Thou and a Miles Gloriosus. A bad Officer and a Gentleman and General Failure are both probably REMFs. A good Drill Sergeant Nasty rarely is. See also Armchair Military, and Desk Jockey. No Real Life examples, please. Let's avoid a flame war. Examples:
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