Definition of "strack"/"strac"

author · Post by **author** » April 19th, 2007, 2:54 pm

Hi,

I am currently at work on a book about a former Ranger/LRSU during Operations Desert Storm & Shield. He uses the word "strack" a lot, and though I know exactly what he means when he says it, I still haven't found a suitable objective definition. About the closest I could get is the following, from one of Gary Linderer's books:

Strack â€“ a term used to designate the ideal in military dress, demeanor and bearing.

Through Google, I also found the following exchange, which had the added bonus of confusing the issue by introducing an alternate spelling:

> Here is a word which is missing from my dictionaries. I
> suppose it is slang or jargon or both. I think anybody
> who was in the US military in recent decades (that's a
> lot of people) would recognize this adjective. I'm not
> sure there's an exact synonym. I don't know what the
> etymology is: perhaps an alteration of "strict" to rhyme
> with its antonym "slack"? This refers to a person or unit
> exhibiting good discipline and high standards of dress
> etc.: immaculately shined boots, immaculately bloused
> trousers, never a sloppy salute, etc. ... at least as I
> understand it (I'm not a very strack person myself). One
> can see a few examples by googling with "strack outfit",
> "strack troops", etc.

It's "STRAC." Originally an 1950s acronym for Strategic Army Corps, a group of four, elite divisions maintained at a high readiness for overseas
deployment. It began to be used as an adjective, to be "STRAC" was to be prepared (which as Doug notes in the peacetime army usually means shined boots, bloused trousers, and a crisp salute). After the demise of the Corps, the adjectival use hung on. A new, unofficial backronym was formed for it, "Skilled, Tough, Ready, Around the Clock." It was very common in the US Army of the 1980s. I can't vouch for current use of this sense, although I'd imagine it's still in use.

"STRAC" is currently used in the US Army as an official acronym for "Standards in Training Commission," which was almost certainly chosen because of its association with readiness and the earlier, unofficial sense. You'll see this one in a lot of official army web publications and web
sites.

I would really appreciate hearing the thoughts of current/former Rangers on this.

Thanks!

RangerX · Post by **RangerX** » April 19th, 2007, 2:56 pm

Failure to follow instructions....

No soup for you!!

Horned Toad · Post by **Horned Toad** » April 19th, 2007, 3:09 pm

locked until you read the faqs and post an intro

unlocked HT

Jim · Post by **Jim** » May 1st, 2007, 6:39 am

Basic homework is lacking. Wikipedia has about the best entry to explain this term:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Army_Corps

author · Post by **author** » May 1st, 2007, 7:32 am

Jim wrote:Basic homework is lacking. Wikipedia has about the best entry to explain this term:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Army_Corps

Ranger Jim:

I appreciate the link. I had seen the entry, but honestly hadn't noticed the "Other Definitions" at the bottom. For everyone's benefit they are as follows:

STRAC is Army slang term for "a well organized, well turned-out soldier, (pressed uniform, polished brass and shined boots)." A proud, competent trooper who can be depended on for good performance in any circumstance.

Gear clean and tight; Weapon clean and ready; Mind clear, organized, and ready for action. S- skilled T- tough R- ready A- around the C- clock. STRAC

This seems pretty sufficient for my purposes. Anyone disagree? Also, would everyone agree that the acronym "STRAC" should be the same spelling used for the adjective? (As opposed to "strack", which I have seen printed elsewhere.) I'm wary of it because aesthetically it would seem that "strack" would fit better than all caps "STRAC".

Thanks for the help.

Charlie 51 · Post by **Charlie 51** » May 1st, 2007, 7:45 am

author wrote:
Jim wrote:Basic homework is lacking. Wikipedia has about the best entry to explain this term:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Army_Corps
Ranger Jim:

I appreciate the link. I had seen the entry, but honestly hadn't noticed the "Other Definitions" at the bottom. For everyone's benefit they are as follows:

STRAC is Army slang term for "a well organized, well turned-out soldier, (pressed uniform, polished brass and shined boots)." A proud, competent trooper who can be depended on for good performance in any circumstance.

Gear clean and tight; Weapon clean and ready; Mind clear, organized, and ready for action. S- skilled T- tough R- ready A- around the C- clock. STRAC
This seems pretty sufficient for my purposes. Anyone disagree? Also, would everyone agree that the acronym "STRAC" should be the same spelling used for the adjective? (As opposed to "strack", which I have seen printed elsewhere.) I'm wary of it because aesthetically it would seem that "strack" would fit better than all caps "STRAC".

Thanks for the help.

Look you fucking idiot no one else cares about this bullshit. "for everyones benifit" who the fuck are you knob gobbler. You are not our peer, mentor, personal writer or fucking anything. As far as any of us knows you are an attention seeking dickhead writing an article about how old Rangers are a buch of real assholes, well its true. Plus, I never heard anyone outside of Basic training and Airborne school use the term STRAC. Why don't you go research the word Hooah because I'm sure this fag you're writing about uses it constantly too.

Invictus · Post by **Invictus** » May 1st, 2007, 9:22 am

Charlie 51 wrote:
author wrote:
Jim wrote:Basic homework is lacking. Wikipedia has about the best entry to explain this term:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Army_Corps
Ranger Jim:

I appreciate the link. I had seen the entry, but honestly hadn't noticed the "Other Definitions" at the bottom. For everyone's benefit they are as follows:

STRAC is Army slang term for "a well organized, well turned-out soldier, (pressed uniform, polished brass and shined boots)." A proud, competent trooper who can be depended on for good performance in any circumstance.

Gear clean and tight; Weapon clean and ready; Mind clear, organized, and ready for action. S- skilled T- tough R- ready A- around the C- clock. STRAC
This seems pretty sufficient for my purposes. Anyone disagree? Also, would everyone agree that the acronym "STRAC" should be the same spelling used for the adjective? (As opposed to "strack", which I have seen printed elsewhere.) I'm wary of it because aesthetically it would seem that "strack" would fit better than all caps "STRAC".

Thanks for the help.
Look you fucking idiot no one else cares about this bullshit. "for everyones benifit" who the fuck are you knob gobbler. You are not our peer, mentor, personal writer or fucking anything. As far as any of us knows you are an attention seeking dickhead writing an article about how old Rangers are a buch of real assholes, well its true. Plus, I never heard anyone outside of Basic training and Airborne school use the term STRAC. Why don't you go research the word Hooah because I'm sure this fag you're writing about uses it constantly too.

Welcome to ArmyRanger.com wild man... :D

Fishboy · Post by **Fishboy** » May 1st, 2007, 9:44 am

I am not an "asshole",
I prefer the term "balloonknot" thank you very much!

Looon · Post by **Looon** » May 1st, 2007, 9:47 am

Invictus wrote:
Charlie 51 wrote:
author wrote: Ranger Jim:

I appreciate the link. I had seen the entry, but honestly hadn't noticed the "Other Definitions" at the bottom. For everyone's benefit they are as follows:
This seems pretty sufficient for my purposes. Anyone disagree? Also, would everyone agree that the acronym "STRAC" should be the same spelling used for the adjective? (As opposed to "strack", which I have seen printed elsewhere.) I'm wary of it because aesthetically it would seem that "strack" would fit better than all caps "STRAC".

Thanks for the help.
Look you fucking idiot no one else cares about this bullshit. "for everyones benifit" who the fuck are you knob gobbler. You are not our peer, mentor, personal writer or fucking anything. As far as any of us knows you are an attention seeking dickhead writing an article about how old Rangers are a buch of real assholes, well its true. Plus, I never heard anyone outside of Basic training and Airborne school use the term STRAC. Why don't you go research the word Hooah because I'm sure this fag you're writing about uses it constantly too.
Welcome to ArmyRanger.com wild man... :D

rgrjoe175 · Post by **rgrjoe175** » May 3rd, 2007, 4:44 pm

Damn...this clown has not suck started a glock yet? well I guess it would be a waste of ammo.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » May 4th, 2007, 1:32 pm

rgrjoe175 wrote:Damn...this clown has not suck started a glock yet? well I guess it would be a waste of ammo.

STFU, you're supposed to be banned...... :D

KW Driver · Post by **KW Driver** » May 4th, 2007, 3:27 pm

I guess he's straight...

can't wait to read the book

Bravo57 · Post by **Bravo57** » May 9th, 2007, 10:17 am

STRAC!

Fuck,
Just typing that is funny. Say it out loud. I dare you. You will laugh.

I know at least 10 of you will say it out loud and then immediately start laughing.

F50LRRP · Post by **F50LRRP** » August 13th, 2007, 1:14 pm

Back in the day at Bragg, STRAC stood for "SHIT, The Russians are Coming.

Mike