Why We Take the Piss Out of Each Other — and Why It Matters

Let’s be honest — if you’ve ever served in the Army, you’ve either given or copped it more times than you can count.

Taking the piss is basically our unofficial second language. From the bloke who rocks up late to PT to the secco who reckons he was ‘gods gift to recon’ back in his day — no one’s safe. And that’s the way we like it.

But behind the laughs, the nicknames, and the relentless banter, there’s something a bit deeper going on.

It’s How We Bond

In the Army, you don’t pick your workmates — but you rely on them for everything. From sharing a ratpack in the middle of the bush to shooting over each others shoulder on a live fire range, trust is everything. And the quickest way we build that trust? Giving each other absolute hell.

That first stitch-up or nickname is a rite of passage. It means you’re one of the boys (or girls). The banter breaks down walls, cuts through awkwardness, and turns a bunch of strangers in camo into a section.

It Keeps Morale Alive in Shit Situations

Field exercises, deployments, 2am piquets in the rain — none of it’s fun. But if you can rip into your mate for his BFA score or his average looking head, suddenly it’s not so bad. A good laugh in a crap situation can be the difference between cracking on or cracking up.

We’ve all been there. Freezing cold, wet, covered in leeches — then someone drops a one-liner that has the whole section laughing like idiots. For a moment, you forget how rubbish it is. That’s the magic of soldier humor.

But — You Gotta Know When to Pull Your Head In

Here’s the serious bit. While we love to talk shit, we’re also all too good at hiding how we’re actually doing. Too often, blokes will laugh it off, deflect with a joke, or bury it under banter. And sometimes, we don’t pick up when one of our own is genuinely struggling.

Taking the piss is great — but knowing your mates well enough to spot when something’s not right is even better. If the loud bloke suddenly goes quiet, or the joker’s not laughing anymore, don’t just chalk it up to a bad mood. Check in. Properly.

A quick “Oi mate, you good?” might not seem like much, but it could mean everything.

Wrap Up

Banter will always be a part of Army life. It’s what makes this job bearable, memorable, and downright hilarious most days. But underneath the laughs, we’ve got a responsibility to look out for each other.

Rip in, have a laugh — but be the bloke who knows when to put the jokes aside and have a real chat too.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about being a good digger — it’s about being a good mate.

If you’re ever stuck for advice or need a hand helping a mate doing it tough, swing by our Services page. You’ll find a heap of organizations ready to help out when it counts.