Since 2IC is an acronym like XO, MRE, BDU, etc., it's written in dialogue as is. FWIW, 2IC is Canadian (British Commonwealth) military for second-in-command while XO (executive officer) is used in US military. And yes, it is spoken as two eye see.
. Thank you! I'd heard of XO (my dad was military, but a long time ago), but not 2IC; it being British explains why it flew over my head.
But... too many authors have John Sheppard referring to Lorne as his 2IC; since he's American, I guess XO would be more likely. Tsk, tsk. *frowns, then grins* .
Personally, I think 2IC snuck into fanon because British Commonwealth fen simply used their own military terms without bothering to do the research and it stuck.
Same goes for BDU. First season SG1 writers did the research and no one bothered to keep up with the changes in military terminology. (But then, neither did the show, SG1 or SGA.)
According to the Air Force uniform info on wiki... "The ABU (airman battle uniform) replaces the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), the latter having been discontinued after 31 October 2011."
. Ah, now I've actually heard of 'fatigues' in RL. Never seen it used in fic, though.
Hmm... wiki says ABU had a 4-year phase-in up to 2011, which would have the switch beginning in 2007, more or less, and SGA ended in 2009. So I could see them still using BDUs in Atlantis. And SG1 ended in 2007. So, I'm not understanding the complaints about fic still using "BDU". Was there an interim style between BDU and ABU? .
Well, the main issue with "BDU" is that it stands for Battle Dress Uniform. And unless I'm mistaken, all the battle uniforms are some kind of camoflauge. So the plain blue and black uniforms they had on the shows wouldn't really be "BDU's".
Although, since they were called BDUs in canon, I don't get too bent out of shape when it's used in fanfic.
. Okay, I was getting confused, so I went to my SGA DVDs. Yes, most of the named characters wore black and blue uniforms, and the scientists as well -- but the lower-ranked military and a few named (Sumner, Ford) wore something that looks like BDUs to untrained, civilian eyes.
So, I suspect laziness on the part of the writers -- both canon and fic -- by lumping all uniforms under the name "BDU". .
Sumner and Ford were Marines. That's probably one reason why they wore camo... that, and so they could wear the distinctive 8-point caps that the Marines wear.
. I suspect it's fic writers trying to sound military. "... reached into his pocket" is perfectly adequate, but so many will write "... reached into the pocket of his BDUs."
And, although I'm American, I now twitch when I read 'pants', because I'm aware that many Brits will envision underwear. In my own writing (not SGA or SG1, so no uniforms), I try to avoid 'pants'. If 'trousers' sounds wrong for the character, I'll find some other kind of work-around.
So many pitfalls when writing fic; it's a wonder that any of us make it through. .
Reply
Thank you! I'd heard of XO (my dad was military, but a long time ago), but not 2IC; it being British explains why it flew over my head.
But... too many authors have John Sheppard referring to Lorne as his 2IC; since he's American, I guess XO would be more likely. Tsk, tsk. *frowns, then grins*
.
Reply
Same goes for BDU. First season SG1 writers did the research and no one bothered to keep up with the changes in military terminology. (But then, neither did the show, SG1 or SGA.)
Reply
Reply
So, if they're not BDUs anymore, what is the new terminology? (I'd look it up, but I can't figure out how to search for an unknown term.)
.
Reply
Informally they're also referred to as fatigues.
Reply
Ah, now I've actually heard of 'fatigues' in RL. Never seen it used in fic, though.
Hmm... wiki says ABU had a 4-year phase-in up to 2011, which would have the switch beginning in 2007, more or less, and SGA ended in 2009. So I could see them still using BDUs in Atlantis. And SG1 ended in 2007. So, I'm not understanding the complaints about fic still using "BDU". Was there an interim style between BDU and ABU?
.
Reply
Reply
Ah, now I see! Thank you.
.
Reply
Although, since they were called BDUs in canon, I don't get too bent out of shape when it's used in fanfic.
Reply
Okay, I was getting confused, so I went to my SGA DVDs. Yes, most of the named characters wore black and blue uniforms, and the scientists as well -- but the lower-ranked military and a few named (Sumner, Ford) wore something that looks like BDUs to untrained, civilian eyes.
So, I suspect laziness on the part of the writers -- both canon and fic -- by lumping all uniforms under the name "BDU".
.
Reply
Reply
If you just want to know, there's this for a starter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniforms_of_the_United_States_Military
Reply
Reply
Reply
I suspect it's fic writers trying to sound military. "... reached into his pocket" is perfectly adequate, but so many will write "... reached into the pocket of his BDUs."
And, although I'm American, I now twitch when I read 'pants', because I'm aware that many Brits will envision underwear. In my own writing (not SGA or SG1, so no uniforms), I try to avoid 'pants'. If 'trousers' sounds wrong for the character, I'll find some other kind of work-around.
So many pitfalls when writing fic; it's a wonder that any of us make it through.
.
Reply
Leave a comment