FNG syndrome

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FNG syndrome is the syndrome that seasoned or senior soldiers can succumb to. It is usually a frame of mind that reflects in a soldier's attitude and gestures towards new soldiers in their platoon or squad.

FNG is a derogatory term, which stands for "Fucking New Guy" or "Fucking New Grunt". This term was commonly used during the Vietnam War.

The reason for FNG syndrome is due to the fact that new recruits are uneducated about battle, and are therefore, less likely to be of much use to a platoon. In most circumstances, the new soldier will be a burden to the platoon, since he is unaware of or not used to defending his life and the life of his platoon-mates.

Since a new soldier is usually considered to drag down a platoon during the first few weeks of their conditioning to battle, many experienced soldiers succumbed to the FNG syndrome as a resentment to their own lives being put more at risk, having to watch out for a new, useless man.

In modern business usage, the term has become altered slightly and is descriptive of the desires of a new member of a team or company to stamp their own mark on a project, product or culture in order to prove their worth before they fully understand the background.