FNG syndrome

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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 a drag on 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, less effective 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.