Nobody knows the exact origin of the rain turtle; however, athletes, construction workers, and military members all know it well. What was once a Native American ceremony performed in the dry season is now a ritual performed to either get out of outdoor exercise, work, or simply troll one's peers. Today, rain turtles remain an important part of many subcultures throughout the United States. Suggested read: The Army Learning Management System Has Officially Been Replaced

What Is a Rain Turtle?

The rain turtle ritual, often linked to Native American origins, is believed to bring rain to a particular region. Sometimes instantly or perhaps within a day, to perform the ceremony, one draws a turtle in the dirt using a stick where rain is needed. Use of the Native American rain turtle was typically at the onset of spring or during droughts, to pray for rain and abundant crops. To some, the ritual holds religious and cultural significance tied to rainmaking/rain dances, while others may be dismissive, but ask anyone who has been a part of them—rain is coming. The biggest question for those not serving is why in the world would someone want a rain turtle in the Army or any other branch of service? You can’t do certain activities if it’s raining outside. For high school athletes, it could be as simple as trying to get out of a harsh conditioning drill. Workers may also wish to get out of a bit of work outside. They turn to the ritual to take it easy. But in the military, rain is unlikely to get you out of conditioning, or anything for that matter. It’s just going to make the situation worse. Based on the accounts of many, that’s exactly what service members are hoping for. In a similar vein of “embracing the suck,” you can also turn things up a notch and make it that much worse—for everyone involved.

Misery Loves Company

Drawing a rain turtle in the military isn’t necessarily to get out of doing a drill or going on a long run. It should be no surprise that it’s going to take a lot more than a few drops of rain to get service members out of work. Our military has a requirement to train in harsh conditions for a number of reasons. This makes the motivation for a rain turtle a bit different for active duty members. Many accounts recanting time in the military highlight the idea of misery loving company. Basically, if it’s gonna suck, make sure it’s hell for everyone else. Half in jest, half likely due to a slight bit of maniacal rage, many service members call upon the rain turtle to make everyone’s life worse as they all go through it together. Related read: 6 Veteran Charities You Need to Know About For Jobs

How to Draw a Rain Turtle

Drawing a rain turtle doesn’t take much. To enact the ritual, select a dry area and draw a turtle in the dirt, ensuring it faces west. Insert a stick into the center of the turtle's back and spin around it three times clockwise while chanting. Now, while this is a bit more traditional, many other rituals and variations have appeared over the years. This includes the following:

• You’re unlikely to find service members dancing or chanting for many reasons; however, you will find everyone spitting in the turtle’s back to activate the rain.
• Based on the experience of others, it doesn’t have to be spit. Other bodily fluids are welcomed and used at the discretion of whoever at the party is having a particularly bad day.
• According to some, the turtle is undefeated and cannot be stopped. However, if a member of the party spits and lands outside of the rain turtle, some believe the rain will not come. Prepare for ridicule and backlash.

Whether or not the rain turtle superstition is real or not (totally is), the ritual continues. It is one of the many minor quirks that remains among active duty members looking to pass the time in an admittedly twisted manner. Read next: Fort Ord: Agent Orange Contamination, Trails Have Grenades