How to fire a rifle, understanding the dynamics of teamwork within a chain of command, and survival training are just some of the many skills one might think of when first thinking of military service. But if you didn’t think about knowing how to use Silly String, you may have missed a critical still. Silly String military use may feel out of place, considering it’s mostly known for childish pranks and hijinks, but this simple gag gift/prank shop staple has been used by the greatest fighting force this world has ever seen to great effect. Here’s a bit of odd military history involving an accidental medical device turned into a toy, ultimately used as a tool of war. Suggested read:Why Are Marines Obsessed With the Tiny Silkies Shorts?

How Did Silly String Help the Military?

Leave it to the American Armed Forces to find a serious use for Silly String. That’s exactly what the military did, and the result was taking a would-be toy and turning it into a lifesaving device. Military Silly String use may be unusual, but its application proved to be worth the innovative approach. During the Iraq conflicts in the 2000s, the military discovered a great use for Silly String that would use its contents to check for tripwires designed to set off booby traps. By spraying it in the air, the string would fall on tripwires that may otherwise be hidden. The substance is light enough to expose traps without detonating them.

When Was Silly String Invented?

Silly String came to be in 1972 after Leonard A. Fish, an inventor, and Robert P. Cox, a chemist, worked on creating an aerosol to spray on a broken/sprained leg or arm for an instant cast. It was a success, and while testing packaging options, they tested 500 nozzles. During this process, Fish would discover a nozzle that was capable of shooting the string about 30 feet across the room. This led to Fish tweaking the product to market it as a toy for children. Once the product was where it needed to be, the duo decided to get involved with Wham-O, as neither were experts in selling toys. During a meeting at Wham-O, Fish sprayed a Wham-O employee and his office, only to have him become infuriated and storm off. But the same person who kicked the duo out and stormed off would end up coming around. A day later, a telegram signed by the Wham-O executive was sent to the Silly String inventor, stating that he was looking for 24 cans of “Squibbly.” Yadda, yadda, yadda, patents are drawn up, deals made, and Silly String was born.

New Jersey’s Interesting History With the War Tool/Party Favor

Ridgewood, New Jersey’s ban on Silly String goes back to 1998 when the Ridgewood Village Council passed an ordinance banning the use of the toy. Banning aerosol string came after a 4th of July parade went horribly wrong and children had their costumes ruined when the crowd shot Silly String at them. Oh, the humanity! This, combined with zig zag marks left on the cement, was just too much for this town in the Garden State, which would lead to the ban that is still in effect today. Though it’s not on the top of the list for police, you could technically still receive a $1,000 fine, 90 days in the slammer, or even 90 days of community service if you're caught with this oh-so-dangerous paraphernalia. Ironically, because the military has weird rules to follow, even during a war, when it comes to shipping items, the Silly String that was used to help detect booby traps was banned from shipping to Iraq and stored in New Jersey. This came in 2006 after Marcelle Shriver, a mom trying to help, collected 80,000 cans of the stuff only to find out nobody could ship them. This mix-up was due to the fact that the items contained aerosol, which meant they couldn’t be privately shipped to Iraq. All this after receiving donations from Just for Kicks, the manufacturer of Silly String, and others looking to help. Thankfully, this was eventually remedied in 2007, as a company cleared to deliver them into the country was able to.

Is Silly String Biodegradable?

Unfortunately, Silly String isn’t biodegradable. Kind of like how a meat lover’s pizza isn’t fat-free and we can’t print unlimited money to make everyone millionaires. There’s always a catch, and we can’t ever seem to have nice things. But those Negative Nelly feelings aside, it’s still a great tool that's helped save lives and is a fun way to celebrate at parties. We just all need to be responsible, clean up when we can, and use it in moderation. Otherwise, Silly String can be a bummer, and we might end up sparking ridiculous local ordinances and spending our days behind bars instead of at the gym, getting a tan, or doing laundry. Read next:The Air Force Just Made the Worst PBJ Sandwich Ever

Image: US Army/Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Smith