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Okay according to the story as it existed in 1967 the first use of the term HooYah was at a volley ball game in 1954 I can not remeber the class number that supposedly used it. By 1967 it was part of the drill in BUDS. I did not hear other groups using the term the way frogs did until much later. Even then Hoorah is used much more frequently by the USMC than Hooyah the two terms are different and can often be confused by those whose ears are not attuned.

Stay well - Stay safe- Stay armed - Yorktown

USMC = "OO-rah"

USA = "HOO-ah"

SEALs = HOO yah

The real difference is that in the USMC and USA the calls are mainly sincere calls of gung ho-ness yelled at full cry by true believers.

In the SEALs (after BUD/S training), "hooya" is spoken many way for every situation.

/1/ Pretty girl walks by: "hooooooyaaaaaah" said low and melodically like a wolf whistle.

/2/ A great deal just came up: "HOO F---ING YA!!"

/3/Like "Okay": "hooya" real quick at a talking voice.

/4/ We are getting screwed again by our officers: "HOOO ya" in a borderline overtly sarcastic way.Etc.

SEALs HATE to be seen as "gung ho" and cultivate a jaded "been there done that" blase attitude. You shuffle out the back of a C-130 on a jump like a bored commuter getting off a bus. You never polish your boots until you have been ordered 20 times, and then you do the minimum. As soon as that officer leaves, you put your prized ancient no polish "suede look" jungle boots back on. You keep your faded old jungle cammies at the bottom of a seabag to get them sufficiently soft and wrinkled. The only sharp part of your look that is critical is the Oakley shades. "Personal" headgear and sidearms are de rigeur. Hair must be touching the ears. If you are not warned about the length of your hair and mustache every week at least, you are not trying. As an E-5 you believe that you are worth any five Commanders in the fleet.

You do NOT yell "HOO YA!!!!" in a big group with sincere feelings like the USMC and USA. Never.