Conclusion

           As with other types of folklore, superstitions and ritual behaviors play an important role in expressing the values and beliefs of a group. For members of the military, superstitions provide a framework for dealing with the unpredictable nature of their profession. Ritual behaviors can emerge from either individuals or groups, but either way they help service members tighten bonds between one another as they solidify their shared experiences, apprehensions, and identities. They can operate as a means to signify membership in exclusive groups and are held with pride. Superstitions act as a way to communicate the strongly held belief in luck and what happens to those who scorn it. While superstitions and ritual behaviors that develop may seem illogical, they remain an important feature of military folklore.