General
detail
What does detail mean?
A specific duty or chore assigned to a group of service members, often menial like cleaning or KP.
"I pulled the trash detail again this week."
Origin
Longstanding U.S. military usage for an assigned task or the group performing it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a detail in the military?
A detail is an assigned duty or chore, often menial work like cleaning or trash pickup, or the group of service members tasked with doing it.
Why do soldiers say they got put on a detail?
Because they were assigned to a specific work task, frequently an undesirable one such as KP or grounds cleanup.
Is a detail a punishment?
Not always, but details are often unglamorous jobs, so being handed one can feel like a chore or a minor consequence.
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