Many military personnel are well aware of what a chip is. However, few were interested in where the name came from. Indeed, the word is non-standard. The emergence of this abbreviation has many historical premises. There are also legends. But not all of them need to be trusted. But why a chip? We will try to figure this out. Several versions will be presented to your court. And you just have to choose the most believable.
What is a chip and what can be purchased there?
So what is a chip in the army? An explanation of this concept will be given below. In the meantime, consider what this institution is like. Chipok is a store with essential goods that will help a soldier diversify his life a little on the territory of a military unit. Many people think that they sell exclusively edibles on a chip. But this is far from the case. Among the goods that may appear there, there are such necessary things as HB, filing, accessories and other necessary items of soldier's everyday life. Of course, the choice is much scarcer than in a supermarket, but for a military unit this is good.
Also in the chip they sell food. They can sell coffee, tea and cigarettes. Naturally, with an extra charge, for smokers in the army are not in honor. In addition, the chip is the place where every soldier can eat. It is not forbidden to eat food brought with you. Many of these establishments have microwaves for heating food. But nobody will clean up after the soldier. The principle of self-service works here. But the assortment of a chipka can prettyly please a fighter tired of the monotonous food in the dining room. Such establishments are an outlet in the gray everyday life of a soldier. Now consider the origins of the concept of "chip".
Version number 1. Hungry cadets
This version was born in the walls of military schools. Many cadets believed that the abbreviation "chipok" means "emergency individual assistance to starving cadets." Who exactly came up with this interpretation of this term is unknown. But this, of course, is a joke. Nevertheless, many generations of students of military academies still believe that the word "chip" is deciphered in this way. And no other way. Well, there may be some truth to this. But no more than that.
How did this version appear in the army?
By the way, such an interpretation of the word entered the army thanks to the very same graduates of the schools, who later became officers. But there are no cadets in the army, so such an explanation is inappropriate. However, army jargon was replenished with this expression precisely thanks to former cadets. And this legend was born. But it is impossible to consider it as believable. It is not backed up by any historical events. Just one of the options for interpretation with some degree of humor.
Version number 2. USSR legacy
According to this version, hungry cadets have nothing to do with it. And army jargon too. In Soviet times, the army was called the Red Army . Everything would be fine, but it’s from the name that the soldiers were called the Red Army. Therefore, according to this version, in 1927 a special unit was introduced: Part of the Individual Food Supply of the Red Army (ChIPOK). This very part was abolished in 1963. But during this time the name (and especially its abbreviation) tightly entered the life of an ordinary soldier. So giving up on him was very difficult.
"Chip" by inheritance
It follows that the institution for soldiers on the territory of a military unit that provides soldiers with some services is called a chipk. According to old memory from the Soviet past. Of course, few people know about this. However, this version seems very believable. Moreover, it is supported by historical documents and evidence. You can even take it for true. It would seem: here it is! Understood, finally. But no. There is another version of the term "chip" in the army. Decoding it may surprise many.
Version number 3. Dashing 90s
So, let alone hungry cadets and the affairs of days gone by. Let's look at the recent past. At the end of perestroika (approximately 1988-1989), individual entrepreneurs were called private entrepreneurs (abbreviated as PE). And the institutions of the "tea" type in the territory of military units were all completely private. Accordingly, according to this version, the name "chip" comes from the abbreviation PE. There is some truth in this. A place where you could eat plenty, was given to the mercy of private traders. Therefore, this very ironic name arose.
Private Chips Today
However, nowadays, not everyone wants to open a private chip in the army. The decoding of this riddle is simple: the state understood what kind of profit this institution promises, and decided that it was wrong to give this “gold mine” to private owners. However, what about the name origin version? She, of course, has the right to exist, but is not supported by any documented evidence. Therefore, the version with the Red Army and the USSR looks the most reliable so far.
Conclusion
So, we figured out what a chip in the army is. The interpretation of this concept is ambiguous. There are at least three versions of this abbreviation. Of course, everyone can choose the one that he likes. But the most plausible version seems to be about the USSR, the Red Army, and units of individual nutrition. It was this version that was supported by historical facts and documents. However, other versions also have a right to exist. Nobody forbids this. If it is more convenient for you to think that a chip is an urgent help to starving cadets, then so be it. It's still funnier than boring historical facts.