What does being on jankers in the army mean?

Answer 1

In the British army, jankers or Restrictions of Privileges is a punishment for a minor offense. Being on jankers meant you had been put on a fizzer for doing something wrong, as a consequence of which you had appeared in front of your Officer who had found you guilty of the charge(s) and so he issued the order for you to do so many days on jankers up to a maximum of fourteen days as your punishment. During 1940s to 1960s, the majority of youngsters who were called up for conscription in the Army or RAF found themselves on jankers once or more during their time on National Service when discipline was very strict.

Jankers used to be termed "CB" or "CC" (meaning confined to barracks or confined to camp), that being your punishment for whatever you had done wrong, usually some minor slip up, act of slackness or sloppiness or breach of discipline. Being on Jankers meant you were not allowed off your base during your time on Jankers, and you had to attend punishment parades at various times each day in uniform sometimes in full marching order, perform military drill, have strict inspections of your appearance and kit, and carry out long periods of unpleasant non-military work called "fatigues" . You had to do this when you were not working from early morning to late at night throughout every day during your period of jankers.

The term "Jankers" apparently arose from the "jank jank jank" sound made by the brasses on men in full marching order when wearing their webbing and their back packs rushing out of their accommodation hut to be on time for their first early morning parade of that day, so others in their hut heard "the jankers men" setting off with bleary eyes as they lay in bed.

Answer 2

Being on jankers in the army refers to being assigned extra duties or disciplinary tasks as a punishment for a minor offense. These duties are typically menial tasks such as cleaning or other chores and are intended to teach discipline and correct behavior. The duration and severity of jankers vary depending on the offense committed.