Military slang - Misplaced Pages

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Military slang, or informal military terms, are colloquial terms used commonly by military personnel —often as abbreviations or derivations of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, or otherwise incorporating aspects of formal military concepts and terms.

Military, for the purposes of this article means armed forces (i.e. the US English meaning) and therefore this article includes naval and air forces slang as well as the military slang of armies.

Military slang is also used to reinforce the (usually friendly) interservice rivalries. Some of these terms have been considered derogatory to varying degrees and attempts were made to eliminate them. Those attempts have failed because many service members take a certain perverse pleasure in the sense of shared hardship which the nickname implies.

Military slang has often been incorporated into wider usage. See also: List of U.S. Army acronyms and expressions , American English, British English. For British Army slang see the Forces Dictionary on http://www.biscuitsbrown.com or the British Army Rumour Service. For Covey Crump see the Navy Slang sub-section under the Naval Life section on the Royal Navy website http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk. (For a glossary of French Army slang during the Napoleonic Wars see Grande Armée Slang. ) Also see: Royal Marines slang.

Military slang includes phrases such as:

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A

ACUs: (US Army) Army Combat Uniform. Name for new digital-pattern uniforms. In the process of replacing BDUs and DCUs.
Air-Dale: (UK and US) Derogatory term for a pilot or aircrew.
Air Force Mittens: (US) Front pockets of BDUs.
Ali Baba: (UK and US) During the Iraq war, name for local thieves and looters.
ALCON: All concerned. Especially popular in US military message traffic and emails.
Alpha Roster: (US) An alphabetical list (by last name) of all personnel within a unit.
...and a wake-up.: (US) Term used following a particular period of time to reference how long a servicemember has before a tour of duty or field evolution is complete. e.g.: "Two days and a wake up, and I'm gone!"
AO: Area of Operations; e.g., "If that broad comes into my AO there's going to be trouble!"
AOL: Absent Over Leave; formerly, AWOL (qv)
Aooga/Aoogha/Ahooga: A spirited cry meaning "Affirmative" or "I am ready"; chiefly used by US Army Rangers.
Article 62: (International) Article of war covering all offenses not articulated in the other sixty-one.
ASAP: (US) As soon as possible; without delay. Pronounced "eh sap".
Ass: Armored vehicles. "We'll be driving behind a lot of ass today." E.g: Tanks, Bradleys, etc...
Ate-up: (US) Disreputable or shabby. Probably from the appearance of a chew toy.
AWOL: (US Army and Air Force) Absent Without Leave. A punishable offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Largely replaced by Absent Over Leave (AOL) (qv).

B

Barracks rat: (US Marines) A Marine financially unwilling or unable to go "out in town" during liberty.
BDUs: (US Army and Air Force) Battle Dress Utility. A ten-dollar word for a camouflage utility uniform.
Beans and bullets: (US) The general term for all types of supplies.
Belay that: (English-speaking Navies, origin probably RN) Disregard the order just given.
BFR: (US) Big fucking rock.
BFW: (US) Big fucking wrench. Refers to the wrench used on generators to tighten the grounding nut.
BGB: (US Navy and Marines) Big Gray Boat. Refers to large ships, e.g. carriers and battleships, that are gray in color.
Big Chicken Dinner: (US) Bad Conduct Discharge, the less severe of the two types of punitive discharge that may be awarded by court martial (the more severe being a dishonorable discharge).
Bin rat: (Canada) A supply technician or storesman.
Bird: (US) Slang for an airplane or satellite.
Bird colonel: (US) Slang for a Colonel (O-6), whose insignia is an eagle.
Blanket party: (US) A form of hazing meted out to unpopular service members. Involves covering the head and arms of the target with a blanket to prevent fighting back or identification of the attackers while a beating is administered.
Blade: (Canada) A traitorous or untrustworthy person; one who would betray you or "stab you in the back." Can be used as a verb.
Blanket-stacker: (UK) Any storeman (even if he doesn't deal with blankets). Also applied to the Royal Logistic Corps in general, even though their duties include everything from catering to bomb-disposal as well as storekeeping.
Blue falcon: (US) "buddy fucker," i.e. one who does not help a fellow soldier, or who intentionally gets a soldier in trouble.
Blue job: (Canada) A member of the air force; from their blue uniform. Pejorative.
Blue nose: (US Navy, Marines) Anyone who has served above the Arctic Circle or has participated in a ceremony similar to the Shellback ceremony (See Shellback)
Blue force: (US Army or Air Force) The friendly force, the opposite of the OpFor.
Blue on blue contact: (US and UK) A friendly-fire incident.
Blues buddies: (US Air Force) A pair of airmen who frequently leave base together in their dress blues during training.
Boat: A submarine; also what aviators call all ships.
BOHICA: "Bend over, here it comes again." Used when wearily contemplating poor or malicious decisions by higher-ups.
Bones: (US) Any military doctor, especially in the Navy. Probably derived from Sawbones.
Boot: (US) A new join to a particular unit.
Bought the farm: (US) Originally comes from the US Air Force, where it was slang for a fatal crash, then generally any KIA G.I. whose insurance money pays the family bills.
BPAG: (Aus) Black Plastic Army Gun. The M16 rifle.
Brass: (US and UK) Top-ranking officers; The Powers That Be.
Bravo Zulu: (Worldwide Navies) Means 'Well Done'. Comes from the Allied Naval Signal Book, conveyed by flag hoist or voice radio.
Brig rat: (US Navy and Marines) Describes a sailor or Marine who often frequents the brig (military jail), typically as a prisoner.
Broke-Dick: (US) A soldier with a medical condition that would hinder the soldier's ability to perform certain tasks; alternatively, anything that is not operationally ready.
Brown shoe: (US Air Force) Things and people related to the time when the Air Corps was a subsidiary unit of the US Army. When the Air Force became independent, 'black' shoes replaced the 'brown' shoes worn by the Army at that time.
(US Navy) Things and people related to the naval aviation community. From the time when brown shoes were authorized only for aviation ratings and officers.
Bubblehead: any person serving on a submarine or in the Submarine Service. (a reference to decompression sickness)
Buffer: (Canada) Senior Boatswain on a Canadian warship, usually having the rank of a Chief Petty Officer.
Bulkhead: (US Navy, Marines) The interior structural divider of a ship; used ashore to refer to the interior walls of a building, as well.
Bullet sponge: (US) An infantryman, most commonly the point man of an infantry fire team who is usually the first member of the team to engage, or be engaged by, the enemy. Also, regular army reference to the USMC.
Bull Nuke: (US Navy Submarine Service) Top enlisted man within the Engineering Division onboard a submarine.
Bundeswehr Gloves: (UK) Pockets, from the perception that members of the Germany Army walk round with their hands in them
Bumfuq Egypt: (US) A generic term for a god-awful isolated place you might be deployed to.
Butterbar: (US) A second lieutenant or ensign, in reference to the rank insignia - a single gold bar.
BZ: (Navy) Also, Bravo Zulu. Allied Signals Book (ATP 1) for "Well done".

C

cadidiot: (US Army) (kah-DID-iot) Slang term for an officer cadet. Pejorative.
cammies: (US Navy and Marines) Camouflage utility uniform. What are referred to as "BDUs" in the Army and Air Force.
Camp Coast Guard: (US Coast Guard) The United States Coast Guard Academy at New London. Used when referring to the Academy in a derogatory manner.
cannon cocker: (US) An artilleryman. Also a Coast Guard Gunner's Mate.
cannon fodder: (US) (formerly) An infantryman sent into battle with the expectation that he will be killed.
Canoe U: The United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Jocular when used by graduates, pejorative when used by outsiders.
Captain Jack: (US) Is the military equivalent to the civilian Jodie in cadences, and always a tough guy. As in, "Heh, heh, Captain Jack, meet me down by the railroad tracks. With your knife in your hand, I'm gonna be a fightin' man."
Captain's Mast: (US Navy) Non-Judicial Punishment imposed under Article 15 of the UCMJ.
CATFU: (US) (KAT-foo-(ed)) Completely And Totally Fuck(ed) Up (i.e. "This thing is CATFUed")
Cav: (US) Cavalry.
CF: (Canada) Canadian Forces. The combined elements of the Army, Navy and Air Force
CFB: (US) Clear as a Fucking Bell, i.e. "You had best hear this CFB."
Chairborne Ranger: (US Army) referring to someone who works a desk, in comparison to an Airborne Ranger
Chair Force: (US) the US Air Force, referring to the fact that many Air Force personnel spend their time "flying a desk", i.e. doing office work of various sorts.
Charlie: (US) NATO phonetic alphabet for the letter C. Used in Vietnam as a general term for the Vietcong or the Vietnamese people.
Charlie foxtrot: See clusterfuck
Charlie Mike: (US) NATO phonetic alphabet for "continue mission"
Charts and darts: (US) Manual field artillery firing calculations
cheesedick: (US Army) Suckup, brown noser.
Cherry: (US) Another term to describe a new join.
Chewed up or chewey: (US) See ate up.
Chewbacca: (US) Comes from "chewed up"
chicken colonel: a full colonel, named for the eagle insignia. Also known as "full bull," "full bird," or "bird colonel" as opposed to "light colonel," which is a lieutenant colonel.
Chief: (US) The familiar form of address for any US Army warrant officer or US Navy and Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer. Also, a section leader in the US Army. Also, a familiar term for the highest enlisted rank in the US Air Force.
Chief of Smoke: (US) The senior enlisted man of an artillery battery, after the First Sergeant. Also, "Smoke."
chopped up: Same as ate up.
CINC: (US) Commander-in-chief. The President of the United States or, until 2002, a regional military commander (now known as a combatant commander).
Circus Battalion: (Canada) Play on Service Battalion (Logistics and Supply) d/t the excessive number of tents used in its deployment and the general state of coordination among its personnel (See. Charlie Foxtrot). Generally pejorative unless used outside the compay of said personnel.
clusterfuck: A disastrous situation that results from the errors of several people or groups. In semi-polite company this is referred to as a Charlie Foxtrot (from the NATO phonetic alphabet).
CO: Commanding Officer.
Cocked, locked, and ready to rock: (US) Prepared for anything. Comes from the state of having cocked one's M-16 rifle, locked the bolt forward with a round in the chamber, and set the selector switch to "AUTO", fully automatic, aka Rock and Roll.
Commo: In reference to communications equipment or those who operate them.
Companionway: (US Navy, Marines) A ladder or staircase aboard a ship; used ashore to refer to a staircase, as well.
Concealment: (US) Anything that allows one to remain hidden from enemy detection or observation, but still susceptible to enemy fire.
CONUS: Abbreviation for Continental United States, also "stateside".; "Corfram" : (US Navy & Marine Corps) A high-gloss dress shoe, typically made of plastic rather than leather to enhance gloss and eliminate the need for polishing. Thought to have once been a brand name.
Cornflake: (Canada) Term for a New Recruit. Comes from the striking resemblance of the gold CF coat of arms issued as a cap badge worn by recruits who have yet to complete their trades course (US = MOC) to the breakfast cereal
The Country Club Academy: (US) A derogatory term used by cadets at the United States Military Academy and midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy to refer to the United States Air Force Academy. Refers to the perception of more relaxed standards of military discipline, and the generally less spartan living conditions for cadets, at the AFA as opposed to the other academies.
cover: (US) A military hat. Also, anything that provides direct protection from enemy rounds, as opposed to concealment.
CPO: (US Navy) Chief petty officer.
crunchie: (US Army) dismounted infantry soldier in a mechanized infantry unit.
CS&MO: (US) "Collect shit and move out."

D

Dark Green: (US Marines) An African-American US Marine; as compared to a "light-green". Becoming an archaic term. Sometimes offensive.
Death Technician: (Canada) Infantry soldier.
Deck: (Worldwide Navy, Marines) The floor on a ship; also used while ashore for the ground or a floor.
Delta Hotel: (US) NATO phonetic alphabet for "Direct hit"
Desert queen: (US) A promiscuous woman who sleeps around while at a deployed location.
Deuce and a half: (US) 2 1/2 ton truck used for carrying cargo or up to 40 people. Commonly used in convoys.
Deuce gear: (US Marines) Organizational equipment that is issued to a Marine from his unit and is kept by the Marine as personal gear, but is expected to be returned in serviceable condition upon that Marine's detachment from the unit. Usually refers to load-bearing equipment, ruck packs, body armor, helmets and other field gear. Derived from "782 gear", referencing an obsolete form.
Devil Dog: (US) US Marine. The term comes from a (possibly apocryphal) complimentary term, Teufelhunden, applied by German soldiers to Marines during World War I for fighting like shock troops.
dickbeaters: (US) Fingers.
dickskinners: (US) Hands.
Digger: (Aus) Initially used to describe soldiers who fought during the Battle of Gallipoli, but now a general term for any Australian soldier.
digies: (US) Refers to new digital camoflauged ACU uniform worn by US Army.
diggit: (US) Submarine service - Any brand or model of butterfly-folding multi-tool (i.e. leatherman); can also be in reference to a crew member who shows an outward eagerness to be at sea, in the Navy, etc.--especially when compared to less enthuasitic crew members.
Dink: (US) A derogatory term for an Asian enemy soldier used extensively in Vietnam; meaning delinquent in some form, i.e. not up to standards on progress on traning qualifactions.
doc: A medic.
dogface: (US) A US Army infantryman - common in World War II
Double-Digit Midget: (US) A service member who has less than 100 days until his or her enlistment ends.
Doughboy: (US) Also a US Army soldier - this term is almost exclusively used in the context of World War I
Dropped: (US) An Army or Air Force term used to describe punishment by physical training (usually pushups)
dropshort: (UK) An artilleryman, or the Artillery in general. Artillery will often fire over the heads of friendly troops, who will certainly not appreciate a round that drops short.
duckhunter: (US) A member of the Air Defense Artillery.

E

Evolution: Generally, any specific operation or activity. "This evolution does not require talking." "All hands on deck for the refueling evolution."

F

Fangs: (US Marines) A term used as a reference to teeth as in "Go brush your fangs!"
Farts and Darts: A reference to the decorations on the brim of a field-grade officer's dress uniform cap in the US Air Force.
Fast Movers: (US, Canada) Slang term used by soldiers for jet fighters, especially ground support aircraft. Dates to Vietnam.
FEBA: (NATO) Forward Edge of Battle Area. Formerly called "front line".
Field day: (US) Thorough cleanup of a barracks or duty area with the expectation of an inspection. Thursday is a common day for field day in garrison.
FIBUA: Fighting In Built Up Areas.
FIDO: Fuck It, Drive On. i.e. What to do following a Charlie Foxtrot.
FIGMO: (US) Fuck it, got my orders. Exclamation by one who is scheduled to leave a duty post.
First Shirt: (US) A First Sergeant. Also, "First Soldier" or "Top".
FISH: Fighting In Someone's House, variant of FIBUA
Fish Tank: (US Navy) Slang term used by submarine personnel to refer to the ocean surrounding the submarine.
fister: (US) An artillery soldier in a Fire Support Team (FST).
Five and fly: (US) To graduate from a U.S. service academy, serve only the required five years on active duty, and then resign at the first opportunity.
Five Jump Chump: (US) A US Army soldier who has earned the Airborne Badge, but has done no more than the required five jumps and is not part of an airborne unit.
FNG: (US) Fucking New Guy (or Girl). One of many terms used to describe a new join to a unit.
Fobbit: (US) Fairly new term used to describe soldiers who do not go outside their Forward Operations Base (FOB) in Iraq. A soldier stationed in Iraq who has not seen combat.
Fort Fumble: (US) The Pentagon.
Front Leaning Rest: (US) Pushup position.
Frosty: (US) Alert, watchful.
fruit salad: (US) The colorful collection of medals worn on the breast of a dress uniform.
fruit loops: (US Army) The "Army Service Ribbon" is sometimes referred to as this.
FTA: (US Army) Fuck the Army. Common graffiti, also spelled out as a spoken epithet.
FUBAR: (US) Abbreviation for "Fucked up beyond all recognition (or repair)." Sometimes "FUBER" for "economical repair".
Full Screw: (UK) term used to describe Corporals afre being promoted from Lance Jack
Fuzzy wuzzy: (UK) In Victorian times, a derogatory term for alien or dark-skinned inhabitants of the British Empire.

G

Gaggle-fuck: A disorganized group, a clusterfuck
Gat: (UK) Referring to the in use rifle used by British Forces (SA80).; (US) Any small-arm, referencing gangster slang.
G.I.: (US) As a noun, GI refers to a member of a US military service. As an adjective, it can be applied to any item of US military materiel or procedure. When used as a verb it means to put into military shape, as in "to GI the barracks". The full phrase government issue is not used as a noun or verb. Etymology at GI.
Gig Line: the alignment of shirt placket, belt buckle and zipper placket on an office or dress uniform.
G.I. Party: (US Army) A term used to describe scrubbing the barracks from top to bottom. This sort of "party" is seldom fun.
Goat rope: A useless, futile, or foolish activity. A waste of time directed by higher authority.
Goat Locker: (US Navy, US Coast Guard) Room or lounge reserved for Chief Petty Officers (E-7 and above). Those who are E-6 and below would do well to steer clear unless expressly allowed inside. Also used to refer to the Chief Petty Officers assigned to one command.
GOBI: General Officer Bright Idea. An idea often inspired by a briefing, that is then endorsed and ordered by a general. Sometimes it is valid, sometimes it is pointless, but it invariably creates more bureaucratic hassles than are necessary to the mission.
Goldbrick, goldbricker: (US) A member of the military who feigns illness to avoid duty; more recently, any service member who shirks duty.
Gold side: (US Coast Guard) The regular Coast Guard, which wears gold insignia compared to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, which wears silver insignia. See Silver side.
Good training: (US) Anything that does not result in death. "We had rain for three days during the field problem, but it was all good training."
Gook: (US) A derogatory term for an Asian enemy soldier used extensively in Vietnam. From Korean "guk," or "people."
Grand Slam: (UK) (Usually in Training) The act of Shitting, Pissing and Throwing Up while sleeping off a large "Male Bonding Session" in the NAAFI
Grape: (US) (Submarine Service) Easy as pie. Examples: "This is %$# grape duty! I %$# love it!" or "That was a grape sig, you %$#." (See "sig" below); (US Marine Corps) One's head. For example: "Put your cover (hat) on your grape."; (USAF Fighter Pilots): an Aircraft/Pilot that is easy to shoot down.
Green Bar: (US Army) A term for second lieutenants, referring to the color of their camoflaged insignia. See Butterbar.
Ground-Pounder: (UK and US) Derogatory term for Army or Marines. Opposite of Air-Dales.
Grunt: (Canada and US) A US soldier - sometimes, but not always, specifically refers to an infantryman. Folklore has it that GRUNT was originally an acronym of government reject -- unfit for normal training.
Guardian Angel: (US) A soldier or Marine placed in a high position during MOUT to provide overwatch and cover to friendly units moving below. See MOUT.
Gucci kit: (US, UK & Canada) Non-issued kit bought by the soldier.
gun: (US) An artillery piece. This isn't slang per se but precision, as rifles and pistols are referred to as "small arms" or "sidearms" or simply "weapons." Gun is also slang for "penis"; recruits learn not to call their weapon a gun in the rhyme, This is my rifle/This is my gun/This one's for fighting/This one's for fun.
gun bunny: (US) An artilleryman - often specifically a cannon crewman.
gun-plank: (UK) An Artillery term for a junior officer, implying that they would be more useful wedged under the wheels of the gun to prevent it sinking into the mud than in their current role.
gun rock: (US) Artillery cannon crewman, especially used by other artillerymen (e.g.: forward observers, fire direction control). Pejorative.
Gunny: (US) a Marine Corps gunnery sergeant -- or -- (US) a Naval Gunner's mate. Less commonly used to describe the duty position of gunnery sergeant in a US Army howitzer platoon.
Gyrene: (US Navy, Army, AF) Mildly derisive term for a Marine. Origin disputed.

H

Habib: (US) A general term for Iraqis during the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. From Arabic for 'friend.' Somewhat pejorative or dismissive.
Hadji: (US) A general term used to describe Middle Easterners during the war in Iraq in 2003. Same as Habib--refers to people native to the Middle Eastern countries, India, and Egypt. Somewhat pejorative or dismissive.
Hairy Bag: (Canada) Naval personnel in a sea-going trade. Used as a familiar or jocular term, not pejorative.
HAHO: (US) High Altitude High Opening, a form of parachuting
HALO: (US) High Altitude Low Opening, another (much more fun) form of parachuting
hardball: (US) Any hard-surfaced road.
Hatch: (US Navy, Marines) The means of entering or exiting the compartment of a ship; used ashore to refer to a door, as well.
head: (Naval services) Toilet or latrine.
Helo: (US) Helicopter
high speed, low drag: (US) Excellent, particularly of equipment.
hindquarters: Any headquarters.
hit the silk: (US) To abandon an aircraft mid-flight by means of a parachute. For example, "Johnson's plane took a lot of flak, but he hit the silk just in time!" Also, punch Elvis.
Hooah: (US Army) A spirited cry, which can mean nearly anything positive. Short for "Heard, Understood and Acknowledged." See also, HUA.
HUA: Head up Ass, or an alleged radio pro-word for "Heard, Understood, Acknowledged."
Hudson High: The United States Military Academy at West Point, which overlooks the Hudson River. Pejorative.

I

Ie-yee-ah: (US) Same as "Hooah," used in the US Army 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment. Based on an American Indian war cry.
IFR: (USAF/USN) Instrument Flight Rules; meaning to rely upon radar, navigation, GPS, etc., when weather conditions or operational requirements preclude simply looking outside. Said to also be an abbreviation for "I Follow Railroads." See VFR.
In country: (US) In a foreign territory, esp. a combat zone, esp. Vietnam. I was in country that whole summer. Does not generally apply to foreign basing in friendly countries during peacetime.

J

jacked up

(US, Canada) Used constantly, in lieu of the now-politically incorrect "fucked up," especially during boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. Screwed up, ruined, in trouble. "Jackness" is the quality of being in a jacked-up state; can also refer to a hapless individiual: "Get over here, Jackness."

JANFU

(US) Joint Army-Navy Fuck-Up

jarhead

A US Marine - according to some, a reference to the "high and tight" haircut and squared chin. Alternatively, a reference to Marine utility covers supposed resemblance to mason jar lids. Pejorative. According to some, a reference to the fact that the Mason Jar Company produced many of the metal helmets worn by marines during WW II. Another reason given in the Army is that a Marine's skull is so small it can fit in a Mason Jar.

jet jockey

(US) A pilot.

Jodie/Jody

(US) A man who steals a soldier's girlfriend/wife when deployed, out in the field, or in training. So often referred to in cadences used during exercises that the cadences themselves have become known as jodies or jody calls.

Ain't no use in goin' home,

Jodie's got your girl alone.

Joe: (US) A soldier.
Juicy: (US) Name given to a prostitute or bar girl. Originated in Korea.
joey: (Canada) Can be used to describe a new member, or a soldier who is heavily reliant on others.
John Wayne School: (US) Army Special Forces school, Fort Bragg.

K

Killick: (Canada, UK) An old term for a home made anchor, now used to refer to a person in the rank of Leading Seaman. This is in reference to the rank badge which historically was a single fouled anchor worn on the left arm.
Klicks: Kilometers
Knee-deep Navy: Coast Guard (pejorative}
Knuckle Dragger: (US Navy Submarine Service) A Machinist's Mate Auxiliaryman, responsible for non-propulsion systems like the sanitary system or hydraulic system. Term was coined from the stereotype that Machinist Mates are not as intelligent as other rates like Radiomen or Sonar Technicians, so they rely mostly on brute strength to get their job done.

L

Lance Coolie; Lance Criminal: (US Marines) Cynical terms for Lance Corporals, the third-lowest enlisted rank in the Marine Corps.
Lance Jack: (UK) A term used to describe a Lance Corporal (LCpl) in the UK Armed Forces.
latrinegram: (US, WW2) Wild, unfounded rumor
LBFM: (US) "Little Brown Fucking Machines." Prostitutes, especially in the Philippines. Highly pejorative and offensive.
Light Fighter: (US Army) Especially in the cavalry, refers to an unmounted trooper or infantryman. Synonyms include Leg. Pejorative.
Lima Charlie: (US) NATO phonetic alphabet radio slang for "Loud and clear."
LT: (US) Nickname for Lieutenant (pronounced ELL-TEE). A pronunciation of the actual abbreviation for Lieutenant.
Leatherneck: (US) A United States Marine, from the high leather collar formerly worn with formal uniforms, and in fighting uniform during the days of shipborne, sword-wielding boarding parties, when Marines were issued a leather gorget. The "Fighting Leathernecks" is also the nickname of the Western Illinois University men's athletic teams by exclusive permission of the Department of the Navy.
Leg: (US) A derisive and derogatory term for non-airborne qualified soldiers. Also LEG (Low Energy Grunt).
LPO: (US Navy) Leading Petty Officer. Usually a Petty Officer First Class (E-6); reports for his/her section or team to the Chief.
LSO: (US Navy) Landing Signals Officer; "Paddles"
Lost the keys: (US Navy) After a negative incident, the Commanding Officer relinquishes some operating authority of his ship/submarine to his superiors, but without dismissal.
LZ: (US) Landing zone; the cleared area in which a helicopter or aircraft may safely land.

M

Master Guns: (US Marines) Master Gunnery Sergeant.
master jack: (Canada) A master corporal.
Medevac: (US) Medical evacuation; the rapid removal of wounded personnel from a war zone by helicopter or other means.
Mike Mike: (US) Millimeter, from the NATO phonetic alphabet.
Mikes: (US) Minutes, from the NATO phonetic alphabet.
millers: (US) An attempt to pronounce the acronym MLRS for Multiple Launch Rocket System.
MOUT: (US) Military Operations in Urban Terrain.
Mox Nix: (US European Theatre) Bastardization of the German "es macht nichts", or it makes no difference.
Moonbeam: (US Marines) A flashlight.
MRE: (US) "Meals Ready to Eat;" packaged, freeze-dried field rations. Also said to stand for "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians," due to their apparent inedibility. (Sometimes called "3 lies in one".)
MTV: (Br, WW1) Motor Transport Volunteers
mustang: (US) A nickname for an officer promoted from the enlisted ranks. Can be respectful when used by enlisted ranks and seasoned officers, or pejorative when used by career-oriented academy trained officers.

N

90-Day Wonder: Newly-commissioned (O-1) graduate of Officers' Candidate School or DIRCOM (Direct Commissioning) program. Derogatory.
NJP: (US) Refers to Non-Judicial Punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Essentially, legal punishment imposed by a unit commander in lieu of a trial. May be refused by a servicemember in exchange for a court martial and (almost invariably) a stiffer punishment.
November Golf: (US) No-Go. To fail. That's a big November Golf chief.
Nub: (US) (Submarine Service) Abbrevation for 'Non-useful body' or 'Non-useful bitch'--a new enlisted crewmember who has not yet completed the qualifaction process to earn their vaunted Submariner's Warfare Badge, otherwise known as their 'Dolphins'.
nugget: (US Air Force and Navy) An inexperienced pilot or aircrew member.
Nuke: (US) (Submarine Service) Crewmember responsible for turning main shaft via atom-splitting. Also refers to ordnance type that is neither confirmed nor denied, and is handled by a different Department (See "Weaponettes").
Nuke: (US) (RTC) To make unnecessarily complicated. Leads to jacking stuff up. "Don't nuke this up - it's just stenciling your skivvies."
Numpty: (Canada) An individual who just doesn't get it; Frequently found getting "Jacked up"

O

Office Hours: (US Marines) Non-Judicial Punishment under Article 15 of the UCMJ. See Captain's Mast.
Old man, the: The unit commander. In practice, this term is often used even when the commander is female. A term of affection and respect. See CO.
OCONUS: (US) Acronym for Outside the CONtinental United States. While this acronym is predominantly used by the military, some US-based multinational corporations also use it.
O Dark O'clock, O Dark 30 Hours: (Navy and Marines) Very early morning or any time before sunrise.
On the double: (US Navy, Marines) As quickly as possible; without delay.
Oorah!: (US Marines) Term used to respond in the affirmative to a question, acknowledge an order, or generally to express enthusiasm. Comparable to "Hooah" in the Army, but more widely used in the Marines than "Hooah" is in the Army.
OPFOR: (Canada and US) The exercise enemy at the American National Training Center in California. By extension, the enemy or 'OPposing FORce.'
OpsO: (US) Operations Officer
Oscar-Mike: (US) On the Move, from the phonetic alphabet.
Overhead: (US Navy, Marines) The deck above you while aboard a ship; used ashore to refer to the ceiling of a room, as well.

P

PAO: Public Affairs Officer
PCS: (US) Permanent change of station.
Pear-shaped: (UK ) badly wrong or awry (as in "to go pear-shaped"). Not a military term, strictly speaking, as it is in general use by civilians in the UK.
People Tank: (US Navy) Slang term used by submarine personnel to refer to the interior of the submarine.
Perfect for Cleaning; Personnel for Cleaning: (US Army and Marines) Unenthusiastic synonyms for Privates First Class (PFCs) in the Army and the Marine Corps.
Pecker Checker: (Canada) Medical Personnel
Plebe: Freshman at the United States Military Academy, at West Point
Pocket Rocket: (US) A ballistic missile warfare indicator.
POG: (US) Person (or personnel) Other than Grunt. Rhymes with "rogue". Used by combat arms soldiers to describe anyone in a support Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Also used by infantrymen to describe anyone other than an infantryman. This is often derogatory.
Pogs: The cardboard gift certificates circulated by AAFES shops in theater during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. They are used to save the cost of shipping regular US coinage across seas, and resemble colletable milk caps, the most popularly produced by the "POG" company
PRC-E6 (or E7, E8, etc.): (US) A non-existent item that a new join to a unit may be sent to acquire and bring back, typically from an NCO of a particular grade (PRC is a common prefix in designations for radio or other communications equipment and is pronounced "prick". The combination of this pronunciation plus the "E-" rating makes up the joke.)
PT: (US) Stands for Physical Training
PT Rat: (US) A servicemember who spends a large amount of time in individual PT.
Puddle Pirate: (US) A Member of the United States Coast Guard, so called because of the mistaken belief that they never sail into deep water.
Purple Suiter: (US) A person who is serving in an all-service (Army, Navy and Air Force) position. An example would be a Naval officer who manages fuel for all military units in an area or major command.
Purple Trade: (Canada) A support trade, such as an admin clerk, driver, medical officer, etc. Support trades are shared by all three services in the Canadian Forces.
Pump and Dump: (US Navy, especially in boot camp). To piss and shit.

Q

R

Rack Ops: (US Marines) The time for sleep, if permitted, while in the field.
Radioing the logs: (US) (Submarine Service) Recording engineering log data via mental telepathy (see "Xoxing Logs" below).
Redleg: (US) An artilleryman. Refers to red leggings worn by some artillerymen in the 19th century.
red-light ranger: (US) A soldier who spends much of his pay at the red-light district.
REMF: (US and UK Army) Rear Echelon Motherfucker. This is a term used negatively to describe a soldier who is safely far from the front lines, such as a paper-pusher, support personnel or aide to a general.
Repeat: (US) A word banned from the vocabulary of radio operators and artillerymen, who use "say again" to request that the last statement be re-said. To an artillery unit, this word is a request that the previous fire mission be fired again (an event that can have dramatic consequences if it occurs at the wrong time).
Retarded Over-Trained Children: (US) Reserve Officer Training Corps or R.O.T.C. Pejorative.
Ripple: (US Navy) WAVE NCO
Ring knocker: A military academy graduate, particularly one who calls attention to the fact. Pejorative.
ROAD: (US) Retired On Active Duty. The condition of having no motivation and productivity within months of retirement. Invariably pejorative.
Rock: (US) A particularly stupid soldier. From "Dumber than a box of rocks".
Rock and roll: (US) The fully automatic fire setting on a weapon. "The M16 selector switch has three settings: safe, semi-automatic, and rock-and-roll."
Rocks and shoals: (US Navy) Navy rules and regulations.
ROD: (US) Term for "relieved of duty". Status given to someone who cannot perform a task of their job, whether that reason be medical or administrative.
ROE: (US) Rules Of Engagement.
Roger: (US) Acknowledged. A proword used for communication. Roger that is a Hollywood term. Proper communication utilizes only Roger. Sometimes "Roj".
RTB: (US) Term meaning "Return To Base." Usually used when a mission is finished, or base wants to regroup.
Run Money: (US) 19h Century Navy term for a reward paid for the return of a deserter.
Rupert: (UK) Slang for Officer. Not always derogatory.
Ruptured Duck: (US) The Honorable Service award given to US service members who were discharged under honorable conditions during or just after World War II. Also used to describe the recipient; refers to the awkward appearance of the spread-wing eagle of the emblem.

S

Sarge: (US Air Force) Informal for Sergeant.
Sarnt: (U.S. Army, Canada and UK) Informal for Sergeant.
Sat: (US) Satisfactory, as opposed to Unsat.
Say Again: (US) The proper way to request that a message be re-sent over a radio. The word "repeat" is never used. See repeat.
scaly, or scaly back: (UK) A signaler. It is suggested that this term comes from the figure of Mercury on their cap badges, who appears to have fish-like scales on his back. An alternative version is that it is related to the fact that old radios used to leak battery acid on the back of the man carrying it - hence they had a scaly back.
scrambled eggs: (US) The decorations on the brim of a field-grade officer's dress uniform cap.
Screw the pooch: (US Air Force) To badly err or mess up. Popularized in Tom Wolfe's book on the early U.S. astronaut program, The Right Stuff.
Sea Daddy: (US Navy) A senior enlisted man who acts at a guide to a junior (usually a "newbie"), showing him the ropes and guiding his early career.
Sea Lawyer: (US Navy, Coast Guard) A sailor, maybe too smart for his own good, who thinks he knows all of the regulations and quotes them to get out of either work or trouble.
782 Gear: (US Marines) Organizational equipment issued to a Marine by his or her unit that is kept as part of the Marine's personal gear, but must be returned in serviceable condition upon that Marine's departure. Usually includes load-bearing equipment, ruck packs, body armor, helmets and other field gear.
Sheep: (Canada) A very condescending and uncomplimentary term for civilians, esp. those who do not agree with the military perspective about something.
Shellback: (All English-speaking navies, originally UK) A sailor who has crossed the Equator during a tour. There is a "Crossing the Line" ceremony where all Shellbacks kindly harrass the new initiates - called tadpoles or pollywogs - to initiate them into the position of Shellback. The senior Shellback aboard presides as King Neptune's personal representative.
shit on a shingle: (sometimes abbreviated S.O.S.) (US) Chipped beef on toast.
shoe: (US Navy) Short for "black shoe", a surface warfare officer. Pejorative. Compare "brown shoe".
Shooting pool with the captain: (US) A US Navy term for captain's mast (non-judicial punishment presided by the unit commanding officer). This refers to the green felt cloth draped over the commanding officer's table during mast.
Short: (US) Vietnam era term used to announce you are short of time 'in country,' and due to return stateside very soon. Usually announced in an obnoxious and rowdy manner — examples: "I'm so short I had to parachute out of bed this morning and accidentally landed in my boot!", "I'm so short I could sit on a piece of paper and dangle my legs over the edge!"
shower-shoe: (US) Yet one more name for a new join to a unit. Also can be a reference to flip-flops worn in public showers.
scrounge: (US) A sailor who does not keep his body clean.
sick, lame and lazy: The group of military personnel on 'sick call' or excused from duty for injury or illness -- a half-joking reference to malingering.
Sickbay commando: (US Navy and Marines) A servicemember found often in sickbay (a hospital or infirmary), usually in lieu of difficult work or PT.
Sick-call ranger: someone who is "hardcore" about malingering.
Sierra Hotel: The NATO phonetic alphabet abbreviation for Shit Hot. It is considered high praise and is the pilot's favorite and all-purpose expression of approval. For example, "That Sierra Hotel pilot just shot down six MiGs and an ICBM!" This is the "polite" military way to say that something is very impressive, and has fallen into use outside the military.
Sig: (US) (Submarine Service) A signature on a qualification card. There are many, many "qual cards" in the Sub Service, especially if you're a Nuke. (see "Nuke" above).
Silver side: (US Coast Guard). The Coast Guard Auxiliary.
"...Since Jesus was a corporal": (US Army and Marines) For a very long time. e.g.:"I haven't had a chicken with salsa MRE since Jesus was a corporal."
Six, six and a kick: (US) Six months confinement, six months loss of pay, reduction in grade to E-1, Bad Conduct Discharge; the most severe penalty that can be awarded by a special court martial.
Skimmer puke: (Canada) Submariner's pejorative term for sailors on surface warships, esp. destroyers and frigates.
Slope/Slopehead: (US) A derogatory term for an Asian enemy soldier used extensively in Vietnam.
Smokey Bear: (US) General term for Drill Sergeants' or TIs' (Air Force) wide-brimed hat.
SNAFU: (US) Abbreviation for "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up"
Snake Pit: (US) An Air Force term for the TI table in a dining facility at BMT or a situation where many people are critically watching for the slightest break in protocol, usually award events or promotion ceremonies.
Sniper Check: (US) A salute improperly rendered to an officer in a field environment, where salutes are not normally rendered.
Snotty: (Canada and UK) An untrained subordinate officer in the Navy. A naval cadet in Canada, or a midshipman in the U.K.
SOP: (US) Standard Operating Procedure.
Sparks or Sparky: (US) Anyone who deals with radios or things electronic.
Sperm on a Sponge: (Canada) Technical term for the individually wrapped decontamination wipes issued with CF gasmasks
Spook: (US) A spy. Used for anyone in the CIA, NSA, or NRO. In the military, one who deals with the gathering of electronic intelligence.
squared away: cleaned up; in military shape; ready for inspection.
squawk: (UK) a member of the Army Air Corps
squid/squiddly: (US) A US Navy sailor. Often used with derogatory intent. Inspired naming of the cartoon character Squiddly Diddly, a squid in a sailor suit.
Stack and Swivel: (US) Refers to a soldier's erect private parts, and always used in the phrase "pick you up by your stack and swivel" to connote that the speaker, usually a DI, metaphorically intends to bodily move you from one place to another. Example: "Son, if you don't move pronto, I'm gonna pick you up by your stack and swivel and put you in the proper position of attention."
stand tall: (US) Used as a verb for to be proud, or to present a military appearance. Also can refer to having to answer to higher authority facing consequences: "Standing tall before the man."
stripes: (US) Enlisted rank insignia, especially E-4 and above (non-commissioned officer (NCO)) pay grades in leadership positions. Get your stripes - to be promoted to an NCO rank.
steel pussy: (US Navy) Heavy duty steel wool, often made of stainless steel, that is used to scrub pots, toilets, rust, etc.
Stonewallers: (CSA) Term for 116 Rgt, 29h Div, commanded by Thomas J. Jackson at First Manassas, where he earned nickname "Stonewall"
storm flag: (AUS) Term for flag draped over coffin at military funeral
Stupid O' Clock: (US) A US Army slang term that refers to any time very early in the morning.
Super Wammy-dyne: (US Navy) Advanced or new technology/equipment, akin to New Fangled
Sucking Rubber: (US) (Submarine Service) Extended periods wearing Emergency Air Breathing devices (EABs), A full-face air mask similar to that worn by firefighters, except fed from ship's emergency air system rather than a bottle on your back.
Suzy: (US) The girl back home. Often spends a lot of time with Jody very soon after deployment. See Jody.
Swab: (US) A freshman cadet at the United States Coast Guard Academy.
swabbie: (US) A US Navy sailor. A reference to "swabbing the deck", a frequent and highly visible activity of deck division sailors.
swinging dick: (US) Any male military member, especially a lower-ranking enlisted male. For example, "Every swinging dick in here had better be ready to go in ten minutes!"

T

Tango Mike

(US) NATO phonetic alphabet for "Thank you much."

Tango Uniform

NATO phonetic alphabet for "Tits Up"

(US Army & USMC) Not in optimal condition. (e.g. The HUMVEE went Tango Uniform before we even arrived.)
(US Air Force) Dead drunk.

TDY: (US Army and Air Force) Temporary duty; a short reassignment to another duty location, generally for a few weeks or months. Usually used in its official sense, but sometimes describes a semi-official recreational trip or boondoggle. Also, Temporarily Divorced for a Year, a reference to the fact that many soldiers explore reassignment length romances.
Teflon-coated: (US) Excellent, especially a piece of equipment. Origin: teflon-coated bullets, used for piercing body armor.
Tender Vittles, Tender Ho's: (US Navy) Derogatory term for women that make up crews of repair tenders or drydocks, based on a stereotype that they are promiscuous. Pejorative and offensive.
The World: (US) Used in Vietnam by G.I.'s in reference to the United States.
Those people: (US) Euphemism for "enemy forces" used by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War. The phrase is still widely used.
throttle-jockey: (US) A jet aircraft pilot, particularly one with a penchant for speed.
Tommy Atkins or Tommy: A generic name for a soldier in the British Army (now obsolete).
Top: (US Army) The first sergeant, or a sergeant major. (US Marines) A master sergeant.
Tread: (US Army) An officer or NCO, especially one seen as oppressing enlisted personnel.
Trench monkey: (US) A member of the Army infantry. Mostly used in a derogatory way by members of the Air Force.
trigger puller: (US) A soldier or Marine who is regularly involved in actual combat. I wouldn't want to be out in the shit with the trigger pullers.
Twentynine Stumps: (US Marines) Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. Often simply referred to as "the Stumps."
Two digit midget: (US) A G.I. who has less than 100 days 'in country' left before they rotate back to the USA. Used extensively in Vietnam by troops serving a 12 or 13 month tour.

U

UA: (US Navy and Marine Corps) Unauthorized Absence, a punishable offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Comparable to the Army and Air Force's AWOL, see AWOL.
Uncle Sam's Confused Group: The United States Coast Guard.
Uncle Sam's Canoe Club: The United States Navy.
Uncle Sam's Misguided Children: Ironic term for the United States Marine Corps. Sometimes also the "University of Science, Music, and Culture".
Un-ass: Meaning to get out of an area. As in, "Un-ass my AO." Originally used to mean simply, "Get off your butt."
Unfuck: (US Marines) To bring something or someone into proper order and accord with SOP.
Unsat: (US) Unsatisfactory.

V

VC: Abbreviation for "Viet Cong" used in the Vietnam War.
VFR direct: (USAF/USN) Visual Flight Rules; meaning to take the most direct route; said to also be a jocular acronym for "Visually Follow Railroads." Often implies circumventing normal chains of communication or command. "I can't believe the butterbar went VFR direct to the Old Man!" See IFR.

Viper: (USAF) What Fighter Pilots affectionatly call the F-16 Fighting Falcon

W

Wardroom: (US Navy) Officers' Mess aboard ship. Three subjects that must always be avoided in conversation are sex, politics and religion.
Wavy Navy: (Canada) The Canadian Naval Reserve. Historically, the Reserve officers wore rank stripes that were wavy instead of straight like a regular Navy officer.
Wilco: (US) Commo speak for "Will comply."
Willy Peter: (US) White Phosphorus
Winchester: (US) Out of a particular type of ammunition (e.g. "Negative, we are Winchester Hellfire.") or all ammunition (if no type is specified).
Whiskey Charlie: (Germany) NATO phonetic alphabet for "water-closet" (Toilet) - not used that much
Whiskey Delta: (US) NATO phonetic alphabet for "Weak Dick". Derogatory term used to describe someone who is not up to the task.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot : (US) WTF, or "What the Fuck" (NATO phonetic alphabet)
Whoop: (US Army) Same meaning as "Hooah," although it is considered to be the war cry of the US Army Rangers.
Wog: (Canada) Same as "pog". A person (or personnel) in a combat service support trade, not a front-line soldier. This is usually a derogatory term used by combat arms soldiers. It was, in Victorian times, a derogatory term for alien or dark-skinned inhabitants of the British Empire. The original term was coined by a British officer seeking to curtail racism among his men, and meant "Worthy Oriental Gentleman."

X

XO: Executive Officer
Xoxing Logs: (US) (Submarine Service) (pronounced "zoxing," derived from the trademarked corporate name "Xerox") Entering engineering log data eerily similar to the previous hour's log data.

Y

Yankee Sky Pirate: (USAF) Enlisted aircrew. The phrase parodies Communist propaganda.
Y-Tours: The Bundeswehr (Bundeswehr licence plate codes start with Y)

Z

Zero Day: (US Army) The day in which a Basic Combat Training company picks up soldiers.
Zipperhead: (Canada) Armoured soldier (Tank crew). Refers to a piece of headgear, no longer in use, that had a zipper running from front to back. (US) Derogatory term for Vietnamese in general and Viet Cong specifically.
Zoomie: ( Canada and US ) Member of the Air Force, akin to "Jarhead" for Marines or "Grunt" for Army. Also, a student of the United States Air Force Academy. Particles of radiation are also referred to in this manner by nuclear-trained sailors.

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