Military Slang

[pmulcahy11b]

Here's one I just remembered:

God Gun: The little pistol-shaped laser transmitter used to test MILES sensors. You can "take out" anything from a person to a helicopter with one.

[chico20854]

And another one: GI Party: when all hands must turn out for a good old fashioned top to bottom cleaning of an area, usually a barracks or work area.

Having one right now at my house...

[Targan]

I'm engaging in some thread necromancy here because we have a number of new members that wouldn't have participated in this discussion and have extensive military experience.

[Legbreaker]

"You will with the speed of a thousand lesbians to a Boy George concert.... insert action here".

"Faster than a snail wearing a jet pack..."

[Raellus]

There're some pretty funny ones here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_acronyms_and_expressions

And links to more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_slang

[dragoon500ly]

Missed this thread and brother does this bring back a lot of memories!!!

ACR =Armored Cavalry Regiment, beloved home for THE elite of the US Army...

Ballroom = The NCO Club.

Beer Can = nickname for the M-551 Sheridan.

Bimpy = Radio slang for the BMP.

Border Dawg = personnel performing the 2 & 11 ACRs border observation mission.

Box = slang term for a M-113

Berry Patch = nickname for the shoulder patch of the 3rd ACR.

Burdum = Radio slang for the BRDM.

Class Six = unofficial term for the essential fuel for a soldier, also known as whiskey, booze, etc.

Colored Lines = refers to the roads on a map.

Crunchies = the delightful sound the infantry makes when you run one over.

DAT = the correct translation is Distinguished American Tanker.

Disneyland East = Headquarters, US Army Europe

Disneyland West = the Pentagon.

Dusting, dusted = having a fellow tanker hose your tank with co-ax to get rid of those annoying infantry types trying to drop satchel charges in the hatches, also refers to those little incidents that sometimes happens when the National Guard goes to tank gunnery.

Donkey Dick = that flexible metal thingee that you fit onto a 5-gallon can of diesel when you do the tactical refueling exercise.

Dope Head = the units NBC officer. Also referred to as Dope Head 6.

Essentials = the junk food and all the other snivel gear that tankers take to the field.

Execute! = term used by 1st Sergeants, translated into "shut your pie hole, do what I told you, about face and get the h*** out of my office!"

Five = the units XO, refers to his vehicle bumber number, HQ-65.

Friendly Air = Two lies for one.

Funny paper = standard military map.

God Book = CEOI, because you can talk to god and everyone, also refers to the wraith of God, what happens to you if you lose one!

Grenz = Lands Ends, the border between West Germany and East
Germany/Czech during the bad ole days.

Gun Bunnies = Artillery men

Gun Humpers = the loaders for the artillery

Gun and Knife Club = The Enlisted Club at Graf!

Head 6 = The Officer's Club.

Hoop = US Army Europe slang for a West German civilian.

Horny = nickname for the shoulder patch of the 11th ACR.

IQ = nickname for the shoulder patch of the 1st ID, also refers to their intelligence.

Lifer Juice = Coffee, The US Army can fight a war without coffee, it just doesn't want to. There is always a pot brewing somewhere.

Mach Nix = GI slang for "it don't mean nothing".

MREs = Meals Rejected by Everyone also Three Lies for One

Ole Smoky = beloved term for a M-60A1 MBT.

Patton's Sweeties = nickname for the shoulder patch of the 2nd AD (worn over their left breast pocket.

Pricks = US Army beloved term for MPs.

Puke Seat = the tank gunner's position, named for the usual reaction to a rough ride in a M-1.

Rad = US Army Europe slang for a West German civilian.

Ranger Cookie = that ad hoc power bar brewed by mixing the MRE sugar packet with the cream substitute packet, wrapping in foil and tossing into a fire for two minutes. It tastes as bad as it looks.

Red Catcher = Border Dawg slang for the daily AH1 Cobra flight along the Grenz.

Six = any unit commander in the US Army, refers to the bumber number of his vehicle, HQ-66

Slash Alpha = Radio slang for a friendly tank, at least in 2 & 11 ACRs

Slash Bravo = Radio slang for a friendly M113, at least in 2 & 11 ACRs

Slash Alpha-Bravo = Radio slang for a M-901, at least in 2 & 11 ACRs (they didn't know if they were a APC or tank either.)

Tango = enemy tank.

Tootie Fruiti = nickname for the shoulder patch of the 2nd ACR.

Treadheads = US Army slang for any mechanized vehicle crewman, for infantry, refers to tankers.

Transfer to the Infantry = US Tanker slang for those individuals who just shouldn't be near a tank, let alone crew one.

Wonderland on the Potomac = Washington D.C.

[Panther Al]

Heh, we always called the 3ACR patch the bug, but I can see the other.
Also:

M240: the good thirty
M60: the shitty thirty
M113: for some reason got in the habit of calling them half tracks and it caught on throughout the squadron

[dragoon500ly]

M-219 co-axial machine gun = the ole "29 and jam".



A-I-K: Assistance in kind, the ole "til payday loan"

Bounding Overwatch = moderatly fast movement with half of platoon hanging back 3-500 meters and covering the forward half.

BS = Border Surveillance, yeah right!

Cherry = new replacement, aka the FNG.

DEROS = date eligible for return from overseas, your last day in Germany and then the freedom bird!

Dog-N-Pony Show = the dazzle your Congressman with BS show that seemed to always happen right around Okotober Fest, not that I'm saying our reps would use the public dime to get drunk or anything....

Doughnut Dollies = Red Cross girls, this one dates back to WWI!!!

DX = direct exchange of equipment for replacement and/or repair

Ghost = take off or taking it easy. A trooper that always seems to be needed elsewhere, especially if their uniform might get dirty.

Herringbone = formation used by tanks entering ambush or halted on the road. The vehicles alternately facing each side of the road controlling a 360 degree circle.

Hootch = temporary living quarters; your pup tent.

Jumping Jacka**es = tanker term of endearment for our airborne brothers.

Laager = night position for tanks, provides 360 protection.

Midnight Requisition = Unauthorized, afterhours procurement of needed parts or supplies.

Overwatch = slow movement to contact by tanks, half of platoon is stationary and covering the moving half.

Piss Water = term of endearment for US beer sold in the PX, COMEON! This is Germany, the Land of Beer!!!!

Rolling Hot = Tank on a Table VIII Gunnery exercise, locked, cocked and ready to shoot something!

Stand Down = maintenance and cleaning period, usually right before a dog-n-pony show or an major inspection.

[Griff]

Ahhhh Tankers....

Well my fellow Cavalrymen we've covered "DATs" & "CDATs" but oddly we've failed to include my favorites for you Treadheads...

TWOTs-Tankers With Out Tanks (pronounced Twaats, yep just like the slang for that most famous of female body parts). This moniker placed on all those "poor tankers" who deployed and had their precious tracks taken away and sent to Purgatory of Motorized Infantry during deployments to OIF/OEF (especially A-stan were one Marine armored battalion is now the envy of the tanker world)

Com TWOTs-Computerized Tankers Without Tanks(yep it's pronounced in the most derogatory and pornographic way) -Whoppee the Tankers got some gadgets in their trucks (BFT's, GPS, etc...). Modern day US Army tankers must have something shiny and electronic or they apparently break out in hives and muscle twitching.

Death before Dismount- The unofficial () motto of the US Armored Forces.

Lawn Dart-Any Sheridan air dropped by the 82nd.

"Targets Up" "A kills a kill!"- The tanker follow on to the Cav Scouts tradional call of "Scouts Out". Also heard as dismounted/light Infantry grunt.....most reassuring it was not.

That's about all my old, much concussed, brain can remember at the moment. But not to leave my tanker brethren in shame ( mind,they are sensitive bunch ) I would like to thank all past, present, and future tankers for their enormous support of poor little "crunchies" like myself for countless moments critical help (warming my frozen and soaked body with your most efficient blow dryer (rear heat vents/exhaust ports), ending a few nasty firefights very quickly, etc.etc.etc..) and in the end we both say together....Atleast we aren't MP's!


Sua Sponte

[bobcat]

everyone missed the most important one. the saviour of all TWOTs, riders, and crunchies.

FISTER: forward artillery observer, FO, fire supporter

gee hard to tell what job i prefered

[dragoon500ly]

Came across a few more gems...

19 Detail: Any 19D (cavalry scout MOS) assigned to an infantry battalion. Infantry sleep better when guarded by the Cavalry!

Bandaid: The M-113 ambulance.

Beer Can: M-113 (and the beer can has thicker armor than the M-113!).

Bush beater: any 11B (infantry)

Prune Box: A M-113 loaded with its infantry box...in a Ft Hood summer.

Six Pack: A platoon of M-113s.

[Sanjuro]

Fish-head: Seaman Branch officer in the RN (or any RN personnel described by the other services)
Pusser: RN Supply Branch (or any RN personnel described by the Marines)
Pusser's kit: any issue naval gear
Bootie, Bootneck: Royal Marine
Sneaky Beakies: SBS
WAFU: RN Aircrew (Wet And F****** Useless)
JAFO: RN Observer (Just Another F****** Observer)
FRISP: Scottish member of the RN (I'm told it stands for Friendly Reliable Intelligent Scottish Person, but there are probably other versions!)
Rockapes: RAF Regiment
Dit: story
Salty: very Naval or experienced (can describe people: "that guy is proper salty", ie he knows his stuff, gear: "that is one salty piece of kit" or even stories: "that was a salty dit!"
Gentlemen from Hereford: SAS (as told by a cop who had been at some sieges where they were called: the senior Police Officer on scene was told "The Gentlemen from Hereford are here...")

[Griff]

19Detail-Any Scout not in Cav Troop-Tankers don't tend to treat us any better than the Infantry.

Sham Shield-Spec 4(E-4 paygrade US Army) rank insignia-so named for a Spec 4's ability to "sham" (avoid work) out of most, if not all, possible work details. Thus showing his "leadership" abilities, i.e. avoiding other higher leaders, "delegating" authority, finding some more hard working(gullible/less experienced/lower rank),etc.

Spec 4 Mafia- Those denizens of the underworld whose sole purpose is to ensure all PFC's and below live in constant torment, fear, and privation. This is to ensure less observation/interference of senior NCO's and to amuse the collective Spec 4's (hence the mention of their infernal heritage). Mostly used in line companies (Infantry/Cav/Armor/some Arty). These creatures are a pack animal (no less than 4 will be encountered at one time), and allowed by higher authorities to roam free to commit their energies (depredations/atrocities) on lower life forms as long as the mission gets completed and the medical profile lists stay to a minimum.

Full Bird Private-Spec 4 not included in the "mafia", Spec 4's with no "mafia" organized in unit, average US Army Spec 4. Referred to because of the eagle on the rank device, the shape of the rank (inverted PFC rank), and the treatment/respect they receive(possibly because of their mental/professional abilities).

Sack of Shit Landing (as opposed to a proper PLF(Parachute Landing Fall)- The average landing/impact description of a US Paratrooper (and most other countries from what I've seen) on impact with the ground. Referenced as, "How'ed you're landing go" "SOS, I landed like a sack of shit!".

Non Tactical Night Jump- Jumping with one's eyes closed

Fun Jump/Hollywood Jump-Jump without gear, higher than 1000+ ft AGL exit, no reason for the jump (no follow on mission).

Sky Shark-Inexperienced or asinine paratrooper who steals his/her fellow paratroopers air,or collides with other jumpers (with possible entanglements). Not proceeded with dramatic music (Dunna, dunna,dunna...) thus hard to spot if you are marked as they're prey.

Ranger Candy- Motrin, ubiquitous medical prescription for most non surgical medical needs in Ranger community (now spreading through out the rest of the US Army).

PX Ranger-Personnel known for accomplishing through commerce what most attain through merit and/or valor, i.e. "Stolen Valor", or buying ribbons/patchs/awards/badges and wearing badges they haven't earned.

FO-F'ing Off- usual activity for Forward Observers when not engaged in actual tactical duties. (yep D'fly you're secrets out!)

ALICE-Another Ludicris Insane Clown Expedition- Preparatory phase to a Goat Rope (see also goat f**k,cluster f**k, clown bomb, clown shoes,etc.), i.e. bad situation perpetrated by severe stupidity.

Football Bat-A thing that is beyond useless, stupid, ill concieved,ass backwards, wrong on multiple levels.As in, "Son you're as f**ked up as football bat!" (see also swimming cleats, arctic swimshorts, soccer flippers, etc.).

They're coming back slowly but surely. Will post more as brain housing group makes more connections.

Sua Sponte
Griff

[Graebarde]

Well I read 'em all, and never saw it.. so

REMF Rear Echelon Mother F... anyone who wasn't actually in the bush.
In the rear with the gear.. REMF and goldbricks...
Ham and Mothers... C-ration ham and lima beans
Balls and Guts... spaghette and meat balls
Shoe Patches... pork slices

and to all those that hated those delectible Meals Rejected by Ethiopians or was it Everyone I wish we had them rather than the C-rats that had 1953 stamped on them in 1969.. and later.

I still say Dr Seuss was a GI that got his idea for green eggs and ham from the canned eggs and chopped ham in C-rations.. I NEVER saw one that wasn't green, hence you ate it in the dark.

[pmulcahy11b]

Sack of Shit Landing (as opposed to a proper PLF(Parachute Landing Fall)- The average landing/impact description of a US Paratrooper (and most other countries from what I've seen) on impact with the ground. Referenced as, "How'ed you're landing go" "SOS, I landed like a sack of shit!".

Another variation of this, one that I was quite skilled at, is the feet-knees-face landing. Usually when I got to the RP, someone would look at me and say, "What the hell happened to your face"

Football Bat-A thing that is beyond useless, stupid, ill concieved,ass backwards, wrong on multiple levels.As in, "Son you're as f**ked up as football bat!" (see also swimming cleats, arctic swimshorts, soccer flippers, etc.).

The variation I always heard (and used) was "f***ked up as a soup sandwich." Imagine what a mess that would be!

One thing I would often shout at my troops when I was only a little mad at them was "I'm gonna have you shot and sent to the Russian Front." As the years went by, fewer and fewer of them understood that reference...

Oh, and here's another one: Profile Child. In the Army, a profile sheet is given to you by a doctor or PA that list restrictions on your activity while you are recovering from injury or illness. If you get a long profile period (like I did once -- they almost chaptered me out early in my career), or have lots of illnesses and injuries, you become a Profile Child. My stepmonster called the Marine Corps equivalent was "Sick Bay Commando."