If you want to use these definitions please feel free to do so but give credit to the Unofficial Dictionary for Marines
and, if you can, give the link which is
OldCorps.org/USMC/dictionary.html. There are a number of web
sites who have just stole great portions of this dictionary and are
calling it their own. I can't do a thing about it except to call
them the crooks that they are. A lot of people have put a lot of
work into this project and they deserve some credit for their efforts
since the dictionary is and always has been FREE.
(Vietnam)
The
northernmost of four corps areas in South Vietnam. I Corps was the
province of the U. S. Marines while II, III and IV Corps were U. S.
Army
areas. Pronounced eye-corps.
1st Civilian Division.
Civilian life. Before or after service in
the Marine Corps. See COMCIVLANT.
1-MC.
The communication system
aboard ship which allows orders and
information to be passed immediately to all members of the crew.
Usually a series of speakers throughout the entire ship.
1st Marine Division
Located at Camp Pendleton, CA it is a unit of the I Marine
Expeditionary Force. It consists of the 1st, 5th, 7th and 11th Marine
Regiments as well as supporting battalions of engineers, reconnassance
and amphibians. Commanded by a major general.
II Marine Expeditionary Force
A Marine Air-Ground Task
Force
consisting of ground, air and logistics forces capable of projecting
offensive combat power ashore while sustaining itself in combat without
external assistance for a period of 60 days. The II Marine
Expeditionary Force is commanded by a Lieutenant General, who
serves as Commander, US Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic, providing Marine
fighting formations and units to European Command,
Central Command
and Southern Command.
Consits mainly of the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine
Aircraft
Wing and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. (Also stolen from Wikopedia)
2nd Marine Division
Located at Camp LeJeune, NC it is a unit of the II Marine
Expeditionary Force. It consists of the 2nd, 6th, 8th and 10th Marine
Regiments as well as supporting battalions of engineers, reconnassance
and amphibians as well as the the Marine Corps' only Anti-Terrorism
Battalion. Commanded by a major general.
III Marine Expeditionary Force
A Marine Air-Ground Task
Force that is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly and
conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief to amphibious assault and
high intensity combat. III MEF maintains a forward presence in Japanand
Asia to support the U.S. – Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation
and
Security and other alliance relationships of the United States. III MEF
also conducts combined operations and training throughout the region in
support of the National Security Strategy for Theater Security
Cooperation. Its major units are the 3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine
Aircraft Wing, 3rd Marine Logistics Group and the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit. (Thanks again to Wikopedia)
3rd Marine Division
Located on the island of Okinawa, Japan it is a unit of the
III
Marine Expeditionary Force. It consists of the 3rd, 4th and 12th Marine
Regiments as well as the 3rd Reconnassance Battalion and a Combat
Assault Battalion. Commanded by a major general.
4merMarine.com.
The web site that hosts this
dictionary and the compiled quotes.
It is in
reality a misnomer because, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine." In order
to be a former Marine, one must have been first a Marine and then be
either dead or incarcerated--the editor qualifies only on the first
point. Unfortunately all of that was just too
complicated to put into a domain name. This is a private project and
actively seeks your assistance in the form of corrections and additions
(I am in particular need of current words and phrases). I would also
not turn down financial help in the cost of the domain and the
server--as a retired, disabled GI who is still paying the Retired
Military Disability TAX, money is always tight. This
is also permission
to link to this dictionary or to use this dictionary in any way that is
legal. It is here to enjoy at no charge. You can also access this dictionary through OldCorps.org.
4-striper.
A Navy or Coast Guard
captain. The informal reference alludes to
the four wide stripes worn on the cuffs of the blue uniform by
captains.
5th Marine Division
The National Guard. Jokingly given the name due to the
large
population of Marines who got out and elected to serve in the National
Guard.
8th and Eye.
Location of the Commandant's
house, Marine Barracks, Washington,
the Marine Corps Band and Drum and Bugle Corps as well as MCI.
It is the ceremonial home
of the Corps. It was the only public building not set afire when the
British overran Washington, DC in the War of 1812, some say because of
their stoic defense at Bladensburg Pike. From its address at 8th and I
Streets SE, Washington, DC.
24/7.
24 hours a day, seven days a
week. Essentially always. Originally
a reference to the perpetual card games on the fantail of a troop ship.
25-MC.
The communication system
aboard ship which allows orders and
information to be passed immediately to specific compartments and
preselected crew members.
A 72-hour absence from duty.
Granted by commanding officers and
not charged as leave.
86.
To throw away or get rid of
something. From the number of the
form originally used to remove an item from a stock record.
90-Day Wonder.
Unflattering term for an OCS
graduate. Refers to the early
practice of training commissioned officers in three months rather than
the four years in the Naval Academy or the 4 year part-time training in
ROTC. Also, 90-day blunder.
96.
A 96-hour absence from duty.
Granted by commanding officers for
outstanding duty, unit successes or special holidays. Not charged as
leave.
782 Gear.
Originally individual
equipment owned by a unit and issued to a
Marine while assigned to that unit. In boot camp that included a
bucket, cleaning equipment, a poncho and a shelter half. The name is
derived from the first three digits in the original Marine Corps Supply
Classification for "Individual Equipment" (WWII
and Korea). When the Federal Stock Number (FSN) system was created
"Individual Equipment" fell into the 84XX group.
Present use refers to the Load Bearing Vest, cartridge belt and the
equipment attached to the belt as well as other field equipment. This
history is often confused with the 734 Book that supply types used for
the issue or turn-in of equipment, most warehousemen carried a
734 Book in their back pocket at all times.
900 inch Range.
A rifle range of
approximately 100 inches used to zero weapons
prior to qualification.
A Marine with everything in
place and in order. The perfect
Marine. The opposite of Joe Shit the Rag Man.
Abaft.
Aft
of any given point
on a ship.
ACE.
Air Combat Element.
ACE Medical.
Battalion Aid Station for
USMC Aviation units in the field.
Acme Beer.
World War II era beer made
in San Jose, California and sent to
the South Pacific specifically for Marine units. It came in both a
green and a brown bottle but only the brown colored bottles were fit to
drink. The green bottles contained a liquid that smelled like a skunk.
Actual.
(Commtalk)Radio call sign
for commander of a unit. If the unit
call sign is "Brownbag" the unit commander will be "Brownbag Actual".
AD.
Active Duty.
Administrative Discharge.
A non-punitive discharge
prior to completion of an enlistment. A
way for the Marine Corps to move someone out without effecting
post-service benefits.
Admiral.
The highest naval rank in
peacetime (See Fleet Admiral). The rank
insignia consists of four silver stars in a row. The admiral ranks did
not appear in the U. S. Navy until the Civil War. Prior to that time a
captain was the highest rank in that service. When placed in command of
larger units he was sometimes designated a Flag Officer, but that was a
billet, not a rank. The current admiral ranks (from junior to most
senior) are: Rear Admiral (lower half), one star; Rear Admiral (upper
half), two stars; Vice Admiral, three stars; Admiral, four stars and
Fleet Admiral, five stars.
Admiral of the Navy.
A rank given to Admiral
Dewey by an act of Congress in March 1899
to place him above all other admirals. See Fleet Admiral.
Adrift.
Floating aimlessly, usually
without a rudder or compass. Missing
in action. Setting ones self off from the norm.
AFRTS.
Pronounced A-farts. American
Forces Radio and Television Service,
provider of commercial type radio and television programming to ships
and overseas stations. Depending on the politically correct form at the
time American can be replaced with Armed and Service can be replaced
with System.
AFSC.
Air Force Specialty Code.
The Air Force equivalent of an MOS.
Aft.
Behind, from the naval term
for the after section of the ship.
AFU.
All Fucked Up.
Air Force.
One of the five uniformed
military branches. Also, in the Air
Force, a unit consisting of multiple wings and given a numerical
designation (e.g. 8th Air Force). Used from World War II until the
1970s.
Air Krulaks
Black, Goretex lined combat boots issued from 1997 until
2001.
Named after the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps from a popular
sneaker named Air Jordans after a basketball player.
Air Start.
Blow job.
Air Strike.
See Close Air Support.
Air Wing.
An aviation unit equivalent
to an infantry division.
Airdale.
Anyone serving in aviation.
Airman.
A Navy enlisted rank. See
Seaman. Also an Air Force enlisted
rank. See private first class. Or a generic term for anyone in the Air
Force.
AK-47.
Soviet-manufactured
Kalashnikov semi-automatic and fully
automatic combat assault rifle, 7.62-mm; the basic weapon of the
Communist forces.
ALCON.
All concerned. Used in radio
traffic.
Ali Baba.
(Iraqi Freedom) An enemy combatant, a looter or any bad
guy. (From "Ali Baba and the 40
Thieves").
All Hands.
Everyone.
ALPHA.
(Commtalk) A. Sometimes
spelled ALFA. Also the Marine green
uniform with blouse and ribbons.
Alpha Mike Foxtrot.
Adios, Mother Fucker.
Goodbye. A polite form is Adios My Friend.
A specific amount deducted
from a Marine's pay and sent to
another entity.
AMF.
See Alpha Mike Foxtrot.
Ammo.
Ammunition.
Amtrac.
Slang for Amphibious
Armored, Tracked, Personnel Carrier.
(LVT/AAV).
Amtracker.
An Assault Amphibious
Vehicle crewman.
Ammunition Supply Point.
The location, usually just behind the Forward Edge of
Battle Area, where line units receive their ammunition resupply. In the
movies, an ASP is usually called an "ammo dump."
AN-M8.
HC Smoke Hand Grenade.
Weighing 25.5 oz it contains 19 oz of HC
which emits a dense smoke for up to 2.5 minutes. It has a 2-second
delay.
AN-M14.
Incendiary (Thermite) Hand
Grenade. Weighing 32 oz and containing
26.5 oz of TH3 thermite mixture it is designed to start fires with its
40 seconds of 4,300 degrees F.
Anchor Clanker.
In the Navy, a Boatswain's
Mate. Or anyone in the Navy.
Anchor Pool.
A betting pool, the winner
of which has come closest to the time
logged by the Officer of the Deck for dropping or weighing anchor.
ANGLICO.
Air Naval Gunfire LIaison
COmpany. Composed of 4-man "fire
control teams". A
fire control officer (FICTO - usually a Lt, but due to the limited
number of
Lt's in the reserves, may be lead by a Captain in the Reserves). A
"REAL
TEAM", the officer shares the load of radios (UHF, VHF and HF) and
batteries
and rifle - just like the Lance Corporal. Usually parachute and SCUBA
qualified. ANGLICO rarely works with Marine Corps units. You will find
ANGLICO teams attached to and supporting U.S. Army (often to 82nd
&
101st
Airborne) and Foreign Forces giving these forces the capability to use
U.S.
Naval Gunfire and close air support from Navy and Marine Aircraft. Used
in
the Vietnam era and reduced from four to two companies in 1997 (both
surviving companies were reserve units) and brought back for the
Afghanistan
operations.
Ant Hill.
An outpost with major
communications assets apparent from the
large number of antennae in the vicinity.
Arc Light.
(Vietnam)B-52 bombers
dropping their entire load of
bombs (typically 105-500 pound bombs) on suspected concentrations of
enemy troops.
Arlington Ridge.
Location in Arlington VA
north of the National Cemetery
overlooking the Potomac River and Washington DC. It is the site of the
Marine Corps Memorial, the sculpture of Marines raising the flag on Iwo
Jima in World War II.
Armed Services.
Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marine Corps and Coast Guard. See Uniformed
Services
Arty.
Artillery.
ARA.
Aerial Rocket Artillery. A
Cobra AH-1G helicopter with four
XM159C 19-rocket (2.75 inch) pods.
Informal command to continue what you
were doing
or to indicate a correction to a previous order or comment.
ASAP.
As Soon As Possible.
ASP.
Ammunition Supply Point.
Ass Hanging Out.
Applied to someone who is either not
squared away
or whose ignorance is showing.
Ass Pack.
The little first aid kit worn on web
gear, and
located in the middle of the lower back. Usually contained two field
pressure dressings, tourniquet, and some iodine. Sometimes, there was
even geedunk in there.
Assault Line.
Marine attack formation with troops
advancing
abreast.
Assholes to Elbows.
Troops or people standing close together. Sometimes Asshole
to
Bellybutton meaning close together.
ASVAB.
Armed Services Vocational
Aptitude Battery (skills
test)--required to join the armed forces.
Aviation Cadet.
A student in military flight
training. In some instances they
have come from other officer procurement programs while at other times
they were stand-alone commissioning and flight training programs. See
Cadet.
Aviation designations
MH = Marine heavy helicopter squadron
HMLA = Marine light attack
helicopter squadron
HMM = Marine medium helicopter
squadron
HMT = Marine helicopter training
squadron
LAAD = Low-altitude air defense
MACS = Marine air control
squadron
MASD = Marine aviation support
detachment
MASS = Marine air support
squadron
MALS = Marine aviation
logisitics squadron
MTACS
= Marine tactical air command squadron
MWSS = Marine wing support
squadron
MWCS = Marine wing
communications squadron
MWHS = Marine wing headquarters
squadron
VMAQ = Marine electronic warfare
squadron
VMAT = Marine attack training
squadron
VMA = Marine attack squadron
VMFA(AW) = Marine all-weather
fighter attack squadron
VMGR = Marine aerial refueler
squadron
VMGRT = Marine aerial
refueler/transport squadron
VMFA = Marine fighter attack
squadron
VMFAT = Marine fighter attack
training squadron
VMU = Unmanned aerial vehicle
squadron
Aye.
Yes. A naval expression.
Aye Aye.
I understand your order and
will comply. A naval expression.
500 cubic foot field space
cooler or air conditioner. Requires a
dedicated generator.
B1RD.
Humorous identification for
a non-existent Air Force plane. See
GU11.
Bird, Ball and Hook.
A disrespectful reference to
the modern emblem of the Marines,
the eagle, globe and anchor.
BA1100N.
Balloon.
BA 30/30.
Government issue green
Ray-o-vac "C" cell battery.
Ba Mu'o'i Ba.
Brand name of a Vietnamese
beer.
Baby Dicks.
Hot dogs contained in MREs.
Bad Conduct Discharge.
A discharge ranking between
Honorable and Dishonorable. It is
rumored that Walt Disney's Bad Conduct Discharge from the Marine Corps
was framed and hung behind his desk--that its distinctive yellow color
is seen in early introductions to "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of
Color" on ABC in the 1950s and 1960s. This is false--Walt Disney never
served in ANY military service. .
Also called a
Big Chicken Dinner.
Bag.
To get as in, to bag some
sleep.
Bag Drag.
Being transferred, shipping
out or moving to new quarters. From
the act of dragging the sea bag from place to place.
Bag Nasty.
A meal delivered in a paper
bag, mostly during Marksmanship
Training at boot camp but also at other times in the fleet. The
reference is to the quality of the food contained in the bag.
BAH
Basic Allowance for Housing. A non-taxable stipend for
personnel who do not reside on base but who rate housing.
A pejorative term for a Woman Marine,
reportedly
meaning broad assed Marine. Never used much in the presence of female
Marines out of fear of bodily harm. Women Marine recruits in the 1960s,
when it was most used, were taught that the letters meant "Beautiful
American Marine". Known to have been used as early as World War II. It
thankfully fell out of use in the late 20th Century.
Bandoleer.
A cloth or canvas container of several
rounds of
amunition.
Bandolier.
A linked belt of machine gun ammo.
BAQ.
Basic Allowance for Quarters.
BAR.
Browning Automatic Rifle. The M1918A1
automatic
rifle was first used in World War II until Vietnam. Marines, of course,
didn't get it until after World War I. It was replaced by the SAW--with
a 24 year gap between them.
Bar Fine.
An amount of money payed by bar girls in
Subic Bay
(Phillipines) to be allowed to leave the bar or walk the streets.
Barnett, George.
Twelfth Commandant of the Marine Corps.
The
Wisconsin native who was born on Dec. 9, 1859 became the first graduate
of the U. S. Naval Academy to be appointed Commandant. He served as
Major General Commandant from February 25, 1914 until June 30, 1920. He
died April 27, 1930.
Barracks.
Buildings where single Marines live or a
duty
station where they serve.
Barracks Bitch
Marines who report to the FMF from Barracks Duty or any
0300 MOS
who served on barracks duty before reporting to line companies in the
fleet.
Barracks Cover.
A frame cap with a leather bill and a
metal hoop
frame for the cloth covering. It has a chin strap which is usually worn
setting above the bill and is adorned with a large eagle, globe and
anchor above the chin strap.
Barracks Rat.
A Marine who does nothing but stay home
all day
watching television and playing video games. The Marine equivalent to
couch potato. Also a woman who hangs around a barracks, BEQ or BOQ for
the purpose of giving or selling sexual favors.
Barrow, Robert H.
Twenty seventh Commandant of the Marine
Corps
serving from July 1, 1979 until June 30, 1983. He was born Fev. 5,
1922.
BAS.
Basic Allowance for Subsistence. Money
paid in lieu
of using military dining facilities. Also Battalion Aid Station.
Base Pay.
The amount a servicemember earns per month
based on
rank and years of service.
Basic School.
Basic training for new second lieutenants.
Conducted at Quantico, VA.
Basket Leave.
An extended leave of absence from duty
(beyond a 96
for example) that ends up not being charged as leave. Often leave
papers were actually filled out and approved, to cover everybody's ass
in case the leave taker got arrested, killed or detained somehow while
on leave. They remained in someone's In Basket, thus "basket leave"
until the leave taker returned. The papers were then destroyed and the
leave was never recorded. Usually an illegal way for a CO to reward
someone or for your buddy the company clerk, to do you a
favor.
Basketball.
(Vietnam)A flare ship on station to
drop
illumination flares on command.
Baton.
See Field Marshall and Drum Major.
Battalion.
A unit containing multiple
companies. It is
typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. Battalions are normally
assigned to a regiment.
Battalion Aid Station.
A field medical unit. The first
organized
aid station a Marine will see when transported from the care of the
front line corpsmen.
Battle Dressing.
A rectangular medical dressing
carried into
battle by each Marine.
A service green uniform jacket
with a faux
belt and no skirt used from World War II until the mid-1960s. See Ike Jacket.
Battle Pin.
Necktie clip.
Battle Stations.
See General Quarters.
Battery.
An artillery unit equivalent
to an infantry company. Usually six
guns used in support of an infantry battalion.
Bayonet.
A knife-like weapon attached
to the muzzle of a rifle used for
hand-to-hand combat.
Bazooka.
A WWII period invention, it
was the first of the modern rocket
launched weapons and was made in 2.75" and 3.5" versions. They were
used against tanks, vehicles and other profitable targets but they were
plagued by electrical problems. They were replaced by the M72 LAW.
BB Stacker.
Anyone dealing directly with
ordnance.
BC Glasses.
Marine Corps issue
eyeglasses (officially F-9). Named Birth
Control glasses by the troops due to their repulsive effect on the
opposite sex.
BCD.
Bad Conduct Discharge.
BDU.
Battle Dress Uniform. The
official name for cammies.
Beating A Dead Horse.
A naval term meaning to work
off advance pay on board ship--the
period before you start earning money again. See Dead Horse.
Beef, Grease, and Shrapnel.
C-Ration meal of Beefsteak,
Potatoes and Gravy.
Belay.
Stop. Make fast, from the
Naval practice of tying off a line with
a belaying pin. Disregard, as in "Belay my last".
A system of time on board
ship. The routine day was broken into
six watches of four-hours each. The watch on duty was responsible for
maintaining the time so each half hour a bell would be rung beginning
at 30 minutes into the watch with one bell and ending up at the end of
the watch with eight bells. Watches began at 12, 4 and 8 so that at
those times eight bells were struck.
Below Decks.
The decks below the main
weather deck of a ship. They are
numbered from the main weather deck which is 1. Deck 7 is therefore
seven decks below the main deck. See Superstructure.
Bennie.
Shortened form of benefit.
All services provided to or for
soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines are considered bennies.
BEQ.
Bachelor Enlisted Quarters
(barracks).
Bestwick, Wilbur.
First Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps served from May 23, 1957
until Aug 31, 1959. He was born in Sabetha, KS on Nov 27, 1911 and died
in San Francisco, CA on July 10, 1972.
Betel nut.
Narcotic seed nut chewed by
Vietnamese villagers that turned
their teeth and gums blood red.
Bib.
The portion of a Navy
enlisted uniform that hangs from the back
of the neck. In the wooden navy it was fashion for sailors to have long
hair but it would get blown about by the winds and get stuck in the
rigging or machinery. To counteract this sailors at sea would braid
their hair and dip it in tar (used to seal the boards on the ship).
When ashore on liberty (as opposed to a longer leave where they would
wash the tar out of the hair) they would cut a bib out of sack cloth
and tie it around their neck to keep from getting tar on their one good
shirt. The bib eventually became an official part of the enlisted
uniform.
Biddle, William.
Eleventh Commandant of the
Marine Corps. The Pennsylvania native
was born on Dec. 17, 1853 and died on Feb. 25, 1923. He served as
Acting Commandant in the rank of Colonel from Dec. 1, 1910 until Feb.
2, 1911 when he was appointed Major General Commandant and served until
Feb. 12, 1914. During his commandancy the term of office was set, by
law at 4 years.
Big Chicken Dinner.
Bad Conduct Discharge.
Big Green Weenie.
See Green Weenie.
Big Nasty.
See Bag Nasty.
Bilge.
An acrid mix of sea water,
petroleum products and other brackish
material that settles to the bottom of a ship. Also, information that
is of no value or garbage. Or to fail at something.
Bilge Rat.
The sailors who drain and
maintain the bilge on ship or a Marine
who was assigned to bilge duty as a form of non-judicial punishment.
Billet.
A specific job authorized
within a unit structure.
Bingo.
In Naval and Marine Aviation
a fuel level or condition requiring
return to base or ship or aerial refueler.
Binjo Ditch.
Rudimentary sewage ditches
found throughout the Orient.
Bird Colonel.
A full colonel.
Bird Farm.
An aircraft carrier.
Bird, Ball and Chain.
Eagle, Globe and Anchor
(usually used by shorttimers).
Birdmen.
A pejorative term for
airmen.
Bitchbox.
The 1-MC on board ship or
any amplified system used to pass
information widely.
Bladensburg Pike.
Location of the Marine line
of defense on the edge of Washington
DC when the British attacked in the War of 1812. The Marines were
overrun by superior forces but they earned the respect of their enemy.
Some say the British spared the Commandant's House at 8th and I Streets
SE out of respect.
Black, Henry H.
Seventh Sergeant Major of
the Marine Corps serving from June 1,
1975 until March 31, 1977. He was born Feb 9, 1929 in Imperial, PA.
Blanket Party.
Used most often to
"encourage" a screw up to mend his ways. While
sleeping his platoon mates would sneak up on him or her, cover them
with a blanket and administer numerous blows to the writhing mass. Not
authorized and punishable under the UCMJ. Also no often used.
Blivet.
Anything overstuffed or a
rubber fuel bladder. Also a modified
fuel tank used to haul small cargo outside the aircraft. (WWII)Two
pounds of shit in a one pound bag. Called a Herkimer in World War II.
A groove in a fighting knife
or sword to allow for blood to flow
from a wound so that the blade can be removed easier (a significant
concern in close combat).
Blood Stripe.
A red stripe worn down the
outside of the legs on dress blue
uniforms. It is worn by noncommissioned officers, warrant officers and
commissioned officers, traditionally to honor the high number of
casualties among those ranks at the Battle of Chapultapec in the
Mexican War.
Bloop or Bloopem.
(Vietnam) Unofficial field
command to hit a target with an M79
grenade launcher.
Blooper.
M79 grenade launcher. At
least one is assigned to each squad of
infantry Marines.
Blouse.
The service or dress coat
worn by Marines. Also the act of
tucking pant legs into boots so that the fabric "bloused" over the
boots (worn mostly by Army personnel and in utilities). Additionally,
the art of tucking in a shirt with military creases so that it appeared
tight over the entire belt line and causing a slight overhang between
the two outside creases in the back.
Blowing Smoke.
Wasting time, talking for no
purpose and to no effect.
Blown Away.
Killed.
BLT.
Battalion Landing Team, main
body of infantrymen that make up a
MEU.
Blue Blood.
Former enlisted Marine who
crossed over and accepted a
commission. See Mustang.
Blue Falcon.
Intended to mean Buddy
Fucker. Someone who causes trouble for
another.
Blue Peter.
The International Signal
Flag for the letter P. It is a blue
square with a white square within it. It signals that all hands are to
return to ship as it is preparing to go to sea.
Blue Water Sailor.
One who sails on the deep
seas, as opposed to members of the
Coast Guard who are Shallow Water Sailors. See Brown Water Navy.
Blues.
The Dress Blue uniform.
Boat.
Any small vessel incapable
of making regular independent voyages
on the high seas. Traditionally, a submarine.
Body Armor.
Flack jacket.
BOHICA.
Bend Over, Here It Comes
Again. Boo Coo.
(Vietnam) Derived from the
French beaucoup meaning many or much.
Boondockers.
Shoes with high sides,
manufactured to 1917 specifications and
famous for having the heels come off. Discontinued in the latter part
of the 20th Century.
Boondocks.
Anyplace out in the country.
Boondoggle.
Any situation in which the
Marine gets more out of an assignment,
job or situation than the Marine Corps. A good time at the Uncle's
expense.
Boonies.
Boondocks.
Boonie Hat.
Field cover with a brim all
the way around it. It became an issue
item in 2001 when the no-iron cammies were introduced. May not be worn
in garrison.
Boot.
A recruit, a rookie, a
newbie. Applicable to all U. S. military
services.
Boot Camp.
In the Marine Corps it is
officially Recruit Training and it is
conducted at Marine Corps Recruit Depots at Parris Island SC and San
Diego CA. Parents, friends and other relatives of Marine Corps Recruits
can find help and understanding among the members of myMarine.
Boots and Utes.
A uniform combination
consisting of the utility uniform (the
uniform worn in the field) and boots. Most often prescribed for
physical training events.
Bogey.
An unidentified object,
usually an aircraft, ship or other mobile
weapons system.
BOQ.
Bachelor Officer Quarters.
Boucoup.
(Vietnam)Many, a large
amount. From the Vietnamese French.
Bouncing Betty.
A US anti-personnel mine
that pops into the air to waist level
before exploding.
Box of Grid Squares.
One of the endless group of
nonexistent items that new members of
a unit would be sent looking for. This one was used mainly in
artillery.
Boxsee.
Vietnamese word for doctor.
Marines called their corpsmen by
this name.
Boy.
A Civil War era rank just
below private. Boys were "apprenticed"
to the Marine Corps (and the Navy) to learn useful jobs. Many later
enlisted or joined the Marine Corps Band. In the Navy they were put on
ship and made "powder monkeys".
Brady, James.
Press Secretary to Ronald
Reagan who was shot during an attempted
assassination of the President. He suffered severe brain trauma. A
journalist and author. His name was given to a law that requires a
waiting list for the purchase of handguns and he became an advocate of
hand gun control. Served in the Corps during Korea.
Brain Bucket.
Helmet of any type including
combat kevlar and aviation headgear.
Brain Fart.
Discontinuity, lost of
concentration, a senior moment.
Brain Housing Group.
The human head. Also melon
or grape.
Brass.
Officers.
Brat.
See Military Brat.
BRAVO.
(Commtalk) B.
Bravo Zulu.
Well done. From the Allied
Naval Signal Book (ACP-175 Series)
adopted after the formation of NATO.
Bridge.
The compartment aboard ship,
usually in the superstructure, where
the captain controls the ship by issuing orders. It is the ship's at
sea headquarters.
Brig.
A jail in the naval services
usually operated by Marines. Also a
small warship under sail during the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Brig Chaser.
A Marine, now normally an
MP, assigned to guard a prisoner while
being transported to a location outside the brig, often for a work
detail.
Brig Rat.
A prisoner or someone who is
frequently in trouble.
Brig Step.
A regular step as in
marching but the distance between the front
of one prisoner and the back of the one in front is reduced to about
four inches so that they must all step together. It is a common method
of controlling prisoners while moving them from place to place. It is
an illegal step for anyone other than a prisoner.
Brigadier
General.
First of the Flag Officer
ranks of commissioned officers
signified by a silver star on the collar of the uniform. The pay grade
is O-7 and is the same in the Army and the Air Force. In the Navy and
Coast Guard the rank is Read Admiral (lower half) and at some times the
rank of Commodore has been used. The rank is additionally indicated on
the sleeves of various uniforms by a two inch gold band topped by a one
inch gold band and an insignia indicating the branch of the service to
which the officer is assigned (most often a gold star indicating a line
officer). Shoulder boards are mostly gold with a silver fouled anchor
and one silver star.
Brigadier.
A rank in the Royal Marines
equivalent to Brigadier General in
the U. S. Marine Corps.
Bronze Star.
A
personal decoration
originally intended for valorous service.
By the end of the 20th Century it was being given out for many
non-combat acts, it even became known as the "officers' good conduct
medal". The value of the award was deflated so much that a metal "V"
device to be worn on the medal's suspension ribbon was issued to
indicate valor--it succeeds only infrequently. The Bronze
Star
medal can also be awarded for superior service. After World
War
II it was given retroactivelly to every soldier who had been awarded
the Combat Infantry Badge.
Brown Shoe Marine.
An
old salt. Until Secretary
of Defense MacNamara, under
President Kennedy, forced all of the services to use the same shoes,
Marines were issued brown shoes. In the early 1960s the shoe color
changed to black but the old salts continued to wear their brown shoes
as long as they could get away with it. The color of the dress shoe
polish was actually "Cordovan" which was a dark brown with a red tint.
In the Navy, any member of the
aviation community is called Brown Shoe in reference to the aviator's
brown flying boots.
Brown Shoe Navy.
Naval officers assigned to
aviation billets from World War II
through Vietnam were authorized Aviation Greens in addition to their
standard Navy blue uniform. The cut was very similar to Marine greens
except that there was no belt. Rank insignia was in black and they wore
a khaki shirt and black necktie. The shoes were lighter brown than the
standard Marine Corps issue of the time and they wore tan socks. The
Naval Aviator wings were gold embroidered and the fore and aft cap had
small solid gold wings on the port side and rank insignia on the
starboard.
Brown Side Out.
(Vietnam Era) Helmet covers
and shelter halves were green camo on
one side and brown camo on the other. This was the instruction to place
the brown camo on the outside. It was most often used to describe
confusion in orders as the color would change frequently and ultimately
someone would show up for formation in the wrong color.
Brown Water Navy.
Operations in rivers and
other shallow water locations. See
Shallow Water Sailor.
Brownbagger.
A person who carried lunch
rather than eat at the mess hall
(usually a Married Marine). Also a bar just outside the main gate to
Camp Lejeune, NC.
Bucket of Steam.
A commodity used in a
practical joke by “salty”
Marines who would send inexperienced comrades on a mission to find one
as part of an informal initiation rite. Taken from a similar tactic
among sailors.
Buddy.
Best friend. It is said that
a real buddy is someone who will go
into town when you are restricted to base and get himself two blow
jobs, then come back to base and give one of them to you.
Buddy Unit
(Iraq) Two Marines, usually half a fire team. Emerging as
the
basic urban combat fighting unit. The tactical movement of a buddy team
is for one Marine to lay down covering fire while the other Marine
moves forward to a covered position only feet in front of the position
being vacated. Then they change duties. This eliminates the "fireteam
forwaqrd" movement and places the squad leader even further from the
action. Some tacticians are calling for squaq leaders to join the
leading fire team as a third member and lead by example--his other fire
teams following along a flank. When one member of a buddy unit is
incapacitated he is left behind in forward movement and the other
Marine joins a nearby buddy unit as a third member. The problem with
this tactic is that it decentralizes the command structure requiring
even the most junior Marine to make command decisions.
Bug Juice.
Colored, sweetened water
served on ship or in mess halls. Also a
bug repellant used in Vietnam.
Bug Out.
To leave quickly, usually as
a unit. An individual would bug.
Bulkhead.
Wall, from the naval term
for the water-tight structure between
compartments on a ship.
Bull.
The center or highest
scoring part of a target often called a
Bulls Eye.
Bull Run.
The first major battle of
the Civil War in which a battalion of
inexperienced Marines from the Washington Navy Yard performed well
beyond what should have been expected of them. With an average of 3
weeks since enlisting, the Marines were trained enroute to the battle
by Major John G. Reynolds, the battalion commander, and his officers.
They supported the 11th New York "Fire Zouaves" in the first attack
during which the Zouaves broke and ran--never to be seen again on the
battlefield-taking the Marines with them from the field. The Marines
were rallied four times and entered the battle (a rate equal to the
professional soldiers of the Federal Army) five times. On the fifth
attack the field was swept by fresh Confederate troops (in blue
uniforms) who had just been brought in by train from the Shenandoah
Valley. General McDowell and his officers roundly praised the Marines
for their skill and tenacity but Colonel Commandant John Harris, in his
report to the Secretary of the Navy, wrote, "It is the first instance
in history where any portion of its members turned their backs on the
enemy." Ignoring fact, the Commandant attempted to hurt the career of
Major Reynolds and established a lie in the annals of the Corps.
Bullshit.
A card game played by groups
of Marines while standing in line,
usually aboard ship. A player will draw five cards from a shuffeled
deck and after reviewing the hand will announce the hand (it can be
anything from "One Jack" to "Full Boat, Flush"). The next Marine in
line will decide if the announced hand is what the player has and will
either accept or proclaim "bullshit". If the hand is accepted the
Marine can draw from one to five cards and announce the hand, but his
hand must be better than the hand he accepted. This continues until
someone calls "bullshit". There is no scoring as the game is usually
played while standing up.
Bum Scoop.
Bad information. Often
information passed on by Bum Scoop Ned.
Bumfucknowhere.
Often Bumfuck Egypt meaning
in the middle of nowhere--very, very
remote.
Bunker.
A covered and reinforced
fighting hole.
Burrows, William Ward.
Second Marine Commandant.
Appointed a major under the authority
of the Act of July 11, 1798 which established the Marine Corps he was
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel Commandant on May 1, 1800 under the
authority of the Act of April 22, 1800. He was born in South Carolina
on Jan. 16, 1758 and died in office on March 6, 1804.
Bush.
(Vietnam)Outside the
perimeter wire. The boonies.
Bust Caps.
A firefight. The actual
firing of a weapon.
Bust Heavies.
(Vietnam era)To work hard.
But.
The pits on a rifle range.
Butt.
A cigarette or a wooden cask
or barrel in the wooden Navy.
Butt Kit.
Ash tray. Often a #10 tin
can filled with dirt or sand.
Butter Bar.
Second lieutenant or ensign,
from the gold color of their rank
insignia. A pejorative term.
Bursting
Bomb.
An ancient insignia used in
the Marine Corps to designate a
warrant officer with the MOS that entitles him or her to be called
"gunner" and on the enlisted grade insignia of master gunnery sergeant.
Buy The Farm.
Killed.
Buzzard, Ball and Hook.
Another version of Bird,
Ball and Chain.
By the Numbers.
In sequence. From the
beginning. Used to indicate that the action
would have to be done precisely as directed.
By your leave...
A phrase spoken by a junior
when overcoming a senior prior to
passing. Also a request to be allowed to depart. Usually followed by
"sir" or "ma'm".
Individual meals used in the
field from World War II until
Vietnam. They came in a box containing cans of food and a foil
accessory pack. They were replaced by the Meal, Ready to Eat.
Cadet.
A student at the U. S.
Military Academy, U. S. Air Force Academy,
Reserve Officer Training Corps units as well as other officer
procurement organizations. See Aviation Cadet.
Cadillac.
Marine Corps issued boots.
The predominant form of transportation
for recruits and infantry Marines.
Call Out
To challenge another to a fight. Formalized by the Marine
Corps
Martial Arts Program it is supervised by a martial arts trainer. The
rules are complex.
Call Sign.
(Commtalk)The word
identifier for a unit, aircraft or pilot.
[NOTE: The editor is attempting to compile a list of Call Signs
actually used in Vietnam. Please send your list to Callsigns@4merMarine.com.
CamelBac®.
A name brand version of a
personal hydration system which allows
the wearer to sip water through a tube from a bladder worn on the back.
The field uniform of the
Marine Corps since the 1970s. The
original design was stolen by the Army and then every other military
service and in 2002 the “pixilated” design was
introduced.
The pixelated design itself includes tiny Marine Corps emblems and
blends better
into most natural settings.
Campaign Cover.
The hat worn by drill
instructors. Sometimes called a Smoky Bear
hat. The only official Marine headgear not called a cover.
Cannon Cocker.
A Marine in the artillery or
a Navy gunner's mate.
Canoe U.
The U. S. Naval Academy.
CAO.
Casualty Assistance Officer.
CAP.
(aviation) Combat Air
Patrol. (Vietnam)Combined Action Platoon,
Marines and Vietnamese soldiers working together, generally as part of
the "Pacification Program".
Cap.
(Vietnam)To fire at
something or someone. See Busting Caps. From
the act of busting the primer cap on a round of amunition.
Captain. (Navy)
The sixth grade of
commissioned officer of the Navy or Coast
Guard indicated by silver eagles worn on the collar points or by four
broad gold stripes topped by a gold star or insignia of branch of
service on the shoulder board or jacket sleeve. The pay grade is O-6
and in the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps is a colonel.
Captain. (Marine)
The third grade of
commissioned officer and most senior of the
company grade officers indicated by two silver bars on the collar of
the uniform. The rank insignia for a Captain of Marines differs from
every other service's rank insignia (the
tie-bars are are at the ends of the rank bars
rather than somewhat inboard like a railroad track--no one seems to
know why and most reference souces use it incorrectly--the photo shown
here is correct). The pay grade is O-3 and is the same in the Army and
the Air Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard the rank is lieutenant and
is additionally indicated on the shoulder boards and sleeves of various
uniforms by two broad gold bands topped by the insignia indicating the
branch of the service to which the officer is assigned (most often a
gold star indicating a line officer) or, in the Coast Guard, a gold
shield.
Captain Jinx of the Horse
Marines.
A popular square dance tune
from the 19th Century. The captain is
actually an Army officer but the tune was so popular that no
application of fact could change the words.
Captain’s Mast.
Non-judicial punishment
exercised by a ship captain.
Carry On.
An informal order to
continue what you were doing before being
interrupted, usually by the appearance of a commissioned officer.
Casual Company (or Platoon).
A unit of Marines awaiting
reassignment.
Cat 4.
Applicants who scored next
to the lowest on the entrance exams.
Under normal circumstances they would not be allowed to enlist but
during times of war and when recruiting was difficult a number of them
were allowed to join. In the 1960 the Pentagon was forced to accept
some social engineering called Project 100,000 in which a great number
of Cat 4 enlistees were taken in--the military has yet to recover. For
classification purposes the category was further broken down to 4a, 4b
or 4c which were defined by recruiters as "animal," "vegetable," or
"mineral."
Cat 9.
A reference to someone as
"beyond dumb" since Category 5 is the
lowest of the scores on the entrance exams.
Catapult.
A device on aircraft
carriers that hurls an aircraft into the
air. Operated by a giant steam piston it shakes the entire ship when
engaged.
Cates, Clifton B.
Nineteenth Commandant of the
Marine Corps. A Tennessee native, he
was born Aug 31, 1893 and died June 4, 1970. He served as Commandant
from Jan 1, 1948 until Dec 31, 1951 in the rank of General.
A cargo trailer converted by adding
bus doors
to the right side, sealing the back doors and adding bench seating. It
was pulled by a truck utilizing a fifth-wheel and it was employed at
Parris Island and Quantico until the late 1960s to transport recruits
and officer candidates. The editor is a PI Marine and is of the
understanding that Hollywood Marine recruits at San Diego were and
still are transported from place to place in limos.
Twin engine helicopter
capable of carrying a platoon of Marines.
Chain of Command.
The continuous chain of
authority that links the most junior
private to the Commander in Chief and vice versa. Many argue that the
U. S. implementation of the chain of command is the most important
strategy employed by our military forces. In other armies the loss of a
commander would throw the entire organization into disorder while in
the U. S. military, the next most senior person present just assumes
command. It is taught that whenever two Marines are walking together,
one is in charge.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff.
A general or admiral
appointed by the President to serve as his
senior military advisor. He works with the Secretary of Defense and has
no direct authority over the individual services. He does, however,
direct the Unified Commands as the direct superior to their Commanders
(who were previously called Commander in Chief until the practice was
ended by President Bush who wanted exclusive use of the title).
Challenge.
A word or phrase given by a
sentry to someone approaching his or
her post. The person approaching must give the password or the sentry
will assume that the person approaching is an enemy or an unauthorized
person. Also Challenge Coin--a coin shared by members of a specific
organization which is used to identify a member of that group to
another member of the group.
CHAMPUS.
Civilian Health And Medical
Program of the Uniformed Services.
(The military HMO)--now TRICARE.
Chaplain.
A religious leader
commissioned into the Navy to provide
religious services to and for members of the Naval establishment. They
are addressed as Chaplain regardless of rank.
Chapman Jr., Leonard F.
Twenty fourth Commandant of
the Marine Corps, serving from Jan.
1, 1968 until Dec. 31, 1971. He was born Nov. 3, 1913.
CHARLIE.
(Commtalk) C.
Charles.
(Commtalk) Correct.
Charlie.
(Vietnam)A Viet Communist
soldier, abbreviated VC or Victor
Charlie, thus Charlie.
Charlie Echo Code.
A numerical code devised by
aviators during the Vietnam War after
they were admonished for their frequent use of profanity and unkind
references to staff and command personnel. The code was a three-digit
number with each number having a specific meaning. It was used in the
form “Charlie Echo 103”.
Charlie Sierra.
Chicken Shit.
Check.
Yes, affirmative or I agree.
Check your six.
Look behind you. From the
aviation term, “your 6
o’clock” referring to the relative location of an
aircraft
with 12 o’clock being directly in front of the airplane.
Cheeseburgers.
See Sliders.
Cherry Boy.
A newcomer to the Orient.
Chesty.
Lieutenant General Lewis B.
“Chesty” Puller,
legendary former enlisted Marine (see Mustang) who commanded Marines
during the Korean War. Many Drill Instructors require their recruits to
recite, “Good night General Puller, wherever you
are.” Upon
retiring at night. Also a favorite name for a bulldog who is the mascot
of a Marine unit.
Marine
PFC
Chevron.
A basic element of the
enlisted rank structure. Until the late
19th Century chevrons were worn in the European tradition with the
point facing down--except in the Marine Corps where they have always
pointed up. Now the normal position for a chevron in the United
States military is with the point up.
Chi-Com.
(Vietnam) Chinese Communist.
Chicken Shit.
Stupid and petty stuff
usually directed by someone of more rank
or authority.
Chief of Naval Operations.
Abbreviated CNO, this is the
highest ranking Naval Officer,
reporting to the Secretary of the Navy. He sits as a regular member of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is eligible to serve as Chairman. He
holds the rank of admiral. The Commandant of the Marine Corps does not
report to the CNO.
Chief of Staff of the Air
Force.
The highest ranking officer
in the Air Force, reporting to the
Secretary of the Air Force. He sits as a regular member of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff and is eligible to serve as Chairman. He holds the rank
of general.
Chief of Staff of the Army.
The highest ranking officer
in the Army, reporting to the
Secretary of the Army. Prior to the Civil War an officer in this
position was often called General-in-Chief. It was last applied to
Winfield Scott, commander of U. S. troops in the Mexican War. He sits
as a regular member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is eligible to
serve as Chairman. He holds the rank of general.
Chief of the Boat.
The senior chief petty
officer on a submarine.
Chief
Petty
Officer.
A Navy and Coast Guard
enlisted rank consisting of three inverted
chevrons with an inverted rocker on top and a Navy eagle sitting on the
rocker. See Gunnery Sergeant of Marines.
A Warrant Officer who has been
commissioned. The
top four grades of Warrant Officer (W-2 through W-5) are commissioned
officers. (See Gunner and Lipstick Lieutenant)
Chieu-Hoi.
(Vietnam) Unconditional surrender by an
enemy
soldier or force.
China Marines.
Marines of the 4th Marine
Regiment assigned to China in the first
half of the 20th Century. Also called Horse Marines.
Chit.
Any piece of paper
authorizing something (light duty chit, leave
chit, etc.) within the Naval establishment.
Chop Chop.
Quickly or in a hurry.
Derived from Chinese by the old China
Marines.
Chopper.
Helicopter.
Chosin Reservoir.
The fiercest and most costly
battle in the Korean War was a
retreat under fire in 30 below temperatures against a well-trained,
much larger force. Chesty Puller and all of the Marines were
professional in all aspects of the operation. They won the respect of
everyone from General MacArthur to the newest Army private who fought
with them. See Puller, Lewis B.
Chow Hall.
Place where meals are
served, sometimes called a Mess. See Mess
Deck.
Chuck.
(Vietnam) A reference to
white Marines by black Marines.
Criminal Investigation Division. A unit of
the
Military Police charged with criminal investigations, polygraph
examinations and other detective work. They are both commissioned and
non-commissioned officers but wear civilian clothing and their rank is
indicated as Investigator. They work closely with Naval Criminal
Investigation Service (formerly NIS).
Cinderella Liberty.
Liberty that expires at midnight. Used
mostly in
foreign ports where the captain is concerned for the safety of his crew
or as a subliminal form of punishment.
Class VI.
A military liquor store. From the priority
level
assigned to the shippment of such supplies during World War II. Class I
was for medical supplies and amunition, Class II for food and the
lowest priority, Class VI, included liquor for troop consumption. Often
written Class 6.
Class A.
The green service uniform with ribbons.
Term use
until about the 1980s, replaced by "Alphas".
Claymore.
Directional anti-personnel mine with
plastic
explosive propelling ball bearings. Often used in perimeter defense.
Cleary, Robert E.
Tenth Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
having
served from June 28, 1983 until June 26, 1987. He was born in
Tewksbury, MA on June 2, 1931.
An inexact distance derived from
artillery
sightings in which each click of site elevation would move the impact
point depending on a number of diverse options. Usually taken to mean
either a mile or a kilometer. Used mostly since Vietnam. Another legend
has it that when the GP (jeep) vehicle was first introduced the
odometer would click every one fifth of a mile and that soldiers soon
learned to judge distance by the click so that they could pay attention
to road hazards and enemy positions. Take your pick.
Close Air Support.
A concept developed by Marines during
the Bananna
Wars of the 1930s, copied by the Germans in World War II and perfected
by the Marines ever since. Aircraft strafe enemy positions or
formations only yards from the Marine front line. Marine aviators are
most proficient at it but flying sailors also do an acceptable job. The
Navy calls it, "Moving mud to help out the grunts."
Cluster Fuck.
(Vietnam) A mission, operation or
activity gone
bad. Confusion.
Circle Jerk.
See Cluster Fuck.
CMC.
Commandant of the Marine Corps. The
senior
officer in the Marine Corps although under the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and Unified Command systems of organization it is possible to have a
Marine whose billet outranks the Commandant (Gen. Peter Pace,
when Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was in a position
that out ranks
the Commandant). Also, in the Navy, Command Master Chief Petty Officer.
One of the five armed
services and the only one not in the
Department of Defense. In peacetime they are part of the Department of
Homeland Security because of their missions which include water search
and rescue, drug interdiction and waterway safety. Prior to being
transferred to Homeland Secirity they were part of the Department of
Transportation. They were originally part of the Treasury Department
because one of the major components that became the Coast Guard, the
Revenue Cutter Service, was in that Department. The other major
components that became the Coast Guard in the early 20th Century were
the
coastal U. S. Life Saving Service and the Lighthouse Service.
Coastie.
A member of the Coast Guard.
Coaxial Machinegun.
A machinegun mounted exactly
alongside a tank cannon enabling the
tank's gunner to use the same fire control system for both weapons.
COC.
Combat Operations Center.
Sometimes called the Center of
Confusion.
Code Talkers.
Navajo
Marines who were recruited during World War II to serve as field radio
operators. They would take the orders of the various commanders and
translate them into Navajo and sending the information to another Code
Talker who would translate it back into English. It is the only field
code never broken by the Japanese.
Colonel.
The sixth grade of
commissioned officer and senior field grade
officer indicated by a silver eagle (always facing forward) on the
collar of the uniform. Air Force and Marine colonels wear two eagles
while Army colonels wear the eagle only on the left collar while the
insignia of their branch of service is worn on the other. The pay grade
is O-6 and in the Navy and Coast Guard the rank is captain.
Colors.
The time of day when the
national flag is hoisted or lowered from
the flagpole. All personnel stop and render appropriate honors during
this period. Also the flag of a specific unit upon which the battle
streamers are mounted.
Color Sergeant.
By regulation the most
senior sergeant (E-5) in the Marine Corps.
He or she is assigned to 8th and Eye and has charge of he official
colors of the Marine Corps.
COMCIVLANT.
Navy version of 1st Civ.
Div. COMmander, CIVilians, AtLANTic.
Commandant's Own.
Name given to the United
States Marine Corps Drum and Bugle
Corps.
The highest ranking officer
in the Coast Guard reporting to the
Secretary of Homeland Security in peace time and the
Secretary of the Navy
in wartime. He holds the rank of admiral.
The highest ranking person
in the Marine Corps. The first CMC
was a captain and the rank has increased until today he holds the rank
of general. He is appointed by the President and reports to the
Secretary of the Navy. He sits as a regular member of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff and is eligible to serve as Chairman.
Commander in Chief.
The President of the United
States. Prior to 2002 it was also
used to indicate the senior officer in a unified command. In June of
2002 the Secretary of Defense decreed that the only CinC in the U.S.
would be the POTUS
Commander.
One who is in charge of a
military unit or, in the Navy and Coast
Guard a rank equivalent to a Marine lieutenant colonel. See lieutenant
colonel.
Commanding General.
A general officer in charge
of a unit with the authorities
granted under the UCMJ to dispense justice appropriate to his or her
rank.
Commanding Officer.
A person in charge of a unit
with the authorities granted under
the UCMJ to dispense justice appropriate to his or her rank.
Officers who have been designated as
“officers and gentlemen” by the Congress on the
advice of
the President. Noncommissioned officers
are
rated and warrant
officers are granted warrants to
their grade. Enlisted
Marines are fond of
making note that their parents made them gentlemen, it did not require
an act of Congress. The commissioned ranks are: second lieutenant,
first lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel,
brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general and general.
Commo Wire.
Field telephone wire.
Company.
A unit containing more than
one platoon. They are typically
commanded by a captain. Companies are assigned within Battalions.
Company Grade.
A commissioned officer in
the first three grades. In the Navy and
Coast Guard they are ensign, lieutenant (junior grade) and lieutenant.
In the Army, Air Force or Marine Corps they are first and second
lieutenants and captain. Traditionally, particularly in the Naval
services, these officers may be addressed as mister, but a smart Marine
doesn’t follow this tradition.
Company Gunny.
Usually a gunnery sergeant
in a company who is charged with
training. It is a billet and not a rank.
ComRats.
Commuted Rations. Payment in
lieu of eating in the mess hall,
usually paid to married Marines.
Coiled ribbons of metal with both edges razor sharp. Used
to deter access to an area.
Conscientious objector.
Someone who objects to
combat on religious grounds. They can
serve in non-combatant positions (including service on the battlefield
as a corpsman or other unarmed person) or they can serve in
non-military public service assignments. They are usually not slackards
or traitors and deserve respect for making dificult decisions before
getting someone hurt or killed in combat.
Confederate States Marine
Corps.
Many of the officers of the
CSM were formerly officers or
noncommissioned officers in the U. S. Marine Corps who resigned to "go
south". Their headquarters were at the fort at Drewry's Bluff on the
James River keeping the U. S. Navy from firing on Richmond, the
Confederate capital.
Confidence Course.
A series of large scale
obstacles that a Marine must overcome,
particularly in boot camp. It is generally not a timed event and is
most often an individual effort to overcome fears of height and to
develop confidence in recruits. See Obstacle Course.
Congressional Medal of
Honor.
No such thing. See Medal of
Honor.
Constructionman.
A Navy enlisted rank. See
Seaman.
Contraband.
(Civil War) A slave freed by
Union forces. Their status was
unique in that, while they were in the South they were legally free but
in reality slaves. When they passed into the hands of Union forces they
were still slaves (the Emancipation Proclamation did not free slaves in
the Union). Many of them enlisted into the Army or Navy, but because of
their status could serve only in menial positions. A male contraband
could, for instance, enlist in the Navy and serve in the rank of Boy
being paid $8 per month (about half the pay of Seamen or Landsmen) Many
sailors of the
time were free blacks and were treated like any other shipmate, but
they would not associate with contrabands. It was only after the Civil
War that the Navy was segregated. There were no blacks in
either the U. S. or C. S. Marines during the Civil War.
CONUS.
Continental United States.
Conway, James T.
34th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Began his tenure in
November 2006.
Cool Beans.
Everything is OK.
Cop.
To get, as in "cop some Zs".
Corfam®.
A material used to make
dress shoes and boots that has a high
gloss finish. See Spit Shine. A registered product of the DuPont
Company.
Corp.
An abbreviation for the word
corporation which is frequently used
incorrectly in place of the word Corps.
Corporal
of
Marines.
The first of the
noncommissioned officer ranks is indicated by
two chevrons and crossed rifles below them worn on both sleeves. The
pay grade is E-4 and is equivalent to corporal in the Army, senior
airman in the Air Force and petty officer third class in the Navy and
Coast Guard..
Corps.
A military unit containing
multiple Divisions or a unique,
specified military organization given the designation.
An enlisted member of the Navy
Medical Corps
trained in field medical aid. (During WWII they were Pharmacist Mates.)
They usually wear Marine
Corps unifoms with Navy rank and insignia. See Doc.
Until they are promoted to Chief Petty Officer they wear subdued
insignia of rank on the right collar of field uniforms and a shield
with a Caduceus on the left collar. On service uniforms they wear their
rank insignia on the left arm only. Their rank structure is:
HR - Hospital Recruit
(E-1)
HA - Hospital Apprentice
(E-2)
HN - Hospitalman (E-3)
HM3 - Hospital Corpsman
Third Class (E-4)
HM2 - Hospital Corpsman
Second Class (E-5)
HM1 - Hospital Corpsman
First Class (E-6)
HMC - Chief Hospital
Corpsman (E-7)
HMCS - Senior Chief
Hospital Corpsman (E-8)
HMCM - Master Chief
Hospital Corpsman (E-9)
Cosmolene®.
A protective fluid placed on
rifles and other metal objects which
hardens and keeps the item from rusting or corroding. It must be
removed before the item can be used. Also refers to something new as
in, "it was still in cosmolene".
Court Street.
Liberty destination in
Jacksonville NC for Marines from Camp
Lejeune, Camp Geiger and MCAS New River. Until the 1980s the street was
populated with bars, pawn shops and the bus station. The town cleaned
it up and turned it into a "mall" sending the liberty crowd to the
"second front", a range of bars along US 17.
Cover.
Caps, hats and other things
worn on the head. Marines wear
covers, regardless of what the headgear actually is (except for the
Campaign Cover which is often called "The Hat"). A Marine's cover
is always removed when indoors unless that Marine is armed. Also, in
ranks, to align directly behind the Marine in front of you.
Coxswain.
One who steers a boat or has
charge of its crew. Pronounced
cox-SUN.
CP.
Command Post. Unit
headquarters.
Cracker Jack.
Sailor.
Crawford, Leland D.
Ninth Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps having served from Aut.
16, 1979 until June 27, 1983. He was born in Sharon, WV on Feb. 16,
1930.
Crew-Served Weapon.
Any weapon which requires
more than one Marine to fire. Most
artillery pieces, tanks and large machine guns fit in this category.
Crossing the Line.
An allegorical ceremony
performed aboard ship whenever the ship
crosses a navigational line such as the equator or into another ocean.
Very colorful and usually involves an initiation of those who have
never crossed the line before.
Crotch, The.
The Corps (pejorative form).
Crow.
General reference to the
Naval Eagle in the rank insignia of U.
S. Navy petty officers.
Crucible.
A 54-hour training event in
which Marine recruits are physically
and mentally challenged by lack of sleep, minimal food, forced marches,
teamwork exercises and leadership opportunities. It is the final major
training event of boot camp and is designed to pull together everything
they have been taught previously and survive a real challenge. Parents
of recruits or potential recruits should be told that while it will be
difficult for their child, it is safe and well supervised. It
culminates in the Warrior Breakfast and signals a change in their drill
instructors from task masters to mentors.
Cruise.
See Deployment.
Crumb Catcher.
The mouth.
Cumshaw.
A present or gratuity, often
a piece of needed equipment that
appears when needed (while at the same time a similar item disappears
from another unit). A cumshaw artist is generally prized within a unit
for his or her ability to provide-and few questions are asked. From the
old Chinese term “kam sia” meaning grateful thanks.
The
term was used at the start of World War II to describe payoffs by
Honolulu's Hotel Street prostitutes to local police officials.
Cunt Cap.
Garrison cover. See
Pisscutter.
Cupola.
The tank commander's hatch.
CUPP.
(Vietnam) Combined Unit
Pacification Program. Units consisting of
Marines and South Vietnamese soldiers.
Cushman Jr., Robert E.
Twenty fifth Commandant of
the Marine Corps, serving from Jan. 1,
1972 until June 30, 1975. The Naval Academy graduate was born Dec. 24,
1914 and dies Jan. 2, 1985.
(Vietnam) Major Marine base and seaport on the China Sea in
southern I Corps.
Dailey, Joseph W.
Fifth Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps from Aug 1, 1969 until
Jan 31, 1973, he was born Feb 17, 1917 in Black Mountain, Arkansas.
Daily Seven.
Physical Training exercises
expected of every Marine.
Dap.
A complicated and unique
hand shake devised by African American
Marines in Vietnam as a demonstration of racial pride. Quickly picked
up by non African Americans and eventually a common form of greeting.
It came back to the United States with many of the veterans and became
widespread for more than a decade.
Date of Enlistment.
For enlisted personnel this
is the third level used to determine
precedence among individuals of the same rank. The senior of two
persons of the same rank is determined by the earliest date of rank
while among two or more where rank and date of rank are identical, the
one with the earliest date of enlistment is senior.
Date of Commissioning.
For commissioned officers
this date serves the same purpose as
Date of Enlistment does for enlisted personnel although it is seldom
used as precedence among officers is much more structured.
Date of Promotion.
The day on which a
promotion warrant or order is signed.
Date of Rank.
The day on which a promotion
is effective. Usually the date of
rank is prior to the date of promotion (sometimes by days, sometimes by
weeks, sometimes by years depending on the requirements of the
promoting authority). Date of rank is used to establish precedence for
promotion to the next higher rank and to establish seniority among
individuals of the same rank (See General of the Armies).
DD Form 4.
The enlistment contract. All
promises made by recruiters MUST be
listed on the Form 4 or they are not real.
DD Form 214.
The certificate of service
issued upon discharge. It lists all
pertinent service information such as rank, date of rank, awards,
special education and nature of service (honorable, bad conduct,
dishonorable).
Dead Horse.
In the sailing navy, the
period of time a sailor worked to pay
off advance pay. See Beating a Dead Horse.
Deck.
Floor, from the naval term.
Deck Ape.
Anyone in the Deck Force on
board ship (those sailors who chip
paint, swab decks, mend canvas and create ornamental rope work).
Generally a Boatswain's Mate or Boatswain's Mate striker.
Deep Six.
To throw something overboard
or away. Originally the call of a
sailor to the bridge that the depth of the water is more than six but
not quite seven fathoms.
Defense Enrollment
Eligibility Reporting System (used to register
dependents for CHAMPUS and numerous other programs).
Defilade.
A cut or low spot in the
ground used for cover by tanks and
personnel.
Delayed Enlistment Program.
A recruiting procedure which
allows a person to enlist in the
inactive reserve prior to being ordered to active duty. It legally
binds the person to enlistment and gives him or her seniority when
ordered to active duty. See Poolee.
Nickname for Navy hospital
corpsmen assigned to Marine Corps
field units.
Devil Dog.
A Marine. The name
“Teufel Hunden” was given to the
Marines by their German enemies in World War I, probably as an insult
since hunden translates more correctly as "bitch". It has come to be
considered a sign of respect for the dogged determination of Marines.
DI.
Abbreviation for drill
instructor. Also a mid-20th Century movie
about a drill instructor at Parris Island, SC starring Jack Webb.
Di Di.
Pronounced D-D. From the
Vietnamese term Di Di Mau which was
loosely translated to mean "move quickly".
Dick Cheese.
Term used for someone of
little of no value as a person or a
member of a unit or team.
Dick Holster.
Mouth. Usually used in
reference to Women Marines.
Dick Skinners.
Hands.
Didie Bop.
To move in such a manner as
to be extremely cool. (Vietnam)
Diddy; to move on, usually quickly.
Diggies
Digitalized patern camouflage uniform fabric.
Dink.
(Vietnam) Enemy or, generically, Vietnamese.
Dinky Dau.
A Vietnamese term translated
by Americans to mean crazy.
Dinged.
(Vietnam) Wounded.
Disneyland
The 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment,
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC in the 1960. So
named because it was the only one with the new brick, three deck
barracks. The 1st Battalion was called Frontierland and the 2nd
Battalion was called the Twilight Zone. The 4th Battalion was
then officially called Woman Marine Battalion.
Ditty Dot.
Radio operator, from Morse
Code, dit and dot.
Division.
A unit containing multiple
(usually three) regiments plus
supporting units, commanded by a major general.
Dixie Cup.
Headgear worn by enlisted
sailors through the grade of E-6 (first
class petty officer). See White Hat.
Dixie Station.
One of two positions
typically occupied by an aircraft carrier
off the coast of Vietnam. Dixie was the southern station and was
charged with troop support.
Demilitarized Zone. In
Vietnam, a section of Vietnam between the
Marines of I Corps and North Vietnam. In Korea, the line drawn at the
38th Parallel. Any point between two belligerent camps.
DO.
Duty Officer. The Marine
equivalent to Officer of the Day.
Doc.
A term reserved for Navy
enlisted medical corpsmen assigned to
duty with Marine Corps combat units. These sailors are generally given
the same respect that one Marine gives to another Marine. In fact, Navy
corpsmen who earn service medals during duty with the Marine Corps are
authorized to wear a miniature eagle, globe and anchor on their
ribbon-something not even authorized for Marines.
Doctor.
A commissioned officer in
the Navy with a degree in medicine,
dentistry, pshchology or other allied profession, usually referred to
by their military rank.
Dog Robber.
An aide to a general officer
whose duties are so varied as to
defy explanation.
Dog Tags.
Originally metal disks
embossed with personal information that
could be left with a body on the field of battle for identification.
Eventually it evolved into a rounded rectangle with a small indentation
on one side so that it could be set on the teeth of a deceased soldier
and kicked into the head so that the enemy could not strip the dead
soldier of his identity (this info confirmed with HQMC Casualty
Branch). See also Toe Chain. Current versions do not have the notch.
Dog Watch.
The normal watch from 1600
until 2000. It is broken into two
smaller watches (first dog and second dog) so that everyone has the
opportunity to eat the evening meal and to change the rotation of the
watches where there are only two groups of watch standers (mostly from
the days of smaller wooden ships).
Long, flexible metal spout for
attaching to Jerry Cans.
Dope.
Sight adjustments made to a
Marine's rifle to make its firing
more accurate. Usually in reference to marksmanship training or
qualification. Also, any adjustment made to improve the outcome of any
event.
Term used for the field
telephone used in World War II and Korea.
Actually the official term was Telephone, Field, EE-8. After telling a
young Marine to go get a "Double Easy-8 a few times, it was inevitable
that sooner or later he would be sent to find a "TR- Double-E. After a
time he would be laughed at for searching for a "tree."
Double Time.
A marching pace which is
double “quick time” in which
the arms are bent at the elbow and the troops run in step.
DOW
Died of Wounds. Someone who died of combat inflicted
injuries
after being treated at an aid station or higher echelon medical unit.
One who dies prior to that point are designated KIA.
Dragon Antitank Weapon.
See M47.
Dress Blues.
The famous blue uniform of
the Marines with a standing colar. The
uniform is similar to the one worn by Marines in the Civil War. The
"sky blue" infantry trousers are adorned by a red "blood stripe" down
the outside seams on commissioned and non-commissioned officers. This
uniform is worn with medals (without medals it was at one time called
Undress Blues). Current usage refers to Blue Dress A (with medals),
Blue Dress B (with ribbons), Blue Dress C (sky blue trousers with khaki
shirt, field scarf and ribbons) and Blue Dress C (short sleved khaki
shirt and ribbons).
Dress Blues, Tennis Shoes,
and a Light Coat of Oil.
A flip response to the
question, "what is the uniform" or "what
will you be wearing".
Drill Hawk
An extreme "high and tight" haricut formerly popular with
Drill Instructors.
Drill Injector.
Pseudo humorous replacement
for Drill Instructor, sometimes
acceptable in informal speech.
Drill Instructor.
A noncommissioned officer
charged with the training of Marine
recruits and the making of Marines. Each recruit platoon usually has
three drill instructors, a senior drill instructor and two junior drill
instructors.
Drill Instructor’s
Hut.
The office and duty quarters
of the drill instructors, it is
located within the recruit squad bay.
Drill Sergeant.
An Army recruit instructor
similar to a Marine Drill Instructor.
The first batch of modern Army Drill Sergeants were trained at the
Drill Instructor School at MCRD Parris Island, SC.
Drilling Holes in the Sky.
Flying. Usually flying
without a mission often simply to obtain
the necessary monthly flying time to be eligible for flight pay.
Drooping Turns.
Helicopter pilot term for
"I'm getting tired" or when a
helicopter is unable to maintain the necessary rotor RPM for whatever
reason.
Drownproofing.
Survival swimming taught to
every recruit.
Drum Major.
The musician in charge of a
band or musical unit. Usually
elaborately dressed and carrying a baton which is used to signal
changes in march and to provide a tempo to the music. Usually holding
the rank of a staff noncommissioned officer. Until just after the Civil
War bandsmen were unarmed and considered non-combatants except for the
Drum Major who carried a sword. Marine Corps bands and Drum
and Bugle Corps today remain unarmed outside of combat areas and the
Drum Major wears minature swords on the elaborate sash.
Dry Fire.
Simulated rifle fire used to
teach correct positions for firing
on the rifle range. A shooter would be in position and a buddy would
slam the bolt to the rear when he or she heard the pin forced front.
Dubbing.
(From WWI to Vietnam) A
concoction issued with boots and
boondockers intended to clean them since the footware was made with the
rough side out (much like the modern Desert Boot). By the late 1950s is
was not being used as Marines were using bottles to force shoe polish
into the nap so that the boots and boondockers could be spit shined.
This all came to an end when Defense Secretary McNamara forced Marines
to give up their comfortable "Marine Corps last" footware and replaced
it with the Army Munson last which was much less comfortable but
cheaper.
Duty.
At work (on duty) or having
special requirements after normal
working hours. Units will have a Duty Officer, Duty NCO or Duty Driver.
Entrenching tool. A small
folding shovel with a multitude of
field uses. In World War I it was one of a series of tools shared among
a squad and used to dig the trenches in which the majority of the war
was fought. The early versions did not fold up and had a "T" handle.
Eagle Globe and Anchor.
The emblem of the United
States Marine Corps adopted
in 1868 under
Brigadier General Commandant Jacob Zeilen following the Civil War.
Prior to that time the Marines wore the Army infantry horn with a red
field in the center and the letter “M” in Old
English
script.
EAS.
End of Active Service.
Eat the Apple, Fuck the
Corps.
A phrase used by Marines to
express their displeasure with the
Marine Corps. Usually mouthed by someone about to leave the Corps or by
a Marine who has endured a perceived injustice.
ECHO.
(Commtalk) E.
EE-8.
See Double Easy-8.
EGA.
An abbreviation for Eagle
Globe and Anchor. Generally not used.
El Presidente.
(Dominican Republic)Brand
name of a Dominican Republic beer in
1965 when the Marines landed in that country.
El Espanol.
(Dominican Republic)The
hotel in the Dominican Republic that was
headquarters for the 6th Regimental Landing Team (including BLT 3/6) in
1965.
Elliott, George.
Tenth Commandant of the
Marine Corps. Born in Alabama on Nov. 30,
1856, he lived until Nov. 4, 1931. Appointed Brigadier General
Commandant to replace Major General Commandant Heywood, the law was
changed on May 13, 1908 establishing the position of Major General
Commandant to which he was promoted.
Elvis Has Left the Building
Said to a fellow Marine it tells them that their collar is
turned
up (a la Elvisesque) without bringing undue attention to the problem.
Twin engine jet
fighter/bomber used by Marines for ground
support. Made by McDonnell Douglas.
Falcon Code.
A variation of the Charlie
Echo Code.
Fantail.
An open deck at the rear of
a ship, usually where trash was
dumped overboard.
Fartsack.
Sleeping bag or mattress
cover.
Fathom.
A unit of measurement which
is essentially the distance between
the fingers of outstreached arms. Originally "faedm" an Anglo Saxon
word meaning hug or embrace, fadems were marked on a rope by a knot so
that when thrown overboard attached to an anchor a sailor would count
off the knots or fathoms to the bottom.
(Source:
"Salty Talk", Naval History,
U. S.
Naval Institute, October 2002)
FEBA.
Forward Edge of the Battle
Area.
Feather Merchant.
A person short or of slight
build or a person in a comfortable or
easy assignment such as headquarters duty or some staff billet. Often
used for all civilians working for the military.
Fiddler's Green.
Historically a sailor's idea
of heaven. Many petty officer clubs
on Navy installations are given this name.
Field Day.
A day set aside for the
thorough cleaning of barracks or offices.
Field Expedient.
The art of getting the job
done despite the limitations. See
Tootsie Roll for a good example.
Field Grade.
A commissioned officer in
the grade of major, lieutenant colonel
or colonel.
Field Marshall.
A
rank in many foreign
military forces, usually the highest
ranking officer of the service. They are generally identified by the
highly decorated baton that they carry on official occasions. Vaguely
equivalent to Commandant of the Marine Corps or Chief of Naval
Operations or one of the Chiefs of Staff. Not used in the military
services of the United States because during World War II, when it was
proposed, the Chief of Staff of the Army was General George Marshall
who refused to be Field Marshall Marshall. The rank in the U. S. Army
became General of the Army.
Field Marshall’s
Baton.
See Field Marshall.
Field Medical Service
School.
Often called Devil Doc
University, it is where Navy corpsmen and
dental technicians are trained for field duty with operational Marine
Corps field units.
Field Meet.
An organized series of
sporting competitions pitting one unit
against another. Organized grab ass.
Field of Fire.
The radius that an automatic
weapon can cover in an arc from port
to starboard.
Field Strip.
Take apart or disassemble as
in field strip a rifle or a
cigarette.
Called a Fox Hole by the Army and Hollywood it
is an
entrenched position for one or more Marines in a static warfare
situation.
FIIGMO.
Fuck It, I Got My Orders. Often
written
FIGMO. Someone who has received permanent change of station orders or
is ending their term of service. Either way they are Short Timers and
don't much care about anything but leaving.
Final Strength Test.
A physical fitness test given
near the end
of recruit training to determine if a recruit has improved sufficiently
based upon the results of the Initial Strength Test.
Fire In The Hole.
An alert that an explosive device
is about
to be detonated. If you hear this you probably missed all of the other
warnings and are about to be blown away.
Fire Team.
The basic infantry fighting unit
consisting of four Marines with various weapons and support. Fire teams
are combined into squads. In urban combat the fire team is being
frequently broken into Buddy Units, further de-centralizing field
control.
Firebase.
An artillery support position.
Fireman.
A Navy enlisted rank. See Seaman.
Firewatch.
A recruit's first introductin to
guard
duty. At least one recruit in each platoon remains awake and alert each
night for safety and security purposes. When boot camp structures were
made of wood the posting was absolutely necessary but since the
fireproof buildings were constructed starting in the 1960s the job has
reamined as both tradition and training.
Firewatch Medal.
National Defense Service Medal. A
medal
awarded during times of war to every person in the military with 60
days of service. It is therefore awarded to each new Marine at
graduation. The theory being that in order to qualify for the NDSM all
that was required is one tour of duty as a Firewatch.
First Lieutenant.
The second grade of commissioned
officer,
indicated by a silver bar on the collar of the uniform. The pay grade
is O-2 and is the same in the Army and Air Force. In the Navy and Coast
Guard the rank is lieutenant (junior grade) and is additionally
indicated on shoulder boards or coat cuffs by one wide and one narrow
gold stripe topped by an insignia indicating a branch (usually a gold
star in the Navy or a gold shield in the Coast Guard indicating a line
officer). In the Navy it refers to the Deck Division officer or person
in charge of general seamanship.
First of foot and right of
the line.
Honor bestowed on the U. S.
Marine Corps by the Secretary of the
Navy on Aug. 9, 1876. It means that Marines take the place of honor in
any Naval formation.
First
Sergeant of
Marines.
The senior noncommissioned
officer in a company or squadron
indicated by three chevrons and three rockers with a diamond (lozenge)
between chevrons and rockers, worn on each sleeve or collar point as
appropriate. The pay grade is E-8 and is the same in the Army. In the
Air Force the rank is senior master sergeant which is a technical
sergeant insignia with two chevrons above it. In the Navy and Coast
Guard the rank is senior chief petty officer which is a chief petty
officer with a star above the eagle. First sergeant in the Air Force is
a billet and is indicated by a lozenge between chevrons and rockers on
any insignia between master sergeant and chief master sergeant.
First Shirt.
First Sergeant.
First to Fight.
Marines have been in the
forefront of every American war since
the founding of the Corps. They entered the Revolution in 1775, even
before the Declaration of Independence was signed! Marines have carried
out more than 300 landings on foreign shores. They have served
everywhere, from the Arctic to tropics; their record for readiness
reflects pride, responsibility, and challenge.
FitRep.
Fitness Report written on
Marines in the rank of sergeant and
above which measures his or her fitness for command. It is the written
report of a Marine's career.
Flack Jacket.
Body Armor.
Flag Allotment.
A detachment of Marines
assigned for security and ceremonial
purposes to certain Navy Admirals.
Flag Officer.
Any of the general or
admiral ranks or any officer whose billet
authorizes him or her to fly a personal flag (almost never applied in
the present). Prior to the Civil War and the introduction of the rank
of admiral Navy captains in charge of squadrons or fleets were called
flag officers as a point of courtesy.
Flare Ship.
(Vietnam) C-47 twin prop
cargo plane with flares suspended from
parachutes to provide night time illumination of a battle area.
Sometimes called "Spooky" or "Puff the Magic Dragon".
A group of ships usually under the
command of a
flag officer. Also, "In the Fleet" a term used to indicate the Marine
Corps beyond boot camp and technical school. It is "in the fleet" that
a Marine does his or her job.
Fleet
Admiral.
A wartime rank given to full admirals
who command
a fleet. The rank insignia consists of five silver stars in a circle.
Fleet Admirals do not retire. This rank has been held by Admirals
Leahy, King and Nimitz who were promoted in Dec. 1944. Admiral "Bull"
Halsey received the rank a year later.
Fleet Hospital.
Naval field hospital.
Flight Line.
The place on an airfield
where the airplanes are parked. Also a
mythical item which newbies to a unit are sent in quest of.
Flight Surgeon.
A physician and Navy Medical
Officer who specializes in aviation
medicine for both the Navy and Marine Corps.
Float.
To be deployed at sea,
usually on a MEU as in "six month float"
Flotsam.
Floating wreckage of a ship
or its cargo; floating debris;
unimportant miscellaneous material.
Fluff-n-buff.
Cammies that were dried and
not pressed (fluff dry) and boots
that were brushed but not spit polished (buffed), or the person wearing
such an outfit. This was especially noticeable during inspections.
Flying Coffin
An informal name applied to a number of aircraft including
the C-119 and the CH-46.
FMF.
Fleet Marine Force.
Sometimes Fighting Mother Fuckers.
FNG.
Fucking New Guy.
FO.
Forward Observer. Usually an
artillery officer or pilot assigned
to infantry units to coordinate artillery support or air strikes in
support of the Mud Marines.
FOB
Forward Operating Base
Fore.
In front. From the naval
term.
Forecastle.
Pronounced fok' sil. An open
deck on board most ships at the bow,
usually where the anchors were secured. Generally a place for off duty
sailors to gather, tell sea stories and smoke.
Formed.
Reference to a unit of
Marines who are under the control of
someone and are standing, walking, marching, sitting or even lying in a
prescribed manner. It is said that whenever two Marines are walking
together, one is in command and the other is formed.
Former Marine.
An acceptable term for a
Marine who is not currently serving, but
make no mistake, that person is a Marine and always will be a Marine.
The editor prefers to be called a veteran Marine.
Fortitudine.
The original motto of the
Marine Corps, Latin for fortitude. It
has been replaced by Semper Fidelis.
(Vietnam)A field head
consisting of a shack
constructed over four 55 gallon drums cut in half to expedite removal
of fecal material. There was no privacy.
Final Protective Line. The
point at which a position is about to
be overrun--it signals a switch to survival instincts.
Frag.
(Vietnam) To kill a person
of superior rank, usually by throwing
a fragmentation grenade into the room or area where he or she is
located (such as a hootch
or a head).
Also to bombard with excess for the purpose of causing a problem or
creating a distraction. Additionally, a fragmentary order giving
subordinate commanders the information they require to conduct their
portion of an operation.
Free Fire Zone.
(Vietnam) Most of the area
along the DMZ
that
is a "no man's land" where standing orders allow for anyone seen in
that area to be fired upon. Toward the end of Vietnam it became
necessary to radio in a sighting and request permission to fire (widely
ignored by the troops on the line).
The government of France honored the 5th
and 6th
Marine Regiments and the 6th Machinegun Battalion with the Fourragere
for their fighting skills during World War I. Those units still wear
the award today.
Nickname for the CH-46 helicopter which
sits with
the rear portion of the craft lower than the front, squatting like a
frog (some people spell it Phrog). Also, the green scarf worn wrapped
around a Marine's neck in winter or a device attached to the duty belt
upon which a sword is attached.
Front Leaning Rest Position.
The position for pushups. Often just "the
position".
Frontierland
The 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment,
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC in the 1960s before the
new brick barracks were built. The 2nd Battalion was called the
Twilight Zone and the 3rd Battalion was called Disneyland. The 4th
Battalion was then officially the Woman Marine Battalion.
Frozen Chosin.
See Chosin Reservoir.
FTA.
Fuck the Army.
FTN.
Fuck the Navy.
FUBAB.
Fucked Up Beyond All Belief.
FUBAR.
Fucked Up Beyond All
Recognition. Another version is Fucked Up
Beyond All Repair.
Fuck You Bird.
A bird indiginous to
Southeast Asia whose call sounds exactly
like, "fuck you".
Fuller, Ben H.
Fifteenth Commandant of the
Marine Corps. The Michigan native who
was born Feb. 27, 1870 graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy and was
appointed Major General Commandant on the death of Wendell Neville,
July 9, 1930 and served until Feb. 28, 1934. He died June 8, 1937.
Funeral Pace.
The pace of march for
funerals, approximately half of quick time.
Division or Wing
Intelligence. Also a common reference to a
person's intelligence.
G-3.
Division or Wing Operations
and Training.
G-4.
Division or Wing Logistics
(which includes supply, operations,
facilities and food service).
G-ride
A civilian style vehicle with government license plates.
G-Spot.
The building containing the
majority of the division staff
organizations (designated G-1, G-2, G-3 etc.) at Camp Pendleton, CA.
GAF.
Give A Fuck.
Gaggle.
An unorganized group doing
nothing.
Gale, Anthony.
Fourth Commandant of the
Marine Corps. Born in Ireland on Sept
17, 1782, as a young Marine officer serving in the Ganges he had been
struck by a Navy junior officer whom he "called out" and shot. The
action was received as honorable by then Commandant William Burrows.
Following the death of Commandant Wharton in 1818 the position was
filled in an acting capacity by Adjutant and Inspector, Brevet Major
Samuel Miller and then by Brevet Major Archibald Henderson. Gale's
short tenure as Lieutenant Colonel Commandant was punctuated with the
dislike of the Secretary of the Navy who charged him in a court
martial. The specifications included, "being intoxicated in common dram
shops and other places of low repute." He pleaded not guilty by reason
of temporary insanity but was found guilty and sentenced to dismissal
from the service. He died about 1843 and his place of burial is
unknown. He also remains the only Commandant for whom no likeness
exists.
Galley.
Kitchen.
Gangway.
An order to clear space for
an approaching senior officer (See
Make A Hole). Also a ladder or ramp used to board and debark a ship.
Garbage Burner.
Unofficial name given to the M67A2
Flame
Thrower Tank since it was used most in Vietnam to burn garbage dumps.
Garrison.
Any place with civilized
comforts, such as showers and cots, can
be found. Not in the boonies.
Garrison Cover.
A uniform cover invented in
the 20th Century it consists of a cap
running for and aft on the head displaying on the front left the eagle
globe and anchor and on the right the rank insignia of commissioned and
warrant officers. No rank is worn on the cap by enlisted personnel.
Also called Pisscutter or Cunt Cap.
Gas Chamber.
A building used for the
training of recruits and Marines in the
actions to be taken during a Nuclear, Biological or Chemical attack.
Various gasses are used in training and all of them are noxious but
none are fatal.
Gear.
Things. Personal things such
as clothing and equipment or unit
things such as 782 gear. Essentially all things.
Gear Adrift.
Anything not
properly stowed, tied down or otherwise
secured.
Geedunk.
A snack bar on ship. Any
place that candy and pogey bait are
sold.
Geeters.
(Vietnam) Money.
General.
Highest rank in the Marine
Corps. The Commandant of the Marine
Corps is a general. The pay grade is O-10 and is designated by four
silver stars worn on collar points. The rank is the same in the Army
and Air Force. In the Navy the rank is admiral and is additionally
designated by a two inch gold band and four one inch gold bands topped
by a star on the jacket sleeves. The shoulder boards are mostly gold
with a silver fouled anchor and four silver stars..
General and Commander in
Chief.
Official wartime rank of George
Washington in 1775. He actually served in the rank of lieutenant general
General in Chief.
Rank given to Winfield Scott
after the Spanish-American War.
General of the Air Force.
A wartime rank. The rank
insignia is five silver stars in a
circle worn on collar points. Only "Hap" Arnold has held this rank. He
was promoted to General of the Army in 1944 and in 1949 was made
General of the Air Force.
General of the Armies.
A rank given to General John
Pershing in 1919 to place him above
all other general officers. Unlike Generals of the Army, Pershing did
retire. He was offered the option to wear five stars but turned it
down. See Iron
Mike.
General of the Armies of the
United States.
George Washington. A rank
created on March 15, 1978 by Congress
for General Washington to make it clear that he was the senior officer
of the military services. Prior to that day he was in the grade of
Lieutenant General.
General of the Army.
A wartime rank. The rank
insignia is five silver stars in a
circle worn on collar points. Generals of the Army do not retire. This
rank has been held by George Marshall, Douglas McArthur, Dwight
Eisenhower and "Hap" Arnold, all with dates of rank of Dec. 1944. Omar
Bradley was promoted to this rank in Sept. 1950. The rank was
originally intended to be called Field
Marshall but was changed by then Chief of Staff of the Army
General George Marshall who refused to be Field Marshall Marshall.
General Officers.
Commissioned Officers in the ranks of: brigadier general,
major general, lieutenant general and general. Also called Flag
Officers because federal law authorizes a flag to be flown whenever a
general officer is present or on board. Naval and Coast Guard
equivalent is Admirals.
General Orders.
There are eleven general
orders and every Marine must memorize
them:
To take charge of this
post and all government property in
view.
To walk my post in a
military manner, keeping always on the
alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or
hearing.
To report all violations
of orders I am instructed to
enforce.
To repeat all calls from
posts more distant from the
guardhouse than my own.
To quit my post only
when properly relieved.
To receive, obey, and
pass on to the sentry who relieves me,
all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and
officers and noncommissioned officers of the guard only.
To talk to no one except
in the line of duty.
To give the alarm in
case of fire or disorder.
To call the corporal of
the guard in any case not covered by
instructions.
To salute all officers
and all colors and standards not
cased.
To be especially
watchful at night, and during the time for
challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow
no one to pass without proper authority.
General Quarters.
The highest condition of alert on board ship it pulls the
crew from their normal work assignments to a warfighting stance. In
wooden ships with rigging, a portion of the Marine Detachment would
report to the rigging as sharpshooters while others would report to a
gun crew. In the modern Navy, the Marines usually manned one or more
guns (which were usually painted with an eagle globe and anchor and
generally were known to have the highest accuracy of all gun
crews). Since 1998 there have been no Marines assigned as part
of
the ship’s crew of any U.S. Navy ship.
Get A Hat.
To leave.
Get Some.
(Vietnam)To kill enemy. Also
to have sex.
Ghost Turds.
Blanket lint, much like
drier lint, that accumulates on the deck
as if by magic.
GI.
Government Issue. A member
of the military services. Originally
the stamp on buckets indicating galvanized iron.
GI Bill.
Originally GI Bill of
Rights. Financial assistance provided to
people who have or are serving in the military for educational and home
purchasing purposes. Administered by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
GI Can.
Galvanized Iron Can. Garbage
can. Shit can.
GI Shower.
Given to someone who usually
is in need of a shower but who
refuses. The offender is forced into the shower (sometimes blindfolded)
where others scrub him or her with scrub brushes or steel wool. The
intent is to encourage him or her to maintain minimal standards of
cleanliness and the outcome is often painful and even bloody. It is an
illegal assault and can be punished under the UCMJ. It happens rarely.
Gitmo.
Guantanimo Bay, Cuba.
GMT.
See Zulu Time.
Go Juice.
Fuel, gasoline, diesel, JP,
etc.
Goat Heads.
Thorns indigenous to
California. On field exercises they stick to
everything and are a major nuisance.
Goat Locker.
Navy Chief Petty Officer's
quarters. From the Naval tradition
that goats brought on board for milk were under the charge of the
chiefs. Probably the origin of the phrase Old Goat. See Menopause
Manor.
Goat Rope.
Similar to a Cluster Fuck
except that this activity comes from
the Head Shed.
Gobbler.
(Okinawa or Japan) A female
in a Turkey Bar who provides oral sex
for a fee.
Gofasters.
Sneakers.
Good Conduct Medal.
An individual award given to
an enlisted Marine for three
consecutive years of undetected crime while on active duty.
Good Cookie.
Marine
Corps Good Conduct
Medal. The Air Force in 2006 stopped issuing Good Conduct Medals saying
that good conduct was normal conduct and it made no sense to reward
normal behavior. Marines have a slightly different approach to the
concept.
Good to go.
A phrase delivered with the
usual Marine exuberance meaning I am
ready or the piece of equipment is ready or that despite what may
appear to be obstacles, the mission will be completed.
Gook
(Not
PC)A crude term
for anyone of oriental
extraction--particularly an enemy (North Korean, North Vietnamese). The
term began during the Korean war as the Korean character for American
is pronounced "me-gook". Children in particular would point to the
American GIs and say "me-gook" and the gesture was
misinterpreted. The GIs quickly began calling Koreans "gooks"
and
the term was revived in Vietnam to mean all asian peoples.
Gooner
Alternate form of Gook
Gortex
A semi-permeable material designed to keep the wearer warm
and dry
by allowing excessive body moisture to escape through the material
while keeping rain and other moisture out.
Gouge, The.
A take off on "scoop" it
suggest that this information is from a
reliable source.
Gourd.
The human head.
Grade.
The relative position of a
person to other persons of similar
rank. See pay grade.
Grape.
A person's head.
Grass.
Marajuana. See also Mary
Jane, Iceplant.
Gray Jr., Alfred M.
Twenty ninth Commandant of
the Marine Corps serving from July 1,
1987 until June 30, 1991. The New Jersey native was born June 22, 1928.
Grease.
(Vietnam) To kill.
Green Belt
A Marine with the mid-level of martial arts training in the
Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.
Green Eye.
Starlight Scope. The first generation of night vision
equipment. First used in Vietnam, it was
very large
and very heavy.
Green Machine.
A derogatory term used by
Marines to mean the Marine Corps. Also
used regularly by the Army to proudly describe the Army.
Green Side Out.
The steel pot helmets before
Kevlar came with a cover that had
green camoflage on one side and brown on the other. The decision of
which color was to be worn to a formation was often left to a second
lieutenant who couldn't make up his or her mind resulting in frequent
changes and confusion. The term came to mean the leadership was
confused as usual.
Green Weenie.
Sometimes the Big Green
Weenie. It's what the Marine Corps uses
to screw you with.
Greene, Wallace M.
Twenty third Commandant of
the Marine Corps serving from Jan. 1,
1964 until Dec. 31, 1967. The Naval Academy graduate was born Dec. 27,
1907 and died March 8, 2003. He is buried at Arlington National
Cemetery.
Greenwich Mean Time.
See Zulu Time.
Grid Square.
A standard grid square on a
military map is 1000 meters by 1000
meters. Also called a click.
Grinder.
A large field, usually
paved, upon which formations and parades
are held. See Parade Deck.
Grog.
An alcoholic beverage issued
to sailors and Marines aboard ship
until the Civil War. The recipe varied but was most commonly half rum
and half water. See Splice the Main Brace.
Ground Guide.
A person who walks in front
of a tank in congested areas like
tank parks to guide the tank by the use of recognized and standardized
hand signals.
Ground Pounder.
An infantryman, a grunt.
Group
A sub-division of an Air
Wing. Equivalent to a regiment in
infantry terms.
Group Tighteners.
1) Another nonexistant
search & fetch item for rookies, a-la
bucket of steam, 2) A placebo drop of solvent or oil placed on the
sights of the weapon of an unsuspecting marksmanship trainee, placed
there by a range instructor as a last resort to instill confidence and
get the idiot qualified, 3) Adult beverages employed by competition
marksmen to either relax after a day of dealing with recruits or to
combat match butterflies prior to competing. See Recruit Punishment.
Grunt.
Originally a pejorative term
for Infantry Marines but now a
source of pride.
GU11.
The Navy version of the Air
Force B1RD.
Guide.
The person responsible for
the unit guidon and upon whom the unit
forms when in formation.
Guidon.
The official pennant of a
platoon or company. At battalion or
squadron level or above the unit has official colors and they parade in
relation to the national flag.
Gun.
Artillery or other weaponry
in which the barrel does not contain
rifling (lands and grooves) used to spin a projectile for greater
accuracy.
Gun Bunny.
Pejorative term for someone
in the field artillery.
Gung Ho.
Eager and ready to
accomplish whatever task necessary.
Gungy.
Gung Ho, but usually to
express "in an inexperienced,
just-out-of-recruit-training" way.
Gunner.
A Marine warrant officer in
the MOS 0306 Infantry Weapons
Officer. The name is often given to all warrant officers but that is
not correct. A person of this rank will replace the insignia of rank on
his right collar with a bursting bomb insignia. See also “lipstick lieutenant”.
The name was also
often given to an enlisted machine gunner (MOS 0331).
Gunnery
Sergeant of Marines.
A noncommissioned officer in
pay grade E-7 who wears three
chevrons and two rockers with crossed rifles between them on both
sleeves or collar points as appropriate. In the Army that pay grade is
a sergeant first class (essentially the same insignia in different
colors without the crossed rifles) and in the Air Force it is master
sergeant (the insignia of a technical sergeant with one chevron above
the five rockers. In the Navy and Coast Guard it is chief petty officer
(three inverted chevrons with an inverted rocker above, upon which is
perched an American eagle).
Gunny.
A term of respect for a
gunnery sergeant but not generally used
by junior Marines. See Company Gunny.
GWOT.
Global War on Terrorism.
Gyrene.
A diminutive form of Marine.
Seldom used by Marines.
33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps who served from January
2003 until November 2006.
Haj or Haji or
Haçi.
(Iraqi Freedom) An Iraqi citizen. A local (usually a good
guy). Also Haggie, from the Johnny Quest cartoon who has a sidekick
named Haggie (supposedly meaning friend).
(Vietnam) The most reviled
C-ration meal which was so bad you
couldn't even give it away to the locals. The meal included apricots.
Sometimes called the dead man's meal because it was said that if you
ate apricots before going into battle you would be hit.
Hamlet.
(Vietnam) A village of less
than 100 residents.
Harper's Ferry.
The location of John Brown's
ill fated uprising in 1859 and of
his capture by U. S. Marines under the command of Army Lieutenant
Colonel Robert E. Lee. The Marines were led by Lt Israel Greene who
later resigned his commission to join the Confederate States Marines.
Marine Private Luke Quinn was killed when he breached a hole in the
firehouse door and was shot by John Brown and can, arguably, be
considered the first casualty of the Civil War.
Harris, John.
Sixth Commandant of the
Marine Corps. Born in Chester County, PA
on May 20, 1790 he became Colonel Commandant on the death of
long-serving Archibald
Henderson and served through the Civil War. His leadership is
overshadowed by his personal battles with other senior Marine officers,
one of which resulted in his report to the Secretary of the Navy after
the First Battle of Bull Run in which he ignored the accolades of
senior Army commanders on the field and reported that it was "the first
instance in history where any portion of its members [The Marine
battalion] turned their backs
on the enemy." The erroneous report has stained the reputation of the
Corps for eternity. He died, in office, on May 12, 1864.
Hashmark.
Stripes worn on forearm of
dress and service uniforms by enlisted
Marines, each denotes 4 yrs of service.
The civilian community
outside the main gate of MCAS Cherry
Point, NC. Also a cloth hanging from the back of a cap or hat to
protect the neck (a la the French Foreign Legion). Once part of the U.
S. Navy uniform hat it now exists only on the female dress hat in a
much smaller form.
Latrine or toilet, from the naval term.
In the
sailing navy the forecastle (pronounced folk-sill) was the most forward
deck open to the weather and was the place sailors were allowed to
gather to relax and entertain each other. One corner of the forecastle,
with a wide scupper, was where sailors went to the bathroom. As the
forecastle was in the front or "head" of the ship, a sailor on the way
to relieve himself would declare that he was on the way to the head.
Head Shed.
Often Hed Shed. Headquarters or Command
Post where
all of the leaders are gathered. A great place for a Marine to stay
away from.
Heat Tab.
Fuel for a C-Ration Stove. A tablet of
blue
Trioxin, which caused fumes which irritated the eyes and respiratory
tract if ventilation holes weren't large enough. In that case, a whole
heat tab had to be used. With a properly vented stove, only half a
Trioxin heat tab was needed to heat the meal and then the other half
could be used to heat water for coffee or cocoa. A small chunk of C-4
explosive could also be substituted for the Trioxin tablet for faster
heating. It would burn hotter and was much better for heating water.
Helo.
Helicopter.
Henderson, Archibald.
Fifth Commandant of the Marine Corps,
known as the
"Grand Old Man of the Corps" he served the longest in the position--38
years. The Virginia native was born on Jan. 21, 1783 and served as
Acting Commandant from Sept. 16, 1818 until Gale's appointment on March
3, 1819. He was named Lieutenant Colonel Commandant at the conclusion
of Gale's court martial which cashiered him from the service, Oct. 17,
1820. During Henderson's tenure he led the Marines in the Indian Wars
in Florida, reportedly tacking a note to the door of the Commandant's
House saying, "Gone to fight the Indians, be back when the war is
over". He also became the first Colonel Commandant and was awarded a
Brevet promotion to Brigadier General. As medals has not yet been
introduced into the U. S. military, bravery, meritorious and
exceptional service were recognized by honorary, or brevet, promotions.
In the social setting of
Washington he was known as General Henderson but he always signed
official documents as Colonel Commandant.
Henderson Hall.
A building in Arlington Va close to the
Pentagon
used to house enlisted Marines assigned to HQMC at the Pentagon and
other administrative functions. The building was named for Brevet
Brigadier General, Colonel Commandant Archibald Henderson, the Grand
Old Man of the Corps.
Herkimer.
See Blivet.
Herringbone.
A World War II fabric in a field green
color that
was used to make utility uniforms. The herringbone pattern was phased
out during Korea and by Vietnam was only worn by real salts. The last Marines to be issued
herringbone
utilities were female Marines in boot camp at Parris Island in 1964
(the editor's wife was one of those Marines).
Heywood, Charles.
Ninth Commandant of the
Marine Corps. Born in Maine Oct. 3, 1839
he became Colonel Commandant on Jan. 30, 1891 and served in the
position until Oct. 2, 1903. On March 3, 1899 the billet of Commandant
was again raised to Brigadier General and on July 1, 1902 a law was
passed promoting the incumbent to Major General Commandant but
requiring that his replacement be a Brigadier General. He died on Feb.
26, 1915.
High and Tight.
The traditional Marine
haircut.
Hiyoko.
To bug out in a big hurry.
HMFIC.
Head Mother Fucker In
Charge. An Eubonic version is HMFWIC for
Head Mother Fucker What's In Charge.
Holcomb, Thomas.
Seventeenth Commandant of
the Marine Corps. Born in Delaware Aug.
5, 1879 he was named Major General Commandant on Dec. 1, 1936. On Jan.
20, 1942 a new law provided for the Commandant to be a Lieutenant
General and provided that the title be "Commandant of the Marine
Corps", dropping the reference to rank. He retired from the Marine
Corps on Dec. 31, 1943 and the next day was promoted to General on the
retired list (See Tombstone Brigadier General), the first Marine to
hold that rank. He died May 24, 1965. Following his retirement he
served as Ambassador to South Africa.
Hole.
Window, from the naval term
porthole. See “make
a hole”.
Hollywood Marine.
Marines trained at MCRD San
Diego, CA. It is rumored among Parris
Island Marines that Hollywood Marines are issued sun glasses in boot
camp. There are no female Hollywood Marines since all female Marines go
through boot camp in the 4th Recruit Training Battalion (formerly WM
Battalion) at MCRD Parris Island, SC.
Honcho.
The person in charge which
is not necessarily the person assigned
to be in charge. See HMFIC.
Honey Bucket.
Any bucket used to clean out
a toilet, usually carried in pairs
on a stick by Oriental women and men.
(Vietnam) Living quarters, originally
occupied
by enlisted Marines, the word later become a general term for wherever
a Marine was living. The civilian word crib is essentially the same.
Horse Blanket.
A thick wool blanket or the heavy wool
overcoat
once issued to all Marines and seldom worn.
Horse Marines.
See China Marines.
Hospital Corners.
A method of making a rack where the top
blanket
is squared off at the corners leaving one 45 degree angle on each
corner. The procedure allows the blanket to be tucked under making it
straight and tight.
Hostess House.
An on-base hotel for guests of Marines.
Hotel Street.
(WWII)The vice district of Honolulu,
Hawaii
which contained 20 brothels and around 200 prostitutes. Customers would
pay $3 for 3 minutes and the women (mostly imported from the mainland)
would service up to 100 customers per day (martial law rules imposed a
curfew during the hours of darkness).
House Mouse.
A recruit (or low ranking Marine in the
fleet)
who provides assistance to the drill instructor (or unit leaders) in
the form of keeping the drill instructor hut (or NCO quarters) tidy and
other minor tasks and chores. It is an informal position and the person
is selected by the drill instructor often receives one of the
promotions given at the conclusion of basic training. Some units in the
fleet also use the term to mean a junior member of an organization
assigned duties such as coffee mess and other domestic chores.
Housewife.
(Civil War through WW II) Sewing kit.
HQ.
Headquarters.
HQMC.
Headquarters Marine Corps. Located in
the
Pentagon. Previously at the Navy Annex on a plot of land where the Air
Force Monument will be built (The original site for the AF Monument was
on Arlington Ridge adjacent to the Marine Corps Memorial but Marines
and their friends fought that placement as inappropriate.)
Huey.
UH1E, the designation of a helicopter
used
extensively in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam period.
Hump.
A field march or extended hike. To work
hard.
Also, to fornicate.
HUSS.
(Korea & Vietnam) An early Marine aircraft
designation
often used to mean helicopter so that when someone would request a
helicopter they woud say "get me a huss." Later it came regularly to
mean do me a favor or help me out as in "Cut me a huss."
Links to another web
site with more info.
Indicates additional reading on this
topic.
(Vietnam)The most northern of four
Corps areas
into which South Vietnam was divided. I Corps was Marine territory
while the Army controlled II, III and IV Corps.
IBGB.
(Vietnam) Itty Bitty Gook Boats. Small
Vietnamese fishing junks in the DaNang area. Early in the 1960s they
were prevalent but by the end of the decade they were nearly extinct.
ICB
Infantry Combat Boots
Iceplant
(Vietnam) See Grass.
ID 10 Tango
Some times India Delta 10 Tango or, without the phoenetics,
ID10T
and without the numbers IDIOT. One is sometimes asked to
locate
the ID 10 Tango Form.
The term was not authorized in the
Marine
Corps and when used would subject a Marine to a reprimand. Marines
remembered General Eisenhower's comment that he would have no Marines
in Europe (having forgotten that his reserve force in Northern Ireland
was Marine and paying no attention to the OSS personnel in the
theater). A uniform jacket of similar design was authorized just after
World War II and continued into the early 1960s. It was a forest green
fabric with a faux belt and no skirt below the belt. See Battle Jacket.
Illumination.
Night artillery fire used to
illuminate an area using a
phosphorous filament suspended by a parachute.
Improvise, Adapt and
Overcome.
An unofficial mantra of the
Marine Corps based on the fact that
the Corps generally received Army hand-me-downs and the troops were
poorly equipped. Despite this, the Marine Corps has been successful
mostly because of the creativity of its people and their success-based
attitude.
In Country.
(Vietnam) Serving (or having
served) in Vietnam. (Iraq) Serving (or having served) in Iraq. Often
used to refer to any current combat zone.
Physical exercise used as a
punishment to instill motivation,
particularly in a Marine recruit during boot camp. Also called
quarterdecking or being pitted (as outside it is usually conducted in a
special sand pit designed for the purpose)
Incindiary.
An artillery shell that
burns upon impact, usually stuffed with
white phosphorous.
Incoming.
An alert that something is
coming at you, often enemy fire or
artillery.
A physical test given early
in the training of a recruit to
determine if the recruit meets minimum fitness standards and to set a
baseline for measuring progress.
Ink Stick.
Pen (a writing instrument).
Irish Pennant.
A string hanging randomly
from a Marine’s uniform. Longer
ones are sometimes called rappelling ropes or cables. A squared away
Marine will be free of Irish pennants, particularly at an
inspection. Appears to have originated after World War II and
referred originallly to the green-colored service or class A uniform
due to the connection between the Irish and the color green.
A statue of a World War I Marine at
Quantico,
VA with a copy on Parris Island, SC. The original was made by the
government of France to thank the Americans for their aid in World War
I. When it was presented to General Pershing he noticed that the
Doughboy holding aloft an M1911 A1 pistol had a Marine Corps emblem on
his helmet. Pershing refused to accept the sculpture and it was given
to the Marines.
A flag at the bow of a ship
or sometimes a sailor, from the Royal
Navy term for sailor--Jack Tar. The Jack of a United States ship has a
blue field and 50 white stars and is flown from the bow while in port.
During courts martial or courts of inquiry on board the Jack is flown
from the yardarm.
Jacksonville.
The civilian community
adjacent to Camp Lejeune, NC.
JAG.
Judge Advocate General. The
head of the legal branch of the
military services. Military lawyers are generally called "JAGs" in
reference to serving in the JAG's organization.
Jarhead.
A pejorative term for a
Marine. One account suggests that it
refers to the Marine high and tight haircut which is cut almost to the
skin at the ears with a bit more as it goes up the head giving the
appearance of a jar. Another legend says that during World War II the
Mason Jar Company stopped making jars and made the helmets for Marines.
The part of a ship, its
equipment, or cargo that is cast
overboard to lighten the load in time of distress and that sinks or is
washed ashore.
JG.
Refers to a Navy lieutenant
junior grade.
Jody.
Traditionally the civilian
who moves in on your girl while you
are serving in the Marine Corps.
Joe.
Coffee. Josephus Daniels (18
May 1862-15 January 1948) was
appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913.
Among his reforms of the Navy were inaugurating the practice of making
100 Sailors from the Fleet eligible for entrance into the Naval
Academy, the introduction of women into the service, and the
abolishment of the officers' wine mess. From that time on, the
strongest drink aboard Navy ships could only be coffee and over the
years, a cup of coffee became known as "a cup of Joe".
Joe Shit The Rag Man.
The generic screw up or an
un-squared away Marine.
John Wayne.
The tool included in each
case of C-Rations used to open the
cans. See P-38.
John Wayne Crackerbox
Junior.
A name used by SSgt. Ed
Johnson (the editor’s senior drill
instructor) in 1962 to refer to any male person. According to SSgt.
Johnson, he had a sister named Suzy Rottencrotch--which was a reference
to any female person.
Join the Navy and Ride the
WAVES.
An impolite term used to
deride women sailors who are known as WAVES
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A Department of Defense
organization consisting of the Chiefs of
Staff of the Army and Air Force, the Chief of Naval Operations and the
Commandant of the Marine Corps. Their chairman is appointed by the
President. While each member retains control of their specific service,
the JCS commands the Unified Commands.
Jones, James L.
Thirty
second Commandant of
the Marine Corps served from July
1, 1999 January 2003. He made history by becoming the first Commandant
to remain on active duty after the conclusion of his term in office. He
served as Commander of U. S. Forces Europe and Supreme Allied Commander
of NATO (the first Marine in the two-headed position) until his
retirement in 2006. The Missouri native was born Dec. 19, 1943.
Jungle Boots.
(Vietnam era)Boots designed
to meet the peculiar climate of
Vietnam. Made from standard field boots the upper leather was replaced
with a breathable canvas that would dry while being worn and the sole
was reinforced with a steel shank in response to the Punji Sticks.
Jungle Bunny.
(Korean War Period) Grunt,
infantryman.
Junior Drill Instructor.
See Drill Instructor.
Junk on the bunk.
An inspection of a
Marine’s uniforms and equipment in which
everything is laid out in a specified order on the bunk bed. Also
called “things on the springs” or “sea
bag
inspection”.
A fighting knife used most
particularly by reconnaissance
Marines. It has also been issued to other Marines, such as air crew,
from time to time. Also called a Kaybar.
K-rations.
World War II individual
field rations. Universally detested for
their lack of taste and rubbery consistency they were replaced by
C-rations.
Kaibosh.
To cancel or cause something
to stop.
KBay.
MCAS(Helicopter)
Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii.
Now MCBH.
KC-130.
US Air Force 4-engine cargo
plane with a rear ramp. Can carry a
combat-ready Marine rifle platoon.
KIA.
Killed in Action.
Kelley, Paul X.
Twenty eighth Commandant of
the Marine Corps serving from July 1,
1983 until June 30, 1987. The Massachusetts native was born Nov. 11,
1928.
Kevlar
A bullet resistant material used in flack vests and
helmets. Often refers to the Kevlar combat helmet.
Kin Ville.
The small town outside of
Camp Hansen in the Northern part of
Okinawa.
King Neptune.
The mythological God of the
Sea. He always presides, with his
court, at Line-Crossing Ceremonies.
Kiwi®.
The preferred brand of shoe
polish for Marines since World War
II. Also the national bird of New Zealand, and a nickname for a New
Zealander. A registered trade mark of the Sara Lee Corporation.
Kiwi Injection.
A good, sharp, quick kick in
the ass.
Klick.
See Click.
KP.
Kitchen Police. Duty
assigned to junior enlisted Marines,
sometimes as punishment.
Krulak, Charles C.
Thirty first Commandant of
the Marine Corps serving from July 1,
1995 until June 30, 1999. The Virginia native and Naval Academy
graduate was born Mar. 4, 1942.
The rank between private
first class and corporal. It is not a
noncommissioned officer rank and the insignia is a single chevron with
crossed rifles beneath it worn on each sleeve of the uniform. The pay
grade is E-3 and is equivalent to a private first class in the Army
(who wears a single chevron and a rocker) and an airman first class in
the Air Force (who wears two inverted chevrons with a star in a circle
covering the points of the chevrons). In the Navy and Coast Guard the
rank is seaman (three angular stripes in a box on the left sleeve only).
Landing Party Manual.
The complete book of what to
do and when to do it that guided the
Marine Corps through most of the 20th Century. Now obsolete, copies are
prized by professional Marines for the wealth of information and simple
approach to leadership, morale, discipline, warfighting and
professionalism.
LAW.
Light Antitank Weapon. It
was contained in a collapsible,
disposable fiberglass tube.
LBE.
Load Bearing Equipment.
Often "web gear" worn by infantry
personnel to hold packs and tools and weapons and first aid kits and
whatever is worn by the person in the field.
LBFM.
Little Brown Fucking
Machine. A pejorative term for South Pacific
island girls Marines encounter while on liberty.
LBV.
Load Bearing Vest. A vest
that holds magazines of ammunition,
grenades and a cartridge belt to which are attached other equipment
such as first aid kit, canteens and cup. See 782 Gear.
LCVP.
Small landing craft used to
transport Marines from ship to shore.
Lead Turd.
Bad idea or an idea that is
going nowhere fast.
Leatherneck.
A Marine. The phrase comes
from the early days of the Marine
Corps when enlisted men were given strips of leather to wear around
their necks. The popular concept has it that the leather was to protect
the neck from a saber slash. Truth is that it was to keep the Marines
from slouching in uniform by forcing them to keep their head up.
(Vietnam) The area south of the DMZ with the following
outposts as its corners: Con Tien (NW),
Cam Lo Hill
(SW), Cua Viet (SE) and Gia Linh (NE). Later in the war the Marines
built "Ocean View" to the east of Gia Lihn along the ocean for better
control of enemy troop movement.
Leave.
An authorized absence from
duty. Marines earn 30 days of leave
each year and are encouraged to take the time off.
Lee, Lewis G.
Thirteenth Sergeant Major of
the Marine Corps having served from
June 30, 1995 until June 30, 1999. He was born Jan. 19, 1950 in North
Carolina.
Leggings.
(First World War - Korea)
Canvas. leather or cloth bindings,
strapped, buckled, tied or wrapped to the ankles for support and to
keep out mud, snow and water. By the Korean War the Army had abandoned
the use of them but the Marine Corps retained them for their
distinctive look. When a dispatch from a Chinese Communist general was
found in which he said ordered his troops not to engage the "yellow
legs" and to seek out the less fierce Army units, the U. N. command
ordered the Marines to stop wearing the leggings.
Lejeune, John Archer.
Thirteenth Commandant of the
Marine Corps. Legendary World War I
commander he was the first Marine to command Army troops. Born in
Louisiana on Jan 10, 1867 he died on Nov. 20, 1942. He was first
appointed Major General Commandant on July 1, 1920 and was the first
Commandant to be reappointed, serving until March 4, 1929. He was also
a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy.
LES.
Leave and Earnings
Statement.
Letterhead BG.
See Tombstone Brigadier
General.
Liberty.
An authorized absence from
duty. Usually the time when not at
work or on duty. Liberty is granted by the local commander and may be
as long as 96 consecutive hours. It does not count as leave.
Liberty Hound.
A Marine who is thought to
be over consumed with liberty.
Lick 'em and Stick 'em.
Placing paper patches over
holes in targets from the butts. The
papers were coated with water-activated glue and had to be licked
before sticking on the target. Also: Lick and Stick, Taste
and Paste.
Lid.
Another acceptable word for
cover.
Lieutenant Colonel.
The fifth grade of
commissioned officer indicated by a silver oak
leaf on the collar of the uniform. The pay grade is O-5 and is the same
in the Army and the Air Force. In the Navy and the Coast Guard the rank
is commander and is additionally indicated with three broad gold bands
topped by an insignia representing a branch (usually a gold star in the
Navy and a gold shield in the Coast Guard) on shoulder boards or cuffs.
Lieutenant Commander.
The Navy and Coast Guard
rank equivalent to a Marine major. See
major.
Lieutenant General.
Third of the flag officer
ranks indicated by three silver stars
on the collar of the uniform. The pay grade is O-9 and is the same in
the Army and the Air Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard the rank is
vice admiral and is additionally indicated with a two inch gold band
topped with three one inch gold bands and a gold star in the Navy and
gold shield in the Coast Guard on coat cuffs. Mostly gold shoulder
boards sport a silver fouled anchor and three silver stars.
Lifer.
A person apparently
intending to serve on active duty until
retirement. One with extensive experience. See Refil.
Line.
All rope and cord used on
board ship is called a line.
Line Crossing Ceremony.
Held when a ship crosses the
Equator. King Neptune and his court
preside as Polliwogs are turned into Shellbacks. Similar ceremonies are
held when a ship crosses other international lines.
Line of Communication.
(Dominican Republic) A series of roads leading from San
Ysidro Airport west to the American Embassy in San Domingo, Dominican
Republic and passing the Presidential Palace. The eastern half was
controlled by the Army's 82nd Airborne Division while the western half
was Marine occupied. In the Army half, troops were hiding behind walls,
firing at ghosts and on high alert. In the Marine sector, the Marines
were being housed and fed by the locals who were doing laundry for them
while the Marines maintained control of the street from the cabana
chairs on the front porches.
Line Officer.
A Navy officer who is
“with a ship of the line” which
is every officer not a staff officer such as supply, medical, judge
advocate, chaplain, etc.
Lipstick.
In the mid-20th Century the
lipstick worn by Women Marines was
all the same shade-Montezuma Red. The color survives in the color of
the cord on the female enlisted Marine’s garrison cap.
Lipstick Lieutenant.
A pejorative term for a
Marine warrant officer. The term is
derived from the fact that the insignia for warrant officers are the
first and second lieutenants’ gold and silver bars with
stripes
of red. Well liked warrant officers are informally addressed as gunner,
all others are addressed as Mister or warrant officer.
Liquid Asshole.
Beer.
Lister Bag.
(Vietnam) A long canvas bag
suspended on a tripod or from a tree
limb containing drinking water. The canvas would "sweat" and provide
natural cooling for the water.
Loader.
The tank crewman on a gun
tank responsible for operating the .30
cal. machine gun and loading the 90 mm cannon.
Lock and Load.
The firing line command to
put the weapon's safety to the on
position and load the weapon with ammunition and await further orders
from the range officer. In combat an informal command to prepare to
fight.
LP.
(Vietnam) Listening Post
usually set up at night to provide
warning of an enemy attack.
LPC.
Leather Personnel Carriers.
Shoes or boots.
LPH.
Landing Platform,
Helicopter. World War II aircraft carriers
converted to accomodate squadrons of helicopters which could transport
Marines behind enemy lines while others attacked from the beachhead.
LPM.
See Landing Party Manual.
LSD.
Landing Ship, Dock. A ship
designed by Admiral John Sidney McCain
specifically for amphibious operations. Its center is a floodable dock
where Marines and their equipment can be loaded into landing craft
which can then be floated out the aft door and onto the beach.
LST.
Landing Ship, Tank. A ship
designed to run its bow onto a beach
with its bow doors open and discharge Marines and their equipment
directly into battle.
Lubriplate®.
A commercial lubricant used
to protect the wear points of
weapons.
LVTP-7.
Amphibious Tractor (Amtrack)
transported Marines from an LST or
LPD to and over the beachhead, if necessary. Called Large Vulnerable
Target, they were renamed AAVP-7 "Tuna Boats".
LZ. Helicopter
Landing Zone. A field position usually
designated with a name (LZ Lark, LZ Betty, LX Mouse).
A fluid used by Marines to
renew emblems and metal rank which are
showing metal through the black coloring. Originally dark brown since
Marine Corps emblems were that color until about 1960 when emblems and
shoes became black. The name stands for eMblem-reNU.
M1.
The U.S. rifle caliber .30
[30-06], M1, is an air-cooled,
gas-operated, clip-fed, semiautomatic shoulder weapon. The primary
infantry weapon of World War II and Korea. It replaced the Springfield
M1903 and was replaced by the M14.
M1/M2.
.30 cal. carbine rifle.
M2.
"Heavy barrel" .50 cal.
machine gun developed just after WWI and
still being used into the 21st Century.
M3A1.
Shoulder fired, blowback
operated .45 cal. submachinegun with
30-round magazine known as the "grease gun". A favorite of garrison
officers. Standard on-board weapon for most tank crews.
M7.
Larger, circular baseplate
for the M224 mortar.
M7A3 CS.
Riot Control Hand Grenade.
This 19 oz weapon contains 9.5 oz of
CS that when ignited gives off a thick cloud of irritating agent for
approximately 60 seconds.
M8.
Smaller, rectangular
baseplate for the M224 mortar.
M9.
Baretta 9mm pistol with 15
round magazine which replaced the
M19llA1 in the 1990s.
M14
M14.
The U.S. rifle, caliber 7.62
mm [308 Winchester], M14, is an
air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder weapon. It is designed
primarily for semiautomatic fire. An infantry weapon in use between
Korea and early Vietnam. It replaced the M1 and was replaced by the
M16.
M15.
White phosphorous hand
grenade replaced by the M34.
M16.
The U.S. rifle, caliber 5.56
mm [223 Remington], M16, is a
lightweight air cooled, gas operated, magazine fed, shoulder weapon. It
is capable of both semiautomatic and full automatic fire. The basic
infantry rifle that replaced the M14 at the start of the Vietnam War.
It was designed by Eugene Stoner for the Armalite Company and was
produced by Colt. See Mattel.
M18.
Colored Smoke Hand Grenade.
Emits either red, green or yellow
smoke for up to 1.5 minutes. Color is marked on the canister.
M25A2 CS.
Riot Control Hand Grenade
weighing 7.5 oz with 3.5 oz of CS gas
with a unique arming system unlike any other grenade in the inventory.
The use and effect is the same as the M7A3.
M26.
Fragmentation hand grenade.
Hand-thrown with a 7-second delay
from arming to explosion.
M34.
White phosphorous smoke hand
grenade. This 27.2 oz weapon
contains 12 oz of white phosphorous.
M47.
Dragon Weapon System.
Man-portable, shoulder-fired, medium range
antitank weapon.
M48A3.
Main battle tank in Vietnam
with a 90 mm main gun, coaxial
mounted .30 cal machine gun and a coupola mounted .50 cal. machine gun
with a crew of 4. The 850 horse Chrysler air-cooled diesel engine
provided a crusing range of approximately 200 miles. It weighed 52 tons
combat loaded.
M60.
Air cooled, belt fed,
gas-operated, fully automatic,
shoulder-fired standard infantry machine gun 7.62 mm with bipod and
replacement barrels.
M64.
Sight for the M224 mortar.
M67.
Fragmentation hand grenade.
This 14 oz hand weapon contains 6.5
oz of composition B. The average Marine can throw it 40 meters and it
has a casualty producing radius of 15 meters.
Flame thrower tank with 260 gallon
bottle of
napalm, a coaxial mounted .30 cal. machine gun and a crew of three. It
had a cruising range of 200 miles and weighed 50 tons combat loaded.
M69.
Training and practice
grenades. The
training
version has all inert or expended parts, the only removable item is the
pin. The practice grenade is the same as the training grenade except
that it uses an active M228 fuse to indicate delay times and add
realism to training.
M79.
Shoulder-held, 40 mm, single
shot
grenade
launcher with a range of 400 meters. Called a "blooper" from the sound
it made when fired.
M103.
Heavy gun tank with a 120 mm
main cannon
of
extremely long range.
M170.
Bipod for the M224 mortar.
M203.
Light weight, single-shot,
breech-loaded, pump
action (sliding barrel), shoulder-fired weapon attached to the M16A2
rifle.
M224.
60 mm Mortar consisting of
the M225
cannon, the
M170 bipod and the M64 sight as well as two types of base plates, the
circular M7 and the rectangular M8.
M225.
Cannon for the M224 mortar.
M228.
Hand grenade fuse.
M249.
SAW or Squad Automatic
Weapon, it
replaced the
BAR. The SAW is a gas-operated, belt/magazine-fed, aircooled,
automatic, shoulder-fired weapon 5.56 mm. Typically there are nine SAWs
in a basic infantry platoon.
M1903.
Springfield bolt-action .30
cal rifle
which was
replaced by the M1 in the mid 1930s. The Marine Corps used them through
much of World War II.
M1911A1.
The automatic pistol, caliber 45 is a
recoil
operated, magazine fed hand weapon. Used from World War I until the
1990s, it has been replaced by the M9.
M1917A1
Browning water cooled
machine gun.
M1918.
Browning Automatic Rifle,
known
universally as
the BAR.
M1919A4.
Browning .30 cal. machine
gun.
Maggot.
One of the lowest forms of
life. Also a
Marine
who spends most of his or her time trying to obtain a discharge.
MAG.
Marine Air Group. A unit in an air wing
equivalent to an infantry regiment. Commanded by a colonel.
Marine Air Ground Task Force. A unit
with both
air and ground elements but not MEU or MEB.
Maggie’s Drawers.
A red flag waved from the
rifle pits to
indicate
a complete miss of the target during qualification firing.
Mail Buoy.
A non-existent navigational
aid used in
a
practical joke by "salty" Marines and sailors. Allegedly, the mail buoy
or sea buoy was a device to which passing ships or aircraft would
attach packets of mail. Inexperienced Marines or sailors were assigned
to "guard duty" and told to be on the look out for the buoy. It was
part of an informal initiation rite.
Main Bottle.
360 gallon bottle of napalm
on the M67A2
flame
thrower tank. A cluster of nine air bottles surrounded the main bottle
to provide air for combustion.
Mainside.
The main portion of a base
or
installation where
the headquarters are located along with the Marine Corps Exchange and
theater. As opposed to “in the field” or the
boonies.
Major.
The fourth grade of
commissioned officer
and
first of the field grades is indicated by a gold oak leaf on the collar
points. The pay grade is O-4 and is the same in the Army and Air Force.
In the Navy and Coast Guard the rank is lieutenant commander and is
additionally indicated with two broad bands of gold with one narrow
band between them topped with an insignia representing the branch to
which the officer is assigned (most often a gold star in the Navy) or a
gold shield in the Coast Guard.
Major General.
Second of the flag officer
ranks indicated by two silver stars on
the collar points of the uniform. The pay grade is O-8 and is the same
in the Army and the Air Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard the rank is
rear admiral (upper half) and is additionally indicated with a two inch
gold band and two one inch gold bands and a gold star (Navy) or gold
shield (Coast Guard) above on the coat cuffs. The shoulder board is the
same as rear admiral (lower half) except that there are two silver
stars rather than one.
Make a hole.
A phrase used to move a
group of people not in formation out of
the way of a formed unit or a person senior in rank.
Malingerer.
A Marine or recruit who
spends too much time at sick call or
makes other excuses to get out of training or duty. It is a punishable
offense under the UCMJ.
Maltreatment.
A problem in Marine Corps
recruit training in the middle of the
20th Century, now resolved. Recruit training, while difficult and
demanding, is not life threatening. Each of the very few accidents is
thoroughly investigated and reviewed. See Ribbon Creek.
Mameluke
Sword.
The sword worn on parade and
formal occasions by Marine
commissioned and warrant officers. The first Mameluke sword was
presented to Marine Lieutenant Presley N. O’Bannon by Prince
Hamet Bey the Pasha of Tripoli in 1805 during which the United States
flag was flown for the first time in the Old World.
Manning the Rails.
When entering or leaving
port or when rendering special honors
the ship's compliment will dress in full dress uniforms and stand along
the rails or in the rigging at the position of attention.
Manual of Arms.
The prescribed movements
involving the use of weapons, including
swords, in parades and ceremonies.
The United States Marine
Band, "The President's Own," is located
at Marine Barracks 8th and I, Washington, DC. It is the official band
of the Marine Corps. Other bands exist at division, air wing and depot
levels throughout the Marine Corps.
At Guantanamo Bay, Cuba 25
April 1913, Marines of the Second
Provisional Brigade formed the Marine Corps Association. John A.
Lejeune, then a lieutenant colonel, headed its first executive
committee. The purpose of the MCA was defined then and continues to
drive the Association.
To disseminate knowledge of the military art and science among members.
To provide for
professional advancement.
To foster the spirit and
preserve the traditions of the
Marine Corps.
To increase the
efficiency of the Marine Corps and to further
the interest of the military and Naval Services in all ways not
inconsistent with the good of the general government.
Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
Any event from a buffet
dinner to a mess night held on or close
to November 10th each year to commemorate the birthday of the United
States Marine Corps in 1775. To qualify it must have a decorated cake
so that the first two pieces go to the oldest and youngest Marine
present and the reading of the Commandant’s Birthday Order
and
the Birthday Order of Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune.
The correct name of the PX. On Navy bases
you will
find a Navy Exchange and on Army and Air Force installations they will
have Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES).
National organization of
Marines and former Marines with local
detachments throughout the country.
Marine Detachment.
A small unit of Marines
assigned as part of the ship's compliment
to provide guard duties, operate the brig, provide orderlies to the
senior Navy officers and man one or more of the guns on board. See
Seagoing Marine.
Marine Expeditionary Brigade
(MEB).
Consisting of a Regimental
Landing Team, Marine Air Group and a
services support group the MEB is commanded by a brigadier general and
is a self-sufficient fighting element.
Marine Expeditionary Force
(MEF).
Built around a complete
Division-Wing team with combat support
and combat service support groups, the MEF consists of about 53,000
Marines and sailors.
Marine Expeditionary Unit
(MEU).
The smallest of the
expeditionary organizations is built around a
Battalion Landing Team and a Composite Air Squadron. It consists of
approximately 2,500 Marines.
Marine Regs.
A term used in the Navy to
refer to Navy medical or dental
personnel who opt to wear Marine Corps uniforms while serving with
Marine Corps units. They agree to meet Marine Corps uniform regulations
including grooming and physical standards.
Marine House.
Used often in embassy duty
to designate the residence for Marines
located in a civilian neighborhood overseas or on the grounds of an
embassy. Sometimes generally used for any free-standing barracks for
Marines.
Marines Hymn.
The official song of the
United States Marine Corps.
From the Halls of
Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli
We fight out country's battles in the air, on land and sea
First to fight for right and freedom, and to keep our honor clean
We are proud to claim the title of United
States Marine.
Our flag's unfurled to every breeze, from dawn to setting sun
We have fought in every clime and place, where we could take a gun
In the snow of far off northern lands, and in sunny tropic scenes
You will find us always on the job, The
United States Marines
Here's health to you and to our Corps, which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life, and never lost our nerve
If the Army and the Navy, ever gazed on heaven's scenes
They would find the streets are guarded by, The
United States
Marines
Hear
the Marines'
Hymn
played by the United States Marine Band. (Windows Media Player
required)
Marine One.
The call sign of the Marine
aircraft in which the President of
the United States is either passenger or pilot. Usually one of the
specially built helicopters assigned to Andrews Air Force Base, Md. for
Presidential Support. Most often used to transport the President fromt
he White House lawn to Air Force One or to Camp David, Md.
MARTD.
Marine Air Reserve Training
Detachment.
Mary Jane.
See Grass.
Massaro, John E.
Eighth Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps serving from April 1,
1977 through Aug. 15, 1979. He was born on May 22, 1930 in Cleveland,
OH.
Master at Arms.
A ship’s
policeman. Usually a senior petty officer charged
with keeping order aboard ship or in a Navy organization. When
necessary he would call upon Marines to assist in his duties.
Master
Gunnery
Sergeant of Marines.
The senior enlisted
technician in any MOS. His or her insignia
is three chevrons and four rockers with a bursting bomb between
chevrons and rockers. The pay grade E-9 is shared with sergeant major
and none of the other services has a similar technical rank at that
grade.
Master Sergeant.
Army and Air Force enlisted
ranks. See Master Sergeant of
Marines.
Master Sergeant of Marines.
Three chevrons and three
rockers with crossed rifles between
chevrons and rockers. The pay grade E-8 is shared with First Sergeant
of Marines and in the Army the rank and insignia are the same without
the crossed rifles. In the Air Force the rank is senior master sergeant
who wears a technical sergeant insignia with one chevron above. Navy
and Coast Guard equivalents are senior chief petty officer who wears
the chief petty officer insignia with one star above the eagle.
Mattel.
A 20th Century toy company
erroneously reported to have been the
original manufacturer of the M16 rifle (See M16). The rifle was
detested by soldiers at the start of the Vietnam war as it was prone to
sand and dirt induced jams and the stocks broke with very little
impact. The problems were resolved and was produced for years. It has
been replaced by the M16A2.
Mattress.
A prostitute or other person
who spends a lot of time in the
prone or supine position giving sexual gratification to Marines.
Mattress Pressing.
Sleeping.
MAW.
Marine Air Wing. In Marine
Aviation, a unit equivalent to an
infantry division. Commanded by a major general.
Maxwell, Smith.
The most senior enlisted
Marine on the battlefield at Bull Run,
during the Civil War. He had been busted from sergeant to private the
previous December for drinking on duty and was made Quartermaster
Sergeant for the battle, then was rated Sergeant until December when he
was again "reduced to the ranks" and a few days later discharged for
completion of his 4 years of service.
Mayday.
The international distress
signal, particularly during voice
communication. See SOS and Police Flag.
Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
There is one at Parris Island SC and
one at San Diego CA.
McCawley, Charles.
Eighth Commandant of the
Marine Corps. Born in Pennsylvania on
Jan. 29, 1827 he was named Colonel Commandant on the resignation of
Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin on Oct. 31, 1876. The law making the
Commandant a brigadier general had been repealed during Zeilin's term.
McCawley resigned Jan. 29, 1891 and died on Oct. 13 of that year.
McHugh, Thomas J.
Third Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps having served from June
29, 1962 until July 16, 1965. He was born Dec 23, 1919 in New York City
and died in 1999.
MCI.
Marine Corps Institute.
Correspondence school for Marine Corps
leadership and technical training.
McKeon, Matthew.
Staff Sergeant of Marines.
See Ribbon Creek.
McMichael, Alford L.
Fourteenth Sergeant Major of
the Marine Corps and the first black
to serve in that position began his duties on July 1, 1999 and is still
serving. He was born in Hot Springs, AR.
MCAS.
Marine Corps Air Station.
MCRD.
Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
There are two in the Marine Corps,
one at Parris Island, SC and the other at San Diego, CA. See Hollywood
Marines.
MCT.
Marine Combat Training.
Infantry training provided to every
Marine who is not assigned the Infantry MOS. See School
of Infantry.
The nation’s
highest award for bravery. It is not the
Congressional Medal of Honor. More correctly it is the Army, Navy or
Air Force Medal of Honor. (Navy version shown) .
Medevac.
Evacuation of wounded
usually by helicopter. First used in the
Korean War and perfected in Vietnam it is now a standard medical term
used worldwide.
Medical Battalion.
A Navy medical unit which
provides additional support to Marine
operational units in the field and to Marine units who do not have
corpsmen assigned to them.
MEF.
Marine Expeditionary Force.
Menopause Manor.
See Goat Locker, from the
Royal Navy term.
MER.
Maximum Effective Range. The
distance at which a weapon system
can be expected to regularly hit a target.
Meritorious Mast.
A formation during which
awards and promotions are made. From the
navy tradition of gathering the crew around the main mast of the ship
to deliver punishment and rewards. In the modern Marine Corps it is a
written recognition of work well done and is of greater value than a
Letter of Appreciation or a Certificate of Commendation.
Mess Deck.
Dining room, from the naval
term.
Mess Hall.
Dining Hall.
Mess Night.
A formal dinner and ceremony
having strict rules, toasts and
responses. The uniform is always evening dress unless the unit is in a
forward area where the appropriate field uniform is acceptable. It is a
unique evening of fraternity open only to Marines or specifically
invited guests (spouses are seldom, if ever allowed to attend).
Separate events are held for Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Staff
Non-commissioned Officers, Non-commissioned officers or, sometimes it
is open to All Ranks.
MEU.
Marine Expeditionary
Unit.The smallest of the expeditionary
organizations is built around a Battalion Landing Team and a Composite
Air Squadron. It consists of approximately 2,500 Marines.
MIA.
Missing In Action.
Mickey Mouse Boots.
Cold weather boots worn by
Marines.
Midrats.
Midnight Rations. Food
served from midnight to reveille for those
getting off or going on duty during the middle of the night.
Midshipman.
A student at the U. S. Naval
Academy and in Naval Reserve Officer
Training Corps units. Prior to the establishment of the Naval Academy
in 1847 it was an entry-level rank to commissioning as a Naval officer.
Appointments as midshipman were given, by politicians, to boys as young
as 9 years of age who would be assigned to serve on board a ship for
the purposes of learning seamanship and leadership. When they felt
prepared they would apply to a Naval School in Boston, New York,
Baltimore or Norfolk where they would study in preparation for an
examination. Successful completion of the examination made the
midshipman a Passed Midshipman and he was eligible for promotion to
lieutenant.
Midwatch.
Midnight until 0400. See
Watch.
Mighty Mite.
M422-A-1. A small Jeep-like
vehicle made specifically for the
Marine Corps by American Motors Corporation during the Vietnam War.
Mike Mike.
Milimeter.
Mikes.
Milimeters or minutes as
appropriate.
Military Brat.
The child of someone in the
military. Originaly a put-down, it is
now a term embraced by most Military Brats. They take pride in the
informal education that living with their military dad or mom (or both)
in many and unique places has aforded them.
Military Creases.
On uniform shirts, vertical creases
ironed into
the uniform--two on the front running through the shirt pocket buttons
and three evenly spaced on the back. Some Army and Air Force types had
them sewn in while Marines always had them ironed in.
Adjutant and Inspector of
the Marine Corps and a Brevet Major, he
served as Acting Commandant of the Marine Corps from the 2nd to the
15th of Sept. 1818. He was replaced as Acting Commandant by Brevet
Major Archibald Henderson who served from Sept 16, 1818 until March 2,
1819 when Anthony Gale was appointed Commandant.
Missing Man Formation.
A flight of, usually five,
aircraft in a fly-over formation. When
the flight reaches the honor point, one of the aircraft peels off into
a steep climb leaving his or her position vacant. It is a formal salute
rendered to POW and MIA as well as to deceased military people--usually
aviators.
Mk1.
Illuminating Hand Grenade.
The burning magnesium emits 55,000
candlepower for about 25 seconds.
Mk19 Mod 3.
40 mm Machine gun. An
air-cooled, blow back operated, belt fed
heavy machine gun.
Mo Skosh.
Very small. See Skoshi.
MOH.
Medal of Honor.
It is not
Congressional Medal of Honor. There are three separate designs: Army,
Navy and Air Force; but the criteria is the same for all. It is the
most senior award that can be given to a military person.
MOJO.
Originally a concoction of
hard liquors designed for the sole
purpose of getting drunk. Also used to mean a swaggering approach or
smooth talking individual, as in "He's got his MOJO goin'."
MOLLE.
Modular Lightweight Load
Carrying Equipment. A system which
replaced the traditional harness, belt and pack system to allow the
Marine to "wear" rather than "carry" his or her equipment.
Molly Marine.
A statue of a Woman Marine
located in New Orleans, LA. The first
statue of a woman in military service in the United States.
Montford Point.
A section of Camp Lejeune,
NC at which black Marines were trained
during World War II. Prior to that time there were no black Marines.
Montezuma Red.
The crimson color of the
Blood Stripe on the dress uniform of
Marine commissioned and noncommissioned officers. Also the color of the
lipstick worn by early Women Marines.
Moose.
An indigenous female in
Korea or Vietnam who served as a mistress
to a Marine while in the country. They would maintain an off-base home
environment and sex for a small payment and black market supplies.
Moonbeam.
Flashlight.
Mortar.
An ancient field weapon that
fires a projectile in a high arch to
reach an impact point.
A cavalry term meaning to
mount your horse and prepare to move
out. In the infantry it is often said "mount out" and means to go into
battle or begin a march or some similar event.
MP.
Military Police. At one time
an additional duty, now a
professional MOS with both guard and law enforcement responsibilities.
MPC.
Military Pay Certificates.
Script issued instead of dollars to
Marines in Japan (following WWII) and Vietnam (during that conflict).
Mr. Charles.
(Vietnam) A Viet Communist
soldier. Usually called Charlie.
MRE.
Meal, Ready to Eat. Often
called Meal that Refuses to Exit. See
C-Rations.
Designated an M274 and used
around the Vietnam period it was
little more than a platform on wheels, with a two-cylinder opposed
Tecumseh engine started with a pull-cord just like your power
lawnmower. It has four-wheel drive and steering and could be driven by
a Gyrene lying prone for a low profile. And it could carry, literally,
a ton of supplies or be mounted with M60 mortars, small cannon or the
105mm recoilless rifle. The mule was retired due to the faulty design
of the tires and lack of proper protection for the driver.
Multi-fueler.
A vehicle designed to use
multiple types of fuel including
gasoline, diesel or jet fuel. See Deuce and a Half.
Mundy Jr., Carl E.
Thirtieth Commandant of the
Marine Corps serving from July 1,
1991 until June 30, 1995. The native Georgian was born July 16, 1935.
A Yahoo group open to parents, friends, relatives and
sweethearts
of Marine recruits. It is an on-line support group run by people who
have been in the same position. They provide honest, un-filtered,
supportive advice during the 13 weeks that are Marine Boot Camp. It is
free and moderated.
Links to another web
site with more info.
Indicates additional reading on this
topic.
Highly volatile gasoline in
a jelly form used for burning out
caves during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Also used by the Air
Force to defoliate large areas of forests or jungles.
NAPS
Naval Academy Preparatory School where sailors and Marines
are
sent from the fleet to prepare them for a Fleet Appointment to the U.
S. Naval Academy. Your editor was a NAPSter in 1963-1964
and we are looking for other Marines from that class.
NAS.
Naval Air Station.
NBC.
Nuclear, Biological and
Chemical.
Navajo Code Talkers.
See Code Talkers.
Naval Gunfire.
Artillery support from ships
at sea. Infantrymen have varrying
opinions of its effectiveness and aim.
Navy Construction Battalion.
Combat engineers and
construction forces known as Seabees.
NBC.
Nuclear, Biological and
Chemical. See Gas Chamber.
NCIS.
Naval Criminal Investigation
Service. The detective force for the
Naval services it consists of commissioned, warrant and
non-commissioned officers as well as civilians. They wear civilian
clothing and are goven the rank of Special Agent.
Noncommissioned officer. In the Marine
Corps all
ranks (except lance corporal) containing the word corporal or sergeant.
They are: corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant, gunnery sergeant, master
sergeant or first sergeant, sergeant major or master gunnery sergeant
and sergeant major of the Marine Corps. See Enlisted
Marine, Staff NCO
and Officer.
NCOIC.
Noncommissioned officer in
charge. The senior enlisted Marine in
detachments and guard units, particularly when there is no commissioned
officer assigned. See HMFIC.
Neville, Wendell.
Fourteenth Commandant of the
Marine Corps and recipient of the Medal
of Honor.
Born May 12, 1870 in Virginia he lived until July 8, 1930. A Naval
Academy graduate he was appointed Major General Commandant on March 5,
1929 and died in office.
Newbie.
A new member of a unit,
usually one with little military
experience who is the object of numerous practical jokes. One usually
remains a newbie until the next newbie signs in.
NFG.
No Fucking Good.
Nicholas, Samuel.
First "Commandant" of the
Marine Corps. Born in 1744 in
Pennsylvania he was commissioned a "Captain of Marines" by the
Continental Congress on Nov. 28, 1775 and was promoted to major on June
25, 1776. While the resolution of Congress on Nov. 10, 1775 provided
for a colonel to command two battalions of Marines, Nicholas was the
senior officer when the organization ceases to exist in 1781 and is
therefore considered to be the first Commandant. He died Aug. 27, 1790.
Nicholson, Augustus S.
Acting Commandant from May
13 until June 9, 1864. Major, Adjutant
and Inspector of the Corps. Serving between the death of Harris and the
appointment of Zeilin.
Nine Yards.
As used in "The Whole Nine
Yards" it refers to a complete belt of
machine gun ammo which is 27 feet long.
Nit Noy
(Vietnam). The "small shit". Unimportant. Perhaps
of Thai derevation.
NJP.
Non-judicial punishment.
Noncommissioned Officer.
Enlisted persons serving in
positions of responsibility. Their
ranks usually contain corporal or sergeant in them (although a lance
corporal is not an NCO).
Noncommissioned Officer
Sword.
The 1859 Field and Staff
Officer sword. A badge of office worn on
parade or in formal situations by NCOs.
Non-judicial Punishment.
Punishment under the UCMJ
that does not require a courts martial.
It is for minor infractions and is usually administered by the
Marine’s commanding officer or ship’s captain.
Non-qual.
A Marine who did not qualify
as an expert, sharpshooter or
marksman on the rifle range. Non-quals do not graduate from boot camp.
Noted.
An answer meaning
"understood" when receiving a list of
instructions. Also an indication that something was written down.
NP Mat.
NeoPrene Mat. A sealed cell
sleeping mat which contains no
Neoprene and keeps dampness from permeating your sleeping bag.
Number One.
(Vietnam) The best.
Number Ten.
(Vietnam) The worst.
Numbnuts.
Ignorant or untrainable.
Used often by drill instructors to
describe recruits.
Olive drab. Official color of utility and
fatigue
uniforms worn prior to the introduction of BDUs or cammies. The term
was replaced by Sage Green and then simply Green.
Office Hours.
A non-judicial hearing for minor offences
at which
NJP (non-judicial punnishment) may be issued by a commanding officer.
A training program for
motivated college graduates who have been
screened by the Marine Corps for the qualities necessary to become a
leader of Marines. Upon graduation they are commissioned Second
Lieutenant of Marines. The selection process begins with the Recruiting
Command's Officer
Selection Officer.
Officer in Charge. A
commissioned or warrant officer placed in
charge of a group of Marines or a project. This person is not a
commander and does not have the UCMJ authority vested in a commander.
OIF.
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sometimes called the Second Gulf War.
OIF II.
Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
The Iraqi War after the "mission
accomplished" announcement of the "end of major hostilities."
Oki.
Okinawa. An island south of
Japan owned by the U. S. Government
until the 1970s when it was turned over to Japan. Still a major Marine
Corps installation, it was used during Vietnam as a staging point for
troops going into and out of Vietnam.
OldCorps.org.
One of the websites that hosts this dictionary. You can get
a vanity email address like AnythingYouWant@OldCorps.org which will
autoforward to your current address. The only cost for this
lifetime address is a one time donation to help defray the cost of this
dictionary. Contact GBK(insert at sign here)OldCorps.org for more
information.
Old Goat.
See Goat Locker.
Old Hat.
Stale or unchanged
information. Information that is already
known.
On Station.
Usually refers to a ship
being at its assigned position on the
ocean. Also sometimes used to mean on duty.
A Vietnam era fighting
vehicle that looked like a small tank with
six externally mounted 105mm recoilless rifles attached. Ammunition and
a loader were carried inside but he had to get out to load the tubes.
When all six rifles were fired at the same time the Ontos would stand
up on its hind section. The word is reportedly Greek for "thing".
Ooohraah.
A sound made by a Marine to
indicate agreement or to provide
encouragement.
OP.
Observation Post.
Op Tempo.
Operational Tempo; how
frequently a unit deploys or goes to the
field.
Order of the Golden Dragon.
Awarded for crossing the
International Date Line. See Line
Crossing Ceremony.
Orderly Sergeant.
The highest ranking enlisted
rank in the Marine Corps during the
Civil War. Most of the ships' Marine Detachments were commanded by
Orderly Sergeants. Not presently in use.
Oscar.
The name of the dummy used
for man overboard drills. Also, the
flag that is hoisted when there is a man overboard (the flag for the
letter O).
The tool contained in every
case of C-Rations used as a can
opener. It is so versatile that Marines used it as a phillips and slot
screw driver,
rudimentary box opener, scraper and even push tool.
Generally worn with the Dog Tags around the neck. Often called
a
John Wayne. Made obsolete with the introduction of the Meal, Ready to
Eat (MRE). A larger version, P-51 was used by messcooks on the larger
field ration cans. A similar device in use by the Australian and New
Zealand Armies has a spoon at one end and is called a Field Ration
Eating Device (FRED) which the troops call the Fucking Ridiculous
Eating Device.
Pace, Peter
First Marine named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and, thus, first Marine to out rank the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
He served only one tour when it was traditional to serve two since he
ran afoul of Congress and was not renominated for political reasons.
On the day he retired he dropped by the Vietnam War
Memorial—The Wall. He walked to the wall like every
one of us and cried. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out
three 3X5 cards. Each had the name of a Marine who had died in Vietnam
while under the command of Lieutenant Pace. Under each name was this
inscription,"These are yours, not mine. With love and respect." And it
was signed "Your platoon leader, Pete Pace." Attached to the card was
one of his insignia of rank, the four stars of a full general.
Page 11.
The page in the service
record book containing a chronological
listing of favorable and unfavorable actions. The entries can range
from listing a DUI to records of courts martial to warnings about the
length of the grass at your assigned quarters. Positive entries include
everything from a thank you letter from a community agency to a Medal
of Honor. Page 11 entries stay with a Marine FOREVER.
Parade Deck.
See Grinder.
ParkerizeTM.
A chemical process using
phosphorus to put a strong coating on a
weapon. Considered far superior to "bluing".
Parris Island SC
Location of the Marine
Corps' east coast Recruit Depot. Named for
its previous owner it has been a Naval facility since the Civil War and
a Marine Corps activity since 1915. It is the only training site for
female Marines. Parents, friends and other relatives of Marine Corps
Recruits can find help and understanding among the members of myMarine.
Passageway.
A hallway or corridor from
the naval usage.
Password.
A pre-determined word or
phrase given in response to the
challenge of a sentry. Literally, a word needed in order to pass.
Pate, Randolph McCall.
Twenty first Commandant of
the Marine Corps. He was born Feb. 11,
1898 and served as Commandant from Jan. 1, 1956 until Dec. 31, 1959. He
died on July 31, 1961.
Pay Grade.
A relational term consisting
of the letter E, O or W and the
level of pay assigned to that grade. Below is a chart comparing Pay
Grade to Rank in the Marine Corps.
E-1
Private
W-1
Warrant Officer
O-1
Second Lieutenant
E-2
Private First Class
W-2
Chief Warrant
Officer
O-2
First Lieutenant
E-3
Lance Corporal
W-3
Chief Warrant
Officer
O-3
Captain
E-4
Corporal
W-4
Chief Warrant
Officer
O-4
Major
E-5
Sergeant
W-5
Chief Warrant
Officer
O-5
Lieutenant Colonel
E-6
Staff Sergeant
O-6
Colonel
E-7
Gunnery Sergeant
O-7
Brigadier General
E-8
Master Sergeant or
First Sergeant
O-8
Major General
E-9
Master Gunnery
Sergeant or Sergeant Major
O-9
Lieutenant General
O-10
General
PC.
Politically Correct. Used
herein to identify things that are not
Politically Correct as in the next entry.
PCFSMFSOB.
(Not PC)Piss, cunt, fuck,
shit, mother fucker, son of a bitch. An
expletive said quickly while angry or in pain. (Vietnam era)
PCP.
A special unit in Marine
boot camp to which recruits who are
unable to maintain minimal physical conditioning are sent. Their entire
day is spent in physical conditioning and once they meet the standard
they are placed back into training with a platoon which is at the point
where they were taken out of regular training.
PCS.
Permanent Change of Station.
Leaving one unit to be assigned to
another, it generally involves travel pay and household goods shipments
and a total disruption of life.
PEBD.
Pay Entry Base Date. The
date from which pay longevity is
computed. Usually the first enlistment or commissioning date.
Permanent Party.
A person assigned to a base,
station or ship on Permanent Change
of Station orders as opposed to someone assigned temporarily.
Permissive TDY.
Permissive Temporary Duty is
granted for temporary duty away from
the normal assigned duties but no additional pay is given. PTAD is
granted for "recruiter assistance" duty. Also Permissive TDy.
Petty Officer.
A Navy and Coast Guard
series of ranks vaguely equivalent to
noncommissioned officers. The insignia consists of from one to three
inverted chevrons with a Navy Eagle perched on top. Between the eagle
and the chevrons is a graphic which indicates the specialty of that
particular petty officer.
(Vietnam) Popular Forces. Vietnam's
National
Guard--farmers during the day and soldiers at night. Usually untrained
and dangerous.
PFT.
Physical Fitness Test. A biannual test to
ensure
that Marines are within the Marine Corps' physical standards. The test
includes a timed three-mile run, pull-ups (for men), bent arm hang (for
women) and crunches (up to 100 in a two minute period). The Marine's
height to weight ratio is also measured and must fall within
established standards. A Physical Fitness Calculator is located Here.
Phantom.
Nickname of the F-4B jet
fighter aircraft flown by Marines in
Vietnam.
A
bulletin board set up in a
common area (mostly in boot camp) to
which photos of wives and girlfriends (mostly school photos and beach
photos) are posted. Sometimes awards are given for quality posts. In
some units the photos are pornographic and entirely against
regulations. They are considered sexual harassment.
Pinning On.
A tradition among enlisted
Marines in which anyone senior in rank
to a newly promoted Marine is allowed to punch the new rank insignia,
thereby pinning them on. Also Tacking On. In the mid to late 20th
Century it became a custom for Recon Marines to have their jump wings
literally pinned on their naked chests in violent and bloody rite of
passage. The barbaric hazing was soon rooted out as a cultural anomoly
and is hopefully an historic footnote.
Piss 'n Puke.
(Seagoing Marines)
Confinement to the brig on bread and water.
Apparently Piss 'n Punk is used in some quarters.
Pisscutter.
A Marine’s
garrison cover. Sometimes pisscover. The word
was used extensively in the middle 20th Century, presently out of vogue
due to a serious lack of political correctness. The etymology of the
word is not known. One possible explanation comes from Kate
Gladstone
who says, "I have heard 'pisscutter' used by (elderly male) non-Marines
to describe anything which has a sharp, spiffy-looking fold or edge or
crease - e.g., a particularly well-made hat-brim, or an admirably crisp
crease in a pair of pants." In the novel Shogun
by James Clavell the word is used to refer to a harbor that was
particularly difficult to navigate.
Pissing Contest.
An argument, usually without
purpose or value.
Pith Helmet.
A khaki colored fiber helmet
used extensively for the jungle
environment. Worn by Marines throughout the 20th Century in boot camp,
in war, in the fleet and presently worn by primary marksmanship
instructors.
Pitting.
To pit. A boot camp verb
meaning to give Incentive Training (IT)
to a recruit in order to improve his or her motivation or as punishment
for a minor infraction of rules. Sand pits are built in many places
throughout the Marine Corps Recruit Depots at Parris Island, SC and San
Diego, CA into which recruits can be taken by drill instructors to
administer IT. See also Quarterdecking.
Pits.
A place behind a mound on a
firing range where targets are pulled
and marked and repaired before being hoisted to be fired upon again.
Pizza Box.
The marksmanship badge worn by those who qualify at the
Marksman level--the lowest of three levels of weapons proficiency.
Platoon.
A unit consisting of four
squads. It is assigned to a company and
is generally commanded by a lieutenant. It is the basic working unit in
boot camp where its leaders are drill instructors.
PLC.
Platoon
Leaders' Course. An innovative
officer training program in which
participants take part in officer training during the summers of their
college years and upon graduation from college are commissioned Second
Lieutenants of Marines. There are no classes or committments during the
school year. The program also has two career specific tracks--aviation
and legal.
PM.
Preventive Maintenance.
First level (echelon) maintenance of
vehicles and equipment.
Podunk.
Any small town or someone's
home town unless they are from a big
city.
A headquarters or office
person with no understanding of the real
Marine Corps.
Point.
Lead Marine in a patrol.
Lead element in a company.
Police.
To clean up or pick up an
area such as policing the firing line
for brass.
Police Flag.
Sometimes called the
Distress Flag it is the national flag flown
upside down. It was only used when an extreme situation confronted the
captain on board ship. It is never used ashore.
Pollywog.
See Shellback.
Poncho.
A multi-purpose rectangle of
rubberized canvas with a hole in the
middle so that the head can be inserted. It was used to fend off rain,
as a tent or to carry bodies, among many other uses.
Poncho Liner.
A camoflaged, quilted, light
weight nylon blanket that ties to
the inside of a poncho. It was usually the only blanket carried by
troops in Vietnam.
Portholes.
Eyeglasses. Originally holes
in the sides of ships to provide
light and sometimes ventilation.
Poolee.
An unofficial rank assigned
by Marine recruiters to newly
enlisted recruits in the delayed entry program and awaiting depatrure
to recruit training. Some recruiters have regular, mandatory,
formations in which rudimentary drill and physical training are
conducted.
Poop.
Information, as in straight
poop, bad poop or poop from the
group.
Pop Ups.
(Vietnam) Aluminum hand held
tubes holding a flare and a small
parachute for field illumination.
Port.
Left, from the naval term.
Originally larboard the term was
changed in the late 18th Century to keep from confusing it with
starboard, which means right. The port side of a ship will be
illuminated with a red light.
Port and Starboard Liberty.
A situation where half of a
unit is always on duty while the
other half is on liberty (off duty and usually off base getting drunk).
POS.
Piece of Shit.
Post.
As a noun it is a place
where a Marine is assigned such as a
senrty post or an embassy. Used extensively by the Army to designate
bases not named forts. As a verb, a command in marching for specific
officers to take their assigned positions or the act of placing a
sentry on post or assigning a Marine to an embassy.
President of the United States.
Originally used
by Secret Service, the phrase was picked up by Department of Defense
and other government agencies around the 1990s.
Pounding your pud.
Standing around doing nothing. Wasting
time. From
the coloquial expression for masterbating.
POV.
Privately Owned Vehicle.
Powder Monkey.
A Civil War era sailor in the rank of
Boy whose
job it was to keep gun crews supplied with gunpowder and shot during
battle. At other times they served in other menial ways earning little
more than a cot and food.
Precedence.
A formal list of commissioned officers
in the
Naval Service and their position of authority realtive to each other.
President's Own.
Name given to the United States
Marine Corps Band,
the official band for the President of the United States, called "The
President's Own".
Prick25.
(Vietnam). Radio Set
AN/PRC-25 (RT-505)(NSN 5820-01-857-0934) Man
portable, nautical radio - one tube. Was the predecessor of the PRC-77.
Prime Mover.
A truck.
Private.
A Private Marine. The first
enlisted rank in the Marine Corps
which is identified by having no insignia of rank. The pay grade is E-1
and is equivalent to an Army private who also wears no rank insignia.
An airman basic in the Air Force also wears no rank insignia. In the
Navy and Coast Guard a seaman recruit wears a single slash in a box on
the left sleeve only.
Private First Class.
The second enlisted rank in
the Marine Corps is designated by a
single chevron on each sleeve. The pay grade is E-2 and is equivalent
to an Army private (the Army has two ranks of privates) who also wears
a single chevron. In the Air Force an airman wears an inverted single
stripe with a star in a circle which covers the point of the chevron.
Navy and Coast Guard seaman apprentices wear two slashes in a box on
the left sleeve only.
Pros and Cons.
Proficiency and conduct
marks given to Marines to the rank of
sergeant by their supervisors. They are part of the formula used for
promotion. Each is between 0 (totally unsat, probably not breathing)
and 4 (God, on a good day).
Provisional Rifle Company.
A company of Marines made up of non-infantry (non-MOS 0300)
personnel to augment or relieve infantry units. A temporary solution to
a potentially serious problem.
PT.
Physical Training.
PT Gear.
The clothing worn for PT. It
is a prescribed uniform consisting
of t-shirt and shorts or sweats and usually green on green unless a
unit t-shirt has been authorized..
PTSD.
Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder. Previously called Shell Shock (WW
I) or Battle Fatigue (WW II) it is the first line of legal defense when
a Vietnam Vet goes biserk and kills a lot of innocent civilians. It
manifests mostly as dreams recalling battlefield situations or in
response to sharp sounds or scenario. Those with PTSD respond as though
they were in combat--not acceptable in polite society.
Pucker Factor.
A measure of the stress in
any situation. A high pucker factor
means high stress.
Pucket, Clinton A.
Sixth Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps, serving in that
position from Feb 1, 1973 through May 31, 1975. He was born March 6,
1926 in Waurika, OK and died in 2002.
Puff the Magic
Dragon.
(Vietnam) Later
Spooky: a newer version of
the venerable C-47, the AC-47 was equipped with
three side firing 7.62 mm miniguns.Initially
used in troop support for suppression of enemy troops.It
was later equipped with 40 mm Bofors and then a 105 recoilless rifle
for use on the Ho Chi Minh trail for supply interdiction. Crew members
report that when the Bofors were fired, the ship actually flew sideways.
Pugil Sticks.
Padded training sticks used
to simulate bayonet fighting.
Puller, Lewis B.
Lieutenant General of
Marines. The icon of a Marine whose
exploits, on and off the battlefield, are the genesis of many legends.
His command of a Marine regiment at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea
earned him the love of his men and an entire Corps. For decades, Marine
Drill Instructors would have their recruits recite, "Good night General
Puller, wherever you are" before retiring for the night. See Chosin
Reservoir.
Punji Sticks.
(Vietnam)Bamboo sticks
sharpened and often laced with poison
which were placed in holes and covered so that a Marine would step in
the hole and have the sticks impaled in his foot or leg.
Pussy Patch.
Medicated patch given to
those who get seasick. Also a high and tight that is so extreme as to
suggest a female with a bikini wax.
Puzzle Palace.
Specifically the Pentagon or
often any headquarters.
PX.
Post Exchange, an Army term.
Now the Army and Air Force Exchange
Service (AAFES). See Marine
Corps Exchange.
(Vietnam) An anti-aircraft
weapon employed by the Army. The
Geneva Convention limits anti-personnel weapons to 30 cal. so these
four 50 cal rifles could only be used on aircraft and other equipment.
Right!
Quantico.
Marine Corps Base south of
Washington, DC. The home of Marine
Corps University and most training for commissioned officers. Also
headquarters of the Marine
Corps
Association and Leatherneck
Magazine.
Quarterdeck.
The location of the officer
of the deck aboard ship. The
ceremonial seat of authority in any shore-based unit. Where one goes to
report in to a new command. A section of the recruit squad bay set
aside for physical punishment of errant recruits--usually involving PT.
Quarterdecking.
To be taken to the
quarterdeck for Incentive Training by the
drill instructor. Outside it is called Pitting.
Quartermaster Sergeant.
The second ranking enlisted
grade in the Marine Corps during the
Civil War. Not presently used.
Quarters.
Living space.
Quatrefoil.
A four-pointed decoration on
the top of a warrant or commissioned
officer’s dress and service caps. Tradition tells that the
design
was first used on sailing ships so that Marine sharpshooters in the
rigging did not shoot their own officers on the deck.
Quick Time.
The normal pace in
marching, approximately 120 steps per minute.
Quonset Hut.
A temporary building created
in 1941 by Peter Dejongh and Otto
Brandenburger and manufactured for the Navy at their facility in
Quonset, RI. The ubiquitous buildings were little more than
semi-circular steel ribs with courugated sheet metal attached to them.
They were used for everything from troop quarters to supply sheds to
airplane hangars. For many years both Marine Corps Recruit Depots at
Parris Island, SC and San Diego, CA used them until more permanent
structures could be built. Many Old Corps Marines were trained in
quonset huts.
(Gulf War, Iraqi
Freedom)(Not PC) Any Arab person. Refers to the
common headdress of the region.
Railroad Tracks.
Slang for the rank insignia
of a Marine, Army or Air Force
captain or a Navy or Coast Guard lieutenant.
Rank.
The military authority of an
individual within the structure of
the organization. Rank is represented by insignia showing relative
authority. Rank increases in relationship to pay grade but is
distinctly different. For instance a Major of Marines should not be
referred to as an O-4 and a Sergeant Major of Marines is never an E-9.
See Pay Grade.
Ranking.
Seniority within a rank or
within a unit. Factors involved are
date of rank, date of enlistment or commissioning. It is similar to
precedence.
Rat Fucked.
To be seriously torn apart
or rifled through. Originating in
Vietnam when cases of C-Rations (Rats) would be gone through in the
process of transporting them to the front.
Rate.
Any of the ranks within the
Navy or Coast Guard enlisted
structure.
Rauber, Francis D.
Second Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps, he served from Sept 1,
1959 until June 28, 1961. He was born July 10, 1901 in Rochester, NY
and died Feb 19, 1991.
Razor Wire.
Similar to barbed wire or
concertina with a sharp edge on one
side and spikes every inch or so.
Re-up.
Reenlist or volunteer to
serve another tour.
Recon.
To patrol looking for enemy
movements and facilities in order to
gain information. Generally, contact is avoided if at all possible.
RECON.
Marine Recon conducts
amphibious and ground reconnaissance
operations, surveillance, battlespace shaping, and limited scale raids
in support of a Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Division, Marine
Expeditionary Unit, and other Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTF'S)
or a Combined/Joint Task Force.
Recruit.
A person enlisted into the
Marine Corps in anticipation of
attending boot camp or a person undergoing training in boot camp. A
recruit must earn the title "Marine" by successfully completing boot
camp. Some people are given rank (usually PFC or LCpl) on enlistment
and are paid at that rank but during boot camp they wear no rank and
are called "Recruit" like everyone else in training. Only upon
graduation are they allowed to wear the insignia of their rank.
Recruit Punishment.
Unofficial punishments given
to recruits by drill instructors for
minor infractions of the rules. While at the time some of them may
sound cruel they are, in fact, essentially harmless and are good tools
for teaching a lesson. Some of them are:
Duck Walk.
Walking with the knees
bent 180 degrees.
Extended Port.
The recruit is ordered
to port arms and then directed to
extend the arms until the elbows are not bent. In this position the
weapon becomes heavy and the arms ache. (Ca. 1962)
Funeral Services.
A recruit at attention
does not move for anything unless an
order is given. Some times a bug or, at Parris Island, a sand flea may
cause a recruit to flinch or smack at the pest. On seeing this a drill
instructor would order that the pest be given an honorable funeral.
Sometimes they were then later ordered to dig it up and reinter it
somewhere else. (Ca. 1955, from the movie "The DI" starring Jack Webb)
Group Tighteners.
The entire purpose of
the first portion of weapons training
is to fire and make tight groups on the target. From there it is simple
to adjust the sights and account for wind to bring the group onto the
bull's eye. After the first day of live firing a drill instructor might
ask if anyone would like to be issued "group tighteners". On lining up
the hapless recruits received some form of painful reminder to tighten
their groups. (Ca. 1962)
Watching TV.
A series of
uncomfortable positions that the recruit is put
into. (Ca. 1962)
Channel 1. The
recruit lies on the tile or wood deck on
his or her stomach and elevates on the toes and the elbows.
Channel 4. The
recruit backs to the edge of his or her
rack grabbing the outside bars with both hands while moving the feet
far enough forward to keep the rear end off the bed and suspended in
air.
Rear Leaning Rest Position. The recruit
rests the
back of his or her head on the metal bottom of the rack while keeping
th eback of the heels on the deck all while maintaining the position of
attention.
Recruiter Assistance.
A temporary duty assignment
of up to 30-days to assist local
recruiters by making presentations to school groups, leading poolee
training and general office duties. Offered to recent boot camp
graduates by recruiters if the recruiter believes the new Marine can be
of help to him or her. Also available to all Marines when mutually
agreed upon and approved. This is not an automatic assignment.
Recycle.
A boot camp term meaning
that a recruit is removed from his or
her platoon and placed in another platoon in order to repeat some
portion of training. It usually occurs because the recruit did not
successfully complete a required training item or in order to improve
the recruit’s physical conditioning or, in some cases,
because
the recruit’s attitude is bad. This is a traumatic event for
the
recruit and means that they will spend more time in training but it is
not the end of the world and often turns out to be a good thing.
Refil.
A lifer. At times when
commanders consider the calling of a
career person a lifer, they will direct that it not be used. In those
instances the term Refil is often substituted to the same effect.
Regiment.
A unit consisting of from 4
to 6 battalions. It is generally
commanded by a colonel. A number of regiments will make up a division.
Office personnel from the reference to the Remington
typewriter which was widely used. (Typewriter is the term for a
mechanical device used prior to computers to create printed pages
containing words and phrases generated by the operator--often known as
a typist.)
Repeat.
A word removed from the
vocabulary of
artillery and mortar personnel. Using the term casually can cause
un-wanted action. "Say again" is the acceptable replacement phrase.
Request Mast.
Every Marine’s right
to be heard.
At every step up the chain of command any Marine may request to see the
next person in authority all the way to the Commandant of the Marine
Corps. When a request mast is asked for the Marine does not have to
explain why, but he or she must make the request at every step up the
ladder. If a Marine requests mast to the CMC he or she had better have
a good reason.
Retread.
Has a number of uses in the
military,
usually referring to a person who makes a change. A person who gets out
of the military and then comes back in would be referred to in this way
as would someone who retrains from one MOS to another.
Retreat.
A bugle call sounded when the
U. S.
flag is being lowered at the end of the day.
Retriever.
A special tank designed as a
sort of
"wrecker" for tanks. What they are able to do is almost a miracle.
Reveille.
A signal to awaken, get out of
bed and
begin the day. Often a bugle call, in boot camp more often the yells
and screams of Drill Instructors and the sounds of GI cans crashing to
the deck.
RF.
(Vietnam) Regional Forces.
Sort of like
an Army reserve ranking between the ARVN
and
the PF.
RHIP.
Rank Has Its Privileges.
Also, among lower ranking enlisted
Marines, Rand Has Its Pricks.
Ribbon Creek.
A small river that flows
through Parris Island in an area once
used for field training. In 1956 six recruits died while on a training
exercise here. Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon, their Senior Drill
Instructor, was court martialed and found guilty of negligence and
drinking on duty. The investigations that followed highlighted the
general practices of maltreatment of recruits and caused extensive
revisions in the training program.
Riki Tik.
Quickly. From an oriental
phrase. Use mostly in the form Mo Riki
Tik.
Ring Knocker.
A graduate of the Naval
Academy, Military Academy or Air Force
Academy. "Absentmindedly" tapping the ring on a bar brings attention to
it so that everyone is aware that the officer is an academy grad.
RLT.
Regimental Landing Team. A
regiment of Marines consisting of
three battalions and supporting artillery, tanks, amtracks, heavy
weapons and etc. A self-supporting force and a concept unique to the
Marine Corps.
RM.
Royal Marines.
Rock.
Idiot, as in "That rock is
really stupid."
Rock, The.
Okinawa, Japan.
Rock and Roll.
An alliteration of lock and
load it means to begin an action, to
start. In Vietnam it also meant to set the M16A1 to full-automatic fire
(full-automatic fire used up ammunition so fast that later models were
modified to fire only three-round blasts with each pull of the trigger
on automatic).
Rocks and Shoals.
The system of Naval justice
prior to the introduction of the
UCMJ.
Rodeo
Sexual orgy.
Roger.
(Commtalk) Yes.
ROK Marines.
The fiercest of the fighters
in the Republic of Korea.
Rollers.
Hot dogs, frankfurters, from
the Naval term.
RON.
Remain Overnight.
Rope.
All rope used on a ship is
called line. A former name for a
female drill instructor. Until they were authorized to wear the
campaign cover, female Marine drill instructors were designated with a
crimson agulet worn on the left shoulder.
Rocket Propelled Grenade. A
shoulder-fired infantry weapon.
RTR.
Recruit Training Regiment.
The headquarters unit of the
Recruit Training Battalions. The RTR at Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Parris Island, SC currently (2005) has four battalions (including the
4th RTBn which is the only boot camp unit for female Marines) while the
RTR at MCRD San Diego CA has three battalions.
Rubber Lady.
Air mattress. Sometimes
called a Rubber Whore.
Russell, John H.
Sixteenth Commandant of the
Marine Corps and fifth consecutive
Commandant to graduate from the U. S. Naval Academy. The Californian
was born Nov. 14, 1872 and was named Major General Commandant March 1,
1934. He served until Nov. 30, 1936 and died March 6, 1947.
Referring to someone or something with a
lot of
experience, particularly at sea. A salty Marine is one who has been
around a while. A salty uniform is more faded and obviously used but
still sharp. Salty language is language salted with profanities or
obscenities.
Sam Browne.
A leather duty belt worn by commissioned
and
warrant officers consisting of a belt around the waist with a second
belt running from left hip over the right shoulder back to the left
hip. It would give added support for the wearing of a sword. Worn only
for special occasions such as parades and formal events.
San Diego CA.
Location of the Marine Corps' west coast
Recruit
Depot it is located in San Diego adjacent to the airport. See Hollywood Marine.
Parents, friends and other
relatives of Marine Corps Recruits can find help and understanding
among the members of myMarine.
Sand Crab.
A sideways-walking beach
scavenger. It refers to a civil service
employee or a civilian contractor on board ship.
Sand Fleas.
Parris Island pests which
delight in climbing on recruits
attempting to stand at attention.
An army diminutive of
sergeant and a good way to get your ass
kicked when talking to a Sergeant of Marines.
SAW.
M249 Squad Automatic
Weapon. The automatic weapon for each fire
team. It replaced the BAR after Vietnam.
Say Again.
Repeat. Particularly
important when talking to an artillery or
mortar unit on the radio. Repeat has specific consequences. By someone
not paying attention the phrase, "Say again, all after 'good morning'."
could be used but the consequences may be painful.
Scarlet and Gold.
The official colors of the
U. S. Marine Corps as ordered by Major
General Commandant John A. Lejeune in 1921.
School of Infantry.
The MOS school for the
Infantry career field. SOI
East is at Camp Lejeune, NC and
SOI West is at Camp Pendleton, CA.
Every Marine graduating from boot camp at either Parris Island, SC or
San Diego, CA goes next to SOI. New Marines who have not been assigned
an 0300 (Infantry MOS) report to Marine Combat Training for four weeks
of intensive training in combat weapons and techniques because "Every
Marine is a Rifleman." After MCT they are sent to their MOS school.
New Infantry Marines report to the School of Infantry's Infantry
Training Battalion for MOS training. In addition, SOI operates an
Advanced Infantry Training company to teach NCOs basic combat
leadership skills as well as a Staff Non-Commissioned Officer's
Academy.
School Circle.
An informal circle, sitting
or standing around a Drill Instructor
or other instructor for the purpose of receiving training.
Scoop.
Information, usually
unofficial but often correct. See Bum Scoop.
Screw the Pooch.
To make a major mistake,
particularly one that will have serious
ramifications.
Scribe.
A recruit who takes notes
and makes lists for the platoon and the
drill instructors. This is an informal position selected by the drill
instructors.
Scrimshaw.
Intricate drawings and
etchings, usually on whalebone. Sailors
would spend many of the boring hours at sea creating these masterpieces
of art.
SCUM.
The only English language
word that can be made from the letters
U-S-MC.
Scumbag.
See Shitbird or Maggot.
Scuttlebutt.
A keg of water on board ship
around which sailors would gather
and swap tales and gossip. Present use is as unverified information
passed informally as well as a water fountain or bubbler.
Scuz Brush.
The cleaning brush included
in the PX issue used for cleaning
floors and porcelin objects. As with all other items in the PX issue,
the recruit pays for this item from his or her first pay.
SDO.
Staff (or Squadron) Duty
Officer. The representative of the
commander during non-duty hours.
Sea Bat.
A mythical creature used in
a practical joke by salty Marines and
sailors against inexperienced compatriots, usually aboard ship. There
are a number of permutations of this joke, some quite nasty. One is
that a newbie is shown a helmet laying on the deck and is told that
someone has captured a sea bat. He is then told to position himself
with one hand on each side of the helmet so that when the helmet is
lifted he can capture the bat with his hands. The "bat" turns out to be
a pile of feces or some other nasty substance.
Sea Buoy.
See Mail Buoy.
Sea Dip.
An effect of over tightening
the hoop in a Frame Cover, causing
the sides to curve downward. A sign of saltiness sometimes considered
fashionable among enlisted Marines. Never done by any officer other
than a Mustang, and then only with great subtlety.
Sea Lawyer.
Someone who appears to know
all the angles and methods to escape
punishment or who provides legal advice while not a lawyer.
Sea Snake.
A legendary creature for
which newer crew members would be sent
to find or which would be used to intimidate inexperienced members of
the ship's compliment. During Vietnam, however, great masses of white
churning fish would follow the illuminated hull of the USS Repose
(hospital ship) as she plied her course at Yankee Station.
A tale. Often containing a small
grain of
truth somewhere.
Seabag.
A large canvas bag into which sailors
and
Marines stuff their entire issue of uniforms and personal items when
being transferred. In the Army it is a duffel bag.
Seabag Drag.
See Bag Drag.
Seabees.
Navy Combat Construction
Battalions.
Seagoing Bellhop.
Derogatory term for Marines.
Seagoing Marine.
The first mission of the
Marine Corps. A Marine, trained at Sea
School and assigned to the Marine Detachment on board ship. While most
Marines at some time in their career will spend time on ship, only
those Marines assigned as members of the ship’s compliment
earn
this title. The insignia of a seagoing Marine is a gold seahorse
superimposed on a gold anchor within a crimson lozenge. In 1998 all
Marine Detachments on board ships were disbanded, thus ending a
tradition that dated to 1775 and the first duty of the Marine Corps.
See USS Marine
Association.
SEAL.
Sea, Air, Land. The guerilla
and reconnaissance force of the U.
S. Navy, specially trained for covert operations.
Seaman.
An enlisted sailor in the
pay grade E-3, equivalent to a Marine
lance corporal. The non-rated grades wear slash marks on the upper left
arm only. Seaman is a "deck force" rate and is indicated with white
slashes. Airman is an "aviation" rate and is indicated with green
slashes. Fireman is a mechanical rate and is indicated with red
slashes. Constructionman is for members of Navy Construction Battalions
(Sea Bees) and the slashes are blue.
Seaman
Apprentice.
An enlisted sailor in the
pay grade E-2, equivalent to a Marine
private first class. See Seaman.
Seaman Recruit.
An enlisted sailor in the
pay grade E-1, equivalent to a Marine
private. See Seaman.
Secretary of the Navy.
The civilian appointee of
the President responsible for the
efficient management of the Navy and Marine Corps. Abbreviated SecNav.
Second Lieutenant.
The first grade of
commissioned officer indicated by a gold bar
on the collar of the uniform. The pay grade is O-1 and is the same in
the Army and the Air Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard the rank is
ensign and is additionally indicated with a broad gold stripe topped by
a gold star (or insignia of staff branch) in the Navy or a gold shield
in the Coast Guard worn on shoulder boards or jacket cuffs. Sometimes
pejorativelly called a "butter bar."
Secure.
To stop work or to lock up
for safe keeping.
Semper Fidelis.
Latin for “always
faithful”. The current motto of the
U. S. Marine Corps. Often expressed informally as Semper Fi.
Semper Gumby.
An unofficial motto of the
Marines in a mixed Latin/cartoon
dialect meaning “always flexible”.
Senior Drill Instructor.
See Drill Instructor.
Sergeant Major of Marines.
The senior enlisted person
in a battalion, regiment, group, wing
or higher. His or her insignia consists of three chevrons and four
rockers with a star between the chevrons and rockers. The pay grade is
E-9 and it is shared with the rank of master gunnery sergeant. In the
Army the rank is the same but the insignia contains one less rocker. In
the Air Force the rank is chief master sergeant and the insignia is a
technical sergeant insignia with three chevrons on top. In the Navy and
Coast Guard the insignia is worn on the left arm only and consists of a
chief petty officer insignia with two stars above the eagle.
Sergeant Major of the Marine
Corps.
This is a billet and not a
rank. He or she is the senior enlisted
advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the insignia is the
same as a sergeant major except that, between the chevrons and rockers
is an eagle globe and anchor flanked by stars. The pay grade is E-9 and
is shared with sergeants major and master gunnery sergeants. The other
services have equivalent billets. The Sergeant Major of the
Army’s insignia replaces the star with the Army eagle flanked
by
two stars. The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force wears a chief
master sergeant rank except that the silver star is contained within a
wreath. The Chief Petty Officer of the Navy and the Chief Petty Officer
of the Coast Guard wear chief petty officer insignia with three stars
above the eagle.
Sergeant
of
Marines.
The second step in the
noncommissioned officer ranks is indicated
by three chevrons with crossed rifles. The pay grade is E-5 and is
equivalent in the Army to a sergeant who wears three chevrons. In the
Air Force a staff sergeant wears four inverted chevrons with the top
three covered at the angle by a blue field and a silver star. In the
Navy and Coast Guard the rank is petty officer second class and is
indicated by two inverted chevrons under a Navy eagle, on the left arm
only.
Sewer Pipe Sailor.
A member of the submarine
service (pejorative).
SGLI.
Servicemen's Group Life
Insurance. GI Life Insurance.
Shallow Water Sailors.
Coast Guardsmen. There is a
Navy joke that inquires of a Coastie
of short stature, how he was able to enlist. When asked what is meant
by that the response is, "You guys in the Coast Guard have to be 6 feet
tall so that when your ship sinks you can walk ashore."
Shanker Mechanic.
A Navy doctor.
Shellback.
Anyone who has crossed the
Equator and gone through the
initiation. All others are Polliwogs.
Shelter Half.
Half of a pup tent. Each
Marine carried one half so that two
Marines could buddy up, snap or button their shelter halves together
and make a pup tent.
Shepherd Jr., Lemuel C.
Twentieth Commandant of the
Marine Corps from Jan 1, 1952 until
Dec 31, 1955 in the rank of general. He was born in Virginia on Feb 10,
1897 and died on Aug 6, 1990.
Ship.
A large vessel equipped for
deep-water operation. A sailing
vessel furnished with a bowsprit and three masts (a mainmast, a
foremast, and a mizzenmast), each of which is composed of a lower mast,
a topmast, and a topgallant mast, and square-rigged on all masts.
Ship's Compliment.
The sailors and Marines who
make up the permanent party of a
ship, as opposed to those who are assigned for a single cruise or
action. See Seagoing Marine.
Shield, The.
Subdued metal collar device
with a Caduceus on a shield worn by
Medical corpsmen, below the rank of chief petty officer, while in field
uniform. The shield is worn on the left collar while a rank insignia is
worn on the right collar.
Ship Over.
Reenlist.
Shit Bird.
A screw-up. Someone who
regularly gets into trouble.
Shit Pot.
Toilet or a large group as
in "A whole shit-pot full of Army
pukes."
Shit Sandwich.
A bad or barely tolerable
event. Usually a mission or activity
that has gone bad.
Shitcan.
A trash can or to remove a
person from his or her position.
Shithook.
A pejorative term for the
CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
Shitter.
Nickname given to CH-53
helicopters due to the huge amounts of
exhaust smoke that they "shit" out of their exhausts. See Super
Shitter.
Shock Troop.
(Vietnam) A form of address
between Marines, mostly in-country.
Short.
Close to ETS or PCS. An
attitude involving lack of interest and
inattention. Someone who is short is known as a Shorttimer.
Short Arm Inspection.
A physical inspection of the
genitals usually by a corpsman,
often in formation following Cinderella Liberty in a foreign port. It
was intended to identify the early signs of sexually transmitted
diseases early enough to be treated properly.
Short Round.
An artillery shell that
falls short of its intended target, often
because of defective gunpowder or a miscalculation. Also a diminutive
person.
Short Timer.
Anyone nearing the end of an
enlistment or an assignment.
Shoup, David M.
Medal of Honor recipient and
twenty second Commandant of the
Marine Corps serving from Jan 1, 1960 until Dec 31, 1963. He was born
Dec 30, 1904 and dies Jan 13, 1983.
Sick Bay.
The location on ship where
sick and injured people are treated.
Sick Bay Commando.
Someone who is frequently at
sick call. A malingerer.
Sick Call.
A designated time and place
for people to report themselves as
sick and unable to perform their duties.
Sierra Hotel.
Shit Hot meaning the best or
in prime form.
Sight Picture.
Aligning the rear and front
sights of a weapon so that the bull
rests directly upon the sight blade. Firing alignment.
Signal Bridge.
A small open deck in the
superstructure of a ship, usually above
the bridge, for the hoisting of flags and pennants which were used to
signal to other ships and to shore installations from ship.
Six.
Usually, Your Six, meaning
your back. From the clock system of
identifying an object when 12 is to your front, 6 is to your rear.
Six, Six and a Kick.
The ultimate General Courts
Martial punishment consisting of 6
months forfeiture of pay, 6 months confinement at hard labor and a
dishonorable discharge.
Six, The.
A full colonel from the pay
grade (O-6).
Six By.
Originally a truck with
six-wheel drive, a deuce and a half. Now
any multi-wheeled, multi-drive vehicle.
Skinny.
Information, usually
accurate. When it is known to be accurate it
is often called Straight Skinny.
Skipper.
A term of respect for a
company grade officer (usually a
captain). Not used much in the modern Marine Corps.
Skippie.
A non too bright Marine.
Skittles™
Motrin™. The name
is used supposedly because Navy Corpsmen
handed out the pain killers like candy.
Skivvies.
Underwear. More
specifically, white baggy boxer shorts.
Skivvy Honcho.
Lothario or ladies man.
Skivvy House.
Brothel. Whore House.
Skoshi.
A small space or time, from
Japanese. Sometimes Mo Skosh.
SKS.
Simonov Soviet or Chinese
made semiautomatic 7.62 x 39 mm rifle.
Standard Viet Com infantry rifle with a distinctive sound and high
accuracy.
Slack.
To treat with a reduced
level of emphasis. To give someone slack.
To ease off.
Slick.
(Vietnam) A Huey helicopter
with the seats and armament removed (or never installed) so that a
larger number of combat troops could be transported. To distinguish
them from "gun" ships.
Sliders.
Hamburgers, from the Naval
reference to the amount of fat and
grease on them, allowing them to slide down the throat. "With Lids"
refers to cheeseburgers.
Slit Trench.
See Straddle Trench.
Slop Chute.
A bar for lower enlisted
grades having few amenities and serving
only low content beer-no hard liquor.
Small Arms.
Weapons of small calabre and
usually requiring only one person to
operate as opposed to crew-served weapons. This is not a precise term
as some crew-served weapons, such as smaller machine guns are usually
called small arms.
Small Boat and Barge School.
The U. S. Naval Academy.
SMAW.
Shoulder Launched
Multi-Purpose Assault Weapon. A missile firing
weapon which fires an 83 mm dual mode encased rocket which detonates in
either a fast mode against a hard target or a slow mode against a soft
target.
Smoker.
Boxing matches pitting unit
champion boxers against on another.
Smoking Lamp.
When the smoking lamp is lit it is all right to smoke; when
it is out, smoking is prohibited. From the naval phrase. Fire is the
most dangerous threat at sea so, particularly on wooden ships, it was
necessary to strictly control the use of fire and smoking materials. A
lamp was hung on the forecastle, where sailors were allowed to sit and
relax, and the sailors knew they could smoke their pipes if the lamp
was lit. If it was not lit, smoking was not allowed.
SNAFU.
Situation Normal, All Fucked
Up.
Snake.
A pejorative term used in
the 1960s in reference to Women
Marines.
Snake Pit.
(Not PC)Living quarters of
female enlisted Marines (BAMs or WMs).
Snap and Pop.
Term used to describe sharp
and quick rifle drill, as would be
seen when viewing the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team.
Staff Noncommissioned Officer. An NCO in
the rank
of staff sergeant, gunnery sergeant, master sergeant or first sergeant,
sergeant major or master gunnery sergeant and sergeant major of the
Marine Corps. While officially Enlisted
Marines
they are set apart much like Commissioned
Officers
are set apart from enlisted Marines.
Snoopin' and Poopin'.
(Vietnam) Patrolling or
walking in the bush.
Snot Locker.
The nose. Used mostly as in
"I'm gonna hit you in the snot
locker."
Snuffy.
A low ranking enlisted
Marine.
SOC.
Special Operations Capable.
A designation usually placed after
the title of a Marine unit and usually within parenthesis (SOC). See
Marine Expeditionary Unit as an example of an organization that can be
given this additional designation.
A member of a military force
that trains for and fights in wars.
General reference is to a member of the Army while in fact soldiering
is practiced by Marines, certain sailors and some airmen.
Sommers, David W.
Eleventh Sergeant Major of
the Marine Corps serving from June 27,
1987 through June 27, 1991. He was born on Feb. 18, 1943 in St. Louis,
MO.
SOP.
Standard Operating
Procedure.
SOS.
An international distress
signal used mostly with morse code
communications. See Mayday. Also, Shit on a Shingle, a breakfast meal
consisting of creamed chipped beef served on toast.
Soup Cooler.
The mouth.
Soup Sandwich.
Not squared away. Not sharp
or crisp.
SP.
Shore Patrol. Duties
performed by both Navy petty officers and
Marine noncommissioned officers, usually as an additional duty, to
police sailors and Marines on liberty in a foreign or domestic port.
Not a professional MOS but now often performed by MPs. See MP.
Semper Paratus, Always
Ready. The motto of the U. S. Coast Guard
and the group name for a woman in the Coast Guard. Also a wooden or
metal pole such as a boom, yard or bowsprit used to support sails. See
Women Marines.
Special Sea and Anchor
Detail.
A shipboard situation in
which everyone has a special job on
entering and leaving a port. This may include Manning the Rails.
Spider Hole.
(Vietnam) An enemy fighting
hole, always well hidden.
Spit Shine.
An unauthorized reference to
“high gloss footwear”.
It came by its name honestly as it had been customary to use saliva
when shining leather shoes and boots before Corfam became the norm.
Splash.
To drive an Amtrac off the
back of an amphibious ship.
Splib.
(Vietnam era)A derogatory
term for black people. Sometimes
spelled Spliv.
Splice the Main
Brace.
(Civil War) A Naval term
indicating that the crew should muster
for their regular issue of Grog. The issue of Grog on U. S. flag
vessels ended during the Civil War. It is still practiced in the Royal
Navy. The main brace is the line (not rope) that holds the main sail in
place. It was always a target of battle and after the battle the first
duty of most sailors was to take care of the main brace and splice it
if it was torn. On completion of that arduous task it was customary to
take a drink of strong spirits to also strengthen the men.
Split Tail.
A female.
Spouse.
Wife or husband, usually
preceded with "Dependent". (see Dependent
Wife)
A rope designed to be hung from a
helicopter
to which Marines have been attached for the purpose of inserting them
into or extracting them from dense jungle or other places where
helicopters can not land. Sometimes called Dope on a Rope.
A unit consisting of a three
fire teams. It is assigned to a
platoon and is usually led by a sergeant or staff sergeant.
Squad Bay.
The living quarters for a
recruit platoon it consists of a large
open space where bunk beds are set up, a head, a drill
instructor’s hut and a small meeting area. Also, any open
living
space for Marines.
Squared Away.
In good shape, everything in
place, prepared.
Squid.
A pejorative term for
sailors.
SRB.
Service Record Book.
SSAN.
Social Security Account
Number. Attack Nuclear Submarine
SSN.
Social Security Number.
Nuclear Submarine.
SSS.
Shit, shower and shave or
Skin So Soft, a skin moisturizer by
Avon that also repels bugs. Skin So Soft works so well that it is part
of the initial PX issue in boot camp (the cost of which comes out of
the recruit's first pay).
Stacking Swivel.
A clip near the muzzle of
most military rifles allowing for the
stacking of weapons when in a garrison setting. Often a euphemism for
the neck. A drill instructor might, for instance, threaten to grab a
recruit by the stacking swivel if he or she were particularly upset
with the recruit.
Staff Sergeant of Marines.
The first staff
noncommissioned officer rank is indicated by
three chevrons with a single rocker connecting them and crossed rifles
in between chevrons and rocker. The pay grade is E-6 and the Army
equivalent is also a staff sergeant who wears the same insignia except
for the color and without the crossed rifles. In the Air Force the rank
is technical sergeant which is indicated by five inverted chevrons with
the top three partially covered with a blue circle containing a star.
Navy and Coast Guard equivalents are petty officer first class and
their insignia of three inverted chevrons topped with a Navy eagle is
worn on the left arm only.
Stanchion.
On board ship, any pole or
pillar used to support the overhead.
Stand Fast.
A command to stay where you
are and not move until told
otherwise.
Starboard.
Right, from the naval term.
The starboard side of a ship will be
illuminated with a green light.
The United States of
America. In Vietnam it was also referred to
as "The World" as in "Back in the world."
Stealth.
Approaching invisibility
usually through the application of
technology.
Steel Beach.
A party on board a ship.
Stick.
An individual row or line of
Marines lined up to disembark a
vehicle (aircraft or ship). Most famously used by paratroopers
preparing to jump from a well maintained and fully functional aircraft.
Stow.
To put away in its assigned
place and neatly. Or to stop as in
the Navy phrase "stow that bilge" meaning stop talking garbage.
Straight Skinny.
See Skinny.
Straddle Trench.
A field head or latrine dug
quickly with an entrenching tool just
wide enough so that the grunt can squat with one foot on either side of
the trench. Also a Slit Trench.
Strength Test.
See Initial Strength Test
and Final Strength Test.
Striker.
A sailor in training for a
rate is said to be striking. Someone
learning to be a fire control technician is called a fire control
striker. A midshipman at the U. S. Naval Academy is said to be an
admiral striker.
Stroke Book.
Pornographic magazine or
pulp-paper book.
Stumps, The.
Marine Corps Air-Ground
Coordination Center, Twenty Nine Palms,
California. The largest Marine Corps base right in the middle of the
desert. It is said that a Marine can not go UA there because he or she
can walk for three days and still be seen from mainside.
Suck.
A mouth
Summer Creases
Wrinkles in uniforms (mostly utility uniforms) from sum
'mer here, sum 'mer there.
Super Shitter.
Nickname reserved
specifically for the CH-53E Super Sea Stallion
helicopter. See Shitter.
All of that portion of a
ship
above the
main deck. The decks are numbered up from the first deck above the main
weather deck, the 01 level. Therefore the 05 level is five decks above
the main weather deck. The bridge is located in the superstructure.
Suppression Fire.
Fire directed at an enemy
position to
keep that position from using their own weapons. Often applied to allow
portions of a unit to reposition without being hit by enemy fire.
Survey.
Dispose of or evaluate for
value to the
mission.
Suzy Rottencrotch.
Every Marine's girlfriend,
most of who
are shacked
up with Jody while the Marine is off defending his country.
Swabbie.
Sailor.
Swagger Stick.
A short (usually under 2')
decorated
stick carried
by some Marine commissioned and noncommissioned officers. They have
been outlawed at times by the Marine Corps and were introduced by the
British Royal Marines whose leaders use them extensively.
Swamp Lagoon.
A pejorative term for Camp
Lejeune NC.
Sweet, Herbert J.
Fourth Sergeant Major of the
Marine
Corps, he
served from July 17, 1965 until July 31, 1969. Born Oct 8, 1919 in
Hartford, CT he died in October of 1997.
Swinging Dick.
A male individual. Used most
often in the
phrase,
"every swinging dick" meaning all present.
Swoop.
Term for the travel of a
Marine on
liberty to his
or her hometown, usually ridiculously far from where they are assigned.
Swoop Circle.
The place on base where swoop drivers met
up with
swoop passengers. At Camp Lejeune it was the handball courts (formerly
the outdoor theater) on mainside across from the 8th Marines gym.
Temporary Additional Duty.
An assignment in addition to the
normal billet, usually "at no additional cost to the government". Also,
Traveling Around Drunk.
Tail End Charlie.
The last person or element
in a line or column.
Tan Belt.
A Marine with the lowest level of martial arts training.
Tango Uniform.
Tits Up.
Technical
Sergeant.
A World War II and Korea
period rank, the insignia of which was
three chevrons and two horizontal bars. It was part of a dual rank
system which had technicians and command ranks. In the 1960s the rank
became gunnery sergeant and the crossed rifles were added. Also a
current Air Force rank upon which the insignia of the top three
enlisted grades are constructed. See Staff Sergeant of Marines.
Terminal Leave.
Leave from which a Marine
is
not expected to return to duty, such
as just prior to retirement or separation. Usually taken to get a jump
on civilian life or to use up any unpaid leave remaining on the books.
Tet.
(Vietnam) Lunar new year
celebration which in 1968 marked the
start of an offensive by the North Vietnamese Army to oust the
Americans from Vietnam. While fighting was fierce is was a failure for
the Communist forces.
TDY.
Temporary Duty. A
temporary
assignment other than the normal
billet, often at another location and frequently with additional pay
during the period. Used since the 1980s, prior to that the term was TAD.
TH3.
Thermite. See AN-M14.
The President's Own.
The United States Marine
Band.
ThrashLight.
(Vietman) Illumination of
a
combat zone by dropping 55-gal.
barrels of napalm from CH-53 helicopters. Go to:
this
site for more info.
Three Jarheads, The
Three veteran Marines who have formed a comedy group.
They are
included here because they use this dictionary for some of their
material and to check terms. Check them out at www.thethreejarheads.us
or www.myspace.com/thethreejarheads.
Three Ss.
Shit, shower and shave.
Three up and three down.
A reference to a First
Sergeant or a Master Sergeant (three
stripes up and three rockers down).
Tie-Tie.
A length of cord with two
clips every 10 inches issued to
recruits. The recruit would cut between the clips and use the resulting
length of cord to tie laundry to a line to dry. Clothes clips were not
used in boot camp in the mid-20th Century.
Tiger Piss.
(Vietnam) Tiger brand beer or more generally any beer.
Tight Jawed.
Pissed off, angry.
TINS.
This Is No Shit. Sort of
the
"Once upon a time" of Sea
Stories.
Tits Up.
Dead, broken, inoperative.
A
politically correct version is Toes
Up. See Tango Uniform.
TLA.
Temporary Living
Allowance.
TMO.
Traffic Management Office.
Where one goes to arrange for the
shipment of household goods, vehicles or other items on a permanent
change of station.
To the Colors.
A bugle call sounded in
the
morning as the U. S. flag is being
raised. See Retreat.
Toe Chain.
The smaller of two chains
holding the dog tags. It could be
draped on the big toe to identify a casualty while the tag on the
larger chain went to Graves Registration.
Toilet Seat.
Pejorative term for the
"Marksman" Shooting Badge. It is the
lowest of three levels of marksmanship qualification and the badge is
shaped like a square target. Qualifications for the Marksman Shooting
Badge would earn an "Expert" rating in the other services.
Tombstone Brigadier
General.
Following World War I
Congress passed a law that, upon
retirement, advanced a Navy commander who had been decorated during the
war one grade on the retired list. It was intended as a one-time fix
for a decorated officer who's career was compromised by an accident
which kept him from promotion. The law, which applied only to the Naval
Service, however, remained in effect until 1967 when it was repealed.
Marines who retired and had received personal decorations were
routinely promoted to the next rank the day after retirement. The
effect was most noticed with colonels who, the day following retirement
became flag officers.
A candy that was air
dropped
to the Marines who were cut off at
the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. It kept many of the Marines
from starving to death as all of the other food they had required
heating due to the 30 degrees below zero temperatures. Tootsie Rolls
could be put inside clothing, close to the skin, and it would thaw out
enough so that it could be eaten. In addition, as their trucks and
jeeps were being shot up by the Chinese the Marines would repair the
holes by placing a chewed up Tootsie Roll into the hole where it would
immediately freeze and create a weld.
Top.
(WWII through
Vietnam)First
Sergeant, informal reference not
currently in use. At present, if it is used at all it refers to a
Master Sergeant (who is in the same pay grade as a First Sergeant but
serves in a more technical capacity). While not the top enlisted grade,
a first sergeant is the senior enlisted grade authorized in a company,
the level at which most Marines spend their time. Sometimes used as
"top kick" (mostly a WWII usage).
Topside.
The deck or floor(s)
above,
from the naval term. Also used to
refer to the upper levels of the chain of command.
A nationwide project to
collect toys and distribute them at
Christmas to children of need. It began within the Marine Corps
Reserve and is
now assisted by the Marine
Corps
League. It has been placed
within its own corporation, the Toys
for Tots
Foundation.
Track Lube.
A tanker's term for
Infantrymen.
TRAP Team
Tactical Recovery of Aircraft Personnel Team. A TRAP Team
from
the 24th MEU rescued Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady from Bosnia on
June 8, 1995.
A tavern in Philadelphia
where the first Marines were recruited
for service in 1775. It was also the home of the Grand Lodge of Masons
in Pennsylvania.
Tuna Boat Driver.
A pejorative term used by
tankers in reference to Amtrac drivers.
Turkey Bar.
(Okinawa and Japan) A
local
bar where oral sex is performed for a
fee. In the 1960s some of the bars even advertised being Turkey Bars on
their signs. The bar girls are called gobblers.
Turn to.
Naval command to begin
work.
Twilight Cruise.
Transfer to a cushy duty
station for a Marine's last assignment
prior to retirement.
Twilight Zone
The 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment,
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC in the 1960s before the
new brick barracks were built. The 1st Battalion was Frontierland
and the 3rd Battalion was Disneyland. The 4th Battalion was
officially Woman Marine Battalion.
Unauthorized Absence. The
Marine equivalent of AWOL (Absent
Without Leave).
UD.
Undesireable Discharge.
Ranks between General and Bad Conduct
Discharge. Also, Uniform of the Day
UCMJ.
Uniform Code of Military
Justice. When it was introduced in the
1940s to replace the "Rocks and Shoals" system of Naval justice it was
jokingly said to be a way to bring the guilty bastards in and give them
a fair trial.
(WWII to Vietnam) The Marine
fighting and
field uniform. During Vietnam the Jungle Utilities (the Army called
them fatigues) were introduced and eventually became "cammies" which
replaced utilities.
Uncle Sam's Canoe Club.
The U. S. Naval Academy (Canoe U) or
more
broadly, the U. S. Navy.
Uncle Sam's Misguided Children.
An alternate meaning for the acronym
USMC.
Uncommon valor was a common virtue.
Refers to the victories in World War
II,
especially at Iwo Jima, the largest all-Marine battle in history.
Admiral Nimitz's ringing characterization of Marines fighting on Iwo
Jima was applied to the entire Marine Corps in World War II: "Uncommon
valor was a common virtue."
Uncover.
To remove the headgear. A Marine
never wears
headgear indoors unless under arms.
Under Arms.
Equipped with a pistol, rifle or
sword, an
indication that the Marine is on duty. It is the only time that a
Marine may remain covered indoors.
Undress Blues.
A term that identified the dress
blue uniform
worn with ribbons rather than medals. The term is not used anymore.
Unfuckingbelievable.
A Marine expletive similar to
YGTBSM.
Unified Commands.
Units under the control of the
Joint Chiefs
of Staff containing elements from all of the U. S. armed forces. They
are normally commanded by a four star general or admiral and are given
the title Commander-in-Chief.
The system of justice for
the military services. It is a federal
law enacted by Congress. It replaced the “Rocks and
Shoals”
system of justice practiced previously in the Naval service.
The five armed services (Army, Navy,
Air
Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) plus the commissioned corps of the
U. S. Public Health Service and the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Unit One.
The Field Medical Kit carried by
Navy
Hospital Corpsmen.
An association of Marines
and former Marines who were involved in
the Public Affairs, Photographic or Motion Picture career fields or
former Marines now working in journalism or public relations.
Veterans Affairs, a
federal
cabinet department, formerly the
Veterans Administration. DVA is not appropriate.
Vandegrift, Alexander A.
Eighteenth Commandant of
the
Marine Corps and recipient of the Medal
of Honor. The hero of
Guadalcanal was a Virginia native born March
13, 1887 and as a lieutenant general on Jan. 1, 1944 he was appointed
Commandant of the Marine Corps. A March 21, 1945 law permitted the
President to appoint the Commandant to the rank of general, which he
did effective that date. An Act of Aug 7 1947 fixed the rank of the
Commandant at general.
VBED
(Iraq) Vehicle Borne Explosive Device.
VC.
Vietcong, Viet Communist,
(usually pronounced Vietcong). See Charlie.
(1780-1831) Author of the
definitive "On War" which is still
cited today in military strategy. Many historians believe that the
final, key chapters of the book were written after his death by his
wife.
Women's Army Auxiliary
Corps, predecessor to the WAC and without
military status. See Woman Marine.
WAC.
Women's Army Corps. See
Woman Marine.
WAF.
Woman (or Women) in the
Air
Force. See Woman Marine.
WAG.
Wild Assed Guess.
Warrant
Officer.
An officer who ranks below
a
second lieutenant but above all
enlisted personnel. See Chief
Warrant Officer. Most
warrant officers are former enlisted. They wear the insignia of first
and second lieutenants with various red stripes painted on the insignia.
Warrior Breakfast.
The meal served to
recruits
upon completion of the grueling 54
hour crucible. For many it is the first good meal in two days.
WASP.
Women's Air Force Service
Pilots, while not a Marine unit is
still worthy of comment. These were civilian female pilots during World
War II who ferried planes from construction plants to free male pilots
for combat. They were a courageious and patriotic group who have
finally been granted veteran status. Originally they were the Women's
Auxilliary Ferrying Squadron--WAFS---and the Women's Flying Training
Detachment, dually created Sep 1942 within the Air Transport Command.
Wasted.
Extremely drunk or, in
Vietnam, killed.
Water Buffalo.
A water tank on wheels.
Wave Cage.
(Not PC) Living quarters
of
female enlisted Navy personnel.
WAVES.
Women Accepted for
Volunteer
Emergency Services. The component
unit in which women served the Navy. See Woman Marine.
Web Gear
The battle gear worn over the utility uniform to hold
canteens, magazine holders, etc. Normally unit owned and issued.
Webb, Jack.
Hollywood producer and
actor, best knows as Sgt. Joe Friday from
the television series Dragnet in the mid-20th Century. He was lead
actor in a movie from the 1950s called "DI" about a Marine Drill
Instructor at Parris Island SC. His production company was Mark VII.
Well Deck.
A lower deck on some ships
that can be flooded to embark and
debark Marines on board amphibious tractors and boats.
Wetting Down.
A party held to celebrate
a
promotion (in the past it involved
copious amounts of alcoholic beverage).
Whale Shit.
According to many Drill
Instructors, the only thing lower on
God's green earth than a recruit.
Wharton, Franklin.
Third Commandant of the
Marine Corps. A Pennsylvania native born
on July 23, 1767 he was named LtCol Commandant on March 7, 1804 and
served until his death on Sept 1, 1818.
Whiskey 95.
A type of transfer from an
overseas assignment in which the
Marine is within 3-months of discharge. Rather than assign them to a
unit for such a short time the Marine is assigned to a holding unit at
Camp Pendleton, CA or Camp Lejeune, NC.
White Hat.
An enlisted sailor, from
the
headgear worn with the enlisted
uniform. See Dixie Cup.
WIA.
Wounded in Action.
Widow Maker.
Unofficial and
uncomplementary name for the CH-53 helicopter.
Wigged Out.
Crazy, flipped out or, in
Vietnamese, "Dinky Dau".
WILCO.
(Commtalk) Will Comply. Often used after Roger.
Willie Peter (WP).
White phosphorus, an
incendiary material that burns hot and is
not extinguished with water. Used in WP hand grenades and long range
artillery rounds.
Willie Peter Bag.
A waterproofed canvas bag
originally designed to keep a rolled up
sleeping bag dry.
Wilson, Louis.
Medal of Honor recipient
and
twenty sixth Commandant of the
Marine Corps. He served as Commandant from July 1, 1975 until June 30,
1979. He was born Feb. 11, 1920. At the 203rd Marine Corps Birthday
Ball at Camp Lejeune, NC in 1978 he gave this memorable toast:
The
wonderful love of a beautiful maid, The
love of a staunch true man, The
love of a baby, unafraid, Have
existed since time began. But the
greatest of loves, The quintessence of loves. even
greater than that of a mother, Is the
tender, passionate, infinite love, of one
drunken Marine for another.
"Semper Fidelis"
Wing.
Usually Air Wing, an
aviation unit equivalent to an infantry
division.
Wing Wiper.
A pejorative term for a
Marine assigned to an aviation unit.
Winger.
A Marine assigned to an
Air
Wing. See Wing Wiper.
Wire, The.
(Vietnam) The perimeter of
a
position so named because most
perimeters were marked with concertina or barbed wire.
Former term for a female
Marine. No longer in use because women
are integrated into the Corps and are identified, like all, as Marines.
Similar groups in the other services were WAC for Women’s
Army
Corps; WAAC for Women’s Army Air Corps; WAF for Women in the
Air
Force; WAVES for Women Available for Volunteer Emergency Services in
the Navy and SPAR for Semper Paratus Always Ready for the Coast Guard.
Woman Marine Battalion
The predecessor to 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit
Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC.
In the mid-20th Century all female Marines assigned to Parris
Island were assigned to this battalion even though many of them
actually worked in other battalions. WM Battalion was then also
charged with basic training for all female Marines.
WM.
Abbreviation for Woman
Marine, acceptable for use from 1948 when
women were first accepted into the regular Marine Corps until the late
1990s when it was decreed that they will be Marines (without prefix).
Wookie Monster.
Woman Marine.
Word, The.
Information supposedly
received from a reliable source. Also,
scoop, poop, skinny.
World, The.
(Vietnam) The United
States
of America.
WR.
Abbreviation for Woman
Reserve, used from the time women were
first allowed to join the Marine Corps Reserve, Feb. 13, 1943, until
1947 when they were allowed to join the active Marine Corps.
WTFO.
What the fuck, over. A
statement of disbelief or question using
radio communication terminology.
One of the two positions
typically occupied by an aircraft
carrier off the coast of Vietnam. Yankee was the northern station
responsible for disruption of commerce and logistics.
YATYAS.
You Ain't Tracks, You
Ain't
Shit. The rallying cry of Amtrackers.
Used in similar form for most other jobs as in "You Ain't Ordnance, You
Ain't Shit" or "You Ain't Artillery, You Ain't Shit".
Yeoman.
A clerk in the Navy.
Yeomanette.
Nickname given to women in
the Navy during World War II due to
the fact that the only authorized rate was yeoman.
A small town west of
Parris
Island along the Atlantic Southern
railroad main-line. For many Marines from WWI to Vietnam this was their
first day in the Corps and the first barracks they slept in while
waiting transportation by "Cattle Car
or bus.
Zips
(World War II thru early Vietnam). Orientals. Locals in
the war zone. From the derisive term zipperhead.
YGTBSM.
You've Got To Be Shitting
Me. A Marine's expression of disbelief.
Seventh Commandant of the
Marine Corps. A Philadelphian born July
16, 1806 he had fought Mexicans in California and was a company
commander at the First Battle of Bull Run before becoming Colonel
Commandant on June 10, 1864 following the death of Harris. He became
the first Brigadier General Commandant and was responsible for the
creation and adoption of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem of the U.
S. Marine Corps.
Zero.
To set the sights of a
weapon so that a proper sight picture will
obtain a bull on the rifle range. Any officer. Taken from the pay
grades (O-1 to O-10). Also a Japanese aircraft in World War II.
Zip.
(Vietnam) Vietnamese.
Zipper Head.
(Vietnam) Any Oriental
person.
Zippo.
(World War II to present)
A
cigarette lighter made in Bradford,
PA and prized by all military personnel because of their rugged
construction and ability to stay lit in a typhoon. Also a derogatory
term for a flame-thrower tank.
Zoomie.
A pejorative term for
Marines assigned to an aviation unit or all
members of the Air Force.
Zulu Time.
Greenwich
Mean
Time.
The current time at the Royal Observatory on the Prime Meridian in
Greenwich England. Used as a time standard worldwide. During World War
II the world was divided into 24 time zones and each was assigned a
letter (minus I and O), Z was assigned to Greenwich and the zone to the
east was A.
Go
to Glenn & Bev Knight's Homepage Go
to the Knights' USMC Links Page Go
to Quotes about Marines
Families and friends of Marine recruits Go
to myMarine
Links to another web site with more
info.
Brigadier
General. 
Bursting
Bomb. 
(the
tie-bars are are at the ends of the rank bars
rather than somewhat inboard like a railroad track--no one seems to
know why and most reference souces use it incorrectly--the photo shown
here is correct). The pay grade is O-3 and is the same in the Army and
the Air Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard the rank is lieutenant and
is additionally indicated on the shoulder boards and sleeves of various
uniforms by two broad gold bands topped by the insignia indicating the
branch of the service to which the officer is assigned (most often a
gold star indicating a line officer) or, in the Coast Guard, a gold
shield.
Chief
Petty
Officer. 
Colonel.
Corporal
of
Marines. 
adopted
in 1868 under
Brigadier General Commandant Jacob Zeilen following the Civil War.
Prior to that time the Marines wore the Army infantry horn with a red
field in the center and the letter “M” in Old
English
script. 
First
Sergeant of
Marines. 
Fleet
Admiral. 
French
Fourragere. 
Gunnery
Sergeant of Marines. 
Mameluke
Sword. 
Master
Gunnery
Sergeant of Marines. 
Medal
of Honor. 
rudimentary box opener, scraper and even push tool.
Generally worn with the Dog Tags around the neck. Often called
a
John Wayne. Made obsolete with the introduction of the Meal, Ready to
Eat (MRE). A larger version, P-51 was used by messcooks on the larger
field ration cans. A similar device in use by the Australian and New
Zealand Armies has a spoon at one end and is called a Field Ration
Eating Device (FRED) which the troops call the Fucking Ridiculous
Eating Device.
Quatrefoil. 
Seaman
Apprentice. 
Sergeant
of
Marines. 
Technical
Sergeant. 
Warrant
Officer. 
An Unofficial [Unabridged] Dictionary for Marines is indexed in OneLook Dictionaries.