A regular step, as in marching. but the distance between the back of the first soldier and the front of the second soldier is reduced to about four inches, so that they must all march in step. 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.

Military term used to describe the action a paratrooper smacking into the ground after their parachute fails to open.

1. Slang for the perfect Marine. 2. The opposite of Joe Shit the Rag Man.

Area of Operations.

Single engine propeller driven aircraft also called Sandy or Spad (origin) Vietnam Era

Medium-sized, subsonic, single-engine attack jet. (origin) Vietnam Era

Directional term meaning behind (aft) any given point on a ship.

Air Combat Element.

Battalion Aid Station for USMC Aviation units in the field.

World War II era beer. (background) Made in San Jose, CA. Sent to the South Pacific specifically for Marine units. It came in both a green and a brown bottle but only the brown-bottled beer was fit to drink. The green bottles contained a liquid that smelled like a skunk.

(Commtalk) Radio call sign to speak with the commander of a unit. (example) If the unit call sign is “Brownbag”, the unit commander will be “Brownbag Actual”.

Active Duty.

1. A non-punitive discharge prior to completion of an enlistment. 2. Type of discharge that will not affect post-service benefits.

The highest Naval rank in peacetime. (see Fleet Admiral) (background) The Admiral insignia has four silver stars in a row. Prior to the Civil War, Captain was the highest Naval rank When placed in command of larger units, Admirals were 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.

A rank awarded to Admiral Dewey by an act of Congress in March 1899 to place him above all other admirals. (see Fleet Admiral).

1. Floating aimlessly, usually without a rudder or compass. 2. Missing in action. 3. An individual who sets himself apart.

1. American Forces Radio and Television Service or Armed Forces Radio and Television System 2. Provider of commercial-type radio and television programming to ships and overseas stations. (pronounced “A-farts.”)

Air Force Specialty Code. The Air Force equivalent of an MOS.

Behind (origin) Naval term for the after section of the ship.

All Fucked Up.

1. One of the five uniformed military branches. 2. 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.

Blow job.

(see Close Air Support)

An aviation unit equivalent to an infantry division.

Anyone serving in aviation.

1. A Navy or Air Force enlisted rank. 2. Generic term for anyone in the Air Force. (see Seaman and Airman First Class).

1. Soviet-manufactured Kalashnikov semi-automatic/fully automatic combat assault rifle, 7.62-mm 2. Basic weapon of the Communist forces.

Used in radio traffic to denote all concerned.

1. An enemy combatant. 2. Looter or bad guy. (background) “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves.”. (origin) Operation Iraqi Freedom

Everyone.

1. Automatic withdrawal from a military member”s monthly pay. 2. Authorized for payments to businesses, individuals or agencies.

1. (Commtalk) the letter “A”. 2. Marine green uniform with blouse and ribbons. (synonym) Sometimes spelled ALFA.

1. “Adios, Mother Fucker” or “Adios, My Friend”. 2. Goodbye.

Nickname for a Marine’s spouse. (see Dependent Wife)

nickname for toilet paper (Ass Wipe).

(see Alpha Mike Foxtrot).

Ammunition.

The location, usually just behind the Forward Edge of Battle Area where line units receive their ammunition supply/replenishment. In the movies, an ASP is usually called an “ammo dump.”

Slang for Amphibious Armored, Tracked, Personnel Carrier. (LVT/AAV).

An Assault Amphibious Vehicle crewman.

1. Naval slang for a Boatswain’s Mate. 2. Anyone in the Navy.

An unofficial betting pool, the winner is whomever come closest to the time logged by the Officer of the Deck for dropping or weighing anchor.

Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. (background) Composed of 4-man “fire control teams”. A fire control officer (FICTO – usually a Lt, but due to their limited number in the reserves, may be led by a Captain in the Reserves). Like a true team, the officer shares the load of radios (UHF, VHF and HF), batteries and rifles – just like the Lance Corporal. ANGLICO members are 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.

Incendiary (Thermite) Hand Grenade. (specs) Weighs 32 oz, contains 26.5 oz of TH3 thermite mixture. It is designed to start fires with its 40 seconds of 4,300oF.

HC Smoke Hand Grenade. (specs) Weighs 25.5 oz, contains 19 oz of HC, which emits a dense smoke for up to 2.5 minutes, with a 2-second delay.

An outpost with major communications assets apparent from the large number of antennae in the vicinity.

Aerial Rocket Artillery. A Cobra AH-1G helicopter with four XM159C 19-rocket ( 2.75 inch) pods.

B-52 bombers dropping their entire load of 2,000 lb bombs on suspected concentrations of enemy troops. (origin) Vietnam

Site of the Marine Corps Memorial, a sculpture of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima in World War II. (background) Location in Arlington, VA, north of the National Cemetery, overlooking the Potomoc River and Washington DC.

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. (see Uniformed Services).

Artillery.

Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

Informal command to continue what you were doing or to indicate a correction to a previous order or comment.

As Soon As Possible.

Ammunition Supply Point.

An individual who is not squared away or whose ignorance is showing.

The little first aid kit worn on web gear, and located in the middle of the lower back. Usually contained two field pressure dressings, a tourniquet, and some iodine. Sometimes, there was even geedunk in there.

Marine attack formation with troops advancing abreast.

Troops or people standing close together. (synonym) Asshole to Bellybutton, meaning close together.

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (skills test). Individuals must pass this test in order to join the Armed Forces.

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.)

Yes. A Naval expression.

I understand your order and will comply. A Naval expression.

Compass heading toward an objective or target.

500 cubic feet field space cooler/air conditioner. Requires a dedicated generator.

Humorous identification for a Air Force plane. (see GU11). (pronounced “b one r d)

Government-issue green Ray-O-Vac “C” cell battery.

Brand name of a Vietnamese beer.

Balloon.

Hot dogs contained in MREs.

Government policy of keeping troops in the military beyond their original enlistment contracts through “stop loss orders” (retaining specific shortage job specialties such as military intelligence and aviation) and “stop movement orders” (locking down entire units so that troops can”t leave the military or rotate out into another unit). Some troops have spent one to two years serving past their enlistment contract or retirement date.

A discharge ranking between Honorable and Dishonorable. (background) 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. (synonym) Big Chicken Dinner.

To get, as in “to bag some sleep.”

Being transferred, shipped out or the process of moving to new quarters. From the act of dragging the sea bag from place to place.

An unappetizing meal delivered in a paper bag, mostly during Marksmanship Training at boot camp but also at other times in the fleet.

A pejorative term for a Woman Marine (background) broad-assed Marine. Never used much in the presence of female Marines. 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 fell out of use in the late 20th Century.

A cloth or canvas container of several rounds of ammunition.

A linked belt of machine gun ammo.

Basic Allowance for Quarters.

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.

An amount of money paid by bar girls in Subic Bay (Philippines) to be allowed to leave the bar or walk the streets.

Twelfth Commandant of the Marine Corps. A Wisconsin native, born on Dec. 9, 1859, who 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.

Buildings where single Marines live or a duty station where they serve.

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.

1. A Marine who does nothing but stay in the barracks all day watching television and playing video games. 2. The Marine equivalent of a couch potato. 3. Also a woman who hangs around a barracks, BEQ or BOQ for the purpose of giving or selling sexual favors.

Twenty seventh Commandant of the Marine Corps serving from July 1, 1979 until June 30, 1983. Born Feb 5, 192 2.

Basic Allowance for Subsistence. Food allowance paid to individuals not living in barracks. Barracks residents use the military dining facilities. (synonym) Also Battalion Aid Station.

A servicemember”s basic monthly/yearly pay, based on rank and years of service.

Basic training for new second lieutenants. Conducted at Quantico, VA.

1. Illegal practice of keeping a leave request form in an “In” basket (versus submitting it for processing) while the individual goes on leave. 2. A leave that is never charged against a member”s leave balance. (background) Often, leave papers were actually filled out and approved, to cover everybody’s ass in case the person on leave got arrested, killed or detained somehow while on leave. When the individual returned, the papers were then destroyed. Used by supervisors or leave clerks to provide a “bennie” to someone.

A flare ship on station to drop illumination flares on command. (origin) Vietnam (synonym) “Puff the Magic Dragon” or “Spooky”.

see Field Marshall and Drum Major.

A unit containing multiple companies. It is typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. (background) Battalions are normally assigned to a regiment.

A field medical unit. The first organized aid station a Marine will see when transported from the front line corpsmen.

An artillery unit equivalent to an infantry company. Usually six guns used in support of an infantry battalion.

A rectangular medical dressing carried into battle by each Marine.

A service green uniform jacket with a faux belt and no skirt. (background) Used from World War II until the mid-1960s. (see Ike Jacket)

Necktie clip.

(see General Quarters)

A knife-like weapon attached to the muzzle of a rifle used for hand-to-hand combat.

first of the modern rocket launched weapons and was made in 2.75″ and 3.5″ versions. They were replaced by the M72 LAW. A WWII period invention, it was the They were used against tanks, vehicles and other profitable targets but they were plagued by electrical problems.

Anyone dealing directly with ordnance.

Marine Corps issue eyeglasses (officially F-9). Named Birth Control glasses by the troops due to their repulsive effect on the opposite sex.

Bad Conduct Discharge.

Battle Dress Uniform. The official name for cammies.

A Naval term meaning to work off advance pay onboard ship–the period before you start earning money again. see Dead Horse.

C-Ration meal of beefsteak, potatoes and gravy.

1. Stop. 2. Make fast, from the Naval practice of tying off a line with a belaying pin. 3. Disregard, as in “Belay my last”.

A system of time onboard ship. The routine day was broken into six watches of four hours each. (background) The watch on duty was responsible for maintaining the time, so each half hour a bell would be rung. This began 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 at those times eight bells were struck.

The decks below the main weather deck of a ship. They are numbered from the main weather deck. Deck 7 is therefore seven decks below the main deck. see Superstructure.

Short for “benefit.” All services provided to or for soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines are considered bennies.

Bachlor Enlisted Quarters (barracks).

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, 197 2.

Narcotic seed nut chewed by Vietnamese villagers. The nut turned their teeth and gums blood red.

The portion of a Navy enlisted uniform that hangs from the back of the neck. (background) In the wooden navy it was fashionable 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.

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 command, the term of office was set, by law at 4 years.

Bad Conduct Discharge.

see Green Weenie.

see Bag Nasty.

1. An acrid mix of sea water, petroleum products and other brackish material that settles to the bottom of a ship. 2. Information that is of no value; garbage. 3. To fail at something.

1. The sailors who drain and maintain the bilge on ship. 2. Marine assigned to bilge duty as non-judicial punishment.

A specific job authorized within a unit structure.

In Naval and Marine Aviation, a fuel level or condition requiring return to base or ship or aerial refueler.

Rudimentary sewage ditches found throughout the Orient.

A full colonel, designated by the eagle emblem on the insignia. (synonym) Full Bird

An aircraft carrier.

Eagle, Globe and Anchor (usually used by short-timers).

A disrespectful reference to the modern emblem of the Marines, the eagle, globe and anchor.

A pejorative term for airmen.

The 1-MC on board ship or any amplified system used to pass information widely.

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.

Location of the Marine line of defense on the edge of Washington, DC when the British attacked in the War of 181 2. (background) 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.

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 him, while he writhied and screamed. Unauthorized and punishable under the UCMJ. Not performed frequently.

1. Anything overstuffed 2. A rubber fuel bladder. 3. modified fuel tank used to haul small cargo outside the aircraft. (origin) (WWII) Two pounds of shit in a one pound bag.

To tighten or straighten a fieldscarf (necktie).

A groove in a fighting knife or sword. It allows blood to flow from a wound to aid in removing the knife blade (a significant concern in close combat).

A red stripe displayed on the outer seam of dress blue uniform trousers. It is worn by noncommissioned officers, warrant officers and commissioned officers, traditionally to honor the high number of casualties among the ranks at the Battle of Chapultapec in the Mexican War.

(Vietnam) Unofficial field command to hit a target with an M79 grenade launcher.

M79 grenade launcher. At least one is assigned to each squad of infantry Marines.

1. The service or dress coat worn by Marines. 2. Act of tucking pant legs into boots so that the fabric slightly overhangs the boots (worn mostly by Army personnel and in utility uniforms). 3. Act of tucking in a shirt with military creases so that it appeared tight over the entire belt line and caused a slight overhang between the two outside creases in the back.

Wasting time, talking for no purpose and to no effect.

Killed.

Battalion Landing Team, main body of infantrymen that make up a MEU.

Former enlisted Marine who accepted a commission. (see Mustang.)

1. Someone who causes trouble for another. 2. Buddy Fucker.

1. The International Signal Flag for the letter “P”. It is a blue square with a white square within it. 2. Signal that all hands are to return to ship as it is preparing to go to sea.

One who sails on the deep seas, as opposed to members of the Coast Guard who are Shallow Water Sailors. (see Brown Water Navy.)

The Dress Blue uniform.

1. Any small vessel incapable of making regular independent voyages on the high seas. 2. Traditionally, a submarine.

Flack jacket.

An unidentified object, usually an aircraft, ship or other mobile weapons system.

Bend Over, Here It Comes Again. (origin) (Vietnam) Derived from the French beaucoup meaning many or much.

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.

Anyplace out in the country.

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.

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.

Boondocks.

A recruit, a rookie, a newbie. Applicable to all U. S. military services.

In the Marine Corps it is official Recruit Training. 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.

A uniform combination consisting of the utility uniform (the uniform worn in the field) and boots. Most often prescribed for physical training events.

Bachelor Officer Quarters.

(origin) (Vietnam) Many, a large amount. From the Vietnamese French.

A US anti-personnel mine that pops into the air to waist level before exploding.

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.

Vietnamese word for doctor. Marines called their corpsmen by this name.

A Civil War era rank just below private. (background) Boys were “apprenticed” to the Marine Corps or 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”.

1. Press Secretary to Ronald Reagan who was shot during an attempted assassination of the President. He suffered severe brain trauma. 2. 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.

Helmet of any type including combat Kevlar” and aviation headgear.

Discontinuity, lost of concentration, a senior moment.

The human head.

Officers.

(see Military Brat.)

(Commtalk) the letter “B.”

Well done. (background) From the Allied Naval Signal Book (ACP-175 Series), adopted after the formation of NATO.

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.

1. A jail in the Naval services usually operated by Marines. 2. Small warship under sail during the 18th and 19th Centuries.

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.

A prisoner or someone who is frequently in trouble.

A rank in the Royal Marines, equivalent to Brigadier General in the U. S. Marine Corps.

First of the Flag Officer ranks, signified by a silver star on the collar of the uniform. (background) 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 Rear 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-foiled anchor and one silver star.

A personal decoration originally intended for valorous service. (background) By the end of the 20th Century it was being given out for many non-combat acts, it even became known as the “officer”s 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.

An old salt. (background) 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. In the Navy, any member of the aviation community is called Brown Shoe in reference to the aviator’s brown flying boots.

Navy from the old days (background) 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.

Instruction to wear reversible hat with the brown side showing. (origin) (Vietnam Era) Helmet covers and shelter halves were green camo on one side and brown camo on the other. (background) 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.

Operations in rivers and other shallow water locations. (see Shallow Water Sailor.) br

1. A person who carried lunch rather than eat at the mess hall (usually a Married Marine). 2. Bar just outside the main gate to Camp Lejeune, NC.

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.

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.

1. Colored, sweetened water served on ship or in mess halls. 2. Also a bug repellent used in Vietnam.

To leave quickly, usually as a unit, as in An individual would “bug out”.

Wall, from the Naval term for the water-tight structure between compartments on a ship.

The center or highest scoring part of a target often called a Bulls-Eye.

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.

A card game played by groups of Marines while standing in line, usually aboard ship. (background) A player will draw five cards from a shuffled 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.

Bad information. Often information passed on by “Bum Scoop Ned.”

1. “Bumfuck Egypt” meaning in the middle of nowhere 2. very, very remote.

A covered, reinforced fighting hole.

Second Marine Commandant. Appointed to 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.

1. Found on 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”. 2. Found on the enlisted grade insignia of master gunnery sergeant.

1. Outside the perimeter wire. 2. The boonies. (origin) (Vietnam)

1. A firefight. 2. The actual firing of a weapon.

To work hard. (origin) (Vietnam era)

The pits on a rifle range.

A cigarette or a wooden cask or barrel in the wooden Navy.

Ash tray. Often a #10 tin can filled with dirt or sand.

Pejorative term for Second lieutenant or ensign, from the gold color of their rank insignia.

Killed.

Another version of Bird, Ball and Chain.

1. Training command to perform step-by-step, stopping at each step to allow for correction. 2. From the beginning. 3. Used to indicate that the action would have to be done precisely as directed.

1. A phrase spoken by a junior when overcoming a senior prior to passing. 2. With your permission. 3. A request to be allowed to depart. Usually followed by “sir” or “ma’am”.

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.)

Marine Corps issued boots. The predominant form of transportation for recruits and infantry Marines.

(Commtalk) The word identifier for a unit, aircraft or pilot.

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 “pixelated” design was introduced. The design itself includes tiny Marine Corps emblems and blends better into most natural settings.

The hat worn by drill instructors, sometimes called a “Smoky Bear” hat. The only official Marine headgear not called a cover.

A Marine in the artillery or a Navy gunner’s mate.

The U. S. Naval Academy.

Casualty Assistance Officer.

Combat Air Patrol. Combined Action Platoon, Marines and Vietnamese soldiers working together, generally as part of the “Pacification Program”. (origin) (Vietnam)

To fire at something or someone. see Busting Caps. From the act of busting the primer cap on a round of ammunition. (origin) Vietnam

1. 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 at the ends of the rank bars rather than somewhat inboard like a railroad track–no one seems to know why and most reference sources use it incorrectly). 2. The pay grade is O-3.

1. The sixth commissioned officer grade. 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. 2. The pay grade is O-6.

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.

Non-judicial punishment exercised by a ship captain.

An informal order to continue what you were doing before being interrupted, usually by the appearance of a commissioned officer.

A unit of Marines awaiting reassignment.

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. (background) 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.”

A reference to someone as “beyond dumb” since Category 4 is the lowest of the scores on the entrance exams.

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.

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.

Combined Arms Exercise. Exercises the MAGTF.

Correctional Custody.

Commanding General.

Twin engine helicopter capable of carrying a platoon of Marines.

The continuous chain of authority that links the most junior private to the Commander in Chief and vice versa. (background) Many argue that the US 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.

A general or admiral appointed by the President to serve as his senior military advisor. (background) 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).

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. (synonym) 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.

Civilian Health And Medical Program of the Uniformed Services. (The military HMO)–now TRICARE.

A religious leader commissioned into the Navy to provide religious services to members of the Naval establishment. They are addressed as Chaplain regardless of rank.

Twenty-fourth Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving from Jan. 1, 1968 until Dec. 31, 1971. He was born Nov. 3, 1913.

(Commtalk) The letter “C”.

A Viet Communist soldier, abbreviated VC or Victor Charlie, thus Charlie. (origin) Vietnam

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. (background) The code was a three-digit number with each number having a specific meaning. It was used in the form “Charlie Echo 103″.

Chicken Shit.

Yes, affirmative or I agree.

Look behind you. (background) Based on the position of numbers on a clock. An aviation term, it refers to the relative location of an aircraft with 12:00 being the nose.

(see Sliders.)

1. A newcomer to the Orient. 2. New or inexperienced soldier.