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.