For a list of Marine Corps jargon, check out our Marine Corps Jargon page. It is often developed to say something colorful without getting into trouble with the brass. Just another average human being. Sign up to make the most of YourDictionary. KABUL, Afghanistan It's painful for US soldiers to hear discussions and watch movies about modern wars when the dialogue is full of obsolete slang, like "chopper" and "GI." Slang changes with the times, and the military's is no different. Terms like "Alpha Charlie," "fast mover," "rotorhead," and "hit the silk" are just a few that come to mind that are unique slang that servicemembers probably know. A number of military slang terms are acronyms. You want to make sure you have an arsenal of civilian-friendly tools and terms that allow you to do this, so you can show employers in any industry why you're the right fit for their open job. It is a phonetic . A common military slang term, Barney-style, is when something is explained so simply that a child could understand it. ETS- Expiration Term of Service; the date a soldier completes their contract, Farmer Armor- Improvised armor for a vehicle. It means that the situation is bad, but that this is a normal state of affairs. Latrine - The bathroom Good initiative, bad judgement - This phrase applies when somebody steps up to solve a problem but doesn't use the best solution. It is sometimes bowdlerized to all fouled up or similar. Tommy Atkins (often just Tommy) is slang for a common soldier in the British Army, but many soldiers preferred the terms PBI (poor bloody infantry)[14] "P.B.I." [citation needed], FUBU (Fucked/Fouled Up Beyond all Understanding) was also used during World War II. CodyCross is an addictive game developed by Fanatee. Is it Possible for Army Officers to Join RAW Research and Analysis Wing? Big Voice/Giant Voice- Term used to describe the loudspeaker system on a military base. When everyone has a set, condensed lingo to use in action, the response time is quicker and military action is more efficient. The Log, the humour magazine written by and for Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, featured a series of comics entitled "The Bohica Brothers", dating back to the early 1970s. Therefore, saying watch your six is the same as saying watch your back.. OperationMilitaryKids.org. "[11], An Imperial FU (An Imperial Fuck Up) was used during World War I by soldiers of the outlying British Empire, e.g. Wingnut- WINGNUT comes from the shape of the Air Force E2 rank with single stripes, which looks like a wingnut. You have entered an incorrect email address! If this term sounds familiar, it means youre probably a Star Wars fan. PLF Parachute Landing Fall. This is a term specific to the U.S. Marines, which means taking a weekend trip off base. Youll also find the majority of profane slang here, as its much easier to hide these words in an acronym! Hence we bring you the phrases to help out fellow civilians decode the military stances: If you know any write it in the comment box below and we will add them here. NCOIC, Watch Captain, Petty Officer of the Watch. Some are. 100mph Tape: Standard issue Army green duct tape. Blue Falcons are the snitches of the military world. Here are seven phrases from military jargon that you can use to replace your everyday vernacular. It is more commonly used in modern vernacular to describe running into an error or problem that is large and unexpected. Soup sandwich: A way to describe anything messy, like an . So, read on to find out what does . ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, What is a Navy Squid? Get it as soon as Monday, Sep 12. Military slang helps soldiers convey a lot of information very quickly and . Many of the rumors dont come to fruition, but the private news network at least keeps people entertained. The USAF term WINGNUT comes from the shape of the E2 rank with single stripes, which looks like a wingnut. From military. Airmen in World. This math applies to any time past noon and before midnight. For example, Alpha for "A", Bravo for "B", and Charlie for "C". It also broadcasts Reveille and Retreat when in Garrison. It is the daily work uniform, as opposed to the dress uniform (for Army personnel). And Green on Blue meaning Forces thought to be friendly to your force accidentally, or not so accidentally engaging your forces. [citation needed], The 1944 U.S. Army animated shorts Three Brothers and Private Snafu Presents Seaman Tarfu In The Navy (both directed by Friz Freleng), feature the characters Private Snafu, Private Fubar, and Seaman Tarfu (with a cameo by Bugs Bunny).[12][13]. POG - Stands for "Person.Other.Than. Owner / Founder was a pseudonym of a contributor to the First World War trench magazine The Wipers Times. In other words, if you aint Infantry youre a POG. 1. Police Call - A phrase senior leaders use when they want an area clean, like a weapons range. Finally, the last group lists Artillery terms, which might be universal across branches. Includes jargon and lingo for the Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force. 11B (Singapore) Also known as an SAF 11B. Military members commonly describe directions by using the hours of a clock, which is where this term comes from. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Kenya, Tanganyika, India, in reference to odd/conflicting orders from British authorities. Rack Out - To go to sleep. These include SNAFU, SUSFU, FUBAR, and similar terms used by various branches of the United States military during World War II. The term comes from the desert-dwelling aliens in the Star Wars films. Soldiers fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have developed an expansive new military . This term sounds funny, but it refers to serious business. Some slang like G.I. The U.S. Navy History Museum traces the origin of this sailor slang to the days when Hindu traders used slips of paper for money and called it citthi., Most civilians will recognize this slang term when G.I. is placed in front of it. David Gilkey/NPR. Some terms are service-related, some are slang, but all of them can lead to some funny misunderstandings in the civilian world. SNAFU and SUSFU were first recorded in American Notes and Queries in their September 13, 1941 issue. [9], The attribution of SNAFU to the American military is not universally accepted: it has also been attributed to the British,[10] although the Oxford English Dictionary gives its origin and first recorded use as the U.S. The only minor difference is that the military's promotion system (s) are more standardized, whereas civilian promotions can vary from industry to industry. 2022 LoveToKnow Media. Officially "11 Bravo". Thats why many terms regarding orders and operations are in shorthand and have become slang among service members. The soldier resignedly accepts his own less responsible position and expresses his cynicism at the inefficiency of Army authority." Fourth Point of Contact- Butt; term comes from a parachute drop in which the fourth point of contact is the butt. 1. SNAFU stands for the sarcastic expression situation normal: all fucked up.It is a well-known example of military acronym slang. Over the course of my military career, I worked on a wide range of computer systems, while demonstrating a strong ability for problem solving and leadership. However, the military acronym originally stood for "Status Nominal: All Fucked Up." Supervisor, Manager, Coordinator. We found one answer for "Civilian clothes (slang)" . Newcomers to the military often feel like theyre learning a new language when they start to pick up on military speak. Military slang is a colloquial language used by and associated with members of various military forces. [8], In modern usage, snafu is sometimes used as an interjection, although it is mostly now used as a noun. Flieger means flyer, abwehr means defense, and kanonen means cannon. The following is the most common slang words used by our Military. Here are some common translations that may be helpful: Military. "Hooah!" "Oorah!" and "Hooyah!" are all cries that are considered military slang. Knees in the Breeze Airborne term for exiting an aircraft. Common Military Phrases Your Service Member Uses at Work and May Use at Home Roger: Yes Got Your 6: Got your back Rack: Bed Rack Time: Sleep Civies: Civilian clothes Camies: Uniform Cover: Hat Unsat: Unsatisfactory Boot: New military member Battle Rattle: Wearing all your combat gear Downgrade: Drop your jackets Front Load- Being the first to complete a task, Geardo- Soldier who spends a large amount of money on military gear that is generally not needed, Gedunk- Snack Food that can be purchased, usually used by Navy on a ship, Glass House- An example of a target house for rehearse assaults, Good Cookie- Good Conduct Medal given to Marine Corps personnel, Green Bean- Coffee shop ran by civilians, common on larger bases. We work with all levels of job-candidates, from entry-level to C-Level executives within all industries. Use the " Crossword Q & A " community to ask for help. Speaking military slang December 10, 2013 Listen (Duration: 51:53) Download Read Transcript Eric Swenson says that when he first enlisted in the US Army, there were several occasions when superior officers would correct his word usage. Learn how your comment data is processed. We all know the tell-tale signs of a military service member: high-and-tight haircut, camo backpack, polo shirt and cargo shorts combination, unit t-shirts or hats, decals on cars, and of course . MILITARY JARGON. It is typically used in a joking manner to describe something that is working as intended. 1. Jody is a civilian character who lives a luxurious life contrasting military members . How do you convert military time to civilian time? Joe and his counterpart in the air, the Navy, and the Merchant Marine of every one of the United Nations.. No-Go Failure at a training station or job task Find 15 ways to say CIVILIAN, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Five-star general and future president Dwight D. Eisenhower said in 1945 that the heroes of World War II were G.I. How do phrases used by soldiers end up in civilian everyday language? 8. For example, in 2005, The New York Times published an article titled "Hospital Staff Cutback Blamed for Test Result Snafu". Additionally, IRDS can be used to relay military code, slang, or shortcode. Each Military Branch has terms/slang words that may not make sense to a civilian or a member of a different branch. The military alphabet and NATO phonetic alphabet are the same alphabet. As in the purple dinosaur from the old kids show Barney & Friends? Yes! Thanks for those Robert, just got them added. To convert, simply subtract 1200 from whatever time it is past noon. (US Marines) An Infantryman. It's usually in an area considered hostile or dangerous. Joe," this word refers to a soldier. Check out these examples of military slang acronyms: Serving in the military requires discipline, bravery, and the utmost communication. Military Slang Terms. Jawa is slang for an Army soldier, usually of low rank, stationed in a desert area. Some of this slang includes: Military slang is like a second language for soldiers. you know that military slang is practically a second language. Commander, Chief. Note that during World War I, the British Empire had an Imperial War Cabinet, and the troops from Australia were called the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), not to be confused with the AEF, the American Expeditionary Forces of WWI, or the Allied Expeditionary Force of WWII. After spending years in the Army, its very difficult to not use military slang and jargonwhen speaking with civilian co-workers. Meet the Germans How military slang slips into everyday civilian use Under the radar, long shot and top gun: All over the world, people use idioms borrowed from wars and the military. but as these sailors adjust back to civilian life, they carry the language with them. Military slang is often used to reinforce or reflect (usually friendly and humorous) interservice rivalries . This page lists slang words or phrases that originate with military forces, are used exclusively by military personnel or are strongly associated with military organizations. Rob The armed services have long been a hotbed of extremely creative (and sometimes rather vulgar) language coining, all of which translates into military slang sayings that definitely stick in the mind. This version has at least surface validity in that it is a common belief among enlistees that most problems are created by the military brass (officers, especially those bearing the rank of general, from one to four stars). Joe - Originating from the cartoon television series, "G.I. Sat: Satisfactory. Theres a lot of downtime in military life, so rumors run rampant as soldiers try to figure out whats going to happen next. Certain awards and medals demand respect from others, but not all of them. Military slang helps soldiers convey a lot of information very quickly and allow troops to bond in life-threatening situations. show about spies starred a squirrel and was called, of course, Secret Squirrel. Ditto as to air force generals, who do not fly and/or directly command airplanes or even squadrons or air wings. Civvies - Any off-duty military clothes a normal civilian would wear on the street. So did the Bible: the phrase David vs. Goliath is clearly a military expression. If you have jargon to add that you think maybe useful to other spouses, please contact us. 3rd Deck Dive Team- Mainly a Marine Corps term, meaning someone is suicidal and should dive off of the third deck. Some examples of military slang for everyday life include: Big voice - Voice over a loudspeaker Crumb catcher - Someone's mouth Dear John letter - Communication from a soldier's significant other who wants to end the relationship during enlistment Errr - Greeting in the U.S. Marines (short for "Oorah") Fang - To rebuke or disparage a fellow soldier Military slang for people can include: New service members have a lot to learn after they finish bootcamp. (Army) Medals Brat (RAF) Apprentice or a child born into any of the Forces or junior soldiers who went in at 16. brew (Army/RAF) a hot drink, a cup of tea or coffee. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Rob V. is the founder of OperationMilitaryKids.org. This page lists slang words or phrases that originate with military forces, are used exclusively by military personnel or are strongly associated with military organizations. It takes just a few minutes to apply. These poor civvies don't stand a chance with these military terms.Check out Buzzfeed's new Cute Or Not app!http://bit.ly/1LDoO7HCheck out more awesome BuzzFe. So, they join the best military on the planet and now live with the intent to kill, blow up, and f*** everything in sight (not necessarily in that order). These terms can be used to say yes, understood, thank you, you're welcome, amen, nice to meet you, and many other things. It's painful for U.S. soldiers to hear discussions and watch movies about modern wars . ASAP - As Soon As Possible: This has become slang in normal speech but in the military it means "immediately." f***nuts - A derogatory term used to describe a host of people and situations. Phillip is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and holds a BA in Communications from The Ohio State University, an MS in Instructional Technology, an MBA in Finance, and a PhD in Finance. It's one of the first military code words put into practice, but soldiers of Ancient Rome and Greece surely had their own glossary of slang to sling. Heres a term specific to the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Balls to the wall" (also, "Going balls out") Meaning: To go as fast as one possibly can. GEAR Equipment used by soldiers or civilian employees GI BILL Education entitlement GI PARTY Clean up duty GRADE Corresponds to pay level of soldier or civilian employee (e.g., E-3, O-1, or GS-4) GREEN BERETS Special Forces GUARD MEMBER Military member of the Army or Air National Guard GUEST HOUSE Temporary living quarters Chest candy can be used in a good way, too, but if its used sarcastically, it means the person who said it doesnt think much of your various medals and ribbons. Learning slang for gear, supplies, and parts of a uniform can be very helpful. BOLO- Usually an Army derogatory term for an individual who cannot perform a task or meet basic requirements; also can mean be on the look out, Brad- M2 Bradley Armored Personal Carrier (APC), CAB- (Army) Combat Action Badge; soldiers who perform in an infantry but do not have an infantry MOS, Cat Hole- Hole in the ground dug by a soldier to use as a bathroom, CC- Coalition Country; coalition of allies, CCP- Casualty Collection Point; closest area to action where personnel are traiged, Charlie Mike- Continue Mission; continue with your task, Chest Candy- Ribbons or Medals wore around the neck, CHU- Small container housing units on large bases, CIB- (Army) Combat Infantrymans Badge; Award for infantry who is under fire. Flak is actually an acronym for German air defense cannons. and Blue Falcon Blue Falcons suck. The phonetic alphabet is often used by military and civilians to communicate error-free spelling or messages over the phone. Although the word rear is not normally used to describe the vantage point of senior corporate executives, their use of the term might have come about as the result of their frequent conclusions that the cause of corporate problems (inefficiencies and ineffectiveness causing poor profitability or a negative bottom line) rested not with rank and file workers, but rather with executives, particularly senior executives the equivalent of senior military officers. Reenlistment Codes For Each Military Branch, Platoon Size-How the US Army is Organized, Kilroy Was Here Meaning (& 6 Other Things You Didnt Know), Military Dress Uniforms: All 6 Branches Explained, US Air Force Client Systems Technician (3D1X1): Career Details, 15 Air Force Mechanical Jobs Worth Pursuing In 2022. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. For instance, while in service, you can get up to $4,500 every year for tuition assistance. Brew bitch (RAF) person stuck with making hot drinks see also 'spoons' brown job (RM/RAF) the British Army buckshee