Army's XIV Corps, from its distinctive acorn cap badge. acorn boy(s) (U.S., Civil War-era) Member(s) of the U.S.

Navy) The auxiliary division on board a ship or submarine, responsible for sanitary, heating/air conditioning, emergency diesels, hydraulics, and assorted systems. Example: '99, arresting gear is down.' 72s and 96s (U.S) The time (72 or 96 hours, respectively) given to a military member for liberty on holidays or special occasions.Ī A-gang (U.S. Usually used by air traffic controllers to designate one transmission as pertinent to all aircraft on frequency. Navy) Term used to designate something as 'All hands', or pertinent to everyone. Marine Corps had a 90 day reservist option that allowed a Marine to enlist, do boot camp, then return to civilian life without attending advanced schooling to finish high school. During WWII, Korea, and early Vietnam, prior to 1970, this terminology referred only to graduates of OCS, which was also derisively known as the 'Oklahoma Cook's School.' From 2004-2005, the U.S. 90-day wonder (derogatory) A newly-commissioned (O-1) graduate of Officer Candidate School or DIRCOM (Direct Commissioning) program. The Singapore Army equivalent, prior to 2013, was simply '84'. 84 mil (Canada) A 84mm Carl G ( Carl Gustav recoilless rifle). Also referred to as 'deuce gear.' The U.S. Navy Seabees) Organizational equipment issued to a Marine or Seabee by his or her unit that is kept as part of the Member's personal gear, but must be returned in serviceable condition upon that member's departure, usually including load-bearing equipment, ruck packs, body armor, helmets and other field gear. Marine Corps) A 40mm grenade or M203 grenade launcher, such as is often mounted underneath an M-16 or a variant thereof. Because later versions of the meal only contained four beef franks without any beans, they and were subsequently renamed the '4 dicks of death'. The dish is also known as 'beans and motherfuckers' for the same reason. Marine Corps) The beef franks which are included, with beans, in some MREs so named for their number and unpleasant taste. Example: 'Meet me in my office when you're ready for the 411 on your mission.' 5 fingers of death (U.S. 411 (U.S.) Briefing prior to one's mission. 4-10-4 (U.S.) A 'Desert Queen': a reference to the physical attractiveness of women in the armed forces, used contextually to refer to someone who is normally considered a '4' on a '1-10' scale of attractiveness (back in the States), becomes a '10' upon arrival in the AOR, but reverts back to a '4' upon return to the States. Army) Cannon Crewman, also 'Gun Bunny', 13 Bang-Bang (or Boom-Boom), 13 Boogaloo, Red Leg (due to red trouser stripes on 19th century uniforms) 2-IC (Canada and U.K.) Second in Command. Trained in the use of explosives, mines and battlefield obstacles. Army) A Combat Engineer, from the Military Occupational Specialty designation '12B'. Army) 8 up, see 'ate up' 12B picket pounders! Essayons! (U.S. Army) An infantryman, from the Military Occupational Specialty designation '11B'. 11 Bang-Bang / 11 Boom-Boom / 11 Bush / (pejorative) 11 Bulletstop(per) (U.S.

Marine Corps, Navy) Someone who is suicidal, implying that they should dive off the third deck. Marine Corps) The 'First Civilian Division', the (fictitious) division made up of Marines who leave the military and go back to civilian life. Some of these terms have been considered gregarious to varying degrees and attempts have been made to eliminate them.įor the purposes of this article, 'military slang' includes slang used by any English-speaking armed forces (armies, navies, air forces).Ī B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZĠ - 9 1st CivDiv (U.S. Military slang is also used to reinforce the (usually friendly) interservice rivalries. They are often abbreviations or derivatives of the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, or otherwise incorporating aspects of formal military concepts and terms. Military slang is a set of colloquial terms which are unique to or which originated with military personnel.

Ten thumbs somewhere over the rainbow