User:Offrdk5/List of U.S. Army acronyms and expressions

{{Copy to Wiktionary}}
{{Inappropriate tone|date=July 2008}}
{{Cleanup|date=July 2008}}
{{Expert}}
{{Unreferenced|date=February 2008}}

The United States Army and the other Military Services produce their own initialisms and acronyms which often come to have meaning beyond their bare expansions.

Official acronyms and initialisms

A

AAFES —Army and Air Force Exchange Service
AAM —Army Achievement Medal; Air-to-Air Missile (see ATAM); Automated Acquisition Module
AAR —After-Action Review (formerly After-Action Report); Air-to-Air Receive; Air-to-Air Refueling; Aircraft Accident Report
AATFC —Air Assault Task Force Commander
ABN —Airborne
ACU —Army Combat Uniform; Assault Craft Unit; Annunciator Control Unit; Automatic Calling Unit; Administrative Control Unit
AGL —Above Ground Level
AGRMIS —Active Guard Reserve Management Information System
AIT —Advanced Infantry Training; Advanced Individual Training (specialty training post:BCT); Aircraft Interface Tester; Automated Interactive Target; AUTODIN Interface Terminal; Automated Identification Technology
ALICE —All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment
ANCOC —Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course. (Pronounced ay-knock)
AO —Accounts Office; Acquisition Objective; Action Officer; Aircraft Operator; Oiler (underway replenishment); Administration Officer; Air Officer; Area of Operations; Aviation Ordnance Person
AOC —Air and Space Operations Center; Air Operations Center; Army Operations Center; Air/Oil Cooler; Approach On Course; Auxiliary Output Chips; Aviation Ordnance Chief; Area of Concentration
AOD —Administrative Officer of the Day
AOO (AO) —Area of Operations; Aviation Ordnance Officer
AOR —Area of Responsibility; Allowance Overrides; Annual Operating Requirement; Area of Operations; Replenishment Oiler (underway replenishment)
APC —Armored Personnel Carrier; Acquisition Professional Community; Accelerated Provision Concepts; Account Processing Code; Activity Process Codes; Agency Program Coordinator; Air Project Coordinator; Aerial Port Commander; Assign Pre:programmed Conference (list); Air Program Coordinator; Approach Power Compensator; Approach Power Control; Approach Control; Assistant Project Coordinator.
APFSDS —armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot
APFT —Army Physical Fitness Test
ARCAM —Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
ARCOM —Army Commendation Medal
ARFORGEN —Army Force Generation
ARSOF —Army Special Operations Forces
ASAP —As Soon As Possible (pronounced AY-sap), but usually meaning, "Do it right now."; Army Streamlined Acquisition Process; Army Substance Abuse Program
ASCC —Army Service Component Command
ASCOPE —Areas, Structures, Capabilities, Organizations, People, and Events (the "C" in METT-C)
ASI —Additional Skill Identifier, such as F7 (Pathfinder), W5 (Jumpmaster) or 1C (Satellite Controller). Used at the end of an MOS code to designate skill:trained personnel. EXAMPLE: 11B4VW5 = 11B (Infantryman) 4 (Skill level 4 or SFC/E-7) V (an SQI or Skill Qualification Identifier of V equaling airborne ranger) W5 (Jumpmaster); Airspeed Indicator; Authorized Shipping Instructions; Automated Shore Interface; Assign (and display) Switch Initialization
ASOC —Air Support Operations Center
AST —Area Support Team
ASV —Armor Security Vehicle
ASW —Anti-Submarine Warfare; Average Surface Wind
ATAM —Air-To-Air Missile
ATC —Air Traffic Control. In the army, a service performed by pathfinders, that provides information to promote the safe and expeditious flow of air traffic.
AVLB —Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridge
AWOL —Absent Without Official Leave. Not at one's place of duty, and not authorized to be absent, for more than 24 hours.

B

AWR —Air Worthiness Release
BAC —Basic Airborne Course.
BAH —Basic Allowance for Housing (formerly BAQ)
BAQ —Basic Allowance for Quarters; Basic Aircraft Qualification
BCD —Bad Conduct Discharge; Binary-Coded Decimal; Battlefield Coordination Detachment
BDU —Battle Dress Uniform; Bomb Dummy Units
BCT —Basic Combat Training (familiarly Basic Training or Basic), Brigade Combat Team (see also HBCT, IBCT, SBCT); Best Conventional Technology
BEQ —Bachelor Enlisted Quarters
BNCOC —Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course. (Pronounced bee:knock)
B/NO —Bombadier / Navigator Officer, or "Beano". The Observer or "backseater" in an Air Force two-seater fighter-bomber or tactical bomber like the F-111 "Aardvaark". The tactical bombing role is now usually assigned to Navy or Marine Corps aviation assets.
BN —Battalion
BOG —Beach Operations Group
BOQ —Bachelor Officers' Quarters
BRM —Basic Rifle Marksmanship
BWT —Battlefield Weather Team
BX —Base eXchange. Air Force name for a PX (see below.)

C

CA —Civil Affairs
CAB —Combat Aviation Brigade; Cabin; Centralized Accounting & Billing (Navy); Contract Adjustment Board; Cost Analysis Brief; Combat Action Badge
CAC —Common Access Card
CAO —Civil Affairs Operations
CAPE —Corrective Action through Physical Exercise
CAPEX —Capabilities Exercise: a dog and pony show with live ammunition, which is meant to exhibit the numerous abilities and assets that a single unit can call into action. Will range from team: and squad:level demonstrations to combat air support demonstrations (helicopters, A-10, etc). May also include rappelling/fast:roping from helicopters, airborne assaults and tanks.
CAPT —Civil Affairs Planning team
CARP —Computed Air Release Point. A point in the air where the first parachute suspended object must exit in oder to strike the point of impact (PI)
CASEVAC —CASualty EVACuation
CAT:A —Civil Affairs Team Alpha
CAV —Cavalry (Armored Cavalry Regiment); Cavalry Fighting Vehicle
CBRND —Chemical-Biological-Radiological-Nuclear Defense (see NBC);
CBR —Charger, Battery Relay
CCA —Close Combat Attack. A technique to control attack helicopters in a close air support role, usually very near to troops in contact.
CCIR —Commander's Critical Information Requirements
CCP —Casualty Collection Point, communications checkpoint
CCT —Combat Control Team (USAF element)
CD —Counter Drug
CDAT —Computerized Dumb Ass Tanker
CENTCOM —United States Central Command (AFB MacDill, FL)
CEV —Combat Engineer Vehicle: the only tank type vehicle inside its own blast radius
CEATS —Combat Engineers Are the Shit
CHOPS —Chief of Operations
CI —Counter Intelligence
CIB —Combat Infantryman Badge; Combined Information Bureau; Controlled Image Base
C:IED —Counter:Improvised Explosive Devise
CIF —Central Issue Facility
CIM —Civil Information Management
CJSOTF —Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force
CLS —Combat Life Saver
CM —Consequence Management
CMB —Combat Medical Badge
CMO —Civil Military Operations
CMOC —Civil Military Operations Center
CO —Commanding Officer; Conscientious Objector; Certifying Officer; Change Order; Contracting Officer
COA —Course of Action; Certificate Of Achievement
COB —Close Of Business. The end of the day or duty shift. MEANING: by the end of the duty day. USAGE: "Get that to me by COB today!"; Contingency Operating Base. Example: Contingency Operating Base (COB) Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq; Civilians on the Battlefield
COIN —Counter Insurgency
CONUS —CONtinental United States
CP —Command Post; Counter Proliferation
CPX —Command Post Exercise
CQ —Charge of Quarters. A company-level position of responsibility for units who house troops in their areas. Given to a mid-level or junior NCO who is responsible for the company's barracks and area during off:duty hours when the company commander and First Sergeant are not present. Lasts from COB (usually 1700 hours) to First Formation (usually 0600 hours) the next day during the work week. On weekends, the duty hours are adjusted accordingly.
CQB —Close Quarters Battle
CQC —Close Quarters Combat
CQM —Close Quarters Marksmanship
CR —Civil Reconnaissance
CRISTA —Counterreconnaissance, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition
CSAR —Combat Search and Rescue
CSS — Combat Service & Support.
CSSAMO —Combat Service & Support Automation Management Office
CT —Counterterrorism
CTA —Common Table of Allowances
CTC —Combat Training Center
CWO —Chief Warrant Officer; Communications Watch Officer
CWST —Combat Water Survival Test
CWT —Combat Weather Team

D

DA —Department of the Army; Data Adapter aerospace drift; Data Administrator; Direct Action; Directorate for Administration (DIA); Decision Agent; Developing Agency; Design Agent; Development Activity; Disbursing Advisory Notice; Drift Angle
DACO —Departure Airfield Control Officer
DCM —Distinguished Conduct Medal; Data Channel Multiplexer; Deputy Chief of Mission; Data Communication Module
DCS — De-Compression Sickness.
DCU —Data Control Unit; Document Control Unit; Desert Camouflage Uniform (not official)
DD —Destroyer (Navy ship); Defense Department (see "Department of Defense")
DFAC —Dining Facilities Administration Center (i.e., mess hall or cafeteria)
DFAS —Defense Finance and Accounting System
DIME —Diplomatic, Informational, Military, and Economic (forms of national power)
DLA —Defense Logistics Agency
D:NIF —Duties —Not Including Flying
DoD (DD) —Department of Defense (Defense Department, see "DD")
DPICM —Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (i.e., an artillery round)
DRU —Direct Reporting Unit
DTG —Date Time Group
DX —Direct Exchange (of damaged equipment)
DZ —Drop Zone
DZSO —Drop Zone Safety Officer
DZST —Drop Zone Support Team
DZSTL —Drop Zone Support Team Leader

E

EFMB —Expert Field Medical Badge
EIB —Expert Infantryman Badge
EOC —Emergency Operations Center
EOD —Explosive Ordnance Disposal
EFP —Explosively-Formed Projectile
EMT —Emergency Medical Technician; Emergency Medical Treatment; Elapsed Maintenance Time
EPW —Enemy Prisoner of War
ETS —Expiration of Term of Service (scheduled date of separation from active duty); Electronic Time Keeping System; Emergency Temporary Standard; Engineering (and) Technical Services (Request); Engineering Time Standards; Estimating Tracking System; Estimated Time of Separation
EUCOM —United States European Command (Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany)
EXSUM —Executive Summary
EZ —Extraction Zone

F

FA —Field Artillery
FARP —Forward Arming and Refueling Point/Forward-Arming Replenishment Package
FEBA —Forward Edge of Battle Area
FID —Foreign Internal Defense
FIST —Fire Support Team
FLA —Frontline Ambulance
FO —Forward Observer
FRAGO —FRAGmentary Order, a change in an Operation Order
FRG —Family Readiness Group
FRIES —Fast-Rope Infiltration / Exfiltration System
FTX —Field Training Exercise
FUBAR. —Fucked Up Beyond All Repair (or Recognition)

G

GFOQ —General/Flag Officers' Quarters
GMC —General Military Course
GCM —Good Conduct Medal; General Court-Martial; Guidance Section
GMRS —Ground Marked Release System. A method in which a DZST can identify a release point to drop aircraft by using ground markings.

H

HA —Humanitarian Assistance
HAAM — High-Altitude Airdrop Mission.
HAHO — High-Altitude High-Opening parachute technique (type of parachute jump, self-explanatory); also referred to as a Stand-off infiltration technique.
HALO —High-Altitude Low-Opening parachute technique (type of parachute jump, self-explanatory); High Altitude Learjet Observatory
HBCT —Heavy Brigade Combat Team
HE —High-Explosive; Handling Equipment; Housing Expense; Heavy Equipment
HEAT —High-Explosive Anti-tank
HEDP —High-Explosive Dual Purpose
HEMTT —Heavy Expanded-Mobility Tactical Truck
HLS(Z)(P) —Helicopter Landing Site (zone) (point)
HMMWV —High-Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle
HPT —High-Payoff Target, Hook pile tape
HQ —Headquarters
HVT —High-Value Target

I

IAW —In Accordance With
IBCT —Infantry Brigade Combat Team
ICBM —Intercontinental ballistic missile
IDP —Imminent Danger Pay
IED —Improvised Explosive Device
IG —Inspector General
IO —Information Operations
IOBC —Infantry Officer Basic Course
IOTV —Improved Tactical Outer Vest (replacing the current Interceptor Body Armor Outer Tactical Vest)
IPB —Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
IPI —Indigenous Populations and Institutions
IRR —Individual Ready Reserve

J

JAAT —Joint Air Attack Team
JCMOTF —Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force
JETDS —Joint Electronics Type Designation System (e.g. AN/PRC-xx)
JM —Jumpmaster
JMPI —Jumpmaster Personnel Inspection
JPOTF —Joint Psychological Operations Task Force
JSOTF —Joint Special Operations Task Force
KIA —Killed in Action

L

LBV —Load-Bearing Vest. Used for carrying ammunition, water, and other tactical loads while in the field, or during an assault.
LMTV —Light Medium Tactical Vehicle. Used to transport troops or supplies.
LRP — Long-Range Patrolling. Tactical reconnaissance mission.
LRRP — Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol. Tactical reconnaissance unit.
LRS —Long-Range Surveillance. Strategic reconnaissance mission.
LRSU —Long-Range Surveillance Unit. A corps- or army-level reconnaissance unit deployed to get data on strategic points or targets of interest. It is designed to make up for the loss of the dedicated strategic reconnaissance capability by the Army Rangers and Special Forces.
LZ —Landing Zone

M

MACP —Modern Army Combatives Program. U.S. Army fighting system developed by Army Ranger Matt Larsen. It is based on Brazilian Jiu-jitsu but encompasses a mix of martial arts.
MASCAL —Mass Casualty. Any large number of casualties produced in a short period of time, that exceed unit support capabilities.
MBT —Main Battle Tank
MDMP —Military Decision Making Process
MEDCAP —Medical Civic Action Project
MEDCOM —Army MEDical COMmand
MEDEVAC —MEDical EVACuation to an aid station or field hospital, usually by air ambulance.
MIA —Missing in Action. Missing in a battle situation, not known if alive or dead.
MLRS —Multiple-Launch Rocket System
MEPS —Military Entrance Processing Station.
METL —Mission Essential Task List
METT-TC —Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time and Civil Considerations
MEW —Mean Effective Wind. In airborne operations, the average wind direction and speed from ground level to drop altitude
MFF —Military Free-fall
MM —Military Medal
MOAB —officially, Massive Ordnance Air Blast (slang: Mother Of All Bombs —a dig at Saddam Hussein's characterization of his defeat in the First Gulf War as the "Mother Of All Battles")
MOB —short for MOBilization. Also, DEMOB —short for DEMOBilization.
MOLLE —MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment
MICH: Modular Integrated Communications Helemt (NOT Advanced Combat Helmet "ACH")
MOS —Military Occupational Specialty. Formal job classification, usually expressed as a number or number/letter combination (e.g., 11B Infantryman.)
MOPP —Mission-Oriented Protective Postures. Established procedures to deal with the effects of CBR/NBC weapons use. Chemical Protective Suits are called "MOPP suits."
MOUT —Military Operation in Urban Terrain.
MP —Military Police
MRE —officially, Meals, Ready to Eat; (slang: Meals Rejected/Refused by Everyone/Ethiopians, Meals Rejected by the Enemy, Meals Refusing to Exit, Meals Regurgitated by Everyone, Materials Resembling Edibles, etc.)
MTT — Mobile Training Team.

N

NCO —Non-Commissioned Officer. A soldier with command responsibility; Corporal (Grade E-4) to Command Sergeant Major (Grade E-9); see also Specialist.
NBC —Nuclear-Biological-Chemical weapons, equipment, environment, and procedures
NEO —Non-combatant Evacuation Operations

O

O/A —On or About the time or date specified.
O/I —Operations and Intelligence.
OO —Order of Operations, on order
OCONUS —Outside CONtinental United States, includes Alaska and Hawaii
OCR —Office (Officer) of Co-Responsibility
OD/A —Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, or "A"-Team. The term for a 12- to 16-person Special Forces Team.
OD/B —Special Forces Operational Detachment-Bravo, or "B"-Team. The term for a headquarters team that controls 4 to 6 "A"-Teams. Also called a Special Forces "Company".
OD/C —Special Forces Operational Detachment-Charles, or "C"-Team. The term for the headquarters team that controls 3 to 5 "B"-Teams. Also called a Special Forces Battalion.
OCS —Officer Candidate School
OER —Officer Evaluation Report
OGA —Other Government Agency (DOS, NSA, CIA, DOD, DOE, etc.)
OLC —Oak-Leaf Cluster (signifying subsequent awards)
OP —Observation Post
OPFOR —OPposing FORce/s
OPORD —Operations Order
OPR —Office (Officer) of Primary Responsibility
OPSEC —Operational Security
OPTEMPO —Operational Tempo. The pace of an operation or operations; includes all of the activities the unit is conducting; can be a single activity or series of operations.
OSD —Office of the Secretary of Defense. Also, SECDEF.
OSUT —One-Station Unit Training. Combination of BCT and AIT, where the soldier remains in the same unit for both training portions. Usually combat arms only. 11B, 13B & F, 19D & K, 21B

P

PCC —Pre-combat checks; Done by team leaders prior to PCI's
PCI —Pre-combat inspection; an inspection of equipment before a mission
PCS —Permanent Change of Station. Reassignment to a different duty station.
PERSCOM —PERSonnel COMmand, short for United States Army Personnel Command. Now known as HRC, or the Human Resources Command.
PERSTEMPO —Personnel Tempo. Refers to the unit workload level and number of deployed days per year.
PFDR —Pathfinder
PI —Point of Impact. In airborne operations, the predetermined location where the first dropped object will land on a drop zone
PIR —Parachute Infantry Regiment
PIR —Priority Intelligence Requirement, a question the Commander has that needs answering before a decision point can be actioned
PLDC —Primary Leadership Development Course
PLF —Parachute Landing Fall
PMCS —Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services
PMI —Preventive Maintenance Inspection
POC —Point Of Contact
POG —Psychological Operations Group
POM —Program Objective Memorandum
POMPOC —Parachute Operations Mishap Prevention Orientation Course
POO —Point Of Origin. Location from which an indirect (artillery, mortar or rocket) fire projectile was fired. Mildly funny due to similarity to a slang term for excrement, though funnier when used to make jokes about Artillerymen, who, by definition, work in the poo.
POV —Privately-Owned Vehicle. A soldier's personal automobile.
POW —Prisoner of War; Privately-Owned Weapon (a soldier's personal weapon)
PRT —Provincial Reconstruction Team
PSYOP —Psychological Operations
PT —Physical Training. Used in the plural (PTs), it refers to the PT Uniform.
PX —Post eXchange. A multi:purpose store which usually includes a barber shop and a convenience store.
PZ —(Helicopter) Pick:up Zone
PZCO —Pick-Up Zone Control Officer

Q

QRF —Quick Reaction Force

R

RADC —Regional Air Defense Commander
RFI —Rapid Fielding Initiative, Request For Information, Ready For Issue
RGB —Ranger Battalion
RIO —Radar Intercept Officer, or "Rio". An observer on a US Naval Aviation two:seater fighter.
RPG —Rocket-Propelled Grenade
ROE —Rules of Engagement
ROTC —Reserve Officer Training Corps, often pronounced ("ROT-see")
RRC —Ranger Reconnaissance Company
RTB —Ranger Training Brigade
RTB —Return To Base
RTO —Radio Telephone Operator

S

SAAM — Special-Assignment Airlift Mission.
SALUTE — Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, and Equipment (a report)
SAM — Surface-to-Air Missile.
SATCOM —Satellite Communications
SBCT —Stryker Brigade Combat Team
SBF —Support by Fire
SCA —Support to Civil Administration
SDO —Staff Duty Officer. Same duty as CQ (see above) but done by a Senior NCO at Battalion:level or above.
SF —Special Forces
SFG(A) —Special Forces Group (Airborne). A Special Forces "Brigade". Each numbered Group(i.e., 10th SFG(A)) is assigned to a specific global Area of Operations.
SFOD-A —Special Forces Operational Detachment (Alpha), See also OD/A.
SFQC —Special Forces Qualification Course. Also known as simply the "Q course."
SITREP —SITuational REPort
SME —Subject Matter Expert
SO —Special Operations, Stability Operations
SOAR —Special Operations Aviation Regiment
SOCOM —Special Operations COMmand. This is the military organization that oversees the activities of such elite units as the US Navy SEALs and US Army Delta Force, US Army Special Forces, US Army Rangers, among others.
SOP —Standing Operating Procedure, Standard Operating Procedure
SOF —Special Operations Forces
SOL —Shit Out of Luck
SOMPF —Special Operations Mission Planning Folder
SOSCOM —Special Operations Support Command
SOSR —Suppress, Obscure, Secure, Reduce (During breaching operations)
SOT:A —Special Operations Team Alpha
SOWT —Special Operations Weather Team (USAF element)
SPIES —Special Patrol Infiltration / Exfiltration System
SPTT —Security Policy Translation Table
SR —Special Reconnaissance
SRS —Strategic Readiness System. An integrated strategic management and measurement system that was developed by the Army G-3 at the direction of the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA).
SSC —Supply Service Center. Located in all major DoD buildings, SSCs provide a full range of common use, expendable supplies and forms, as well as reproduction services. Expendable supply items normally not stocked will be procured on special order if requested. Special supply items urgently needed may be procured on short notice if circumstances justify.
STRAC —STRategic Army Corps; STRAC units were those designated to be on high alert to move anywhere in 72 hours or less; as slang, means tight, together, by the book; when said with sarcasm by a combat unit about a REMF (rear echelon mother fuckers) unit it refers to stupid soldiers without combat experience.
STRACT —STrategically Ready And Combat Tough; describes a squared-away soldier.
STOL —Short Takeoff and Landing
STT —Special Tactics Team (USAF element)
STX —Situational Training Exercise

T

TACSOP —TACtical Standard Operation Procedure. The “game plan” that units follow when conducting tactical operations. Similar to sports team and “secret” plays, most units have a pre:determined default method for initiating attacks and solutions to problems that could arise.
TC —Tank Commander/ Truck Commander
TDP —(Helicopter) Touch Down Point. Used in HLZ Ops
TDY —Temporary Duty/Temporary Divorce for a Year
TF —Task Force
TLP —Troop Leading Procedures
TOA —Transfer of Authority
TOC —Tactical Operations Center
TOT —Time on Target
THT —Tactical HUMINT Team
TPT —Tactical PSYOP Team
TST —Time Sensitive Target
TRADOC —US Army TRAining and DOCtrine Command
TRM —Training Resource Model

U

UA —Unit of Action, Unauthorized Absence (Army Reserve/National Guard)
USACAPOC —United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (AKA: "CAPOC" pronounced "kay pock")
USAJFKSWCS —United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (AKA: "SWiC")
USAREUR —US Army Europe (HQ: Heidelberg)
USASFC —United States Army Special Forces Command
USASOC —United States Army Special Operations Command
UW —Unconventional Warfare
UXO —UneXploded Ordnance

V

V/R —Very Respectfully. The standard closure line on official mail/e:mail.
VBIED —Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device
VDM —Visually-Distinguishing Mark
VIRS —(Army) Verbally Initiated Release System. Used when conducting airdrop operations from rotary wing aircraft. The DZSTL "talks-on" the pilot to fly over the release point on drop heading and gives the command of "execute" to the pilot and the jumpmaster when the aircraft is directly over the release point.
V/STOL —Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing

W

WILCO —Will Comply
WARNO —WARNing Order
WP —White Phosphorus (a.k.a. Willy Pete or Willy Peter)
WSO —Weapon Systems Officer, or "Wizzo". The observer, navigator or individual in control of weapon systems in a two:seater fighter.

X

XO —Executive Officer. In most units, the officer second-in-command to the CO.

Z

ZI —Zone of Interior, World War II official term for the United States. The term CONUS replaced it.

Slang initialisms and acronyms

A

ARMY —Ain't Ready for the Marines Yet, Airforce Rejected Me Yesterday, Aren't Really Men Yet
AWR —(Alpha Whiskey Romeo) Allah's Waiting Room. When engaged, insurgents have a tendency to flee to the same building (the AWR), at which point the troops radio in an air strike.
AIDS —Army Induced Devorce Syndrome.
ATFU —Ate the Fuck Up. When someone/thing is not up to the Army standard.

B

BCD —Birth Control Device. Refers to the standard issue eyeglasses, generally known for being exceptionally unstylish.
BCGs —Birth Control Glasses; see BCD, or see below under Equipment. See also RPG
BOB —Big Orange Ball. The Sun.
BOG —Boots On the Ground. Number of soldiers available.
BOHICA —Bend over, here it comes again. Be Optimistically Happy, It's Christmas Again.
BMW —Big Military Wife
BTDT —Been There, Done That
BTDTBTTS —Been There, Done That, Bought The T-Shirt

C

CDAT —Computerized Dumb-Ass Tanker (in the era of modern weaponry)
CF —(Charlie Foxtrot) Cluster Fuck
CS —(Charlie Sierra) can mean "Chicken Shit" or "Cock Sucker."

D

DAN —Dick, ass, and nuts. Used when referring to a smell, particularly that of a soldier who hasn't showered in a while. When used in a sentence, "Joe smells like DAN."
DICK —Dedicated Infantry Combat Killer (used in Infantry Training)
DH —Darling Husband (used almost exclusively by dependent spouse types)
DinQ: Delinquent in Quals (Pronounced "dink"). Someone who has not progressed as far as required in their qualifications.
DAT —Dumb-Ass Tanker (in the pre-computer era)
DILLIGAFF —Do I Look Like I Give A Flying Fuck?

E

ECE: Equine-Canine Extravaganza. See Dog and Pony Show

F

FAINTED —"Faked An Injury Necessary To Escape Duty"
FIDO —"Fuck It. Drive On" Equivalent of "Shit Happens" Pronounced like a dog's name: Fy-dough. It is also slang for a Fire Direction Officer, officially an FDO.
FIGMO —“Fuck It, Got My Orders” —The state of apathy between when transfer orders are received and when the transfer takes place.
FIIGMO —Fuck It, I've Got My Orders (a.k.a. "Short-timer's Disease")
FISHDO —Fuck It, Shit Happens, Drive On (military equivalent of "par for the course.")
FM —Fucking Magic. Used to explain something complicated, generally to someone new who has asked a question that would take too long to explain. "How does that work?" "Oh, it uses FM." Also used in reference to "Field Manuals", which is a slang term for porn magazines (Playboy, Penthouse, etc.)
FNG —Fucking New Guy. Soldier coming to a unit straight from AIT. Sometimes pronounced "fin-gee".
FOAD —Fuck Off And Die
FODA —Fuck Off and Die Asshole. Note: Foda is also Portuguese for fuck. When said by itself, it can have the same connotation as "Fuck off and die, asshole."
FTA —Fuck the Army; Fun Travel Adventure; Follow The Airborne ;First Team Always(1st cavalry Division)
FTN —Fuck the Navy; Fun Time Navy
FUBAR —Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition (Also: Fucked Up Beyond Any Recovery, Fucked Up Beyond Any Repair)
FUBIJAR —Fuck You Buddy, I am Just a Reservist!
FUBB —Fucked Up Beyond Belief (a worst-case scenario)
FUBIS —Fuck You, Buddy, I am Shipping. Used toward the end of a tour of duty to indicate an attitude of general apathy and contempt. (see also FIIGMO)
FUGAZI —Fucked-up, Got Ambushed, Zipped-In
FYB —Fuck Your Buddy. When someone unintentionally gets a friend in trouble, he is playing FYB. Also, lap running PT in which last man in must finish within a given time or the run must be repeated.
FYYFF —Fuck You, You Fucking Fuck

G

GFAG —Go Fuck a Goat
GI —Government Issue; originally used for government supplied equipment, often used by soldiers to refer to themselves. The origin of the term is actually 'galvanized iron', which was stamped on US Army equipment.
GOBI —General Officer's Bright Idea; usually means the opposite.
GSS —General Star Spangled, refers to any over patriotic, usually callous and uncaring general.

H

HANO —High-Altitude No-Opening parachute technique. Used to describe total malfunctions during parachute operations, regardless of actual altitude, as well as any fall. (Used in sarcastic reference to HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) jumps)

I

InI —Intoxication and Intercourse (also I&I). Used to specify activity during leave/time-off; see RnR.

J

JAFO —Just Another Fucking Observer. Aviation slang for the co-pilot or observer on an aircraft.
JANFU —Joint Army-Navy Fuck:up.

K

KMAGYOYO —Kiss My Ass, Guys, You're On Your Own
KP —Kitchen Patrol. Periodic one-day duty assignment for lower-grade soldiers to do mess hall work, ranging from helping to prepare food to cleaning out the grease traps.

L

LLMF —Lost Like a Mother Fucker.
LPCs —Leather Personnel Carriers, or combat boots. Generally used when describing a mode of travel (i.e., "We'll be taking our LPCs over to the range.")

M

MARINE —My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment; Muscles Are Required Intelligence Not Essential
MPH —Said phonetically as Mike Papa Hotel, meaning My Pussy Hurts.
MST —Morale Suppression Team.

N

NAVY —Never Again Volunteer Yourself.
NCO —No Civilian Opportunities. This is a jab at non-commissioned officers who are said to stay in the Army because they could not get another job, not because they want to be soldiers or are good at their job.
NDG —No Damn Good
NFG —No Fucking Good, a.k.a. busted, non functional, broken. also "New Fucking Guy"
NJB —No Job Bitch. This term is used for those who hold no collateral duty or position, even though their rank suggests that they should.
NPGs —No Pussy Getters; see BCD
NUB — Non-Useful Body. Someone who, while assigned to the unit, can not be fully utilized, generally because they have not yet completed the requisite qualifications.

O

OCONUS —Outside CONtinental United States

P

PFC —Pointless Fucking Chevron, or Proud Fucking Civilian. Also abbreviation for the rank of Private First Class
PFM —Pure Fucking Magic
POG —People Other than Grunts (US Army Infantry); Permanently On the Ground (US Air Force, US Naval Aviation and US Army Aviation)
PCP —"Pork Chop Platoon" Physical Conditioning Platoon

R

REMF —rear-echelon motherfucker. Widely used in the Vietnam War, it was intended to refer to anyone with non-combat jobs, including nurses and doctors at China Beach or supply clerks; however, the real acrimony of the phrase was directed to the high-ranking officers at Military Assistance Command and The Pentagon, who sent soldiers into combat at no risk to themselves: General William Westmoreland, Ambassador Maxwell Taylor, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
RHIP —Rank Hath (or has) Its Privileges
RLO —Regular Line Officer
ROAD —Retired On Active Duty (i.e., "ROAD warrior")
RPG —Rape Prevention Glasses, Rocket Propelled Grenade
RnR —Rest and Relaxation (also R&R). Used to specify activity during leave/time-off; as in, "I need a little RnR."

S

SNAFU —Situation Normal, All Fucked Up
SH —Sierra Hotel, Shit Hot; qualifies for Ace that day
SLUF —Short Little Ugly Fucker, term for small jet aircraft or a racist term for native people
SOS —Same Old Shit; Shit On a Shingle. Creamed chipped beef on toast/biscuit, a breakfast staple.
SRDH —Shit Rolls Down Hill. Used to denote unwanted or unpleasing duties assigned to lower ranks.
SSDD —Same Shit, Different Day
SSND —Same Shit, New Day
SST —Slang for the vehicle used to remove human waste from the portable toilets meaning "Shit-Sucking Truck."
SWAG —Scientific Wild-Ass Guess. A close approximation.
SFUS —Standard Fucked Up Situation.
TAMFR —This Ain't My First Rodeo. Often used by newly promoted captains.
TARFU —Things Are Really Fucked Up. A situation worse than SNAFU, but not quite FUBAR.

T

TU —(or Tango Uniform) Tits Up. Broken. Not working.
TWAT —Tanker Without A Tank. Used for tankers who are performing infantry duties. Mainly used by Infantry in Iraq.

U

UAFB — Useful As a Football Bat. Anyone who cannot perform even simple duties due to incompetence, and as such has no useful application or purpose, "You're about as useful as a football bat."
USAF —"U" Sure Are Fucked
US ARMY —Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet.
USMC —Uncle Sam's Misguided Children

V

WOJG —Warrant Officer, Junior Grade. Informal reference to lowest grade of Warrant Officer (WO1). Also called "spot" or "crouton" because of the insignia of grade (a single black square on a silver bar.)
WOPA —Warrant Officer Protection Agency. An informal tongue-in-cheek reference to the fraternal tendencies of the Warrant Officer Corps.

W

WPPA: West Point Protective Association. The not-so-informal group of graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, who are often accused of protecting each other, regardless of their level of competence or errors committed. Term is generally frowned upon by members of the WPPA.
WTF —What The Fuck, said as "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" spoken phonetically. Radio response to bad news (often shunned) pre-dating the internet use of the acronym in chat rooms and instant messaging by decades.

Y

YMRASU —Yes, My Retarded Ass Signed Up (US Army backwards)

Common slang and expressions

Rank

A

Acting Jack —Acting Sergeant

B

Baby G —A single star General; Brigadier-General
Bird Colonel —a full Colonel, from the eagle insignia of grade, to distinguish from the one-grade-lower Lieutenant Colonel, whose insignia is a silver leaf; also known as a "Full-Bird" Colonel, or simply, a "Full Bull"
Black Diamond —a first sergeant, for the black diamond between the chevrons and rockers of subdued rank
Black Hat —Airborne Instructor
Bottlecap Colonel —a Lieutenant Colonel
Brass, Brass Hats —Colonels and Generals
Butter Bar —a Second Lieutenant, as well as their rank insignia; from the appearance of the yellow rectangle of the rank
Buck Sergeant —Sergeant (E-5)

C

Cherry —New recruit or private; see E-fuzzy.
Chicken in a Frypan —a Specialist (E-4) rank insignia, which has an eagle inside a shield
Chief —the unofficial form of address for Army Chief Warrant Officers (CW-2 to CW-5)
Company:grade (officer) —the ranks of Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and Captain
Command Sergeant Major —E-9, most senior enlisted rank. Senior enlisted in all units from battalion up. Acts as the senior enlisted advisor to the unit commander (LTC, COL, BG, MG, LTG)
Command Specialist Major —Corporals (Specialist and Corporal are both E-4s, but Corporals are NCOs, and Specialists are just enlisted.)
CWO —Chief Warrant Officer

E

E-Fuzzy —With the introduction of the ACU, used to describe an E-1 Private. There is no rank insignia for an E-1, and as the ACU's rank patch is Velcro and goes on the chest, E-1s have the fuzzy Velcro exposed.
Enlisted Personnel (man or woman) —generic term for anyone who is not a Warrant Officer or commissioned officer

F

Farts and Darts —silver clouds and lightning bolts on the cap visor of a senior USAF officer.
Field-grade (officer) —the ranks of Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel
Field-grade Second Lieutenant —term used to describe a Major
First Lieutenant, Second Award —a Captain, so named because the insignia of grade consists of two parallel silver bars
First Daddy —First Sergeant
First Shirt —First Sergeant
Full-Bird Colonel —see Bird Colonel, above
Full-Bird Private —Specialist, from the eagle on the Specialist's insignia patch; similar to Full-Bird Colonel, see above
Full Bull —see Bird Colonel, above
Fur Sausage —First Sergeant (British Mispronunciation)

G

Grade —pay-grade of a soldier, currently E-1 to E-9 for enlisted soldiers, W-1 to W-5 for Warrant Officers, O-1 to O-10 for Officers; each grade may translate to several ranks; i.e., Grade E-4 may be a Corporal (command position) or Specialist (Spec-4) (non-command)

H

Hard Stripes —used to describe Corporal (CPL) stripes

K

King Nothing —Executive Officers for either the Company, Battalion, Brigade

L

Light Colonel —Lieutenant Colonel; see also Bottlecap Colonel, contrast with Bird Colonel, above
Landing Gear —Used to describe the crossed rifles under the chevron on Lance Corporal rank insignia, i.e. his "mosquito wings" keep losing their landing gear.

M

Mosquito Wings —E-2 rank insignia (one chevron, looks like a ^)

N

Nine to the front, six to the rear —The radius of the natural armswing when marching, this phrase can mean anything that is squared-away.

O

Old Man —Company Commander (A Captain's slot - currently Captains are late-twenties to early-thirties in age —slang term comes from pre-WWII when promotions were few and far between and 40-year-old Captains were not uncommon)
Q-Tip —term to describe Privates who are just entering Basic Training just after their first haircut
Platoon Daddy —refers to the Platoon Sergeant, who is the lead NCO in a platoon

P

Private Major —Private or Specialist who tries to act with authority they do not have
Private No Rank —an E-1 private, who has yet to earn a rank insignia.
Private E-Nothing —an E-1 private who has yet to earn a rank insignia.
Private Velcro —originated at Fort Leonard Wood, recruits in grade E-1 referred to themselves by this name. Also: Private Fuzzy.

R

Rag Hat — A Drill Instructor or Airborne Instructor candidate, from the beret they wear rather than the brown-felt M1911 Campaign Hat of the Drill Instructor or the black baseball cap of the "Black Hat".
Rank —named title of soldier with a particular grade and responsibility, such as Private, Specialist, Staff Sergeant, Captain, etc; see also grade, above
Recruit —new soldier in training, esp. basic training; once the description of the lowest rank, which is now simply Private

S

Scrambled Eggs —gold oak leaves on a senior officer's cap visor.
SD —Swingin' Dick
Sergeant Major —the First Sergeant's wife or an E-9 staff position (see Command Sergeant Major)
Slick Sleeve —Soldier with no combat patch.
Sham Shield —Specialist rank insignia, derived from Specialists typically receiving less work than other lower enlisted, as well as the shield-like shape of the rank insignia
Short Colonel —older reference to a Lieutenant Colonel, esp. when casually discussing Unit Organization
Smaj —Sergeant Major
Smoke —Platoon Sergeant (Artillery)
Spec 4-ever —soldiers of the rank of Specialist (E4) referring to the extended length of time at this rank prior to promotion to Sergeant; i.e., "I am going to be a Spec 4-ever."
Spec 4 Mafia —group of Specialists who use unorthodox methods to help NCOs improve soldiers that are deficient in their duties. Or alternatively, the Mafia reference is said to be derived from some Specialists who are in positions to do favors for other Army specialists, such as supply administration specialists, but sometimes do not show equal generosity to senior enlisted, officers, or privates.
Spot — derogatory term for a WO1, whose rank insignia is a silver bar with a single black square, or spot, on it

T

Telephone Colonel —based on the practice of Lt Colonels answering the phone as "Colonel Smith" or "Colonel Jones"
Three Up —a Sergeant or higher NCO. From three chevrons pointing up.
Three Up And Three Down —Master Sergeant (E-8) and above.
Top —A First Sergeant (E-8), who is the top ranking NCO in a company size unit.
Top Kick —First Sergeant
Train Tracks —Captain's rank insignia (it looks like two pieces of railroad track)

W

Wobbly One —Warrant Officer First-grade, WO1

Equipment

APC — "All Purpose Capsule". Slang for a pill combining Aspirin (an Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory drug), Phenacetin (an Antipyretic drug), and Caffeine (a stimulant drug). Also known as "Ranger Candy" or "SEAL Candy".
Battle-Rattle —combat gear
Bird —Army term for Helicopters
BCGs —Birth Control Glasses —The 50s style black or brown horn-rimmed glasses that were formerly standard issue, currently still standard issue in basic training. Named for their ability to make anyone sexually unattractive.
Brown Round —Drill Sergeant's hat
Brain Bucket —Kevlar Helmet. See Kevlar
Bunk —bunk bed
Catch Me Fuck Me Glasses —Sleek-looking durable military glasses available through military specialty stores. The name comes from the Army term "high speed" for a good soldier; e.g., the soldier is so high speed you have to catch him to fuck him. Also known as "fuck me go faster" glasses.
Chocolate Chips —the 6-color variety of desert color BDU's
Chrome Dome —Chrome-plated M-1 helmet liner for parade dress wear.
Civvies —civilian clothing
Class-A Uniform, Class-As — The green full-dress uniform (jacket and tie with slacks and dress shoes). It is sometimes worn in office-type work but is always worn when on leave.
Class-B Uniform, Class-Bs — The green semi-dress uniform worn without the jacket.
Clay Beret —Kevlar Helmet.
Cover —general term for any of the issued uniform hats/helmets e.g. beret, garrison cap, Kevlar helmet, etc.
Cracker Box —an ambulance mounted on a pick-up truck frame
Crash Hawk —Nickname given to the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter by those US Army aviation soldiers who do not work on Blackhawks. See "lawndart".
Cunt Cap —a garrison cap, due to its shape
Dash-Ten —an operator's manual for any piece of military equipment, vehicle or aircraft; all operator's manuals' reference numbers end in "-10."
Deuce —common utility truck (2 1/2 ton truck; from "deuce-and-a-half"); same as "six-by"
Digitals —the new ACU and MARPAT digital camouflage uniforms, which consists of a pattern of pixelated squares
Dome of Obedience —slang for a Kevlar helmet
Donkey Dick —slang for a virtually any piece of equipment which has a generally cylindrical shape, is roughly a foot in length and has an unknown official name. Most often referred to the tube that is inserted into the fuel can to fill vehicles or other tanks with. No other known name.
Fag Rag —slang for the Army Service Ribbon (see Gay Pride ribbon)
Farmer Armor —see Hillbilly Armor
Fart Sack —a sleeping bag
Fast-Mover —a jet aircraft, especially one equipped to make bombing or strafing runs
Fatigue Jacket —the shirt of the fatigue uniform; the outer jacket is called a "field jacket"
Fatigues —an archaic term for the work/combat uniform
5-Ton —Refers to any tactical truck with a combat offroad cargo capacity of 5 tons. M800 series, FMTV series, and M939 series trucks.
Fritz —New Army kevlar helmet: looks like an old German WWI helmet
Flak Jacket —a vest first introduced in WWII for bomber crews, designed to protect the torso against shrapnel
Full Battle-Rattle —the complete set of combat gear
Gay Pride Ribbon —the rainbow colored Army Service Ribbon awarded to everyone who graduates basic training. Also known as the "Thank you for stopping by my basic training" Ribbon or "Pulse and Respiration" Ribbon.
Go-fasters —Running shoes, or glasses with sleek frames and a strap instead of temple pieces. See also Catch me, Fuck me glasses
Go-slowers —Flip-flops
Gore-Tex —the camouflaged, hooded outer jacket which has largely replaced the traditional field jacket, so named because of the material used in construction
Hillbilly Armor —improvised vehicle armor
John Wayne Bar —chocolate and toffee candy bar found in C-Rations/MREs
John Wayne Key —a small handheld manual field can opener. Commonly referred to as a "P-38".
John Wayne Toilet Paper —standard issue toilet paper found in latrines and heads on every U.S. military base around the world. Comes from the faked advertisement, "John Wayne Toilet Paper. It is rough. It is tough. And it will not take *shit*off nobody".
Jump Boots —combat boots with a capped toe and a flat sole developed for Airborne troops in WWII. Jump boots are generally worn in one of two situations: 1) by Airborne personnel in lieu of "low quarters" with the Class-A/dress uniform; or 2) by "legs" (see below) with their everyday utility uniforms. Most present-day paratroopers prefer jungle boots or standard infantry boots for everyday wear, especially for parachute operations.
K-Pot —the ground troops' ballistic helmet; a contraction of "Kevlar" and "pot," the material it is constructed from and an archaic term for helmet, respectively
Kevlar —see K-Pot, above
Kit —Gear, specifically standard issue US Army Special Forces body armor because of its cut away 'MRAV' configuration.
Lawndart —Nickname given to the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter by soldiers who do not work on Blackhawks; the name goes back to the early days of the Blackhawk when the stabilator would fail during flight and the aircraft would plunge to the ground like a lawndart
Ma Deuce —the Browning .50 caliber machine gun; from the weapon's M2 designation
Mickey Mouse Boots —a WWII Army term for the early issue lined combat boots; inflatable black or white rubber boots used for very extreme cold weather, mostly in Fort Drum, Fort Carson, in Germany, and in Korea
MRE Bomb —Using the chemical heating pouches from a field ration MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) by inserting them into a bottle, adding water or glowstick fluid and closing the cap. The bottle eventually expands and explodes. Can be left inside porta-john tanks and a number of other locations as a prank.
MRAV —Marine Removable Body Armor Vest. Standard issue Special Forces body armor.
Ninja Suit —Black insulating underwear issued when deploying to OIF/OEF that consists of long sleeve shirt and pants.
Pig —an M-60 machine gun
Pisser, Piss-Tube —urinal
Pussy Pad —a foam bed roll, used for sleeping on the ground. Named so since tough soldiers supposedly did not need it. Also refers to a donut shaped foam insert for the recently retired Kevlar helmet.
Piss Pot —a kevlar helmet
Prick —Short for the AN/PRC-119 SINCGARS Radio system, taken from the "PRC" designator
Rubber Duck —a non-functioning rubber and metal M16 rifle replica, used for training where a functioning weapon is not needed.
Salad, Fruit Salad —ribbons and medals, named for the color differences, just like a salad
Shit Hook — nickname given to CH-47 Chinook helicopters by some Army aviation soldiers
Shitter —toilet, latrine, head, Port:o:Jon
Snake —Nickname for the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter
Steel Pot —old style steel helmet & plastic liner helmet system that was used from WWII to the 90's before being phased out by the Kevlar helmet.
Tanker Boots —combat boots that close with straps and a buckle instead of laces
Thought Suppressor —joke term for the Kevlar helmet
Tool of Democracy —joke name for the M-16 rifle/M-4 carbine.

Soldier Slang

11 Bang-Bang, 11 Boom-Boom, 11 Bush —terms for MOS 11B, Infantry Rifleman.
12 Bang-Bang —slang for MOS 12B, Combat Engineer, who was attached to a unit without heavy or medium equipment (earth movers, trucks or tracks, etc.) & would operate much like a light Infantry unit. (Note: the MOS has been changed to 21B).
13 Bang-Bang —slang for MOS 13B, Artillery.
13 Miscellaneous —slang for MOS 13M, MLRS Crewmember, due to the fact that 13 Mikes (especially with the recent lack of need for grid-smashing firepower) always end up doing jobs other than their own.
Airborne Mafia: A term by the Army's other branches of service for Airborne, Air-Assault, and Special Operations units.
Barracks Rat —someone who stays at the barracks and never goes out
BB Stacker —soldiers involved with ordnance. "BB" refers to the spherical glow thrown off by tracer ammo, like hot colored metal BBs.
Black Hat —Airborne instructor.
"Blue Rope Mafia" —All Soldiers with PMOS 11 (Infantry) or MOS 18 (Special Forces) who graduated PMOS 11 OSUT with distinction or have been awarded the EIB or CIB. So-called because of the blue shoulder-cord they are authorized to wear with their Class A and Class B uniforms.
Cannon Cocker —Artillerymen
Cannon Fodder —Infantrymen
Cherry —a new soldier to a unit; a soldier who has not seen combat and still yet to "pop their cherry"
Combat Couple —Used to specify a mutually exclusive romantic relationship in a war environment.
Commo —The communications officer or soldier.
Cookie —Mess Sergeant
Crunchy —Slang term 19K used to identify a 19D
DICK —Stands for Dedicated Infantry Combat Killer. Used more in basic training by Infantry Drill Sergeants at FT Benning.
Dickless Tracy —a female MP
Dirt Dart —U.S. Army Airborne terminology for a jumper who has lost control or functions of his or her parachute, essentially becoming a dart.
Doc —a term of respect for medical professionals; generally used for medics, it also applies to actual doctors and (rarely) physician's assistants
Down range —at an FOB or out in the field. See Desert Fox
Drill —Drill Sergeant
Fast Tracker —Term used for soldiers who ascend rank/pay grades unusually quick. Can be a negative term used to denote inexperience related to leadership roles of non:commissioned officers.
Field Wife/Husband —Term used to denote the other half in a "Combat Couple." Originates to people dating while in a combat zone/training environment and not associating once they leave the field.
Green Beret —United States Army Special Forces Soldier. So known because of their distinctive head gear. The "Green Beret" was awarded to the United States Army Special Forces by President John F. Kennedy. A Special Forces soldier must earn the right to wear the "Green Beret" through successful completion of the SFQC (Special Forces Qualification Course).
Ground-Pounder —see Grunt, below. Also used self-referentially by Civil Air Patrol ground search teams.
Grunt —Infantryman; historically associated with the sound a soldier makes when shouldering his field pack. Alternatively associated with a supposed Vietnam-era acronym for hastily assembled recruits and reinforcements, "Ground Reinforcements UNTrained." Grunts takes immense pride in the nickname. To non-infantrymen, grunts are often referred to as "crunchies," "nugs," or "ground-pounders." The last three are never used self-referentially by grunts.
Gun Bunny —Artilleryman
Joe —Generalized term for any or all soldiers. Can refer to individuals: "I need four joes for KP." or all soldiers in general: "Joe likes to drink beer."; in basic training, an incompetent or clueless recruit.
Joker/Pvt. Joker —An enlisted Marine combat correspondent (USMC MOS 4300). Taken from Private Joker from the movie Full Metal Jacket.
Leg —U.S. Army Airborne term for any servicemember without jump status.
"Leg" Mafia —The Special Operations and Airborne term for the regular Infantry.
Lifer —career military person
Mafia: A clique of Army personnel. For example: Airborne Mafia, "Leg" Mafia, or Tanker Mafia. See "Blue Rope Mafia" above.
Motorized Pogues: Marine Corps slang for Military Police.
Mud Puppy —Military Policemen.
New Boots —Term used when referring to new soldiers fresh from training, denoted by their newly issued, unscuffed boots.
Ring-Knocker —a West Point graduate, from the large class ring that many wear.
Round Brown —a male Drill Instructor, or the round-brimmed brown-felt M1911 Campaign Hat that he wears. (Female Drill Instructors wear a different headgear).
Salty — Badass or cool.
Shadow Clerk —a non:clerk serving unofficially as a company clerk
Shammerai/Shammerai Warrior —any soldier particularly adept at dodging work.
Short/Short-Timer —soon to be released from service; usually 90 days or less; i.e., a "two-digit midget"
Shower Shoes —soldiers who have just come to the forward unit from basic training; also refers to flip-flops.
SIGO —Signal Officer.
Smokey the Bear —a term for a drill sergeant based on their hat.
Sparky —radio operator.
Swinging Dick — A goof-off or screw-up. Also may refer to the headcount needed for an assignment or duty ("We need a couple of swinging dicks for KP").
TAC Sergeant —Training, Advice and Counseling Sergeant: an instructor at Officer Candidate School or Warrant Officer Candidate Course.
TAC Officer —Training, Advice and Counseling Officer: an instructor at Officer Candidate School or Warrant Officer Candidate Course.
Tanker Mafia, Tread Mafia: A member of the Army's Armor or Armored Cavalry branches of service.
Trigger Puller —an infantry or special operations soldier who sees combat often.
Trooper —used in lieu of "soldier" when referring to Airborne soldiers or Cavalrymen
Turtle-Head — A new recruit still undergoing basic training who has not qualified with their weapon yet. Soldiers can only put the camo covers on their helmets after they qualify. The slang refers to the turtle-shell-like appearance of the helmet without the cover.
Turtle-Shell —A kevlar helmet worn without the camo cover. It usually indicates a Soldier undergoing training (e.g., OSUT or BAC); after they qualify, they may wear it with a cloth cover.
Zoomie —pilot, ground support, usually A-10; also, an affectionate/derogative term for Air Force Academy cadets, used by cadets at the other academies

Pejoratives

11 Body-Bag, 11 Bullet-Catcher —terms for MOS 11B, Infantry Rifleman
11 Chump —term for MOS 11C, Mortarmen, refers to the idea that only a chump would carry heavy mortar equipment; usually used by 11B and 19D (Cavalry Scouts)
5-Jump Chump —a soldier who graduated from the US Army Airborne School with five qualifying jumps, but who has never subsequently been on active jump status. A majority of the officers who went through the training as ROTC or service academy cadets fall into this category.
Badge Finder —a play on the word "Pathfinder", the name of an Army school. Any soldier that seems to just be collecting patches or badges by jumping from school to school.
Badge Protector —an instructor or trainer who grades so harshly that they seem to be trying to keep people from succeeding
Barracks Lawyer —someone who claims to know all the regulations and UCMJ by heart and threatens to use them against the chain-of-command regularly; similar to a "jailhouse lawyer" or a "shithouse lawyer"
Barracks Queen —a servicewoman who has had sex with many men in a barracks or on a military installation.
Blue Falcon —someone that screws others over for their own comfort or convenience; a more acceptable way of calling someone a "Buddy Fucker" (see below)
Box Kicker —someone assigned to supply/logistics.
Bravo Foxtrot —phonetic spelling used to describe a "Buddy Fucker" (see below) or someone who does things to screw over fellow soldiers. to "Blue Falcon" someone
Brokedick —a soldier who is accident-prone and seemingly is always on sick call or has a profile limiting what he/she can do; also a generic term for anyone on light duty due to illness or injury.
Broke, Lame, or Lazy, The —a list of soldiers who, for either age, medical profile, or any other reason, are restricted to light or no duty.
Brown nose —Someone who kisses too much ass, or the act of kissing ass; someone who kisses ass so passionately that more than just the lips are involved.
Buddy Fucker —someone who does things that either intentionally or unintentionally get other soldiers harmed in some way.
CAB Chaser —someone who leaves the FOB only to try to get his combat action badge. As soon as he gets it, he reverts to standard "fobbit" activity, and never again leaves the FOB.
Cadidiot —derogatory term for West Point and ROTC cadets; from the combination of the words "cadet" and "idiot"
Candy Drill —Used to describe a Drill Sergeant that is seen as too lenient to trainees
Cage Kicker —Corrections MP.
Chair-borne Ranger —an administrative soldier, who is not currently airborne but is airborne qualified (see also 5-jump chump); also a REMF who pretends to be a grunt (see below) or a snake-eater when on leave
Crunchie —Term given to infantry by armor soldiers. From the idea that infantrymen will be ran over by tanks, producing a crunching noise.
Desert Dime —a female soldier that is seen as a ten only because she is Down range (see below) Also See Desert Fox
Desert Fox —a female soldier that is considered more attractive now that she is down range (see below); see also Queen for a Year
Duck Hunter —pejorative term for Air Defense Artillerymen.
Fobbit —Term used for soldiers that never leave the FOB (Forward Operating Base). The term came into use during the Iraq War. It is used with some condescension. Portmanteau of FOB and hobbit.
Garritroopers —1) soldiers who enhance or lie about their combat experience; or 2) rear-echelon troops who try to dress and act like combat grunts. See also REMF.
Geardo —a soldier that spends a large amount of his money on military or paramilitary equipment, regardless of whether or not it is ever put to good use.
Gear Queer —a soldier the buys all kinds of "high speed" equipment, even if they will not use it.
Goldbrick —a serviceman who is lazy or otherwise shirks his duties.
Gomer Pyle —a serviceman who is unusually inept or difficult to train.
Hanoi Jane —term for persons who give aid and comfort to the enemy.
Hemorrhoid —derogatory, an army truck driver
Lawn Dart —A pejorative term for cherries in Airborne school, for the obvious results if they screw up their first jump.
Lawn Dart of Liberty — any Airborne soldier
Leg —derogatory term used in Airborne units meaning a person or a military unit that is not qualified for parachute operations; derived from "straight leg", WWII regulations where only Airborne qualified personnel were authorized to blouse their trousers above their boots, the rest of the Army had straight "leg" trousers; the "sanctioned" term is NAP (Non-Airborne Personnel)
Meat Gazer —an appointed urinalysis NCO who observes as the soldier urinates during a drug test, to prevent any foul play with the sample.
Mortar Maggot —derogatory, an 11-C infantryman, trained to carry and use mortars.
Muzzle Monkeys —pejorative term for Artillerymen; derived from the fact that Artillerymen would sometimes have to hang from the Howitzer barrel as a counterweight so the gun could be turned; usually used by Infantrymen
Nasty Girls —Term used by active duty soldiers to describe the soldiers in the National Guard; i.e., "Look at those Nasty Girls going home to their jobs."
Patch Hunter —an individual, almost always an officer or REMF, who volunteers for TDY at a headquarters in combat zone and then wears his combat patch upon return, similar to a Patch Finder (see below).
Patch Finder —a play on the word "Pathfinder", the name of an Army school. Any soldier that seems to just be collecting patches or badges by jumping from school to school.
Poge, Pogue —pronounced with a long "o"; "People Other Than Grunts", a derogatory term for a soldier who spends all his time back at camp and never on maneuvers. Alternately, any non-combat arms soldier, and to Infantryman, any one who is not infantry; see also POG
PowerPoint Ranger —military IT specialists who are forced to make PowerPoint slide shows for officers who believe that IT technicians are also secretaries.
Puke —term for a noncombatant serviceman, for example "supply puke" or "maintenance puke."
Puppy Humper —K-9 MP. (also "puppy fucker")
PX Ranger —An individual who buys medals and badges he/she did not earn at the post exchange. Wearing unearned awards (or even possessing them) is a serious offense.
Queen for a year —a female soldier who is being considered much more attractive due to being at a duty station with fewer civilian females. Especially used by soldiers in South Korea. See also Desert Fox.
Sandbagger —someone who lets others do his/her work for him/her; see also shamming, under other terms.
Shammer —see sandbagger; see also shamming, below
Shitbird —a completely worthless soldier, also Shitbag
SLJO —a junior officer that has been relegated to taking care of the multitude of additional duties that abound in the military. Stands for "Shitty Little Jobs Officer".
Sick-call Ranger —any soldier who constantly goes to sickcall.
Sneaky Petes —Vietnam era term for Special Forces.
Speaker-monkey —Psychological Operations soldier
Speckled Feces —Special Forces.
Shit Slinger —cook
Sticky —a vertically-challenged 12B (Combat Engineer) with questionable sexuality
String-puller —derogatory, an artillery soldier
TOC Roach —Term used for Soldiers who never leave the TOC (Tactical Operation Center)
Treadhead —A tank driver or crewman, usually derogatory
War Tourist —Slang used in OIF 1-3 for various non-military people who showed up in the war zone without any real purpose other than being there. Frequently used to describe independent journalists who toured the country without official (military or governmental) escorts.
Weekend Warriors —National Guardsmen and Reservists

Other terms

Alphabets —A term used by drill sergeants and other senior NCOs to refer to an enlisted man with a long or otherwise unpronounceable last name.
Anal-cranial loopback —to have ones head up their ass. Also heard as "Rectal-Cranial Inversion".
and a wake-up —the day you leave an ongoing duty assignment; usually in conjunction with leaving a combat zone or leaving the service. Used as a means of counting down to the transition. For example, if today is Monday and you leave the service on Friday, if someone were to ask when you get out, the answer would be, "Three days and a wake-up." (Tuesday to Thursday, with Friday being the "wake-up.") Some first heard it in Vietnam, when soldiers had one-year tours of duty. They began counting when they landed in-country: "365 and a wake-up."
Army Brat —the son or daughter of a career soldier
Ate Up —something that's messed up or not up to the standard "ate the fuck up"
BA-1100-N —a snipe hunt for new soldiers, especially communication soldiers. BA refers to battery types; however, BA-1100-N spells "balloon." Can also be modified to require an "attaching strap"; in this case, a balloon on a string.
Battle —fellow soldier; i.e., "I got your back in combat, battle." Also an abbreviation for "Battle buddy"
Beat your face —to do push:ups
Beer Vouchers —money
Bennie —a benefit, a good surprise
Big Chicken Dinner —Bad Conduct Discharge
Blast —a parachute jump; the first parachute jump after Parachutist (Jump) School; i.e., the sixth parachute jump is a "cherry blast." A person qualified to wear the Master Parachutist Badge is a "Master Blaster." "Hollywood blast" is a parachute jump, usually done simply for pay purposes, without all the encumbering equipment necessary in real or simulated airborne assaults.
Blanket Party —the act of beating someone senseless in their bunk after lights out by throwing a blanket over their head so they can not identify the perpetrators.
Blood Wings/Blood Pin —originally, to force the pin backing of Airborne wings directly into a soldier's chest. Now, blood-pinning refers to pinning anything into a soldier's chest, as well as the shoulders in the case of rank.
Bo-Koo/BooKoo —a lot (from the French word beaucoup)
Bolo —to fail a test or qualification
Boogie Dark —Expression used in Afghanistan to quantify the complete darkness found at night there. A blackness that seems to swallow light. Used widely in Bagram AFB.
Bookends —To have a combat patch with your current unit. The same patch on each shoulder mimics the appearance of matching bookends.
Boondogle —resting and relaxing when supposedly on duty
Boogerhooks: Fingers
Box Of Grid Squares —A nonexistent item which senior soldiers who have been in the Army longer, send new soldiers to go find. As to the fact that grid squares are on a map; i.e., "Hey private, go get a box of grid squares from the platoon sergeant."
Brasso Promotion —the act of a Second Lieutenant shining their "butter bars" so much that they appear to be the silver bars of a First Lieutenant.
Bugout —a hasty retreat
Chaff-ass —Refers to the chafing that occurs from the inner thighs. Caused by skin rubbing together and becoming irritated and slightly raw. Can advance into Monkey butt (see below)
Check or Hold —This term originated with Air Assault. It is used when an Army NCO is instructing a class to let them know that they understand or do not understand what is being taught.
Chicken Sandwich —Refers to a soldier who is in the 101st Airborne Division and has a combat patch with the 101st. In this case the soldier would wear the 101st ABN patch adorned with "Old Abe" on both shoulders, essentially making him or her a chicken sandwich.
Chicken shit —This term started during the Second World War. It is used to either describe the abuse an officer gives his enlisted subordinates or to describe the officer himself. E.g. "That was really chicken shit what he did." "That LT is chicken shit, through and through".
Chow —food, or "breakfast/lunch/dinner," as in, "Is it time for chow yet?"
Cluster Fuck (also Clusterfuck, Charlie-Foxtrot, R Squared, Incorporated.) —Apocrypha has it that this term originated from situations where groups of United States Marines were too large or disorganized to be able to successfully defend themselves from enemy fire, but in modern meaning it has evolved to mean any set of circumstances in which massive disorganization has the potential to cause serious damage, or a disastrous situation that results from the cumulative errors of several people or groups. Also used to describe the area effect nature of artillery or cluster bombs. This term has passed into civilian usage as well, most notably The Daily Show's Presidential election coverage, Clusterf@#k to the White House. The comic Schlock Mercenary uses the line, "It ain't a proper Charlie Foxtrot until you've got the brass involved" during October 2003 when several main characters get themselves blown up. Comedian Dane Cook referenced the term during his HBO special Dane Cook: Vicious Circle. The term appears in the Fugazi song "Five Corporations." Also known as ""Goat Rape", "Rat Screw" or "Donkey Rodeo".
Class 1 Download —defecation
Class 6 —Refers to the base liquor store. Also refers to female entertainment and companionship.
Cock Holster —term used to refer to someone's mouth, as in, "Shut your cock holster."
Combat —used in lieu of a soldier's name to get their attention; i.e., "Hey Combat, get over here."
Cranial Rectitus, Cranial-Rectii Syndrome —term for soldiers who have their head up their rectum; also "Rectal-Cranial Inversion".
DA Form ID-10T —a snipe hunt for new soldiers. New soldiers are told to get a DA Form ID-10T from an NCO. Invariably, the soldier says he/she does not know what that is, and is told to just write it down, and show an NCO. The new soldier usually does not realize he has written "IDIOT" and proceeds to show it to an NCO and asks where he can find one.
DAT —"Dumb-Ass-Tanker", a negative term referring to Tankers
Death by PowerPoint —Refers to any long, boring briefing
Di-Di (pronounced: dee-dee)/Di-Di Mau —Vietnamese for run/run faster;
Dickskinner/Dickbeater —hands
Dirty Bird —used to describe soldiers with personal hygiene issues; i.e., soldiers that do not shower after PT, soldiers that do not wash their clothes, soldiers with messy or dirty barracks rooms
Dog and Pony Show —useless perfection of duty or equipment for (usually) bored commanders or press/media
Down-range —physically in a combat zone; also used to describe any destination a group of soldiers are headed to. Generally, the term refers to a combat arena (currently Iraq); i.e., moving from a base in Kuwait to Iraq is moving "down-range."
Draw Artillery rounds —For one male soldier to fellate another male soldier (Often for "Training exercises").
Eleven Up, Three Down —Adds up to "eight up," i.e. "ate up," a term for a bad soldier.
Fire for effect —Literally, the artillery or mortar barrage that is the climax of a single fire mission. Figuratively, an encouraging way of saying "get on with it" or "give it a try," hopefully to a positive outcome —As in "well, son, fire for effect." Also a euphemism for ejaculation.
Fort Living Room —civilian life; usually referred to as a fictitious duty assignment when leaving the service; as in, "My contract runs out in two months, then I am being transferred to Fort Living Room."
Fourth Point-of-Contact —as in, "You guys had better get off of your fourth points-of-contact." A reference to the buttocks, which impact the ground following the feet, calf, and thigh when properly executing a Parachute Landing Fall (see PLF, above); term comes from Airborne units, but is understood by all.
Frag-O —Fragment Order.
Front-Leaning Rest —the push-up position
Freeballing —not wearing underwear in the field or on a long march to prevent chafing or "monkey butt" (see below).
Gaggle or Gagglefuck —a group of soldiers standing about in an unorganized fashion. Also, to move as a group in an unorganized way. See also "Clusterfuck."
Galloping-Trots, Trots, Quick-Step, The Shits —Army slang throughout the ages for dysentery.
Getting a range named after you —usually used sarcastically to describe someone who tries to become a hero; this is because rifle ranges are often named after soldiers who get killed in combat or Medal of Honor recipents; e.g. "don't you go trying to get a range named after you."
Goldbrick —someone who habitually avoids work details
Golden Boys —a commander's favorite subordinates or subordinate unit
Good Ol' Boys —a group of senior soldiers that are on friendly terms with each other and tend to look after each other, whether or not it benefits their unit; can be used derogatively by soldiers that are not on friendly terms with one or more members of the group
Gook —Originally a derogatory reference to anyone of Asian heritage, especially an enemy. In later years became a standard reference for any enemy, regardless of race :i.e. "gooks in the wire." Also considered an acronym "GOOC", for "Gentlemen Of Other Countries", as an attempt to disavow any remaining racial undertones. See also "Wog" used by Commonwealth Forces.
GI Party —after-hours barracks cleaning detail
Grab-ass —a term for general horseplay. May also be a loose equivalent to 'Dog and Pony Show'.
Gut Bomb —heavy food, like eating a greasy hamburger after a long road march, where a soldier can sense that he or she will be sick later from eating it.
Gut Truck —food vendor on wheels, esp. in training areas
Grub —slang for food, chow.
Hooah —pronounced "Hoo-ah" or "Hua", a common exclamation with seemingly endless uses. See link to separate article.
Hero —used sarcastically to describe gung-ho or eager soldiers, as in "All right hero, you go ahead and do that."
High-Speed —a highly-motivated and skilled soldier; often used sarcastically when a soldier is motivated but does not really know what he is doing, as in, "Slow down, High-Speed." Often used in conjunction with "low-drag," essentially meaning the same thing.
Hoofing it —walking road march with full packs.
Humping —to march a long distance carrying heavy gear
Hurry Up and Wait —describes the hurry to get ready and the early wake up times that lead to sitting around for hours with nothing to do. Many times the waiting is caused by "the word" not coming down from command; see also "The Word"
Ivy Sandwich —Refers to a soldier in the 4th Infantry Division who served in combat with the 4th ID. From the fact that the soldier is sandwiched between the ivy patches of the 4th ID and the 101st counterpart Chicken Sandwich (see above).
Klicks —kilometers; .6214 mile each; "just one more click"
Jerusalem Cruisers / Jesus Cruisers —flip-flops; see also, Shower Shoes, below
Jody —slang term for a civilian; individual who steals a soldier's wife or girlfriend while he is deployed; a cadence which is chanted or sung while on marches or runs in formation
John Wayne —1) the act of improperly wearing a helmet with the chinstrap unfastened; 2) a can opener, especially the old C-Ration P-38 can opener; 3) someone who tries to be a hero; 4) shooting a rifle from the hip; 5) the toilet paper from the MRE because "it is rough, it is tough, and it does not take shit from nobody."
Jordying Up —To fabricate or otherwise imbellish the accounting of an event for the purpose of personal gain or sympathy; to be exceptionally clumsy, or accident prone; to otherwise take credit for someone elses work or combat actions.
Kill Zone —an area that can be fired upon, but commonly used to describe an area that lower enlisted troops are not supposed to be; i.e., on a floor that is highly-waxed and not supposed to be walked on
Land of the Big PX —refers to the United States of America; the main motivation/reason foreign-national women marry military men: the women wait for a PCS to the USA, receive a "green card," then divorce the husband.
LPC —Leather personnel carrier; combat boots, slang for a road march or dismounted maneuvers rather than reaching a destination in an armored personnel carrier or truck.
Leroy —(used more in the south) describes civilian contractors who are either bothersome or annoying, often used if the name is either forgotten or unknown.
Mess —meal
Mess Hall —dining facility
Mike —Minutes, "See you in a few Mikes", from the phonetic alphabet
Monkey Butt —raw skin on the butt or inner thighs caused by long runs or road marches; also occurs when you did not wipe properly or were interrupted while wiping after defecation
Nuts to Butts —Often used in basic when in-processing and standing in line, e.g. to get hair cuts or shots, new enlistees will be told to close up the lines with, "Let's go people, nuts to butts. Make your buddy smile."
Orderly Room —administrative center of the unit; controlled by the Chief Clerk, the First Sergeant/CO's offices are normally close by
PEN-15 Report —a snipe hunt for new soldiers. Military reporting forms are alpha-numerically coded; however, PEN-15 spells "penis." As in, "go get the PEN-15 Report from the Sergeant Major."
Peter Pilot —the co-pilot on an aircraft
PRC-E7 —a snipe hunt for new soldiers. The prefix PRC refers to radios and is pronounced "prick" and E-7 is the paygrade for a Sergeant First Class. The soldier is literally trying to find a surly senior sergeant (and typically finds one). E-7 is sometimes replaced by any other appropriate paygrades.
Pogey Bait —candy bar; snack food; also someone frequently singled out for unwanted attention
Pop smoke —to beat a hasty retreat, to leave for the day. From the standard practice of throwing a smoke grenade to provide concealment for a tactical withdrawal.
PowerPoint Ranger —A term usually referring to a staff officer who spends their whole day giving presentations to the boss using MS PowerPoint. "Death by Powerpoint"
Pull a Jody —to have sex with another soldier's wife or girlfriend
Quarters —1) military family housing; or 2) doctor's direction to stay home from work; i.e., "He went to sick call and got quarters."
Ranger IV —Saline solution delivered via rectal suppository.
Re-up —to re-enlist
Real World —return to civilian life; return to USA from overseas
Roach Coach —Another name for the Gut Truck
Roach Wagon —The Mobile Field Kitchen Trailer brought on extensive field training missions
Roger —"I understand," used for radio communication, but also used in ordinary conversation
Sandbox or Box —training area
Shake and bake —An artillery/mortar reference to combining white phosphorus and high explosive ammunition in the fire for effect.
Shamming/Sham Out —goofing off, feigning illness, performing a task slowly, so as to have others do most of the work; i.e., "We are going to sham out for a while."
Shit tickets —toilet paper
Shit in your own mess kit —A WWII expression for a soldier that does something to cause his own troubles.
Shit on a shingle or SOS —slang for creamed chipped beef on toast, formerly a breakfast staple of military mess halls. Although the menu item is rare today, SOS can mean breakfast in general.
Short —Expressed by troopers with minimal days (double digits), left to serve, i.e "short timers".
Side-Straddle Hop —jumping-jacks
Single-Digit-Midget — Refers to the soldier that has less than 10 days left at his present duty station. Some times accompanied by "I am so short …" jokes.
Single Man's Paradise —an establishment filled with the wives and girlfriends of deployed soldiers
Slicky Boy —a civilian who may be attempting to steal US military equipment to sell on the black market, especially during field training exercises in Korea; Also clever deceptive Joes
Soup Sandwich —when something is messed up or not to standard; as in, "This formation looks like a soup sandwich."
Spotlight Ranger —soldier who seeks attention and self-promotion, and generally does not support others; a non-team player who enjoys the "spotlight" and puts personal interest ahead of the unit's. This behavior is often observed during competitive training against peers, such as ROTC camps. Frequently says things like, "Hey Sir, I accomplished my mission in a timely and efficient manner!" and thereby implying that others did not.
Square Away —to get something organized, cleaned up, functioning or looking strictly to military standards. Also used as an adjective for anything which is in such a form.
Stir-fried Shit —when something is very unclean or unorganized
Stir the Shit —burning feces in a burnout latrine
Sucking Wind —literally, breathing heavily. Usually meant to describe an inability to keep up with a difficult physical task.
Summer wrinkles —refers to a very wrinkled uniform, one that looks like it was pulled directly from a duffel bag. Some are here and some are there wrinkles.
Swass and Swalls —combination of "sweaty ass and sweaty balls,"; as in, "It smells like Swass and Swalls in here."
The "B's" — the barracks, or apartment-type rooms for single soldiers
The Good News —i.e., "giving or receiving the good news"; the art of beating or getting beaten senseless
The Shit —a soldier who is in or has been to combat. Can also mean that someone knows their job well or is the real deal, "he is the shit, he knows his shit." Shit can also be a reference to a soldier's equipment and personal things, e.g. "grab your shit and get out of here."
The Word —used to describe commands from higher, sometimes in a derogatory way; also the official end of the duty day, signifying when soldiers can go home and relax, as in, "I am waiting on the word." See also Hurry Up and Wait
The Three Great Lies —"Check's in the mail", "I love you", and "No winds on the drop zone".
Time Hack —a rough schedule of the day's events, e.g. "before you go back to get that gear, let me figure out what our time hack is"
TRASH —Typical Rear-Area Shit Head
Tube Steak —penis, or (less common) hotdog
Turtle-Fuck —to strike someone's Kevlar helmet with yours. Typically one soldier will ask a new one, "Know what two turtles fucking sounds like?" and then head-butt or whack their Kevlar against the other.
Un-Ass the AO —to quickly leave the immediate area
Un-Fuck —to fix something or someone
Wall-to-Wall Counseling —to physically beat a subordinate in order to impress upon them a mistake they have made; thought to have been derived from slamming a soldier into opposite walls, repeatedly. It is currently forbidden by regulation; however, anecdotes suggest it is still in practice.
Wood-Line Counseling —same as Wall-to-Wall Counseling (see above) with the exception of surroundings, i.e., Wall-to-Wall Counseling while in Garrison, Wood-Line Counseling while out in the Field. To take a soldier to the trees (off site and out of sight) and deliver physical correction.
Willie Pete —white phosphorus. Also means water proof.
Wub/Wubbie —a poncho liner, often used as a blanket; i.e., "would be" cold without it (poncho liner).
Yard Bird —originally referred to a chicken; now, a soldier without direction or motivation
Zero dark thirty, zero beer thirty —Slang terms for having to wake up very early in the morning and quitting time, respectively.
Zonk —Command given in morning formation to signify that physical training is cancelled, and that soldiers are free to sleep until the next formation time.

West Point slang

Area Bird —a cadet candidate who is serving punishment by being obliged to walk on the "GO ARMY"
Beast —"Old Corps" slang for Cadet Basic Training; a pronunciation of the abbreviation "BCT" as an acronym.
Big Brass Rocket —cheer the Supe, Comm, Dean, BTO and Sergeants Major do with the cadets at the cadets' beckoning during sporting events.
B.J. —fresh, lacking in respect; "Bold before June." (from the days when Plebe recognition was the day before June graduation)
Bogus —uncalled-for audacity
Boodle —cake, candy, ice cream, etc.
Boodler's —the cadet snack store
BTO —Brigade Tactical Officer
Bust —to revoke the appointment of a cadet commissioned or non:commissioned officer
CME —Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Coastie —any member of the Coast Guard Academy
Cold —absolutely without error, as in "a cold max"
COM —the Commandant of Cadets
Cow —a member of the second class; a junior
Corps Whore —a civilian female who has dated several male cadets
Crab —(n.) one who attends the Naval Academy; also, SQUID or MIDDIE
C-store —Cadet Store
D —deficient; below average, as in academics
DFL —Department of Foreign Languages
DMI —Department of Military Instruction
Donkey Dick —Black fuzzy plume of the Full Dress Hat. Articulated detachable fuel dispensing nozzle used with 5 gallon "Gerry" cans.
DPE&A —Department of Physical Education and Athletics
The Days —required knowledge for Plebes; signifying the duration to the next major event for the upperclass, and "a finite number for the end of eternity" for the Plebes
Emerging Leader —cadet who earns high positions of leadership; usually used sarcastically
Find —to discharge a cadet candidate for deficiency in studies, conduct, or honor
Firstie —a member of the First Class; a senior
Fried Egg —insignia of the USMA, worn on the hat or tarbucket
Ghost —a Fourth Class cadet who hides in his/her room to avoid the upperclass or to shirk duties; also refers to an upperclass cadet who is rarely seen around a cadet company
GI —Government Issue (not to be used when referring to enlisted personnel)
Goat —a cadet in the lower sections; a cadet near the bottom of the class
Gray Hog —an extremely USMA/USMAPS-oriented cadet
Green Girl —comforter
Green:Suiter —an Army officer
Gross —blundering; disgusting
Held Report —explanation of report
Hell Cats —musicians who sound reveille and the calls
Hotel Night —one night a week when sheets are broken down due to laundry send-out
Hudson Theta —see Thayer Angle, derived from West Point's location on the Hudson River, and the Greek letter Theta's use as a symbol of a plane angle in geometry.
Ikette —a girl who frequents Eisenhower Hall for the sole purpose of picking up a helpless male cadet, impressed only by the "man in uniform" image; see also Corps Whore
IRP —a command: "Immediate Response, Please."
Juice —electricity, Electrical Engineering
Knob —A new recruit in basic training, derived by the bald head most male recruits get their first date, also known as "Knob Head"
Limits —the limit on the reservation to which cadets are restricted
Max —a complete success, a maximum; (v.) to make a perfect mark in academic recitation; to do a thing perfectly
OAO —One And Only
OC —Officer in Charge
Old Corps —the way things used to be at USMA, i.e., "When dinosaurs roamed the plain..."; in reality, when the Firsties (see above) were Plebes (see below)...
Old Grad —anyone who has graduated from the Academy
P —a professor; instructor
Plebe —a cadet of the Fourth Class; a freshman
Plebe Bible —"Bugle Notes", handbook of the Corps of Cadets
PMI —Afternoon (p.m.) Inspection; a state less than AMI
Poop —information to be memorized
Poop-Deck —the balcony in the USMA Cadet Mess from which orders are published
Poopster —more commonly, Prepster; (n.) USMAPS cadet candidate/graduate
Pop-off —sound off in a military manner
PRO —proficient, above passing in studies of looks
Pull out —to barely complete an assignment on time and meeting only the minimum standards; also, Slug-Stopper
Quill —(2-1) a report for delinquency
Rock Squad —Remedial Swimming, an additional class for Plebe non-swimmers; derived from the term
ROCK —an individual that struggles in academics and "sinks" to the bottom of the class. "Rock Math" is the lowest section in Plebe Math.
Room Con —confinement to quarters, as a punishment for breach of discipline
RD=FC —"Rough Draft Equals Final Copy"; the art of completing a paper or project in one sitting
SAMI —Saturday Morning Inspection
SF —Special Forces
Slug —A non corps squad athlete, cadet who participates in IM's
Snake —one who will cut in at hops (see above); (v.) to cut in
Solids —Engineering Mechanics
SOD —Senior Officer Of the Day
SOG —Senior Officer Of the Guard
Spec —to memorize verbatim; as in, "to spec blind".
Spec and dump —to memorize material to pass a test, then forget it
Squid —one who attends the Naval Academy
Star Man —an academically:distinguished cadet candidate
Striper —a cadet captain
Supe —the Superintendent
TAC —a tactical officer
Tar Bucket —parade hat
Ted —an intelligent person or one who learns quickly
TEE —Term End Examination; finals
Thayer Angle —the angle a saber makes on a female Firstie's hip while dressed under arms
Thayer Week —a week with numerous graded events
Tie Up —to make a gross error
Tour —one hour's walk on the area (punishment); a period of duty, as a guard tour
Trou —trousers; also, a female cadet
Turnback —a re-admitted cadet
Went-off —special attention from an upperclass cadet
Woo-Poo-U —USMA; also, WOOPS
Woops —sound Squids (see above) make when they see USMAPS cadet candidates
Wopper, WOPR —Written Oral Partial Review
WPR —Written Partial Review; i.e., a midterm
Writ —a written recitation; an examination
Yearling —a member of the Third Class; a sophomore (also, YUK)
Zoomie —one who attends the Air Force Academy

Field slang

Blue Canoe —a portable (chemical) toilet
BUFF(Big Ugly Fat Fellow) —a B-52 Stratofortress.
Bug Dope —A insect repellent
Crowd Pleaser —a large bomb dropped from a fighter or bomber
Down Range —physically in a combat zone, it is also used to describe an imaginary place all soldiers are headed to but never actually reach. Currently, the term refers to Iraq itself; moving from a base in Kuwait to Iraq is moving "down-range". In training, refers to the transition from reception battalion to the unit of training.
Drop a Deuce —Defecating; as in "I am going to go drop a deuce." From the schoolyard euphemism "number two."
DAC —Dumb Ass Civilian

AKA Department of the Army Civilian. Give their mililtary skills in assistance to armed troops without weapons to protect themselves

Hooch —soldier's dwelling in:country, from hut to barracks (originated in Vietnam). Was used prior, but to designate liquid refreshment.
Hajji —any civilian or civilian item, e.g., a civilian is a "hajji", a civilian vehicle is a "hajji car", a civilian house is a "hajji house." (Literally, "Hajji" means a Muslim that has gone on the Hajj, but U.S. soldiers use it for Middle-Eastern civilians, in general. Taken from the character on Jonny Quest)
Mad Minute —a Vietnam-era term for a furious minute of firepower used to discourage infiltrators around a defensive position, to do "reconnaissance by fire" or to clear a landing zone upon arrival. It is also called a "mike-mike" and can mean a furious session of test-firing weapons.
In-Country —physically in a combat zone; see also Down Range.
Kurd Killers —humanitarian relief pallets dropped from cargo planes. Kurds after Operation Desert Storm would get under the large pallets as they were parachuted down. Some Kurds were crushed.
Rock-Eaters —a term used by troops during the Balkan missions to describe locals. It comes from the locals' tooth decay, which was explained by saying that they ate rocks, making their teeth fall out. It can also refer to a character under that very name in the 80s movie The NeverEnding Story a giant with teeth that looked very much like badly decayed human teeth (his were made of stone, like the rest of his body).
Snake-Eaters —a term used to describe Special Forces personnel, referencing their training at Fort Bragg which includes wilderness survival, where they capture, cook and eat snakes. Can be used to reference someone who is hardcore. i.e. "he is a snake eater."
Shallow Grave —another name for "Hasty Fighting Position" which is a shallow, dug-in hole in the ground used to temporarily avoid enemy gun fire and establish a defensive line.
The Sand Box —Iraq, particularly the southern part; also National Training Center.
Slicky Boys —thieves that sneak into bivouac sites, mainly in Korea.
Spoon —a cook or someone who serves food as their job.
The Shit —combat or a forward area; "I need to go to Iraq and get in the shit."
The Suck —A situation that places a soldier in a ridiculous position of misery or in harms way. Used as Jarhead's tagline.
The Wire —perimeter of any compound in a combat zone. IE: "If you are going outside the wire, you must do an equipment check"
TAMFR —This Ain't My First Rodeo: often used by newly promoted captains.
Three Men in a Boat —Stop. The Arabic letters قف‎ making the word 'stop' appear to be three men sitting in a canoe, with the two dots of the letter qāf and the one of fāʼ being their "heads."
When is this weekend going to end? —a complaint by a reservist or national guardsman while on deployment. Alternatively, "this is the longest weekend ever" or "is it at least Sunday yet?"
Wrong Answer —a response commonly used to dismiss explanation or excuses. Can also be used to answer one's own question or as a statement, as in, "Talking in the chow hall is the wrong answer."

Nicknames for Army & Marine Corps posts and schools

29 Stumps —Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
Aber-Dump —Aberdeen Proving Grounds
Arifjanistan —Nickname for Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, see also Camp Disney
Camp Bragg —Nickname for Camp Anaconda (Balad Iraq) during OIF 3 when the majority of the camps' tenants were deployed from Fort Bragg, NC. "Mortar-Ritaville" was a much more common name due to the daily mortar shell attacks fired by nearby enemies outside the perimeter fence. The name was derived from the Jimmy Buffet song, "Margaritaville". The tailor shops on base sold many T-shirts with the slogan "Wastin' away again in MORTAR-RITAVILLE" on the back of the shirt. Below that was a map of Iraq (Balad highlighted) with a sign that states "it is ALWAYS HAPPY HOUR" and an image of a mortar headed toward Balad. Below that was printed "LSA ANACONDA, BALAD, IRAQ". The front side had the phrases and nickname printed over the left breast. It came in many various colors.
Camp Disney —Nickname for Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, C&C center for CENTCOM and CFLCC with an abundance of quality of life facilities. Soldiers here draw combat pay while most never see duty outside Kuwait.
Braggdad —Nickname for Camp Victory/Freedom during OIF 3 for the same reason above.
Defense Love Institute, Desperate Love Institute —Defense Language Institute (DLI)
Edge-Hood —Edgewood Arsenal, Aberdeen Proving Grounds
Fort Marshmello —Fort Monmouth, New Jersey (CECOM HQ)
Fayette-nam —A nick name for Fayetteville, NC, town just outside Fort Bragg, NC. Also "Fatalville" referring to the high crime rate in the bar district there in the 1970s.
Fort Beginning —Fort Benning —Trainees call it this because of the long wait to begin Infantry School. Also called "Fort Bend Me Over" and "The Benning School for Boys."
Fort Blister —Fort Bliss, TX. Named this because of the intense heat of the region
Fort Cartoon, Port Carson —Fort Carson, CO
Fort Drag —Fort Bragg, NC. Due to the lack of off-post women and activities.
Fort Drunk —Fort Drum —in the 1990s, due to the high level of alcohol related incidents
Fort Fumble —Fort Campbell, KY
Fort Hoochy Koochy —Fort Huachuca, AZ
Fort Huah/Hooah —Fort Huachuca, AZ
Fort I Gotcha —Fort Huachuca, AZ
Fort Knocks —Fort Knox
Fort Leisure —Fort Lee, home of the Quartermaster Corps, where cooks, supply, petroleum, and water specialists are trained. Name comes from proximity to D.C. area, VA Beach, other tourist attractions, also perceived loose standards for trainees.
Fort Lost in the Woods, Fort Misery —Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri due to its remote location in rural Missouri.
Fort Puke, Fort Poke, Camp Swampy —Fort Polk, due to name or location. The adjacent town of Leesville, LA is often referred to as "Sleazeville" or "Diseaseville." Likewise Vernon Parish, in which Fort Polk is located, is called "Vermin Parish."
Fort Resort —Fort Story, named because it is located on the beach in Virginia.
Fort Sham —Fort Sam Houston —see shamming above.
Fort Silly —Fort Sill. Also, "Fort Swill." Adjacent town of Lawton, OK often referred to as "Lawton, America."
Fort Stupid —Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Fort Useless —Fort Eustis Also stands for Even Uncle Sam Thinks It Sucks
Fort We-gotcha —Fort Huachuca, due to the long AITs for Military Intelligence MOSes. Adjacent town of Sierra Vista, AZ is often referred to as "Sorry Vista".
Hard Knocks —Fort Knox
Hudson High —United States Military Academy at West Point
Mother Rucker —Fort Rucker, Home of the Army's Helicopter Flight School
No-Hope Pope —Pope AFB, NC, between Ft. Bragg and Spring Lake, NC. Nickname comes from same reason as Fort Drag.
PROM —Presidio of Monterey, California
Relaxin' Jackson —Fort Jackson, for easy training standards
School of Matrimony —School of Music, named as such because many couples get married while at the school so they can be stationed together. Also known as the School of The Perfect Fourth, in reference to the opening musical interval in Wagner's Bridal Chorus.
The Hood —Fort Hood, Texas
The Jew —Gwangju Air Force Base, South Korea
The Planet —The now closed Fort Ord in Monterey, California.

Nicknames for units

3 2 Heaven —Used to describe the 327th infantry regiment, one of the units in the 101st Airborne Division, by members of the 3rd Bridage "Rakkasans", a notoriously harder brigade than the other 2 in the division.
Jumping Jews —Used to describe an airborne unit out of Alaska. Their patch is in the shape of the star of David, a Jewish symbol.
2nd Ass Crack Regiment —2nd Cavalry Regiment, refers to the fact that the abbreviation for the units name is 2nd ACR
2nd All-Criminals Regiment —2nd Cavalry Regiment, refers to the regiment's former name, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, largely due to the lack of entertainment/diversions in the regiment's former location at Ft. Polk.
3rd Alcoholic Criminal Rangers, Athletic Criminal Rangers, All Covert Raiders —3rd ACR, refers to the regiment's acronym ,3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and largely due to the perception that they get into trouble to to "extreme creativity" to find diversion and entertainment in the regiment's former location at Ft. Carson. The third nickname was largely due to the unit's efficiency at sending small groups for raids, general disruption of operations, creation their ability to create elaborate and ornate graffiti to demoralize an enemy. Mostly seen prior to 9/11
10th Mo-Town —10th Mountain Division.
10th "We do not Do Mountains" —10th Mountain Division, from the fact inclusion of 'mountain' in the unit name is for purely historical reasons.
The Air Raft —82nd Airborne Division From the stylized "AA" cipher (for "All Americans") on the division patch.
Alcoholics Anonymous —82nd Airborne Division From the stylized "AA" cipher on the division patch.
All African —82nd Airborne Division From the stylized "AA" cipher on the division patch. (WW2, pejorative)
Almost Airborne —82nd Airborne Division From the stylized "AA" cipher on the division patch.
"The Baghdad Express" —6th Motor Transportation Bn., 4th MLG., US Marine Corps Reserve. So named during Desert Storm, and again used in OIF.
"The Band-Box Troop" —F Troop, 7th Cav (c 1876), for its spit-polish.
"The Big Dead One" —1st Infantry Division, a play on its more common nickname, "The Big Red One".
"The Big Red One" —1st Infantry Division, from the shoulder patch.
The Blackhorse —11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. In the early 1900s, the regiment was camped at the Presidio, and the residents of San Francisco nicknamed the regiment due to majority of their horses being black in color.
BDO —1st Infantry Division, from the abbreviation of its nickname, "The Big Dead One".
Black Hearts —2nd Armored Division, for their behavior during WWII.
Bloody Bucket —28th Infantry Division, named for the color and shape of the Division's "Keystone" patch following heavy action in the Hurtgen Forest that decimated the division.
BRO —1st Infantry Division, from the abbreviation of its nickname, "The Big Red One".
Bridge Humpers —The 516th Engineer Company, due to their use of the Medium Girder Bridge.
Broken TV —3rd Infantry Division, due to their patch being square and consisting of alternating blue and white diagonal lines, like a TV on the fritz.
Choking Chickens, Puking Buzzards, or Screaming Chickens —101st Airborne Division, from "Screaming Eagles" motto and the open:mouthed eagle on the unit patch
Dirty Thirty —2nd of the 30th Infantry Regiment named so for the supposedly backwards way they do things.
Electric Chili Pepper —the 25th Infantry Division, for their patch
Electric Strawberry —the 25th Infantry Division, for their taro-leaf shaped patch (that resembles a strawberry) with a lightning bolt in the middle.
Exploding Asshole —the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
First Team —First Cavalry Division.
Flaming Asshole —9th Infantry Division, now inactive.
Flaming Asshole —40th Infantry Division, for the appearance of the sun symbol of their subdued patch.
Flaming Assholes —69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, for the appearance of the patch: two shooting stars in a "69" configuration with black holes in the center.
Gaggin' Dragon —The XVIII Airborne Corps, from their unit patch.
Great Beret Give-Away —82nd Airborne Division. Light infantry units typically used this, because previous to the army switching to berets, this was the only division-sized unit that wore berets. Infantrymen thought it insulting to warriors that even administrative clerks in the 82nd wore berets.
Gray Horse —E Troop, 7h Cav (c 1876), for its preference in color of mount.
Hell on Wheels —2nd Armored Division for their bad behavior prior to WWII in Georgia.
Hundred and Worst —Description for 101st Airborne Division.
Ivy Division —4th Infantry Division whose patch has four ivy leaves. Also described as "four 2LT's pointing north".
JJ/Jumping Junkies —late 1960s to 80s term for the 82nd Airborne due to the high amount of drug use within the unit.
Leaning Shithouse —1st Corps Support Command (now 1st Sustainment Command) units, due to the unit patch, an arrow pointing to the 11 o'clock position [1]
LIBERATORS —14th Armored Division
Lucky 13th —the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Nasty Girls, Nasty Guard, No-Go (sometimes pronounced phonetically as "November Golf"), Trailer Trash —National Guard soldiers
Real Army —Active Duty/Regular Army component soldiers, from the Component abbreviation of RA, and the inference that Reserves and National Guard soldiers aren't "Real Soldiers".
Rainbow —42nd Infantry Division, from their unit patch.
Rainbow Coalition (pejorative) —42nd Infantry Division, mocking on the unit patch.
Red Devils —[58th Combat Engineering Company United States Once attached to the 11th ACR (Black Horse)
Rock of the Marne —3rd Infantry Division, nickname earned in the Battle of the Marne, World War I.
Screaming Eagles — 101st, for the eagle on their shoulders
Screaming Hebrews —6th Infantry Division due to the unit patch resembling a Star of David. A play on the 101st Airborne Division's motto.
T-Patchers —36th Infantry Division from the "T" on their shoulder patches.
The Deuce —202nd MI Battalion
The Douche —202nd MI Battalion
The Electric Pussies —35th Signal Brigade Term to describe Unit Patch, mocking communications affiliation.
The Varsity —4th Infantry Division
Triple Deuce —2-22d Infantry of the 10th Mountain Division
Tropic Lightning —25th Infantry Division since WW2
Weekend Warriors —Referring to National Guard and Reserve Soldiers

External links

Military Words searchable database of over 5700 US DoD terms plus military/government abbreviations
Military terms of the modern era
Army Specific Acronyms and Abbreviations