cam0flage 0 Posted March 27, 2003 Hello, I got this idea of starting a new thread about military terminology and jargon. One can hear about WMDs and such in the news all the time due to the Iraq crisis, but it would be interesting to hear some rarer ones. So, the basic concept: If you have a term or an acronym in your mind that you are unfamiliar with, post a question here and hopefully someone will answer. Also, if someone knows an interesting term and would like to share it with the rest, please go ahead and post it To begin with something, could someone tell me what the term "Broken Arrow" actually means? I've heard at least two different explanations: A missing nuclear weapon (might be just a movie thing) or a signal that an unit is being overrun. Here's a little something I came across the other day: French leave n. [late 18C+] absenting oneself from duty without prior permission [negative national stereotyping] No offense, ran Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ran 0 Posted March 27, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (cam0flage @ Mar. 27 2003,21:16)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">French leave n. [late 18C+] absenting oneself from duty without prior permission [negative national stereotyping] No offense, ran <span id='postcolor'> naaah don't worry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Die Alive 0 Posted March 27, 2003 I'm so short, I can salute a snake's asshole. Vietnam, troops who have very few days before returning Stateside (the Giant PX) were said to short timers. So if you're gonna leave, say in a day or two, you're so short you're saluting a snake's asshole. -=Die Alive=- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo 29 Posted March 27, 2003 REMF was always one of my favourites = Rear echelon mother fucker, basically someone who doesn't get shot at Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Warin 0 Posted March 27, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (placebo @ Mar. 27 2003,22:31)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">REMF was always one of my favourites = Rear echelon mother fucker, basically someone who doesn't get shot at  <span id='postcolor'> FUBAR and SNAFU Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition and Situation Normal: All Fucked Up Both I think originated in WW II with American troops. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Othin 0 Posted March 27, 2003 The Naval services always seem to be the repository for historical terms and weird words. Geedunk - Snacks, candy, soda, etc. Or a snack shop or vending machine. You can never have enough geedunk until it's time to inventory. Head - Bathroom. The place you go when Chief starts looking around for things to do. Deck, Overhead, Bulkhead. Floor, roof, wall. You sweep one, dust the other, and repaint the third seemingly every three days. Avast - Stop. You hear this constantly your first few months in. P-Way - Passageway. The Navy revolves around sweeping, mopping, and waxing these. Pollywog or wog - Someone who hasn't crossed the equator yet. This is pretty much a term that means you're available for hazing at said crossing. Shellback - Someone who has already crossed the equator. They like to torture you on said crossing day. Sick Bay - Medical. You go here when you think it's going to be a busy day. Liberty - Sanctioned time away from your ship or command. You're not charged leave for this ususally. Depending on where port call was, you may go straight to medical upon return. That's enough for now. P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OxPecker 0 Posted March 27, 2003 Can someone explain MOA please? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hit_Sqd_Maximus 0 Posted March 27, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Othin @ Mar. 27 2003,23:55)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Head - Bathroom. Â The place you go when Chief starts looking around for things to do.<span id='postcolor'> lol, that word again Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo 29 Posted March 27, 2003 http://www.acronymfinder.com says...... </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> MOA Making of America (Cornell University) MOA Mall of America MOA Man of Action MOA Managed Object Agent (Nortel) MOA Management Operations Audit MOA Massachusetts Orthopaedic Association MOA Medical Office Assistant MOA Medium Observation Aircraft MOA Memorandum Of Agreement MOA Method Of Accomplishment MOA Michigan Optometric Association MOA Military Operating Area MOA Military Operations Area MOA Minute Of Angle (shooting accuracy) MOA Missing On Arrival MOA Mission Operations Area MOA Mode of Action MOA Municipality Of Anchorage <span id='postcolor'> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Othin 0 Posted March 27, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (placebo @ Mar. 27 2003,15:54)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">acronyms<span id='postcolor'> Actually this brings up a good point. If you see an acronym or piece of jargon you're not sure about, please include the sentence it was in. There is a huge difference in meaning even between branches of service. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tex -USMC- 0 Posted March 28, 2003 FEBA- Forward Edge of Battle Area This is where REMFs typically do not hang out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Frag 0 Posted March 28, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (OxPecker @ Mar. 27 2003,15:04)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Can someone explain MOA please?<span id='postcolor'> When discussing firearms, MOA stands for Minute Of Angle, a measurement of firearm accuracy. At a distance of 100 yards, 1 MOA is equal to just over 1 inch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FSPilot 0 Posted March 28, 2003 MOA - in flying jargon, is a military operations area. they're on VFR sections/terminal and i think WAC charts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E6Hotel 0 Posted March 28, 2003 1)  A term near and dear to any junior Marine’s heart -- “Field Day.† This is the weekly cleaning of a unit’s barracks.  In typical USMC logic, it is called “field day†because it takes place in the rear, not the field, and is held at night, not during the day. They are usually conducted every Thursday evening, although if you have an alcoholic Platoon Sergeant, or one with a bad home life, or one who just gets bored easily, you may be awakened by surprise field days on Saturday mornings.  If the Platoon Sergeant or other supervisor feels especially playful, you may be required to remove all the furniture from your room before cleaning it. 2)  Although not technically terms, in a variation of the classic “snipe hunt,†there are certain items that a “boot†Marine may be ordered to find or draw from supply, the armory, or the motor pool as applicable.  Examples include: -- Chem-lite batteries. -- Keys for the HUMVEE. -- The pistol grip for the MK-19. -- A gallon of bulkhead remover (useful for particularly stubborn field day stains). -- 10 yards of flight line. -- (Ever-popular among administrators) The ID-10T form. My personal favorite is slightly more complex, and a little military knowledge is required to appreciate the humor.  This scenario can be played out during any comm gear training session.  (A little background: Our squad radios carry the “AN/PRC†designation.  The old models, for example, were the AN/PRC 77’s (pronounced “Prick 77’sâ€). While playing with the radio, inform the “boot†that there’s a technical problem.  Instruct him to go to the Corporal or the Sergeant and tell him that “we’ve got a fucked-up Prick E4 (or Prick E5, as applicable) and that we need a new one.  “Prick E4†or “Prick E5†will sound credible to the hapless boot, who then proceeds to (unintentionally) launch a personal attack against the NCO.  Cruel, but entertaining.    Semper Fi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Warin 0 Posted March 28, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (E6Hotel @ Mar. 28 2003,06:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">(A little background: Our squad radios carry the “AN/PRC†designation.  The old models, for example, were the AN/PRC 77’s (pronounced “Prick 77’sâ€). While playing with the radio, inform the “boot†that there’s a technical problem.  Instruct him to go to the Corporal or the Sergeant and tell him that “we’ve got a fucked-up Prick E4 (or Prick E5, as applicable) and that we need a new one.  “Prick E4†or “Prick E5†will sound credible to the hapless boot, who then proceeds to (unintentionally) launch a personal attack against the NCO.  Cruel, but entertaining.    Semper Fi<span id='postcolor'> Good lord, you're an evil bastard! That poor boot will likely end up hearing this: Out-fucking-standing! I will P.T. you until you fucking die! I'll P.T. you until your asshole is sucking buttermilk! So, E6Hotel, are the DI's as hard as Hartman in FMJ, or is that another Hollywood stereotype? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Schoeler 0 Posted March 28, 2003 Shitbird: (Noun) One who habitually fakes being sick to get out of work. A dishonest or lazy person. Goldbrick: (Verb) To goldbrick is to fake being sick. Skate: (Verb) to get away with something, usually to get out of work. (Noun) a person who is good at getting away with things. Strategic Relocation of Military Assets: a phrase used to denote the theft of anything you aren't supposed to have. Rick: (Noun) Derogatory term for recruit in the Navy. Magic Show: Going to church. Zoomie: anyone in the Air Force. Jarhead: a Marine. Squid: a sailor. The Day the Eagle Shits: payday. It occurs on the 1st and 15th of every month. Mill About Smartly: to fake actually working in the presence of an officer. There are more, I just can't think of them right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PFC Mongoose 0 Posted March 28, 2003 What are </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Code Sample </td></tr><tr><td id="CODE">S.W.A.G.<span id='postcolor'> And </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Code Sample </td></tr><tr><td id="CODE">W.A.A.G.<span id='postcolor'>? I heard them in the Iraq thread.. I could hunt down the sentence they're in, if it helps. One term I know from the Canadian Forces: </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Code Sample </td></tr><tr><td id="CODE">Dogfucking: (Verb) to be slacking off; generally used when it forces those around you to work harder<span id='postcolor'> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cam0flage 0 Posted March 28, 2003 In Finnish Defence Forces there is a word called gona, which refers to a conscript who has served over 180 days and has less than 100 days before being transferred to reserve. Often misused by those who serve only 180 days, who are basically not allowed to use the term because of their short service A legend tells that the word gona was used in ancient Rome to describe a fighter who had lost his marbles in combat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jinef 2 Posted March 28, 2003 I had an incident like that E6Hotel, i was at RAF St Athans (DARA - defense aviation repair agency) in the Harrier hangar and these engineers asked me if i could go to the quartermaster stores to get some tool which sounded like they had just made it up. So i said no because being a newbie i didn't want to make myself look like a knob so they all walked me to the stores and asked for it and it was a real tool, of course my efforts were in vain and they took the piss. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Die Alive 0 Posted March 28, 2003 heche heche tee pee colon frontslash frontslash doubleyou doubleyou doubleyou dot G I Jargon dot com frontslash jargon dot asp -=Die Alive=- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Die Alive 0 Posted March 28, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (PFC Mongoose @ Mar. 28 2003,05:09)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What are </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Code Sample </td></tr><tr><td id="CODE">S.W.A.G.<span id='postcolor'><span id='postcolor'> Scientific Wild Ass Guess -=Die Alive=- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E6Hotel 0 Posted March 28, 2003 </span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (PFC Mongoose @ Mar. 28 2003,1109)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Code Sample </td></tr><tr><td id="CODE">W.A.A.G.<span id='postcolor'>?<span id='postcolor'> Wild Approximations and Arcane Guesswork Semper Fi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Schoeler 0 Posted March 28, 2003 Gun Decking: Intentionally faking a performance report to exaggerate the level of performance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
