Barracks Rat: A Marine to broke to go "out in town" during liberty.
Brain Bucket: Kevlar helmet.
Brig Rat: A Marine who often frequents the brig, typically as a prisoner.
Broke Dick: A Marine with a medical condition that hinders his ability to perform physical tasks, go to the field etc.
Cluster: Used by Marines to describe a disastrous situation.
Devil Dog: Term of respect used by one Marine to another. Comes from a the word, Teufelhund, used by German soldiers to describe Marines during World War I.
Fangs: Teeth."Recruits, when I give you the command to fallout, go brush your fangs!" .
Gaggle: A unorganized group or mob of Marines. See cluster above.An unorganized group doing nothing.
Goat Rope: A useless, or foolish activity. A waste of time directed by higher headquarters.Similar to a Cluster Fuck except that this activity comes from the Head Shed.
Grape: A Marines head. "Put your cover on your grape."
Head: Toilet.
Head Call: Use the bathroom.
High Speed: Excellent. Great equipment.
Jacked up: Screwed up.
Moonbeam: Marine term for a flashlight.
Pop Smoke: Marine term used to call for extraction from an LZ via helicopter.
Also denote a way to leave quickly or hastily; from the method of throwing a smoke grenade to mark a landing zone or conceal a retreat.
rack or sack: Bed.
Shut up and Color: Quit complaining!
Squid: Derogatory term for a sailor. It is said that a squid is the only fish in the sea so screwed up it swims backward.
Suzy: A Marine's girl back home. She often runs off with Jody.
Zero Dark Thirty: Any time before 0530 in the morning.
Portholes: Windows or glasses.
Hatch: Door.
Cover: Hat.
Overhead: Lights.
Suck: Mouth. “Shut your fucking suck, recruit!”
Penis peelers, Dick skinners, Paws, Dickbeater: Hands.
Deck: Floor or ground.
Bulkhead: Wall.
Moto: Motivation/motivational “That’s moto.”
Squid: Any member of the Navy.
Zoomie: Any member of the chAir Force.
Moto material: Porn!
The word “fucking”: Replaces the word “um”, “well” or “please”.
Clusterfuck/gagglefuck: Unorganized mess “That’s right. Let’s make one huge gagglefuck.” A mission, operation or activity gone bad. Confusion.
Blue falcon: Buddy fucker. A Marine who is a selfish bastard.
Hooah: A term for any Army personnel, named for that strange hurling sound they often emit, even when unprovoked. / Trying to say Oorah with cock in mouth.
Hooahs: Army.
Motard: Someone who is highly, yet stupidly motivated at all times. Motards often travel in small packs and are often seen being overly moto about something small or ridiculous, usually shouting “Oorah” or “Kill Hadji Babies” frequently and loudly, even when nobody is around. They have no off switch and two volume settings: Loud and Motard Loud.
Cammies: USMC Marine Pattern (MARPAT) camouflage utility uniform. Woodland and Desert pattern. Never referred to as BDUs (Army).
EGA: The most important device or insignia worn on a Marine's uniform. TheEagle, Globe and Anchor, the emblem of the US Marine Corps.
1900: Homosexual. From the paragraph in the Separations Manual in the 1970s and 1980s that discusses homosexuals.
AFU: All Fucked Up.
Baby dick: Small hot dog or sausage.(Hot dogs contained in MREs.)
Bad bear: A phrase or expression used to indicate that a certain situation or object is difficult. Example - "The night land nav course at TBS is a bad bear!"
Barracks queen: Woman (servicewoman or civilian) who has had sex with a large number of servicemen in a unit.
Beans, bullets and bandages: Expression used to refer to those things a logistician must provide his or her unit: rations, ammunition, and medical care.
Above my/your pay grade: Expression denying responsibility or authority (indicating that the issue should be brought to higher-ranking officials).
Brain-housing group: Thought processing, used as a parallel to a rifle's trigger housing group.
Brat: Longtime dependent children.
The bricks: Barracks.
Brightwork: Brass or shiny metal, which Marines must polish.
Bum scoop: Bad information.
"By your leave, sir/ma'am.": Expression used to render respect when overtaking a senior proceeding in the same direction, in conjunction with a salute; traditionally, the senior must offer permission before the junior passes him or her.
Chair Force: Derogatory term for the US Air Force.
Check fire: Order to stop firing due to a safety condition, possible error or mistarget.
Drop a dime: To reveal incriminating information about a person. See also call out.
Dry fire: Practice firing of a weapon without using ammunition in order to refine body position and other shooting fundamentals.
Bird, ball, and hook, Bird, Ball and Chain: Pejorative for Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.
Blanket party: Group assault on a service member, repeatedly striking him or her, preceded by covering the victim's head by a blanket so he or she cannot identify the perpetrators.
Fart sack: Sleeping bag; linen a mattress is inserted into.
FNG: Fucking New Guy, derogatory term for a Marine recently graduated recruit training and new to a unit.
One of a progression of military situational indicators:
1. SNAFU: Situation Normal, All Fucked Up - Thing are running normally.
2. TARFUN: Things Are Really Fucked Up Now - Houston, we have a problem.
3. FUBAR: Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition - Burn it to the ground and start over from scratch; it's totally destroyed.
This day started out SNAFU, but then my machine went all TARFUN. The place was totally FUBAR after that.
Get some: Spirited cry expressing approval and the desire for more or to continue, traditionally associated in the Vietnam War to killing or sex.
Goat rope or Goat rodeo or Goat screw: Chaotic and messy situation. See also Cluster fuck.
Clusterfuck: Chaotic and messy situation; multiple mistakes or problems happening in rapid succession. See also goat rope / goat rodeo / goat screw.
Gook: Anything foreign or strange.
Good to go: Expression denoting that difficulties will be overcome; ready; well done or satisfactory.
Grab-ass: Horseplay, loafing, lounging.
Hack: Arrest.
Hat: Drill instructor, so named for the distinctive campaign hat they wear; usually reserved for other or former drill instructor use. See also campaign cover, field hat, & smokey bear/brown.
Helo, Chopper: Helicopter.
High and tight: Nickname for a common variant of the buzz cut, where the hair is clipped very close.
High-speed: New, interesting, or cool; often used to sarcastically denote that the subject looks good, but performance is dubious.
Hooch or hootch: Tent, hut, or otherwise temporary or ramshackle dwelling.
Huss: To give a helping hand, so named because the H-34 Choctaw helicopter's utility configuration was designated as the "HUS-1 Seahorse," leading to Vietnam-era Marines that needed a medical evacuation helicopter to ask for or to be "cut a huss".A favor, break, etc.
Used by Marines during the Viet Nam war.
The words "do", "did", "does", etc. are never used with the word "huss". Only "Cut" is acceptable.
"C'mon Sarge, cut me a huss."
"The L.T. cut me a major huss when he let me get some R&R."
In country: Phrase referring to being within a war zone.
Jarhead: Pejorative term for a Marine. Jarhead has several supposed origins: the regulation "High and Tight" haircut resembles a mason jar (to add insult, some note that the jar is an empty vessel, also therefore a Marine's head an empty vessel); the Mason Jar Company stopped making jars and made the helmets for Marines during World War II.
Joe: Coffee, so named because United States Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels eliminated beer and wine from naval ships, declaring nothing stronger than coffee would be allowed. Coffee. Josephus Daniels (18 May 1862-15 January 1948) was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Among his reforms of the Navy were inaugurating the practice of making 100 Sailors from the Fleet eligible for entrance into the Naval Academy, the introduction of women into the service, and the abolishment of the officers' wine mess. From that time on, the strongest drink aboard Navy ships could only be coffee and over the years, a cup of coffee became known as "a cup of Joe".
Kiwi Injection: A good, sharp, quick kick in the ass.
Liquid Asshole: Beer.
LPC: Leather Personnel Carriers. Shoes or boots.
Maggot: One of the lowest forms of life. Also a Marine who spends most of his or her time trying to obtain a discharge.
Marines' Hymn:
From the Halls of Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli
We fight out country's battles in the air, on land and sea
First to fight for right and freedom, and to keep our honor clean
We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze, from dawn to setting sun
We have fought in every clime and place, where we could take a gun
In the snow of far off northern lands, and in sunny tropic scenes
You will find us always on the job, The United States Marines

Here's health to you and to our Corps, which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life, and never lost our nerve
If the Army and the Navy, ever gazed on heaven's scenes
They would find the streets are guarded by, The United States Marines
Mattress Pressing: Sleeping
Joker: Military journalist, from Private Joker from the movie Full Metal Jacket; also a derogatory term for a junior enlisted servicemember.
Catwalk: Walkway constructed over or around obstructions on a ship or building.
Check fire: Order to stop firing due to a safety condition, possible error or mistarget.
Lost lieutenant finder: Hand-held GPS unit, a joke term on the reputation for new lieutenants to be incompetent in land navigation.
Long War: Term for the War on Terrorism favored by senior military leaders.
Lima Charlie or Lickin' Chicken: Loud and Clear, an expression meaning that the communication has been received and understood; originally exclusive to radio traffic.
LZ: Landing Zone, a clearing designated as the place where a helicopter (or other VTOL aircraft) can land.
Ma'am: Proper method of addressing female officers in particular and all women in general.
Marine: The following nicknames are usually acceptable: leatherneck, devil dog, sea soldier, warrior, hard charger, motivator; the following are acceptable from other Marines: jarhead, gyrene; the following are insults: soldier, seabag.
Mess hall: Cafeteria. See also chow hall.
Messman: Cook.
Mike: Minute.
Mike-mike: Millimeter.
No impact, no idea: Expression denoting a miss on a weapons range (the scorer cannot find an impact on target); also used as an "I don't know" response.
Oscar Mike: On the Move, the names of the two NATO phonetic alphabet letters O and M which stand for the phrase. Used on the radio and in shorthand to each other.
Outside: Civilian life after discharge. Also Real world.
Overhead: Ceiling.
Over the hill: Excessively old; or to the desert.
Passageway: Corridor or hallway.
Pit: Depressed area on a shooting range where the targets are located, shooters staff it by marking, raising, and lowering targets from behind aberm.
Portholes: Military issue eyeglasses, or the wearer of glasses. See also BCGs & RPGs.
Rotate: Return home at the end of a deployment.
Running lights: Navigational night lights on a ship; Marine's eyes.
SALUTE: Mnemonic device for a situation report, denotes: Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, and Equipment.
Seabag or sea bag: Duffel bag used to carry one's personal belongings.
Sea story: Story, tale, or yarn calculated to impress others, often contains exaggeration or even outright lies.A tale. Often containing a small grain of truth somewhere.
Secure: Stop, cease; or put away and lock.
Shit bag or shit bird: Habitually unkempt or undisciplined Marine.
Shit-brick: Useless or ignorant person.
Shit-hot: Sarcastic reference to an overly arrogant person.
Shitter: Bathroom, head, or latrine, most often an outdoor portable toilet or outhouse.
Side arms: Weapon (usually a pistol) carried by a sentry under arms; also, cream and sugar in coffee.
Sight in: Aim a weapon at a target using the sights, considered an intention to shoot the target.
Skivvies: Underwear: skivvie shirt (T-shirt) and skivvie drawers (underwear).
Smokin' and jokin': When a mass of Marines is acting unproductive.
SSDD: Same Shit, Different Day, euphemism denoting frustration with an unchanging situation or boredom.
Stand by: Wait, stop and wait.
Swinging dick: Vulgarity for male Marine, used to emphasize an order to a whole group instead of individual(s).
Thousand-yard stare: Unfocused gaze of a battle-weary servicemember.
Tore up: Broken, messy, unserviceable.
Trunk monkey: A passenger in the back of an armored vehicle, not part of the crew.
Under canvas: Living under temporary sheltering, such as a tent.
Under way: To depart or to start a process for an objective.
Unsat: Abbreviation of unsatisfactory.
USMC: Acronym for United States Marine Corps. Also used as a pejorative backronym: Uncle Sam's Misguided Children, U Signed the Motherfucking Contract, U Suckers Miss Christmas, Unlimited Shit and Mass Confusion, University of Science, Music and Culture, Uncomplicated Shit Made Complicated.
Walking john: Nickname for a Marine marching in dress blues uniform that appeared on World War I-era recruiting posters.
War paint: Camouflage face paint.
AMF: Alpha Mike Foxtrot. Adios, Mother Fucker.
ASAP: As Soon As Possible. (ASAFP).
Assault Line: Marine attack formation with troops advancing abreast.
Aye Aye: I understand your order and will comply. A naval expression.
Aye: Yes. A naval expression.
Blowing Smoke: Wasting time, talking for no purpose and to no effect.
Blown Away: Killed.
BOHICA: Bend Over, Here It Comes Again.
Bravo Zulu: Well done. From the Allied Naval Signal Book (ACP-175 Series) adopted after the formation of NAT.
Buddy Unit: (Iraq) Two Marines, usually half a fire team. Emerging as the basic urban combat fighting unit. The tactical movement of a buddy team is for one Marine to lay down covering fire while the other Marine moves forward to a covered position only feet in front of the position being vacated. Then they change duties. This eliminates the "fireteam forward" movement and places the squad leader even further from the action. Some tacticians are calling for squad leaders to join the leading fire team as a third member and lead by example--his other fire teams following along a flank. When one member of a buddy unit is incapacitated he is left behind in forward movement and the other Marine joins a nearby buddy unit as a third member. The problem with this tactic is that it decentralizes the command structure requiring even the most junior Marine to make command decisions.
Buddy: Best friend. It is said that a real buddy is someone who will go into town when you are restricted to base and get himself two blow jobs, then come back to base and give one of them to you.
Bullshit: A card game played by groups of Marines while standing in line, usually aboard ship. A player will draw five cards from a shuffled deck and after reviewing the hand will announce the hand (it can be anything from "One Jack" to "Full Boat, Flush"). The next Marine in line will decide if the announced hand is what the player has and will either accept or proclaim "bullshit". If the hand is accepted the Marine can draw from one to five cards and announce the hand, but his hand must be better than the hand he accepted. This continues until someone calls "bullshit". There is no scoring as the game is usually played while standing up.
Bunker: A covered and reinforced fighting hole.
Bust Caps: A firefight. The actual firing of a weapon.
Buy The Farm: Killed.
Carry On: An informal order to continue what you were doing before being interrupted, usually by the appearance of a commissioned or senior officer.
Check your six: Look behind you. From the aviation term, “your 6 o’clock” referring to the relative location of an aircraft with 12 o’clock being directly in front of the airplane.
Check: Yes, affirmative or I agree.
Chop Chop: Quickly or in a hurry. Derived from Chinese by the old China Marines.
COC: Combat Operations Center. Sometimes called the Center of Confusion.
Commando: Not wearing skivvies.
Cool Beans: Everything is OK.
Cop: To get, as in "cop some Zs".
Crumb Catcher: The mouth.
Cunt Cap: Garrison cover. See Pisscutter.
Delta Sierra: Dumb Shit.
Dick Holster: Mouth. Usually used in reference to Women Marines.
DOW: Died of Wounds. Someone who died of combat inflicted injuries after being treated at an aid station or higher echelon medical unit. One who dies prior to that point are designated KIA.
Eat the Apple, Fuck the Corps: A phrase used by Marines to express their displeasure with the Marine Corps. Usually mouthed by someone about to leave the Corps or by a Marine who has endured a perceived injustice.
EPW: Enemy Prisoner of War.
Eye Fuck: To look or stare at, usually in a curious manner.
Field Meet: An organized series of sporting competitions pitting one unit against another. Organized grab ass.
Fighting Hole: Called a Fox Hole by the Army and Hollywood it is an entrenched position for one or more Marines in a static warfare situation.
FIIGMO: Used when someone wants you to do something but you are busy doing something else.
Fire In The Hole: An alert that an explosive device is about to be detonated. If you hear this you probably missed all of the other warnings and are about to be blown away.
Fire Team: The basic infantry fighting unit consisting of four Marines with various weapons and support. Fire teams are combined into squads. In urban combat the fire team is being frequently broken into Buddy Units, further de-centralizing field control.
Firebase: An artillery support position.
FTA: Fuck the Army. In an attempt to clean it up the Army tried coopting the phrase as Fun, Travel and Adventure.
Garrison: Any place with civilized comforts, such as showers and cots, can be found. Not in the boonies.
General Orders: There are eleven general orders and every Marine must memorize them:
1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.
2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.
5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.
6. To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and officers and noncommissioned officers of the guard only.
7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.
8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
9. To call the corporal of the guard in any case not covered by instructions.
10. To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.
11. To be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
Gofasters: Sneakers.
Grass: Marijuana. Also Mary Jane, Iceplant.
Ground Pounder: An infantryman, a grunt.
Grunt: Originally a pejorative term for Infantry Marines but now a source of pride.
Guide: The person responsible for the unit guidon and upon whom the unit forms when in formation.
GWOT: Global War on Terrorism.
Haj or Haji or Haçi: (Iraqi Freedom) An Iraqi citizen. A local (usually a good guy). Also Haggie, from the Johnny Quest cartoon who has a sidekick named Haggie (supposedly meaning friend).
HE: High Explosive.
Hooch: Hard liquor, usually contraband, often home made.
Hook Up: To get in touch with.
NFG: No Fucking Good.
Old Hat: Stale or unchanged information. Information that is already known.
OP: Observation Post.
Pogey Bait: Candy or other junk food. See Geedunk.
Point: Lead Marine in a patrol. Lead element in a company.
POS: Piece of Shit.
Pounding your pud: Standing around doing nothing. Wasting time. From the coloquial expression for masturbating.
PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Previously called Shell Shock (WW I) or Battle Fatigue (WW II) it is the first line of legal defense when a Vietnam Vet goes biserk and kills a lot of innocent civilians. It manifests mostly as dreams recalling battlefield situations or in response to sharp sounds or scenario. Those with PTSD respond as though they were in combat--not acceptable in polite society.
Pucker Factor: A measure of the stress in any situation. A high pucker factor means high stress. The reference is to the belief that fear and stress make your asshole pucker.
Quick Time: The normal pace in marching, approximately 120 steps per minute.
R and R: Rest and Recuperation. A respite from combat.
Recruit Punishment: Unofficial punishments given to recruits by drill instructors for minor infractions of the rules. While at the time some of them may sound cruel they are, in fact, essentially harmless and are good tools for teaching a lesson. Some of them are:
Duck Walk: Walking with the knees bent 180 degrees.
Extended Port: The recruit is ordered to port arms and then directed to extend the arms until the elbows are not bent. In this position the weapon becomes heavy and the arms ache. (Ca. 1962)
Funeral Services: A recruit at attention does not move for anything unless an order is given. Some times a bug or, at Parris Island, a sand flea may cause a recruit to flinch or smack at the pest. On seeing this a drill instructor would order that the pest be given an honorable funeral. Sometimes they were then later ordered to dig it up and reinter it somewhere else. (Ca. 1955, from the movie "The DI" starring Jack Webb)
Group Tighteners: The entire purpose of the first portion of weapons training is to fire and make tight groups on the target. From there it is simple to adjust the sights and account for wind to bring the group onto the bull's eye. After the first day of live firing a drill instructor might ask if anyone would like to be issued "group tighteners". On lining up the hapless recruits received some form of painful reminder to tighten their groups. (Ca. 1962)
Watching TV: A series of uncomfortable positions that the recruit is put into. (Ca. 1962)
· Channel 1. The recruit lies on the tile or wood deck on his or her stomach and elevates on the toes and the elbows.
· Channel 4. The recruit backs to the edge of his or her rack grabbing the outside bars with both hands while moving the feet far enough forward to keep the rear end off the bed and suspended in air.
Rear Leaning Rest Position: The recruit rests the back of his or her head on the metal bottom of the rack while keeping the back of the heels on the deck all while maintaining the position of attention.
SCUM: The only English language word that can be made from the letters U-S-MC.
Shelter Half: Half of a pup tent. Each Marine carried one half so that two Marines could buddy up, snap or button their shelter halves together and make a pup tent.
Shit Bird: A screw-up. Someone who regularly gets into trouble.
Shitcan: A trash can.
Snot Locker: The nose. Used mostly as in "I'm gonna hit you in the snot locker."
Soup Cooler: The mouth.
Split Tail: A female.
SSS (Three S): Shit, shower and shave.
Starlight Scope: Night vision equipment. AlsoGreen Eye.
Stroke Book: Pornographic magazine or pulp-paper book.
Uncover: To remove the headgear. A Marine never wears headgear indoors unless under arms.
Under Arms: Equipped with a pistol, rifle or sword, an indication that the Marine is on duty. It is the only time that a Marine may remain covered indoors.
WTFO: What the fuck, over. A statement of disbelief or question using radio communication terminology.
YGTBSM: You've Got To Be Shitting Me. A Marine's expression of disbelief.
40 mike-mike: 40mm grenade or M203 grenade launcher, often mounted underneath an M-16 or variant.
Guardian Angel: A soldier or Marine placed in a high position in urban warfare to provide overwatch and cover to friendly units moving below.
ID10T Form: Idiot form. A non-existant form that ignorant marines are sent to find. Usually they are new to their unit.
Jane Wayne: (US Army & USMC) A very agressive or masculine female soldier or marine. Also a term to imply a woman is a competent soldier.
Marine Proof: An overly simple task or way of doing things. Stems from the stereotype that Marines are slow-witted or unable to handle complex operations. Slightly perjorative.
Perfect for Cleaning; Personnel for Cleaning: Unenthusiastic synonyms for Privates First Class (PFCs) in the Army and the Marine Corps.
Rack ops: The time for sleep, if permitted, while in the field.
Rack PT: Refers to either skipping unit or section PT in favor of staying in bed. Pussy Time.
"...Since Jesus was a corporal": (US Army and Marines) For a very long time. e.g.: "I haven't been home since Jesus was a corporal."
Stay frosty: (US Army, US Marines) Regular term among soldiers to both stay calm and stay alert.: "I'm not sure if these guys are friendlies or not. We might be walking into something here. Stay frosty."
Turtle fuck(ing): (US Marines) Striking a Marine on his helmet with another helmet. The clunking of the two kevlar helmets sounds like two empty shells hitting. Sometimes done deliberately among friends, but often as a joke to an unsuspecting trooper.
Unfuck: (US Army, Marines) To bring something or someone into proper order and accord with SOP.
Bullet sponge, Bullet stopper, Bullet taker: (US) An infantryman, MOS 11B "Eleven Bulletstopper" most commonly the point man of an infantry fire team who is usually the first member of the team to engage, or be engaged by, the enemy. Also, regular Army reference to the USMC,who are usually in combat.
Seabag: (USN/USMC) Issue green canvas or cordura bag used to transport personal effects.
Tango Uniform: Not in optimal condition. (e.g. The HUMVEE went Tango Uniform before we even arrived.).
Zero-three (USMC): Refers to Marine Corps haircut - zero inches on the sides and three inches on the top.