MILITARY SLANG

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

The military frequently comes up with its own terminology or slang for different things, its like their own language. Outsiders can often find this difficult to follow but yet it is of such common usage among the troops that they don't even realize it.

A common slang term is POG. It refers to a clerk or personnelmen. It is supposedly derived from China Marines before WWII. Pogey was the Chinese word for prostitute. Candy could be used to lure them, thus Pogey bait became the slang for candy and Pog became the slang for rear echelon types.

My uncle was a WWII sailor. As a little kid, I lived in the same house with him while my military father was deployed. He was my only male influence at the time. His favorite Navy slang was, foo-foo. It referred to any aromatic lotion such as cologne or aftershave.

The services have a gazillon slang words, what are your favorites.

 

[NYlakesider]

The military frequently comes up with its own terminology or slang for different things, its like their own language. Outsiders can often find this difficult to follow but yet it is of such common usage among the troops that they don't even realize it.

A common slang term is POG. It refers to a clerk or personnelmen. It is supposedly derived from China Marines before WWII. Pogey was the Chinese word for prostitute. Candy could be used to lure them, thus Pogey bait became the slang for candy and Pog became the slang for rear echelon types.

My uncle was a WWII sailor. As a little kid, I lived in the same house with him while my military father was deployed. He was my only male influence at the time. His favorite Navy slang was, foo-foo. It referred to any aromatic lotion such as cologne or aftershave.

The services have a gazillon slang words, what are your favorites.

I know quite a few, but doubt they would pass muster here!

 

[richardw]

Among the many Jargon words one of my favorites is TARFU.
It stands for Things Are Really Fouled Up. Polite form of SNAFU, Situation Normal All Fu***d Up.
Another favorite is Semper Scrotus meaning Always on the Ball.

 

[tlawler]

Gedunk-candy
Scuttlebutt-water fountain or gossip
****can-a garbage can or when used as a verb, to throw away. Not always used for inanimate objects. As in "Captain Gorth got ****canned to a desk job when he ran his sub aground"

 

[BAM-BAM]

Two that get wide transition to the real world.....................


SNAFU...........no it's not a candy bar!

**BAR........... no it's not a knife!!!!

 

[hoosierone]

During my three years in the Army I never heard the term "ooh-rah".

Guys that were screw ups were referred to as "duds". We joked that NCO stood for "no chance outside" or "no civilian occupation".

Those of us the rank of E-4 or lower called ourselves "peons".

While on Okinawa we referred to the USA as "the land of the big PX".

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

I know quite a few, but doubt they would pass muster here!

Come on, there are hundreds that would be acceptable here.

A slipknot is someone who cannot be depended upon.

Don't "ping" on me means don't dis me.

To be "strac" means being Squared Away, this was an Airborne expression.

To take someone to the paint locker meant to kick his butt.

FNG was of course the term for a newbie.

If a sailor was four oh, he was ship shape.

Ma Deuce was the term for the M-2 .50 cal Browning Machine gun.

Matty Mattel was the M-16.

A blooper was an M-79, 40mm grenade launcher.

So on and so on.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Among Army combat personnel one of the common expressions was REMF, indicating a Rear Echelon MF (use your imagination). Another referred to clerks and typists as Remington Rangers, troops who never retreated but frequently backspaced. Mess halls were sometimes referred to as Ptomaine Palaces.

 

[WuzzFuzz]

Personally, I always liked the days when the Eagle Squat. Or words to that effect.


WuzzFuzz

 

[41 fan]

Gedunk-candy
Scuttlebutt-water fountain or gossip
****can-a garbage can or when used as a verb, to throw away. Not always used for inanimate objects. As in "Captain Gorth got ****canned to a desk job when he ran his sub aground"

I thought the geedunk is where you bought the pogey bait.

 

[tlawler]

I thought the geedunk is where you bought the pogey bait.

Definition of gedunk
plural -s
slang
: something (as a sundae) sold at a soda fountain or snack bar

That's from an online dictionary. I remember it as the actual snacks from as far back as boot camp.

Also, I think there are differences in East coast and West coast slang. I was a West coast(Pearl Harbor) sailor.

 

[crazyphil]

I fondly remember SOS for breakfast. The political correct name is
creamed beef on toast. SOS? Use your imagination.

 

[OFT II]

"I think he's bucking for a section eight."

"This looks like another charlie foxtrot."

 

[WuzzFuzz]

I fondly remember SOS for breakfast. The political correct name is
creamed beef on toast. SOS? Use your imagination.

But after a while, I kinda liked it...


WuzzFuzz

 

[eb07]

Rotorheads forever!!

and of course woobie. I have three of them still

 

[WuzzFuzz]

Rotorheads forever!!

But why fly in something that's trying to shake itself apart before it even gets off the ground?


WuzzFuzz

 

[Bkreutz]

The military frequently comes up with its own terminology or slang for different things, its like their own language. Outsiders can often find this difficult to follow but yet it is of such common usage among the troops that they don't even realize it.

A common slang term is POG. It refers to a clerk or personnelmen. It is supposedly derived from China Marines before WWII. Pogey was the Chinese word for prostitute. Candy could be used to lure them, thus Pogey bait became the slang for candy and Pog became the slang for rear echelon types.

My uncle was a WWII sailor. As a little kid, I lived in the same house with him while my military father was deployed. He was my only male influence at the time. His favorite Navy slang was, foo-foo. It referred to any aromatic lotion such as cologne or aftershave.

The services have a gazillon slang words, what are your favorites.

Our definition of POG was "Person Other than Grunt"

 

[eb07]

But why fly in something that's trying to shake itself apart before it even gets off the ground?


WuzzFuzz

Live dangerously

 

[STCM(SW)]

Mine was catching a sea bat for the new sailors(enlisted and officers) to take a look at. 1MC "The Master chief has a Sea bat on the fantail. If you want to see it, better get there soon as he has to let it go."

SN asked me "Is it a real sea bat?" I just said "Would a Master Chief lie to you?" He was not happy going down the ladder to his quarters.
And a LTJG said "Stop hitting me with that broom, I can't see the sea bat!"

 

[timjake]

JAFO - Just another f'ing observer
BUFF - Big ugly fat f'er - - nickname for a B-52
CNO - Chief of Naval Operations OR Computer Network Operations
IO - input/output OR Information Operations OR Intelligence Oversight
PCS - permanent change of station OR permanent civilian status
ROAD - retired on active duty
FIGMO - Finally, I got my orders OR F' it, got my orders
AMF - Adios my friend OR adios "mofo" - - normally seen on going-away mementos