What's some military lingo?

Question

I writing a story and I want it to sound as real as possible.

Answer 1

Sgt. D pretty much summed it up. :-p

Army wise, Alpha Alpha is term for central stationed area in the field (battle or wartime or even training)

Are you writing a war type story or is it like a basic training type story? You could put a funny twist on it, although I think only military would get it. In basic and initial training, you are NEVER referred to as privates. You are "Prites." Say it kinda fast with a hillbilly twang and you've got it down.

Regular lingo would be how a formation is set up. In a company formation you'd have your first sergeant in front. Then it'd branch out to the Platoon sergeants standing in front of their platoons. You'd have 4 squads, with the squad leaders at the beginning of each squad (far right).

I'm going to copy and paste a whole list cuz I don't feel like typing it all out.

Terms can/will change from branch to branch of the military. Some terms are official and some are just terms the soldiers themselves make up. Occasionally, swear words are used.

ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival

ASAP - As Soon As Possible

POG - People Other Than Grunts

Poggie Bait - Slang for junk food and snacks

IED - Improvised Explosive Device

Grunt - Light infantry soldier/foot soldier

JODI- Since Jodi is a unisex name, its used as the name of the person who is "taking care" of your spouse while you are away. Soldiers use this term to rag on each other. I.e. "Hey, I hear Jodi was at your house, taking care of your wife." The term indicates your spouse is cheating.

Jodi Call - A call a soldier gets from his/her spouse telling them that its over, because of Jodi. (See above)

Dear John Letter - A break up letter, with today's technology can be via email or via snail mail.

LZ - Landing Zone

FNG - ******* New Guy

Leave - The allotted time the military gives you to visit home.

AWOL - Absent Without Leave. This is a big No-No in the military. Going AWOL will not only get you arrested, but you can even go to jail for it.

MPS - Military Police Officers - Those who arrest a solider when they get into trouble. i.e. AWOL

JAG - Judge Advocate General - Military Lawyers

Provost Marshal - Much like the Chief of Police on the base. If you get arrested by an MP, you usually go to the Provost Marshal.

Article 15 - Written punishment causing extra duty and loss of pay.

Profile - Documented medical limitations.

Chow - Meal

PX - Post Exchange - This is where you can purchase small goods/clothing and supplies.

Commissary - Supermarket found on base.

Military Posts are supposed to be areas that won't even close. Permanent military locations. Bases open and close. Ft. Leonard Wood, for example, is a military Post. Scotts Air Force Base in Southern Illinois is a base. It is a temporary location.

Other words for deployment: Trip to the beach or sandbox. To be Mob'd means to be Mobilized. Mobilization will normally be followed up with deployment.

AIT is your Advanced Individual Training. This is where you go after you finish basic training. You learn your job at AIT. Different jobs will be gone for different lengths of time. I'm chemical, so my AIT was 10 weeks long. Some jobs, like certain parts of the intelligence or medical field could put you away for 2 years.

Hold Over is a term where either you screwed up, your paperwork got messed up, you were on profile, or you just couldn't complete the training so you got "held over" while everyone else in your group moved on to their next location. This could happen anywhere. Basic, AIT, mobilization or deployment.

Re-Up is another word for re enlistment.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What's some military lingo?
I writing a story and I want it to sound as real as possible.

Answer 3

There are a lot of good ones listed above, here are some other that I noticed were missing. Of course, it would help to know what branch your talking about since all of them have slightly different jargen.

11-Bang-Bang: Used sometimes in replacement of 11B which is a job title (MOS) for an infantryman.

Grunt: See above

MRE: Meals Ready to Eat. Horrible food served in a small package for troops in the field.

D-FAC: Dinning Facility

"Beat your face": Start doing pushups

Manpack: Any radio that you throw in your rucksack.

Rucksack: Your packpack

Rack System: Your kit/suspenders that you wear with all your ammo, grenade, misc pouches to store small stuff.

Rifle and Magazines: You never say guns or clips unless your some rear-d tool.

Rear-D: Rear Detachment. The guys who will never see combat and are the best supplied because they raid all the good stuff before it gets to the front line.

Legs; Any non-airborne quailified person. Usually said by Airborne types to non-airborne types.

Lingo/jargen changes between your job, branch, iraq/afghanistan/states, and even what time your in.

Answer 4

1. "At ease" is one of the 5 rest positions. Its the 2nd most restrictive of the 5. "As you were" is the correction term for a prepatory command that you just gave. (Alot of folks got it confused with "carry on"). 2. No. 3. Only if they are taking over a formation. Otherwise, no. 4. Standing at a position of attention in front of a commanding officer. 5. If you pass a officer with your hands full, you just the greeting of the day. 6. NGs or Reserves are only allowed to wear their uniforms when going to and from a drill. If they stop by a store and pick up something and they're on the way back from a drill, as long as its not an establishment that serves alcohol, yes. 7. Anywhere from 4 to 6 months.

Answer 5

Well, I'll tell ya!
I was an MP down at the CP when the CO came up and said the TOP was looking for the LT. Just then the CQ said that the Duece was Broke-Dick and the 04 was going to be P.O'd. I jumped in the Hummer and di-di'd out to BN and spoke with the NCOIC who gave me the OP-Ord for the "old Man". On the way back I passed an IED so I called the EOD HMFIC who landed in the LZ ASAP. He said he'd been BOHICA'd in this SNAFU and yelled FTA! 10-4 MO-FO??

Answer 6

Each branch (Army, Navy, Marines....etc).....each MOS...etc
is different ..... terminology depends on your story....for example....I was in the Army....but many people who were in the Army would not know what an MSS was.....it is unique to Special Forces......in the transportation branch..... double clutch .....or buffalo.....has meaning other branches might not appreciate......even the time period and location would be a factor....RON ......or mad minute has meaning for Vietnam veterans

Email me.....be glad to pick the lingo that fits the story

Answer 7

Walk the Talk.

An issue of personal integrity and acting in a manner consistent with what one says.

Take Al Gore. He talks about global warming and the need for us to do something about it. Then he goes off in his private jet on talking tours about global warming. Between his tours he goes home to his million dollar mansion that uses 20 times the electricity of an average home.

He does NOT walk the talk.

Answer 8

Most of the lingo I used in the Navy is not repeatable here. Sorry.

Answer 9

Dee-Lick, for DLIC meaning Detachment left in Contact.

Answer 10

Navy Alphabet
a-alpha, b-bravo, c-charlie, d-delta, e-echo, f-foxtrot, g-golf, h-hotel, i-india, j-juliet, k-kilo, l-lima, m-mike, n-november, o-oscar, p-papa, q-quebec, r-romeo, s-sierra, t-tango, u-uniform, v-victor, w-whiskey, x-x-ray, y-yankee, z-zulu

simple navy terminalogy
chit-reciept, or paper (such as leave chit)
scuttlebutt-rumor
aye, aye (roger)- I understand
rack-bed
colors-morning anthem
cover-hat