Marine Jargon
You will learn many terms while in boot camp that are much different from what you hear in the civilian world. This is known as ‘Marine Jargon.’ I have listed the most important ones below and I recommend you print them out and study them and use them until they become natural.
Aboard on base, on ship
alibi round fired to compensate for misfire
A.L.I.C.E. standard issue field pack, acronym for All purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment
all hands everybody, all recruits
ashore off base
As you were! Resume what you were doing!
Aye, aye, sir! acknowledgement of your Drill Instructor’s command
barracks living quarters that houses recruits or Marines
BCD Bad Conduct Discharge (also known as “Big Chicken Dinner”)
berm earthen embankment protecting butts
BFA Blank Firing Apparatus – small metal box screwed on a rifle flash suppressor to avoid accidental burns while shooting blanks
Big Dad Senior Drill Instructor
bivouac campground
black belt Senior Drill Instructor
blister bandits recruits who are exempt from heavy duties due to blisters
blouse camouflage uniform jacket
blousing garters elastic bands for blousing trousers
Blues Dress Blue formal uniform
boot recruit, inexperienced Marine
brass officers; brass items, such as belt buckles and door knobs
brig jail, prison
bug juice government issue insecticide that is known to be ineffective
bulkhead wall
butts sheltered area behind and below Rifle Range targets. Recruits control the rifle range targets from here.
BZO Battlesight Zero (zeroing your weapon for hitting a target)
cadence rhythmic chant to keep unit in step
cammies short for camouflage utility uniform
carry on continue what you were doing
chow food
chow hall place where recruits eat meals
circuit course series of timed exercises designed to develop specific muscle groups and endurance
CLP Break-Free oil used to clean rifles (cleans, lubricates, penetrates)
cleaning rack outside washstand where recruits clean rifles after firing
CMC Commandant, Marine Corps
CO commanding officer
corpsman Navy enlisted medic
cover hat, cap
dark-green black
deck floor
deuce gear 782 gear – ALICE pack, web belt, and other gear carried by Marines in the field
D.I. drill instructor
ditty bag issue zip bag for athletic gear
dope adjustment of rifle sights for various ranges and wind conditions
double-time running
down-range area between shooters and target
dry fire rifle practice without ammunition
esprit de corps sense of pride, morale, the main distinguishing feature of Marines, SEALS, Rangers and other elite troops
eye relief spatial relationship between shooter’s eye and rear sight
fall in assume military formation
field training or battle area
field day barracks clean-up
field fire marksmanship practice in simulated battle environment
fleet short for FMF
float sea deployment by Marine unit
FMF Fleet Marine Force, the basic infantry fighting force
galley kitchen
gangway gangplank
Gangway! Make way!
gear locker room for brooms, swabs and other cleaning gear
geedunk Another term for food, usually a snack
go-fasters running shoes
Grass Week week devoted to dry fire, before firing for qualification
grinder the parade deck
grunt Marine infantryman
guide bearer of guidon, usually best recruit
guidon small rectangular flag with platoon number carried on a staff by the guide at the head of a platoon
gung ho Chinese for “work together”
hat drill instructor
hatch door
head toilet or bathroom
head call trip to the bathroom
high and tight shaven head, except for about one quarter inch of hair on very top
hootch two-man field tent
ILBE Improved Load Bearing Equipment, pack system
Irish pennant dangling thread or strap
junk-on-the-bunk equipment laid out on bed for inspection
knowledge facts and principles recruits must memorize and master
ladder stairway
light-green white; Caucasian
moon beam flashlight
MOS Military Occupation Specialty
MRE Meal-Ready-to-Eat, meals eaten in the field
M16A2 standard Marine rifle since 1985
NBC Nuclear, Biological, Chemical
NCO non-commissioned officer
NCOIC non-commissioned officer-in-charge
parade deck drill field, parade ground
peepsight rifle’s rear sight
PFT Physical Fitness Test
pogey bait candy
PX Post Exchange, The base department store
quarterdeck area outside D.I. shack. IPT is administered in this area
rack bed
rappel descend from helicopter or downward slope by rope
ready box wooden ammunition box
reefer galley’s walk in refrigerator
reps repetitions, as in weight exercises
Reveille wake-up time
road guards recruits assigned to stop traffic while platoon crosses roadway
round bullet or artillery shell
scuttlebutt gossip; water fountain
scuz rag rag for wiping floor and other chores
scribe recruit detailed to assist D.I.s with paperwork
seabag sausage-shaped canvas bag, big enough to contain recruit’s gear
secure stop; lock; put away
shelter half half of two-man tent, carried by each Marine in the field
sick bay base hospital
sick bay commando recruit or Marine that always seems to get sick when work is approaching
sick call formation for the sick and ailing
skivvies underwear: skivvy shirts, skivvy shorts
snap in to practice firing position and operation of rifle
sound off shout; complain
square away put in order
squared away in order; near; savvy
spit shine mirror like sheen put on leather by means of spit, polish and infinite labor
Suzie short for Suzie Robincrotch; generic term for the girl left behind
swab floor mop
thunder the crash of boot heel on pavement
topside upstairs
UA unauthorized absence, AWOL
unk unqualified; on rifle range, swim qual, etc.
unsat unsatisfactory
wagon wheel large cool-down circle in which recruits walk after PT
war belt wide web belt on which Marines in field hang canteens, ammunition pouches, etc.
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