"Honey, I have to leave for work ASAP. I really have a hectic day ahead of me. We have a PFT at O-Dark-Thirty and a JOB after PT, so I need to get my gear squared away. I'm the NCOIC and I have a meeting with the CO and XO about an MP who went UA. After my meeting, the troops need to field day the barracks, then we have to pack our 782 gear for a hump tomorrow. I will also take my LES to S-1 and check on the BAH so it's taken care of before I leave on the MEU with the BLT next month. I need to stop off at the PX and pick up a cover and a set of hashmarks before we secure for the ninety-six. See you around 1800."
If all this sounds like a foreign language to you.....don't worry. There are times when a military member speaks to us in a language that leaves us feeling totally lost as to just what is being said. This secret language is known as Military Lingo and Abbreviations. Hopefully, the following information will help with understanding what is being said to you and you can feel "squared away."
AD: Active Duty
ASAP: As Soon As Possible
ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (skills test)--required to join the armed forces
allotment: specific amount deducted from a Marine's pay and sent to another entity
armor: someone who works in the armory
armory: facility used for storage of weapons and ammunition
BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing
BAS: Basic Allowance for Subsistence
BEQ: Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (barracks)
BLT: Battalion Landing Team, main body of infantrymen that make up a MEU
BN: Battalion
BOQ: Bachelor Officer Quarters
barracks: building where single Marine's live or a duty station where they serve
base pay: amount serviceman earns per month based on rank and years of service
boot: a new recruit or young Marine
bulkhead: wall
Brig: military jail
CAO: Casualty Assistance Officer
CHAMPUS: Civilian Health And Medical Program of the U.S. ("insurance" for dependents)--now TRICARE
CG: Commanding General.
CMC: Commandant of the Marine Corps
CO: Commanding Officer
COLA: Cost of Living Allowance
CONUS: Continental United States
CWO: Chief Warrant Officer, also called Warrant Officers
civilian: anyone not in the military
comm: communications
Commander In Chief: President of the United States
commissary: grocery store on base run by DeCA (Defense Commissary Association)
cover: hat; also to find shelter or protection in combat
DADD's NCO: Dependant Affairs During Deployment: see also FRSNCO
DI: Drill Instructor
DIV: Division
DEERS: Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (used to register dependents for CHAMPUS)
DET: detachment; group of Marines from one unit assigned to another
DOD: Department of Defense
deck: floor
dependent: a Marine's spouse or child
deployment: when a Marine's unit departs its home base for an extended period of time, can be weeks or months depending on the mission
deuce gear: see 782 gear
EAS: End of Active Service
EST: Essential Subjects Training
field day: day set aside for cleaning the office and barracks
float: to be deployed at sea, usually on a MEU as in "six month float"
FMF: Fleet Marine Force
FMFLANT: Fleet Marine Force Atlantic
FMFPAC: Fleet Marine Force Pacific
FRO: Family Readiness Officer
FRSNCO: Family Readiness Staff NCO (formerly DADD) usually the one left behind to handle dependant affairs when a unit goes on a deployment
FSA: Family Separation Allowance (also called Seps)
FSSG: Force Service Support Group
gung ho: ready, fired up, enthusiastic
gungy: enthusiastic, motivated
HQMC: Headquarters Marine Corps
hashmark: stripes worn on forearm of dress and service uniforms by enlisted Marines, each denotes 4 yrs of service
hatch: door
head: bathroom
hostess house: hotel on base
hump: field march
IG: Inspector General
JOB: "junk on the bunk"; field gear and uniforms displayed on bed for inspection
KV: Key Volunteer (official point of contact for military spouses)
ladderwell: stairway
leave: vacation time
LES: Leave and Earnings Statement
MAG: Marine Air Group
MAGTF: Marine Air-Ground Task Force
MARDIV: Marine Division
MARS: Military Affiliated Radio System; used for sending messages to those deployed
MAW: Marine Air Wing
MCAS: Marine Corps Air Station
MCX: Marine Corps Exchange (store on base)
MEB: Marine Expeditionary Brigade
MEF: Marine Expeditionary Force
MEMQ: Marine Enlisted Married Quarters
MEU: Marine Expeditionary Unit, group of Marines organized for a float
MOQ: Married Officer Quarters
MOS: Military Occupational Specialty
MP: Military Police
military brat: a term of endearment given to children born and reared in the service
NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer
NCOIC: Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge
NH: Naval Hospital
NRMC: Naval Regional Medical Center
ninety-six: four-day weekend pass (96 hours--usually given for holidays)
OOD: Officer of the Day
OIC: Officer In Charge
OJT: On the Job Training
O-Dark Thirty: after midnight and before working hours
Ooh-Rah: Marine Corps motivational term
Op Tempo: Operational Tempo; how frequently a unit deploys or goes to the fieldep
ops: short for operations
PCS: Permanent Change of Station (moving to another base)
PEBD: Pay Entry Base Date
PFT: Physical Fitness Test
PT: Physical Training
PTAD: Permissive Temporary Additional Duty like recruiter assistance
PX: Post Exchange (same as MCX)
RED: Record of Emergency Data found in member's SRB
rack: bed
recruit: an individual attending boot camp
S-1: Administrative Section of a unit
S-2: Intelligence Section
S-3: Operations and Training Section
S-4: Logistics and Supply Section
782 Gear: Also "Deuce" gear; includes pack, canteen, poncho, ammo pouch, etc. used when in the field. 782 refers to the DD Form signed when gear is issued
SGLI: Servicemen's Group Life Insurance
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
SNCO: Staff Non Commissioned Officer
SRB: Service Record Book
SSN: Social Security Number
scuttlebutt: rumor, gossip
secure: lock up, close, take care of, finish for the day
Semper Fi: short for Semper Fidelis which is Latin for "Always Faithful"
seventy-Two: three day pass (72 hours)
Sick Bay: hospital, clinic or office of medical personnel
Sick Call: assigned time for ill Marines to go to sick bay (usually first thing in the morning)
skivvies: underwear
sponsor: military member responsible for a dependent; also military member assigned to help another military member plan for and adjust to a new duty station
squared away: prepared, taken care of, sharp looking
TAD: Temporary Additional Duty
TLA: Temporary Living Allowance
TMO: Traffic Management Office
TRICARE: Managed Health Care Program for military families (replaced CHAMPUS)
UA: Unauthorized Absence
VA: Veterans Administration
WESTPAC: Western Pacific tour, such as Okinawa
WM: Woman Marine, some female Marines find this phrase an insult
WO: Warrant Officer
XO: Executive Officer (2nd in command of a unit)
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