Boot Camp Talk

[nightwolf]

Heh, sounds like a radio show - Anyway!
I've been wondering about this for a while and I have been unsuccessful in find answers to this but... Sorry, I'm having trouble trying to phrase this.

What are some of the exchanges said between DI's and, a Recruit Platoon in which one DI will yell out a certain word -or a couple of them- which result in the Recruits saying a few words in response.
Like uhh... In Ears, Open. Eyeballs, Click. when the DI's have the Recruits standing at attention after counting down to Zero, they yell a few words to the Recruits and then the recruits respond with a predesignated answer... Other than Sir, Yes Sir of course.

I hope that was clear enough.

I've looked through the Jarhead Jargon section of the site a few times in the last few years but some of the things said in Ears, Open. Eyeballs, Click. I just can't make out.

[kmarier2001]

I really couldn't tell you the answer to your question, but just maybe the reason you can't find anything about it is because it's something that you find out when you get there? Maybe the different DI's have some kind of a thing they do specifically for each round of Recruits? Just a thought:)

[gunga55]

Some are songs and some are basic knowledge things (I think)

[nightwolf]

Thanks anyway you guys.

[kmarier2001]

I looked around the internet to see if I could find something out for you, but I didn't have much luck, either. I did find one thing that it could be, though. Could the Drill Instructor's be trying to get the Recruits to memorize the 14 leadership traits(or even other Marine Corps knowledge things, that they are required to know)? I read that they often require them to recite them at inspections. Just a thought:)

[V8403]

There is some Knowledge that you will learn That I am sure will be drilled into your head from day one, and here is a little taste of it now. just for starters.

Marine Corps Motivational Sayings

Semper Fi Short for Semper Fidelis, Latin for "Always Faithful"
Ooh Rah! Motivational statement in acknowledgement or agreement

Terms about the Depot

MCRD Marine Corps Recruit Depot, also called "The Depot"
PI Parris Island (MCRD PI)
SD San Diego (MCRD SD)
RTB Recruit Training Battalion
Plt Platoon
DI Drill Instructor
SDI Senior Drill Instructor
CO Commanding Officer
CG Commanding General
CMC Commandant of the Marine Corps
CO Commanding Officer
MRP Medical Rehabilitation Platoon
PCP Physical Conditioning Platoon

Graduation Terms
Parade Deck Graduation: ceremonies takes place on the parade deck. Do NOT walk across the parade deck.
Moto Run Graduation: the last battalion run taken together on Thursday morning prior to family day
Theater Graduation: classroom-style seating in a theater where families will hear information from the Dis
Viewing Stands Graduation: the bleachers for families to sit on during ceremonies

Training Terminology

ST Initial Strength Test
PFT Physical Fitness Test
PT Physical Training
IT bootcamp term, extra attention and extra PT
Quarter Deck this is where you get IT'd
Ink stick Pen Lead stick Pencil
Knowledge School book/notebook
Guideon Platoon flag

Titles of Recruit Training "Jobs"

Guide in charge of the entire platoon, carries the guideon
Squad Leader in charge of the squad
Scribe the recruit who keeps notes and records for the DI
House Mouse makes sure the cleaning supplies are put up and the "Duty Hut" is clean, usually more than one recruit

Orders, Acknowledging Orders
As you were disregard my last statement
Aye, aye a term used by a subordinate to a senior in acknowledgement of an order
Carry On an order to resume previous activity after interruption

Clothing/Personal Property

Cover uniform headgear
Blouse any shirt that is part of the Marine Corps uniform
Trousers pants
Go Fasters Running shooes
Skivies underwear
Portholes glasses (also referred to as BC glasses where the BC can stand for Bootcamp or Birth Control - Birth Control because they are so ugly there isn't a chance of...well, they're that ugly)

Verbs/Activities

Chow meal time, also the food itself
Hydrate drinking water (a critical component of recruit training and being a Marine)
Hygiene Shower (or any other way to clean yourself)
Drill Marching
Swab Mop
Mini Grinder Little bit-o-hell (moving bunkbeds to one side so they can drill with weapons)

Space, Direction, Buildings

Rack Bed
Squad Bay Where they sleep (also referred to as "the house" or barracks)
Duty hut Office (Room in the Squad Bay where the DI staff has a desk, computer and a cot- the DIs are with our Recruits 24/7 they do not knock off at 5pm and get to go home) Head the bathroom
Whiskey Locker closet in the squad bay where cleaning supplies are kept
Foot Locker recruits store their gear in a footlocker at the foot of their "rack"
Overhead roof/ceiling
Bulkhead a wall
Porthole Window
Hatch Door
Ladderwell Stairs
Port Left
Starboard Right
Bow Front
Aft Back

Other Terms

Suzie Girl back home (girlfriend)
Jody (guy that the girl "is cheating on him with")
T-Day Training day
H-day Holy day
Fresh blood Recruits
Doc FMF Corpsman (FMF = Fleet Marine Force)

[nightwolf]

At this point it is more than likely Kristin! I hadn't thought of that though, nice one!

I actually read through that list before but thanks anyway John.

[Goat]

It all depends. When i went through in '97 we said "snap" when our DI's yelled "eyeballs" not "click". And we never said "sir, yes sir" it was always just "yes sir". If we said "sir, yes sir" we would get reprimanded because our DI's said that was what they say in the Army. I believe it's different depending on what battalion your in, what MCRD your in, and what your DI's prefer. But one thing is for sure they (DI's) will definitely let you know exactly what they want you to say. Hope this helps.

[gunga55]

I don't know that we said anything when the DI's said Eyeballs. We did do the Sir yes Sir though. I do remember that is what the DI's on the bus told us. YOU WILL BEGIN EVERY SENTENCE WITH SIR AND END EVERY SENTENCE WITH SIR. I don't remember if we were still doing sir yes sir during 3rd phase or not.

[Trapper]

I seem to remember hearing Aye, Aye in response to EYEBALLS! Maybe I am making that up, but it seems right.

[gunga55]

of course when John went to boot camp he heard things like
Shiver me timbers ya scurvy land lubbers.

[lima33doc]

of course when John went to boot camp he heard things like
Shiver me timbers ya scurvy land lubbers.
Hehe...John had to worry about things like getting Keel Hauled and Flogged...lol

[Trapper]

Can't forget scallywags

[lima33doc]

Can't forget scallywags
And walking the plank...lol

[gunga55]

but the cool thing is he was issued a parrot.

[wlvrne19]

with the option of an eyepatch

[hankhoffman]

I want a peg leg!!!! You have to watch parrots they bite.

[BrotherMick]

I want a peg leg!!!! You have to watch parrots they bite.
And cr** on your shoulder.

[BrotherMick]

I don't know that we said anything when the DI's said Eyeballs. We did do the Sir yes Sir though. I do remember that is what the DI's on the bus told us. YOU WILL BEGIN EVERY SENTENCE WITH SIR AND END EVERY SENTENCE WITH SIR. I don't remember if we were still doing sir yes sir during 3rd phase or not.
I doubt that our DI's ever said the word eyeballs. And we ALWAYS started and ended every sentence with SIR... We never would have gotten away with just "Yes, Sir".. BACK IN THE DAY!!!!!

[nightwolf]

Thanks for the help you guys.
Out of curiosity, what is the background to the whole Ears and Eyeballs nicknames?

[gunga55]

I want a peg leg!!!! You have to watch parrots they bite.

with the option of an eyepatch
So you get the parrot and then the eyepatch I guess.

[Trapper]

but the cool thing is he was issued a parrot.
What was the part number for the parrot? Msquawk 203? We all know everything issued started with M...

[V8403]

Thanks for the help you guys.
Out of curiosity, what is the background to the whole Ears and Eyeballs nicknames?

That is a simple answer the reason is as follows.

Small, tactical units rely on their eyes and ears for force protection and reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition information.

[gunga55]

and John doesn't even bother to deny getting issued a parrot straight out of boot camp Hmmm.

[Trapper]

That is a simple answer the reason is as follows.

Small, tactical units rely on their eyes and ears for force protection and reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition information.
True. In the infantry, we used silent communication a lot in the field. If you are not looking at your team or squad leader, and he gives a signal to do something, you may miss it and cause problems with the mission. We had quite a few courses on hand and arm signals to communicate while on Patrol or whatever, without saying a single word.

[gunga55]

yeah that carried over into construction for me. My little brother and I would carry on whole conversations with out ever being in hearing distance

[gunga55]

yeah that carried over into construction for me. My little brother and I would carry on whole conversations with out ever being in hearing distance it is surprising what you can say with out words but if your not paying attention then I guess you will miss it.

[V8403]

and John doesn't even bother to deny getting issued a parrot straight out of boot camp Hmmm.


Navy Parrot

The old Navy Petty Officer finally retired and got that chicken ranch he always wanted.
He took with him his life-long pet parrot. The first morning at 0430, the parrot squawked loudly and said, "Reveille, Reveille.
Up all hands, Heave out, trice up! The smoking lamp is lit, now Reveille!
The old Petty Officer told the parrot, We are no longer in the Navy. Go back to sleep.
The next morning, the parrot did the same thing.
The Petty Officer told the parrot, "If you keep this up, I'll put your &*# out in the chicken pen."
Again the parrot dit it, and true to his word, the Petty Officer put the parrot in the chicken pen.
About 0630 the next morning, the Petty Officer was awakened by one heck of a
ruckus in the chicken pen. He went out to see what was the matter.
The parrot had about 40 white chickens at attention -- in formation. On
the ground lay three bruised and beaten brown chickens. The parrot was
saying, "By God, when I say fall out in dress whites, I don't mean khakis!"

[gunga55]

so now you don't hear SIR THE PRIVATE DOESN'T KNOW SIR

[nightwolf]

Shouldn't that be SIR, THIS PRIVATE DOES NOT KNOW SIR!
?
Just kidding. I suppose either one would be acceptable but I only said that because I've always seen videos of recruits saying This instead of The.

[Trapper]

Sean, I have heard both. I think it is based on the Battalion and the Drill Instructors. I have hear plenty of "Private doesn't know, sir.", without the leading "sir". I know third Bn said Recruit, while second say Private. That was a Drill Instructor thing too. Technically we were all recruits, because we were not Marines yet, and Private is a Marine rank.

[nightwolf]

Yeah I know CJ. I was also making a bad attempt at humour.

[gunga55]

Shouldn't that be SIR, THIS PRIVATE DOES NOT KNOW SIR!
?
Just kidding. I suppose either one would be acceptable but I only said that because I've always seen videos of recruits saying This instead of The.

Yes you would be correct Sean to be followed by a "but this private will find out Sir".

[nightwolf]

Hmm... I'm definitely going to note that for future reference Dan.

[Trapper]

Yeah I know CJ. I was also making a bad attempt at humour.
No worries, mate. I was just making a point that probably did not need to be made, but also clarifying at the same time.

[Trapper]

Yes you would be correct Sean to be followed by a "but this private will find out Sir".Good advice, it shows them you have initiative.

[grunt0311]

the ears open eyeball click sir . lol, we did this in boot ,all it is , is when a di wants to show you something , hell say eyeballs ,you say click to accnollage his order. same for ears , he wants to tell you something and you respond open sir . its generaly done when a di walks in the room and he wants your atention. other things the sir thing when i went in 92 sir was only put at the end ,just yes sir.