Jarhead (Marine Corps) Jargon
We have compiled a list of the most used Marine Corps Lingo (jargon). If you see one that we missed and needs to be added, please contact us. We will only add commonly used terms (i.e. terms known to the entire Marine Corps, not just to certain units).
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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
As You Were: -Resume Former Activity
Below - Downstairs
Bird - Any aircraft
Black Cadillacs - Combat Boots
Blouse - Cammie Shirt
BOHICA - Bend over here it comes again
Brass - Officers'
Brig - Military Jail
Brown Bagger - Married Marine
Boot Lewy - 2nd Lieutenant
Bulkhead - Wall
Bunker - A protective shelter
Buttcan - Ashtray
Butter Bar - 2nd Lieutenant
BX - Base Exchange
Cammies - Camouflage uniform
Canon Cocker - aka gun bunny personnel in an artillery battery
Click - One kilometer or one notch of a rifle sight
Chopper - Helicopter
Chow Hall - Where a Marine eats, like a cafateria
Cover - Marine Corps Hat
Deck - Floor
Deuce and a half - 2.5 Ton Truck
Devildog - Another name for a Marine
Doggie - U.S. Army Soldier
Field Day - Barracks or Office cleanup
FUBAR - Short for - F---ed Up Beyond All Recognition or Repair
Float - Deployment by ship
Geedunk - Another term for food, usually a snack
Go-Fasters - Running shoes
Good to go - Ready to move, agree with, situation ok
Gook - A Vietnamese civilian, expanded to include any oriental
Grunt - A Marine infantryman
Gung Ho - Very enthusiastic and committed
Hatch - Door/doorway
Head - Bathroom / Restroom
High and Tight - Another term for a haircut
Horn - Radio
Hump - Field March
Jarhead - Another name for a Marine
John Wayne - A grandstander, or descriptive of a bold act, or any act which is typical in the movies but not sound Marine procedure, such as firing a machine gun from the hip. Also, a simple can opener that can be carried on the dogtag chain.
Ink Stick - Black Pen
K-BAR - Marine fighting knife
Klick - A kilometer
LPC's - Leather personnel carriers ... boots
Ladderwell - Stairwell
Leave - Vacation time
Liberty - Rest and relaxation - Authorized absence up to 96 hours
Lifer - Career Marine
Light Up - To fire on the enemy
Lipstick Lieutenant - Chief Warrant Officer 5
Lock and Load - Put ammunition in a weapon and prepare to fire
Maggie's Drawers - A red flag on the range connoting a miss
Maggot - DI's affectionate name for a recruit
Mess Hall - Cafeteria where a Marine eats
MOS - Military occupational specialty (job)
Moon Beam - Flashlight
Moon Floss - Toilet paper
Most Ricky Tick - In a hurry; with a purpose; move fast
NCO - Non-Commissioned Officer
Nonhacker - A man who can't perform under pressure
0-Dark Thirty - After midnight, but before working hours
Office Hours - Appearing before the Commanding Officer for discipline (NJP)
OOH RAH - Motivational call. See the USMC Facts page for the history and origin of this word. Also spelled OO RAH
PCS - Permanent change of station
PFT - Physical Fitness Test
PT - Physical Training
Piece - Rifle
Pogybait - Candies
Pouge - Anyone other than infantry (headquarters personnel)
Rack - Bed
Rock - Dumb person, idiot
SNAFU - Situation Normal, All Fouled Up
Scuttlebutt - Rumor; Gossip / water fountain
Secure - lock up, close, take care of, finish for the day
Shit on a Shingle - Creamed beef on toast, a Marine delicacy
Shitbird - A sloppy Marine
Shit Storm - Combat or any violent activity
Skivvies - Underwear
Slop Chute - Bar
Smedly - An enlisted man who caters to officers and staff nco's in the mess hall. Coined in honor of Smedly Butler, a Marine legend, for an obvious reason.
Smoking Lamp - A shipboard tradition which indicates permission to smoke (lit) or not to smoke (out)
Sparks - A man whose MOS is radioman or field communications
Squid - Sailor
Swab - Mop
TARFU - Things Are Really Fouled Up
Ten (10) Percenter - One of the small number of nonhackers in any unit
Tiger Piss - Coined in Vietnam, rotgut booze in a brand name container
Topside - Upstairs
UA - Unauthorized absence
Water Buffalo - A large water tank on wheels
Whitewall - Standard Marine haircut
Zoomie - Anyone in the U.S. Air Force
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