A Civilian’s Guide to Military Jargon
Understand Your Soldier’s Lingo
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When you send your soldier-in-training to basic combat training, you’ll likely hear them say some strange phrases the next time they talk to you in person or send you a letter. If you have no idea what they’re talking about, you’re in luck! At My Hero Crate, your military care package specialist, we’ve assembled a list of military slang for your reference.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphNote that this list includes slang from multiple branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. And yes, there really are that many terms that mean “push-ups”!
/wp:paragraph wp:heading {"level":4,"customTextColor":"#556043"}Military Slang Terms
/wp:heading wp:paragraphAte-up: Description for a service member overly concerned with following regulations to the letter, without looking at the context of the situation.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphBattle rattle: Combat gear, named for the sound all the equipment makes when the soldier moves.
Beat your face: Do push-ups.
Big Voice: Loudspeakers that broadcast urgent messages on a military base.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphBird: A military helicopter.
Blue-head: a new recruit in the first weeks of boot camp, for the blue shade their scalp looks after shaving off their hair.
Bubblehead: Anyone serving on a submarine.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphBug company: In Navy boot camp, a group of recruits incapable of performing tasks correctly.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphBunk: Bed.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphCherry: A new recruit, still in basic combat training, or a new service member on their first-ever duty assignment.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphChow: Food.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphCO: Commanding officer.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphCover: Military headgear of any type.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphForward-leaning rest position or Front-leaning rest: Push-up position.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphGear adrift is a gift: If you left something behind and unattended, someone can “tactically acquire” it (which is still considered larceny). Generally speaking, if you were irresponsible enough to leave something behind, it’s your fault if it comes up missing.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphGeedunk: In the Navy, snack foods, or the store where snacks are sold.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphGet smoked: A tough, but fast work-out used as a punishment, in the Army. Marines say they “get thrashed.”
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphHit the head: Go to the restroom.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphHooah: A spirited cry in celebration of something positive, or to express Army pride.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphJoe: General term for a soldier.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphMess: Meal.
MRE: Meal, ready-to-eat.
Muster: Roll call.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphOn your face: Do push-ups.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphPT: Physical training.
PX: Post Exchange, the base’s retail store. Called Base Exchange in the Air Force.
Quarter-decking: Performing physical training in the recruit barracks as a punishment in boot camp.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphRack Out: Go to sleep.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphRainbow Flight: A brand-new group of U.S. Air Force trainees in basic training, because of the “rainbow” of civilian clothes they wear before being issued uniforms.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphSat: Satisfactory.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphSoup sandwich: A way to describe anything messy, like an unkempt uniform, for example.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphUnsat: Unsatisfactory.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphWoobie: Poncho liner, used as a blanket.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphZero dark thirty: Literally, a half an hour past midnight. Also used in reference to an unknown time very early in the morning. Usually pronounced oh dark thirty.
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More Than a Letter or a Phone Call
/wp:heading wp:paragraphNow that you know some military slang and jargon, you’re ready to talk to your soldier-in-training or enlisted soldier! It’s so much easier to carry on a conversation with someone when you understand these military-specific phrases.
/wp:paragraph wp:paragraphOf course, when a phone conversation or even a letter aren’t enough, there’s My Hero Crate, military care packages you can send to your favorite hero, whether at home or deployed. Each My Hero Crate features popular, assorted American snacks and is designed to show your gratitude for your special someone’s military service. You can even sign your loved one up for a subscription, and they’ll receive a new My Hero Crate each month -- you can cancel at any time.
Choose from three pre-built care packages:
- Military Candy Care Package, stuffed full with 65 items, including 10 full-sized candies!
- Military Snack Care Package, a 40-item box including candy, nuts, mints, gum, and salty snacks like popcorn, cheese crackers, and chips.
- Sweet & Salty Military Care Package, featuring 50 snack items, including beef jerky sticks, nuts, granola bars, pretzels, popcorn, and more.