Marine Jibberish

Some very useful stuff I have learned over the last couple of months. I figure if I’m going to be consorting with a Marine, I should know what he means when he speaks his Marine...jibberish. Keep in mind, not all of these will apply to everyone; there are many different variations of the “Marine Corps Language”. In other words; don’t be hatin’.

I will be adding to this page as I learn more, so keep in touch! And forgive me if I have any repeats!

AO- Area of Operation. This is where your Marine is located and is conducting his/her current mission

Boot- A new Marine, or someone who does something that a new Marine would do, such as wearing dog tags to the beach

BSG- Basic Security Guard School

BUF- Back Up Force

CFT- Combat Fitness Test

Cpl- Corporal; E4; Lowest NCO; Lowest rank to receive blood stripes
Cherry Point- Marine Corps Air Station in North Carolina

Chow- Food; one of the things Marines live for

Commissary- Grocery store on base; a place you don't want to be on payday
CRS- Convoy Route Sweep

Deserts- Desert (brown) cammies

Dress Blues- Dress uniform consisting of a black jacket and blue pants (NCO's have the blood stripe); the most sexiest thing in the universe
EAS- End of Active Service

EGA- Eagle, Globe, and Anchor

Field Day- Cleaning day; Thursday (generally); The worst day of the week

Formation- When Marines have to stand for... EVER; typically, pretty pointless

FUBAR- Proof that I didn't pay attention the first time I watched Saving Private Ryan

Grunt- Infantryman; the only way to be ;)

Gun- "This is for fun."
GySgt- Gunnery Sergeant; E7

Head- Bathroom, restroom, golden seat, ect

High and Tight- Standard haircut; what I prefer as opposed to no hair

Jarhead- Name for a Marine based on the high and tight haircut, resembling a mason jar

JJ DID TIE BUCKLE- mnemonic for the 14 leadership traits; Justice, Judgement, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, Endurance

Jody- I'd like to meet this guy because apparently he's the reason any Marine's girl is incapable of being faithful

LCpl- Lance Corporal; E3

Leatherneck- Another name for a Marine

Lejeune- Marine Base in North Carolina, 

Liberty- The best time of the day, any day

Marine Corps- The tip of the spear and greatest fighting force in our arms.

MCRDSD- Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

MCRDPI- Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island

MCT- Marine Combat Training; everyone who isn't infantry; "The paper pushers"

MEPS- Military Entrance Processing Station

MEU- Marine Expeditionary Unit
Miramar- Marine Corps Air Station in California

MOS- Military Occupational Specialty; a military person's job
MRE- Meal, Ready to Eat; dehydrated food that generally tastes like crap

NJP- Non-Judicial Punishment

November 10, 1775- The Marine Corps birthday

Page 11-What you receive when you do something "bad"; usually something you get reprimanded for

PCS- Permanent Change of Station; changing bases

Pendleton- Marine Corps base in California

PFC- Private First Class; E2; mosquito wings

PFT- Personal Fitness Test

PT- Physical training; What Marines do at unruly hours of the morning

PVT- Private; E1; No insignia on uniforms

Quantico- Marine Corps base in Virginia

Rifle- NOT a gun; A rifle is for fighting

River City- Reduced communications status
Semper Fi- Short for Semper Fidelis which means "Always Faithful"

Sgt.- Sergeant; E5

SOI- School of Infantry

Soldier- A person in the Army; Something a Marine is NOT

SSgt- Staff Sergeant; E6

Squid- Sailor

UA- Unauthorized Absence

Woodlands- Woodland (dark green) cammies
29 Palms- Air Ground Combat Center in California. No-one really likes it there.
M240 Bravo - A big machine gun. You seriously don't wanna get shot by this thing.
TRP - A Target Reference Point; where you don't want to be.
Mark 150-3 or "SMAW" - One word: Boom.

29 Stumps – Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms; so named for its desolation.

5.56mm hickey – a scar or blister resulting from a burn suffered (usually on the neck) due to hot brass.

Above my/your pay grade – expression denying responsibility or authority (indicating that the issue should be brought to higher-ranking officials)

Acting jack – assistant drill instructor, or an acting Corporal

Air Force salute – to say, "I don't know" by a shrug.

Ant farm or ant hill – combat outpost with a large number of radio antennae visible.

ARMY – Aren't Ready for Marines Yet/Aren't Really Men Yet, pejorative backronym used by other branches

Back on the block – behaving like a civilian.

Bag nasty – A-ration bagged meal issued to Marines (usually recruits or those in-field): it often contain a sandwich, boiled egg, fruit, potato chips, juice or milk.

BAM – Broad Assed Marine; pejorative term for women Marines.

Barracks rat – Marine who rarely leaves base housing unless ordered to.

beer garden – social area permitting the consumption of alcohol etc.; may contain barbecue or picnic facilities.

Big green weenie – denotes that a Marine has been "fucked over" or cheated by the Marine Corps

Bird, ball, hook – alternative for Eagle, Globe, Anchor.

Brat – a service member's child

Brig rat – person who has served much brig time; a habitual offender.

Brightwork – shiny metal which Marines must polish.

broke-dick – Marine on limited or no duty status for medical reasons

Brown-bagger – servicemembers (usually married) who live off base; instead of eating at mess halls they pack meals to work.

'Barney-style – to perform strictly according to regulation; idiot proof; simplified for the benefit of mental underachievers; also called "Breaking it down Purple Dinosaur-style"

C & S – "Clean & Sober" notation formerly entered on the liberty list beside the names of Marines returning from liberty in that condition.

Cannon cocker – artilleryman