Student Exchange Programs

CAVU: Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited - perfect flying weather. Pronounced as “Ka-Voo”, it is commonly used in sentences such as “CAVU to the Moon”.
CB - Construction Battalion (pronounced Seabees)
CBC: Clean Bitches Clean. A term used to order junior sailors to clean so they can to secure for the day, or to commence field day.
Cellblock 10: Crew-coined term for the USS Juneau. Term could come from the feeling that the Juneau has the homely warmth of a prison cellblock. 10 is the vessel’s hull number.
Cellblock 65: Same as above only referring to the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN-65).
CC: Company Commander in bootcamp - the place where new boots start learn all these new ‘hosed up’ terms
CF: (pronounced Charlie Foxtrot) Cluster fuck, meaning completely screwed up.
CFIT (pron. see-fit): Controlled Flight into Terrain - When a pilot flies a perfectly good airplane into the ground or the water. Often fatal if unanticipated.
C-GU11: Seagull. Pronounced “See-Gee-Yuu-Eleven.” Similar to “bulkhead remover,” an inexpensive way to derive enjoyment from inexperienced personnel on watch. “Forward lookout, keep an eye out for signs of C-GU11s in the area, over.” Also sometimes spelled C-6U11, Z-6UL1 or various L33T-like combinations.
Channel Fever: Said if a sailor is anxious when approaching port to get leave. Sometimes cured by the “Channel Fever Shot”, a slap or kick to the backside.
Charles County Crab: Throughout the years the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal has moved several times. It is currently located at Eglin AFB, Florida. The term “Charles County Crab” refers to the “crab” insignia worn by graduates of Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, who attended training during the period of time when NAVSCHOLEOD was based at Naval Ordnance Station, Indian Head, Charles County Maryland (old school).
Charlie Foxtrot: See “clusterfuck”
Charlie Noble: The stove pipe from the mess deck, the cleaning of which is a major chore.
Charlie Oscar: Phonetic letters C and O. Refers to the Commanding Officer of a unit.
Chart: What landlubbers call a “map”.
Charting: A practice peculiar to Operations Specialists in which they take any personal gear left unstowed by the previous watch section (usually personal coffee cups) and fling them overboard, marking the location on the chart and subsequently inform the unfortunate owner of the location, remarking that he is free to return to retrieve it at his leisure.
Check Valve (primarily used by Engineering/Reactor departments): A shipmate who is willing to acdddcept (and may even ask for) gedunk or help, but isn’t willing to give. He is being “one way”…(a check valve only allows flow in one direction).
Cheez Whiz: Derogatory term for Chief Warrant Officers, former enlisted personnel who have received a commission for specialized skills. Most Warrant Officers (aka “Warrants”) are former Chiefs but have “moved up” to the officers’ mess (Wardroom), hence there is often a degree of resentment and animosity between the two groups.
CHENG: Chief Engineer
Chicken Suit: A yellow cloth suit that is worn from head-to-toe by navy “Nukes” (see below) when cleaning up radioactive spills or are otherwise in areas that may lead to skin contamination by radioactive material. To complete the ensemble, bright orange rubber gloves are worn as well.
Chit: Name given to the document a sailor fills out to make various types of special request (i.e. emergency leave, move off base to civilian housing, etc.)
My Wife Chit: A special request that uses the wife as the excuse/justification for needing to be absent.
Chop, The: Supply Officer. Taken from the Supply Corps’ porkchop-shaped insignia.
Chow: Food.
Chow Boss: Food Service Officer.
Chow down: Eat.
Chow Hall: Dining room.
Chow Hound: Someone who never misses a meal. A proficient chow hound generally gains membership in the Chub Club.
Chrome Dome: Bright silver helmet worn by officer candidates as part of the “poopie suit” during the first week of OCS.
Chub Club: Sailors assigned mandatory physical training due to being overweight.
Chuckie V: USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Also Chuckwagon, Chuck Bucket.
Chula-juana: Derisive term for the city of Chula Vista, CA, a city where many sailors assigned to NAVSTA San Diego live for its proximity to the base and perceived similarity to Tijuana, Mexico.
CIC: Combat Information Center - see “Combat” below
Cinderella Liberty: Liberty that expires at midnight.
CIVLANT: Form DD-214 transfers you from COMSUBLANT to CIVLANT.
CIWS (pron. sea whiz): Close in Weapon System, or Phalanx gun, also “Captain, it won’t shoot!”, is intended to shoot down incoming missiles, but is frequently under repair.
CLA: A career-limiting action. A truly bad whatever that spells the end. Leads to questions about the location of the truck-driver school phone number. aka CLE event.
Cleaning Stations: Hour-long field day evolution where everyone drops what they’re doing and cleans their spaces. See “XO’s Happy Hour”
Clinometer: 1. (Also known as an inclinometer) An instrument for measuring angles of slope (or tilt), elevation or inclination of an object with respect to gravity. 2. An instrument used on shipboard to indicate the approximate amount of vomit being produced by the ship’s crew.
Clobbered: When the landing pattern or the comms frequency at a field or ship is filled to capacity and you can’t get an aircraft or a word in.
Clusterfuck: Term used to describe an evolution that has gone awry.
Coastie: A Coast Guardsman.
COB: (Submarine Service) Chief of the Boat; a chief (generally a Master or Senior Chief) specifically assigned to the submarine to liaise between the CO and the crew of the boat. Such a good idea, that the surface fleet borrowed it, mucked it up, and created the CMC (Command Master Chief) program.
COD: Carrier Onboard Delivery - the mighty C-2 Greyhound, which ferries people and supplies to and from the carrier on a regular basis. The C-2 Greyhound COD was preceded in service by the smaller C-1 Trader (photo) COD aircraft.
Coffin Locker: A personal storage area located underneath a sailor’s rack (see below).
Cold Shot: A catapult launch from a carrier in which insufficient speed is attained to generate lift. Often fatal for the aircrew if they do not eject in time.
Connex Box Talk: A shipping container used when a Junior “dirt Sailor” is in need of a Physical attitude re-alignment. Although officially illegal under the U.C.M.J. It is rumored to be an effective tool but generally only allowed in the most severe cases.
Combat: Short for Combat Information Center (CIC). This space is a nexus where all of the ship’s sensors and weapons systems come together. The room is filled with various screens and displays, and the Tactical Action Officer (TAO) “fights the ship” from there.
Combat Dump: Evacuating the bowels right before a flight or a mission. Also called “putting the marines ashore” or “drowning an O-4.”
Combo Cover: Short for Combination Cover, which is a type of hat worn by chiefs and officers. It is circular on top and covered with white or khaki fabric. On the front you’ll find the officer’s crest or the (senior or master) chief’s insignia. Below that there is a chin strap and a black brim. AKA visor cap.
Commodore: Title of the Captain (O-6) in charge of a squadron of ships or submarines or a wing of the same type of aircraft. Prior to 1984 this was the designation given to the lowest rank of flag officer (O-7 or one-star); however, there was occasional confusion with the other military branches over whether a Commodore was a flag officer. To be more inline with the other services, the US Navy changed the one-star title to Rear Admiral, Lower Half.
Commodore: The title given for any Captain embarked upon a naval vessel that he is not the CO of the unit, even if the CO of the unit is a Commander, he is the “Captain”. There can be only one Captain. This most commonly occurs on submarines and destroyers.
COMNAVFUDGEPAC: Pejorative for any suspected homosexual sailor onboard a ship or station. Derives from the acronym “COMNAVSURFPAC” (Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Pacific), with the humorous reference to “fudge-pack[ing].”
Comp Time: Compensation Time, time/days off during week for shore-based sailors who had weekend assignments, above and beyond mere watch-standing.
Conar Tech: Slang for Sonar Tech, Coner+Sonar= Conar.
Coner: (Submarine Service) A submarine crewman who is not part of the engineering department (synonymous with retard), especially Torpedomen. Also known as “Forward Pukes” and “Fags” (see below)
Constantly Gone: Guided missile cruiser (CG), especially during the Gulf War due to their lengthly underway time and extended deployments

Cool Breeze: Laid back individual that can be found randomly in fields watching sunsets. Also may or may not be collecting butterflies and placing them in jars. Cool Breezes can be found normally on Whidbey Island.
Corpsman Candy: Sore-throat lozenges handed out at sick bay in lieu of any substantive treatment. Sometimes accompanied by two aspirin.
Corp Whore: A degrading term for a female corpsman.
Countersunk Sailor: Female sailor.
Cover: HEADGEAR - includes the dixie cup (white hat (go figure)), cloth cap (cracker jack cover), watch cap, snoopy headgear, fatigue cap; garrison cap: see “piss cutter”, “cunt cap” and “combo cover”; NOW HEAR THIS: These are NOT hats. Ladies wear hats, sailors and Marines wear “covers”. That is all.
The COW: The Commanding Officer’s Wife
Crab: affectionate slang term for the warefare insignia/ badge worn by special operations personnel qualified in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (BOMB SQUAD).
Cracker Jacks: Slang for the dress blue uniforms worn by sailors E-6 and below. (see Marine Corps Table Cloth)
Crack House: Designated smoking area aboard ship that is not a weatherdeck space. Quickly fills with a haze of smoke. Also called “Crack shack”.
Crank: See “Mess Crank”
Crash & Smash: Permanently assigned flight deck firefighting personnel. Also, a game played by aviation personnel involving several long tables and a great deal of beer, wherein the aviators attempt to replicate with their bodies the arrested landings their aircraft make.
Crazy Ivan: (Submarine Service), demonstrated in the movie The Hunt for Red October. Russian submarines would quickly turn 180 degrees while underway to see whether any American submarines were following. Collisions occasionally resulted during the Cold War.
Creamed foreskins: creamed chipped beef.
Cripler: Tripler Army Medical Center, Oahu, scourge of sailors at Pearl Harbor.
Crotch Crickets: Pubic lice, a/k/a Crabs.
Crow: Black eagle for petty officer rank used on a white uniform
Crow Fever: A term when a sailor reaches E-4 and lets the limited authority of the rank go to his head, causing him to go mad with petty power.
Cruise: A 6-month (or longer) deployment on a ship. Work-ups precede cruise.
Cruise sock: A sock that is sacrificed early in a deployment and used to clean up after masturbating. It is usually kept under the mattress and can stand up on its own by the end of cruise.
Crunch: Aircraft handling mishap that results in structural damage to one or more aircraft.
Crunchies: Marines or soldiers. Derived from the sound they make when tanks roll over them.
Crusty: A term applied to an old, seasoned sailor when he is beyond salty. It’s time for him to retire, but he can’t seem to let go, and the Navy forgot he was still around (frequently the case with geriatric Senior Chiefs). Can also describe a sailor’s underwear, when that sailor has bowel control problems and personal hygiene problems.
Cryppy/Cryppy Critter: Cryptographer, also seen on a highway near the Cryptography School in San Angelo, Texas without vowels, as CRYPPY CRTTR.
Cum Dumpster: A derogatory term for a woman, used by sailors who are looking for a quick sexual release after an extended period of celibacy.
Cumshaw: Other than ethical means of procurement ;^) aka midnight marine supply, etc.
CUNT: Civilian Under Naval Training
Cunt Cap: Garrison Cap (fore-and-aft cover worn by CPO, WO, and commissioned officers. Oh, yes, Marines wear them, too). See “Piss Cutter”
Cut orders (for transfer, travel): Before photocopiers were common, such were prepared by typing a mimeo or ditto master, due to the number pF copies required. (Term may be obsolete today. As with most obsolete Naval terms, still in wide use.)
CVIC: (pron. “civic”) Carrier Intelligence Center - centrally located space on an aircraft carrier occupied by intelligence officers and IS’s. Flight crews often go there to debrief after a flight. The most useful thing in CVIC is usually the high-speed industrial strength paper shredder.
CVE: (pron. cee-vee-ee) Normally it means escort aircraft carrier but it also means “Combustible, Vulnerable, and Expendable” by their crews due to lack of armor.

[edit] D
Danger Nut: A “fun” game in which one or more sailors place a washer or nut around a rod or similar metal device and then hold it to a HP Air hose, 125-700 psi. The washer or nut spins wildly due to the high pressure air venting. Once it reaches a high enough speed, the rod is turned so that the air blows the object completely off the rod and around the machinery room. At which point A-Gangers giggle and try to hide behind the EOG. Thus the beloved name, “DANGER NUT”.
DCA: Damage Control Assistant, usually is a junior officer.
D.C. Dink: A sailor who has failed to qualify in Damage Control in the stipulated time period and has become “Damage Control Delinquent”.
D.B.F.: (Diesel Boats Forever) Unauthorized pin showing a non-nuclear submarine. Originally intended by the makers to be awarded whenever a nuke boat went brokedick and a diesel boat had to fill its role. Later co-opted by the diesel fleet at large and sailors began wearing the pin with stars for each diesel boat they served on, rather than each emergency deployment due to nuclear boat breakdowns.
DDA: Day Dick-Around: In naval aviation, a DDA is a very enjoyable flight during the day when there is no real mission or training to accomplish. The purpose of the flight is to burn gas or hours, often before the end of a quarter or fiscal year.
Death Pillows: Ravioli
Death Pucks: Hamburger Patty
Deck: Floor.
Deck Ape: Non-designated enlisted person serving on the deck force, often as result of washing out of “A” school or being stripped of another rating.
Deep Six: Obsolete term for throwing something overboard; refers to the “deep six”, the lowest fathom (six feet) before the ocean floor. Has been mostly replaced by Float Checking (see below). Is now generally used to refer to getting rid of something in any manner, including Personnel, for example - “Deep six your porn, Inspection at 0630″ See also: Float Test
Deep/Black Water OPs: Throwing things over the side when not authorized, such as trash or broken furniture
Department: Highest organizational level in most naval commands. Common departments are admin, deck, engineering, operations, and maintenance. Broken up into divisions.
Deployment: When your unit travels “over the horizon” and operates at the “pointy end of the spear” in support of national security. Most naval deployments last a minimum of six months (if you’re lucky!). Work-ups precede deployment. See “cruise.”
Det: Short for detachment. When part of a unit leaves and operates at another ship or base. Also used in reference to some “workups” that involve the entire unit. Ex. NAS Fallon det.
Devil Doc: Term used by Marines to describe Corpsmen that they like within Fleet Marine Force Units.
Devil Dolphins: Navy Personel serving with Marines in ground or combat operations or those wishing to do so. A relative new term with regards to the IRAQ and AFGANISTAN conflicts. Specifically Naval Corpsman or Seabee’s.
Dick Skinners: Hands, i.e. “get your dick skinners off my white hat”
Dicking the dog: putting “half-assed” effort into a task (refers to improperly securing the “dogs” on a watertight hatch when passing through. Such a lax procedure could spell doom for a sinking ship if hatches were not absolutely watertight). Also said as “poking the poodle” or “fornicating the canine”. Not to be confused with “screwing the pooch” which refers to royally (often fatally) messing up a task.
Dicksmith: Derogatory term for hospital corpsmen.
Dig-it: Someone who loves the Navy (”digs it”). Also a shortened form of “dig-it tool,” a device such as a Leatherman or Gerber multi-tool often carried by those who love the Navy.
Dilbert: Fictional and clueless cartoon character used in WWII era training material to demonstrate what NOT to do in naval aviation. Dilbert often paid dearly for his ignorance, lack of attention to detail, or carelessness.
Dilbert Dunker: Device used in water survival training (”swims”) to teach aviators how to get out of the cockpit of a fixed-wing aircraft that has crashed or ditched at sea. Much easier than the dreaded “helo dunker.”
DILDO: Direct Input Limited Duty Officer - A civilian teacher hired to train nuclear-field candidates in theoretical math, physics, chemistry, materials, and thermodynamics. The commission was given specifically to these teachers in order for them to have some disciplinary tools and rank above their students. Commissions were for a set amount of time and these teachers did not have normal line officer duties.
D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F: (Do I Look Like I Give A Fuck?), A term indicating supreme indifference; “Gaffer”.
Ding: Similar to “hit” (see below). Also, to cause minor damage to something (Ex. He dinged his aileron when he had a birdstrike on final to the boat.)
Dining-in/Dining-out: Social functions, usually for officers and chiefs, where dinner dress is worn and certain “rules of the mess” are followed. Generally presided over by the Executive Officer (XO) and run by a Chief of Junior Officer (JO) called “Mr. Vice,” these events can become quite rowdy and raucous. The difference between the two is that significant others may attend dining-outs. Dining-ins are for the servicemembers only.
DINK: Acronym for married servicemembers with no children - Dual Income No Kids.
DINQ: (pronounced “Dink”) Acronym for Delinquent IN Qualifications. Ex: “That shitbird is dinq on ship’s quals!” Also Delinquent In Nuclear Quals.
Dipper: An anti-submarine helo with a variable depth dipping SONAR. See “Dome.”
Dirka: Any term referring to the language, money, or products of the Middle East.
Dirtbag: A lazy and almost useless sailor. Produces substandard work-usually creating extra work for his shipmates. Accompanied by a bad attitude and desire to leave service ASAP.
Dirty-dicking: Wiping one’s genital organ around the inside of a senior enlisted or officer’s coffee cup. Laughter ensues when the junior crewmen watch the senior victim “enjoying” their beverage.
Dirty-shirt wardroom: (Aircraft Carrier): Forward wardroom for pilots wearing (sweaty) flight gear. As opposed to formal ship’s wardroom.
Dirt Sailor: Nickname for Seabees who spend most of their time in a fox hole and never set foot on a ship.
Disbo: DISBursing Officer.
DISCO: DISCiplinary Officer. Usually works with Ship’s JAG Officer
Ditch: To intentionally crash land an aircraft as “gently” as possible - usually into the water. This is generally done when fuel is almost all used up with no hope of making it to a safe landing area, or when a slowly developing but potentially fatal emergency is going on.
Dit Dot Bomb: a form of hazing by taking the round paper cutouts left from a hole punch and putting them in a box or other container rigged to open and rain down on another. Mixing with shredded paper will give a greater effect.
DITE (prounuced Dite) acronym for “Dick in the eye” Usually reserved for undesirable tasks forced on one by superiors, “The weps is throwing some major league DITE our way, but we’ll take care of it.”
Ditty Bag: The term is at least 207 years old and originates with our seafarers, and not, as is supposed by some, with our 20th century armies. Ditty bag was originally called `ditto bag’ because it contained at least two of everything: two needles, two spools of thread, two buttons, etc. With the passing of years, the `ditto’ was dropped in favor of `ditty’ and remains so today. Before World War I, the Navy issued ditty boxes made of wood and styled after foot lockers. These carried the personal gear and some clothes of the sailor. Today, the ditty bag is still issued to recruits and contains a sewing kit, toiletry articles, and personal items such as writing paper and pens.
Ditty bag (usage varied): An issued sewing kit, kit of toiletries, or some combination. Occasionally: Any mesh bag, from the use of such to contain soiled laundry. (In days of yore before ample fresh water, such bags were pulled alongside for seawater rinsing.)
Divers: Word passed every 15-minutes when divers are working over the side of a ship. “Divers. There are divers working aboard USS . Do not rotate screws, cycle rudders, take suction from or discharge to the sea or throw anything over the side while diver’s are working aboard USS “.
Division: Middle organizational level in most naval commands, below department and above branch. Usually headed by a junior officer (JO). Common divisions are powerplants, airframes, 1st Lieutenant, etc… Divisions are sometimes divided into branches. A ship may have 1st and 2nd Divisions on the deck, M(Machinery) division and E(electrical) division, and Auxiliaries Division in engineering, Combat Systems division, and Weapons division as examples.
DIVO: DIVision Officer. See above.
Dixie Cup: The canvas white hat Sailors wear with their dress uniforms.
DFOB: (pronounced “dee fob”) Dumbest Fuck On Board.
Dock jumpers: The unfortunates who would have to leap ashore to tie up when no “line handlers” are available.
Dog: A Soft Serve Ice Cream machine. Named from the appearance of the Chocolate flavor in relation to a product of man’s best friend. Also referred to as auto dog.
Dog: To close or “dog down” a water tight hatch.
Dog: When one is overworked by a pissed off superior (”The chief completely dogged us.”), screwed over by a peer (”That brown-nosing little prick found my apple jack, so he went to the MAA and dogged me.”) , or, conversely, as a promise of impending doom (”Just wait until I get you in my galley, you little shitbird… I will dog you out”.)
Dog Log: An “unofficial” log which is kept by watch standers to record the important social events on the ship, such as: “STG3 Dirty Douche was caught with a fellow shipmate in coitus.” It is vital entertainment for shipmates stuck on duty in exotic ports while the rest of the ship gets shit-faced. It can also contain humorous drawings of the LPO, CPO, or DIVO. It is therefore an unauthorized piece of “gear adrift” that is usually hidden in various stations so as not to be found by the meddling higher ups.
Dog Vomit: A breakfast item in the same category as Shit on A Shingle. A mealy paste of tomato juice and hamburger, with bits of leftovers from the previous day’s evening meal. Usually served on toast.
Dog watch: Split of evening watch into two 2 hour watches - 1600-1800 and 1800 - 2000. Done to allow the watchstanders to eat the evening meal.
Dolphins: (Submarine Service) Submarine Qualification Device, called dolphins because of the dolphin fish used in the design.
Dome: A SONAR transmitter/receiver. It may be fixed, as in those mounted on the bow of a ship below the waterline, or mobile like those “dipped” by anti-submarine helos.
Donkey-Dick: Term used for many nozzle shaped implements. Also a large pipe cleaner used in the galley to unclog sink drains and steam jacketed kettles.
Dopey: Green log book hidden somewhere in an engineering space that sailors often write in to vent frustration in the form of prose, poetry or even drawings and cartoons. The information in the dopey could often lead to charges of mutiny and sedition if found. The location is usually well guarded against discovery by senior personnel.
Double-Digit Midget: Less than 100 days to EAOS. Also known as a “Two-Digit Midget”; pick your own favorite alliteration.
Double Nuts: Name given to the (usually brightly painted) CAG bird in each squadron in the airwing - so called because the side number ends with double zeros.
Double Ugly: Nickname for the F-4 Phantom back in the day
Douche Kit: Container (usually zipper closed) for toilet articles such as shaving cream, deoderant, after shave lotion, etc.
Down: Not working, out of commission, broken, “broke-dick.” In aviation, non-flyable, usually for maintenance reasons. When applied to an aviator, it means not allowed to fly. This can be for a variety of reasons: medical, personal, disciplinary, etc… In flight training, a down is a failed flight.
DRB: Disciplinary Review Board. Composed of Chief Petty Officers, a sailor who has committed some infraction usually stands before this board to have his case heard. The board will either dismiss the case (with or without informal punishment) or recommend further review by the XO or the CO.
Drift Count: Monitoring the movement of the ship while at anchor.
Drifty: Sailor lacking the ability to stay focused while attempting to perform a given task. (Petty Officer to sailor: “Is there something the matter with you? You are acting drifty today!”)
Drifter: Sailor who at all times lacks the ability to stay focused. Also called drift-pack, or in the very extreme case “COMNAVDRIFTPAC”, a parody of COMNAVSURFPAC.
Drop a Chit: The act of filling out a chit.
Drop your cocks and grab your socks: A saying that the petty officer of the watch yells in the sleeping quarters when it’s time for everyone to get up. Often done in boot camp.
Drug Deal: A mutually beneficial agreement or compromise worked out between peers, conducted outside of normal channels and without approval from higher authority.
Duck Dinner: Slang for Dishonorable Discharge.
Dynamited Chicken: Chicken a la King or Chicken Cacciatore.

[edit] E
EAOS: End of Active Obligated Service. This is the normal end of enlistment unless the person reenlists. At this point the sailor is transferred into a non-active reserve status if they have spent less the eight years active duty for a length of time to result in eight years total active service or reserves and non-active reserves.
Earth Sack: Pile of shit or turd.
EAWS: Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist. Often pronounced “A-wis”.
Ed’s Motel: Navy Filmmakers’ acronym for Editorials, Motion Picture, and Television Department.
Emergency Blow (Submarine Service); Also known as “Hittin’ the Chicken Switches”: When a submarine is made to rapidly blow all the seawater out of her main ballast tanks; this results in a rapid (and uncontrolled) ascent to the surface. This makes an impressive display as the sub breaks the surface, as seen on TV: few submariners have ever seen this big splash, except on TV. The only thing submarine crewmen get to see during an emergency blow is: (1) the depth gauge moving counter-clockwise towards surface depth, and (2) all the unsecured gear hitting the overhead when surface depth is achieved. Performing this maneuver beneath other ships is not a good idea (see USS Greenville for details).
End-of-the-World Party: A party for a sailor who is about to leave on a cruise, often much like a bachelor party. It is said that this tradition originates with Vikings, who believed that they might sail off the end of world.
Ensign Upper Half: Alternative designation for those who fail to live up to the standards of O-2.
E-Nothin: Used to describe a junior Seaman. Usually reserved for someone right out of bootcamp or A School.
Enswine: Derogatory term for an ensign.
EMI: Extra Military Instruction. Extra work, usually as dirty as possible, assigned as punishment for minor infractions.
EOOW: Engineering Officer Of the Watch.
ESFOAD: Eat Shit, Fuck Off, And Die
ESWS: Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. Often pronounced “E-swas”.
E-ticket: When an officer has sex with an enlisted sailor it is referred to as the officer “getting his/her e-ticket punched.”
Even Numbered Chief: Pejorative for an E-8 who, through his own ineptitude, is unable to advance to E-9 and who refuses to let E-7’s be. Lonestar.
Evolution: Navy preferred term for exercise.
Expire Before Your ID Card: To die before being discharged.

[edit] F
FAB: Feet, Ass, and Balls. Smells occasionally encountered by the XO during his or her daily messing and berthing inspection.
FAG: Fighter Attack Guy - an F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet pilot or naval flight officer (”NFO”). Also a “Fine Academy Graduate” used as a derogatory term to refer to graduates of the Naval Academy. Also “Forward Area Guy” used as derogatory term for submarine personnel other than engineering department, brought upon due to a COB’s ban of the term “Coner” (see above).
F.A.T.A.F.U (pronounced fatafoo) Someone who serves on fast attack submarines (stands for Fast Attack Tough All Fucked Up)
F.A.W.C.U. (pronounced Fuck you) (Submarine Service): Focused After Watch Clean Up: usually between 1 to 2 hours of “Field Day” after every watch rotation.
Fart sack: Canvas mattress cover. (In cold conditions sailors would sleep inside them for extra warmth.)
Fart Suit: Dry suit worn by aviators when flying over extremely cold water. Keeps out the cold water and keeps everything else in.
Fashion Show: Form of remedial instruction usually used to correct deficiencies in uniform appearance. The sailor is required to dress in each service uniform, and stand a uniform inspection in each one, with the sailor’s supervisor or Chief as inspector.
Father: The navigational aid (TACAN) on the Aircraft Carrier (a.k.a. Mother).
Father’s Day: The most confusing day in any wardroom. There is a reason you call them ’sir’.
FEP: Fitness Enhancement Program. Mandatory physical training regimen designed to return sailors to within physical readiness standards. Also refers to sailors who are enrolled in the program… (derogatory acronym for: Fat Enlisted People / Forced Exercise Program”. See “Chub Club”.
Field Day: All hands clean-up. usually lasts on a good day about 3-4 hours. (30 min of cleaning and 2-4 hours of fucking off.)
Field Survey: To discard a worn-out item (”in the field,” often off the end of the pier) instead of submitting for formal “survey” to determine redistribution or disposal. Sometimes items handed down to a needier local unit.
F.I.G.M.O.: (Fuck It, Got My Orders, pronounced fig-mo); refusal of a long or tough assignment near the end of a duty rotation. Also seen as a name badge at this time, so officers/petty officers will forget your real name.
Fighting gear: Eating utensils.
Filet of Mule Tool: the green mystery meat or bologna used frequently for MidRats.
Filipino Mafia: Any group of sailors of Filipino descent at a command, often accused of favoritism and shady practices. Term likely originated in the days when Filipino sailors comprised the majority of Supply Department personnel (cooks, stewards, laundry, barbershop, supply issue) and those with connections to the “mafia” got faster, better service than the common guy.
Filthy Fifteen: The fifteen recruits assigned to maintain cleanliness of the compartment head for the division in boot camp.
Five and Dimes: A watch rotation where the sailor or watch team stand five hours of watch, then have ten hours off (to clean, perform maintenance, train, get qualified, conduct drills, take care of divisional business or their collateral duty, eat, shower, and occasionally sleep). This follows from a three-section watch rotation, and results in the sailor standing watch at a different time every day and night, repeating every three days.
Fish: (Submarine Service) See Dolphins, above. Also “torpedo”.
Flag Deck: command level on large ships for Admirals (flag rank, because they are entitled to show a flag with appropriate number of stars on a car, ship, etc. if they are present)
Flail: An action taken by leadership that is a major response to an extremely minor problem. The orders given usually do not address the original problem at all.
FlailEx: A pointless, flailing exercise. See “flail”.
Flathatting: Flying in a dangerous manner and performing unsafe and unnecessary maneuvers for the purpose of thrillseeking or fun.
Flattop: Aircraft carrier. Also the haircut worn by truly motivated sailors.
Fleet Up: When a second in command takes his senior’s place upon that senior’s transfer, retirement, or other re-assignment.
Fleet Meat: Term used by male sailors to describe sexually active female sailors.
Fleet Tac: Fleet Tactical radio frequency. This frequency is supposed to be monitored by every US and NATO ship in the world at all times. In reality, this is rarely the case.
Flight Deck Buzzard: Chicken (food).
Flight Line: The area on a ship or station where aircraft are made ready for flight. Also used as a prank on gullible new sailors, as in “Go get me 100 feet of flight line from the crash shack.”
Flip me for it: Pulling rank, with the senior sailor obscuring his crow/anchor (or with the submarine-qualified sailor obscuring his dolphins) as if revealing the side of a coin.
Float Check (also Flotation Testing): Throwing something overboard.
Float Test: (Submarine Service) A game usually played by the Topside and Pier Rover. In which items known not to float are thrown or pushed from topside or the pier. I.E. TDU Weights, Compressors, Valves, Level Parts with no tag, etc.
Float she may, shine she must: May be heard from grumbling enlisted when the command decides that ship cleanliness takes precedence over all else. “I have maintenance to do. Why are we out here field-daying the p-way?”
Floating Bellhop: Derisive Army term for sailor.
Float Coat: Jacket worn by almost all personnel on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during flight operations. Should a sailor find himself blown overboard, the float coat will automatically inflate flotation bladders when it hits salt water. This garment also contains signalling devices and manual inflation tubes. The jackets come in different colors to identify the crewmember’s job on the flight deck. See “skittles”
Flying Bravo: Menstruating; from the signal flag.
Fo’c’s’le Follies: A gathering of all the aviators in the airwing in the carrier’s fo’c’s’le (forecastle). The CAG, ship’s CO, and battle group admiral are also usually invited and present. The “official” reason for this event is to hand out awards to the top aviators. The most enjoyable parts are the “roll calls” from each squadron, and the skits that two or three of the squadrons perform. If the roll call or the skit fails to amuse the rest of the airwing, the offending squadron is booed and belittled mercilessly. Follies are held about every 6 to 8 weeks while on deployment.
FNG: Fuckin’ New Guy - self-explanatory. Pronounced “effin-g”.
Fobbit: ANY person who won’t leave the security of a Forward Operating Base (FOB), except in an overly secure convoy to go to another FOB. Generally denotes someone who has “no clue” that there is a war going on and is viewed by troops in the field as incompetent. Associates itself with the term “Hobbit”- short, fat, scared guy who just wants to go home.
FOAD: Fuck Off And Die. Pronounced “fo-ad”.
FOD: Foreign Object Damage. Caused by Foreign Object Debris, such as nuts, bolts, or anything that could be sucked into a jet engine, damaging it. At aviation commands, FOD can also describe a worthless individual, i.e. “If Airman Smith isn’t in this shop in 5 minutes, write that piece of FOD up.”
FOD Walk Down: A periodic, organized search on an aircraft carrier flight deck, hangar deck, or runway looking for debris that a jet engine might ingest.
Form: Short for formation. This is when two or more aircraft or ships maneuver in close proximity while maintaining constant relative positions to each other.
Foreskins on a raft: Chipped beef in cream sauce on toast.
Foot Soldier: A term used for a Navy female who has no car but will sleep with her male counterparts for a ride.
Forward: The direction towards the bow of the ship (if you are walking towards the bow, you are going forward). May also be used as a relative indicator (as in the “forward berthing areas” or the “forward mess decks”).
“Forward Pals”: Nickname given to Coners after you get in trouble for calling them Coners.
Four (4) by Eight (8) Watch: The worst watch section to be in because your first watch is 0400 to 0800, then you work your duty station until 1600, followed by your second watch 1600 to 2000, every day.
Four Fan Trashcan: P-3 Orion 4 propeller patrol aircraft
Foxtrot Uniform: The polite phonetic pronunciation of saying “Fuck You”
FRED: F*ckin’ Retarded Enlisted Dude
FRED: Fuckin’ Ridiculous Electronic Device, or the Computer guided self training system in B.E.E. (read “B Double E”) Basic Electronics and Electricity School, the “Prep School” for most every Electrical or Electronics “A” School specialty.
Freeboard: On a ship or boat, this is the vertical distance between the waterline and the “gunwale” (see below).
Freq: (pron. freak) Short for frequency
Freidas Napsack: The testicles
Fried hamsters: Chicken or beef cordon bleu
Fried horsecock: Fried bologna
Frock: A procedure in the Navy allowing a recently advanced sailor to wear the insignia of the next higher pay grade (and enjoy the privileges thereto) before he has officially been advanced to that grade. Frocking is generally accompanied by the informal ceremony of “tacking on” your crow (q.v.).
FRS: Fleet Replacement Squadron - see “RAG” below
FTN: Fuck the Navy (common epithet used when complaining about naval policies or regulations). Often scrawled on the walls of toilet stalls by sailors who have been assigned to clean it for a reason. Also can refer to “Free The Nukes,” referring to sailors in the nuclear power field. Also refers to a mythical rate or ship type an “FTN Striker” says he/she is trying to get in (i.e. Fleet Tug-Nuclear, Fire Technician-Nuclear)
FTN Striker: Sailor whose stated goal/desire is get discharged
F.U.B.A.: Female of Unusually Broad Ass. Navy female with said condition.
F.U.B.A.R.: Fouled up beyond all repair, Fucked up beyond all recognition. (Foobar){Fucked up beyond all recognition}
F.U.B.I.J.A.R.: Fuck U Buddy, I’m Just A Reservist (”backbone of the Navy”)
F.U.B.Y.O.Y.O.: Fuck U Buddy, You’re On You’re Own (self explanatory)
F.U.P.A.: Fat Upper Pussy Area, pronounced foopa. A pejorative term referring to an overweight female sailor and the bulge that protrudes from ill fitting pants.
Fuck the mission, clean the position: Break out the swabs.
Fuck You, strong message follows: Seen on a numerical list of epithet substitutions (the unauthorized “Falcon Code,” derived from the “Charlie Echo” code), especially transmitted over radio, which has to stay clean
FuFu Juice: Perfume or cologne
Fun Boss: Morale, Welfare and Recreation Officer
Fun Meter: Fictitious gauge that shows the amount of mirth one is experiencing in any given situation. Most often used sarcastically to express extreme boredom or disinterest. “Please end this redass of an AOM. My fun meter is pegged!” See “suck meter”

[edit] G
Gaff Off: When a junior person ignores or purposely fails to show proper respect to a senior person. Examples may include blowing off an assigned task, not saluting, or using improper forms of address. Also refers to signing undeserved signatures on a qualification card. Can also refer to blazing logs or maintenance. From Give A Flying F*ck. Person concerned is the Gaffer.
Gastro: General term for Gastroentritis, or food-poisoning underway.
Gator-Freighter: Ship used in amphibious warfare, or generally the transportation of marines and their equipment. Especially, a carrier-like vessel (amphibious assault ship) whose primary purpose is to put ass in the grass.
Galley: Crews’ mess, or dining area. Place where food is prepared for consumption.
Gank: To steal something. Most often used to describe taking cleaning gear from other divisions or other “ganking” useless items. i.e. pens, random things from the galley or messdecks, cleaning gear and/or gear adrift
Garrison Cap: (fore-and-aft cover worn by CPO, WO, and commissioned officers. Oh, yes, Marines wear them, too). See “Cunt Cap” “Piss Cutter”
GCE: Gross Conceptual Error. This grading remark often appears on nuke-school exams. See also “ATFQ”.
Gear adrift: Loose or unsecured gear or equipment. Also a less-than-flattering assessment of a sailor “Seaman Jones is gear adrift!”
Gear Adrift: Referring to equipment, items, objects, geegaws, or anything else that can be acquired through judicious use of the saying “Gear Adrift, Must be a gift”
Geedunk: Candy, or a place that sells candy in a short form of Gedunk bar. Also “ice cream”.
General Quarters: (GQ) Every sailor has an assigned duty station to be manned during an emergency (AKA “Battlestations”).
George: The juniormost officer onboard a surface ship. Also spelled “JORG”, meaning Junior Officer Requiring Guidance.
Gerbil: Cordon Bleu. Named so since it looks like a deep fried gerbil. AKA “fried hamster.”
Gerbil Alley: Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. The only guaranteed port visit during any Persian Gulf deployment.
Gerbil Gym: Exercise space on board ship with treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical trainers - all pieces of equipment on which you perform motions that should move you to another place, but you remain in the same position like a gerbil on its wheel.
Getting Slant-Eyed: Masturbating.
Get your khakis: A term used when enlisted personnel sleep with officers, generally happens between low ranking enlisted personnel and low ranking officers.
Ghetto: Open-bay barracks, usually reserved for single sailors who are in transit or otherwise temporarily assigned there.
Ghetto-prise: alternate name the sailors of U.S.S. Enterprise have for their ship.
Ghost turd: The sailor’s term for a dust bunny.
Gig line: The visual line formed by uniform zipper, belt buckle, and buttoned shirt seam. Also used as another in-joke to send new sailors on a wild goose chase. See bulkhead remover.
GITMO: Guantanamo Bay Naval Station on Cuba, which had a shorthand designation of GTMO.
GITMO Cute: Females on Guantanamo Bay who wouldn’t normally get your attention back in the states, also known as OFAFBU (One Flight Away From Being Ugly).
Glasses: Binoculars
GMT: General Military Training, often derisively referred to as “Gross Misuse of Time.”
Goat Herder: Any man (or woman) aboard the ship that spends his or her free time “slinging game” on boat goats or boat ho’s.
Goat locker: Lounge or galley for the exclusive use of Chiefs.
Goatrope or goatfuck: Any situation that is “FUBAR.” An especially FUBARed situation is a Royal Mongolian Goatfuck.
Goes Away: What happens to an enemy aircraft when it is hit by a missile
Goggles: Short for Night Vision Goggles, which greatly amplify ambient light allowing the user to see in a green monochrome at night.
Golden Dragon: A sailor who has crossed the Prime Meridian or the International Date Line into the Eastern Hemisphere.
Golden rivet: Folklore that every ship is built containing a single, commemorative “golden rivet”
Golden Shellback: A sailor who has crossed the equator at the 180th Meridian twice or has gone through the ritual twice.
The Goo: Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). When an aviator flies an aircraft into the clouds, can no longer see the earth or the horizon, and is dependent on instruments for navigation, he is said to be “in the goo.” This is usually done intentionally when flying with an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan, but can lead to high “pucker factor” when it is done accidentally.
Good Humor Man: Reference to the Summer White uniform. This is an all-white short sleeve cotton uniform that makes the wearer look suspiciously like the ice cream man.
Goon It Up or Gooned Up: To execute poorly a task that is generally routine or commonplace. (Ex. He really gooned up that landing.)
Gouge: The inside scoop, the skinny, the low-down. Only the information you need to know in a given situation, with nothing else to waste your time. Some black shoes say “Live by the gouge, die by the gouge.” Aviators correctly say “Live by the gouge, EXCEL by the gouge.”
Grape: (Submarine Service) Easy as pie, man. Examples: “This is grape duty” or “That was a grape sig, you jerk.” Latter example can be translated as “Bravo Zulu, shipmate!!” (See Bravo Zulu, above). (Also see “sig” below).
Grape: (Aviation Service) A sailor in an aviation fuels rating. So named because of the purple flight deck jersey.
Great Mistakes: common ephitet used when complaining about RTC/NTC Great Lakes Illinois
Green Scrubby: Mildly abrasive scouring pad. Also called a “Greeny Weeny,” or just a “Greenie.” It’s green, of course.
Green Table Tea Party: Captain’s Mast, Non Judicial Punishment (see “Mast” below)
Grinder: A place at boot camp, normally a parking lot, where the company commander makes you do pushups, other forms of exercise, etc. when you screw up.
Gripe: Slang for a MAF (Maintenance Action Form), which is written when something is wrong with an aircraft.
Grog: Initially, this referred to the watered down rum ration given daily to sailors in the Royal Navy. Presently in the USN, it refers to the alcoholic brew offered at social events like “dining-ins” and “dining-outs.” Depending on the wardroom and in particular on the person preparing the grog, it may be pleasant and delicious or one of the most foul and disgusting beverages ever conceived.
Gronk: (Submarine Service) When a bolt or nut has been or is in process of being tightened so much that the operator of the wrench or ratchet sees stars when applying. “Who the Fuck gronked this nut on so tight?” See “Star tight”
Ground-Pounder: Navy term for the Army or Marines, specifically infantry. Generally pejorative.
G.U.A.M.: “Giving Up and Masturbating”–Common sailor’s complaint about being stationed on the remote island of Guam.
G.U.A.M.: Give Us American Money
G.U.A.M.: Gooks Under American Management
Guard: Standardized emergency radio frequencies that are constantly monitored by ships and aircraft. High Frequency (HF) guard is 40.5 MHz, Very High Frequency (VHF) guard is 121.5 MHz, and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) guard is 243.0 MHz. See “Air Force Common”
GUCCI GEAR:Commonly refered to Sailors (SEABEE’s, Individual Augmentee’s) Who are stationed on the ground most commonly in IRAQ or AFGANISTAN who buy a large amount of commando gear for their rifle’s or personal gear which will rarely get used but used to look as much like a commando IE:Navy SEAL as possible.

Gulfport Slam Hound: Derogatory term given to local women by Navy Seabees stationed in Gulfport, MS. See: Local talent.
Gumby Suit: Brightly colored, puffy anti-exposure survival suit somewhat resembling the claymation character with the same name.
Gundeck: To juryrig something; falsifying or misrepresenting records and reports. The term originates from the days of sail, when ships would sometimes paint black squares along the hull to represent more gun ports than they actually had. Also refers to reports of happenings on the weather decks that were documented on the gun deck without ever having gone to the weather decks.
Gun Boss: Weapons Department head.
Guns: A sailor in the Gunner’s Mate rating.
Gunwale: (pronounced “gunnel”) The top of the hull portion of a ship that runs down the port and starboard sides.
Gussy: USS Augusta
Gut Bomb: A Hamburger
Gyrene: Derogatory Navy term for a U.S. Marine. Also called “Jarheads”

[edit] H
HAC: (pronounced “hack”) Helicopter Aircraft Commander - the pilot in command of a helo.
Hack: Unofficial punishment confining an officer to his stateroom, usually during a port call.
Halfway-Night: (Submarine Service) Party night on pre-determined halfway point of boat’s patrol. Tenderloin and lobster, frozen, but good.
Haji: Anything Middle Eastern in origin. See Abu Dhabi.
Hamster: Chicken cordon bleu that is shaped like a deep fried hamster served on board naval submarines.
Hangar Queen: An aircraft that is chronically down or “broke-dick.” These aircraft are often used for parts to keep the rest of the aircraft flying. See “Cann”
Haole: Pronounced “How-Lee”. Hawaiian term for non-native. A dangerous thing for a sailor to be around Pearl Harbor as some of the natives see them as easy targets for crime, especially when local law-enforcement doesn’t seem to care.
Happy Sock: A soft sock brought for personal use (masturbating) by a sailor underway, or a Seabee in the field.
Hatch: A vertical access for traveling between decks. Also used to describe a door.
Hawser Tech: Any deck rating, especially Boatswain’s Mates
Haze Gray and Underway: Surface ships in arduous duty at sea, in contrast to aircraft carriers or submarines, or naval units in ceremonial roles or in port. It is a term of tribal pride and identification, e.g. surface ship crew use it to distinguish themselves from submarine crew or aircraft carrier crew.
For more details on this topic, see Haze gray and underway.
HAZREP: HAZard REPort - A safety message generated after an unsafe incident that is released to the rest of the fleet so as to prevent the incident from happening again.
Head: Bathroom - The term comes from the days of sail, because wind would blow from the rear of the ship to the front. The bathroom would be located at the front, “Head”, of the ship to carry the foul smell of excrement away from the crew.
Heat Shield: Anyone who is a complete and total fuck-up, and is always in trouble with the LPO, Chief, CO, etc… So called because he keeps the heat off everyone else in the organization. It is good to have one or two of these individuals around.
Helm: Steering wheel of a ship
Heisman: A position assumed by many young women when approached by sailors on liberty; legs crossed, one arm covering the breasts and the other straight out for a block, just like the Heisman Trophy.
Helmet Fire: When a pilot becomes so task-saturated in the cockpit that he loses the big picture and situational awareness (SA). Often leads to mistakes that can produce lethal results.
Helo (pron. hee-low): Term applied to all naval helicopters (from the standard message abbreviation HELO). Calling a naval helicopter anything other than a helo, and especially a “chopper,” is grounds for a serious beat-down.
Helo Dunker: Dreaded training device that all naval aircrew and pilots must endure every few years when they complete water survival training, or “swims.” Designed to simulate crashing a helo at sea, it is basically a huge metal drum with seats and windows that is lowered into a pool and then flipped upside down with the “passengers” strapped into it. There are generally four runs that must be successfully completed. Two of these are blindfolded. It is not fun.
Here today, GUAM tomorrow: Received orders from one island to another island, as in ADAK to GUAM.
Hinge: slang for an O-4, or Lieutenant Commander (LCDR). So called because of the lobotomy that is supposedly mandated as soon as a naval officer is promoted to this rank, in which half of his brain is removed. A hinge is then inserted that allows for reattachment of the removed gray matter later. The hinge also limits the LCDR’s head movement to the fore-aft axis. This is clearly demonstrated as the O-4 is constantly nodding in the affirmative and saying “Yes sir, yes sir…” when in the presence of the CO.
Hit: A discrepancy or failing mark during an inspection. (Ex. He took a hit on his personnel inspection for his unshined shoes.) See “ding”
Hit The Beach: Go on liberty
HMFIC: Head Mother Fucker In Charge, Slang for the sailor who is in charge of an evolution
Hockey pucks: Swedish meatballs (also, trail markers, porcupines, road apples).
The Hole: Area on the deck of an aircraft carrier directly inboard of the island. This is where the airwing’s helos are usually “stuffed.” Also: Slang for a ship’s engineering spaces.
Holiday Routine: Ship’s schedule on Sundays or other national holidays while underway when watches are minimally manned and most of the crew can sleep in (late or no reveille), however some personnel must still be on watch, “Holiday for some, routine for others”
Hollywood Shower (or Hotel Shower): A shower taken aboard a ship in a civilian manner, i.e. in which the water stays on throughout the shower, wasting much of it. (cf. Navy Shower) Definitely frowned upon.
Holy Helo: On Sundays, one of the helos from the carrier flies one or more of the chaplains around to the other ships in the battle group for services. This aircraft is dubbed the holy helo.
Holy Crotch: Between 1960 and 1991, Holy Loch, Dunoon, Scotland was the site of a United States Navy base and home to the Polaris nuclear fleet. Site One, the most forward deployed Submarine Fleet. The weather was mostly horrible and cold but the Scottish girls were quite warm.
Holy stone: The stone or the act of using one. A pumice stone for cleaning a wooden deck, which is generally done while the sailor is on his knees. Sailors figured that anything that put them on their knees so often must be holy.
The Honch: A nickname for the Honcho bar district right outside the gate of the Yokosuka Naval Base, known to be a generally trashy place.
Honch Ho/ Honch Honey: A term used to describe female frequenters of the Honch.
Honch Rat: A sailor who frequents the Honcho bar district in Yokosuka on his/her free time. A Japanese girl who frequents the company of American sailors in Honcho is also called a “Honch Rat.”
Hooligan Navy: WWII Navy pejorative for the Coast Guard, from its flexibility in enlisting men discharged from other services to rapidly expand for Prohibition. (Term endures within CG.)
Hook: Short for “tailhook’”
Hooker: or “Tail-hooker”, One who lands aboard an Aircraft Carrier.
Hoover: Slang for the S-3B Viking, mostly due to its unique engine noises
Hop’n'pop: Dreaded 8-count, 3-part physical exercise that is often inflicted on officer candidates at OCS when they screw up. It is the combination of a jumping jack, squat thrust, and pushup, and the offenders often perform them to the point of physical exhaustion.
Horse Cock: Large log of baloney or Polish Sausage usually put out for lunch or mid rats. Horse Cock sandwich is one of the least favorite boxed lunches served to helo crews when visiting other ships.
Horse Shoe: (Submarine Service) Area aft of maneuvering on 688’s often used for telling sea stories.
Hosed Up: Messed up
Hot Racking or Hot Bunking: Submariners share racks. When one goes off, the other takes his place. (Three men share two racks) The Name is taken from the fact that the bunk more often than not still warm from its last occupant.
“Hot Racking”: Also a term for a sailor climbing into his rack to sleep, without showering.
However,: (spoken “however comma”) An over-the-top method of expressing additional items. Often used by people who have been in the Navy too long (see “dig-it”).
HR Puff and Stuff: A nickname given to sailors who regularly appear for duty in a disheveled manner with their uniform in disarray. It is a combination of a rank (Hospitalman Recruit, the most junior Hospital Corpsman rank) and a name that connotates the obesity and stresses placed on the uniform of just such an overweight and careless sailor. Also used as an admonishment to junior corpsmen and dental techs in order to motivate them to perform regular uniform maintenance.
HSC: (Heavy Shit Carrier) Rate most commonly given to junior sailors, mostly comprised of firemen
Hummer: Slang for the E-2C Hawkeye, mostly for the sound of its props
Hummer Hole: Tight space aft of the island on the flight deck where they parked the E-2C Hawkeye. Since the E-2 could reverse prop and back up, the Yellow Shirts took perverse pleasure in trying to back the Hummer into this tight space, usually as the boat was heeling hard to port, requiring a serious uphill climb.

[edit] I
IA: “Individual Augmentation/Augmentee.” Program currently in use by the U.S. Navy to deploy sailors on an individual basis to the Middle East for 6-14 months in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Personnel who complete IAs are (supposedly) given preferential treatment with regards to follow-on orders and promotion boards. IAs are often referred to as “Sand Sailors”, “Dirt Sailors” or “being in the Narmy.” [Navy+Army=Narmy]
I and I: Intercourse and Intoxication. An alternative acronym to R and R
IFBM: Instant Fucking Boatswains Mate. “A” school washout assigned to deck force.
ID10T: Pronounced “Eye-Dee-Ten-Tango.” Similar to “bulkhead remover,” an inexpensive way to derive enjoyment from inexperienced personnel. “Recruit, go get me an ID10T form, and step on it!”
IHTFP: I Hate This Fucking Place. A common expression uttered by midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. Found carved into most bathroom doors and above most bunks. Originally a term used by MIT students for the identical sentiment. Other meanings: I Have Truly Found Paradise, I Hope There’s a Friday Parade, etc
In-chop: To enter an area of responsibility. “We in-chop to 5th Fleet when we pass through the Straits of Malacca.” From “Change of Operational Control” (CHOP had a fire in their main machinery room and can’t get underway so our cruise got extended by a month?” See also “Mess Deck Intelligence”.

[edit] S
SA: Situational Awareness - the big picture. Losing SA, especially in flight, can lead to disastrous results.
Sail Rabbit - over cooked pork, or beef tenderloin.
Sailor’s Balls: See Navigator’s Balls.
Salt and Peppers: Short sleeve white dress shirt with black trousers and Combination Cap. Common in the 70’s. Basically a less dressed up version of the Bus Driver Uniform.
Saltpeter: Chemical supposedly added to “bug juice” aboard ship to stifle libido, the stuff of urban legend.
Salty: Old and experienced (or simply old and sea-worn, as in “my salty hat”). Can also refer to the traditionally profanity-laced language patterns of sailors.
Sandbag: a member of an aircrew who contributes little or nothing to the safe and successful execution of the mission - instead sits there like a sandbag and is just as useful.
Sandbox, The: The pier liberty facilities at Jebel Ali. Sandbox Liberty means travel outside the port of Jebel Ali is not authorized. All you get is a “beer on the pier”. See “Gerbil Alley”.
Sand Crab: A civilian in Civil Service positions working for the U.S. Navy. Very derogatory.
SAR: Search and Rescue
Scope Dope: Radarman or Operations Specialist
Scrambled Eggs: Gold embroidered oak leaves decoration on a Commander’s/Captain’s cover. Admirals have Double Eggs. The similar silver clouds and lightning bolts addition to an Air Force Lt. Col/Colonel’s hat is called Farts and Darts. May also be referred to as “Bullshit,” but only by one who wears them.
Screaming Alpha: A sailor who is on fire and is running around screaming. Alpha fires leave ash. Bravo fires burn flammable liquids. Charlies are electrical fires, and Deltas burn exotic materials, often metals like magnesium.
Screw: a ship’s or boat’s propeller.
Screw the Pooch: To mess up in a big way. Usually followed by a visit with the old man.
SCRIMSHAW: To “Mysteriously Aqquire” equipment and /or materials essential for mission critical assignments that cannot be aqquired though normal or proper military channels. Seabee’s are notorious for making due with what they have and “finding” what they need to accomplish the mission. Also famous for “finding” Materials in which to barter with other armed services for their goods and services.
Scrubbers: Time in the morning when most junior personnel must go out and clean the ship before starting their actual duties within their own divisions/departments. “Alright, go out and do scrubbers then muster back here at 0800″.. Some ships may announce over their 1MC or put exact time in their Plan of the Day
Scullery: Washroom for eating implements such as knives, forks, trays, and cups.
Scupper (Submarine Service): A funnel like device used to collect rogue liquids usually from overflowing tanks in engineering spaces. Occasionally used as an impromptu urinal by an on-watch nuke. (Surface) Spouts on the main deck to route liquids over the side.
Scupper Trout: A turd or other length of feces.
Scuttlebutt: Drinking fountain or rumor (originated from the rumors that would be spread on board ship while gathered about the water barrel).
SCWS:Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist.
Sea and Anchor Detail: Every sailor has an assigned duty station to be manned when the ship is either pulling into or out of port. On submarines it’s called the Maneuvering Watch. (Coast Guard: Special Sea Detail.)
Seabag: The large green bag the army calls a “duffel bag”.
Sea Daddy: Senior, more experienced sailor who unofficially takes a new member of the crew under his wing and mentors him.
Sea Donkey(Sea Donk): Any shipboard female with “Other than Honorable” intentions. Some are rumors, some not so much.
Sea Going Bellhops: A derisive name for Marines. Refers to the fact that they act as flag officers’ orderlies aboard ship. A good phrase to use when picking a fight with a Marine.
Sea Gull Ammunition: Spanner wrench used for tightening fire hoses. Bosn mates enjoyed throwing them at sea gulls.
Sea Hag: Slutty woman who hangs around in front of the entrance to a base, hoping to pick up a Sailor. The Sea Hag is really looking for a meal ticket, bless her Sea Hag heart.
Sea Lawyer: An argumentative, cantankerous or know-it-all sailor. A sea lawyer is adept at using technicalities, half truths, and administrative crap to get out of doing work or anything else he doesn’t want to do, and/or to justify his laziness.
Sea Legs: bodily adjustment to the motion of a ship indicated especially by ability to walk steadily and by freedom from seasickness
Seaman Schmuckatelli: Generic name for a sailor, used in a similar manner as “John Doe,” “Joe Blow” or “John Q. Public”. Example: “You’re working on an electrical system without tagging it out, when along comes Seaman Schmuckatelli, who energizes the circuit and ZAP, you’re fried calamari.”
Sea Otter: Seaopdetter; a member of a Sea Operational Detachment (SEAOPDET).
Sea Pussy: a yeoman or personnelman - akin to a secretary - does clerical work.
Sea Stories: Often exaggerated or embellished tales from previous deployments or commands told by seniors to juniors. Sea Stories almost always involve alcohol. Good sea stories should always involve creative embellishment, in as much as you should tell it better than the guy you heard it from, with yourself (or an un-named “buddy”) as the new star. Add some contemporary details and those youngsters are mesmerized, as they should be.
Sea Swap: a recently initiated program where an American warship never returns to an American port. Instead, it pulls into a friendly foreign port at given intervals and swaps out its entire crew.
SEAL - SEa Air Land
Secure: In general, to prepare something for stormy travel — to secure a window is to shut it. “Secure for sea” meaning to strap, tie down, or otherwise make something seaworthy for rocking. Also, to close or shut down anything normally open, especially to traffic- “This p-way(passageway)/head is secured until 0900 for cleaning”. However, it’s often used as a stronger form of “cut it out,” as in “talking is secured” or “I’m going to secure your mouth if you don’t shut the hell up” or “your fruity ways are secured, Fireman Radomski.”
Senile Chief: Slang for Senior Chief
Senior: Short form of Senior Chief used for brevity. “I couldn’t find the CSMO but I left that report on his desk, Senior (Chief)”
Shaft Alley: Field Day berthing aboard a Submarine. Also the compartment(s) containing a ship’s propulsion shaft(s).
Shark shit: A sailor who has fallen overboard and is lost forever.
S.H.E.:Stupid Human Error
Shellback: An individual who has crossed the Equator.
Sherwood Forest: (Submarine Service) missile area, on a boomer
Shinbuster: Same as knee-knocker.
Ship over: re-enlisting.
Shipmate: Any fellow Sailor. Also, used as a derogatory term against all junior enlisted personnel i.e. E-5 and below. An Officer, Chief or First Class will use this to show they think so little of you, they haven’t bothered to take the time out of their day to learn your name. Used in the Junior Enlisted Community to parody this.
Shipwreck: Any fellow sailor. Used as a derogatory term.
Shit in a Seabag: Stuffed green peppers.
Shit in one sock: Sailor who is very competent as in, “He has his shit in one sock”. A VERY competent sailor “has his shit in one properly stenciled sock.” Derogatory rejoinder is “But it has holes in it”.
Shit bag (also Shitweed, shitstick, shithead, shit stain, or shitbrick): Any fellow Sailor. Used as a derogatory term and a term of endearment.
Shitbag (2): A derogatory term for a sailor who has been awarded punishment at mast, or any less-than-par sailor. Also known as “Shitbird”.
Shitbomb: Extremely unpopular topic brought up at the end of a (usually long and boring) meeting that requires a lot of work from everyone present. The worst ones are “drive-by shitbombs,” where someone pokes their head in, “throws the shitbomb,” and leaves.
Shit Can: Either the name for a trash can, or the act of throwing something into the trash. As in “Shit can that chit, you’re not getting any liberty.”
Shit Chaser: Name given to hull maintenance techs.
Shit City: Norfolk, VA. See also “Asshole of the Navy”.
Shit Color: Derogatory term used by enlisted personnel under the rank of E-7 referring to enlisted personnel at or above the rank of E-7 (Chief Petty Officer), and sometimes officers as well. Based on their khaki uniforms.
Shit-faced: Drunk. The preferred state of consciousness for junior sailors, especially those visiting foreign ports.
Shit-on-a-shingle: Ground hamburger in gravy on toast.
Shit-the-bed: Term used to identify that something is broken.
Shitter: Toilet (or “Head,” see above). Shipboard space where “shit” is both a verb AND a noun. Self-explanatory, really.
Shitty Kitty: a slang word for the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), which is the worst ship in the United States Navy, and also the oldest. It has been designated this name due to the fact it that it looks like shit, smells like shit, and the chain of command will work you round the clock and not give a shit.
Shit River: The creek that divided the base from the civilian side, in the Philippines, Between Olongopo City and Cubi Point Naval Base. So named because the local sewage from Olongopo flowed into this river, and it stunk to high heaven. When you crossed the bridge to go on liberty, you had to hold your breath the entire length of the bridge, but oddly enough, it did not smell on the return trip after drinking San Muigel Beer all night.
Shit Screen: A shitbag who is so often the object of (negative) attention by his superiors that his shipmates’ transgressions go relatively unnoticed.
Shit Shirt: Derogatory aviation term given to members of a squadrons Line Division, named for the brown flight deck jerseys worn while aboard the carrier.
Shoe: Derogatory term used by airedales in reference to “black shoes,” or ship drivers. Sometimes explained as an acronym meaning “stupidest human on earth,” but clearly derived from the longer “black shoe” description of surface warfare officers and CPOs.
Shooter: Catapult Officer aboard an aircraft carrier. Also slang for an Aegis / guided missile ship.
Shore Queen: A person who has been in the Navy for an extensive period of time and has not been stationed to a ship. Also referred to as a “Shore Captain”
Short-Arm: Penis.
Short Seabag or Without a Full Seabag: Reporting aboard without a full uniform; deficient in aptitude or intelligence.
Short Timer: A sailor with less than 90 days until discharge or transfer and an attitude to match.
Short Timer’s Chain: A chain that hangs from the belt of a “short timer” for all to see, with one link representing a day, (signifying too short to care) and usually starts with 30 links. Any more than 30 links will give an attitude to their superiors. Verbal equivalent is “__ days and a wake-up”.
Shower Tech: Sonar Technician.
Showerbabies: Semen left on the floors of shower stalls.
Shutterbug: A Photographer’s Mate (PH).
Sick Bay: On larger ships like carriers and “gator freighters,” sick bay is literally a small hospital, complete with facilities for surgery, X-rays, triage, a pharmacy, etc… On “small boys,” sick bay might be a single space from which the ship’s corpsman dispenses Vitamin M and corpsman candy.
Sick Bay Commando: A sailor who spends more time going to medical feigning ailments than doing work.
Sick in Quarters (SIQ): When a sailor is too ill or incapacitated to perform his duties, he is thus required to report to his rack (quarters), where he will remain until healthy again. For personnel aboard ship, this means to remain in bed, while onshore this may simply mean to stay home for the day. Only qualified medical personnel can recommend SIQ, and only the command can authorize it.
Side Number: Unique 3-digit number assigned to every bird in the airwing. Side numbers are based on what squadron the aircraft is in. 1XX and 2XX used to be VF (fighter) squadrons. However, since the retirement of the F-14 Tomcat these are now applied to F/A-18 (VFA) Super Hornet Squadrons. 3XX and 4XX are for “Baby” Hornet (F/A-18 C and D model) squadrons. 5XX side numbers are assigned to EA-6B (VAQ) squadrons, and 6XX are for the VAW squadrons flying the E-2C Hawkeye. 61X side numbers are for the HS helo squadron, and 7XX goes to the VS squadron, which flies the S-3B Viking. The only carrier aircraft that do not follow this scheme are the C-2A Greyhounds. See COD.
Sierra Hotel: Phonetic letters for SH, which stands for “Shit Hot.” Refers to anything impressive or greatly exceeding what is required. Can also refer to the phrase “Shit Happens”.
Sig: (Navy Nukes) A signature on a qualification card. There are many, many “qual cards” in the Sub Service, especially if you’re a Nuke. (see “Nuke” above).
Sig: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily
Signal Ejector: (aka 3″ launcher) A device on submarines that can shoot countermeasures, flares, thermocline equipment, and empty beer cans. Used primarily to formally notify Battle Group Commanders via green flares that their ASW screen sucks.
Silverwhales: Refers to the rather large fat women near Bangor, Washington, that are from Silverdale.
Sims: Simulators.
Single Anchor Master Race: Naval Aviators that are designated as pilots, as opposed to NFOs. Used by pilots to assert their superiority over all other warfare communities. Refers to the insignia worn by pilots which is a set of wings with one anchor.
Single digit midget: Sailor who has less than 10 days before getting out or transferring.
Skate: Sailor who avoids work in general while not being detected; for example the ability to “skate” out of work undetected while being assigned to a 14 man working party.
Skate Golden: the ability to “skate” out of work while being assigned to a 7 man working party undetected.
Skater: Sailor who gets away with doing no work.
Skeds-O: Schedules Officer
Skimmer: Submariners’ term for a Surface Sailor (often “skimmer puke”) or surface ship (see “target”)
Skipper: Term used in reference to the Commanding officer of any Ship, Unit, Platoon, or Detachment regardless of rank. Generally only applied to someone who has earned the speaker’s respect.
Skittles: Sailors who work on the flight deck of a carrier. So named due to the different colored jerseys they wear. For the same reason, they are sometimes referred to as “Wiggles”.
Skivvies: underwear.
Skivvy Stacker - Storekeeper
Skivvy waver: Signalman (because of signal flags)
Skivvy Sniffer: Ships Serviceman assigned to do the Ship’s laundry
Skylarking: Not paying attention, due to “looking up in the sky” instead of on the assigned task. From Royal Navy slang during the era of the tall ships - midshipmen or “young gentlemen” would race each other up, down, and through the rigging. They were playing in the air; thus, skylarking.
Skosh: Perilously close to minimum acceptable levels. Example: The F-5 usually lands skosh on fuel. Originates from the Japanese word sukoshi, meaning little.
Sleep ’til you’re hungry, eat ’til you’re tired: The working day of an aviator as described by a surface sailor
Slick Sleeve: A sailor in the E-1 paygrade who does not have a rating, and who has not yet graduated from Apprentice training. Therefore, his left sleeve is “slick”, or has no rate or rating insignia at all.
Sliders: hamburgers/cheeseburgers. So called because they would slide across the grill when underway.
Slime Lights: NVG compatible exterior green lights found on aircraft that are almost invisible to the naked eye. Used in combat situations at night where standard position lights and “smacks” cannot be used.
Slinging Game: Flirting with other people aboard the ship.
Slugs: Term used to refer to Chief Petty Officer Selectees during their initiation and transition period. Only Chief Petty Officers may use this term.
SLJO: Shitty Little Jobs Officer
SLUF: Short Little Ugly Fucker - nickname given to the A-7 Corsair back in the day.
SLUFF: Short Little Ugly Fat Fucker - pejorative term for a turkey of a sailor.
SLURFF: Short Little Ugly Retarded Fat Fucker - someone that makes a SLUFF look good.
Slushing: Financial service provided by a shipmate (known as a “slusher”) where money is loaned out with interest rates that would make a mafioso blush. Known as loansharking in the civilian world.
Smacks: Anti-collision strobe lights on an aircraft.
Small Boy: Term referring to smaller class ships, such as destroyers and frigates.
SMAG: “Sometimes Mechanic Always Gay” or “Simple Minded Ass Grabber” or “Small Minded Ass Grabber”: Derogatory term for an Engineering Laboratory Technician.
Smiles: A game played by sailors while in port where a bunch of sailors gather around and play cards. Meanwhile under the card table is a prostitute performing oral sex to all the card players. First sailor to smile has to buy the next round of beers
Smoke Pit: Designated smoking area. This is almost always used when ashore.
Smoking Hole: what an aircraft becomes if it crashes over land
Smoking Lamp: is out or lit in specified spaces or throughout the ship; 1MC announcement specifying where smoking is permitted or prohibited during certain hours or operations.
Smoking Sponson: designated smoking area aboard aircraft carriers, usually right below the flight deck on the exterior of the ship’s hull. A great place to catch up on scuttlebutt and unwind after a long day.
Smooth Crotch: Derogatory term for a nuclear Electronics Technician.
Smurf: A recruit who is in his first few days of boot camp who hasn’t been issued uniforms yet, and thus wears a “Smurf Suit” (see below).
Smurf Suit: Set of blue sweatpants and sweatshirt issued on arrival at boot camp; worn for the first several days and thereafter used mostly for PT.
SNAFU: Situation Normal, All Fucked Up.
Snake Eaters: Special Forces personnel such as Navy SEAL’s, Green Berets, etc…
Snatch in the Hatch: (Submarine Service) Term used to inform the crew that a female visitor is onboard.
Snipes: Sailors assigned to the Engineering rates, i.e. Machinists Mates, Boilermen, Enginemen, Pipefitters. Also known as pit snipes, see pit.
Snivel: To request time off or to not be scheduled, usually for personal reasons. Most schedule writers will have a “snivel log” for such requests, which may or may not be granted based on the needs of the unit and the sniveler’s standing with the schedules officer (Skeds-O).
SNOB: Shortest Nuke On Board
Sound of One Hand Clapping: Masturbating.
SPLIB: Special Liberty, Comp-Time.
S.N.O.B.: Shortest Nuke on Board. Term used to refer to the lucky nuke who gets out of the Navy next. This term usually only applies to nukes who have not re-enlisted (i.e. “first-termers”). In rare cases, the S.N.O.B. voluntarily relinquishes his/her title to a “second-termer” that gets out of the Navy earlier who exhibits extreme disgruntlement and is generally accepted by the “first-termers” as one of their own. This person would be given the title of “Honorary S.N.O.B.”
Snuggle Up: When two aircraft get very close while flying in formation - usually for demonstration purposes.
Socked-in: When the ceiling and visibility at an airfield or over an air-capable ship are below minimums for takeoff and landing.
Sorry I Quit: used to refer to a sailor who convinces a doctor to give them an SIQ chit
Sortie: a single flight of an aircraft
S.O.S.: Same as Shit-on-a-shingle.
Sougee: To scour; sougee powder = generic term for scouring powder, although in yachting refers to a chemical cleaner.
Space: Refers to a room or a compartment onboard ship.
Spandaflage: Overweight personnel squeezing into camo that is too small.
Sparky: Radioman or Electrician’s Mate.
Split Tails: Female sailors. Used more often in the early days of surface ship integration.
Spook: Usually a CT, IS or some kind of intelligence type.
SPU: Staff Pick-Up. Nuke term referring to individuals that finish the training pipeline and instead of going out to sea like everyone else, stays behind and teaches in the pipeline. SPUs on a submarine are treated harder than a typical Nub due to the typical SPUs attitudes and own self delusions.
Spunk: Cool Whip or anything like it.
Square Barrel Tech: Fire Control Technician see also “Round Barrel Tech”
Squid: Submariner. Like a squid, they also live under water and eat other squid/fish. Generally, any sailor (current or former) in the Navy.
Squishy: State resulting from being at sea too long; e.g., rolling gait, goofy, confused by traffic signals.
Stab: Any sort of unwanted, tedious work that often arrives at the worst moments as a result of a flail.
STAR Baby: Anyone (Especially nukes) who re-enlist under the STAR Program at their first sea tour and automatically go from 3rd Class Petty Officers to 2nd Class Petty Officers. Is usually available to any 3rd class Petty Officer on his/her first sea tour, but is usually associated with nukes because they already meet the “C” School requirement of the STAR Program.
Star-tight: see “Gronk”
Starboard: Right side of the boat or ship (when facing the bow). Right side of an aircraft when facing the nose.
STAR: Program in which any 3rd Class Petty officer on their first sea tour can re-enlist and immediately gain 2nd class Petty Officer as long as they have been to both an “A” school and a “C” school. See STAR Baby
Stateroom: Living quarters for officers aboard a ship. Senior officers (commander or higher) generally rate a one-man stateroom. LCDRs and senior LTs usually get two-man staterooms, and more junior officers rate a 4-man or 6-man “jungle.” Staterooms contain beds, a sink, fold-down desks, lockers, storage, and a TV. Note: Ship’s Captains do not have staterooms: they have cabins.
Steel Beach Picnic: Celebration on the weather decks of a ship. Usually involving near beer, barbecue, and non-skid.
Stew-burner: Sailor with the Culinary Specialist (CS) Rating
Striker: Sailor receiving on-the-job training for a designated field (or rate)
Sticks: The levers in the Maneuvering Room of a diesel submarine that are used to change the settings for the main propulsion motors. Also the control yokes of a submarine, manned by the helmsman and planesman as in “Seaman Schmuckatelli is on the sticks”.
Stuffed: A naval aircraft is said to be “stuffed” when its wings or rotors/tail pylon are folded and it is parked in close proximity to other aircraft.
Subic Bay: Legendary Philippines port also known as “Pubic Bay, the Asshole of the Orient.” Was a major stop off point between South Vietnam and The World (CONUS). The city just outside the main gate of the Naval base was Olongapo City or “Po City”, noted for its night clubs and many agreeable women. Leaving the base a sailor had to cross over a bridge that went over a drainage channel, also known as “shit river”, because of the constant raw sewage and filthy conditions. Young children would tread water just below the bridge and yell at sailors to throw coins in the water, which they would dive for and come back to the surface with the coin in their mouth.
Suckbag: Another name for a dirtbag or shitbag
Sucking Rubber: (Submarine Service) Extended periods wearing Emergency Air Breathing devices (EABs), A full-face air mask similar to that worn by firefighters, except fed from ship’s emergency air system rather than a bottle on your back. Also refers to wearing a gas mask such as the MCU-2P for protection against chemical, biological or radiological attack.
Suck Meter: Similar to a fun meter, this fictitious gauge displays how shitty a given situation is. “Cruise got extended indefinitely the day we were supposed to out-chop and head home? Man, my suck meter just red-lined!”
Summer creases: Military creases incorrectly or crookedly ironed into uniforms. “Some are here, some are there.” (see Railroad Tracks).
Swab: Mop.
SWAG: Scientific/simple Wild Ass Guess. Used commonly on Navy exams.
Swamp Donkey: an ugly woman you would have sex with if there were no other choices available.
Swap Paint: Euphemism for a mid-air collision
Sweat the Bulkheads: Indoor PT during boot camp which doesn’t stop until the bulkheads are running with condensate.
Swims: Aviation water survival training. This 2-day class must be completed every few years by pilots and aircrew. Consists of classroom and pool instruction and culminates with the dreaded “Dilbert Dunker” and “Helo Dunker.”
Swim call: Ship stops and off duty crew jumps in the ocean for a swim.
SWO: Surface Warfare Officer. SWOs are sometimes referred to as “SWO-dogs” or “SWO-Daddys”, and the phrase “SWOs eat their young” is heard often in reference to the treatment of junior officers in the community.

[edit] T
Tack On: In an informal ceremony, when a sailor is frocked (see above), each of the shipmates in his unit who are already in the higher paygrade to which he is frocked “tack on” his crow by making a fist and pounding on the crow on your rating badge (which is sewn to the sleeve of your uniform). It is considered poor form to “tack on” with more than one pound of the fist; nonetheless, after a number of your buddies have “tacked on” your crow, your arm is generally black, blue, bruised, and extremely sore. A mild form of hazing.
TAD or TDY: Temporary Assigned/Additional Duty or Temporary Duty
TAD: Traveling Around Drunk; Taking A Dump
Tail: long cable containing a sonar array that is trailed out behind a ship or submarine
Tailhook: Long metal hook that hangs below a fixed-wing aircraft as it attempts to land on an aircraft carrier. If all goes as planned, the tailhook engages one of the arresting wires that are stretched across the deck, and the aircraft comes to a halt in a very short landing area.
Tailhook Association: Professional organization for fixed-wing carrier pilots. Notorious for an out-of-control convention in Las Vegas in the early 1990s (often referred to as simply “Tailhook”), this organization still exists, albeit in a very watered down version.
Tango Lima: Phonetic of “TL,” which is short for The Trophy Lounge, a club in National City, CA frequented by “WESTPAC widows” and sailors assigned to ships homeported at NAVSTA San Diego. Popular for its loose women and proximity to the base.
Tango Uniform: Phonetic shorthand for Tits Up, meaning non-functional or dead. A piece of gear that is out of order is said to be Tango Uniform. See tits-up below.
Tape Zebra: Maddening condition aboard ship, especially aircraft carriers, where passageways are “taped off” so that they may be waxed, dried, and buffed in the middle of the night. It seems that the passageways are purposely chosen to maximize delay and frustration when a pilot has to do an oh-dark-thirty preflight or some other duty. Junior enlisted sailors take special delight in denying officers access to these passageways. Likewise, junior officers thoroughly enjoy when a man overboard or GQ is called in the middle of the night, so as to crash through tape zebra and trample through the wet wax.
T.A.R.F.U.: Things Are Really Fucked Up.
Target: submariner term to describe the surface fleet or anything other than an identified friendly submarine. Most common use is in the phrase “There are two types of ships, Submarines and Targets.” Also known as Surface Skimmer (see above)
TED: Typical Enlisted Dude. Either you know one or you are one.
TDU (Submarine Service): Trash Disposal Unit. Sophisticated AN-DEEP-6 weapons system.
Tilly: large crane on the flight deck.
Time On The Pond: Refers to a sailor’s sea time in terms of the number of cruises or patrols completed. More “Time on the Pond” means more Real-Navy sea experience. (See “Salty,” above)
Time Machine: A sailor’s rack. Usually referred to by senior personnel without many daily responsibilities. Referred to as a time machine, because if you sleep 12 hrs a day then you have effectively slept away half of the deployment. (see Pit).
Timmy: A name used by RDC’s when an anonymous recruit messes up and doesn’t take credit for his behavior. Also Seaman Timmy, junior sailor who can’t seem to do anything right and is always getting himself into trouble. Named for Timmy, the boy on the old Lassie show who always seemed to find himself trapped in a well/abandoned mine/bear trap/etc.
Titivaion: Hour long field day held daily onboard USS Cape St. George (CG-71), see XO’s “Happy Hour”
Tea Bagging: similar to rimjob but in this case the sailor dunks his nut sack in a beverage of a unliked individual.
TFOA: Things Falling Off Aircraft - when a piece of an aircraft falls off for no apparent reason during flight. Unfortunately, this happens a lot more than most people realize, with obvious negative repercussions, especially over a populated area.
Tin can: Destroyer.
Tire Chaser: Term used usually by Aviation Boatswains Mates to describe Blue Shirts or Chock Walkers on the flight deck and hangar bay of an aircraft carrier.
Titless Wave: A yeoman or one who performs clerical duties. At one time, yeoman was one of the few positions open to female navy personnel or Waves.
Tits Machine: Old-school term for a kick-ass aircraft, usually a fighter, that consisted of little more than an airframe, minimal avionics, and a huge engine or two. The F-8 Crusader was universally accepted as a tits machine.
Tits-up: Out of commission; hard-down. Sometimes spoken as Tits Up.
TLD (Nuclear): Tiny Little Dildo. Thermo Luminescent Dosimeter. Navy belt adornment. Worn by nukes to see how much radiation is received in a period of time. Often a good source of humor for when the topsiders ask what they are for.
TOD: Typical Officer Dude. A weak attempt by TEDs to come up with a nickname for officers.
Topsider: (Carrier) Anyone who is not a nuke.
Torpedo Sponge: Similar to “Missile Sponge”, this refers to the smaller ships in a convoy, whose duty it is to protect the carrier, to the point of taking the torpedo hit for the carrier if needed.
Touch and Go’s: Repeatedly falling asleep in a meeting or a class while trying desperately to stay awake. After nodding off, the person’s head will dip forward almost to his chest, whereupon he will snap back into a very brief state of semi-consciousness and repeat the process. Named after practice landings where the aircraft descends, briefly touches down while still rolling forward, and quickly becomes airborne again. Very prevalent at AOM’s and training. Also called “giving the invisible man head.”
TOW: Tail Over Water - usually how they parked the Hummer in the Hummer hole; backed up so the tail hung out over the edge of the flight deck.
Tower Flower: Usually the SUPPO or another person with almost zero aviation experience who is tasked with manning the control tower on a small boy or supply ship. Differs from the LSO (Paddles), who must be a pilot.
Trap: A fixed-wing arrested landing on an aircraft carrier. In the helo world, the Rapid Securing Device (RSD) on the deck of a “small boy.”
The Trade School - The U.S. Naval Academy
Trail marker: Salisbury steak
Training Aid: Submarine name for a hot dog or other sausage. Insinuates that the consumer is practicing for another activity.
T-Rex: A term given to Naval aviators by ‘black shoes’ referencing aviators short arms (like a t-rex) limiting their ability to reach into their pockets to pull out money to buy beer or coffee.
Trice Up: Make your rack. (rack = bed) The old racks had a hook to secure it to the bulkhead. Hence the term “All hands heave out and trice up” or jump out of your rack and make it. (Originally referred to hammocks; “tricing up” is hoisting up and securing with a small line.)
Triple Sticks: Refers to the aircraft in the fighter squadron on a carrier with the side number “111″. Usually in radio communications, as in “Triple sticks, call the ball.”
Triwall: An extremely large cardboard box. So called because they are made of triple layer corrugated cardboard.
Trout: See Scupper Trout.
Tube steak: hot dogs (also, called “dangling sirloin”).
Turd: (Submarine Service) A surface ship (it smells, looks, and floats like a turd, therefore, it must be a turd).
Turd Chaser: An HT - Hull Technician. Renowned for their ability to find a clog in the ship’s sewage treatment system. Motto: “We ain’t quittin’ until you’re shittin’!”
Turkey: slang for the F-14 Tomcat
Turn-to: The command, normally given over the 1MC signalling the beginning of the work day. Also given to return to normal ships work, generally used after GQ or other special evolutions.
Tweak: An AT- Avionics Technician
Tweaker (Submarine Service): Electronics rating; any engineering rating not gronking a wrench. (See “gronk” above, see “wrench” OED)
Tweaker: A very small screw driver used by EM’s and ET’s to make meters indicate correctly.
Tweener (Submarine Service): Affectionate term for Missile Technicians on Ballistic Missile Submarines. Usually called out during the “Coner” and “Nuke” throwbacks, since the Missile Compartment is “between” the Forward(Coner) and Engineering(Nuke) spaces.
Twidget: Sailor in the Electronics or Electrical fields of job specialties.
Two-block: To center or tighten; derived from tackle.
Two-Digit Midget: Sailor with 99 or less days until his/her “End of Active Obligated Service”, or EAOS.
Tuna Boat: A submarine tender, or other non-combat ship that is comprised nearly completely by female sailors. Example: “We’re going to have great liberty this port! A tuna boat just pulled in.”
Turn ‘n Burn: Casual for “Get busy!” From formal daily announcement Turn to ship’s work, often given as direct order Turn to!

[edit] U
UA: Unauthorized absence up to 30 days
Un-ass: To let go of, give up, or share something. The concept is that you keep something precious (that you don’t want others to have or share) somewhere away from prying eyes (such as, theoretically, in your ass). Usually used in the form of a demand that you share something (like geedunk), as in “Un-ass, motherfucker!” Another definition comes from the old horse US Army. Un-ass would mean to remove the item from the “ass” which would be the pack animal.
Uncle Sam’s Confused Group (USCG): the United States Coast Guard - an organization that is the fifth armed service, yet falls under the Dept of Homeland Security, and operates generally small ships, boats, and aircraft that have limited warfighting capability.
Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children (USMC): The United States Marine Corps
Underway Sock: (Submarine Service) A soft sock brought underway to comfort a frustrated submariner.
Un-Fuck: to correct something that is screwed up. (Ex. Go un-fuck your gig line, Seaman Schmuckatelli.)
UNODIR: UNless Otherwise DIRected; enables TRUST-based management by exception (MBE)
UNREP: UNderway REPlenishment - Taking supplies from the supply ship by maneuvering alongside and passing lines between the two vessels. Differs from “VERTREP.”
USS Backyard: Term for the sailor’s home of record, to which he or she happily returns upon discharge.
USS LASTSHIP: Term for sailor’s trying to tell a story, or give an example of how business was handled at their last command
USS Neverdock: Ship that seems to stay out at sea for unusually long periods of time. For sailors, this is usually their own ship.
USS Neversail: Mock-up ship found in boot camp, also called USS Recruit. Can also refer to real ships that seldom leave port, such as Sub-tenders.
USS Nottagain (DD 214): Used by sailors separating from the Navy when asked which command they are going to. Also can be used by former sailors when visiting old friends and asked by new personnel which ship they are on. “DD 214″ is the form that must be filled out for a military member to get discharged.
USS Usetafish - A submarine veteran’s previous command.

[edit] V
Vampire: Inbound missile to the ship. Typically announced over the 1MC, shortly followed by relative location (i.e. port quarter, starboard bow, etc.), and “all hands, brace for shock.”
Vampire Liberty: Getting the day off for donating a pint of blood.
VERTREP: VERTical REPlenishment - taking supplies from the supply ship via helo pick up and drop off. Back in the day this was most often accomplished by the mighty CH-46 Sea Knight (see “Phrog”), although any aircraft with a cargo hook installed can do it. Differs from UNREP (see above).
Very well: Senior to subordinate acknowledgement.
Virtual Liberty: The idea that a sailor could walk off the ship and, instead of going into town, step on his crank, throw his wallet into the water and hit himself over the head with a blunt object. The result would be waking up on the pier the next morning with an aching crotch, no money, a serious headache and the inability to remember anything from the previous night; just like actual liberty.
Vitamin M: Similar to Corpsman Candy above, but in this context relating to Motrin (Ibuprofen), which is occasionally used to combat the various aches/pains/headaches associated with military service. Applied as a panacea for any illness. A Corpsman would likely prescribe Vitamin M for pregnancy and cancer, if he could get away with it. Does not refer to real vitamin M (folic acid).
Voluntold: When a sailor is volunteered into a collateral duty by his superior. “I need a volunteer, you over there!”
Vulcan Death Watch: A long evaluation or training drill onboard a submarine. It normally goes on for hours with no clear ending point.
Vultures Row: Place where people can watch flight operations without being in the way.

[edit] W
Wardroom: Officer’s mess, or dining room. Also used to collectively refer to all the officers at a command.
Warm and Fuzzy: a feeling that something has been done correctly and will produce the desired results. Most often used in the negative. When someone thinks something is not right, they often say “I’m not getting a warm and fuzzy.”
Warrant: A chief warrant officer. In the navy warrants are generally older and more experienced in a particular area of expertise than a commissioned line officer, much like an “LDO.” Unlike the army, an enlisted sailor must first be promoted to chief petty officer before becoming a chief warrant officer.
Watch: A period of duty, usually of four-hours duration. The day at sea has long been divided into watches, which are called: midwatch (0000 to 0400); rev watch (reveille) or morning watch (0400 to 0800); forenoon watch (0800 to 1200); afternoon watch (1200 to 1600); and the first watch (2000 to 2400). The period from 1600 to 2000 is usually split into two dog watches (first dog watch, second dog watch) to allow the crew to eat. Watch-standers in the Navy are required to report fifteen minutes before their watch is to begin in order to learn any needed instructions, situations, etc, from the preceding watch-standers. The new watch takes over from the previous when the watch officer or section leader officially relieves his predecessor; this must be done by the official, posted clock-time; (so, for example, a midwatch would run from 2345 to 0345, presuming that the hand-off is very quick). This schedule is not carved in stone, and variations exist depending on the command (some midwatches, for example run from “ten to two” — 2200 to 0200).
Water wings: Surface Warfare Officer’s badge (so named by aviators.) A term pridefully used by non-carrier SWOs.
Wave-off: In naval aviation, to voluntarily discontinue an approach to a landing or a hover because of unsafe or uncomfortable flight conditions. In other situations, to discontinue what you were doing due to some unforeseen circumstance. (Ex. He started walking towards the hottie in the Filipino bar, but had to wave-off when he noticed “her” adam’s apple and pants bulge.)
Waxing the Dolphin: Masturbating.
Weather Guesser: Term usually applied to personnel in the Aerographer’s Mate (AG) Rating.
Wedge: Nickname for someone so deserving. The simplest tool.
WEFT: Typically it stands for “Wings, Exhaust (or Engine, for prop aircraft), Fuselage, Tail” and is a method by which ship’s lookout stations can visually identify aircraft within the vicinity. However, since training for this tends to be spotty at best, identification of aircraft is often incorrect, leading to the second definition: “Wrong Every Fucking Time”.
Weaponette: (pl: Weaponettes) (Submarine Service) Pejorative term for the members of a submarine’s Weapons Department, used by members of the Navigation/Operations Department or Engineering Department, usually when they want their stolen tools back.
WESTPAC: While this usually refers to the western Pacific area of operations, it can also refer to a type of deployment in which a unit heads to multiple locations throughout said area. Often used in, “Damn, we just did a six-month WESTPAC, barely got home for a week, and now we’re heading out again?”
WESTPAC Rules: “That which happens in WESTPAC stays in WESTPAC”. Self censorship of letters home so that exploits of any individual is not inadvertently revealed to that person’s wife or girlfriend through casual reference in a letter to one’s own wife or girlfriend.
WESTPAC Widow: The wives of sailors who are on deployment, usually found in bars near their husbands naval base
Wet Deck: When your woman comes home late with another man’s semen in her vagina.
Wet Suit Camel Toe: A disturbing sight caused by a (usually older and) fatter rescue swimmer attempting to squeeze into his wet suit for SAR duty. Often seen entering and exiting helos that are providing SAR services.
Wetting Down: An informal requirement for an officer who has just been promoted. The exact amount may vary by command and community, but the general rule of thumb is that the officer has to lay down a bar tab equal to the amount of his monthly raise for the enjoyment of his wardroom mates. On cruise, several officers may be promoted between port calls, resulting in quite a party when they pull in.
Wheel Book: A small notebook, usually used by Division Officers or Chiefs to keep track of daily events and reminders
Wheels: Nickname for a Quartermaster, whose rating insignia is an eight-spoked ship’s helm wheel.
Wheels Up: aviator’s term for actual launch time (the wheels are up off the deck. Example: “I want to be wheels up at 0600″ means not to be walking to the plane at 6 am, but to be actually on the way at 6 am.
Whether leave: Departing the command for an extended period whether or not official permission has been requested and/or granted. Or, whether or not the sailor has leave on the books. Example: “I’m taking leave whether the skipper lets me or not.” (See “UA” and “AOL”)
Whidbey Whale: Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) variant of a dependent spouse who married her USN member/high school sweetheart husband when they were both skinny, but later, she became orca fat, ballooning to gigantic proportions, while he remained a skinny little guy. These unfortunately mismatched couples can usually be seen on weekends in and around the commissary and Navy Exchange (NEX).
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot: W.T.F. What the Fuck?
Whistling Shit Can of Death: CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter. Known for flipping over while attempting to take off (they have to move the rotors back and forth) and also having transmission failures 20 miles out from MCAS New River.
Whiz Quiz: “Piss Test,” Urinalysis, Operation Golden Flow. Failing is known as “popping positive.”
Widow/Widower: Describes wives (and now husbands) with spouses on deployment. Single, for all intents and purposes, until the day their spouse returns from deployment. Prefaced by the type or theater of service the deployed spouse is in, e.g. “WESTPAC widow” or “Boomer Widow”.
Wings: Naval Aviator or Naval Flight Officer breast insignia. Naval Aircrewman breast insignia. Also the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist breast insignia.
Wingman: In aviation, the term applied to members of a flight other than the mission commander whose purpose is to support and protect the mission commander in combat situations. Also a bar term referring to a person who is assigned to distract the companion of a potential piece of tail their friend is trying to entice.
Wire Biter: Electrician’s Mate.
Wog: short for “pollywog”, as in “wog ceremony”. A wog refers to someone who has not crossed the equator in an official Navy hazing ceremony. Although hazing is technically illegal, the Navy still supports this practice (typically under the watchful eye of the CMC), although it has become relatively benign compared with days of old. Officers and enlisted alike can be targets of this ceremony, run by “shellbacks.” According to lore, if the wogs of a ship manage to find and capture the “Jollyroger” (the black skull and crossbones flag) before midnight of the day before the ceremony, then they will get to run the shellbacks through the ceremony. It is not clear if this has ever been done. Officially, any crewmember having previously crossed the equator, whether in the Navy or not, does not have to participate in the ceremony. Unofficially, if said person cannot produce a Shellback Card, that person will participate.
Wolf Ticket: Highly suspect information. Can refer to malicious “scuttlebutt,” exaggerated “no-shitters,” or blatantly phony sea stories.
Working Party: When there is loading of supplies, the Quarter Deck will call for a “working party” to be manned by each division of the ship, the number depending on the task.
Workups: 1- to 6-week periods preceding a deployment during which the ship and/or its airwing practice and prepare. Widely known workups involving the carrier and the airwing are TSTA, COMPTUEX, JTFX and RIMPAC. Airwing only workups include trips to NAS Fallon and NAS Key West.
Would you like a kick to help you get airborne?: seen on a numerical list of epithet substitutions, especially transmitted over radio, which has to stay clean
Wrinkle-neck Bass: See Scupper Trout.
WTFO: “What the Fuck, Over” (pronounced “wit fo” or “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Oscar” using the phonetic alphabet): colorful way of asking what just happened, ie, “What the Fuck?”
WUBA: (pronounced wooba) “Woman Used by All.” or “Woman w/ an Unusually Big Ass.” Self explanatory. Also an acronym that stands for Working Uniform Blue Alpha.
WUBA Chariot: Elliptical exercise machines more often than not used by females.
WUBAflage: (pronounced like camouflage) term for civilian clothes worn by WUBA’s.

[edit] X
XOI: Form of non-judicial punishment in which the wayward sailor appears before the executive officer (XO). After hearing the details of the case, the XO may recommend dismissal or refer it to the Commanding Officer (CO) for “Mast.”
XO’s Happy Hour: Daily hour-long mandatory cleaning evolution. Usually introduced by XO on the 1MC.
XO’s Door: Trophy commonly traded between the engineering divisions on an underway submarine as a way to alleviate boredom.
Xoxing Logs: (Submarine Service) (Derived from the word “Xerox,” pronounced “zoxing”) Entering engineering log data eerily similar to the previous hour’s log data.

[edit] Y
Yokes: Short for Yokohama, the large black rubber fenders floating alongside a pier, on which the ship rests when pierside.
Yoko: Yokosuka, Japan.
Your Boy: What you refer to someone as when you don’t want ownership, responsibility or relation to them. “Seaman Dumbshit over there is ‘your’ boy.” “He isn’t my boy.” “Oh, no, your boys.” Alternately “What’s goin’ on with your boy?” is fairly standard. Also referred to as “Yankee Bravo,” which is phonetic alphabet for the letters Y and B.

[edit] Z
Zarf: A cupholder on a submarine. It’s very simple and may be riveted to any available vertical sheet metal.
Zero: Officer. Term derived from their paygrade; O-1, O-2, etc.
Zipper Failure: a leading reason why Black Shoe commanding officers get to hear band music at their first change of command, and not at the second.
Zoomie: Aviator. Usually applied to USAF pilots. Stems from the USAF Academy - the “blue zoo” where civilians observe formations march to lunch daily from the chapel wall.
Zoomies: Particle radiation originating from naval nuclear power or nuclear weapons.
ZUT: CW (Morse radiotelegraphy) forever. Unoffocial procedure signal (obsolete). Retired RMs may have a ZUT certificate, or even tattoo.
Zoom Bag: Flight suit
(The) Zoo: USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6). A Wichita-class Replenishment Oiler that served the U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 1973-1996.

CAVU: Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited - perfect flying weather. Pronounced as “Ka-Voo”, it is commonly used in sentences such as “CAVU to the Moon”.
CB - Construction Battalion (pronounced Seabees)
CBC: Clean Bitches Clean. A term used to order junior sailors to clean so they can to secure for the day, or to commence field day.
Cellblock 10: Crew-coined term for the USS Juneau. Term could come from the feeling that the Juneau has the homely warmth of a prison cellblock. 10 is the vessel’s hull number.
Cellblock 65: Same as above only referring to the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN-65).
CC: Company Commander in bootcamp - the place where new boots start learn all these new ‘hosed up’ terms
CF: (pronounced Charlie Foxtrot) Cluster fuck, meaning completely screwed up.
CFIT (pron. see-fit): Controlled Flight into Terrain - When a pilot flies a perfectly good airplane into the ground or the water. Often fatal if unanticipated.
C-GU11: Seagull. Pronounced “See-Gee-Yuu-Eleven.” Similar to “bulkhead remover,” an inexpensive way to derive enjoyment from inexperienced personnel on watch. “Forward lookout, keep an eye out for signs of C-GU11s in the area, over.” Also sometimes spelled C-6U11, Z-6UL1 or various L33T-like combinations.
Channel Fever: Said if a sailor is anxious when approaching port to get leave. Sometimes cured by the “Channel Fever Shot”, a slap or kick to the backside.
Charles County Crab: Throughout the years the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal has moved several times. It is currently located at Eglin AFB, Florida. The term “Charles County Crab” refers to the “crab” insignia worn by graduates of Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, who attended training during the period of time when NAVSCHOLEOD was based at Naval Ordnance Station, Indian Head, Charles County Maryland (old school).
Charlie Foxtrot: See “clusterfuck”
Charlie Noble: The stove pipe from the mess deck, the cleaning of which is a major chore.
Charlie Oscar: Phonetic letters C and O. Refers to the Commanding Officer of a unit.
Chart: What landlubbers call a “map”.
Charting: A practice peculiar to Operations Specialists in which they take any personal gear left unstowed by the previous watch section (usually personal coffee cups) and fling them overboard, marking the location on the chart and subsequently inform the unfortunate owner of the location, remarking that he is free to return to retrieve it at his leisure.
Check Valve (primarily used by Engineering/Reactor departments): A shipmate who is willing to acdddcept (and may even ask for) gedunk or help, but isn’t willing to give. He is being “one way”…(a check valve only allows flow in one direction).
Cheez Whiz: Derogatory term for Chief Warrant Officers, former enlisted personnel who have received a commission for specialized skills. Most Warrant Officers (aka “Warrants”) are former Chiefs but have “moved up” to the officers’ mess (Wardroom), hence there is often a degree of resentment and animosity between the two groups.
CHENG: Chief Engineer
Chicken Suit: A yellow cloth suit that is worn from head-to-toe by navy “Nukes” (see below) when cleaning up radioactive spills or are otherwise in areas that may lead to skin contamination by radioactive material. To complete the ensemble, bright orange rubber gloves are worn as well.
Chit: Name given to the document a sailor fills out to make various types of special request (i.e. emergency leave, move off base to civilian housing, etc.)
My Wife Chit: A special request that uses the wife as the excuse/justification for needing to be absent.
Chop, The: Supply Officer. Taken from the Supply Corps’ porkchop-shaped insignia.
Chow: Food.
Chow Boss: Food Service Officer.
Chow down: Eat.
Chow Hall: Dining room.
Chow Hound: Someone who never misses a meal. A proficient chow hound generally gains membership in the Chub Club.
Chrome Dome: Bright silver helmet worn by officer candidates as part of the “poopie suit” during the first week of OCS.
Chub Club: Sailors assigned mandatory physical training due to being overweight.
Chuckie V: USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Also Chuckwagon, Chuck Bucket.
Chula-juana: Derisive term for the city of Chula Vista, CA, a city where many sailors assigned to NAVSTA San Diego live for its proximity to the base and perceived similarity to Tijuana, Mexico.
CIC: Combat Information Center - see “Combat” below
Cinderella Liberty: Liberty that expires at midnight.
CIVLANT: Form DD-214 transfers you from COMSUBLANT to CIVLANT.
CIWS (pron. sea whiz): Close in Weapon System, or Phalanx gun, also “Captain, it won’t shoot!”, is intended to shoot down incoming missiles, but is frequently under repair.
CLA: A career-limiting action. A truly bad whatever that spells the end. Leads to questions about the location of the truck-driver school phone number. aka CLE event.
Cleaning Stations: Hour-long field day evolution where everyone drops what they’re doing and cleans their spaces. See “XO’s Happy Hour”
Clinometer: 1. (Also known as an inclinometer) An instrument for measuring angles of slope (or tilt), elevation or inclination of an object with respect to gravity. 2. An instrument used on shipboard to indicate the approximate amount of vomit being produced by the ship’s crew.
Clobbered: When the landing pattern or the comms frequency at a field or ship is filled to capacity and you can’t get an aircraft or a word in.
Clusterfuck: Term used to describe an evolution that has gone awry.
Coastie: A Coast Guardsman.
COB: (Submarine Service) Chief of the Boat; a chief (generally a Master or Senior Chief) specifically assigned to the submarine to liaise between the CO and the crew of the boat. Such a good idea, that the surface fleet borrowed it, mucked it up, and created the CMC (Command Master Chief) program.
COD: Carrier Onboard Delivery - the mighty C-2 Greyhound, which ferries people and supplies to and from the carrier on a regular basis. The C-2 Greyhound COD was preceded in service by the smaller C-1 Trader (photo) COD aircraft.
Coffin Locker: A personal storage area located underneath a sailor’s rack (see below).
Cold Shot: A catapult launch from a carrier in which insufficient speed is attained to generate lift. Often fatal for the aircrew if they do not eject in time.
Connex Box Talk: A shipping container used when a Junior “dirt Sailor” is in need of a Physical attitude re-alignment. Although officially illegal under the U.C.M.J. It is rumored to be an effective tool but generally only allowed in the most severe cases.
Combat: Short for Combat Information Center (CIC). This space is a nexus where all of the ship’s sensors and weapons systems come together. The room is filled with various screens and displays, and the Tactical Action Officer (TAO) “fights the ship” from there.
Combat Dump: Evacuating the bowels right before a flight or a mission. Also called “putting the marines ashore” or “drowning an O-4.”
Combo Cover: Short for Combination Cover, which is a type of hat worn by chiefs and officers. It is circular on top and covered with white or khaki fabric. On the front you’ll find the officer’s crest or the (senior or master) chief’s insignia. Below that there is a chin strap and a black brim. AKA visor cap.
Commodore: Title of the Captain (O-6) in charge of a squadron of ships or submarines or a wing of the same type of aircraft. Prior to 1984 this was the designation given to the lowest rank of flag officer (O-7 or one-star); however, there was occasional confusion with the other military branches over whether a Commodore was a flag officer. To be more inline with the other services, the US Navy changed the one-star title to Rear Admiral, Lower Half.
Commodore: The title given for any Captain embarked upon a naval vessel that he is not the CO of the unit, even if the CO of the unit is a Commander, he is the “Captain”. There can be only one Captain. This most commonly occurs on submarines and destroyers.
COMNAVFUDGEPAC: Pejorative for any suspected homosexual sailor onboard a ship or station. Derives from the acronym “COMNAVSURFPAC” (Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Pacific), with the humorous reference to “fudge-pack[ing].”
Comp Time: Compensation Time, time/days off during week for shore-based sailors who had weekend assignments, above and beyond mere watch-standing.
Conar Tech: Slang for Sonar Tech, Coner+Sonar= Conar.
Coner: (Submarine Service) A submarine crewman who is not part of the engineering department (synonymous with retard), especially Torpedomen. Also known as “Forward Pukes” and “Fags” (see below)
Constantly Gone: Guided missile cruiser (CG), especially during the Gulf War due to their lengthly underway time and extended deployments

Cool Breeze: Laid back individual that can be found randomly in fields watching sunsets. Also may or may not be collecting butterflies and placing them in jars. Cool Breezes can be found normally on Whidbey Island.
Corpsman Candy: Sore-throat lozenges handed out at sick bay in lieu of any substantive treatment. Sometimes accompanied by two aspirin.
Corp Whore: A degrading term for a female corpsman.
Countersunk Sailor: Female sailor.
Cover: HEADGEAR - includes the dixie cup (white hat (go figure)), cloth cap (cracker jack cover), watch cap, snoopy headgear, fatigue cap; garrison cap: see “piss cutter”, “cunt cap” and “combo cover”; NOW HEAR THIS: These are NOT hats. Ladies wear hats, sailors and Marines wear “covers”. That is all.
The COW: The Commanding Officer’s Wife
Crab: affectionate slang term for the warefare insignia/ badge worn by special operations personnel qualified in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (BOMB SQUAD).
Cracker Jacks: Slang for the dress blue uniforms worn by sailors E-6 and below. (see Marine Corps Table Cloth)
Crack House: Designated smoking area aboard ship that is not a weatherdeck space. Quickly fills with a haze of smoke. Also called “Crack shack”.
Crank: See “Mess Crank”
Crash & Smash: Permanently assigned flight deck firefighting personnel. Also, a game played by aviation personnel involving several long tables and a great deal of beer, wherein the aviators attempt to replicate with their bodies the arrested landings their aircraft make.
Crazy Ivan: (Submarine Service), demonstrated in the movie The Hunt for Red October. Russian submarines would quickly turn 180 degrees while underway to see whether any American submarines were following. Collisions occasionally resulted during the Cold War.
Creamed foreskins: creamed chipped beef.
Cripler: Tripler Army Medical Center, Oahu, scourge of sailors at Pearl Harbor.
Crotch Crickets: Pubic lice, a/k/a Crabs.
Crow: Black eagle for petty officer rank used on a white uniform
Crow Fever: A term when a sailor reaches E-4 and lets the limited authority of the rank go to his head, causing him to go mad with petty power.
Cruise: A 6-month (or longer) deployment on a ship. Work-ups precede cruise.
Cruise sock: A sock that is sacrificed early in a deployment and used to clean up after masturbating. It is usually kept under the mattress and can stand up on its own by the end of cruise.
Crunch: Aircraft handling mishap that results in structural damage to one or more aircraft.
Crunchies: Marines or soldiers. Derived from the sound they make when tanks roll over them.
Crusty: A term applied to an old, seasoned sailor when he is beyond salty. It’s time for him to retire, but he can’t seem to let go, and the Navy forgot he was still around (frequently the case with geriatric Senior Chiefs). Can also describe a sailor’s underwear, when that sailor has bowel control problems and personal hygiene problems.
Cryppy/Cryppy Critter: Cryptographer, also seen on a highway near the Cryptography School in San Angelo, Texas without vowels, as CRYPPY CRTTR.
Cum Dumpster: A derogatory term for a woman, used by sailors who are looking for a quick sexual release after an extended period of celibacy.
Cumshaw: Other than ethical means of procurement ;^) aka midnight marine supply, etc.
CUNT: Civilian Under Naval Training
Cunt Cap: Garrison Cap (fore-and-aft cover worn by CPO, WO, and commissioned officers. Oh, yes, Marines wear them, too). See “Piss Cutter”
Cut orders (for transfer, travel): Before photocopiers were common, such were prepared by typing a mimeo or ditto master, due to the number pF copies required. (Term may be obsolete today. As with most obsolete Naval terms, still in wide use.)
CVIC: (pron. “civic”) Carrier Intelligence Center - centrally located space on an aircraft carrier occupied by intelligence officers and IS’s. Flight crews often go there to debrief after a flight. The most useful thing in CVIC is usually the high-speed industrial strength paper shredder.
CVE: (pron. cee-vee-ee) Normally it means escort aircraft carrier but it also means “Combustible, Vulnerable, and Expendable” by their crews due to lack of armor.

[edit] D
Danger Nut: A “fun” game in which one or more sailors place a washer or nut around a rod or similar metal device and then hold it to a HP Air hose, 125-700 psi. The washer or nut spins wildly due to the high pressure air venting. Once it reaches a high enough speed, the rod is turned so that the air blows the object completely off the rod and around the machinery room. At which point A-Gangers giggle and try to hide behind the EOG. Thus the beloved name, “DANGER NUT”.
DCA: Damage Control Assistant, usually is a junior officer.
D.C. Dink: A sailor who has failed to qualify in Damage Control in the stipulated time period and has become “Damage Control Delinquent”.
D.B.F.: (Diesel Boats Forever) Unauthorized pin showing a non-nuclear submarine. Originally intended by the makers to be awarded whenever a nuke boat went brokedick and a diesel boat had to fill its role. Later co-opted by the diesel fleet at large and sailors began wearing the pin with stars for each diesel boat they served on, rather than each emergency deployment due to nuclear boat breakdowns.
DDA: Day Dick-Around: In naval aviation, a DDA is a very enjoyable flight during the day when there is no real mission or training to accomplish. The purpose of the flight is to burn gas or hours, often before the end of a quarter or fiscal year.
Death Pillows: Ravioli
Death Pucks: Hamburger Patty
Deck: Floor.
Deck Ape: Non-designated enlisted person serving on the deck force, often as result of washing out of “A” school or being stripped of another rating.
Deep Six: Obsolete term for throwing something overboard; refers to the “deep six”, the lowest fathom (six feet) before the ocean floor. Has been mostly replaced by Float Checking (see below). Is now generally used to refer to getting rid of something in any manner, including Personnel, for example - “Deep six your porn, Inspection at 0630″ See also: Float Test
Deep/Black Water OPs: Throwing things over the side when not authorized, such as trash or broken furniture
Department: Highest organizational level in most naval commands. Common departments are admin, deck, engineering, operations, and maintenance. Broken up into divisions.
Deployment: When your unit travels “over the horizon” and operates at the “pointy end of the spear” in support of national security. Most naval deployments last a minimum of six months (if you’re lucky!). Work-ups precede deployment. See “cruise.”
Det: Short for detachment. When part of a unit leaves and operates at another ship or base. Also used in reference to some “workups” that involve the entire unit. Ex. NAS Fallon det.
Devil Doc: Term used by Marines to describe Corpsmen that they like within Fleet Marine Force Units.
Devil Dolphins: Navy Personel serving with Marines in ground or combat operations or those wishing to do so. A relative new term with regards to the IRAQ and AFGANISTAN conflicts. Specifically Naval Corpsman or Seabee’s.
Dick Skinners: Hands, i.e. “get your dick skinners off my white hat”
Dicking the dog: putting “half-assed” effort into a task (refers to improperly securing the “dogs” on a watertight hatch when passing through. Such a lax procedure could spell doom for a sinking ship if hatches were not absolutely watertight). Also said as “poking the poodle” or “fornicating the canine”. Not to be confused with “screwing the pooch” which refers to royally (often fatally) messing up a task.
Dicksmith: Derogatory term for hospital corpsmen.
Dig-it: Someone who loves the Navy (”digs it”). Also a shortened form of “dig-it tool,” a device such as a Leatherman or Gerber multi-tool often carried by those who love the Navy.
Dilbert: Fictional and clueless cartoon character used in WWII era training material to demonstrate what NOT to do in naval aviation. Dilbert often paid dearly for his ignorance, lack of attention to detail, or carelessness.
Dilbert Dunker: Device used in water survival training (”swims”) to teach aviators how to get out of the cockpit of a fixed-wing aircraft that has crashed or ditched at sea. Much easier than the dreaded “helo dunker.”
DILDO: Direct Input Limited Duty Officer - A civilian teacher hired to train nuclear-field candidates in theoretical math, physics, chemistry, materials, and thermodynamics. The commission was given specifically to these teachers in order for them to have some disciplinary tools and rank above their students. Commissions were for a set amount of time and these teachers did not have normal line officer duties.
D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F: (Do I Look Like I Give A Fuck?), A term indicating supreme indifference; “Gaffer”.
Ding: Similar to “hit” (see below). Also, to cause minor damage to something (Ex. He dinged his aileron when he had a birdstrike on final to the boat.)
Dining-in/Dining-out: Social functions, usually for officers and chiefs, where dinner dress is worn and certain “rules of the mess” are followed. Generally presided over by the Executive Officer (XO) and run by a Chief of Junior Officer (JO) called “Mr. Vice,” these events can become quite rowdy and raucous. The difference between the two is that significant others may attend dining-outs. Dining-ins are for the servicemembers only.
DINK: Acronym for married servicemembers with no children - Dual Income No Kids.
DINQ: (pronounced “Dink”) Acronym for Delinquent IN Qualifications. Ex: “That shitbird is dinq on ship’s quals!” Also Delinquent In Nuclear Quals.
Dipper: An anti-submarine helo with a variable depth dipping SONAR. See “Dome.”
Dirka: Any term referring to the language, money, or products of the Middle East.
Dirtbag: A lazy and almost useless sailor. Produces substandard work-usually creating extra work for his shipmates. Accompanied by a bad attitude and desire to leave service ASAP.
Dirty-dicking: Wiping one’s genital organ around the inside of a senior enlisted or officer’s coffee cup. Laughter ensues when the junior crewmen watch the senior victim “enjoying” their beverage.
Dirty-shirt wardroom: (Aircraft Carrier): Forward wardroom for pilots wearing (sweaty) flight gear. As opposed to formal ship’s wardroom.
Dirt Sailor: Nickname for Seabees who spend most of their time in a fox hole and never set foot on a ship.
Disbo: DISBursing Officer.
DISCO: DISCiplinary Officer. Usually works with Ship’s JAG Officer
Ditch: To intentionally crash land an aircraft as “gently” as possible - usually into the water. This is generally done when fuel is almost all used up with no hope of making it to a safe landing area, or when a slowly developing but potentially fatal emergency is going on.
Dit Dot Bomb: a form of hazing by taking the round paper cutouts left from a hole punch and putting them in a box or other container rigged to open and rain down on another. Mixing with shredded paper will give a greater effect.
DITE (prounuced Dite) acronym for “Dick in the eye” Usually reserved for undesirable tasks forced on one by superiors, “The weps is throwing some major league DITE our way, but we’ll take care of it.”
Ditty Bag: The term is at least 207 years old and originates with our seafarers, and not, as is supposed by some, with our 20th century armies. Ditty bag was originally called `ditto bag’ because it contained at least two of everything: two needles, two spools of thread, two buttons, etc. With the passing of years, the `ditto’ was dropped in favor of `ditty’ and remains so today. Before World War I, the Navy issued ditty boxes made of wood and styled after foot lockers. These carried the personal gear and some clothes of the sailor. Today, the ditty bag is still issued to recruits and contains a sewing kit, toiletry articles, and personal items such as writing paper and pens.
Ditty bag (usage varied): An issued sewing kit, kit of toiletries, or some combination. Occasionally: Any mesh bag, from the use of such to contain soiled laundry. (In days of yore before ample fresh water, such bags were pulled alongside for seawater rinsing.)
Divers: Word passed every 15-minutes when divers are working over the side of a ship. “Divers. There are divers working aboard USS . Do not rotate screws, cycle rudders, take suction from or discharge to the sea or throw anything over the side while diver’s are working aboard USS “.
Division: Middle organizational level in most naval commands, below department and above branch. Usually headed by a junior officer (JO). Common divisions are powerplants, airframes, 1st Lieutenant, etc… Divisions are sometimes divided into branches. A ship may have 1st and 2nd Divisions on the deck, M(Machinery) division and E(electrical) division, and Auxiliaries Division in engineering, Combat Systems division, and Weapons division as examples.
DIVO: DIVision Officer. See above.
Dixie Cup: The canvas white hat Sailors wear with their dress uniforms.
DFOB: (pronounced “dee fob”) Dumbest Fuck On Board.
Dock jumpers: The unfortunates who would have to leap ashore to tie up when no “line handlers” are available.
Dog: A Soft Serve Ice Cream machine. Named from the appearance of the Chocolate flavor in relation to a product of man’s best friend. Also referred to as auto dog.
Dog: To close or “dog down” a water tight hatch.
Dog: When one is overworked by a pissed off superior (”The chief completely dogged us.”), screwed over by a peer (”That brown-nosing little prick found my apple jack, so he went to the MAA and dogged me.”) , or, conversely, as a promise of impending doom (”Just wait until I get you in my galley, you little shitbird… I will dog you out”.)
Dog Log: An “unofficial” log which is kept by watch standers to record the important social events on the ship, such as: “STG3 Dirty Douche was caught with a fellow shipmate in coitus.” It is vital entertainment for shipmates stuck on duty in exotic ports while the rest of the ship gets shit-faced. It can also contain humorous drawings of the LPO, CPO, or DIVO. It is therefore an unauthorized piece of “gear adrift” that is usually hidden in various stations so as not to be found by the meddling higher ups.
Dog Vomit: A breakfast item in the same category as Shit on A Shingle. A mealy paste of tomato juice and hamburger, with bits of leftovers from the previous day’s evening meal. Usually served on toast.
Dog watch: Split of evening watch into two 2 hour watches - 1600-1800 and 1800 - 2000. Done to allow the watchstanders to eat the evening meal.
Dolphins: (Submarine Service) Submarine Qualification Device, called dolphins because of the dolphin fish used in the design.
Dome: A SONAR transmitter/receiver. It may be fixed, as in those mounted on the bow of a ship below the waterline, or mobile like those “dipped” by anti-submarine helos.
Donkey-Dick: Term used for many nozzle shaped implements. Also a large pipe cleaner used in the galley to unclog sink drains and steam jacketed kettles.
Dopey: Green log book hidden somewhere in an engineering space that sailors often write in to vent frustration in the form of prose, poetry or even drawings and cartoons. The information in the dopey could often lead to charges of mutiny and sedition if found. The location is usually well guarded against discovery by senior personnel.
Double-Digit Midget: Less than 100 days to EAOS. Also known as a “Two-Digit Midget”; pick your own favorite alliteration.
Double Nuts: Name given to the (usually brightly painted) CAG bird in each squadron in the airwing - so called because the side number ends with double zeros.
Double Ugly: Nickname for the F-4 Phantom back in the day
Douche Kit: Container (usually zipper closed) for toilet articles such as shaving cream, deoderant, after shave lotion, etc.
Down: Not working, out of commission, broken, “broke-dick.” In aviation, non-flyable, usually for maintenance reasons. When applied to an aviator, it means not allowed to fly. This can be for a variety of reasons: medical, personal, disciplinary, etc… In flight training, a down is a failed flight.
DRB: Disciplinary Review Board. Composed of Chief Petty Officers, a sailor who has committed some infraction usually stands before this board to have his case heard. The board will either dismiss the case (with or without informal punishment) or recommend further review by the XO or the CO.
Drift Count: Monitoring the movement of the ship while at anchor.
Drifty: Sailor lacking the ability to stay focused while attempting to perform a given task. (Petty Officer to sailor: “Is there something the matter with you? You are acting drifty today!”)
Drifter: Sailor who at all times lacks the ability to stay focused. Also called drift-pack, or in the very extreme case “COMNAVDRIFTPAC”, a parody of COMNAVSURFPAC.
Drop a Chit: The act of filling out a chit.
Drop your cocks and grab your socks: A saying that the petty officer of the watch yells in the sleeping quarters when it’s time for everyone to get up. Often done in boot camp.
Drug Deal: A mutually beneficial agreement or compromise worked out between peers, conducted outside of normal channels and without approval from higher authority.
Duck Dinner: Slang for Dishonorable Discharge.
Dynamited Chicken: Chicken a la King or Chicken Cacciatore.

[edit] E
EAOS: End of Active Obligated Service. This is the normal end of enlistment unless the person reenlists. At this point the sailor is transferred into a non-active reserve status if they have spent less the eight years active duty for a length of time to result in eight years total active service or reserves and non-active reserves.
Earth Sack: Pile of shit or turd.
EAWS: Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist. Often pronounced “A-wis”.
Ed’s Motel: Navy Filmmakers’ acronym for Editorials, Motion Picture, and Television Department.
Emergency Blow (Submarine Service); Also known as “Hittin’ the Chicken Switches”: When a submarine is made to rapidly blow all the seawater out of her main ballast tanks; this results in a rapid (and uncontrolled) ascent to the surface. This makes an impressive display as the sub breaks the surface, as seen on TV: few submariners have ever seen this big splash, except on TV. The only thing submarine crewmen get to see during an emergency blow is: (1) the depth gauge moving counter-clockwise towards surface depth, and (2) all the unsecured gear hitting the overhead when surface depth is achieved. Performing this maneuver beneath other ships is not a good idea (see USS Greenville for details).
End-of-the-World Party: A party for a sailor who is about to leave on a cruise, often much like a bachelor party. It is said that this tradition originates with Vikings, who believed that they might sail off the end of world.
Ensign Upper Half: Alternative designation for those who fail to live up to the standards of O-2.
E-Nothin: Used to describe a junior Seaman. Usually reserved for someone right out of bootcamp or A School.
Enswine: Derogatory term for an ensign.
EMI: Extra Military Instruction. Extra work, usually as dirty as possible, assigned as punishment for minor infractions.
EOOW: Engineering Officer Of the Watch.
ESFOAD: Eat Shit, Fuck Off, And Die
ESWS: Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. Often pronounced “E-swas”.
E-ticket: When an officer has sex with an enlisted sailor it is referred to as the officer “getting his/her e-ticket punched.”
Even Numbered Chief: Pejorative for an E-8 who, through his own ineptitude, is unable to advance to E-9 and who refuses to let E-7’s be. Lonestar.
Evolution: Navy preferred term for exercise.
Expire Before Your ID Card: To die before being discharged.

[edit] F
FAB: Feet, Ass, and Balls. Smells occasionally encountered by the XO during his or her daily messing and berthing inspection.
FAG: Fighter Attack Guy - an F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet pilot or naval flight officer (”NFO”). Also a “Fine Academy Graduate” used as a derogatory term to refer to graduates of the Naval Academy. Also “Forward Area Guy” used as derogatory term for submarine personnel other than engineering department, brought upon due to a COB’s ban of the term “Coner” (see above).
F.A.T.A.F.U (pronounced fatafoo) Someone who serves on fast attack submarines (stands for Fast Attack Tough All Fucked Up)
F.A.W.C.U. (pronounced Fuck you) (Submarine Service): Focused After Watch Clean Up: usually between 1 to 2 hours of “Field Day” after every watch rotation.
Fart sack: Canvas mattress cover. (In cold conditions sailors would sleep inside them for extra warmth.)
Fart Suit: Dry suit worn by aviators when flying over extremely cold water. Keeps out the cold water and keeps everything else in.
Fashion Show: Form of remedial instruction usually used to correct deficiencies in uniform appearance. The sailor is required to dress in each service uniform, and stand a uniform inspection in each one, with the sailor’s supervisor or Chief as inspector.
Father: The navigational aid (TACAN) on the Aircraft Carrier (a.k.a. Mother).
Father’s Day: The most confusing day in any wardroom. There is a reason you call them ’sir’.
FEP: Fitness Enhancement Program. Mandatory physical training regimen designed to return sailors to within physical readiness standards. Also refers to sailors who are enrolled in the program… (derogatory acronym for: Fat Enlisted People / Forced Exercise Program”. See “Chub Club”.
Field Day: All hands clean-up. usually lasts on a good day about 3-4 hours. (30 min of cleaning and 2-4 hours of fucking off.)
Field Survey: To discard a worn-out item (”in the field,” often off the end of the pier) instead of submitting for formal “survey” to determine redistribution or disposal. Sometimes items handed down to a needier local unit.
F.I.G.M.O.: (Fuck It, Got My Orders, pronounced fig-mo); refusal of a long or tough assignment near the end of a duty rotation. Also seen as a name badge at this time, so officers/petty officers will forget your real name.
Fighting gear: Eating utensils.
Filet of Mule Tool: the green mystery meat or bologna used frequently for MidRats.
Filipino Mafia: Any group of sailors of Filipino descent at a command, often accused of favoritism and shady practices. Term likely originated in the days when Filipino sailors comprised the majority of Supply Department personnel (cooks, stewards, laundry, barbershop, supply issue) and those with connections to the “mafia” got faster, better service than the common guy.
Filthy Fifteen: The fifteen recruits assigned to maintain cleanliness of the compartment head for the division in boot camp.
Five and Dimes: A watch rotation where the sailor or watch team stand five hours of watch, then have ten hours off (to clean, perform maintenance, train, get qualified, conduct drills, take care of divisional business or their collateral duty, eat, shower, and occasionally sleep). This follows from a three-section watch rotation, and results in the sailor standing watch at a different time every day and night, repeating every three days.
Fish: (Submarine Service) See Dolphins, above. Also “torpedo”.
Flag Deck: command level on large ships for Admirals (flag rank, because they are entitled to show a flag with appropriate number of stars on a car, ship, etc. if they are present)
Flail: An action taken by leadership that is a major response to an extremely minor problem. The orders given usually do not address the original problem at all.
FlailEx: A pointless, flailing exercise. See “flail”.
Flathatting: Flying in a dangerous manner and performing unsafe and unnecessary maneuvers for the purpose of thrillseeking or fun.
Flattop: Aircraft carrier. Also the haircut worn by truly motivated sailors.
Fleet Up: When a second in command takes his senior’s place upon that senior’s transfer, retirement, or other re-assignment.
Fleet Meat: Term used by male sailors to describe sexually active female sailors.
Fleet Tac: Fleet Tactical radio frequency. This frequency is supposed to be monitored by every US and NATO ship in the world at all times. In reality, this is rarely the case.
Flight Deck Buzzard: Chicken (food).
Flight Line: The area on a ship or station where aircraft are made ready for flight. Also used as a prank on gullible new sailors, as in “Go get me 100 feet of flight line from the crash shack.”
Flip me for it: Pulling rank, with the senior sailor obscuring his crow/anchor (or with the submarine-qualified sailor obscuring his dolphins) as if revealing the side of a coin.
Float Check (also Flotation Testing): Throwing something overboard.
Float Test: (Submarine Service) A game usually played by the Topside and Pier Rover. In which items known not to float are thrown or pushed from topside or the pier. I.E. TDU Weights, Compressors, Valves, Level Parts with no tag, etc.
Float she may, shine she must: May be heard from grumbling enlisted when the command decides that ship cleanliness takes precedence over all else. “I have maintenance to do. Why are we out here field-daying the p-way?”
Floating Bellhop: Derisive Army term for sailor.
Float Coat: Jacket worn by almost all personnel on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during flight operations. Should a sailor find himself blown overboard, the float coat will automatically inflate flotation bladders when it hits salt water. This garment also contains signalling devices and manual inflation tubes. The jackets come in different colors to identify the crewmember’s job on the flight deck. See “skittles”
Flying Bravo: Menstruating; from the signal flag.
Fo’c’s’le Follies: A gathering of all the aviators in the airwing in the carrier’s fo’c’s’le (forecastle). The CAG, ship’s CO, and battle group admiral are also usually invited and present. The “official” reason for this event is to hand out awards to the top aviators. The most enjoyable parts are the “roll calls” from each squadron, and the skits that two or three of the squadrons perform. If the roll call or the skit fails to amuse the rest of the airwing, the offending squadron is booed and belittled mercilessly. Follies are held about every 6 to 8 weeks while on deployment.
FNG: Fuckin’ New Guy - self-explanatory. Pronounced “effin-g”.
Fobbit: ANY person who won’t leave the security of a Forward Operating Base (FOB), except in an overly secure convoy to go to another FOB. Generally denotes someone who has “no clue” that there is a war going on and is viewed by troops in the field as incompetent. Associates itself with the term “Hobbit”- short, fat, scared guy who just wants to go home.
FOAD: Fuck Off And Die. Pronounced “fo-ad”.
FOD: Foreign Object Damage. Caused by Foreign Object Debris, such as nuts, bolts, or anything that could be sucked into a jet engine, damaging it. At aviation commands, FOD can also describe a worthless individual, i.e. “If Airman Smith isn’t in this shop in 5 minutes, write that piece of FOD up.”
FOD Walk Down: A periodic, organized search on an aircraft carrier flight deck, hangar deck, or runway looking for debris that a jet engine might ingest.
Form: Short for formation. This is when two or more aircraft or ships maneuver in close proximity while maintaining constant relative positions to each other.
Foreskins on a raft: Chipped beef in cream sauce on toast.
Foot Soldier: A term used for a Navy female who has no car but will sleep with her male counterparts for a ride.
Forward: The direction towards the bow of the ship (if you are walking towards the bow, you are going forward). May also be used as a relative indicator (as in the “forward berthing areas” or the “forward mess decks”).
“Forward Pals”: Nickname given to Coners after you get in trouble for calling them Coners.
Four (4) by Eight (8) Watch: The worst watch section to be in because your first watch is 0400 to 0800, then you work your duty station until 1600, followed by your second watch 1600 to 2000, every day.
Four Fan Trashcan: P-3 Orion 4 propeller patrol aircraft
Foxtrot Uniform: The polite phonetic pronunciation of saying “Fuck You”
FRED: F*ckin’ Retarded Enlisted Dude
FRED: Fuckin’ Ridiculous Electronic Device, or the Computer guided self training system in B.E.E. (read “B Double E”) Basic Electronics and Electricity School, the “Prep School” for most every Electrical or Electronics “A” School specialty.
Freeboard: On a ship or boat, this is the vertical distance between the waterline and the “gunwale” (see below).
Freq: (pron. freak) Short for frequency
Freidas Napsack: The testicles
Fried hamsters: Chicken or beef cordon bleu
Fried horsecock: Fried bologna
Frock: A procedure in the Navy allowing a recently advanced sailor to wear the insignia of the next higher pay grade (and enjoy the privileges thereto) before he has officially been advanced to that grade. Frocking is generally accompanied by the informal ceremony of “tacking on” your crow (q.v.).
FRS: Fleet Replacement Squadron - see “RAG” below
FTN: Fuck the Navy (common epithet used when complaining about naval policies or regulations). Often scrawled on the walls of toilet stalls by sailors who have been assigned to clean it for a reason. Also can refer to “Free The Nukes,” referring to sailors in the nuclear power field. Also refers to a mythical rate or ship type an “FTN Striker” says he/she is trying to get in (i.e. Fleet Tug-Nuclear, Fire Technician-Nuclear)
FTN Striker: Sailor whose stated goal/desire is get discharged
F.U.B.A.: Female of Unusually Broad Ass. Navy female with said condition.
F.U.B.A.R.: Fouled up beyond all repair, Fucked up beyond all recognition. (Foobar){Fucked up beyond all recognition}
F.U.B.I.J.A.R.: Fuck U Buddy, I’m Just A Reservist (”backbone of the Navy”)
F.U.B.Y.O.Y.O.: Fuck U Buddy, You’re On You’re Own (self explanatory)
F.U.P.A.: Fat Upper Pussy Area, pronounced foopa. A pejorative term referring to an overweight female sailor and the bulge that protrudes from ill fitting pants.
Fuck the mission, clean the position: Break out the swabs.
Fuck You, strong message follows: Seen on a numerical list of epithet substitutions (the unauthorized “Falcon Code,” derived from the “Charlie Echo” code), especially transmitted over radio, which has to stay clean
FuFu Juice: Perfume or cologne
Fun Boss: Morale, Welfare and Recreation Officer
Fun Meter: Fictitious gauge that shows the amount of mirth one is experiencing in any given situation. Most often used sarcastically to express extreme boredom or disinterest. “Please end this redass of an AOM. My fun meter is pegged!” See “suck meter”

[edit] G
Gaff Off: When a junior person ignores or purposely fails to show proper respect to a senior person. Examples may include blowing off an assigned task, not saluting, or using improper forms of address. Also refers to signing undeserved signatures on a qualification card. Can also refer to blazing logs or maintenance. From Give A Flying F*ck. Person concerned is the Gaffer.
Gastro: General term for Gastroentritis, or food-poisoning underway.
Gator-Freighter: Ship used in amphibious warfare, or generally the transportation of marines and their equipment. Especially, a carrier-like vessel (amphibious assault ship) whose primary purpose is to put ass in the grass.
Galley: Crews’ mess, or dining area. Place where food is prepared for consumption.
Gank: To steal something. Most often used to describe taking cleaning gear from other divisions or other “ganking” useless items. i.e. pens, random things from the galley or messdecks, cleaning gear and/or gear adrift
Garrison Cap: (fore-and-aft cover worn by CPO, WO, and commissioned officers. Oh, yes, Marines wear them, too). See “Cunt Cap” “Piss Cutter”
GCE: Gross Conceptual Error. This grading remark often appears on nuke-school exams. See also “ATFQ”.
Gear adrift: Loose or unsecured gear or equipment. Also a less-than-flattering assessment of a sailor “Seaman Jones is gear adrift!”
Gear Adrift: Referring to equipment, items, objects, geegaws, or anything else that can be acquired through judicious use of the saying “Gear Adrift, Must be a gift”
Geedunk: Candy, or a place that sells candy in a short form of Gedunk bar. Also “ice cream”.
General Quarters: (GQ) Every sailor has an assigned duty station to be manned during an emergency (AKA “Battlestations”).
George: The juniormost officer onboard a surface ship. Also spelled “JORG”, meaning Junior Officer Requiring Guidance.
Gerbil: Cordon Bleu. Named so since it looks like a deep fried gerbil. AKA “fried hamster.”
Gerbil Alley: Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. The only guaranteed port visit during any Persian Gulf deployment.
Gerbil Gym: Exercise space on board ship with treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical trainers - all pieces of equipment on which you perform motions that should move you to another place, but you remain in the same position like a gerbil on its wheel.
Getting Slant-Eyed: Masturbating.
Get your khakis: A term used when enlisted personnel sleep with officers, generally happens between low ranking enlisted personnel and low ranking officers.
Ghetto: Open-bay barracks, usually reserved for single sailors who are in transit or otherwise temporarily assigned there.
Ghetto-prise: alternate name the sailors of U.S.S. Enterprise have for their ship.
Ghost turd: The sailor’s term for a dust bunny.
Gig line: The visual line formed by uniform zipper, belt buckle, and buttoned shirt seam. Also used as another in-joke to send new sailors on a wild goose chase. See bulkhead remover.
GITMO: Guantanamo Bay Naval Station on Cuba, which had a shorthand designation of GTMO.
GITMO Cute: Females on Guantanamo Bay who wouldn’t normally get your attention back in the states, also known as OFAFBU (One Flight Away From Being Ugly).
Glasses: Binoculars
GMT: General Military Training, often derisively referred to as “Gross Misuse of Time.”
Goat Herder: Any man (or woman) aboard the ship that spends his or her free time “slinging game” on boat goats or boat ho’s.
Goat locker: Lounge or galley for the exclusive use of Chiefs.
Goatrope or goatfuck: Any situation that is “FUBAR.” An especially FUBARed situation is a Royal Mongolian Goatfuck.
Goes Away: What happens to an enemy aircraft when it is hit by a missile
Goggles: Short for Night Vision Goggles, which greatly amplify ambient light allowing the user to see in a green monochrome at night.
Golden Dragon: A sailor who has crossed the Prime Meridian or the International Date Line into the Eastern Hemisphere.
Golden rivet: Folklore that every ship is built containing a single, commemorative “golden rivet”
Golden Shellback: A sailor who has crossed the equator at the 180th Meridian twice or has gone through the ritual twice.
The Goo: Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). When an aviator flies an aircraft into the clouds, can no longer see the earth or the horizon, and is dependent on instruments for navigation, he is said to be “in the goo.” This is usually done intentionally when flying with an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan, but can lead to high “pucker factor” when it is done accidentally.
Good Humor Man: Reference to the Summer White uniform. This is an all-white short sleeve cotton uniform that makes the wearer look suspiciously like the ice cream man.
Goon It Up or Gooned Up: To execute poorly a task that is generally routine or commonplace. (Ex. He really gooned up that landing.)
Gouge: The inside scoop, the skinny, the low-down. Only the information you need to know in a given situation, with nothing else to waste your time. Some black shoes say “Live by the gouge, die by the gouge.” Aviators correctly say “Live by the gouge, EXCEL by the gouge.”
Grape: (Submarine Service) Easy as pie, man. Examples: “This is grape duty” or “That was a grape sig, you jerk.” Latter example can be translated as “Bravo Zulu, shipmate!!” (See Bravo Zulu, above). (Also see “sig” below).
Grape: (Aviation Service) A sailor in an aviation fuels rating. So named because of the purple flight deck jersey.
Great Mistakes: common ephitet used when complaining about RTC/NTC Great Lakes Illinois
Green Scrubby: Mildly abrasive scouring pad. Also called a “Greeny Weeny,” or just a “Greenie.” It’s green, of course.
Green Table Tea Party: Captain’s Mast, Non Judicial Punishment (see “Mast” below)
Grinder: A place at boot camp, normally a parking lot, where the company commander makes you do pushups, other forms of exercise, etc. when you screw up.
Gripe: Slang for a MAF (Maintenance Action Form), which is written when something is wrong with an aircraft.
Grog: Initially, this referred to the watered down rum ration given daily to sailors in the Royal Navy. Presently in the USN, it refers to the alcoholic brew offered at social events like “dining-ins” and “dining-outs.” Depending on the wardroom and in particular on the person preparing the grog, it may be pleasant and delicious or one of the most foul and disgusting beverages ever conceived.
Gronk: (Submarine Service) When a bolt or nut has been or is in process of being tightened so much that the operator of the wrench or ratchet sees stars when applying. “Who the Fuck gronked this nut on so tight?” See “Star tight”
Ground-Pounder: Navy term for the Army or Marines, specifically infantry. Generally pejorative.
G.U.A.M.: “Giving Up and Masturbating”–Common sailor’s complaint about being stationed on the remote island of Guam.
G.U.A.M.: Give Us American Money
G.U.A.M.: Gooks Under American Management
Guard: Standardized emergency radio frequencies that are constantly monitored by ships and aircraft. High Frequency (HF) guard is 40.5 MHz, Very High Frequency (VHF) guard is 121.5 MHz, and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) guard is 243.0 MHz. See “Air Force Common”
GUCCI GEAR:Commonly refered to Sailors (SEABEE’s, Individual Augmentee’s) Who are stationed on the ground most commonly in IRAQ or AFGANISTAN who buy a large amount of commando gear for their rifle’s or personal gear which will rarely get used but used to look as much like a commando IE:Navy SEAL as possible.

Gulfport Slam Hound: Derogatory term given to local women by Navy Seabees stationed in Gulfport, MS. See: Local talent.
Gumby Suit: Brightly colored, puffy anti-exposure survival suit somewhat resembling the claymation character with the same name.
Gundeck: To juryrig something; falsifying or misrepresenting records and reports. The term originates from the days of sail, when ships would sometimes paint black squares along the hull to represent more gun ports than they actually had. Also refers to reports of happenings on the weather decks that were documented on the gun deck without ever having gone to the weather decks.
Gun Boss: Weapons Department head.
Guns: A sailor in the Gunner’s Mate rating.
Gunwale: (pronounced “gunnel”) The top of the hull portion of a ship that runs down the port and starboard sides.
Gussy: USS Augusta
Gut Bomb: A Hamburger
Gyrene: Derogatory Navy term for a U.S. Marine. Also called “Jarheads”

[edit] H
HAC: (pronounced “hack”) Helicopter Aircraft Commander - the pilot in command of a helo.
Hack: Unofficial punishment confining an officer to his stateroom, usually during a port call.
Halfway-Night: (Submarine Service) Party night on pre-determined halfway point of boat’s patrol. Tenderloin and lobster, frozen, but good.
Haji: Anything Middle Eastern in origin. See Abu Dhabi.
Hamster: Chicken cordon bleu that is shaped like a deep fried hamster served on board naval submarines.
Hangar Queen: An aircraft that is chronically down or “broke-dick.” These aircraft are often used for parts to keep the rest of the aircraft flying. See “Cann”
Haole: Pronounced “How-Lee”. Hawaiian term for non-native. A dangerous thing for a sailor to be around Pearl Harbor as some of the natives see them as easy targets for crime, especially when local law-enforcement doesn’t seem to care.
Happy Sock: A soft sock brought for personal use (masturbating) by a sailor underway, or a Seabee in the field.
Hatch: A vertical access for traveling between decks. Also used to describe a door.
Hawser Tech: Any deck rating, especially Boatswain’s Mates
Haze Gray and Underway: Surface ships in arduous duty at sea, in contrast to aircraft carriers or submarines, or naval units in ceremonial roles or in port. It is a term of tribal pride and identification, e.g. surface ship crew use it to distinguish themselves from submarine crew or aircraft carrier crew.
For more details on this topic, see Haze gray and underway.
HAZREP: HAZard REPort - A safety message generated after an unsafe incident that is released to the rest of the fleet so as to prevent the incident from happening again.
Head: Bathroom - The term comes from the days of sail, because wind would blow from the rear of the ship to the front. The bathroom would be located at the front, “Head”, of the ship to carry the foul smell of excrement away from the crew.
Heat Shield: Anyone who is a complete and total fuck-up, and is always in trouble with the LPO, Chief, CO, etc… So called because he keeps the heat off everyone else in the organization. It is good to have one or two of these individuals around.
Helm: Steering wheel of a ship
Heisman: A position assumed by many young women when approached by sailors on liberty; legs crossed, one arm covering the breasts and the other straight out for a block, just like the Heisman Trophy.
Helmet Fire: When a pilot becomes so task-saturated in the cockpit that he loses the big picture and situational awareness (SA). Often leads to mistakes that can produce lethal results.
Helo (pron. hee-low): Term applied to all naval helicopters (from the standard message abbreviation HELO). Calling a naval helicopter anything other than a helo, and especially a “chopper,” is grounds for a serious beat-down.
Helo Dunker: Dreaded training device that all naval aircrew and pilots must endure every few years when they complete water survival training, or “swims.” Designed to simulate crashing a helo at sea, it is basically a huge metal drum with seats and windows that is lowered into a pool and then flipped upside down with the “passengers” strapped into it. There are generally four runs that must be successfully completed. Two of these are blindfolded. It is not fun.
Here today, GUAM tomorrow: Received orders from one island to another island, as in ADAK to GUAM.
Hinge: slang for an O-4, or Lieutenant Commander (LCDR). So called because of the lobotomy that is supposedly mandated as soon as a naval officer is promoted to this rank, in which half of his brain is removed. A hinge is then inserted that allows for reattachment of the removed gray matter later. The hinge also limits the LCDR’s head movement to the fore-aft axis. This is clearly demonstrated as the O-4 is constantly nodding in the affirmative and saying “Yes sir, yes sir…” when in the presence of the CO.
Hit: A discrepancy or failing mark during an inspection. (Ex. He took a hit on his personnel inspection for his unshined shoes.) See “ding”
Hit The Beach: Go on liberty
HMFIC: Head Mother Fucker In Charge, Slang for the sailor who is in charge of an evolution
Hockey pucks: Swedish meatballs (also, trail markers, porcupines, road apples).
The Hole: Area on the deck of an aircraft carrier directly inboard of the island. This is where the airwing’s helos are usually “stuffed.” Also: Slang for a ship’s engineering spaces.
Holiday Routine: Ship’s schedule on Sundays or other national holidays while underway when watches are minimally manned and most of the crew can sleep in (late or no reveille), however some personnel must still be on watch, “Holiday for some, routine for others”
Hollywood Shower (or Hotel Shower): A shower taken aboard a ship in a civilian manner, i.e. in which the water stays on throughout the shower, wasting much of it. (cf. Navy Shower) Definitely frowned upon.
Holy Helo: On Sundays, one of the helos from the carrier flies one or more of the chaplains around to the other ships in the battle group for services. This aircraft is dubbed the holy helo.
Holy Crotch: Between 1960 and 1991, Holy Loch, Dunoon, Scotland was the site of a United States Navy base and home to the Polaris nuclear fleet. Site One, the most forward deployed Submarine Fleet. The weather was mostly horrible and cold but the Scottish girls were quite warm.
Holy stone: The stone or the act of using one. A pumice stone for cleaning a wooden deck, which is generally done while the sailor is on his knees. Sailors figured that anything that put them on their knees so often must be holy.
The Honch: A nickname for the Honcho bar district right outside the gate of the Yokosuka Naval Base, known to be a generally trashy place.
Honch Ho/ Honch Honey: A term used to describe female frequenters of the Honch.
Honch Rat: A sailor who frequents the Honcho bar district in Yokosuka on his/her free time. A Japanese girl who frequents the company of American sailors in Honcho is also called a “Honch Rat.”
Hooligan Navy: WWII Navy pejorative for the Coast Guard, from its flexibility in enlisting men discharged from other services to rapidly expand for Prohibition. (Term endures within CG.)
Hook: Short for “tailhook’”
Hooker: or “Tail-hooker”, One who lands aboard an Aircraft Carrier.
Hoover: Slang for the S-3B Viking, mostly due to its unique engine noises
Hop’n'pop: Dreaded 8-count, 3-part physical exercise that is often inflicted on officer candidates at OCS when they screw up. It is the combination of a jumping jack, squat thrust, and pushup, and the offenders often perform them to the point of physical exhaustion.
Horse Cock: Large log of baloney or Polish Sausage usually put out for lunch or mid rats. Horse Cock sandwich is one of the least favorite boxed lunches served to helo crews when visiting other ships.
Horse Shoe: (Submarine Service) Area aft of maneuvering on 688’s often used for telling sea stories.
Hosed Up: Messed up
Hot Racking or Hot Bunking: Submariners share racks. When one goes off, the other takes his place. (Three men share two racks) The Name is taken from the fact that the bunk more often than not still warm from its last occupant.
“Hot Racking”: Also a term for a sailor climbing into his rack to sleep, without showering.
However,: (spoken “however comma”) An over-the-top method of expressing additional items. Often used by people who have been in the Navy too long (see “dig-it”).
HR Puff and Stuff: A nickname given to sailors who regularly appear for duty in a disheveled manner with their uniform in disarray. It is a combination of a rank (Hospitalman Recruit, the most junior Hospital Corpsman rank) and a name that connotates the obesity and stresses placed on the uniform of just such an overweight and careless sailor. Also used as an admonishment to junior corpsmen and dental techs in order to motivate them to perform regular uniform maintenance.
HSC: (Heavy Shit Carrier) Rate most commonly given to junior sailors, mostly comprised of firemen
Hummer: Slang for the E-2C Hawkeye, mostly for the sound of its props
Hummer Hole: Tight space aft of the island on the flight deck where they parked the E-2C Hawkeye. Since the E-2 could reverse prop and back up, the Yellow Shirts took perverse pleasure in trying to back the Hummer into this tight space, usually as the boat was heeling hard to port, requiring a serious uphill climb.

[edit] I
IA: “Individual Augmentation/Augmentee.” Program currently in use by the U.S. Navy to deploy sailors on an individual basis to the Middle East for 6-14 months in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Personnel who complete IAs are (supposedly) given preferential treatment with regards to follow-on orders and promotion boards. IAs are often referred to as “Sand Sailors”, “Dirt Sailors” or “being in the Narmy.” [Navy+Army=Narmy]
I and I: Intercourse and Intoxication. An alternative acronym to R and R
IFBM: Instant Fucking Boatswains Mate. “A” school washout assigned to deck force.
ID10T: Pronounced “Eye-Dee-Ten-Tango.” Similar to “bulkhead remover,” an inexpensive way to derive enjoyment from inexperienced personnel. “Recruit, go get me an ID10T form, and step on it!”
IHTFP: I Hate This Fucking Place. A common expression uttered by midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. Found carved into most bathroom doors and above most bunks. Originally a term used by MIT students for the identical sentiment. Other meanings: I Have Truly Found Paradise, I Hope There’s a Friday Parade, etc
In-chop: To enter an area of responsibility. “We in-chop to 5th Fleet when we pass through the Straits of Malacca.” From “Change of Operational Control” (CHOP had a fire in their main machinery room and can’t get underway so our cruise got extended by a month?” See also “Mess Deck Intelligence”.

[edit] S
SA: Situational Awareness - the big picture. Losing SA, especially in flight, can lead to disastrous results.
Sail Rabbit - over cooked pork, or beef tenderloin.
Sailor’s Balls: See Navigator’s Balls.
Salt and Peppers: Short sleeve white dress shirt with black trousers and Combination Cap. Common in the 70’s. Basically a less dressed up version of the Bus Driver Uniform.
Saltpeter: Chemical supposedly added to “bug juice” aboard ship to stifle libido, the stuff of urban legend.
Salty: Old and experienced (or simply old and sea-worn, as in “my salty hat”). Can also refer to the traditionally profanity-laced language patterns of sailors.
Sandbag: a member of an aircrew who contributes little or nothing to the safe and successful execution of the mission - instead sits there like a sandbag and is just as useful.
Sandbox, The: The pier liberty facilities at Jebel Ali. Sandbox Liberty means travel outside the port of Jebel Ali is not authorized. All you get is a “beer on the pier”. See “Gerbil Alley”.
Sand Crab: A civilian in Civil Service positions working for the U.S. Navy. Very derogatory.
SAR: Search and Rescue
Scope Dope: Radarman or Operations Specialist
Scrambled Eggs: Gold embroidered oak leaves decoration on a Commander’s/Captain’s cover. Admirals have Double Eggs. The similar silver clouds and lightning bolts addition to an Air Force Lt. Col/Colonel’s hat is called Farts and Darts. May also be referred to as “Bullshit,” but only by one who wears them.
Screaming Alpha: A sailor who is on fire and is running around screaming. Alpha fires leave ash. Bravo fires burn flammable liquids. Charlies are electrical fires, and Deltas burn exotic materials, often metals like magnesium.
Screw: a ship’s or boat’s propeller.
Screw the Pooch: To mess up in a big way. Usually followed by a visit with the old man.
SCRIMSHAW: To “Mysteriously Aqquire” equipment and /or materials essential for mission critical assignments that cannot be aqquired though normal or proper military channels. Seabee’s are notorious for making due with what they have and “finding” what they need to accomplish the mission. Also famous for “finding” Materials in which to barter with other armed services for their goods and services.
Scrubbers: Time in the morning when most junior personnel must go out and clean the ship before starting their actual duties within their own divisions/departments. “Alright, go out and do scrubbers then muster back here at 0800″.. Some ships may announce over their 1MC or put exact time in their Plan of the Day
Scullery: Washroom for eating implements such as knives, forks, trays, and cups.
Scupper (Submarine Service): A funnel like device used to collect rogue liquids usually from overflowing tanks in engineering spaces. Occasionally used as an impromptu urinal by an on-watch nuke. (Surface) Spouts on the main deck to route liquids over the side.
Scupper Trout: A turd or other length of feces.
Scuttlebutt: Drinking fountain or rumor (originated from the rumors that would be spread on board ship while gathered about the water barrel).
SCWS:Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist.
Sea and Anchor Detail: Every sailor has an assigned duty station to be manned when the ship is either pulling into or out of port. On submarines it’s called the Maneuvering Watch. (Coast Guard: Special Sea Detail.)
Seabag: The large green bag the army calls a “duffel bag”.
Sea Daddy: Senior, more experienced sailor who unofficially takes a new member of the crew under his wing and mentors him.
Sea Donkey(Sea Donk): Any shipboard female with “Other than Honorable” intentions. Some are rumors, some not so much.
Sea Going Bellhops: A derisive name for Marines. Refers to the fact that they act as flag officers’ orderlies aboard ship. A good phrase to use when picking a fight with a Marine.
Sea Gull Ammunition: Spanner wrench used for tightening fire hoses. Bosn mates enjoyed throwing them at sea gulls.
Sea Hag: Slutty woman who hangs around in front of the entrance to a base, hoping to pick up a Sailor. The Sea Hag is really looking for a meal ticket, bless her Sea Hag heart.
Sea Lawyer: An argumentative, cantankerous or know-it-all sailor. A sea lawyer is adept at using technicalities, half truths, and administrative crap to get out of doing work or anything else he doesn’t want to do, and/or to justify his laziness.
Sea Legs: bodily adjustment to the motion of a ship indicated especially by ability to walk steadily and by freedom from seasickness
Seaman Schmuckatelli: Generic name for a sailor, used in a similar manner as “John Doe,” “Joe Blow” or “John Q. Public”. Example: “You’re working on an electrical system without tagging it out, when along comes Seaman Schmuckatelli, who energizes the circuit and ZAP, you’re fried calamari.”
Sea Otter: Seaopdetter; a member of a Sea Operational Detachment (SEAOPDET).
Sea Pussy: a yeoman or personnelman - akin to a secretary - does clerical work.
Sea Stories: Often exaggerated or embellished tales from previous deployments or commands told by seniors to juniors. Sea Stories almost always involve alcohol. Good sea stories should always involve creative embellishment, in as much as you should tell it better than the guy you heard it from, with yourself (or an un-named “buddy”) as the new star. Add some contemporary details and those youngsters are mesmerized, as they should be.
Sea Swap: a recently initiated program where an American warship never returns to an American port. Instead, it pulls into a friendly foreign port at given intervals and swaps out its entire crew.
SEAL - SEa Air Land
Secure: In general, to prepare something for stormy travel — to secure a window is to shut it. “Secure for sea” meaning to strap, tie down, or otherwise make something seaworthy for rocking. Also, to close or shut down anything normally open, especially to traffic- “This p-way(passageway)/head is secured until 0900 for cleaning”. However, it’s often used as a stronger form of “cut it out,” as in “talking is secured” or “I’m going to secure your mouth if you don’t shut the hell up” or “your fruity ways are secured, Fireman Radomski.”
Senile Chief: Slang for Senior Chief
Senior: Short form of Senior Chief used for brevity. “I couldn’t find the CSMO but I left that report on his desk, Senior (Chief)”
Shaft Alley: Field Day berthing aboard a Submarine. Also the compartment(s) containing a ship’s propulsion shaft(s).
Shark shit: A sailor who has fallen overboard and is lost forever.
S.H.E.:Stupid Human Error
Shellback: An individual who has crossed the Equator.
Sherwood Forest: (Submarine Service) missile area, on a boomer
Shinbuster: Same as knee-knocker.
Ship over: re-enlisting.
Shipmate: Any fellow Sailor. Also, used as a derogatory term against all junior enlisted personnel i.e. E-5 and below. An Officer, Chief or First Class will use this to show they think so little of you, they haven’t bothered to take the time out of their day to learn your name. Used in the Junior Enlisted Community to parody this.
Shipwreck: Any fellow sailor. Used as a derogatory term.
Shit in a Seabag: Stuffed green peppers.
Shit in one sock: Sailor who is very competent as in, “He has his shit in one sock”. A VERY competent sailor “has his shit in one properly stenciled sock.” Derogatory rejoinder is “But it has holes in it”.
Shit bag (also Shitweed, shitstick, shithead, shit stain, or shitbrick): Any fellow Sailor. Used as a derogatory term and a term of endearment.
Shitbag (2): A derogatory term for a sailor who has been awarded punishment at mast, or any less-than-par sailor. Also known as “Shitbird”.
Shitbomb: Extremely unpopular topic brought up at the end of a (usually long and boring) meeting that requires a lot of work from everyone present. The worst ones are “drive-by shitbombs,” where someone pokes their head in, “throws the shitbomb,” and leaves.
Shit Can: Either the name for a trash can, or the act of throwing something into the trash. As in “Shit can that chit, you’re not getting any liberty.”
Shit Chaser: Name given to hull maintenance techs.
Shit City: Norfolk, VA. See also “Asshole of the Navy”.
Shit Color: Derogatory term used by enlisted personnel under the rank of E-7 referring to enlisted personnel at or above the rank of E-7 (Chief Petty Officer), and sometimes officers as well. Based on their khaki uniforms.
Shit-faced: Drunk. The preferred state of consciousness for junior sailors, especially those visiting foreign ports.
Shit-on-a-shingle: Ground hamburger in gravy on toast.
Shit-the-bed: Term used to identify that something is broken.
Shitter: Toilet (or “Head,” see above). Shipboard space where “shit” is both a verb AND a noun. Self-explanatory, really.
Shitty Kitty: a slang word for the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), which is the worst ship in the United States Navy, and also the oldest. It has been designated this name due to the fact it that it looks like shit, smells like shit, and the chain of command will work you round the clock and not give a shit.
Shit River: The creek that divided the base from the civilian side, in the Philippines, Between Olongopo City and Cubi Point Naval Base. So named because the local sewage from Olongopo flowed into this river, and it stunk to high heaven. When you crossed the bridge to go on liberty, you had to hold your breath the entire length of the bridge, but oddly enough, it did not smell on the return trip after drinking San Muigel Beer all night.
Shit Screen: A shitbag who is so often the object of (negative) attention by his superiors that his shipmates’ transgressions go relatively unnoticed.
Shit Shirt: Derogatory aviation term given to members of a squadrons Line Division, named for the brown flight deck jerseys worn while aboard the carrier.
Shoe: Derogatory term used by airedales in reference to “black shoes,” or ship drivers. Sometimes explained as an acronym meaning “stupidest human on earth,” but clearly derived from the longer “black shoe” description of surface warfare officers and CPOs.
Shooter: Catapult Officer aboard an aircraft carrier. Also slang for an Aegis / guided missile ship.
Shore Queen: A person who has been in the Navy for an extensive period of time and has not been stationed to a ship. Also referred to as a “Shore Captain”
Short-Arm: Penis.
Short Seabag or Without a Full Seabag: Reporting aboard without a full uniform; deficient in aptitude or intelligence.
Short Timer: A sailor with less than 90 days until discharge or transfer and an attitude to match.
Short Timer’s Chain: A chain that hangs from the belt of a “short timer” for all to see, with one link representing a day, (signifying too short to care) and usually starts with 30 links. Any more than 30 links will give an attitude to their superiors. Verbal equivalent is “__ days and a wake-up”.
Shower Tech: Sonar Technician.
Showerbabies: Semen left on the floors of shower stalls.
Shutterbug: A Photographer’s Mate (PH).
Sick Bay: On larger ships like carriers and “gator freighters,” sick bay is literally a small hospital, complete with facilities for surgery, X-rays, triage, a pharmacy, etc… On “small boys,” sick bay might be a single space from which the ship’s corpsman dispenses Vitamin M and corpsman candy.
Sick Bay Commando: A sailor who spends more time going to medical feigning ailments than doing work.
Sick in Quarters (SIQ): When a sailor is too ill or incapacitated to perform his duties, he is thus required to report to his rack (quarters), where he will remain until healthy again. For personnel aboard ship, this means to remain in bed, while onshore this may simply mean to stay home for the day. Only qualified medical personnel can recommend SIQ, and only the command can authorize it.
Side Number: Unique 3-digit number assigned to every bird in the airwing. Side numbers are based on what squadron the aircraft is in. 1XX and 2XX used to be VF (fighter) squadrons. However, since the retirement of the F-14 Tomcat these are now applied to F/A-18 (VFA) Super Hornet Squadrons. 3XX and 4XX are for “Baby” Hornet (F/A-18 C and D model) squadrons. 5XX side numbers are assigned to EA-6B (VAQ) squadrons, and 6XX are for the VAW squadrons flying the E-2C Hawkeye. 61X side numbers are for the HS helo squadron, and 7XX goes to the VS squadron, which flies the S-3B Viking. The only carrier aircraft that do not follow this scheme are the C-2A Greyhounds. See COD.
Sierra Hotel: Phonetic letters for SH, which stands for “Shit Hot.” Refers to anything impressive or greatly exceeding what is required. Can also refer to the phrase “Shit Happens”.
Sig: (Navy Nukes) A signature on a qualification card. There are many, many “qual cards” in the Sub Service, especially if you’re a Nuke. (see “Nuke” above).
Sig: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily
Signal Ejector: (aka 3″ launcher) A device on submarines that can shoot countermeasures, flares, thermocline equipment, and empty beer cans. Used primarily to formally notify Battle Group Commanders via green flares that their ASW screen sucks.
Silverwhales: Refers to the rather large fat women near Bangor, Washington, that are from Silverdale.
Sims: Simulators.
Single Anchor Master Race: Naval Aviators that are designated as pilots, as opposed to NFOs. Used by pilots to assert their superiority over all other warfare communities. Refers to the insignia worn by pilots which is a set of wings with one anchor.
Single digit midget: Sailor who has less than 10 days before getting out or transferring.
Skate: Sailor who avoids work in general while not being detected; for example the ability to “skate” out of work undetected while being assigned to a 14 man working party.
Skate Golden: the ability to “skate” out of work while being assigned to a 7 man working party undetected.
Skater: Sailor who gets away with doing no work.
Skeds-O: Schedules Officer
Skimmer: Submariners’ term for a Surface Sailor (often “skimmer puke”) or surface ship (see “target”)
Skipper: Term used in reference to the Commanding officer of any Ship, Unit, Platoon, or Detachment regardless of rank. Generally only applied to someone who has earned the speaker’s respect.
Skittles: Sailors who work on the flight deck of a carrier. So named due to the different colored jerseys they wear. For the same reason, they are sometimes referred to as “Wiggles”.
Skivvies: underwear.
Skivvy Stacker - Storekeeper
Skivvy waver: Signalman (because of signal flags)
Skivvy Sniffer: Ships Serviceman assigned to do the Ship’s laundry
Skylarking: Not paying attention, due to “looking up in the sky” instead of on the assigned task. From Royal Navy slang during the era of the tall ships - midshipmen or “young gentlemen” would race each other up, down, and through the rigging. They were playing in the air; thus, skylarking.
Skosh: Perilously close to minimum acceptable levels. Example: The F-5 usually lands skosh on fuel. Originates from the Japanese word sukoshi, meaning little.
Sleep ’til you’re hungry, eat ’til you’re tired: The working day of an aviator as described by a surface sailor
Slick Sleeve: A sailor in the E-1 paygrade who does not have a rating, and who has not yet graduated from Apprentice training. Therefore, his left sleeve is “slick”, or has no rate or rating insignia at all.
Sliders: hamburgers/cheeseburgers. So called because they would slide across the grill when underway.
Slime Lights: NVG compatible exterior green lights found on aircraft that are almost invisible to the naked eye. Used in combat situations at night where standard position lights and “smacks” cannot be used.
Slinging Game: Flirting with other people aboard the ship.
Slugs: Term used to refer to Chief Petty Officer Selectees during their initiation and transition period. Only Chief Petty Officers may use this term.
SLJO: Shitty Little Jobs Officer
SLUF: Short Little Ugly Fucker - nickname given to the A-7 Corsair back in the day.
SLUFF: Short Little Ugly Fat Fucker - pejorative term for a turkey of a sailor.
SLURFF: Short Little Ugly Retarded Fat Fucker - someone that makes a SLUFF look good.
Slushing: Financial service provided by a shipmate (known as a “slusher”) where money is loaned out with interest rates that would make a mafioso blush. Known as loansharking in the civilian world.
Smacks: Anti-collision strobe lights on an aircraft.
Small Boy: Term referring to smaller class ships, such as destroyers and frigates.
SMAG: “Sometimes Mechanic Always Gay” or “Simple Minded Ass Grabber” or “Small Minded Ass Grabber”: Derogatory term for an Engineering Laboratory Technician.
Smiles: A game played by sailors while in port where a bunch of sailors gather around and play cards. Meanwhile under the card table is a prostitute performing oral sex to all the card players. First sailor to smile has to buy the next round of beers
Smoke Pit: Designated smoking area. This is almost always used when ashore.
Smoking Hole: what an aircraft becomes if it crashes over land
Smoking Lamp: is out or lit in specified spaces or throughout the ship; 1MC announcement specifying where smoking is permitted or prohibited during certain hours or operations.
Smoking Sponson: designated smoking area aboard aircraft carriers, usually right below the flight deck on the exterior of the ship’s hull. A great place to catch up on scuttlebutt and unwind after a long day.
Smooth Crotch: Derogatory term for a nuclear Electronics Technician.
Smurf: A recruit who is in his first few days of boot camp who hasn’t been issued uniforms yet, and thus wears a “Smurf Suit” (see below).
Smurf Suit: Set of blue sweatpants and sweatshirt issued on arrival at boot camp; worn for the first several days and thereafter used mostly for PT.
SNAFU: Situation Normal, All Fucked Up.
Snake Eaters: Special Forces personnel such as Navy SEAL’s, Green Berets, etc…
Snatch in the Hatch: (Submarine Service) Term used to inform the crew that a female visitor is onboard.
Snipes: Sailors assigned to the Engineering rates, i.e. Machinists Mates, Boilermen, Enginemen, Pipefitters. Also known as pit snipes, see pit.
Snivel: To request time off or to not be scheduled, usually for personal reasons. Most schedule writers will have a “snivel log” for such requests, which may or may not be granted based on the needs of the unit and the sniveler’s standing with the schedules officer (Skeds-O).
SNOB: Shortest Nuke On Board
Sound of One Hand Clapping: Masturbating.
SPLIB: Special Liberty, Comp-Time.
S.N.O.B.: Shortest Nuke on Board. Term used to refer to the lucky nuke who gets out of the Navy next. This term usually only applies to nukes who have not re-enlisted (i.e. “first-termers”). In rare cases, the S.N.O.B. voluntarily relinquishes his/her title to a “second-termer” that gets out of the Navy earlier who exhibits extreme disgruntlement and is generally accepted by the “first-termers” as one of their own. This person would be given the title of “Honorary S.N.O.B.”
Snuggle Up: When two aircraft get very close while flying in formation - usually for demonstration purposes.
Socked-in: When the ceiling and visibility at an airfield or over an air-capable ship are below minimums for takeoff and landing.
Sorry I Quit: used to refer to a sailor who convinces a doctor to give them an SIQ chit
Sortie: a single flight of an aircraft
S.O.S.: Same as Shit-on-a-shingle.
Sougee: To scour; sougee powder = generic term for scouring powder, although in yachting refers to a chemical cleaner.
Space: Refers to a room or a compartment onboard ship.
Spandaflage: Overweight personnel squeezing into camo that is too small.
Sparky: Radioman or Electrician’s Mate.
Split Tails: Female sailors. Used more often in the early days of surface ship integration.
Spook: Usually a CT, IS or some kind of intelligence type.
SPU: Staff Pick-Up. Nuke term referring to individuals that finish the training pipeline and instead of going out to sea like everyone else, stays behind and teaches in the pipeline. SPUs on a submarine are treated harder than a typical Nub due to the typical SPUs attitudes and own self delusions.
Spunk: Cool Whip or anything like it.
Square Barrel Tech: Fire Control Technician see also “Round Barrel Tech”
Squid: Submariner. Like a squid, they also live under water and eat other squid/fish. Generally, any sailor (current or former) in the Navy.
Squishy: State resulting from being at sea too long; e.g., rolling gait, goofy, confused by traffic signals.
Stab: Any sort of unwanted, tedious work that often arrives at the worst moments as a result of a flail.
STAR Baby: Anyone (Especially nukes) who re-enlist under the STAR Program at their first sea tour and automatically go from 3rd Class Petty Officers to 2nd Class Petty Officers. Is usually available to any 3rd class Petty Officer on his/her first sea tour, but is usually associated with nukes because they already meet the “C” School requirement of the STAR Program.
Star-tight: see “Gronk”
Starboard: Right side of the boat or ship (when facing the bow). Right side of an aircraft when facing the nose.
STAR: Program in which any 3rd Class Petty officer on their first sea tour can re-enlist and immediately gain 2nd class Petty Officer as long as they have been to both an “A” school and a “C” school. See STAR Baby
Stateroom: Living quarters for officers aboard a ship. Senior officers (commander or higher) generally rate a one-man stateroom. LCDRs and senior LTs usually get two-man staterooms, and more junior officers rate a 4-man or 6-man “jungle.” Staterooms contain beds, a sink, fold-down desks, lockers, storage, and a TV. Note: Ship’s Captains do not have staterooms: they have cabins.
Steel Beach Picnic: Celebration on the weather decks of a ship. Usually involving near beer, barbecue, and non-skid.
Stew-burner: Sailor with the Culinary Specialist (CS) Rating
Striker: Sailor receiving on-the-job training for a designated field (or rate)
Sticks: The levers in the Maneuvering Room of a diesel submarine that are used to change the settings for the main propulsion motors. Also the control yokes of a submarine, manned by the helmsman and planesman as in “Seaman Schmuckatelli is on the sticks”.
Stuffed: A naval aircraft is said to be “stuffed” when its wings or rotors/tail pylon are folded and it is parked in close proximity to other aircraft.
Subic Bay: Legendary Philippines port also known as “Pubic Bay, the Asshole of the Orient.” Was a major stop off point between South Vietnam and The World (CONUS). The city just outside the main gate of the Naval base was Olongapo City or “Po City”, noted for its night clubs and many agreeable women. Leaving the base a sailor had to cross over a bridge that went over a drainage channel, also known as “shit river”, because of the constant raw sewage and filthy conditions. Young children would tread water just below the bridge and yell at sailors to throw coins in the water, which they would dive for and come back to the surface with the coin in their mouth.
Suckbag: Another name for a dirtbag or shitbag
Sucking Rubber: (Submarine Service) Extended periods wearing Emergency Air Breathing devices (EABs), A full-face air mask similar to that worn by firefighters, except fed from ship’s emergency air system rather than a bottle on your back. Also refers to wearing a gas mask such as the MCU-2P for protection against chemical, biological or radiological attack.
Suck Meter: Similar to a fun meter, this fictitious gauge displays how shitty a given situation is. “Cruise got extended indefinitely the day we were supposed to out-chop and head home? Man, my suck meter just red-lined!”
Summer creases: Military creases incorrectly or crookedly ironed into uniforms. “Some are here, some are there.” (see Railroad Tracks).
Swab: Mop.
SWAG: Scientific/simple Wild Ass Guess. Used commonly on Navy exams.
Swamp Donkey: an ugly woman you would have sex with if there were no other choices available.
Swap Paint: Euphemism for a mid-air collision
Sweat the Bulkheads: Indoor PT during boot camp which doesn’t stop until the bulkheads are running with condensate.
Swims: Aviation water survival training. This 2-day class must be completed every few years by pilots and aircrew. Consists of classroom and pool instruction and culminates with the dreaded “Dilbert Dunker” and “Helo Dunker.”
Swim call: Ship stops and off duty crew jumps in the ocean for a swim.
SWO: Surface Warfare Officer. SWOs are sometimes referred to as “SWO-dogs” or “SWO-Daddys”, and the phrase “SWOs eat their young” is heard often in reference to the treatment of junior officers in the community.

[edit] T
Tack On: In an informal ceremony, when a sailor is frocked (see above), each of the shipmates in his unit who are already in the higher paygrade to which he is frocked “tack on” his crow by making a fist and pounding on the crow on your rating badge (which is sewn to the sleeve of your uniform). It is considered poor form to “tack on” with more than one pound of the fist; nonetheless, after a number of your buddies have “tacked on” your crow, your arm is generally black, blue, bruised, and extremely sore. A mild form of hazing.
TAD or TDY: Temporary Assigned/Additional Duty or Temporary Duty
TAD: Traveling Around Drunk; Taking A Dump
Tail: long cable containing a sonar array that is trailed out behind a ship or submarine
Tailhook: Long metal hook that hangs below a fixed-wing aircraft as it attempts to land on an aircraft carrier. If all goes as planned, the tailhook engages one of the arresting wires that are stretched across the deck, and the aircraft comes to a halt in a very short landing area.
Tailhook Association: Professional organization for fixed-wing carrier pilots. Notorious for an out-of-control convention in Las Vegas in the early 1990s (often referred to as simply “Tailhook”), this organization still exists, albeit in a very watered down version.
Tango Lima: Phonetic of “TL,” which is short for The Trophy Lounge, a club in National City, CA frequented by “WESTPAC widows” and sailors assigned to ships homeported at NAVSTA San Diego. Popular for its loose women and proximity to the base.
Tango Uniform: Phonetic shorthand for Tits Up, meaning non-functional or dead. A piece of gear that is out of order is said to be Tango Uniform. See tits-up below.
Tape Zebra: Maddening condition aboard ship, especially aircraft carriers, where passageways are “taped off” so that they may be waxed, dried, and buffed in the middle of the night. It seems that the passageways are purposely chosen to maximize delay and frustration when a pilot has to do an oh-dark-thirty preflight or some other duty. Junior enlisted sailors take special delight in denying officers access to these passageways. Likewise, junior officers thoroughly enjoy when a man overboard or GQ is called in the middle of the night, so as to crash through tape zebra and trample through the wet wax.
T.A.R.F.U.: Things Are Really Fucked Up.
Target: submariner term to describe the surface fleet or anything other than an identified friendly submarine. Most common use is in the phrase “There are two types of ships, Submarines and Targets.” Also known as Surface Skimmer (see above)
TED: Typical Enlisted Dude. Either you know one or you are one.
TDU (Submarine Service): Trash Disposal Unit. Sophisticated AN-DEEP-6 weapons system.
Tilly: large crane on the flight deck.
Time On The Pond: Refers to a sailor’s sea time in terms of the number of cruises or patrols completed. More “Time on the Pond” means more Real-Navy sea experience. (See “Salty,” above)
Time Machine: A sailor’s rack. Usually referred to by senior personnel without many daily responsibilities. Referred to as a time machine, because if you sleep 12 hrs a day then you have effectively slept away half of the deployment. (see Pit).
Timmy: A name used by RDC’s when an anonymous recruit messes up and doesn’t take credit for his behavior. Also Seaman Timmy, junior sailor who can’t seem to do anything right and is always getting himself into trouble. Named for Timmy, the boy on the old Lassie show who always seemed to find himself trapped in a well/abandoned mine/bear trap/etc.
Titivaion: Hour long field day held daily onboard USS Cape St. George (CG-71), see XO’s “Happy Hour”
Tea Bagging: similar to rimjob but in this case the sailor dunks his nut sack in a beverage of a unliked individual.
TFOA: Things Falling Off Aircraft - when a piece of an aircraft falls off for no apparent reason during flight. Unfortunately, this happens a lot more than most people realize, with obvious negative repercussions, especially over a populated area.
Tin can: Destroyer.
Tire Chaser: Term used usually by Aviation Boatswains Mates to describe Blue Shirts or Chock Walkers on the flight deck and hangar bay of an aircraft carrier.
Titless Wave: A yeoman or one who performs clerical duties. At one time, yeoman was one of the few positions open to female navy personnel or Waves.
Tits Machine: Old-school term for a kick-ass aircraft, usually a fighter, that consisted of little more than an airframe, minimal avionics, and a huge engine or two. The F-8 Crusader was universally accepted as a tits machine.
Tits-up: Out of commission; hard-down. Sometimes spoken as Tits Up.
TLD (Nuclear): Tiny Little Dildo. Thermo Luminescent Dosimeter. Navy belt adornment. Worn by nukes to see how much radiation is received in a period of time. Often a good source of humor for when the topsiders ask what they are for.
TOD: Typical Officer Dude. A weak attempt by TEDs to come up with a nickname for officers.
Topsider: (Carrier) Anyone who is not a nuke.
Torpedo Sponge: Similar to “Missile Sponge”, this refers to the smaller ships in a convoy, whose duty it is to protect the carrier, to the point of taking the torpedo hit for the carrier if needed.
Touch and Go’s: Repeatedly falling asleep in a meeting or a class while trying desperately to stay awake. After nodding off, the person’s head will dip forward almost to his chest, whereupon he will snap back into a very brief state of semi-consciousness and repeat the process. Named after practice landings where the aircraft descends, briefly touches down while still rolling forward, and quickly becomes airborne again. Very prevalent at AOM’s and training. Also called “giving the invisible man head.”
TOW: Tail Over Water - usually how they parked the Hummer in the Hummer hole; backed up so the tail hung out over the edge of the flight deck.
Tower Flower: Usually the SUPPO or another person with almost zero aviation experience who is tasked with manning the control tower on a small boy or supply ship. Differs from the LSO (Paddles), who must be a pilot.
Trap: A fixed-wing arrested landing on an aircraft carrier. In the helo world, the Rapid Securing Device (RSD) on the deck of a “small boy.”
The Trade School - The U.S. Naval Academy
Trail marker: Salisbury steak
Training Aid: Submarine name for a hot dog or other sausage. Insinuates that the consumer is practicing for another activity.
T-Rex: A term given to Naval aviators by ‘black shoes’ referencing aviators short arms (like a t-rex) limiting their ability to reach into their pockets to pull out money to buy beer or coffee.
Trice Up: Make your rack. (rack = bed) The old racks had a hook to secure it to the bulkhead. Hence the term “All hands heave out and trice up” or jump out of your rack and make it. (Originally referred to hammocks; “tricing up” is hoisting up and securing with a small line.)
Triple Sticks: Refers to the aircraft in the fighter squadron on a carrier with the side number “111″. Usually in radio communications, as in “Triple sticks, call the ball.”
Triwall: An extremely large cardboard box. So called because they are made of triple layer corrugated cardboard.
Trout: See Scupper Trout.
Tube steak: hot dogs (also, called “dangling sirloin”).
Turd: (Submarine Service) A surface ship (it smells, looks, and floats like a turd, therefore, it must be a turd).
Turd Chaser: An HT - Hull Technician. Renowned for their ability to find a clog in the ship’s sewage treatment system. Motto: “We ain’t quittin’ until you’re shittin’!”
Turkey: slang for the F-14 Tomcat
Turn-to: The command, normally given over the 1MC signalling the beginning of the work day. Also given to return to normal ships work, generally used after GQ or other special evolutions.
Tweak: An AT- Avionics Technician
Tweaker (Submarine Service): Electronics rating; any engineering rating not gronking a wrench. (See “gronk” above, see “wrench” OED)
Tweaker: A very small screw driver used by EM’s and ET’s to make meters indicate correctly.
Tweener (Submarine Service): Affectionate term for Missile Technicians on Ballistic Missile Submarines. Usually called out during the “Coner” and “Nuke” throwbacks, since the Missile Compartment is “between” the Forward(Coner) and Engineering(Nuke) spaces.
Twidget: Sailor in the Electronics or Electrical fields of job specialties.
Two-block: To center or tighten; derived from tackle.
Two-Digit Midget: Sailor with 99 or less days until his/her “End of Active Obligated Service”, or EAOS.
Tuna Boat: A submarine tender, or other non-combat ship that is comprised nearly completely by female sailors. Example: “We’re going to have great liberty this port! A tuna boat just pulled in.”
Turn ‘n Burn: Casual for “Get busy!” From formal daily announcement Turn to ship’s work, often given as direct order Turn to!

[edit] U
UA: Unauthorized absence up to 30 days
Un-ass: To let go of, give up, or share something. The concept is that you keep something precious (that you don’t want others to have or share) somewhere away from prying eyes (such as, theoretically, in your ass). Usually used in the form of a demand that you share something (like geedunk), as in “Un-ass, motherfucker!” Another definition comes from the old horse US Army. Un-ass would mean to remove the item from the “ass” which would be the pack animal.
Uncle Sam’s Confused Group (USCG): the United States Coast Guard - an organization that is the fifth armed service, yet falls under the Dept of Homeland Security, and operates generally small ships, boats, and aircraft that have limited warfighting capability.
Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children (USMC): The United States Marine Corps
Underway Sock: (Submarine Service) A soft sock brought underway to comfort a frustrated submariner.
Un-Fuck: to correct something that is screwed up. (Ex. Go un-fuck your gig line, Seaman Schmuckatelli.)
UNODIR: UNless Otherwise DIRected; enables TRUST-based management by exception (MBE)
UNREP: UNderway REPlenishment - Taking supplies from the supply ship by maneuvering alongside and passing lines between the two vessels. Differs from “VERTREP.”
USS Backyard: Term for the sailor’s home of record, to which he or she happily returns upon discharge.
USS LASTSHIP: Term for sailor’s trying to tell a story, or give an example of how business was handled at their last command
USS Neverdock: Ship that seems to stay out at sea for unusually long periods of time. For sailors, this is usually their own ship.
USS Neversail: Mock-up ship found in boot camp, also called USS Recruit. Can also refer to real ships that seldom leave port, such as Sub-tenders.
USS Nottagain (DD 214): Used by sailors separating from the Navy when asked which command they are going to. Also can be used by former sailors when visiting old friends and asked by new personnel which ship they are on. “DD 214″ is the form that must be filled out for a military member to get discharged.
USS Usetafish - A submarine veteran’s previous command.

[edit] V
Vampire: Inbound missile to the ship. Typically announced over the 1MC, shortly followed by relative location (i.e. port quarter, starboard bow, etc.), and “all hands, brace for shock.”
Vampire Liberty: Getting the day off for donating a pint of blood.
VERTREP: VERTical REPlenishment - taking supplies from the supply ship via helo pick up and drop off. Back in the day this was most often accomplished by the mighty CH-46 Sea Knight (see “Phrog”), although any aircraft with a cargo hook installed can do it. Differs from UNREP (see above).
Very well: Senior to subordinate acknowledgement.
Virtual Liberty: The idea that a sailor could walk off the ship and, instead of going into town, step on his crank, throw his wallet into the water and hit himself over the head with a blunt object. The result would be waking up on the pier the next morning with an aching crotch, no money, a serious headache and the inability to remember anything from the previous night; just like actual liberty.
Vitamin M: Similar to Corpsman Candy above, but in this context relating to Motrin (Ibuprofen), which is occasionally used to combat the various aches/pains/headaches associated with military service. Applied as a panacea for any illness. A Corpsman would likely prescribe Vitamin M for pregnancy and cancer, if he could get away with it. Does not refer to real vitamin M (folic acid).
Voluntold: When a sailor is volunteered into a collateral duty by his superior. “I need a volunteer, you over there!”
Vulcan Death Watch: A long evaluation or training drill onboard a submarine. It normally goes on for hours with no clear ending point.
Vultures Row: Place where people can watch flight operations without being in the way.

[edit] W
Wardroom: Officer’s mess, or dining room. Also used to collectively refer to all the officers at a command.
Warm and Fuzzy: a feeling that something has been done correctly and will produce the desired results. Most often used in the negative. When someone thinks something is not right, they often say “I’m not getting a warm and fuzzy.”
Warrant: A chief warrant officer. In the navy warrants are generally older and more experienced in a particular area of expertise than a commissioned line officer, much like an “LDO.” Unlike the army, an enlisted sailor must first be promoted to chief petty officer before becoming a chief warrant officer.
Watch: A period of duty, usually of four-hours duration. The day at sea has long been divided into watches, which are called: midwatch (0000 to 0400); rev watch (reveille) or morning watch (0400 to 0800); forenoon watch (0800 to 1200); afternoon watch (1200 to 1600); and the first watch (2000 to 2400). The period from 1600 to 2000 is usually split into two dog watches (first dog watch, second dog watch) to allow the crew to eat. Watch-standers in the Navy are required to report fifteen minutes before their watch is to begin in order to learn any needed instructions, situations, etc, from the preceding watch-standers. The new watch takes over from the previous when the watch officer or section leader officially relieves his predecessor; this must be done by the official, posted clock-time; (so, for example, a midwatch would run from 2345 to 0345, presuming that the hand-off is very quick). This schedule is not carved in stone, and variations exist depending on the command (some midwatches, for example run from “ten to two” — 2200 to 0200).
Water wings: Surface Warfare Officer’s badge (so named by aviators.) A term pridefully used by non-carrier SWOs.
Wave-off: In naval aviation, to voluntarily discontinue an approach to a landing or a hover because of unsafe or uncomfortable flight conditions. In other situations, to discontinue what you were doing due to some unforeseen circumstance. (Ex. He started walking towards the hottie in the Filipino bar, but had to wave-off when he noticed “her” adam’s apple and pants bulge.)
Waxing the Dolphin: Masturbating.
Weather Guesser: Term usually applied to personnel in the Aerographer’s Mate (AG) Rating.
Wedge: Nickname for someone so deserving. The simplest tool.
WEFT: Typically it stands for “Wings, Exhaust (or Engine, for prop aircraft), Fuselage, Tail” and is a method by which ship’s lookout stations can visually identify aircraft within the vicinity. However, since training for this tends to be spotty at best, identification of aircraft is often incorrect, leading to the second definition: “Wrong Every Fucking Time”.
Weaponette: (pl: Weaponettes) (Submarine Service) Pejorative term for the members of a submarine’s Weapons Department, used by members of the Navigation/Operations Department or Engineering Department, usually when they want their stolen tools back.
WESTPAC: While this usually refers to the western Pacific area of operations, it can also refer to a type of deployment in which a unit heads to multiple locations throughout said area. Often used in, “Damn, we just did a six-month WESTPAC, barely got home for a week, and now we’re heading out again?”
WESTPAC Rules: “That which happens in WESTPAC stays in WESTPAC”. Self censorship of letters home so that exploits of any individual is not inadvertently revealed to that person’s wife or girlfriend through casual reference in a letter to one’s own wife or girlfriend.
WESTPAC Widow: The wives of sailors who are on deployment, usually found in bars near their husbands naval base
Wet Deck: When your woman comes home late with another man’s semen in her vagina.
Wet Suit Camel Toe: A disturbing sight caused by a (usually older and) fatter rescue swimmer attempting to squeeze into his wet suit for SAR duty. Often seen entering and exiting helos that are providing SAR services.
Wetting Down: An informal requirement for an officer who has just been promoted. The exact amount may vary by command and community, but the general rule of thumb is that the officer has to lay down a bar tab equal to the amount of his monthly raise for the enjoyment of his wardroom mates. On cruise, several officers may be promoted between port calls, resulting in quite a party when they pull in.
Wheel Book: A small notebook, usually used by Division Officers or Chiefs to keep track of daily events and reminders
Wheels: Nickname for a Quartermaster, whose rating insignia is an eight-spoked ship’s helm wheel.
Wheels Up: aviator’s term for actual launch time (the wheels are up off the deck. Example: “I want to be wheels up at 0600″ means not to be walking to the plane at 6 am, but to be actually on the way at 6 am.
Whether leave: Departing the command for an extended period whether or not official permission has been requested and/or granted. Or, whether or not the sailor has leave on the books. Example: “I’m taking leave whether the skipper lets me or not.” (See “UA” and “AOL”)
Whidbey Whale: Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) variant of a dependent spouse who married her USN member/high school sweetheart husband when they were both skinny, but later, she became orca fat, ballooning to gigantic proportions, while he remained a skinny little guy. These unfortunately mismatched couples can usually be seen on weekends in and around the commissary and Navy Exchange (NEX).
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot: W.T.F. What the Fuck?
Whistling Shit Can of Death: CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter. Known for flipping over while attempting to take off (they have to move the rotors back and forth) and also having transmission failures 20 miles out from MCAS New River.
Whiz Quiz: “Piss Test,” Urinalysis, Operation Golden Flow. Failing is known as “popping positive.”
Widow/Widower: Describes wives (and now husbands) with spouses on deployment. Single, for all intents and purposes, until the day their spouse returns from deployment. Prefaced by the type or theater of service the deployed spouse is in, e.g. “WESTPAC widow” or “Boomer Widow”.
Wings: Naval Aviator or Naval Flight Officer breast insignia. Naval Aircrewman breast insignia. Also the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist breast insignia.
Wingman: In aviation, the term applied to members of a flight other than the mission commander whose purpose is to support and protect the mission commander in combat situations. Also a bar term referring to a person who is assigned to distract the companion of a potential piece of tail their friend is trying to entice.
Wire Biter: Electrician’s Mate.
Wog: short for “pollywog”, as in “wog ceremony”. A wog refers to someone who has not crossed the equator in an official Navy hazing ceremony. Although hazing is technically illegal, the Navy still supports this practice (typically under the watchful eye of the CMC), although it has become relatively benign compared with days of old. Officers and enlisted alike can be targets of this ceremony, run by “shellbacks.” According to lore, if the wogs of a ship manage to find and capture the “Jollyroger” (the black skull and crossbones flag) before midnight of the day before the ceremony, then they will get to run the shellbacks through the ceremony. It is not clear if this has ever been done. Officially, any crewmember having previously crossed the equator, whether in the Navy or not, does not have to participate in the ceremony. Unofficially, if said person cannot produce a Shellback Card, that person will participate.
Wolf Ticket: Highly suspect information. Can refer to malicious “scuttlebutt,” exaggerated “no-shitters,” or blatantly phony sea stories.
Working Party: When there is loading of supplies, the Quarter Deck will call for a “working party” to be manned by each division of the ship, the number depending on the task.
Workups: 1- to 6-week periods preceding a deployment during which the ship and/or its airwing practice and prepare. Widely known workups involving the carrier and the airwing are TSTA, COMPTUEX, JTFX and RIMPAC. Airwing only workups include trips to NAS Fallon and NAS Key West.
Would you like a kick to help you get airborne?: seen on a numerical list of epithet substitutions, especially transmitted over radio, which has to stay clean
Wrinkle-neck Bass: See Scupper Trout.
WTFO: “What the Fuck, Over” (pronounced “wit fo” or “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Oscar” using the phonetic alphabet): colorful way of asking what just happened, ie, “What the Fuck?”
WUBA: (pronounced wooba) “Woman Used by All.” or “Woman w/ an Unusually Big Ass.” Self explanatory. Also an acronym that stands for Working Uniform Blue Alpha.
WUBA Chariot: Elliptical exercise machines more often than not used by females.
WUBAflage: (pronounced like camouflage) term for civilian clothes worn by WUBA’s.

[edit] X
XOI: Form of non-judicial punishment in which the wayward sailor appears before the executive officer (XO). After hearing the details of the case, the XO may recommend dismissal or refer it to the Commanding Officer (CO) for “Mast.”
XO’s Happy Hour: Daily hour-long mandatory cleaning evolution. Usually introduced by XO on the 1MC.
XO’s Door: Trophy commonly traded between the engineering divisions on an underway submarine as a way to alleviate boredom.
Xoxing Logs: (Submarine Service) (Derived from the word “Xerox,” pronounced “zoxing”) Entering engineering log data eerily similar to the previous hour’s log data.

[edit] Y
Yokes: Short for Yokohama, the large black rubber fenders floating alongside a pier, on which the ship rests when pierside.
Yoko: Yokosuka, Japan.
Your Boy: What you refer to someone as when you don’t want ownership, responsibility or relation to them. “Seaman Dumbshit over there is ‘your’ boy.” “He isn’t my boy.” “Oh, no, your boys.” Alternately “What’s goin’ on with your boy?” is fairly standard. Also referred to as “Yankee Bravo,” which is phonetic alphabet for the letters Y and B.

[edit] Z
Zarf: A cupholder on a submarine. It’s very simple and may be riveted to any available vertical sheet metal.
Zero: Officer. Term derived from their paygrade; O-1, O-2, etc.
Zipper Failure: a leading reason why Black Shoe commanding officers get to hear band music at their first change of command, and not at the second.
Zoomie: Aviator. Usually applied to USAF pilots. Stems from the USAF Academy - the “blue zoo” where civilians observe formations march to lunch daily from the chapel wall.
Zoomies: Particle radiation originating from naval nuclear power or nuclear weapons.
ZUT: CW (Morse radiotelegraphy) forever. Unoffocial procedure signal (obsolete). Retired RMs may have a ZUT certificate, or even tattoo.
Zoom Bag: Flight suit
(The) Zoo: USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6). A Wichita-class Replenishment Oiler that served the U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 1973-1996.

CAVU: Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited - perfect flying weather. Pronounced as “Ka-Voo”, it is commonly used in sentences such as “CAVU to the Moon”.
CB - Construction Battalion (pronounced Seabees)
CBC: Clean Bitches Clean. A term used to order junior sailors to clean so they can to secure for the day, or to commence field day.
Cellblock 10: Crew-coined term for the USS Juneau. Term could come from the feeling that the Juneau has the homely warmth of a prison cellblock. 10 is the vessel’s hull number.
Cellblock 65: Same as above only referring to the U.S.S. Enterprise (CVN-65).
CC: Company Commander in bootcamp - the place where new boots start learn all these new ‘hosed up’ terms
CF: (pronounced Charlie Foxtrot) Cluster fuck, meaning completely screwed up.
CFIT (pron. see-fit): Controlled Flight into Terrain - When a pilot flies a perfectly good airplane into the ground or the water. Often fatal if unanticipated.
C-GU11: Seagull. Pronounced “See-Gee-Yuu-Eleven.” Similar to “bulkhead remover,” an inexpensive way to derive enjoyment from inexperienced personnel on watch. “Forward lookout, keep an eye out for signs of C-GU11s in the area, over.” Also sometimes spelled C-6U11, Z-6UL1 or various L33T-like combinations.
Channel Fever: Said if a sailor is anxious when approaching port to get leave. Sometimes cured by the “Channel Fever Shot”, a slap or kick to the backside.
Charles County Crab: Throughout the years the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal has moved several times. It is currently located at Eglin AFB, Florida. The term “Charles County Crab” refers to the “crab” insignia worn by graduates of Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, who attended training during the period of time when NAVSCHOLEOD was based at Naval Ordnance Station, Indian Head, Charles County Maryland (old school).
Charlie Foxtrot: See “clusterfuck”
Charlie Noble: The stove pipe from the mess deck, the cleaning of which is a major chore.
Charlie Oscar: Phonetic letters C and O. Refers to the Commanding Officer of a unit.
Chart: What landlubbers call a “map”.
Charting: A practice peculiar to Operations Specialists in which they take any personal gear left unstowed by the previous watch section (usually personal coffee cups) and fling them overboard, marking the location on the chart and subsequently inform the unfortunate owner of the location, remarking that he is free to return to retrieve it at his leisure.
Check Valve (primarily used by Engineering/Reactor departments): A shipmate who is willing to acdddcept (and may even ask for) gedunk or help, but isn’t willing to give. He is being “one way”…(a check valve only allows flow in one direction).
Cheez Whiz: Derogatory term for Chief Warrant Officers, former enlisted personnel who have received a commission for specialized skills. Most Warrant Officers (aka “Warrants”) are former Chiefs but have “moved up” to the officers’ mess (Wardroom), hence there is often a degree of resentment and animosity between the two groups.
CHENG: Chief Engineer
Chicken Suit: A yellow cloth suit that is worn from head-to-toe by navy “Nukes” (see below) when cleaning up radioactive spills or are otherwise in areas that may lead to skin contamination by radioactive material. To complete the ensemble, bright orange rubber gloves are worn as well.
Chit: Name given to the document a sailor fills out to make various types of special request (i.e. emergency leave, move off base to civilian housing, etc.)
My Wife Chit: A special request that uses the wife as the excuse/justification for needing to be absent.
Chop, The: Supply Officer. Taken from the Supply Corps’ porkchop-shaped insignia.
Chow: Food.
Chow Boss: Food Service Officer.
Chow down: Eat.
Chow Hall: Dining room.
Chow Hound: Someone who never misses a meal. A proficient chow hound generally gains membership in the Chub Club.
Chrome Dome: Bright silver helmet worn by officer candidates as part of the “poopie suit” during the first week of OCS.
Chub Club: Sailors assigned mandatory physical training due to being overweight.
Chuckie V: USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Also Chuckwagon, Chuck Bucket.
Chula-juana: Derisive term for the city of Chula Vista, CA, a city where many sailors assigned to NAVSTA San Diego live for its proximity to the base and perceived similarity to Tijuana, Mexico.
CIC: Combat Information Center - see “Combat” below
Cinderella Liberty: Liberty that expires at midnight.
CIVLANT: Form DD-214 transfers you from COMSUBLANT to CIVLANT.
CIWS (pron. sea whiz): Close in Weapon System, or Phalanx gun, also “Captain, it won’t shoot!”, is intended to shoot down incoming missiles, but is frequently under repair.
CLA: A career-limiting action. A truly bad whatever that spells the end. Leads to questions about the location of the truck-driver school phone number. aka CLE event.
Cleaning Stations: Hour-long field day evolution where everyone drops what they’re doing and cleans their spaces. See “XO’s Happy Hour”
Clinometer: 1. (Also known as an inclinometer) An instrument for measuring angles of slope (or tilt), elevation or inclination of an object with respect to gravity. 2. An instrument used on shipboard to indicate the approximate amount of vomit being produced by the ship’s crew.
Clobbered: When the landing pattern or the comms frequency at a field or ship is filled to capacity and you can’t get an aircraft or a word in.
Clusterfuck: Term used to describe an evolution that has gone awry.
Coastie: A Coast Guardsman.
COB: (Submarine Service) Chief of the Boat; a chief (generally a Master or Senior Chief) specifically assigned to the submarine to liaise between the CO and the crew of the boat. Such a good idea, that the surface fleet borrowed it, mucked it up, and created the CMC (Command Master Chief) program.
COD: Carrier Onboard Delivery - the mighty C-2 Greyhound, which ferries people and supplies to and from the carrier on a regular basis. The C-2 Greyhound COD was preceded in service by the smaller C-1 Trader (photo) COD aircraft.
Coffin Locker: A personal storage area located underneath a sailor’s rack (see below).
Cold Shot: A catapult launch from a carrier in which insufficient speed is attained to generate lift. Often fatal for the aircrew if they do not eject in time.
Connex Box Talk: A shipping container used when a Junior “dirt Sailor” is in need of a Physical attitude re-alignment. Although officially illegal under the U.C.M.J. It is rumored to be an effective tool but generally only allowed in the most severe cases.
Combat: Short for Combat Information Center (CIC). This space is a nexus where all of the ship’s sensors and weapons systems come together. The room is filled with various screens and displays, and the Tactical Action Officer (TAO) “fights the ship” from there.
Combat Dump: Evacuating the bowels right before a flight or a mission. Also called “putting the marines ashore” or “drowning an O-4.”
Combo Cover: Short for Combination Cover, which is a type of hat worn by chiefs and officers. It is circular on top and covered with white or khaki fabric. On the front you’ll find the officer’s crest or the (senior or master) chief’s insignia. Below that there is a chin strap and a black brim. AKA visor cap.
Commodore: Title of the Captain (O-6) in charge of a squadron of ships or submarines or a wing of the same type of aircraft. Prior to 1984 this was the designation given to the lowest rank of flag officer (O-7 or one-star); however, there was occasional confusion with the other military branches over whether a Commodore was a flag officer. To be more inline with the other services, the US Navy changed the one-star title to Rear Admiral, Lower Half.
Commodore: The title given for any Captain embarked upon a naval vessel that he is not the CO of the unit, even if the CO of the unit is a Commander, he is the “Captain”. There can be only one Captain. This most commonly occurs on submarines and destroyers.
COMNAVFUDGEPAC: Pejorative for any suspected homosexual sailor onboard a ship or station. Derives from the acronym “COMNAVSURFPAC” (Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Pacific), with the humorous reference to “fudge-pack[ing].”
Comp Time: Compensation Time, time/days off during week for shore-based sailors who had weekend assignments, above and beyond mere watch-standing.
Conar Tech: Slang for Sonar Tech, Coner+Sonar= Conar.
Coner: (Submarine Service) A submarine crewman who is not part of the engineering department (synonymous with retard), especially Torpedomen. Also known as “Forward Pukes” and “Fags” (see below)
Constantly Gone: Guided missile cruiser (CG), especially during the Gulf War due to their lengthly underway time and extended deployments

Cool Breeze: Laid back individual that can be found randomly in fields watching sunsets. Also may or may not be collecting butterflies and placing them in jars. Cool Breezes can be found normally on Whidbey Island.
Corpsman Candy: Sore-throat lozenges handed out at sick bay in lieu of any substantive treatment. Sometimes accompanied by two aspirin.
Corp Whore: A degrading term for a female corpsman.
Countersunk Sailor: Female sailor.
Cover: HEADGEAR - includes the dixie cup (white hat (go figure)), cloth cap (cracker jack cover), watch cap, snoopy headgear, fatigue cap; garrison cap: see “piss cutter”, “cunt cap” and “combo cover”; NOW HEAR THIS: These are NOT hats. Ladies wear hats, sailors and Marines wear “covers”. That is all.
The COW: The Commanding Officer’s Wife
Crab: affectionate slang term for the warefare insignia/ badge worn by special operations personnel qualified in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (BOMB SQUAD).
Cracker Jacks: Slang for the dress blue uniforms worn by sailors E-6 and below. (see Marine Corps Table Cloth)
Crack House: Designated smoking area aboard ship that is not a weatherdeck space. Quickly fills with a haze of smoke. Also called “Crack shack”.
Crank: See “Mess Crank”
Crash & Smash: Permanently assigned flight deck firefighting personnel. Also, a game played by aviation personnel involving several long tables and a great deal of beer, wherein the aviators attempt to replicate with their bodies the arrested landings their aircraft make.
Crazy Ivan: (Submarine Service), demonstrated in the movie The Hunt for Red October. Russian submarines would quickly turn 180 degrees while underway to see whether any American submarines were following. Collisions occasionally resulted during the Cold War.
Creamed foreskins: creamed chipped beef.
Cripler: Tripler Army Medical Center, Oahu, scourge of sailors at Pearl Harbor.
Crotch Crickets: Pubic lice, a/k/a Crabs.
Crow: Black eagle for petty officer rank used on a white uniform
Crow Fever: A term when a sailor reaches E-4 and lets the limited authority of the rank go to his head, causing him to go mad with petty power.
Cruise: A 6-month (or longer) deployment on a ship. Work-ups precede cruise.
Cruise sock: A sock that is sacrificed early in a deployment and used to clean up after masturbating. It is usually kept under the mattress and can stand up on its own by the end of cruise.
Crunch: Aircraft handling mishap that results in structural damage to one or more aircraft.
Crunchies: Marines or soldiers. Derived from the sound they make when tanks roll over them.
Crusty: A term applied to an old, seasoned sailor when he is beyond salty. It’s time for him to retire, but he can’t seem to let go, and the Navy forgot he was still around (frequently the case with geriatric Senior Chiefs). Can also describe a sailor’s underwear, when that sailor has bowel control problems and personal hygiene problems.
Cryppy/Cryppy Critter: Cryptographer, also seen on a highway near the Cryptography School in San Angelo, Texas without vowels, as CRYPPY CRTTR.
Cum Dumpster: A derogatory term for a woman, used by sailors who are looking for a quick sexual release after an extended period of celibacy.
Cumshaw: Other than ethical means of procurement ;^) aka midnight marine supply, etc.
CUNT: Civilian Under Naval Training
Cunt Cap: Garrison Cap (fore-and-aft cover worn by CPO, WO, and commissioned officers. Oh, yes, Marines wear them, too). See “Piss Cutter”
Cut orders (for transfer, travel): Before photocopiers were common, such were prepared by typing a mimeo or ditto master, due to the number pF copies required. (Term may be obsolete today. As with most obsolete Naval terms, still in wide use.)
CVIC: (pron. “civic”) Carrier Intelligence Center - centrally located space on an aircraft carrier occupied by intelligence officers and IS’s. Flight crews often go there to debrief after a flight. The most useful thing in CVIC is usually the high-speed industrial strength paper shredder.
CVE: (pron. cee-vee-ee) Normally it means escort aircraft carrier but it also means “Combustible, Vulnerable, and Expendable” by their crews due to lack of armor.

[edit] D
Danger Nut: A “fun” game in which one or more sailors place a washer or nut around a rod or similar metal device and then hold it to a HP Air hose, 125-700 psi. The washer or nut spins wildly due to the high pressure air venting. Once it reaches a high enough speed, the rod is turned so that the air blows the object completely off the rod and around the machinery room. At which point A-Gangers giggle and try to hide behind the EOG. Thus the beloved name, “DANGER NUT”.
DCA: Damage Control Assistant, usually is a junior officer.
D.C. Dink: A sailor who has failed to qualify in Damage Control in the stipulated time period and has become “Damage Control Delinquent”.
D.B.F.: (Diesel Boats Forever) Unauthorized pin showing a non-nuclear submarine. Originally intended by the makers to be awarded whenever a nuke boat went brokedick and a diesel boat had to fill its role. Later co-opted by the diesel fleet at large and sailors began wearing the pin with stars for each diesel boat they served on, rather than each emergency deployment due to nuclear boat breakdowns.
DDA: Day Dick-Around: In naval aviation, a DDA is a very enjoyable flight during the day when there is no real mission or training to accomplish. The purpose of the flight is to burn gas or hours, often before the end of a quarter or fiscal year.
Death Pillows: Ravioli
Death Pucks: Hamburger Patty
Deck: Floor.
Deck Ape: Non-designated enlisted person serving on the deck force, often as result of washing out of “A” school or being stripped of another rating.
Deep Six: Obsolete term for throwing something overboard; refers to the “deep six”, the lowest fathom (six feet) before the ocean floor. Has been mostly replaced by Float Checking (see below). Is now generally used to refer to getting rid of something in any manner, including Personnel, for example - “Deep six your porn, Inspection at 0630″ See also: Float Test
Deep/Black Water OPs: Throwing things over the side when not authorized, such as trash or broken furniture
Department: Highest organizational level in most naval commands. Common departments are admin, deck, engineering, operations, and maintenance. Broken up into divisions.
Deployment: When your unit travels “over the horizon” and operates at the “pointy end of the spear” in support of national security. Most naval deployments last a minimum of six months (if you’re lucky!). Work-ups precede deployment. See “cruise.”
Det: Short for detachment. When part of a unit leaves and operates at another ship or base. Also used in reference to some “workups” that involve the entire unit. Ex. NAS Fallon det.
Devil Doc: Term used by Marines to describe Corpsmen that they like within Fleet Marine Force Units.
Devil Dolphins: Navy Personel serving with Marines in ground or combat operations or those wishing to do so. A relative new term with regards to the IRAQ and AFGANISTAN conflicts. Specifically Naval Corpsman or Seabee’s.
Dick Skinners: Hands, i.e. “get your dick skinners off my white hat”
Dicking the dog: putting “half-assed” effort into a task (refers to improperly securing the “dogs” on a watertight hatch when passing through. Such a lax procedure could spell doom for a sinking ship if hatches were not absolutely watertight). Also said as “poking the poodle” or “fornicating the canine”. Not to be confused with “screwing the pooch” which refers to royally (often fatally) messing up a task.
Dicksmith: Derogatory term for hospital corpsmen.
Dig-it: Someone who loves the Navy (”digs it”). Also a shortened form of “dig-it tool,” a device such as a Leatherman or Gerber multi-tool often carried by those who love the Navy.
Dilbert: Fictional and clueless cartoon character used in WWII era training material to demonstrate what NOT to do in naval aviation. Dilbert often paid dearly for his ignorance, lack of attention to detail, or carelessness.
Dilbert Dunker: Device used in water survival training (”swims”) to teach aviators how to get out of the cockpit of a fixed-wing aircraft that has crashed or ditched at sea. Much easier than the dreaded “helo dunker.”
DILDO: Direct Input Limited Duty Officer - A civilian teacher hired to train nuclear-field candidates in theoretical math, physics, chemistry, materials, and thermodynamics. The commission was given specifically to these teachers in order for them to have some disciplinary tools and rank above their students. Commissions were for a set amount of time and these teachers did not have normal line officer duties.
D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F: (Do I Look Like I Give A Fuck?), A term indicating supreme indifference; “Gaffer”.
Ding: Similar to “hit” (see below). Also, to cause minor damage to something (Ex. He dinged his aileron when he had a birdstrike on final to the boat.)
Dining-in/Dining-out: Social functions, usually for officers and chiefs, where dinner dress is worn and certain “rules of the mess” are followed. Generally presided over by the Executive Officer (XO) and run by a Chief of Junior Officer (JO) called “Mr. Vice,” these events can become quite rowdy and raucous. The difference between the two is that significant others may attend dining-outs. Dining-ins are for the servicemembers only.
DINK: Acronym for married servicemembers with no children - Dual Income No Kids.
DINQ: (pronounced “Dink”) Acronym for Delinquent IN Qualifications. Ex: “That shitbird is dinq on ship’s quals!” Also Delinquent In Nuclear Quals.
Dipper: An anti-submarine helo with a variable depth dipping SONAR. See “Dome.”
Dirka: Any term referring to the language, money, or products of the Middle East.
Dirtbag: A lazy and almost useless sailor. Produces substandard work-usually creating extra work for his shipmates. Accompanied by a bad attitude and desire to leave service ASAP.
Dirty-dicking: Wiping one’s genital organ around the inside of a senior enlisted or officer’s coffee cup. Laughter ensues when the junior crewmen watch the senior victim “enjoying” their beverage.
Dirty-shirt wardroom: (Aircraft Carrier): Forward wardroom for pilots wearing (sweaty) flight gear. As opposed to formal ship’s wardroom.
Dirt Sailor: Nickname for Seabees who spend most of their time in a fox hole and never set foot on a ship.
Disbo: DISBursing Officer.
DISCO: DISCiplinary Officer. Usually works with Ship’s JAG Officer
Ditch: To intentionally crash land an aircraft as “gently” as possible - usually into the water. This is generally done when fuel is almost all used up with no hope of making it to a safe landing area, or when a slowly developing but potentially fatal emergency is going on.
Dit Dot Bomb: a form of hazing by taking the round paper cutouts left from a hole punch and putting them in a box or other container rigged to open and rain down on another. Mixing with shredded paper will give a greater effect.
DITE (prounuced Dite) acronym for “Dick in the eye” Usually reserved for undesirable tasks forced on one by superiors, “The weps is throwing some major league DITE our way, but we’ll take care of it.”
Ditty Bag: The term is at least 207 years old and originates with our seafarers, and not, as is supposed by some, with our 20th century armies. Ditty bag was originally called `ditto bag’ because it contained at least two of everything: two needles, two spools of thread, two buttons, etc. With the passing of years, the `ditto’ was dropped in favor of `ditty’ and remains so today. Before World War I, the Navy issued ditty boxes made of wood and styled after foot lockers. These carried the personal gear and some clothes of the sailor. Today, the ditty bag is still issued to recruits and contains a sewing kit, toiletry articles, and personal items such as writing paper and pens.
Ditty bag (usage varied): An issued sewing kit, kit of toiletries, or some combination. Occasionally: Any mesh bag, from the use of such to contain soiled laundry. (In days of yore before ample fresh water, such bags were pulled alongside for seawater rinsing.)
Divers: Word passed every 15-minutes when divers are working over the side of a ship. “Divers. There are divers working aboard USS . Do not rotate screws, cycle rudders, take suction from or discharge to the sea or throw anything over the side while diver’s are working aboard USS “.
Division: Middle organizational level in most naval commands, below department and above branch. Usually headed by a junior officer (JO). Common divisions are powerplants, airframes, 1st Lieutenant, etc… Divisions are sometimes divided into branches. A ship may have 1st and 2nd Divisions on the deck, M(Machinery) division and E(electrical) division, and Auxiliaries Division in engineering, Combat Systems division, and Weapons division as examples.
DIVO: DIVision Officer. See above.
Dixie Cup: The canvas white hat Sailors wear with their dress uniforms.
DFOB: (pronounced “dee fob”) Dumbest Fuck On Board.
Dock jumpers: The unfortunates who would have to leap ashore to tie up when no “line handlers” are available.
Dog: A Soft Serve Ice Cream machine. Named from the appearance of the Chocolate flavor in relation to a product of man’s best friend. Also referred to as auto dog.
Dog: To close or “dog down” a water tight hatch.
Dog: When one is overworked by a pissed off superior (”The chief completely dogged us.”), screwed over by a peer (”That brown-nosing little prick found my apple jack, so he went to the MAA and dogged me.”) , or, conversely, as a promise of impending doom (”Just wait until I get you in my galley, you little shitbird… I will dog you out”.)
Dog Log: An “unofficial” log which is kept by watch standers to record the important social events on the ship, such as: “STG3 Dirty Douche was caught with a fellow shipmate in coitus.” It is vital entertainment for shipmates stuck on duty in exotic ports while the rest of the ship gets shit-faced. It can also contain humorous drawings of the LPO, CPO, or DIVO. It is therefore an unauthorized piece of “gear adrift” that is usually hidden in various stations so as not to be found by the meddling higher ups.
Dog Vomit: A breakfast item in the same category as Shit on A Shingle. A mealy paste of tomato juice and hamburger, with bits of leftovers from the previous day’s evening meal. Usually served on toast.
Dog watch: Split of evening watch into two 2 hour watches - 1600-1800 and 1800 - 2000. Done to allow the watchstanders to eat the evening meal.
Dolphins: (Submarine Service) Submarine Qualification Device, called dolphins because of the dolphin fish used in the design.
Dome: A SONAR transmitter/receiver. It may be fixed, as in those mounted on the bow of a ship below the waterline, or mobile like those “dipped” by anti-submarine helos.
Donkey-Dick: Term used for many nozzle shaped implements. Also a large pipe cleaner used in the galley to unclog sink drains and steam jacketed kettles.
Dopey: Green log book hidden somewhere in an engineering space that sailors often write in to vent frustration in the form of prose, poetry or even drawings and cartoons. The information in the dopey could often lead to charges of mutiny and sedition if found. The location is usually well guarded against discovery by senior personnel.
Double-Digit Midget: Less than 100 days to EAOS. Also known as a “Two-Digit Midget”; pick your own favorite alliteration.
Double Nuts: Name given to the (usually brightly painted) CAG bird in each squadron in the airwing - so called because the side number ends with double zeros.
Double Ugly: Nickname for the F-4 Phantom back in the day
Douche Kit: Container (usually zipper closed) for toilet articles such as shaving cream, deoderant, after shave lotion, etc.
Down: Not working, out of commission, broken, “broke-dick.” In aviation, non-flyable, usually for maintenance reasons. When applied to an aviator, it means not allowed to fly. This can be for a variety of reasons: medical, personal, disciplinary, etc… In flight training, a down is a failed flight.
DRB: Disciplinary Review Board. Composed of Chief Petty Officers, a sailor who has committed some infraction usually stands before this board to have his case heard. The board will either dismiss the case (with or without informal punishment) or recommend further review by the XO or the CO.
Drift Count: Monitoring the movement of the ship while at anchor.
Drifty: Sailor lacking the ability to stay focused while attempting to perform a given task. (Petty Officer to sailor: “Is there something the matter with you? You are acting drifty today!”)
Drifter: Sailor who at all times lacks the ability to stay focused. Also called drift-pack, or in the very extreme case “COMNAVDRIFTPAC”, a parody of COMNAVSURFPAC.
Drop a Chit: The act of filling out a chit.
Drop your cocks and grab your socks: A saying that the petty officer of the watch yells in the sleeping quarters when it’s time for everyone to get up. Often done in boot camp.
Drug Deal: A mutually beneficial agreement or compromise worked out between peers, conducted outside of normal channels and without approval from higher authority.
Duck Dinner: Slang for Dishonorable Discharge.
Dynamited Chicken: Chicken a la King or Chicken Cacciatore.

[edit] E
EAOS: End of Active Obligated Service. This is the normal end of enlistment unless the person reenlists. At this point the sailor is transferred into a non-active reserve status if they have spent less the eight years active duty for a length of time to result in eight years total active service or reserves and non-active reserves.
Earth Sack: Pile of shit or turd.
EAWS: Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist. Often pronounced “A-wis”.
Ed’s Motel: Navy Filmmakers’ acronym for Editorials, Motion Picture, and Television Department.
Emergency Blow (Submarine Service); Also known as “Hittin’ the Chicken Switches”: When a submarine is made to rapidly blow all the seawater out of her main ballast tanks; this results in a rapid (and uncontrolled) ascent to the surface. This makes an impressive display as the sub breaks the surface, as seen on TV: few submariners have ever seen this big splash, except on TV. The only thing submarine crewmen get to see during an emergency blow is: (1) the depth gauge moving counter-clockwise towards surface depth, and (2) all the unsecured gear hitting the overhead when surface depth is achieved. Performing this maneuver beneath other ships is not a good idea (see USS Greenville for details).
End-of-the-World Party: A party for a sailor who is about to leave on a cruise, often much like a bachelor party. It is said that this tradition originates with Vikings, who believed that they might sail off the end of world.
Ensign Upper Half: Alternative designation for those who fail to live up to the standards of O-2.
E-Nothin: Used to describe a junior Seaman. Usually reserved for someone right out of bootcamp or A School.
Enswine: Derogatory term for an ensign.
EMI: Extra Military Instruction. Extra work, usually as dirty as possible, assigned as punishment for minor infractions.
EOOW: Engineering Officer Of the Watch.
ESFOAD: Eat Shit, Fuck Off, And Die
ESWS: Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. Often pronounced “E-swas”.
E-ticket: When an officer has sex with an enlisted sailor it is referred to as the officer “getting his/her e-ticket punched.”
Even Numbered Chief: Pejorative for an E-8 who, through his own ineptitude, is unable to advance to E-9 and who refuses to let E-7’s be. Lonestar.
Evolution: Navy preferred term for exercise.
Expire Before Your ID Card: To die before being discharged.

[edit] F
FAB: Feet, Ass, and Balls. Smells occasionally encountered by the XO during his or her daily messing and berthing inspection.
FAG: Fighter Attack Guy - an F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet pilot or naval flight officer (”NFO”). Also a “Fine Academy Graduate” used as a derogatory term to refer to graduates of the Naval Academy. Also “Forward Area Guy” used as derogatory term for submarine personnel other than engineering department, brought upon due to a COB’s ban of the term “Coner” (see above).
F.A.T.A.F.U (pronounced fatafoo) Someone who serves on fast attack submarines (stands for Fast Attack Tough All Fucked Up)
F.A.W.C.U. (pronounced Fuck you) (Submarine Service): Focused After Watch Clean Up: usually between 1 to 2 hours of “Field Day” after every watch rotation.
Fart sack: Canvas mattress cover. (In cold conditions sailors would sleep inside them for extra warmth.)
Fart Suit: Dry suit worn by aviators when flying over extremely cold water. Keeps out the cold water and keeps everything else in.
Fashion Show: Form of remedial instruction usually used to correct deficiencies in uniform appearance. The sailor is required to dress in each service uniform, and stand a uniform inspection in each one, with the sailor’s supervisor or Chief as inspector.
Father: The navigational aid (TACAN) on the Aircraft Carrier (a.k.a. Mother).
Father’s Day: The most confusing day in any wardroom. There is a reason you call them ’sir’.
FEP: Fitness Enhancement Program. Mandatory physical training regimen designed to return sailors to within physical readiness standards. Also refers to sailors who are enrolled in the program… (derogatory acronym for: Fat Enlisted People / Forced Exercise Program”. See “Chub Club”.
Field Day: All hands clean-up. usually lasts on a good day about 3-4 hours. (30 min of cleaning and 2-4 hours of fucking off.)
Field Survey: To discard a worn-out item (”in the field,” often off the end of the pier) instead of submitting for formal “survey” to determine redistribution or disposal. Sometimes items handed down to a needier local unit.
F.I.G.M.O.: (Fuck It, Got My Orders, pronounced fig-mo); refusal of a long or tough assignment near the end of a duty rotation. Also seen as a name badge at this time, so officers/petty officers will forget your real name.
Fighting gear: Eating utensils.
Filet of Mule Tool: the green mystery meat or bologna used frequently for MidRats.
Filipino Mafia: Any group of sailors of Filipino descent at a command, often accused of favoritism and shady practices. Term likely originated in the days when Filipino sailors comprised the majority of Supply Department personnel (cooks, stewards, laundry, barbershop, supply issue) and those with connections to the “mafia” got faster, better service than the common guy.
Filthy Fifteen: The fifteen recruits assigned to maintain cleanliness of the compartment head for the division in boot camp.
Five and Dimes: A watch rotation where the sailor or watch team stand five hours of watch, then have ten hours off (to clean, perform maintenance, train, get qualified, conduct drills, take care of divisional business or their collateral duty, eat, shower, and occasionally sleep). This follows from a three-section watch rotation, and results in the sailor standing watch at a different time every day and night, repeating every three days.
Fish: (Submarine Service) See Dolphins, above. Also “torpedo”.
Flag Deck: command level on large ships for Admirals (flag rank, because they are entitled to show a flag with appropriate number of stars on a car, ship, etc. if they are present)
Flail: An action taken by leadership that is a major response to an extremely minor problem. The orders given usually do not address the original problem at all.
FlailEx: A pointless, flailing exercise. See “flail”.
Flathatting: Flying in a dangerous manner and performing unsafe and unnecessary maneuvers for the purpose of thrillseeking or fun.
Flattop: Aircraft carrier. Also the haircut worn by truly motivated sailors.
Fleet Up: When a second in command takes his senior’s place upon that senior’s transfer, retirement, or other re-assignment.
Fleet Meat: Term used by male sailors to describe sexually active female sailors.
Fleet Tac: Fleet Tactical radio frequency. This frequency is supposed to be monitored by every US and NATO ship in the world at all times. In reality, this is rarely the case.
Flight Deck Buzzard: Chicken (food).
Flight Line: The area on a ship or station where aircraft are made ready for flight. Also used as a prank on gullible new sailors, as in “Go get me 100 feet of flight line from the crash shack.”
Flip me for it: Pulling rank, with the senior sailor obscuring his crow/anchor (or with the submarine-qualified sailor obscuring his dolphins) as if revealing the side of a coin.
Float Check (also Flotation Testing): Throwing something overboard.
Float Test: (Submarine Service) A game usually played by the Topside and Pier Rover. In which items known not to float are thrown or pushed from topside or the pier. I.E. TDU Weights, Compressors, Valves, Level Parts with no tag, etc.
Float she may, shine she must: May be heard from grumbling enlisted when the command decides that ship cleanliness takes precedence over all else. “I have maintenance to do. Why are we out here field-daying the p-way?”
Floating Bellhop: Derisive Army term for sailor.
Float Coat: Jacket worn by almost all personnel on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during flight operations. Should a sailor find himself blown overboard, the float coat will automatically inflate flotation bladders when it hits salt water. This garment also contains signalling devices and manual inflation tubes. The jackets come in different colors to identify the crewmember’s job on the flight deck. See “skittles”
Flying Bravo: Menstruating; from the signal flag.
Fo’c’s’le Follies: A gathering of all the aviators in the airwing in the carrier’s fo’c’s’le (forecastle). The CAG, ship’s CO, and battle group admiral are also usually invited and present. The “official” reason for this event is to hand out awards to the top aviators. The most enjoyable parts are the “roll calls” from each squadron, and the skits that two or three of the squadrons perform. If the roll call or the skit fails to amuse the rest of the airwing, the offending squadron is booed and belittled mercilessly. Follies are held about every 6 to 8 weeks while on deployment.
FNG: Fuckin’ New Guy - self-explanatory. Pronounced “effin-g”.
Fobbit: ANY person who won’t leave the security of a Forward Operating Base (FOB), except in an overly secure convoy to go to another FOB. Generally denotes someone who has “no clue” that there is a war going on and is viewed by troops in the field as incompetent. Associates itself with the term “Hobbit”- short, fat, scared guy who just wants to go home.
FOAD: Fuck Off And Die. Pronounced “fo-ad”.
FOD: Foreign Object Damage. Caused by Foreign Object Debris, such as nuts, bolts, or anything that could be sucked into a jet engine, damaging it. At aviation commands, FOD can also describe a worthless individual, i.e. “If Airman Smith isn’t in this shop in 5 minutes, write that piece of FOD up.”
FOD Walk Down: A periodic, organized search on an aircraft carrier flight deck, hangar deck, or runway looking for debris that a jet engine might ingest.
Form: Short for formation. This is when two or more aircraft or ships maneuver in close proximity while maintaining constant relative positions to each other.
Foreskins on a raft: Chipped beef in cream sauce on toast.
Foot Soldier: A term used for a Navy female who has no car but will sleep with her male counterparts for a ride.
Forward: The direction towards the bow of the ship (if you are walking towards the bow, you are going forward). May also be used as a relative indicator (as in the “forward berthing areas” or the “forward mess decks”).
“Forward Pals”: Nickname given to Coners after you get in trouble for calling them Coners.
Four (4) by Eight (8) Watch: The worst watch section to be in because your first watch is 0400 to 0800, then you work your duty station until 1600, followed by your second watch 1600 to 2000, every day.
Four Fan Trashcan: P-3 Orion 4 propeller patrol aircraft
Foxtrot Uniform: The polite phonetic pronunciation of saying “Fuck You”
FRED: F*ckin’ Retarded Enlisted Dude
FRED: Fuckin’ Ridiculous Electronic Device, or the Computer guided self training system in B.E.E. (read “B Double E”) Basic Electronics and Electricity School, the “Prep School” for most every Electrical or Electronics “A” School specialty.
Freeboard: On a ship or boat, this is the vertical distance between the waterline and the “gunwale” (see below).
Freq: (pron. freak) Short for frequency
Freidas Napsack: The testicles
Fried hamsters: Chicken or beef cordon bleu
Fried horsecock: Fried bologna
Frock: A procedure in the Navy allowing a recently advanced sailor to wear the insignia of the next higher pay grade (and enjoy the privileges thereto) before he has officially been advanced to that grade. Frocking is generally accompanied by the informal ceremony of “tacking on” your crow (q.v.).
FRS: Fleet Replacement Squadron - see “RAG” below
FTN: Fuck the Navy (common epithet used when complaining about naval policies or regulations). Often scrawled on the walls of toilet stalls by sailors who have been assigned to clean it for a reason. Also can refer to “Free The Nukes,” referring to sailors in the nuclear power field. Also refers to a mythical rate or ship type an “FTN Striker” says he/she is trying to get in (i.e. Fleet Tug-Nuclear, Fire Technician-Nuclear)
FTN Striker: Sailor whose stated goal/desire is get discharged
F.U.B.A.: Female of Unusually Broad Ass. Navy female with said condition.
F.U.B.A.R.: Fouled up beyond all repair, Fucked up beyond all recognition. (Foobar){Fucked up beyond all recognition}
F.U.B.I.J.A.R.: Fuck U Buddy, I’m Just A Reservist (”backbone of the Navy”)
F.U.B.Y.O.Y.O.: Fuck U Buddy, You’re On You’re Own (self explanatory)
F.U.P.A.: Fat Upper Pussy Area, pronounced foopa. A pejorative term referring to an overweight female sailor and the bulge that protrudes from ill fitting pants.
Fuck the mission, clean the position: Break out the swabs.
Fuck You, strong message follows: Seen on a numerical list of epithet substitutions (the unauthorized “Falcon Code,” derived from the “Charlie Echo” code), especially transmitted over radio, which has to stay clean
FuFu Juice: Perfume or cologne
Fun Boss: Morale, Welfare and Recreation Officer
Fun Meter: Fictitious gauge that shows the amount of mirth one is experiencing in any given situation. Most often used sarcastically to express extreme boredom or disinterest. “Please end this redass of an AOM. My fun meter is pegged!” See “suck meter”

[edit] G
Gaff Off: When a junior person ignores or purposely fails to show proper respect to a senior person. Examples may include blowing off an assigned task, not saluting, or using improper forms of address. Also refers to signing undeserved signatures on a qualification card. Can also refer to blazing logs or maintenance. From Give A Flying F*ck. Person concerned is the Gaffer.
Gastro: General term for Gastroentritis, or food-poisoning underway.
Gator-Freighter: Ship used in amphibious warfare, or generally the transportation of marines and their equipment. Especially, a carrier-like vessel (amphibious assault ship) whose primary purpose is to put ass in the grass.
Galley: Crews’ mess, or dining area. Place where food is prepared for consumption.
Gank: To steal something. Most often used to describe taking cleaning gear from other divisions or other “ganking” useless items. i.e. pens, random things from the galley or messdecks, cleaning gear and/or gear adrift
Garrison Cap: (fore-and-aft cover worn by CPO, WO, and commissioned officers. Oh, yes, Marines wear them, too). See “Cunt Cap” “Piss Cutter”
GCE: Gross Conceptual Error. This grading remark often appears on nuke-school exams. See also “ATFQ”.
Gear adrift: Loose or unsecured gear or equipment. Also a less-than-flattering assessment of a sailor “Seaman Jones is gear adrift!”
Gear Adrift: Referring to equipment, items, objects, geegaws, or anything else that can be acquired through judicious use of the saying “Gear Adrift, Must be a gift”
Geedunk: Candy, or a place that sells candy in a short form of Gedunk bar. Also “ice cream”.
General Quarters: (GQ) Every sailor has an assigned duty station to be manned during an emergency (AKA “Battlestations”).
George: The juniormost officer onboard a surface ship. Also spelled “JORG”, meaning Junior Officer Requiring Guidance.
Gerbil: Cordon Bleu. Named so since it looks like a deep fried gerbil. AKA “fried hamster.”
Gerbil Alley: Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. The only guaranteed port visit during any Persian Gulf deployment.
Gerbil Gym: Exercise space on board ship with treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical trainers - all pieces of equipment on which you perform motions that should move you to another place, but you remain in the same position like a gerbil on its wheel.
Getting Slant-Eyed: Masturbating.
Get your khakis: A term used when enlisted personnel sleep with officers, generally happens between low ranking enlisted personnel and low ranking officers.
Ghetto: Open-bay barracks, usually reserved for single sailors who are in transit or otherwise temporarily assigned there.
Ghetto-prise: alternate name the sailors of U.S.S. Enterprise have for their ship.
Ghost turd: The sailor’s term for a dust bunny.
Gig line: The visual line formed by uniform zipper, belt buckle, and buttoned shirt seam. Also used as another in-joke to send new sailors on a wild goose chase. See bulkhead remover.
GITMO: Guantanamo Bay Naval Station on Cuba, which had a shorthand designation of GTMO.
GITMO Cute: Females on Guantanamo Bay who wouldn’t normally get your attention back in the states, also known as OFAFBU (One Flight Away From Being Ugly).
Glasses: Binoculars
GMT: General Military Training, often derisively referred to as “Gross Misuse of Time.”
Goat Herder: Any man (or woman) aboard the ship that spends his or her free time “slinging game” on boat goats or boat ho’s.
Goat locker: Lounge or galley for the exclusive use of Chiefs.
Goatrope or goatfuck: Any situation that is “FUBAR.” An especially FUBARed situation is a Royal Mongolian Goatfuck.
Goes Away: What happens to an enemy aircraft when it is hit by a missile
Goggles: Short for Night Vision Goggles, which greatly amplify ambient light allowing the user to see in a green monochrome at night.
Golden Dragon: A sailor who has crossed the Prime Meridian or the International Date Line into the Eastern Hemisphere.
Golden rivet: Folklore that every ship is built containing a single, commemorative “golden rivet”
Golden Shellback: A sailor who has crossed the equator at the 180th Meridian twice or has gone through the ritual twice.
The Goo: Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). When an aviator flies an aircraft into the clouds, can no longer see the earth or the horizon, and is dependent on instruments for navigation, he is said to be “in the goo.” This is usually done intentionally when flying with an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan, but can lead to high “pucker factor” when it is done accidentally.
Good Humor Man: Reference to the Summer White uniform. This is an all-white short sleeve cotton uniform that makes the wearer look suspiciously like the ice cream man.
Goon It Up or Gooned Up: To execute poorly a task that is generally routine or commonplace. (Ex. He really gooned up that landing.)
Gouge: The inside scoop, the skinny, the low-down. Only the information you need to know in a given situation, with nothing else to waste your time. Some black shoes say “Live by the gouge, die by the gouge.” Aviators correctly say “Live by the gouge, EXCEL by the gouge.”
Grape: (Submarine Service) Easy as pie, man. Examples: “This is grape duty” or “That was a grape sig, you jerk.” Latter example can be translated as “Bravo Zulu, shipmate!!” (See Bravo Zulu, above). (Also see “sig” below).
Grape: (Aviation Service) A sailor in an aviation fuels rating. So named because of the purple flight deck jersey.
Great Mistakes: common ephitet used when complaining about RTC/NTC Great Lakes Illinois
Green Scrubby: Mildly abrasive scouring pad. Also called a “Greeny Weeny,” or just a “Greenie.” It’s green, of course.
Green Table Tea Party: Captain’s Mast, Non Judicial Punishment (see “Mast” below)
Grinder: A place at boot camp, normally a parking lot, where the company commander makes you do pushups, other forms of exercise, etc. when you screw up.
Gripe: Slang for a MAF (Maintenance Action Form), which is written when something is wrong with an aircraft.
Grog: Initially, this referred to the watered down rum ration given daily to sailors in the Royal Navy. Presently in the USN, it refers to the alcoholic brew offered at social events like “dining-ins” and “dining-outs.” Depending on the wardroom and in particular on the person preparing the grog, it may be pleasant and delicious or one of the most foul and disgusting beverages ever conceived.
Gronk: (Submarine Service) When a bolt or nut has been or is in process of being tightened so much that the operator of the wrench or ratchet sees stars when applying. “Who the Fuck gronked this nut on so tight?” See “Star tight”
Ground-Pounder: Navy term for the Army or Marines, specifically infantry. Generally pejorative.
G.U.A.M.: “Giving Up and Masturbating”–Common sailor’s complaint about being stationed on the remote island of Guam.
G.U.A.M.: Give Us American Money
G.U.A.M.: Gooks Under American Management
Guard: Standardized emergency radio frequencies that are constantly monitored by ships and aircraft. High Frequency (HF) guard is 40.5 MHz, Very High Frequency (VHF) guard is 121.5 MHz, and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) guard is 243.0 MHz. See “Air Force Common”
GUCCI GEAR:Commonly refered to Sailors (SEABEE’s, Individual Augmentee’s) Who are stationed on the ground most commonly in IRAQ or AFGANISTAN who buy a large amount of commando gear for their rifle’s or personal gear which will rarely get used but used to look as much like a commando IE:Navy SEAL as possible.

Gulfport Slam Hound: Derogatory term given to local women by Navy Seabees stationed in Gulfport, MS. See: Local talent.
Gumby Suit: Brightly colored, puffy anti-exposure survival suit somewhat resembling the claymation character with the same name.
Gundeck: To juryrig something; falsifying or misrepresenting records and reports. The term originates from the days of sail, when ships would sometimes paint black squares along the hull to represent more gun ports than they actually had. Also refers to reports of happenings on the weather decks that were documented on the gun deck without ever having gone to the weather decks.
Gun Boss: Weapons Department head.
Guns: A sailor in the Gunner’s Mate rating.
Gunwale: (pronounced “gunnel”) The top of the hull portion of a ship that runs down the port and starboard sides.
Gussy: USS Augusta
Gut Bomb: A Hamburger
Gyrene: Derogatory Navy term for a U.S. Marine. Also called “Jarheads”

[edit] H
HAC: (pronounced “hack”) Helicopter Aircraft Commander - the pilot in command of a helo.
Hack: Unofficial punishment confining an officer to his stateroom, usually during a port call.
Halfway-Night: (Submarine Service) Party night on pre-determined halfway point of boat’s patrol. Tenderloin and lobster, frozen, but good.
Haji: Anything Middle Eastern in origin. See Abu Dhabi.
Hamster: Chicken cordon bleu that is shaped like a deep fried hamster served on board naval submarines.
Hangar Queen: An aircraft that is chronically down or “broke-dick.” These aircraft are often used for parts to keep the rest of the aircraft flying. See “Cann”
Haole: Pronounced “How-Lee”. Hawaiian term for non-native. A dangerous thing for a sailor to be around Pearl Harbor as some of the natives see them as easy targets for crime, especially when local law-enforcement doesn’t seem to care.
Happy Sock: A soft sock brought for personal use (masturbating) by a sailor underway, or a Seabee in the field.
Hatch: A vertical access for traveling between decks. Also used to describe a door.
Hawser Tech: Any deck rating, especially Boatswain’s Mates
Haze Gray and Underway: Surface ships in arduous duty at sea, in contrast to aircraft carriers or submarines, or naval units in ceremonial roles or in port. It is a term of tribal pride and identification, e.g. surface ship crew use it to distinguish themselves from submarine crew or aircraft carrier crew.
For more details on this topic, see Haze gray and underway.
HAZREP: HAZard REPort - A safety message generated after an unsafe incident that is released to the rest of the fleet so as to prevent the incident from happening again.
Head: Bathroom - The term comes from the days of sail, because wind would blow from the rear of the ship to the front. The bathroom would be located at the front, “Head”, of the ship to carry the foul smell of excrement away from the crew.
Heat Shield: Anyone who is a complete and total fuck-up, and is always in trouble with the LPO, Chief, CO, etc… So called because he keeps the heat off everyone else in the organization. It is good to have one or two of these individuals around.
Helm: Steering wheel of a ship
Heisman: A position assumed by many young women when approached by sailors on liberty; legs crossed, one arm covering the breasts and the other straight out for a block, just like the Heisman Trophy.
Helmet Fire: When a pilot becomes so task-saturated in the cockpit that he loses the big picture and situational awareness (SA). Often leads to mistakes that can produce lethal results.
Helo (pron. hee-low): Term applied to all naval helicopters (from the standard message abbreviation HELO). Calling a naval helicopter anything other than a helo, and especially a “chopper,” is grounds for a serious beat-down.
Helo Dunker: Dreaded training device that all naval aircrew and pilots must endure every few years when they complete water survival training, or “swims.” Designed to simulate crashing a helo at sea, it is basically a huge metal drum with seats and windows that is lowered into a pool and then flipped upside down with the “passengers” strapped into it. There are generally four runs that must be successfully completed. Two of these are blindfolded. It is not fun.
Here today, GUAM tomorrow: Received orders from one island to another island, as in ADAK to GUAM.
Hinge: slang for an O-4, or Lieutenant Commander (LCDR). So called because of the lobotomy that is supposedly mandated as soon as a naval officer is promoted to this rank, in which half of his brain is removed. A hinge is then inserted that allows for reattachment of the removed gray matter later. The hinge also limits the LCDR’s head movement to the fore-aft axis. This is clearly demonstrated as the O-4 is constantly nodding in the affirmative and saying “Yes sir, yes sir…” when in the presence of the CO.
Hit: A discrepancy or failing mark during an inspection. (Ex. He took a hit on his personnel inspection for his unshined shoes.) See “ding”
Hit The Beach: Go on liberty
HMFIC: Head Mother Fucker In Charge, Slang for the sailor who is in charge of an evolution
Hockey pucks: Swedish meatballs (also, trail markers, porcupines, road apples).
The Hole: Area on the deck of an aircraft carrier directly inboard of the island. This is where the airwing’s helos are usually “stuffed.” Also: Slang for a ship’s engineering spaces.
Holiday Routine: Ship’s schedule on Sundays or other national holidays while underway when watches are minimally manned and most of the crew can sleep in (late or no reveille), however some personnel must still be on watch, “Holiday for some, routine for others”
Hollywood Shower (or Hotel Shower): A shower taken aboard a ship in a civilian manner, i.e. in which the water stays on throughout the shower, wasting much of it. (cf. Navy Shower) Definitely frowned upon.
Holy Helo: On Sundays, one of the helos from the carrier flies one or more of the chaplains around to the other ships in the battle group for services. This aircraft is dubbed the holy helo.
Holy Crotch: Between 1960 and 1991, Holy Loch, Dunoon, Scotland was the site of a United States Navy base and home to the Polaris nuclear fleet. Site One, the most forward deployed Submarine Fleet. The weather was mostly horrible and cold but the Scottish girls were quite warm.
Holy stone: The stone or the act of using one. A pumice stone for cleaning a wooden deck, which is generally done while the sailor is on his knees. Sailors figured that anything that put them on their knees so often must be holy.
The Honch: A nickname for the Honcho bar district right outside the gate of the Yokosuka Naval Base, known to be a generally trashy place.
Honch Ho/ Honch Honey: A term used to describe female frequenters of the Honch.
Honch Rat: A sailor who frequents the Honcho bar district in Yokosuka on his/her free time. A Japanese girl who frequents the company of American sailors in Honcho is also called a “Honch Rat.”
Hooligan Navy: WWII Navy pejorative for the Coast Guard, from its flexibility in enlisting men discharged from other services to rapidly expand for Prohibition. (Term endures within CG.)
Hook: Short for “tailhook’”
Hooker: or “Tail-hooker”, One who lands aboard an Aircraft Carrier.
Hoover: Slang for the S-3B Viking, mostly due to its unique engine noises
Hop’n'pop: Dreaded 8-count, 3-part physical exercise that is often inflicted on officer candidates at OCS when they screw up. It is the combination of a jumping jack, squat thrust, and pushup, and the offenders often perform them to the point of physical exhaustion.
Horse Cock: Large log of baloney or Polish Sausage usually put out for lunch or mid rats. Horse Cock sandwich is one of the least favorite boxed lunches served to helo crews when visiting other ships.
Horse Shoe: (Submarine Service) Area aft of maneuvering on 688’s often used for telling sea stories.
Hosed Up: Messed up
Hot Racking or Hot Bunking: Submariners share racks. When one goes off, the other takes his place. (Three men share two racks) The Name is taken from the fact that the bunk more often than not still warm from its last occupant.
“Hot Racking”: Also a term for a sailor climbing into his rack to sleep, without showering.
However,: (spoken “however comma”) An over-the-top method of expressing additional items. Often used by people who have been in the Navy too long (see “dig-it”).
HR Puff and Stuff: A nickname given to sailors who regularly appear for duty in a disheveled manner with their uniform in disarray. It is a combination of a rank (Hospitalman Recruit, the most junior Hospital Corpsman rank) and a name that connotates the obesity and stresses placed on the uniform of just such an overweight and careless sailor. Also used as an admonishment to junior corpsmen and dental techs in order to motivate them to perform regular uniform maintenance.
HSC: (Heavy Shit Carrier) Rate most commonly given to junior sailors, mostly comprised of firemen
Hummer: Slang for the E-2C Hawkeye, mostly for the sound of its props
Hummer Hole: Tight space aft of the island on the flight deck where they parked the E-2C Hawkeye. Since the E-2 could reverse prop and back up, the Yellow Shirts took perverse pleasure in trying to back the Hummer into this tight space, usually as the boat was heeling hard to port, requiring a serious uphill climb.

[edit] I
IA: “Individual Augmentation/Augmentee.” Program currently in use by the U.S. Navy to deploy sailors on an individual basis to the Middle East for 6-14 months in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Personnel who complete IAs are (supposedly) given preferential treatment with regards to follow-on orders and promotion boards. IAs are often referred to as “Sand Sailors”, “Dirt Sailors” or “being in the Narmy.” [Navy+Army=Narmy]
I and I: Intercourse and Intoxication. An alternative acronym to R and R
IFBM: Instant Fucking Boatswains Mate. “A” school washout assigned to deck force.
ID10T: Pronounced “Eye-Dee-Ten-Tango.” Similar to “bulkhead remover,” an inexpensive way to derive enjoyment from inexperienced personnel. “Recruit, go get me an ID10T form, and step on it!”
IHTFP: I Hate This Fucking Place. A common expression uttered by midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. Found carved into most bathroom doors and above most bunks. Originally a term used by MIT students for the identical sentiment. Other meanings: I Have Truly Found Paradise, I Hope There’s a Friday Parade, etc
In-chop: To enter an area of responsibility. “We in-chop to 5th Fleet when we pass through the Straits of Malacca.” From “Change of Operational Control” (CHOP had a fire in their main machinery room and can’t get underway so our cruise got extended by a month?” See also “Mess Deck Intelligence”.

[edit] S
SA: Situational Awareness - the big picture. Losing SA, especially in flight, can lead to disastrous results.
Sail Rabbit - over cooked pork, or beef tenderloin.
Sailor’s Balls: See Navigator’s Balls.
Salt and Peppers: Short sleeve white dress shirt with black trousers and Combination Cap. Common in the 70’s. Basically a less dressed up version of the Bus Driver Uniform.
Saltpeter: Chemical supposedly added to “bug juice” aboard ship to stifle libido, the stuff of urban legend.
Salty: Old and experienced (or simply old and sea-worn, as in “my salty hat”). Can also refer to the traditionally profanity-laced language patterns of sailors.
Sandbag: a member of an aircrew who contributes little or nothing to the safe and successful execution of the mission - instead sits there like a sandbag and is just as useful.
Sandbox, The: The pier liberty facilities at Jebel Ali. Sandbox Liberty means travel outside the port of Jebel Ali is not authorized. All you get is a “beer on the pier”. See “Gerbil Alley”.
Sand Crab: A civilian in Civil Service positions working for the U.S. Navy. Very derogatory.
SAR: Search and Rescue
Scope Dope: Radarman or Operations Specialist
Scrambled Eggs: Gold embroidered oak leaves decoration on a Commander’s/Captain’s cover. Admirals have Double Eggs. The similar silver clouds and lightning bolts addition to an Air Force Lt. Col/Colonel’s hat is called Farts and Darts. May also be referred to as “Bullshit,” but only by one who wears them.
Screaming Alpha: A sailor who is on fire and is running around screaming. Alpha fires leave ash. Bravo fires burn flammable liquids. Charlies are electrical fires, and Deltas burn exotic materials, often metals like magnesium.
Screw: a ship’s or boat’s propeller.
Screw the Pooch: To mess up in a big way. Usually followed by a visit with the old man.
SCRIMSHAW: To “Mysteriously Aqquire” equipment and /or materials essential for mission critical assignments that cannot be aqquired though normal or proper military channels. Seabee’s are notorious for making due with what they have and “finding” what they need to accomplish the mission. Also famous for “finding” Materials in which to barter with other armed services for their goods and services.
Scrubbers: Time in the morning when most junior personnel must go out and clean the ship before starting their actual duties within their own divisions/departments. “Alright, go out and do scrubbers then muster back here at 0800″.. Some ships may announce over their 1MC or put exact time in their Plan of the Day
Scullery: Washroom for eating implements such as knives, forks, trays, and cups.
Scupper (Submarine Service): A funnel like device used to collect rogue liquids usually from overflowing tanks in engineering spaces. Occasionally used as an impromptu urinal by an on-watch nuke. (Surface) Spouts on the main deck to route liquids over the side.
Scupper Trout: A turd or other length of feces.
Scuttlebutt: Drinking fountain or rumor (originated from the rumors that would be spread on board ship while gathered about the water barrel).
SCWS:Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist.
Sea and Anchor Detail: Every sailor has an assigned duty station to be manned when the ship is either pulling into or out of port. On submarines it’s called the Maneuvering Watch. (Coast Guard: Special Sea Detail.)
Seabag: The large green bag the army calls a “duffel bag”.
Sea Daddy: Senior, more experienced sailor who unofficially takes a new member of the crew under his wing and mentors him.
Sea Donkey(Sea Donk): Any shipboard female with “Other than Honorable” intentions. Some are rumors, some not so much.
Sea Going Bellhops: A derisive name for Marines. Refers to the fact that they act as flag officers’ orderlies aboard ship. A good phrase to use when picking a fight with a Marine.
Sea Gull Ammunition: Spanner wrench used for tightening fire hoses. Bosn mates enjoyed throwing them at sea gulls.
Sea Hag: Slutty woman who hangs around in front of the entrance to a base, hoping to pick up a Sailor. The Sea Hag is really looking for a meal ticket, bless her Sea Hag heart.
Sea Lawyer: An argumentative, cantankerous or know-it-all sailor. A sea lawyer is adept at using technicalities, half truths, and administrative crap to get out of doing work or anything else he doesn’t want to do, and/or to justify his laziness.
Sea Legs: bodily adjustment to the motion of a ship indicated especially by ability to walk steadily and by freedom from seasickness
Seaman Schmuckatelli: Generic name for a sailor, used in a similar manner as “John Doe,” “Joe Blow” or “John Q. Public”. Example: “You’re working on an electrical system without tagging it out, when along comes Seaman Schmuckatelli, who energizes the circuit and ZAP, you’re fried calamari.”
Sea Otter: Seaopdetter; a member of a Sea Operational Detachment (SEAOPDET).
Sea Pussy: a yeoman or personnelman - akin to a secretary - does clerical work.
Sea Stories: Often exaggerated or embellished tales from previous deployments or commands told by seniors to juniors. Sea Stories almost always involve alcohol. Good sea stories should always involve creative embellishment, in as much as you should tell it better than the guy you heard it from, with yourself (or an un-named “buddy”) as the new star. Add some contemporary details and those youngsters are mesmerized, as they should be.
Sea Swap: a recently initiated program where an American warship never returns to an American port. Instead, it pulls into a friendly foreign port at given intervals and swaps out its entire crew.
SEAL - SEa Air Land
Secure: In general, to prepare something for stormy travel — to secure a window is to shut it. “Secure for sea” meaning to strap, tie down, or otherwise make something seaworthy for rocking. Also, to close or shut down anything normally open, especially to traffic- “This p-way(passageway)/head is secured until 0900 for cleaning”. However, it’s often used as a stronger form of “cut it out,” as in “talking is secured” or “I’m going to secure your mouth if you don’t shut the hell up” or “your fruity ways are secured, Fireman Radomski.”
Senile Chief: Slang for Senior Chief
Senior: Short form of Senior Chief used for brevity. “I couldn’t find the CSMO but I left that report on his desk, Senior (Chief)”
Shaft Alley: Field Day berthing aboard a Submarine. Also the compartment(s) containing a ship’s propulsion shaft(s).
Shark shit: A sailor who has fallen overboard and is lost forever.
S.H.E.:Stupid Human Error
Shellback: An individual who has crossed the Equator.
Sherwood Forest: (Submarine Service) missile area, on a boomer
Shinbuster: Same as knee-knocker.
Ship over: re-enlisting.
Shipmate: Any fellow Sailor. Also, used as a derogatory term against all junior enlisted personnel i.e. E-5 and below. An Officer, Chief or First Class will use this to show they think so little of you, they haven’t bothered to take the time out of their day to learn your name. Used in the Junior Enlisted Community to parody this.
Shipwreck: Any fellow sailor. Used as a derogatory term.
Shit in a Seabag: Stuffed green peppers.
Shit in one sock: Sailor who is very competent as in, “He has his shit in one sock”. A VERY competent sailor “has his shit in one properly stenciled sock.” Derogatory rejoinder is “But it has holes in it”.
Shit bag (also Shitweed, shitstick, shithead, shit stain, or shitbrick): Any fellow Sailor. Used as a derogatory term and a term of endearment.
Shitbag (2): A derogatory term for a sailor who has been awarded punishment at mast, or any less-than-par sailor. Also known as “Shitbird”.
Shitbomb: Extremely unpopular topic brought up at the end of a (usually long and boring) meeting that requires a lot of work from everyone present. The worst ones are “drive-by shitbombs,” where someone pokes their head in, “throws the shitbomb,” and leaves.
Shit Can: Either the name for a trash can, or the act of throwing something into the trash. As in “Shit can that chit, you’re not getting any liberty.”
Shit Chaser: Name given to hull maintenance techs.
Shit City: Norfolk, VA. See also “Asshole of the Navy”.
Shit Color: Derogatory term used by enlisted personnel under the rank of E-7 referring to enlisted personnel at or above the rank of E-7 (Chief Petty Officer), and sometimes officers as well. Based on their khaki uniforms.
Shit-faced: Drunk. The preferred state of consciousness for junior sailors, especially those visiting foreign ports.
Shit-on-a-shingle: Ground hamburger in gravy on toast.
Shit-the-bed: Term used to identify that something is broken.
Shitter: Toilet (or “Head,” see above). Shipboard space where “shit” is both a verb AND a noun. Self-explanatory, really.
Shitty Kitty: a slang word for the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), which is the worst ship in the United States Navy, and also the oldest. It has been designated this name due to the fact it that it looks like shit, smells like shit, and the chain of command will work you round the clock and not give a shit.
Shit River: The creek that divided the base from the civilian side, in the Philippines, Between Olongopo City and Cubi Point Naval Base. So named because the local sewage from Olongopo flowed into this river, and it stunk to high heaven. When you crossed the bridge to go on liberty, you had to hold your breath the entire length of the bridge, but oddly enough, it did not smell on the return trip after drinking San Muigel Beer all night.
Shit Screen: A shitbag who is so often the object of (negative) attention by his superiors that his shipmates’ transgressions go relatively unnoticed.
Shit Shirt: Derogatory aviation term given to members of a squadrons Line Division, named for the brown flight deck jerseys worn while aboard the carrier.
Shoe: Derogatory term used by airedales in reference to “black shoes,” or ship drivers. Sometimes explained as an acronym meaning “stupidest human on earth,” but clearly derived from the longer “black shoe” description of surface warfare officers and CPOs.
Shooter: Catapult Officer aboard an aircraft carrier. Also slang for an Aegis / guided missile ship.
Shore Queen: A person who has been in the Navy for an extensive period of time and has not been stationed to a ship. Also referred to as a “Shore Captain”
Short-Arm: Penis.
Short Seabag or Without a Full Seabag: Reporting aboard without a full uniform; deficient in aptitude or intelligence.
Short Timer: A sailor with less than 90 days until discharge or transfer and an attitude to match.
Short Timer’s Chain: A chain that hangs from the belt of a “short timer” for all to see, with one link representing a day, (signifying too short to care) and usually starts with 30 links. Any more than 30 links will give an attitude to their superiors. Verbal equivalent is “__ days and a wake-up”.
Shower Tech: Sonar Technician.
Showerbabies: Semen left on the floors of shower stalls.
Shutterbug: A Photographer’s Mate (PH).
Sick Bay: On larger ships like carriers and “gator freighters,” sick bay is literally a small hospital, complete with facilities for surgery, X-rays, triage, a pharmacy, etc… On “small boys,” sick bay might be a single space from which the ship’s corpsman dispenses Vitamin M and corpsman candy.
Sick Bay Commando: A sailor who spends more time going to medical feigning ailments than doing work.
Sick in Quarters (SIQ): When a sailor is too ill or incapacitated to perform his duties, he is thus required to report to his rack (quarters), where he will remain until healthy again. For personnel aboard ship, this means to remain in bed, while onshore this may simply mean to stay home for the day. Only qualified medical personnel can recommend SIQ, and only the command can authorize it.
Side Number: Unique 3-digit number assigned to every bird in the airwing. Side numbers are based on what squadron the aircraft is in. 1XX and 2XX used to be VF (fighter) squadrons. However, since the retirement of the F-14 Tomcat these are now applied to F/A-18 (VFA) Super Hornet Squadrons. 3XX and 4XX are for “Baby” Hornet (F/A-18 C and D model) squadrons. 5XX side numbers are assigned to EA-6B (VAQ) squadrons, and 6XX are for the VAW squadrons flying the E-2C Hawkeye. 61X side numbers are for the HS helo squadron, and 7XX goes to the VS squadron, which flies the S-3B Viking. The only carrier aircraft that do not follow this scheme are the C-2A Greyhounds. See COD.
Sierra Hotel: Phonetic letters for SH, which stands for “Shit Hot.” Refers to anything impressive or greatly exceeding what is required. Can also refer to the phrase “Shit Happens”.
Sig: (Navy Nukes) A signature on a qualification card. There are many, many “qual cards” in the Sub Service, especially if you’re a Nuke. (see “Nuke” above).
Sig: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily
Signal Ejector: (aka 3″ launcher) A device on submarines that can shoot countermeasures, flares, thermocline equipment, and empty beer cans. Used primarily to formally notify Battle Group Commanders via green flares that their ASW screen sucks.
Silverwhales: Refers to the rather large fat women near Bangor, Washington, that are from Silverdale.
Sims: Simulators.
Single Anchor Master Race: Naval Aviators that are designated as pilots, as opposed to NFOs. Used by pilots to assert their superiority over all other warfare communities. Refers to the insignia worn by pilots which is a set of wings with one anchor.
Single digit midget: Sailor who has less than 10 days before getting out or transferring.
Skate: Sailor who avoids work in general while not being detected; for example the ability to “skate” out of work undetected while being assigned to a 14 man working party.
Skate Golden: the ability to “skate” out of work while being assigned to a 7 man working party undetected.
Skater: Sailor who gets away with doing no work.
Skeds-O: Schedules Officer
Skimmer: Submariners’ term for a Surface Sailor (often “skimmer puke”) or surface ship (see “target”)
Skipper: Term used in reference to the Commanding officer of any Ship, Unit, Platoon, or Detachment regardless of rank. Generally only applied to someone who has earned the speaker’s respect.
Skittles: Sailors who work on the flight deck of a carrier. So named due to the different colored jerseys they wear. For the same reason, they are sometimes referred to as “Wiggles”.
Skivvies: underwear.
Skivvy Stacker - Storekeeper
Skivvy waver: Signalman (because of signal flags)
Skivvy Sniffer: Ships Serviceman assigned to do the Ship’s laundry
Skylarking: Not paying attention, due to “looking up in the sky” instead of on the assigned task. From Royal Navy slang during the era of the tall ships - midshipmen or “young gentlemen” would race each other up, down, and through the rigging. They were playing in the air; thus, skylarking.
Skosh: Perilously close to minimum acceptable levels. Example: The F-5 usually lands skosh on fuel. Originates from the Japanese word sukoshi, meaning little.
Sleep ’til you’re hungry, eat ’til you’re tired: The working day of an aviator as described by a surface sailor
Slick Sleeve: A sailor in the E-1 paygrade who does not have a rating, and who has not yet graduated from Apprentice training. Therefore, his left sleeve is “slick”, or has no rate or rating insignia at all.
Sliders: hamburgers/cheeseburgers. So called because they would slide across the grill when underway.
Slime Lights: NVG compatible exterior green lights found on aircraft that are almost invisible to the naked eye. Used in combat situations at night where standard position lights and “smacks” cannot be used.
Slinging Game: Flirting with other people aboard the ship.
Slugs: Term used to refer to Chief Petty Officer Selectees during their initiation and transition period. Only Chief Petty Officers may use this term.
SLJO: Shitty Little Jobs Officer
SLUF: Short Little Ugly Fucker - nickname given to the A-7 Corsair back in the day.
SLUFF: Short Little Ugly Fat Fucker - pejorative term for a turkey of a sailor.
SLURFF: Short Little Ugly Retarded Fat Fucker - someone that makes a SLUFF look good.
Slushing: Financial service provided by a shipmate (known as a “slusher”) where money is loaned out with interest rates that would make a mafioso blush. Known as loansharking in the civilian world.
Smacks: Anti-collision strobe lights on an aircraft.
Small Boy: Term referring to smaller class ships, such as destroyers and frigates.
SMAG: “Sometimes Mechanic Always Gay” or “Simple Minded Ass Grabber” or “Small Minded Ass Grabber”: Derogatory term for an Engineering Laboratory Technician.
Smiles: A game played by sailors while in port where a bunch of sailors gather around and play cards. Meanwhile under the card table is a prostitute performing oral sex to all the card players. First sailor to smile has to buy the next round of beers
Smoke Pit: Designated smoking area. This is almost always used when ashore.
Smoking Hole: what an aircraft becomes if it crashes over land
Smoking Lamp: is out or lit in specified spaces or throughout the ship; 1MC announcement specifying where smoking is permitted or prohibited during certain hours or operations.
Smoking Sponson: designated smoking area aboard aircraft carriers, usually right below the flight deck on the exterior of the ship’s hull. A great place to catch up on scuttlebutt and unwind after a long day.
Smooth Crotch: Derogatory term for a nuclear Electronics Technician.
Smurf: A recruit who is in his first few days of boot camp who hasn’t been issued uniforms yet, and thus wears a “Smurf Suit” (see below).
Smurf Suit: Set of blue sweatpants and sweatshirt issued on arrival at boot camp; worn for the first several days and thereafter used mostly for PT.
SNAFU: Situation Normal, All Fucked Up.
Snake Eaters: Special Forces personnel such as Navy SEAL’s, Green Berets, etc…
Snatch in the Hatch: (Submarine Service) Term used to inform the crew that a female visitor is onboard.
Snipes: Sailors assigned to the Engineering rates, i.e. Machinists Mates, Boilermen, Enginemen, Pipefitters. Also known as pit snipes, see pit.
Snivel: To request time off or to not be scheduled, usually for personal reasons. Most schedule writers will have a “snivel log” for such requests, which may or may not be granted based on the needs of the unit and the sniveler’s standing with the schedules officer (Skeds-O).
SNOB: Shortest Nuke On Board
Sound of One Hand Clapping: Masturbating.
SPLIB: Special Liberty, Comp-Time.
S.N.O.B.: Shortest Nuke on Board. Term used to refer to the lucky nuke who gets out of the Navy next. This term usually only applies to nukes who have not re-enlisted (i.e. “first-termers”). In rare cases, the S.N.O.B. voluntarily relinquishes his/her title to a “second-termer” that gets out of the Navy earlier who exhibits extreme disgruntlement and is generally accepted by the “first-termers” as one of their own. This person would be given the title of “Honorary S.N.O.B.”
Snuggle Up: When two aircraft get very close while flying in formation - usually for demonstration purposes.
Socked-in: When the ceiling and visibility at an airfield or over an air-capable ship are below minimums for takeoff and landing.
Sorry I Quit: used to refer to a sailor who convinces a doctor to give them an SIQ chit
Sortie: a single flight of an aircraft
S.O.S.: Same as Shit-on-a-shingle.
Sougee: To scour; sougee powder = generic term for scouring powder, although in yachting refers to a chemical cleaner.
Space: Refers to a room or a compartment onboard ship.
Spandaflage: Overweight personnel squeezing into camo that is too small.
Sparky: Radioman or Electrician’s Mate.
Split Tails: Female sailors. Used more often in the early days of surface ship integration.
Spook: Usually a CT, IS or some kind of intelligence type.
SPU: Staff Pick-Up. Nuke term referring to individuals that finish the training pipeline and instead of going out to sea like everyone else, stays behind and teaches in the pipeline. SPUs on a submarine are treated harder than a typical Nub due to the typical SPUs attitudes and own self delusions.
Spunk: Cool Whip or anything like it.
Square Barrel Tech: Fire Control Technician see also “Round Barrel Tech”
Squid: Submariner. Like a squid, they also live under water and eat other squid/fish. Generally, any sailor (current or former) in the Navy.
Squishy: State resulting from being at sea too long; e.g., rolling gait, goofy, confused by traffic signals.
Stab: Any sort of unwanted, tedious work that often arrives at the worst moments as a result of a flail.
STAR Baby: Anyone (Especially nukes) who re-enlist under the STAR Program at their first sea tour and automatically go from 3rd Class Petty Officers to 2nd Class Petty Officers. Is usually available to any 3rd class Petty Officer on his/her first sea tour, but is usually associated with nukes because they already meet the “C” School requirement of the STAR Program.
Star-tight: see “Gronk”
Starboard: Right side of the boat or ship (when facing the bow). Right side of an aircraft when facing the nose.
STAR: Program in which any 3rd Class Petty officer on their first sea tour can re-enlist and immediately gain 2nd class Petty Officer as long as they have been to both an “A” school and a “C” school. See STAR Baby
Stateroom: Living quarters for officers aboard a ship. Senior officers (commander or higher) generally rate a one-man stateroom. LCDRs and senior LTs usually get two-man staterooms, and more junior officers rate a 4-man or 6-man “jungle.” Staterooms contain beds, a sink, fold-down desks, lockers, storage, and a TV. Note: Ship’s Captains do not have staterooms: they have cabins.
Steel Beach Picnic: Celebration on the weather decks of a ship. Usually involving near beer, barbecue, and non-skid.
Stew-burner: Sailor with the Culinary Specialist (CS) Rating
Striker: Sailor receiving on-the-job training for a designated field (or rate)
Sticks: The levers in the Maneuvering Room of a diesel submarine that are used to change the settings for the main propulsion motors. Also the control yokes of a submarine, manned by the helmsman and planesman as in “Seaman Schmuckatelli is on the sticks”.
Stuffed: A naval aircraft is said to be “stuffed” when its wings or rotors/tail pylon are folded and it is parked in close proximity to other aircraft.
Subic Bay: Legendary Philippines port also known as “Pubic Bay, the Asshole of the Orient.” Was a major stop off point between South Vietnam and The World (CONUS). The city just outside the main gate of the Naval base was Olongapo City or “Po City”, noted for its night clubs and many agreeable women. Leaving the base a sailor had to cross over a bridge that went over a drainage channel, also known as “shit river”, because of the constant raw sewage and filthy conditions. Young children would tread water just below the bridge and yell at sailors to throw coins in the water, which they would dive for and come back to the surface with the coin in their mouth.
Suckbag: Another name for a dirtbag or shitbag
Sucking Rubber: (Submarine Service) Extended periods wearing Emergency Air Breathing devices (EABs), A full-face air mask similar to that worn by firefighters, except fed from ship’s emergency air system rather than a bottle on your back. Also refers to wearing a gas mask such as the MCU-2P for protection against chemical, biological or radiological attack.
Suck Meter: Similar to a fun meter, this fictitious gauge displays how shitty a given situation is. “Cruise got extended indefinitely the day we were supposed to out-chop and head home? Man, my suck meter just red-lined!”
Summer creases: Military creases incorrectly or crookedly ironed into uniforms. “Some are here, some are there.” (see Railroad Tracks).
Swab: Mop.
SWAG: Scientific/simple Wild Ass Guess. Used commonly on Navy exams.
Swamp Donkey: an ugly woman you would have sex with if there were no other choices available.
Swap Paint: Euphemism for a mid-air collision
Sweat the Bulkheads: Indoor PT during boot camp which doesn’t stop until the bulkheads are running with condensate.
Swims: Aviation water survival training. This 2-day class must be completed every few years by pilots and aircrew. Consists of classroom and pool instruction and culminates with the dreaded “Dilbert Dunker” and “Helo Dunker.”
Swim call: Ship stops and off duty crew jumps in the ocean for a swim.
SWO: Surface Warfare Officer. SWOs are sometimes referred to as “SWO-dogs” or “SWO-Daddys”, and the phrase “SWOs eat their young” is heard often in reference to the treatment of junior officers in the community.

[edit] T
Tack On: In an informal ceremony, when a sailor is frocked (see above), each of the shipmates in his unit who are already in the higher paygrade to which he is frocked “tack on” his crow by making a fist and pounding on the crow on your rating badge (which is sewn to the sleeve of your uniform). It is considered poor form to “tack on” with more than one pound of the fist; nonetheless, after a number of your buddies have “tacked on” your crow, your arm is generally black, blue, bruised, and extremely sore. A mild form of hazing.
TAD or TDY: Temporary Assigned/Additional Duty or Temporary Duty
TAD: Traveling Around Drunk; Taking A Dump
Tail: long cable containing a sonar array that is trailed out behind a ship or submarine
Tailhook: Long metal hook that hangs below a fixed-wing aircraft as it attempts to land on an aircraft carrier. If all goes as planned, the tailhook engages one of the arresting wires that are stretched across the deck, and the aircraft comes to a halt in a very short landing area.
Tailhook Association: Professional organization for fixed-wing carrier pilots. Notorious for an out-of-control convention in Las Vegas in the early 1990s (often referred to as simply “Tailhook”), this organization still exists, albeit in a very watered down version.
Tango Lima: Phonetic of “TL,” which is short for The Trophy Lounge, a club in National City, CA frequented by “WESTPAC widows” and sailors assigned to ships homeported at NAVSTA San Diego. Popular for its loose women and proximity to the base.
Tango Uniform: Phonetic shorthand for Tits Up, meaning non-functional or dead. A piece of gear that is out of order is said to be Tango Uniform. See tits-up below.
Tape Zebra: Maddening condition aboard ship, especially aircraft carriers, where passageways are “taped off” so that they may be waxed, dried, and buffed in the middle of the night. It seems that the passageways are purposely chosen to maximize delay and frustration when a pilot has to do an oh-dark-thirty preflight or some other duty. Junior enlisted sailors take special delight in denying officers access to these passageways. Likewise, junior officers thoroughly enjoy when a man overboard or GQ is called in the middle of the night, so as to crash through tape zebra and trample through the wet wax.
T.A.R.F.U.: Things Are Really Fucked Up.
Target: submariner term to describe the surface fleet or anything other than an identified friendly submarine. Most common use is in the phrase “There are two types of ships, Submarines and Targets.” Also known as Surface Skimmer (see above)
TED: Typical Enlisted Dude. Either you know one or you are one.
TDU (Submarine Service): Trash Disposal Unit. Sophisticated AN-DEEP-6 weapons system.
Tilly: large crane on the flight deck.
Time On The Pond: Refers to a sailor’s sea time in terms of the number of cruises or patrols completed. More “Time on the Pond” means more Real-Navy sea experience. (See “Salty,” above)
Time Machine: A sailor’s rack. Usually referred to by senior personnel without many daily responsibilities. Referred to as a time machine, because if you sleep 12 hrs a day then you have effectively slept away half of the deployment. (see Pit).
Timmy: A name used by RDC’s when an anonymous recruit messes up and doesn’t take credit for his behavior. Also Seaman Timmy, junior sailor who can’t seem to do anything right and is always getting himself into trouble. Named for Timmy, the boy on the old Lassie show who always seemed to find himself trapped in a well/abandoned mine/bear trap/etc.
Titivaion: Hour long field day held daily onboard USS Cape St. George (CG-71), see XO’s “Happy Hour”
Tea Bagging: similar to rimjob but in this case the sailor dunks his nut sack in a beverage of a unliked individual.
TFOA: Things Falling Off Aircraft - when a piece of an aircraft falls off for no apparent reason during flight. Unfortunately, this happens a lot more than most people realize, with obvious negative repercussions, especially over a populated area.
Tin can: Destroyer.
Tire Chaser: Term used usually by Aviation Boatswains Mates to describe Blue Shirts or Chock Walkers on the flight deck and hangar bay of an aircraft carrier.
Titless Wave: A yeoman or one who performs clerical duties. At one time, yeoman was one of the few positions open to female navy personnel or Waves.
Tits Machine: Old-school term for a kick-ass aircraft, usually a fighter, that consisted of little more than an airframe, minimal avionics, and a huge engine or two. The F-8 Crusader was universally accepted as a tits machine.
Tits-up: Out of commission; hard-down. Sometimes spoken as Tits Up.
TLD (Nuclear): Tiny Little Dildo. Thermo Luminescent Dosimeter. Navy belt adornment. Worn by nukes to see how much radiation is received in a period of time. Often a good source of humor for when the topsiders ask what they are for.
TOD: Typical Officer Dude. A weak attempt by TEDs to come up with a nickname for officers.
Topsider: (Carrier) Anyone who is not a nuke.
Torpedo Sponge: Similar to “Missile Sponge”, this refers to the smaller ships in a convoy, whose duty it is to protect the carrier, to the point of taking the torpedo hit for the carrier if needed.
Touch and Go’s: Repeatedly falling asleep in a meeting or a class while trying desperately to stay awake. After nodding off, the person’s head will dip forward almost to his chest, whereupon he will snap back into a very brief state of semi-consciousness and repeat the process. Named after practice landings where the aircraft descends, briefly touches down while still rolling forward, and quickly becomes airborne again. Very prevalent at AOM’s and training. Also called “giving the invisible man head.”
TOW: Tail Over Water - usually how they parked the Hummer in the Hummer hole; backed up so the tail hung out over the edge of the flight deck.
Tower Flower: Usually the SUPPO or another person with almost zero aviation experience who is tasked with manning the control tower on a small boy or supply ship. Differs from the LSO (Paddles), who must be a pilot.
Trap: A fixed-wing arrested landing on an aircraft carrier. In the helo world, the Rapid Securing Device (RSD) on the deck of a “small boy.”
The Trade School - The U.S. Naval Academy
Trail marker: Salisbury steak
Training Aid: Submarine name for a hot dog or other sausage. Insinuates that the consumer is practicing for another activity.
T-Rex: A term given to Naval aviators by ‘black shoes’ referencing aviators short arms (like a t-rex) limiting their ability to reach into their pockets to pull out money to buy beer or coffee.
Trice Up: Make your rack. (rack = bed) The old racks had a hook to secure it to the bulkhead. Hence the term “All hands heave out and trice up” or jump out of your rack and make it. (Originally referred to hammocks; “tricing up” is hoisting up and securing with a small line.)
Triple Sticks: Refers to the aircraft in the fighter squadron on a carrier with the side number “111″. Usually in radio communications, as in “Triple sticks, call the ball.”
Triwall: An extremely large cardboard box. So called because they are made of triple layer corrugated cardboard.
Trout: See Scupper Trout.
Tube steak: hot dogs (also, called “dangling sirloin”).
Turd: (Submarine Service) A surface ship (it smells, looks, and floats like a turd, therefore, it must be a turd).
Turd Chaser: An HT - Hull Technician. Renowned for their ability to find a clog in the ship’s sewage treatment system. Motto: “We ain’t quittin’ until you’re shittin’!”
Turkey: slang for the F-14 Tomcat
Turn-to: The command, normally given over the 1MC signalling the beginning of the work day. Also given to return to normal ships work, generally used after GQ or other special evolutions.
Tweak: An AT- Avionics Technician
Tweaker (Submarine Service): Electronics rating; any engineering rating not gronking a wrench. (See “gronk” above, see “wrench” OED)
Tweaker: A very small screw driver used by EM’s and ET’s to make meters indicate correctly.
Tweener (Submarine Service): Affectionate term for Missile Technicians on Ballistic Missile Submarines. Usually called out during the “Coner” and “Nuke” throwbacks, since the Missile Compartment is “between” the Forward(Coner) and Engineering(Nuke) spaces.
Twidget: Sailor in the Electronics or Electrical fields of job specialties.
Two-block: To center or tighten; derived from tackle.
Two-Digit Midget: Sailor with 99 or less days until his/her “End of Active Obligated Service”, or EAOS.
Tuna Boat: A submarine tender, or other non-combat ship that is comprised nearly completely by female sailors. Example: “We’re going to have great liberty this port! A tuna boat just pulled in.”
Turn ‘n Burn: Casual for “Get busy!” From formal daily announcement Turn to ship’s work, often given as direct order Turn to!

[edit] U
UA: Unauthorized absence up to 30 days
Un-ass: To let go of, give up, or share something. The concept is that you keep something precious (that you don’t want others to have or share) somewhere away from prying eyes (such as, theoretically, in your ass). Usually used in the form of a demand that you share something (like geedunk), as in “Un-ass, motherfucker!” Another definition comes from the old horse US Army. Un-ass would mean to remove the item from the “ass” which would be the pack animal.
Uncle Sam’s Confused Group (USCG): the United States Coast Guard - an organization that is the fifth armed service, yet falls under the Dept of Homeland Security, and operates generally small ships, boats, and aircraft that have limited warfighting capability.
Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children (USMC): The United States Marine Corps
Underway Sock: (Submarine Service) A soft sock brought underway to comfort a frustrated submariner.
Un-Fuck: to correct something that is screwed up. (Ex. Go un-fuck your gig line, Seaman Schmuckatelli.)
UNODIR: UNless Otherwise DIRected; enables TRUST-based management by exception (MBE)
UNREP: UNderway REPlenishment - Taking supplies from the supply ship by maneuvering alongside and passing lines between the two vessels. Differs from “VERTREP.”
USS Backyard: Term for the sailor’s home of record, to which he or she happily returns upon discharge.
USS LASTSHIP: Term for sailor’s trying to tell a story, or give an example of how business was handled at their last command
USS Neverdock: Ship that seems to stay out at sea for unusually long periods of time. For sailors, this is usually their own ship.
USS Neversail: Mock-up ship found in boot camp, also called USS Recruit. Can also refer to real ships that seldom leave port, such as Sub-tenders.
USS Nottagain (DD 214): Used by sailors separating from the Navy when asked which command they are going to. Also can be used by former sailors when visiting old friends and asked by new personnel which ship they are on. “DD 214″ is the form that must be filled out for a military member to get discharged.
USS Usetafish - A submarine veteran’s previous command.

[edit] V
Vampire: Inbound missile to the ship. Typically announced over the 1MC, shortly followed by relative location (i.e. port quarter, starboard bow, etc.), and “all hands, brace for shock.”
Vampire Liberty: Getting the day off for donating a pint of blood.
VERTREP: VERTical REPlenishment - taking supplies from the supply ship via helo pick up and drop off. Back in the day this was most often accomplished by the mighty CH-46 Sea Knight (see “Phrog”), although any aircraft with a cargo hook installed can do it. Differs from UNREP (see above).
Very well: Senior to subordinate acknowledgement.
Virtual Liberty: The idea that a sailor could walk off the ship and, instead of going into town, step on his crank, throw his wallet into the water and hit himself over the head with a blunt object. The result would be waking up on the pier the next morning with an aching crotch, no money, a serious headache and the inability to remember anything from the previous night; just like actual liberty.
Vitamin M: Similar to Corpsman Candy above, but in this context relating to Motrin (Ibuprofen), which is occasionally used to combat the various aches/pains/headaches associated with military service. Applied as a panacea for any illness. A Corpsman would likely prescribe Vitamin M for pregnancy and cancer, if he could get away with it. Does not refer to real vitamin M (folic acid).
Voluntold: When a sailor is volunteered into a collateral duty by his superior. “I need a volunteer, you over there!”
Vulcan Death Watch: A long evaluation or training drill onboard a submarine. It normally goes on for hours with no clear ending point.
Vultures Row: Place where people can watch flight operations without being in the way.

[edit] W
Wardroom: Officer’s mess, or dining room. Also used to collectively refer to all the officers at a command.
Warm and Fuzzy: a feeling that something has been done correctly and will produce the desired results. Most often used in the negative. When someone thinks something is not right, they often say “I’m not getting a warm and fuzzy.”
Warrant: A chief warrant officer. In the navy warrants are generally older and more experienced in a particular area of expertise than a commissioned line officer, much like an “LDO.” Unlike the army, an enlisted sailor must first be promoted to chief petty officer before becoming a chief warrant officer.
Watch: A period of duty, usually of four-hours duration. The day at sea has long been divided into watches, which are called: midwatch (0000 to 0400); rev watch (reveille) or morning watch (0400 to 0800); forenoon watch (0800 to 1200); afternoon watch (1200 to 1600); and the first watch (2000 to 2400). The period from 1600 to 2000 is usually split into two dog watches (first dog watch, second dog watch) to allow the crew to eat. Watch-standers in the Navy are required to report fifteen minutes before their watch is to begin in order to learn any needed instructions, situations, etc, from the preceding watch-standers. The new watch takes over from the previous when the watch officer or section leader officially relieves his predecessor; this must be done by the official, posted clock-time; (so, for example, a midwatch would run from 2345 to 0345, presuming that the hand-off is very quick). This schedule is not carved in stone, and variations exist depending on the command (some midwatches, for example run from “ten to two” — 2200 to 0200).
Water wings: Surface Warfare Officer’s badge (so named by aviators.) A term pridefully used by non-carrier SWOs.
Wave-off: In naval aviation, to voluntarily discontinue an approach to a landing or a hover because of unsafe or uncomfortable flight conditions. In other situations, to discontinue what you were doing due to some unforeseen circumstance. (Ex. He started walking towards the hottie in the Filipino bar, but had to wave-off when he noticed “her” adam’s apple and pants bulge.)
Waxing the Dolphin: Masturbating.
Weather Guesser: Term usually applied to personnel in the Aerographer’s Mate (AG) Rating.
Wedge: Nickname for someone so deserving. The simplest tool.
WEFT: Typically it stands for “Wings, Exhaust (or Engine, for prop aircraft), Fuselage, Tail” and is a method by which ship’s lookout stations can visually identify aircraft within the vicinity. However, since training for this tends to be spotty at best, identification of aircraft is often incorrect, leading to the second definition: “Wrong Every Fucking Time”.
Weaponette: (pl: Weaponettes) (Submarine Service) Pejorative term for the members of a submarine’s Weapons Department, used by members of the Navigation/Operations Department or Engineering Department, usually when they want their stolen tools back.
WESTPAC: While this usually refers to the western Pacific area of operations, it can also refer to a type of deployment in which a unit heads to multiple locations throughout said area. Often used in, “Damn, we just did a six-month WESTPAC, barely got home for a week, and now we’re heading out again?”
WESTPAC Rules: “That which happens in WESTPAC stays in WESTPAC”. Self censorship of letters home so that exploits of any individual is not inadvertently revealed to that person’s wife or girlfriend through casual reference in a letter to one’s own wife or girlfriend.
WESTPAC Widow: The wives of sailors who are on deployment, usually found in bars near their husbands naval base
Wet Deck: When your woman comes home late with another man’s semen in her vagina.
Wet Suit Camel Toe: A disturbing sight caused by a (usually older and) fatter rescue swimmer attempting to squeeze into his wet suit for SAR duty. Often seen entering and exiting helos that are providing SAR services.
Wetting Down: An informal requirement for an officer who has just been promoted. The exact amount may vary by command and community, but the general rule of thumb is that the officer has to lay down a bar tab equal to the amount of his monthly raise for the enjoyment of his wardroom mates. On cruise, several officers may be promoted between port calls, resulting in quite a party when they pull in.
Wheel Book: A small notebook, usually used by Division Officers or Chiefs to keep track of daily events and reminders
Wheels: Nickname for a Quartermaster, whose rating insignia is an eight-spoked ship’s helm wheel.
Wheels Up: aviator’s term for actual launch time (the wheels are up off the deck. Example: “I want to be wheels up at 0600″ means not to be walking to the plane at 6 am, but to be actually on the way at 6 am.
Whether leave: Departing the command for an extended period whether or not official permission has been requested and/or granted. Or, whether or not the sailor has leave on the books. Example: “I’m taking leave whether the skipper lets me or not.” (See “UA” and “AOL”)
Whidbey Whale: Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) variant of a dependent spouse who married her USN member/high school sweetheart husband when they were both skinny, but later, she became orca fat, ballooning to gigantic proportions, while he remained a skinny little guy. These unfortunately mismatched couples can usually be seen on weekends in and around the commissary and Navy Exchange (NEX).
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot: W.T.F. What the Fuck?
Whistling Shit Can of Death: CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter. Known for flipping over while attempting to take off (they have to move the rotors back and forth) and also having transmission failures 20 miles out from MCAS New River.
Whiz Quiz: “Piss Test,” Urinalysis, Operation Golden Flow. Failing is known as “popping positive.”
Widow/Widower: Describes wives (and now husbands) with spouses on deployment. Single, for all intents and purposes, until the day their spouse returns from deployment. Prefaced by the type or theater of service the deployed spouse is in, e.g. “WESTPAC widow” or “Boomer Widow”.
Wings: Naval Aviator or Naval Flight Officer breast insignia. Naval Aircrewman breast insignia. Also the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist breast insignia.
Wingman: In aviation, the term applied to members of a flight other than the mission commander whose purpose is to support and protect the mission commander in combat situations. Also a bar term referring to a person who is assigned to distract the companion of a potential piece of tail their friend is trying to entice.
Wire Biter: Electrician’s Mate.
Wog: short for “pollywog”, as in “wog ceremony”. A wog refers to someone who has not crossed the equator in an official Navy hazing ceremony. Although hazing is technically illegal, the Navy still supports this practice (typically under the watchful eye of the CMC), although it has become relatively benign compared with days of old. Officers and enlisted alike can be targets of this ceremony, run by “shellbacks.” According to lore, if the wogs of a ship manage to find and capture the “Jollyroger” (the black skull and crossbones flag) before midnight of the day before the ceremony, then they will get to run the shellbacks through the ceremony. It is not clear if this has ever been done. Officially, any crewmember having previously crossed the equator, whether in the Navy or not, does not have to participate in the ceremony. Unofficially, if said person cannot produce a Shellback Card, that person will participate.
Wolf Ticket: Highly suspect information. Can refer to malicious “scuttlebutt,” exaggerated “no-shitters,” or blatantly phony sea stories.
Working Party: When there is loading of supplies, the Quarter Deck will call for a “working party” to be manned by each division of the ship, the number depending on the task.
Workups: 1- to 6-week periods preceding a deployment during which the ship and/or its airwing practice and prepare. Widely known workups involving the carrier and the airwing are TSTA, COMPTUEX, JTFX and RIMPAC. Airwing only workups include trips to NAS Fallon and NAS Key West.
Would you like a kick to help you get airborne?: seen on a numerical list of epithet substitutions, especially transmitted over radio, which has to stay clean
Wrinkle-neck Bass: See Scupper Trout.
WTFO: “What the Fuck, Over” (pronounced “wit fo” or “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Oscar” using the phonetic alphabet): colorful way of asking what just happened, ie, “What the Fuck?”
WUBA: (pronounced wooba) “Woman Used by All.” or “Woman w/ an Unusually Big Ass.” Self explanatory. Also an acronym that stands for Working Uniform Blue Alpha.
WUBA Chariot: Elliptical exercise machines more often than not used by females.
WUBAflage: (pronounced like camouflage) term for civilian clothes worn by WUBA’s.

[edit] X
XOI: Form of non-judicial punishment in which the wayward sailor appears before the executive officer (XO). After hearing the details of the case, the XO may recommend dismissal or refer it to the Commanding Officer (CO) for “Mast.”
XO’s Happy Hour: Daily hour-long mandatory cleaning evolution. Usually introduced by XO on the 1MC.
XO’s Door: Trophy commonly traded between the engineering divisions on an underway submarine as a way to alleviate boredom.
Xoxing Logs: (Submarine Service) (Derived from the word “Xerox,” pronounced “zoxing”) Entering engineering log data eerily similar to the previous hour’s log data.

[edit] Y
Yokes: Short for Yokohama, the large black rubber fenders floating alongside a pier, on which the ship rests when pierside.
Yoko: Yokosuka, Japan.
Your Boy: What you refer to someone as when you don’t want ownership, responsibility or relation to them. “Seaman Dumbshit over there is ‘your’ boy.” “He isn’t my boy.” “Oh, no, your boys.” Alternately “What’s goin’ on with your boy?” is fairly standard. Also referred to as “Yankee Bravo,” which is phonetic alphabet for the letters Y and B.

[edit] Z
Zarf: A cupholder on a submarine. It’s very simple and may be riveted to any available vertical sheet metal.
Zero: Officer. Term derived from their paygrade; O-1, O-2, etc.
Zipper Failure: a leading reason why Black Shoe commanding officers get to hear band music at their first change of command, and not at the second.
Zoomie: Aviator. Usually applied to USAF pilots. Stems from the USAF Academy - the “blue zoo” where civilians observe formations march to lunch daily from the chapel wall.
Zoomies: Particle radiation originating from naval nuclear power or nuclear weapons.
ZUT: CW (Morse radiotelegraphy) forever. Unoffocial procedure signal (obsolete). Retired RMs may have a ZUT certificate, or even tattoo.
Zoom Bag: Flight suit
(The) Zoo: USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6). A Wichita-class Replenishment Oiler that served the U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 1973-1996.

I am an exchange student with AFS from California into Brazil. I love your country but I was put into the state of Mato Grosso de Sul, which is land locked, and I live in a very small city. I want to move to a big city on the coast, such as Sao Paulo, Forteleza, Salvador etc. and I can only do so If I have a family there that wants to take me in. I understand how strange this is but I am desperate to get to the ocean. I am just asking. If you think you would be intrested in hosting an exchange student for a while I will supply you with the information needed and be forever thankful that you gave me this oppurtunity to live near the coast. Obrigado.

I am an exchange student with AFS from California into Brazil. I love your country but I was put into the state of Mato Grosso de Sul, which is land locked, and I live in a very small city. I want to move to a big city on the coast, such as Sao Paulo, Forteleza, Salvador etc. and I can only do so If I have a family there that wants to take me in. I understand how strange this is but I am desperate to get to the ocean. I am just asking. If you think you would be intrested in hosting an exchange student for a while I will supply you with the information needed and be forever thankful that you gave me this oppurtunity to live near the coast. Obrigado.

I’d really like to go to Japan next year to study for a semester, or maybe a full year.

I already asked my dad and he says that he is okay with it if my mom is. He hasn’t told her anything, and I don’t think he took it too seriously..

I am a C student, but that’s just because I wanted to.. If I want I know I can be an A student, which is what I am trying this year, so I can show them I can be responsible if I want to, and ask them about it near the end of the school year.

I’ve already started investigateing about Japan, exchange programs, schools, etc.

I commented with her that their schools have a very similar system to ours (I live in Mexico), and other random facts about Japan.

How should I approach her with this? Do you think I should make a folder with all the information about it?
Any ideas?
Oh by the way, If I go next year, I’ll be 15 so I think it’s a pretty good age to travel by myself. Also I’ll be with a host family.

I’d really like to go to Japan next year to study for a semester, or maybe a full year.

I already asked my dad and he says that he is okay with it if my mom is. He hasn’t told her anything, and I don’t think he took it too seriously..

I am a C student, but that’s just because I wanted to.. If I want I know I can be an A student, which is what I am trying this year, so I can show them I can be responsible if I want to, and ask them about it near the end of the school year.

I’ve already started investigateing about Japan, exchange programs, schools, etc.

I commented with her that their schools have a very similar system to ours (I live in Mexico), and other random facts about Japan.

How should I approach her with this? Do you think I should make a folder with all the information about it?
Any ideas?
Oh by the way, If I go next year, I’ll be 15 so I think it’s a pretty good age to travel by myself. Also I’ll be with a host family.

Ok i want to be a marinelogoist and is there any place in Austrillia where i can study it i want to be a foregin exchange student to go to Austrillia what does it take to be a foregin exchange student to go to Austrillia

Ok i want to be a marinelogoist and is there any place in Austrillia where i can study it i want to be a foregin exchange student to go to Austrillia what does it take to be a foregin exchange student to go to Austrillia

would go out with a girl from california?