From my time in the service I had always run across odd sayings, terms and phrases. In retrospect I realized that most militaries have a particular understanding of the human condition and completely different vocabulary. The difference came to light to me when I was on leave at the same time as another friend who was also on leave at the same time. We were hanging out drinking with our civy friends and talking we noticed everyone looking at us like we just dropped in from another planet when one of friends asked us “what the fuck are you guys talking about, it sounds like another language! “
This article should be taken in the vein of “Humor in uniform” put out by Readers Digest but not in the same G rating. This is an Evil von Scarry article after all.
go to about 1:29
So word to the faint of heart or anyone with easily bruised feelings or sensibilities or who look for sexism (or other isms) and reasons to be upset, go look at some other article cuz this aint for you. Fair warning. Read on….
Non Commissioned officers and the like (old Corporals, Sergeants,Petty Officers, Centurions, etc.) seem to have a flair for colorful phrases that illustrate the human condition sometimes in a not so nice but true way. The following is a compilation of some of that wisdom gleaned from myself and some others that have been kind enough (or cruel enough really) to contribute to this article. Thanks in advance to those that have – you know who you are.
I won’t be including radio code or tactical call signs as it would be asinine and probably not for public consumption.
Interesting quotes:
“Just do it, this isn’t a fucking debate!”
” You can give your soul to Jesus (or insert local diety here) but your ass belongs to the (Army,Navy,Marines)”
” No plan ever survives first contact (when the first bullet is shot)”
” What happens in the field stays in the field”
” No life like it, because no one else wants it” – in reference to military life
“If it was easy, everyone would do it”
“Don’t draw fire, it irritates everyone else around you”
“The nail that sticks out gets hammered”
“Being in the army is alot like being in the Boy Scouts ,except the Boy Scouts have adult
supervision” -Blake Clark
” Don’t let common sense get in the way where brute force and ignorance can prevail”
“It is always better to ask for forgiveness than to beg for permission”
“Tracer fire works both ways”
“There’s two kinds of music in this man’s army.. Country and Western”
“Teamwork is essential, it gives the enemy someone else to shoot at”
“When the pin is pulled Mr.Grenade is not our friend”
” Go ahead and run, you’ll only die tired” “Running is for fags, stay and fight” “Only a dog runs to his dinner”
“Oh look something shiny”
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and allot of bitching”
“Try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo”
“If your attack is going too well, your walking into an ambush”
” I’m not lost, just geographically embarrassed”
” When God was a gunner and Christ was a cowboy…”
” If something can get fucked up it will”
“Alpha Mike Foxtrot” Adios Mother FuckerTactical non-tactical designations
Whiskey Dollies– gals who are your best “friend” when liquored up
Snuggies– more desirable than Whiskey Dollies, usually better looking and harder to get
Whiskey Tangos (White Trash)
Sky Pilot (the padre or other religious priests, etc)
Dogfucker (someone not doing their job or tasking) adj Dogfucking (not doing anything)
Leg (as in ‘those fucking legs got it easy” – derogatory for non airborne soldiers, which is funny my experience with the airborne always involved more running and walking than parachuting…..
Doggies, Grunts, Death techs, Trigger pullers,Ground Pounders– used to refer to infantry
WOGS– Worn Out Grunts- used to refer to non infantry or non combat arms (clerks and the like)
Gun Bunny– artilleryman
Cannon Cocker – armored trooper
Barracks Lawyer – usually the guy who was too smart to be in the service but wound up there anyway and somehow memorized all the regulations and orders usually to the detriment of his “superiors”.
Crows -people who like shiny things, usually unaccounted for or unmarked kit -also sometimes Scroungers
On equipment and acquisitions
“Always ask for more you’ll be lucky to get half of what you need”
Gut wrenches – eating utensils, and sometimes symptom of bad food
“Relax, your gear is made by the lowest bidder”- usually in answer to any concerns like “is this safe?”
Had this one sent in and its a gooder called 5 most dangerous things in the Army (Navy,Airforce,Marines)
1. A Private saying, “I learned this in Basic…”
2. A Sergeant saying, “Trust me, sir…”
3. A Second Lieutenant saying, “Based upon my experience…”
4. A Captain saying, “I was just thinking…”
5. A Warrant Officer chuckling, “Watch this Shit…”