The Military Slang Quiz

Think about it, it makes complete sense to call medals and ribbons "chest candy". Although this is usually used in positive way, it can also be very derogatory.

"Helo" is military slang for helicopter. They form a vital role in any military situation and have proved an indispensable vehicle as shown to such great effect in the Vietnam War, either bringing soldiers to contact points or removing the injured.

The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle was the primary 4th generation fighter in the United States Air Force. It entered service in 1976 and remains in active duty today.

Band-aids in real life fix anything, right? Well, almost anything. In World War II, most soldiers would call for a medic but by the time Vietnam rolled around, a medic had a slang name, a "band-aid".

In the military, a "geardo" is someone who has every piece of gear they can possibly lay their hands on. This is despite the fact that they may not even use half of it. This is not only Army gear but supplementary equipment that they pay for themselves.

Now this is probably one that you have heard before. To a Marine, "on the double" means doing whatever task they are performing as fast as possible and certainly without delay.

Actually, that's a brilliant description for a flashlight ... a moonbeam. Gonna use that from now on. Obviously flashlights are never used on the battlefield, but useful in camp on a dark night when you have to find the latrine.

A "dope on a rope" is used by other branches of the military to describe air assault soldiers. This phrase is derogatory. Air assault soldiers are not paratroopers but usually alight from helicopters into battle using ropes to reach the ground.

Again, this one is fairly easy. A bunk is a bed. Bunks are the perfect way to get a lot of men into a small space to sleep. They were particularly useful on ships when transporting troops to the Pacific in World War II.

Air assault troopers or paratroops will know all about the dropzone. This is the point which they will aim for when jumping out of their aircraft or helicopter.

"Ack ack" refers to enemy fire from the ground aimed at aircraft. It does not included small arms fire but specific anti-aircraft weapons such as cannons etc. In World War I, this was known as "Archie" and in World War II "flak".

No, they are not sneakers, they are "gofasters". Although the term is common in the Marine Corps it is also used by other branches of the military including the Army and Navy. I bet you will never call them sneakers again!

5 klicks till contact, Sir. You understand that right? Yes, a klick is a kilometer. Interestingly, you would not associate the use of kilometers with the US military, but it is used as a standard distance measurement that US allies use as well.

Sad but true, an ambulance is called a "meat wagon" by the military. This name originated as due to the severity of war injuries, sometimes soldiers left the battlefield missing limbs.

The United States military has its own police force. These are the military police and it is their duty to enforce law and order at military facilities. Generally, they are loathed by regular servicemen, possibly because they break up their parties!

In military slang, a situation described as a "charlie foxtrot" means it is a cluster****! The term uses military alphabet to denote that the situation is particularly dire.

More of a term used by English pilots during the Second World War, if you went down in the "drink" you had ditched your aircraft in the sea. This was some serious business, as a plane sank quickly. Even if a pilot had a life jacket, he needed to clear the plane as quickly as possible to avoid drowning.

"Cammies" is a term for a camouflage uniform. Depending on the areas troops are deployed, it might be a necessity. This term is used by both the United States Marines and Navy.

An apt name don't you think! Helicopter pilots have a rotating blade above their head so it's easy to see how the name fits. This is just a general term used across all United States military.

A "ground pounder", someone who often marches between objectives, fights the enemy and moves onto the next objective. This was particularly true during World War II. No specific force type were ground pounders although they were mostly GI's or Marines.

Essentially, "unsat" is a shortened version of unsatisfactory or below par. It an be used to describe anything including facilities or even people. This is miltary slang from the United States Marine Corps.

Yes, the Marines are known as "devil dogs". It is thought the phrase came from German soldiers in World War I who were so impressed by the Marines that they called them "teufelhund".

Well, it has five sides and so many corridors it might be a puzzle to get in and out, so that is a pretty accurate name for the Pentagon. The Pentagon is the world's largest office building at 6,500,000 sq ft in size! Over 23,000 people work there, both military and civilian.

Lance corporals, the third lowest rank for enlisted men, are not that well liked by regular troops without rank.

You've seen enough Army movies to know the meaning of "at ease", right? Essentially it means carry on with what you were doing before you stood to attention when rank entered the room. Phew, a long but accurate description.

"Racks ops" is to get some sleep while out in the field, for example. It's a case of get what you need when you can. This is a United States Marine slang term.

Members of the United States Navy refer to Coast Guard members as "puddle pirates". Why? Well, it's because they only operate in puddles i.e. near the shore and never in deep water.

"Big voice" is the name given to the PA system and loudspeaker at a military base. These constantly bark orders, instructions and information so troops know what exactly is going on at any point. It is perhaps most important when the base is under fire and can quickly inform troops of that fact.

Even the most experienced pilots could take a "dollar ride". In fact, they may have taken many during the course of their career as they flew different aircraft and new, modern aircraft entered service as their careers wore on.

A soldier who has "gone Elvis" is missing after a skirmish with the enemy. This is also known as "MIA" or missing in action. If the soldier's body is later found, it is changed to "KIA" or killed in action.

A term used in the United States military, a fart sack refers to a sleeping bag. Hmm, might have to steal that for use on a camping trip! Anyone seen my fart sack? Hilarious!

This term refers to a lockbox found on a ship. It essentially acts as an anonymous suggestion box where ideas, thoughts, criticisms can be dropped off. Obviously this is a United States Navy only idea.

Now a verbal reprimand in any profession is never nice. In the military it is downright scary. You've seen the Hollywood movies, right? A superior getting right up in the face of a private, screaming in their face, spit flying everywhere. Also often called an "ass chewing".

In the military, the Rockwell B-1 Lancer is known by the slang term, "bone". The B1, a swept-wing supersonic bomber, was introduced in the mid-1980s and remains in service today.

War is hell! Cases of cannibalism have been reported throughout history, and particularly during World War II, were both Soviet and German prisoners of war resorted to cannibalism to avoid starvation. Kind of gross, but in military terms human flesh is called "long pig".