Navy lingo glossary

[ronspatricia]

I realized today this might be a good place to ask this question; ever since my bf got into bootcamp he has a thousand new words for things, mostly military and Navy related, and I realize how clueless I am about all of them. I didn't even know what PIR was until like a week ago....I'm going to visit him next month on leave and I wonder how in the dark I'll be on other terminology: what are some of your sailors' slang terms? (I'm not talking profanity--Ron was fluent on that pre-military LOL and had a colorful vocabulary) I just don't want our first dinner to be full of him explaining every single word to me.......would rather look educated ;)

[Brenda Sue]

Found this and copied it for you!! Hope it helps!
Click Here
If you're new to the military, or simply new to the Navy, be warned. You're going to have to learn a whole new vocabulary to communicate with your soon to be Sailor.

Actually, Sailor is the first term you must learn. Although your Recruit is officially in the United States Navy from the swearing in ceremony, he or she is at first just that - a lowly Recruit. It's part of their name, now; when you get the address to boot camp, you'll see that you have to write "SR" (Seaman Recruit) as part of the name. Your Recruit also will wear a hat with "Recruit" emblazoned across the front. After battlestations, Recruits are officially known as Sailors. There is a capping ceremony, during which a new NAVY hat is given to the new Sailors. One more point of interest is that the word Sailor should always be capitalized.
PIR - Pass In Review - Boot Camp Graduation.
ASMO - Assignment Memorandum - to be sent back in recruit training.
RDC's frequently threaten their Division with being ASMO'd. Recruits do get ASMO'd for disciplinary or medical, or because a recruit has not passed a test. Brother (or Sister) Divisions - Divisions sharing the same ship and PIR date.
Ship - Barracks - There are currently nine ships that house Recruits: Ship 5 - USS Theodore Roosevelt Ship 6 - USS Constitution Ship 7 - USS Chicago Ship 9 - USS John F. Kennedy Ship 10 - USS Enterprise Ship 11 - USS Kearsarge Ship 12 - USS Triton Ship 13 - USS Marvin Shields Ship 14 - USS Arizona Division - A group of about 88 recruits that live, work, train, and (hopefully) will graduate together.
SIQ - Sick In Quarters - Really Recruits who are very sick or have extensive dental work are confined to their rack.
Ricky Crud - The upper respiratory, headaches, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nosebleeds that plague a very large number of those in Boot Camp.
Ricky Heaven - An area in the RTC (Recruit Training command)
NEX which has games, fast food, internet access and telephones. Toward the end of boot camp, divisions may be awarded time in Ricky Heaven.
NEX - The Navy Exchange - A department store for Navy personnel and their families. The NEX at RTC is small, and sells items the Recruits will need during boot camp, as well as Navy souvenirs.
PT - Physical Training
P-Days - Processing Days, also known as P-Week - P-Days occur when Recruits first arrives at boot camp. During P-Days, they are issued initial equipment, uniforms, and supplies. They are undergo medical and psychological tests, are interviewed, and are ultimately assigned to a division. When P-Week is over, Boot Camp officially begins.
IT - Intensive Training - Getting IT’d is a consequence for all sorts of infractions.
PI - Personal Inspections - An inspection of a recruit's personal appearance and uniform. A recruit can earn between one and five points for PI. Points are taken away for irregularities such as an off center belt.
Captain's Cup - A field day, during which the divisions compete against each other. It is usually held the Saturday before graduation. Battle Stations - The final boot camp test. It is a twelve hour long simulation of battles, crises, and ship life. It's a make or break event, that takes place on a state of the art simulated ship called the USS Trayer. The ship actually sits in water, and sights, sounds smells, and motion provide very realistic simulation of various historical Naval crises that the Recruits must successfully overcome. If the Recruits pass, they graduate from boot camp, and are allowed to trade in their recruit cap for a Navy cap in a very moving ceremony. Marlinspike - A life size, model ship where Recruits practice mooring, line handling, putting out to sea and other aspects of Basic Seamanship.
PFA - Physical Fitness Assessment - There are two assessments that a Recruit must pass in order to graduate. The second PFA takes place during the 6th week of training.
DMI - Departmental Material Inspection - An inspection of bed makin
g, folding, and stowing of gear.
Watch - Standing Watch - Time spent guarding the ship (barracks). Muster - Roll Call
LLD - Light Limited Duty - Given to recruits who are not up to par physically due to illness, injury or dental work.
SEPS - Separation - The barracks for those who are awaiting separation from the Navy.
THU - Temporary Holding Unit - The barracks for those who are finished with boot camp, but are waiting to be transferred to school or their duty station.
BS - Battlestations
BZ - Bravo Zulu - "Well Done"
CO - Commanding Officer
PO - Petty Officer
Rack - Bed
Head - Bathroom
Chit - Request for special permission - A sailor fills out a chit for such things as requesting leave, getting a tattoo, or moving off base.
BCG - Boot Camp Glasses (also known as Birth Control Glasses) - The singularly unattractive large, black rimmed glasses issued to Recruits.
RDC - Recruit Division Commander - The Navy's version of the 'drill sergeant'.
Peanut Butter Shot - A very painful shot given in the buttocks or thigh. Great Mistakes - A slang term for Great Lakes Naval Training Center.
Rate and Rating - Two important terms that are often confused and misused.
R-POC - Recruit Chief Petty Officer - The Recruit in charge of the division when the RDC’s aren’t there. The R-POC also leads the division when marching. The Recruit who is R-POC at the end of boot camp will be promoted to an E-3, but there is usually a lot of turnover for the position. The RDC's wouldn't want anyone's head to swell.
A-ROC - Assignment Recruit Petty Officer - This Recruit is the second in command when the RDC's are not present. Yeoman - Clerk or secretary - Yeomans take care of paperwork, and spend a lot of time in the office. There are three Boot Camp yeomen: Medical, Dental, and the "general" Yeoman.
Master At Arms - The MAA is the Recruit responsible for discipline in the division. He or she must make sure the division behaves and that the galley is properly cleaned. The Master At Arms is usually unpopular with the other Recruits, and but is punished for their mistakes. It requires great leadership skills.

[ronspatricia]

Oh wow! This helps a LOT. THank you so much! This explains some stuff from the letters...hahahaha. My bf told me he's Master At Arms, and mentioned in his letter that he was "forced to be a pseudo-hardass" and now I see why! I laughed out loud. Can't wait for A School graduation :D

Thanks again!

[Fleur de lis Mom]

Brenda Sue - You stated "A group of about 88 recruits that live, work, train, and (hopefully) will graduate together." Do you know if this is the same for the women? People keep asking my if my daughter's BC group will be as big as the men's groups?

[Fleur de lis Mom]

Thanks. I knew that they trained together, but not the ratio. So much to learn for both Moms and SR's before BC.

[Brenda Sue]

Sorry, I just copied and pasted that from somewhere else! I think I left the link up there!