Soldiers fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have developed an expansive new military vocabulary, taking elements from popular culture as well as the doublespeak of the military industrial complex. OPTEMPO: Operational Tempo, high or low. DFAC: (pronounced dee-fack) Dining Facility, aka Chow Hall. These small, climate-controlled trailers usually sleep between two and eight soldiers and is the primary unit of housing on larger bases. Stay Salty: A way of life in which a person or persons constantly are covered in salt, whether from sweat or from the ocean. Military-issued eyeglasses known for their lack of aesthetic appeal. Field stripping can also be used informally to describe taking apart anything. Definition of Stay salty "Salty" means to be angry, pissed off, or annoyed at something lol. Generally, this action shows "good initiative" because the problem might have been above the pay grade of person trying to solve it. In southern Afghanistan, refers to the lush, densely vegetated areas following rivers that Taliban fighters defend vigorously. Derogatory term for a soldier lacking combat experience. Mandatory office dinner parties or get-togethers. "Squared away" (or "locked on" or "a hard charger"). When service people say someone is squared away, it's generally a compliment that indicates exemplary, above-average service. In vernacular, it means to "leave in a hurry.". A Marine. Mix a paste of creamer, sugar and water, apply to a cracker. Soldiers stationed at these bases have access to the most comfortable living quarters, the most variety in food, shopping and socializing. This refers to the time before service, when a service member was a "nasty" civilian. For example, you can be "s--- hot" at your job. A FOB can be austere and dangerous, but is more commonly provisioned with hot, varied meals, hot water for showers and laundry, as well as recreational facilities. It's called battle rattle because — unless we're talking about Navy SEALs — walking with all this stuff usually makes noise. Geardo: (rhymes with weirdo) A soldier who spends an inordinate amount of their personal money to buy fancy military gear, such as weapon lights, GPS watches, custom rucksacks, etc. Used loosely to mean the speaker doesn't understand an idea or that someone is totally clueless. Dustoff: Medical evacuation by helicopter. If it's a situation, often "everyone has to take a bite" of said soup sandwich. Term generally used to describe enemy action. See: Fobbit. Of course the U.S. military never "retreats" — rather it conducts a "tactical retrograde.". Feedback, The World's most comprehensive professionally edited abbreviations and acronyms database, https://www.acronymfinder.com/Military-and-Government/SALT.html, Size, Activity, Location, Time (military report). Bird: Helicopter. A compliment: Someone who has worked on a daily basis with the infantry but isn't officially a grunt. Green Zone: In Iraq, the heavily fortified area of central Baghdad where most government facilities are located. On the flip side, when someone is "unsat," they have performed some action or are themselves well below the required standards. A "Fobbit" is a slightly derogatory term for a soldier who never patrols outside of the relative safety of a forward operating base (FOB). Pink Mist: Produced by certain gunshot wounds. The phrase "15 minutes prior to 15 minutes prior" comes from the expectation that you arrive 15 minutes earlier than the person in the next rank. Adapted from the phrase "Semper Fidelis," the service's motto, which means "Always Faithful.". Used loosely to mean the speaker doesn't understand an idea or that someone is totally clueless. Secret Squirrel: Highly classified, top secret. Slang changes with the times, and the military is no different. FOB: Forward Operating Base. ", Phan Shannon Garcia\U.S. Often said of artillerymen or drivers. Embed: A reporter who is accommodated by the military command to observe operations firsthand. © 1988-2020, The captain wants everyone to meet at 0600, so the master sergeant wants folks to arrive at 0545, and when it finally hits the corporal, people are told to show up at midnight. Terp: An interpreter, usually a local Afghan or Iraqi hired by the military to translate for military personnel when they are communicating with a local. See: Fobbit. )'. Brian West watches an Air Force F-35 Lightning II joist strike fighter aircraft approach for the first time July 14, 2011, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. We Insist: A Timeline Of Protest Music In 2020. Or to get lit up means … Subscriber Our service members already set themselves apart by speaking in acronyms like "I was on the FOB when the IDF hit, so I radioed the TOC.".