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Featured Terms

Jarhead
A pejorative term for a Marine.
(background)   One account suggests that it refers to the Marine high and tight haircut which is cut almost to the skin at the ears with a bit more as it goes up the head giving the appearance of a jar. Another legend says that during World War II the Mason Jar Company stopped making jars and made the helmets for Marines.

Joe Shit, The Rag Man
The generic screw-up or an un-squared away Marine.

Jungle Boots
Boots designed to meet the peculiar climate of Vietnam. Made from standard field boots the upper leather was replaced with a breathable canvas that would dry while being worn and the sole was reinforced with a steel shank in response to the Punji Sticks.

Devil Dog.
A Marine.
(background)  The name “Teufel Hunden” was given to the Marines by their German enemies in World War I, probably as an insult since hunden translates more correctly as "bitch". It has come to be considered a sign of respect for the dogged determination of Marines.

Drownproofing
Survival swimming taught to every recruit.

Gungy
Gung Ho, but usually to express "in an inexperienced, just-out-of-recruit-training" way.

Training Film
U.S. military cover term for a pornographic video.

Moose
An indigenous female in Korea or Vietnam who served as a mistress to a Marine while in the country.  They would maintain an off-base home environment and sex for a small payment and black market supplies.
 
Toilet Seat
Pejorative term for the "Marksman" Shooting Badge. It is the lowest of three levels of marksmanship qualification and the badge is shaped like a square target. Qualifications for the Marksman Shooting Badge would earn an "Expert" rating in the other services.

Mustang
A commissioned officer who served previously as an enlisted person.

Basket Leave
1.  Illegal practice of keeping a leave request form in an “In” basket (versus submitting it for processing) while the individual goes on leave. 
2.  A leave that is never charged against a member’s leave balance. 
(background)  Often, leave papers were actually filled out and approved, to cover everybody's ass in case the person on leave got arrested, killed or detained somehow while on leave. When the individual returned, the papers were then destroyed. Used by supervisors or leave clerks to provide a “bennie” to someone.

Blood Groove
A groove in a fighting knife or sword.  It allows blood to flow from a wound to aid in removing the knife blade (a significant concern in close combat).
 
Blood Stripe
A red stripe displayed on the outer seam of dress blue uniform trousers. It is worn by noncommissioned officers, warrant officers and commissioned officers, traditionally to honor the high number of casualties among the ranks at the Battle of Chapultapec in the Mexican War.