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F-4 Phantom
Twin engine jet
fighter/bomber, used by Marines for ground support. Made by McDonnell Douglas.
Falcon Code
A variation of
the Charlie Echo Code.
Fantail
An open deck at
the rear of a ship, usually where trash was dumped overboard.
Fartsack
Sleeping bag or
mattress cover.
Fathom
A unit of
measurement which is essentially the distance between the fingers of
outstretched arms.
(background)
Originally "faedm" an Anglo Saxon word meaning hug
or embrace, faedms were marked on a rope by a knot; when thrown overboard
attached to an anchor a sailor would count off the knots or fathoms to the
bottom.
(Source: "Salty
Talk", Naval History, U. S. Naval Institute, October 2002)
FEBA
Forward Edge of
the Battle Area.
Feather Merchant
A person of
short or slight build, or a person in a comfortable or easy assignment such as
headquarters duty or a staff billet. Often used for all civilians working for
the military.
Fiddler's Green
Historically, a
sailor's idea of heaven. Many petty officer clubs on Navy installations are
given this name.
Field Day
A day set aside
for the thorough cleaning of barracks or offices.
Field Expedient
The art of
getting the job done despite the limitations.
(see
Tootsie Roll)
Field Grade
A commissioned
officer in the grade of major, lieutenant colonel or colonel.
Field Marshall
A rank in many
foreign military forces, usually the highest ranking officer of the service.
They are generally identified by the highly decorated baton that they carry on
official occasions. Vaguely equivalent to Commandant of the Marine Corps or
Chief of Naval Operations or one of the Chiefs of Staff. Not used in the
military services of the United States.
Field Marshall’s
Baton
an ornamental
piece Field Marshalls carry on official occasions.
Field Medical Service School
Where Navy
corpsmen and dental technicians are trained for field duty with operational
Marine Corps field units.
(synonym)
Devil Doc
University
Field Meet
An organized
series of sporting competitions pitting one unit against another. Organized grab
ass.
Field of Fire
The radius that
an automatic weapon can cover in an arc from port to starboard.
Field Strip
Take apart or
disassemble as in field strip a rifle or a cigarette.
Fieldscarf
A necktie worn
on a Marine uniform.
Fighting Hole
Called a Fox
Hole by the Army, it is an entrenched position for one or more Marines in a
static warfare situation.
FIIGMO
Fuck It, I Got
My Orders. Often written FIGMO. Someone who has received permanent change of
station orders or is ending their term of service. Either way they are Short
Timers and don't much care about anything but leaving.
Final Strength
Test
A physical
fitness test given near the end of recruit training to determine if a recruit
has improved sufficiently, based upon the results of the Initial Strength Test.
Fire In The Hole
An alert that an
explosive device is about to be detonated. If you hear this you probably missed
all of the other warnings and are about to be blown away.
Fire Team
The basic
infantry fighting unit consisting of four Marines with various weapons and
support. Fire teams are combined into squads.
Firebase
An artillery
support position.
Fireman
A Navy enlisted
rank.
(see
Seaman.)
Firewatch
A recruit's
first introduction to guard duty. At least one recruit in each platoon remains
awake and alert each night for safety and security purposes. When boot camp
structures were made of wood, the posting was absolutely necessary; since the
fireproof buildings were constructed starting in the 1960s, the job has remained
as both tradition and training.
Firewatch Medal
National Defense
Service Medal. A medal awarded during times of war to every person in the
military with 60 days of service. It is therefore awarded to each new Marine at
graduation. The theory is, in order to qualify for the NDSM, only one tour of
duty is required as a Firewatch.
First Lieutenant
The second grade
of commissioned officer, indicated by a silver bar on the collar of the uniform.
The pay grade is O-2 and is the same in the Army and Air Force. In the Navy and
Coast Guard the rank is lieutenant (junior grade) and is additionally indicated
on shoulder boards or coat cuffs by one wide and one narrow gold stripe topped
by an insignia indicating a branch (usually a gold star in the Navy or a gold
shield in the Coast Guard indicating a line officer). In the Navy it refers to
the Deck Division officer or person in charge of general seamanship.
First of foot
and right of the line
Honor bestowed
on the U. S. Marine Corps by the Secretary of the Navy on Aug. 9, 1876. It means
that Marines take the place of honor in any Naval formation.
First Sergeant
of Marines
The senior
noncommissioned officer in a company or squadron indicated by three chevrons
and rockers with a diamond (lozenge) between chevrons and rockers. The pay
grade is E-8 and is the same in the Army. In the Navy and Coast Guard, the rank
is senior chief petty officer with a star above the eagle. First sergeant in
the Air Force is a billet and is indicated by a lozenge between chevrons and
rockers on any insignia between master sergeant and chief master sergeant.
First Shirt
Nickname for
First Sergeant.
First to Fight
Marines have
been in the forefront of every American war since the founding of the Corps.
They entered the Revolution in 1775, even before the Declaration of Independence
was signed! Marines have carried out more than 300 landings on foreign shores.
They have served everywhere, from the Arctic to tropics; their record for
readiness reflects pride, responsibility, and challenge.
FitRep
Fitness Report
written on Marines in the rank of sergeant and above, which measures his or her
fitness for command. It is the written report of a Marine's career.
Flack Jacket
Body Armor.
Flag Allotment
A detachment of
Marines assigned to certain Navy Admirals for security and ceremonial purposes.
Flag Officer
Any of the
general or admiral ranks or any officer whose billet authorizes him or her to
fly a personal flag (almost never applied in the present).
(background)
Prior to the Civil War and the introduction of the
Navy admiral rank, captains in charge of squadrons or fleets were called flag
officers as a point of courtesy.
Flare Ship
C-47 twin prop
cargo plane with flares suspended from parachutes to provide night time
illumination of a battle area. Sometimes called "Spooky" or "Puff the Magic
Dragon".
Fleet
A group of ships
usually under the command of a flag officer. Also, "In the Fleet" a term used to
indicate the Marine Corps beyond boot camp and technical school. It is "in the
fleet" that a Marine does his or her job.
Fleet Admiral
A wartime rank
given to full admirals who command a fleet. The rank insignia consists of five
silver stars in a circle. Fleet Admirals do not retire.
(background)
This rank has been held by Admirals Leahy, King and
Nimitz who were promoted in Dec. 1944. Admiral "Bull" Halsey received the rank a
year later.
Fleet Hospital
Naval field
hospital.
Flight Line
The place where
airplanes are parked on the airfield. Newbies are sent to find this intangible
line.
Flight Surgeon
A physician and
Navy Medical Officer who specializes in aviation medicine for the Navy and the
Marine Corps.
Float
To be deployed
at sea, usually on a MEU as in "six month float".
Flotsam
Floating
wreckage of a ship or its cargo; floating debris; unimportant miscellaneous
material.
Fluff-n-buff
1. Cammies that
were dried and not pressed (fluff dry) and boots that were brushed but not spit
polished (buffed).
2. A Marine who
wore a poorly prepared uniform. Especially noticeable during inspections.
FMF
Fleet Marine
Force.
(synonym)
Fighting Mother Fuckers.
FNG
Fucking New Guy.
FO
Forward
Observer. Usually an artillery officer or pilot assigned to infantry units to
coordinate artillery support or air strikes in support of the Mud Marines.
Fore
In front. From
the Naval term.
Forecastle
An open deck on
board most ships at the bow, usually where the anchors were secured. Generally a
place for off duty sailors to gather, tell sea stories and smoke.
(pronunciation:
fok' sil.)
Formed
Reference to a
unit of Marines who are under the control of someone and are standing, walking,
marching, sitting or even lying in a prescribed manner. It is said that whenever
two Marines are walking together, one is in command and the other is formed.
Former Marine
An acceptable
term for a Marine who is not currently serving, but make no mistake, that person
is a Marine and always will be a Marine.
Fortitudine
The original
motto of the Marine Corps, Latin for fortitude. It has been replaced by Semper
Fidelis.
Forty five
(see 45.)
Forward Edge of
the Battle Area
The "front line"
or the spot where the battle is active.
Four-deuce
A 4.2 inch
mortar.
Four Holer
A field head
consisting of a shack constructed over four 55 gallon drums cut in half to
expedite removal of fecal material. There was no privacy.
(origin)
Vietnam
Foxhole
An Army term for
a fighting hole.
FOXTROT
(Commtalk) the
letter “F.”
FPL
Final Protective
Line. The point at which a position is about to be overrun--it signals a switch
to survival instincts.
Frag
To kill a
superior, usually by throwing a fragmentation grenade into the room or area
where he or she is located (such as a hootch or a head).
2. Bombard with
excess for the purpose of causing a problem or creating a distraction.
3. A
fragmentary order giving subordinate commanders the information they require to
conduct their portion of an operation.
(origin)
Vietnam
Free Fire Zone
Most of the area
along the DMZ that is a "no man's land" where standing orders allow for anyone
seen in that area to be fired upon. Toward the end of Vietnam it became
necessary to radio in a sighting and request permission to fire (widely ignored
by the troops on the line).
(origin)
Vietnam
French
Fourragere
The government
of France honored the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments and the 6th Machinegun
Battalion with the Fourragere for their fighting skills during World War I.
Those units still wear the award today.
Frog
1. Nickname for
the CH-46 helicopter, which sits with the rear portion of the craft lower than
the front, squatting like a frog (some people spell it Phrog).
2. the green
scarf worn wrapped around a Marine's neck in winter
3. device
attached to the duty belt upon which a sword is attached.
Front Leaning
Rest Position
The position for
pushups. Often just "the position".
Frozen Chosin
(see
Chosin Reservoir.)
FTA
Fuck the Army.
FTN
Fuck the Navy.
FUBAB
Fucked Up Beyond
All Belief.
FUBAR
1. Fucked Up
Beyond All Recognition.
2. Fucked Up
Beyond All Repair.
Fuck You Bird
A bird
indigenous to Southeast Asia whose call sounds exactly like, "fuck you".
Fuller, Ben H.
Fifteenth
Commandant of the Marine Corps. The Michigan native, born Feb. 27, 1870,
graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy and was appointed Major General
Commandant on the death of Wendell Neville, July 9, 1930. He served until Feb.
28, 1934, and died June 8, 1937.
Funeral Pace
Marching pace
for funerals, approximately half of quick time.
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