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M & M
Abbreviation for
marine mattress. Slang term for a woman or guy that only gives up the booty to
marines.
M-NU
A fluid used by
Marines to renew emblems and metal rank which are showing metal through the
black coloring. Originally dark brown, since Marine Corps emblems were that
color until about 1960 when emblems and shoes became black. The name stands for
eMblem-reNU.
M1
The U.S. rifle
caliber .30 [30-06], M1, is an air-cooled, gas-operated, clip-fed, semiautomatic
shoulder weapon. The primary infantry weapon of World War II and Korea. It
replaced the Springfield M1903 and was replaced by the M14.
M1/M2
.30 cal. carbine
rifle.
M2
"Heavy barrel"
.50 cal. machine gun developed just after WWI and still being used into the 21st
Century.
M3A1
Shoulder fired,
blowback operated .45 cal. submachine gun with 30-round magazine known as the
"grease gun". A favorite of garrison officers. Standard on-board weapon for most
tank crews.
M7
Larger, circular
baseplate for the M224 mortar.
M7A3
CS
Riot Control
Hand Grenade. This 19-oz weapon contains 9.5 oz of CS that, when ignited, gives
off a thick cloud of irritating agent for approximately 60 seconds.
M8
Smaller,
rectangular baseplate for the M224 mortar.
M9
Baretta 9mm
pistol with 15 round magazine which replaced the M19llA1 in the 1990s.
M14
M14, The U.S.
rifle, caliber 7.62 mm [308 Winchester], M14, is an air-cooled, gas-operated,
magazine-fed, shoulder weapon. It is designed primarily for semiautomatic fire.
(background) An
infantry weapon in use between Korea and early Vietnam. It replaced the M1 and
was replaced by the M16.
M15
White
phosphorous hand grenade replaced by the M34.
M16
The U.S. rifle,
caliber 5.56 mm [223 Remington], M16, is a lightweight air cooled, gas-operated,
magazine-fed, shoulder weapon. It is capable of both semiautomatic and full
automatic fire.
(background)
The basic infantry rifle that replaced the M14 at
the start of the Vietnam War. It was designed by Eugene Stoner for the Armalite
Company and was produced by Colt. see Mattel.
M18
Colored Smoke
Hand Grenade. Emits either red, green or yellow smoke for up to 1.5 minutes.
Color is marked on the canister.
M25A2 CS
Riot Control
Hand Grenade weighing 7.5 oz with 3.5 oz of CS gas, with a unique arming system
unlike any other grenade in the inventory. The use and effect is the same as the
M7A3.
M26
Fragmentation
hand grenade. Hand-thrown, with a 7-second delay from arming to explosion.
M34
White
phosphorous smoke hand grenade. This 27.2 oz weapon contains 12 oz of white
phosphorous.
M47
Dragon Weapon
System. Man-portable, shoulder-fired, medium-range antitank weapon.
M48A3
Main battle tank
in Vietnam with a 90 mm main gun, coaxial mounted .30 cal machine gun and a
cupola mounted .50 cal. machine gun with a crew of 4. The 850 horse Chrysler
air-cooled diesel engine provided a cruising range of approximately 200 miles.
It weighed 52 tons when combat loaded.
M60
Air-cooled,
belt-fed, gas-operated, fully automatic, shoulder-fired standard infantry
machine gun 7.62 mm with bipod and replacement barrels.
M64
Sight for the
M224 mortar.
M67
Fragmentation
hand grenade. This 14 oz hand weapon contains 6.5 oz of composition B. The
average Marine can throw it 40 meters and it has a casualty producing radius of
15 meters.
M67A2
Flame thrower
tank with 260 gallon bottle of napalm, a coaxial mounted .30 caliber machine gun
and a crew of three. It had a cruising range of 200 miles and weighed 50 tons
when combat loaded.
M69
Training and
practice grenades. The training version has all inert or expended parts, the
only removable item is the pin. The practice grenade is the same as the training
grenade except that it uses an active M228 fuse to indicate delay times and add
realism to training.
M79
Shoulder-held,
40 mm, single shot grenade launcher with a range of 400 meters. Called a
"blooper" from the sound it made when fired.
M103
Heavy gun tank
with a 120 mm main cannon of extremely long range.
M170
Bipod for the
M224 mortar.
M203
Light weight,
single-shot, breech-loaded, pump action (sliding barrel), shoulder-fired weapon
attached to the M16A2 rifle.
M224
60 mm Mortar
consisting of the M225 cannon, the M170 bipod and the M64 sight as well as two
types of base plates, the circular M7 and the rectangular M8.
M225
Cannon for the
M224 mortar.
M228
Hand grenade
fuse.
M249
SAW or Squad
Automatic Weapon, it replaced the BAR. The SAW is a gas-operated,
belt/magazine-fed, air-cooled, automatic, shoulder-fired weapon 5.56 mm.
Typically, there are nine SAWs in a basic infantry platoon.
M1903
Springfield
bolt-action .30 caliber rifle which was replaced by the M1 in the mid- 1930s.
The Marine Corps used them through much of World War II.
M1911A1
The automatic
pistol, 45 caliber is a recoil operated, magazine-fed hand weapon. Used from
World War I until the 1990s, it has been replaced by the M9.
M1917A1
Browning
water-cooled machine gun.
M1918
Browning
Automatic Rifle, known universally as the BAR/
M1919A4
Browning .30
caliber machine gun.
Maggot
One of the
lowest forms of life. Also a Marine who spends most of his or her time trying to
obtain a discharge.
MAG
Marine Air
Group. A unit in an air wing equivalent to an infantry regiment. Commanded by a
colonel.
MAGTF
Marine Air
Ground Task Force. A unit with both air and ground elements but not MEU or MEB.
Maggie’s
Drawers
A red flag,
waved from the rifle pits to indicate a complete miss of the target during
qualification firing.
Mail Buoy
A non-existent
navigational aid used in a practical joke by "salty" Marines and sailors.
(background)
Allegedly, the mail buoy or sea buoy was a device to
which passing ships or aircraft would attach packets of mail. Inexperienced
Marines or sailors were assigned to "guard duty" and told to be on the look out
for the buoy. It was part of an informal initiation rite.
Main Bottle
360-gallon
bottle of napalm on the M67A2 flame thrower tank. A cluster of nine air bottles
surrounded the main bottle to provide air for combustion.
Mainside
The main portion
of a base or installation where the headquarters are located along with the
Marine Corps Exchange and theater. As opposed to “in the field” or the boonies.
Major
The fourth grade
of commissioned officer and first of the field grades is indicated by a gold oak
leaf on the collar points. The pay grade is O-4 and is the same in the Army and
Air Force. In the Navy and Coast Guard, the rank is lieutenant commander and is
additionally indicated with two broad bands of gold with one narrow band between
them, topped with insignia representing the branch to which the officer is
assigned (most often a gold star in the Navy) or a gold shield in the Coast
Guard.
Major General
Second of the
flag officer ranks indicated by two silver stars on the collar points of the
uniform. The pay grade is O-8 and is the same in the Army and the Air Force. In
the Navy and Coast Guard the rank is rear admiral (upper half) and is
additionally indicated with a two-inch gold band and two one-inch gold bands and
a gold star (Navy) or gold shield (Coast Guard) above on the coat cuffs. The
shoulder board is the same as rear admiral (lower half) except that there are
two silver stars rather than one.
Make a hole
A phrase used to
move a group of people not in formation out of the way of a formed unit or a
person senior in rank.
Malingerer
A Marine or
recruit who spends too much time at sick call or makes other excuses to get out
of training or duty. It is a punishable offense under the UCMJ.
Maltreatment
A problem in
Marine Corps recruit training in the middle of the 20th Century, now resolved.
Recruit training, while difficult and demanding, is not life threatening. Each
of the very few accidents is thoroughly investigated and reviewed.
(see
Ribbon Creek)
Mameluke Sword
The sword worn
on parade and formal occasions by Marine commissioned and warrant officers. The
first Mameluke sword was presented to Marine Lieutenant Presley N. O’Bannon, by
Prince Hamet Bey the Pasha of Tripoli in 1805 during which the United States
flag was flown for the first time in the Old World.
Manning the
Rails
When entering or
leaving port, or when rendering special honors, the ship's compliment will get
in full dress uniforms and stand along the rails or in the rigging at the
position of attention.
Manual of Arms
The prescribed
movements involving the use of weapons, including swords, in parades and
ceremonies.
MarDet
Marine
Detachment.
Marine
Band
The United
States Marine Band, "The President's Own", is located at Marine Barracks 8th and
Eye Street, Washington, DC. It is the official band of the Marine Corps. Other
bands exist at division, air wing and depot levels throughout the Marine Corps.
Marine
Brat
see Military
Brat.
Marine
Combat Training
Infantry
training provided to every Marine not assigned an Infantry MOS.
(see
School of Infantry)
Marine Corps
Association
At Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba 25 April 1913, Marines of the Second Provisional Brigade formed the
Marine Corps Association. John A. Lejeune, then a lieutenant colonel, headed
its first executive committee. The purpose of the MCA was defined then and
continues to drive the Association. To disseminate knowledge of the military
art and science among members.
* To provide for
professional advancement.
* To foster the
spirit and preserve the traditions of the Marine Corps.
* To increase
the efficiency of the Marine Corps and to further the interest of the military
and Naval Services in all ways not inconsistent with the good of the general
government.
Marine Corps
Birthday Ball
Any event from a
buffet dinner to a mess night held on or close to November 10th each year to
commemorate the birthday of the United States Marine Corps in 1775. To qualify
it must have a decorated cake so that the first two pieces go to the oldest and
youngest Marine present and the reading of the Commandant’s Birthday Order and
the Birthday Order of Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune.
Marine Corps
Exchange
The correct name
of the PX. On Navy bases you will find a Navy Exchange and on Army and Air Force
installations they will have Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES).
Marine Corps
Gazette
The magazine for
professional Marines.
Marine Corps
Hymn
Does not exist.
(see
Marines’ Hymn)
Marine Corps
League
National
organization of Marines and former Marines, with local detachments throughout
the country.
Marine
Detachment
A small unit of
Marines assigned as part of the ship's complement to provide guard duties,
operate the brig, provide orderlies to the senior Navy officers and man one or
more of the guns on board.
(see
Seagoing Marine)
Marine
Expeditionary Brigade (MEB)
Consisting of a
Regimental Landing Team, Marine Air Group and a services support group, the MEB
is commanded by a brigadier general and is a self-sufficient fighting element.
Marine
Expeditionary Force (MEF)
Built around a
complete Division-Wing team with combat support and combat service support
groups, the MEF consists of about 53,000 Marines and sailors.
Marine
Expeditionary Unit (MEU)
The smallest of
the expeditionary organizations is built around a Battalion Landing Team and a
Composite Air Squadron. It consists of approximately 2,500 Marines.
Marine Regs
A term used in
the Navy to refer to Navy medical or dental personnel who opt to wear Marine
Corps uniforms while serving with Marine Corps units. They agree to meet Marine
Corps uniform regulations including grooming and physical standards.
Marine House
Used often in
embassy duty to designate the residence for Marines located in a civilian
neighborhood overseas or on the grounds of an embassy. Sometimes generally used
for any free-standing barracks for Marines.
Marine Hymn
The official
song of the United States Marine Corps.
Marine One
The call sign of
the Marine aircraft in which the President of the United States is either
passenger or pilot. Usually one of the specially built helicopters assigned to
Andrews Air Force Base, MD for Presidential Support. Most often used to
transport the President from the White House lawn to Air Force One or to Camp
David, MD.
MARTD
Marine Air
Reserve Training Detachment.
Mary
Jane
(see
Grass)
Massaro, John E
Eighth Sergeant
Major of the Marine Corps serving from April 1, 1977 through August 15, 1979. He
was born on May 22, 1930 in Cleveland, OH.
Master at Arms
A ship’s
policeman. Usually a senior petty officer charged with keeping order aboard ship
or in a Navy organization. When necessary, he would call upon Marines to assist
in his duties.
Master Gunnery
Sergeant of Marines
The senior
enlisted technician in any MOS. His or her insignia is three chevrons and four
rockers with a bursting bomb between chevrons and rockers. The pay grade E-9 is
shared with sergeant major. None of the other services has a similar technical
rank at that grade.
Master Sergeant
Army and Air
Force enlisted ranks. (see Master Sergeant of Marines)
Master Sergeant
of Marines
Three chevrons
and three rockers with crossed rifles between chevrons and rockers. The pay
grade E-8 is shared with First Sergeant of Marines. In the Army, the rank and
insignia are the same without the crossed rifles. In the Air Force, the rank is
senior master sergeant who wears a technical sergeant insignia with one chevron
above. Navy and Coast Guard equivalents are senior chief petty officer who
wears the chief petty officer insignia with one star above the eagle.
Mattel
A 20th Century
toy company erroneously reported to have been the original manufacturer of the
M16 rifle (see M16). The rifle was detested by soldiers at the start of the
Vietnam war as it was prone to sand and dirt-induced jams and the stocks broke
with very little impact. The problems were resolved and was produced for years.
It has been replaced by the M16A2.
Mattress
A prostitute or
other person who spends a lot of time in the prone or supine position giving
sexual gratification to Marines.
Mattress
Pressing
Sleeping.
MAW
Marine Air Wing.
In Marine Aviation, a unit equivalent to an infantry division. Commanded by a
major general.
Maxwell, Smith
The most senior
enlisted Marine on the battlefield at Bull Run during the Civil War. He had been
busted from sergeant to private the previous December for drinking on duty. He
was made Quartermaster Sergeant for the battle, then was rated Sergeant until
December when he was again "reduced to the ranks" and a few days later
discharged for completion of his 4 years of service.
Mayday
The
international distress signal, particularly during voice communication. see SOS
and Police Flag.
MCAS
Marine Corps Air
Station.
MCB
Marine Corps
Base.
MCBH
Marine Corps
Base, Hawaii.
MCRD
Marine Corps
Recruit Depot. There is one at Parris Island, SC and one in San Diego CA.
McCawley,
Charles
Eighth
Commandant of the Marine Corps. Born in Pennsylvania on Jan. 29, 1827, he was
named Colonel Commandant on the resignation of Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin on
Oct. 31, 1876. The law making the Commandant a brigadier general had been
repealed during Zeilin's term. McCawley resigned Jan. 29, 1891 and died on Oct.
13 of that year.
McHugh, Thomas J
Third Sergeant
Major of the Marine Corps having served from June 29, 1962 until July 16, 1965.
He was born Dec 23, 1919 in New York City and died in 1999.
MCI
Marine Corps
Institute. Correspondence school for Marine Corps leadership and technical
training.
McKeon,
Matthew
Staff Sergeant
of Marines.
(see
Ribbon Creek.)
McMichael,
Alford L
Fourteenth
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps and the first black to serve in that
position. Began his duties on July 1, 1999 and is still serving. He was born
in Hot Springs, AR.
MCAS
Marine Corps Air
Station.
MCRD
Marine Corps
Recruit Depot. There are two in the Marine Corps, one at Parris Island, SC and
the other in San Diego, CA.
(see
Hollywood Marines.)
MCT
Marine Combat
Training. Infantry training provided to every Marine who is not assigned the
Infantry MOS.
(see
School of Infantry)
MCX
Marine Corps
Exchange.
MEB
Marine
Expeditionary Brigade.
Medal
of Honor
The nation’s
highest award for bravery. It is not the Congressional Medal of Honor. More
correctly it is the Army, Navy or Air Force Medal of Honor. (Navy version
shown).
Medevac
Evacuation of
wounded usually by helicopter. First used in the Korean War and perfected in
Vietnam, it is now a standard medical term used worldwide.
Medical
Battalion
A Navy medical
unit which provides additional support to Marine operational units in the field
and to Marine units who do not have corpsmen assigned to them.
MEF
Marine
Expeditionary Force.
Menopause
Manor
(see
Goat Locker, from the Royal Navy term.)
MER
Maximum
Effective Range. The distance at which a weapons system can be expected to
regularly hit a target.
Meritorious
Mast
An awards and
promotions formation. From the navy tradition of gathering the crew around the
main mast of the ship to deliver punishment and rewards. In the modern Marine
Corps it is a written recognition of work well done and is of greater value than
a Letter of Appreciation or a Certificate of Commendation.
Mess
Deck
Naval term for
Dining room.
Mess
Hall
Dining Hall.
Mess
Night
A formal dinner
and ceremony having strict rules, toasts and responses. The uniform is always
evening dress, unless the unit is in a forward area where the appropriate field
uniform is acceptable. It is a unique evening of fraternity open only to
Marines or specifically invited guests (spouses are seldom, if ever, allowed to
attend). Separate events are held for Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Staff
Noncommissioned Officers, Noncommissioned officers, or sometimes it is open to
all ranks.
MEU
Marine
Expeditionary Unit. The smallest of the expeditionary organizations is built
around a Battalion Landing Team and a Composite Air Squadron. It consists of
approximately 2,500 Marines.
MIA
Missing In
Action.
Mickey Mouse
Boots
Cold weather
boots worn by Marines.
Midrats
Midnight
Rations. Food served from midnight to reveille for those getting off or going
on duty during the middle of the night.
Midshipman
A student at the
U. S. Naval Academy and in Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps units. Prior to
the establishment of the Naval Academy in 1847 it was an entry-level rank to
commissioning as a Naval officer. Appointments as midshipman were given, by
politicians, to boys as young as 9 , who would be assigned to serve on board a
ship for the purposes of learning seamanship and leadership. When they felt
prepared they would apply to a Naval School in Boston, New York, Baltimore or
Norfolk where they would study in preparation for an examination. Successful
completion of the examination made the midshipman a Passed Midshipman and he was
eligible for promotion to lieutenant.
Midwatch
Midnight until
0400.
(see
Watch.)
Mighty
Mite
M422-A-1. A
small, Jeep-like vehicle made specifically for the Marine Corps by American
Motors Corporation during the Vietnam War.
Mike Mike
Millimeter.
Mikes
Millimeters or
minutes as appropriate.
Military Brat
The child of
someone in the military. Originally a put-down, it is now a term embraced by
most military brats. They take pride in the informal education that living with
their military parent(s) in many and unique places has afforded them.
Military Creases
On uniform
shirts, vertical creases ironed into the uniform--two on the front running
through the shirt pocket buttons and three evenly spaced on the back. Some Army
and Air Force types had them sewn in, while Marines always had them ironed in.
Military
Occupational Specialty (MOS)
The career field
and job of a Marine.
Miller, Samuel
Adjutant and
Inspector of the Marine Corps and a Brevet Major, he served as Acting Commandant
of the Marine Corps from the 2nd to the 15th of Sept. 1818. He was replaced as
Acting Commandant by Brevet Major Archibald Henderson who served from Sept 16,
1818 until March 2, 1819 when Anthony Gale was appointed Commandant.
Missing Man
Formation
A flight of
usually five aircraft in a fly-over formation. When the flight reaches the
honor point, one of the aircraft peels off into a steep climb leaving his or her
position vacant. It is a formal salute rendered to POW and MIA as well as to
deceased military people--usually aviators.
MK1.
Illuminating
Hand Grenade. The burning magnesium emits 55,000 candlepower for about 25
seconds.
MK19 Mod
3
40 mm machine
gun. An air-cooled, blow-back operated, belt-fed heavy machine gun.
Mo Skosh
Very small.
(see
Skoshi)
MOH
Medal of Honor.
It is not Congressional Medal of Honor. There are three separate designs: Army,
Navy and Air Force. The criteria is the same for all. It is the most senior
award that can be given to a military person.
MOJO
Originally a
concoction of hard liquors designed for the sole purpose of getting drunk. Also
used to mean a swaggering approach or smooth talking individual, as in "He's got
his MOJO goin'."
MOLLE
Modular
Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment. A system which replaced the traditional
harness, belt and pack system to allow the Marine to "wear" rather than "carry"
his or her equipment.
Molly
Marine
A statue of a
Woman Marine located in New Orleans, LA. The first statue of a woman in
military service in the United States.
Montford Point
A section of
Camp Lejeune, NC where black Marines were trained during World War II. Prior to
that time there were no black Marines.
Montezuma Red
1. The crimson
color of the Blood Stripe on the dress uniform of Marine commissioned and
noncommissioned officers.
2. The color of
the lipstick worn by early Women Marines.
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.
Moonbeam
Flashlight.
Mortar
An ancient field
weapon that fires a projectile in a high arch to reach an impact point.
MOS
Military
Occupational Specialty.
Motor
T
Motor Transport.
Present and former motor transport personnel can join the USMC Motor Transport
Association.
Mount
Up
A cavalry term
meaning to mount your horse and prepare to move out. In the infantry it is
often said "mount out" and means to go into battle or begin a march or some
similar event.
MP
Military Police.
At one time an additional duty, now a professional MOS with both guard and law
enforcement responsibilities.
MPC
Military Pay
Certificates. Script issued instead of dollars to Marines in Japan (following
WWII) and Vietnam (during that conflict).
Mr. Charles
A Viet Communist
soldier. Usually called Charlie.
(origin)
Vietnam
MRE
Meal, Ready to
Eat. Often called Meal that Refuses to Exit.
(see
C-Rations.)
MSG
Marine Security
Guard.
(see
Embassy Marine)
MSSG
MEU Service
Support Group, Combat Service Support Element of a MEU.
Mud Marines
A term used by
Marine aviation personnel to identify infantry Marines.
Origin)
World War II and Korea.
Mule
Designated an
M274 and used around the Vietnam period, it was little more than a platform on
wheels, with a two-cylinder opposed Tecumseh engine. It started with a
pull-cord just like your power lawnmower. I t has four-wheel drive and steering
and could be driven by a Gyrene lying prone for a low profile. It could
literally carry a ton of supplies or be mounted with M60 mortars, small cannon
or the 105mm recoilless rifle. The mule was retired due to the faulty design of
the tires and lack of proper protection for the driver.
Multi-fueler
A vehicle
designed to use multiple types of fuel including gasoline, diesel or jet fuel.
(see
Deuce-and-a-Half.)
Mundy Jr., Carl
E
Thirtieth
Commandant of the Marine Corps serving from July 1, 1991 until June 30, 1995.
The native Georgian was born July 16, 1935.
Mustang
A commissioned
officer who served previously as an enlisted person.
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