|
Tacking On
(see
Pinning On.)
TAD
1. Temporary
Additional Duty. An assignment in addition to the normal billet, usually "at no
additional cost to the government".
2. Traveling
Around Drunk
Tail End Charlie
The last person
or element in a line or column.
Tango Uniform
(see Tits Up)
Technical
Sergeant
1. A World War
II and Korea period rank, the insignia of which was three chevrons and two
horizontal bars. It was part of a dual rank system which had technicians and
command ranks. In the 1960s, the rank became gunnery sergeant and the crossed
rifles were added.
2. Air Force
rank upon which the insignia of the top three enlisted grades are constructed.
(see
Staff Sergeant of Marines.)
Terminal Leave
Leave from which
a Marine is not expected to return to duty, such as just prior to retirement or
separation. Usually taken to get a jump on civilian life or to use up any unpaid
leave remaining on the books.
Tet
Lunar new year
celebration which in 1968 marked the start of an offensive by the North
Vietnamese Army to oust the Americans from Vietnam. While fighting was fierce,
it was a failure for the Communist forces.
(origin)
Vietnam
TDY
Temporary Duty.
A temporary assignment other than the normal billet, often at another location
and frequently with additional pay during the period. Used since the 1980s,
prior to that the term was TAD.
TH3
Thermite.
(see
AN-M14)
The President's
Own
The United
States Marine Band.
What term goes
here? Madd Shitter, The?
Term used
primarily in the U.S. Army. Refers to deranged individuals that leave steaming
piles of poo in conspicuous areas or sometimes in or on your personal equipment.
Most of the time their aim is to shock or disgust the discoverers; other times
they aim to cause illness by attacking food or water sources. Most attacks are
meant as practical jokes played between units but occasionally they are meant as
acts of revenge. Areas that the Mad Shitter has been known to strike: Public
showers; on top of toilet seats; in sleeping bags; in hats or berets; in cars;
in water tanks; on the hoods of cars; on desks
ThrashLight
Illumination of
a combat zone by dropping 55-gal. barrels of napalm from CH-53 helicopters. Go
to: this site for more info (which site?)
(origin)
Vietnam
Three Ss
Shit, shower and
shave.
Three up and
three down
A reference to a
First Sergeant or a Master Sergeant (three stripes up and three rockers down).
Tie-Tie
A length of cord
with two clips every 10 inches issued to recruits. The recruit would cut between
the clips and use the resulting length of cord to tie laundry to a line to dry.
Clothes clips were not used in boot camp in the mid-20th Century.
Tight-Jawed
Pissed off,
angry.
TINS
This Is No Shit.
Sort of the "Once upon a time" of Sea Stories.
Tits Up
Dead, broken,
inoperative. A politically correct version is Toes Up. Also referred to as Tango
Uniform.
TLA
Temporary Living
Allowance.
TMO
Traffic
Management Office. Where one goes to arrange for the shipment of household
goods, vehicles or other items on a permanent change of station.
To
the Colors
A bugle call
sounded in the morning as the U. S. flag is being raised.
(see
Reveille.)
Toe Chain
The smaller of
two chains holding the dog tags. It could be draped on the big toe to identify a
casualty while the tag on the larger chain went to Graves Registration.
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.
Tombstone
Brigadier General
Following World
War I, Congress passed a law that advanced a Navy commander by one grade if they
were retiring and had been decorated during the war. It was intended as a
one-time fix for a decorated officer whose career was compromised by an accident
which kept him from promotion. However, the law, which applied only to the Naval
Service, remained in effect until 1967 when it was repealed. Marines who retired
and had received personal decorations were routinely promoted to the next rank
the day after retirement. The effect was most noticed with colonels who, the day
following retirement became flag officers.
Tootsie Roll
A candy that was
air dropped to the Marines who were cut off at the Chosin Reservoir during the
Korean War. It kept many of the Marines from starving to death, as all of the
other food they had required heating, due to the 30o below zero
temperatures. Tootsie Rolls could be put inside clothing, close to the skin,
and it would thaw out enough to be eaten. In addition, as their trucks and
jeeps were being shot up by the Chinese, the Marines would repair the holes by
placing a chewed up Tootsie Roll into the hole, where it would immediately
freeze and create a weld.
Top
(WWII through
Vietnam) First Sergeant, informal reference not currently in use. At present,
if it is used at all it refers to a Master Sergeant (who is in the same pay
grade as a First Sergeant but serves in a more technical capacity). While not
the top enlisted grade, a first sergeant is the senior enlisted grade authorized
in a company, the level at which most Marines spend their time. Sometimes used
as "top kick" (mostly a WWII usage).
Topside
1. Naval term
for the deck or floor(s) above.
2. Also used to
refer to the upper levels of the chain of command.
Toys for Tots
A nationwide
project to collect toys and distribute them at Christmas to children of need. It
began within the Marine Corps Reserve and is now assisted by the Marine Corps
League. It has been placed within its own corporation, the Toys for Tots
Foundation.
Track Lube
A tanker's term
for Infantrymen.
Triangle
The civilian
community outside MCB Quantico, VA.
TRICARE
Managed health
care program for the military, dependents and retirees. Replaced CHAMPUS.
Trops
Tropical Uniform
consisting of Khaki Long Sleeve Shirt, Trousers, Cover & Tie. Worn until the
mid-70's.
Truck
The top of a
flagpole containing either a ball or an eagle and a pulley for the flag lanyard
so that the flag can be hoisted and lowered.
Training
Film
U.S. military
cover term for a pornographic video.
Tun Tavern
A tavern in
Philadelphia where the first Marines were recruited for service in 1775. It was
also the home of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Pennsylvania.
Tuna Boat Driver
A pejorative
term used by tankers in reference to Amtrac drivers.
Turkey Bar
(Okinawa and
Japan) A local bar where oral sex is performed for a fee. In the 1960s, some of
the bars even advertised being Turkey Bars on their signs. The bar girls are
called gobblers.
Turn to
Naval command to
begin work.
Twilight Cruise
Transfer to a
cushy duty station for a Marine's last assignment prior to retirement.
Twinkie
(Korean War
Period) Marine aviation personnel.
|
|
|
