Ever since I joined the military almost three years ago now, I've been exposed to all sorts of terms, acronyms, and the like...I found this and now that I know Ive heard alot of these before, I learned some new ones to throw around too. Now you can all have a feel for some of the things we say in the military up here. Some of course...are universal. lol
The following is a list of colloquial terms and expressions used in the Canadian Forces.
5 by 5—Loud and clear, everything is working 100% (only used by Air force, Army uses Loud and clear, or Short and Fat Dick (when refrencing someone hight and width challenged)
after supper soldier-Reservist who conducts training on Thursday evenings.
air force gloves—see American gloves
aldershit—a term used to describe LFAATC Aldershot, where whenever there is training, the weather takes a nosedive. AKA Alderschwitz
American gloves—pockets; "I see you're wearing your Air Force gloves today."
American proof-Refers to any equipment or technique that is idiot proof to a degree that it may even be mastered by our colleagues from the US military —also 'Yank Proof'. "Infantry Proof" is also a common version of this saying.
amphibious training—Army slang, particular to the summer, meaning to screw off early from work and head to the beach.
anchor cranker - naval personel
armourers—Weapons techs aka gun plumbers (this is my trade...hua)
around when Centurion was a rank, not a tank—old NCO ( also refered to as having been Jesus Christs fire team partner or been in since Christ was a Corporal.
Arty Sim - A reserve artillery soldier, particularly one working full time.
awaiting parts—Refers to one who displays a lack of courage or intestinal fortitude.
bag drive—an extensive, excessive activity marked by great levels of physical and mental strain.
bag of hammers—see bag of shit.
bag of shit—someone or something that is or appears to be sloppy, clumsy, incompetent, useless, et cetera.
bag of smashed ass holes-Refering to a group that is all fucked up.
balls to nut sack—members grouped uncomfortably close together.
band fag CF musician
band geek—musician
band-aid tech—Slang for medics who are notorious for their medical skills.
bandie, bandy—musician
bang stick Term used for C7 rifle
base bunny—in reference to buckle bunny, a bull-rider's girlfriend, who wears his trophy buckle out of pride for her man. A base bunny likes to show off that she has a military man.
battalion bicycle—see shack rat
battle rattle Full Fighting Order (FFO); helmet flak jacket and tacvest.
beers down range—to drink socially.
belt fed cock—any punishment or hardship high in intensity, and long in duration. Also used when the punishment or hardship is a structured component of the activity
biff—traitor, backstabber. See buddy fucker. (also for those members of the CF hailing from cape breton means to throw something or biff it)
bin rat—supply technician.
birth control glasses—Canadian Forces-issued combat spectacles that, while appropriate for eye protection in a tactical situation, are downright hideous.
bird gunner-Air defense artilleryman, see also Cloudkiller.
black Cadillacs—Combat boots. Used ironically in reference to use as a mode of transport.
black hatter—Armoured crewman. Named after the black berets worn by the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. Does not apply to Navy personnel although they too, wear a black beret.
blade—see biff. Can be used as a noun "He's a blade" or a verb "I got bladed."
blanket stacker—supply technician.
block leave—A period of leave during which an entire unit or command is nowhere to be found. Usually happens in summer and at Xmas, but is forbidden to units or commands who work on a 365 basis (i.e. the Air Force).
blue rocket—standard portable toilet that can be found everywhere on a base. Has a rather nasty habit of tipping over when occupied and people are bored—if they're angry, on the door.
boat person, dory plug or fish head—slang for sailor.
boat—ask any sailor, "it means submarine you idiot". If it sails above the water then it's a ship.
BOHICA—bend over, here it comes again. A term used when complaining of monotonous and pointless activities
boonie cap—CADPAT floppy field hat worn in field environment.
boot camp—basic training. For soldiers, this can also include the Soldier's Qualifications Course.
boot fucked—Severe punishment, Sometimes the real boot up your ass, usually coming from a SGT or above. (Not legally used after 1994 harassment policy.)
bos'n pay —bananas
box kicker—supply technician.
brain fart—Slang for a period of forgetfulness, e.g. "I can't remember where I put my rifle, I just had a brain fart"
brain housing group—Slang for the skull.
brat—Military Brat—someone who has spent their youth being raised by a regular-force member, almost always having lived on numerous bases and major cities across the country (if not abroad).
Brit Hay Box—refers to the "portable shitters"—British mess food is the shits
buck she—Slang for anything you can get for free.
buddy fucker—describes someone who, whether intentionally or not, acts in a manner totally inconsiderate to the welfare of his/her peers, potentially harming them in the process.
bumblefuck—engage in activity with no purpose or end benefit.
bunny suit—chemical defense suit, used for defense against chemical warfare.
canary—Air force.—too pretty to shoot, too yellow to fight.
can opener—Any anti armour weapon.
canteen queen—Someone who always volunteers for the canteen.
careborne—Slang for SAR Tech
career mangler—Career Manager. A senior member of your occupation at NDHQ who makes the decisions about your career development and your geographical and/or unit postings. Depending on his/her decisions, they are thought of as a great friend or your worst nightmare.
cad pat garden - army way of learning things (goes right along with <death by power point>)
cement head—Infantier—as in need a chisel and mallet to penetrate the thick skull.
CFL—corporal for life; someone at that rank that either lacks the potential to be promoted higher OR has no desire to pursue the promotion and intends to keep it that way. Also captain for life.
chairforce—Air Force.
chairborne ranger—Anyone whose primary duties are performed behind a desk.
charlie foxtrot—the phonetic letters CF, abbreviation of cluster fuck.
checked-out—See "closed up".
cheesie—slang for SAR Tech, due to the bright Orange suits they wear.
chemist—the cook who conducts chemical experiments with food
chicken fuckers—a most offensive nickname given to The Royal Canadian Regiment.
chicken ranch—CFB Petawawa, home of 1RCR and 3RCR. See also chicken fucker.
chief—the senior-most officer appointment of a branch, staffing, element, etc. (Chief of Staff, Chief of Land Staff); can also informally refer to a particular Chief Warrant Officer or Chief Petty Officer. It is also the correct form of address for Chief Petty Officers First or Second class.
chimo!—a form of greeting or war-cry used by the Canadian Military Engineers. Can mean the following: "Hello!", "Cheers" et cetera. It is normally shouted in unison after engineers are dismissed from parade, or as a compliment in place of "good job" or "have a good night!"
chuggernuts—Used as a nickname for stupid soldiers (e.g. "Take a look at chuggernuts there" or "Going to find chuggernuts, be right back")
chunky soup sandwich—used to discribe a solder who is all messed up, or has sloppy drill. also see bag of hammers
Cinderella leave—Shipboard leave expiring at, or before, 2359hrs. Usually for only for junior members of the Ship's Company or if the ship is sailing early.
circus battalion—a Service Battalion, coined by not just how it rhymes, but also the nature of certain Service Battalion as being severely disorganized: "they set up tents, and are staffed by clowns".
civvies—civilian attire; civilians.
clear as mud—Usually used to ask if you understand something which is being taught during a military lesson. Used alot when students have the blank look on their faces and they are asked about what they just learned.
closed up—someone who is competent, alert and deports oneself in a professional manner. Essentially, someone who embodies the necessary traits of a good member or officer. The opposite of shit pump.
club Ed—Slang for Edmonton Detention Barracks.
cloud killer—Air Defense Artilleryman.
COCK—confirmation of combat knowledge. Can mean to put a round into the chamber of a gun. such as "cocked and loaded" Also, heavy-handed discipline. It is known to be "BELT FED COCK" for extreme circumstances. Also, a form of discipline given for reason or not. Can also be given anytime, see cockmeat sandwich and double cock.
cock tech—Female hull technician.
cockmeat sandwich—A form of discipline received from more than one superior at more than one occasion for the same incident.
combat florist—Slang for the Signals trade, refers to the Hermes on their cap badge, resembling the FTD florist symbol. aka Herpes
cornflake treatment—the cornflake is normally a sign that the member is new to the Canadian Forces and is given according treatment: superiors will supervise them with more scrutiny, to note and correct their mistakes, discipline when necessary and behave as an example to follow, et cetera. see Cornflake reference Meaford PAR+PAT
cornflake—a tri-service cap badge affixed to a new CF member's beret in his or her early recruit stages, prior to wearing the badge of a given branch or regiment, or regimental headdress. It displays the crossed swords (Land), bird (Air), and anchor (Sea). Its shape and colour resembles a piece of corn flakes cereal, hence its name. Recruits wear the cornflake until they have reached a certain level of qualification, and its application differs from one branch or regiment to another—some replace it once finished their trades qualification, others replace it as soon as their basic training is finished. "Cornflake" also serves as a term for a member in this early stage of his or her career.Most commonly worn by members in LFA TC Meaford PAR PL (persons awaiting release) and some PAT members (persons awaiting training) usually found gagel fucked somewhere on base. Some of which have been awaiting status for prolonged periods of weeks to years. some 3 years.
cowering inferno—NDHQ
cripplers—Mark 3 combat boots.
crocker cocker—A derogatory term used for the poorly designed ambidextrous cocking handle latch on the upgraded C7A2 rifle which has the bad habit of getting caught on everything and breaks frequently. Named after the rumoured developer of the latch.
crunch—To go to the bathroom number two, see also MOVEMENT.
crunchie—an armoured term; dismounted infantry. Derived from what it is imagined to sound like when a tank runs over an infantry soldier.
CUNT-"Candidate Under Normal Training", goes hand in hand with COCK. I.E. "I'm going to give those CUNTS some COCK!".
death before dismount—unofficial Armoured Corps motto, usually used by non-Armoured types as humour. Also "Speed, Viloence Arrogance".
death by Powerpoint—an overly long, excruciatingly boring class or presentation that makes overuse of said program.
deck ape—boatswain.
deKAFinate—A KAFer who is sent outside of KAF while on tour. Generally kicking and screaming.
dirty cowboy—A member of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry.
Disneyland joke—a recurring joke often used by instructors on students during a recruit course, in order to gain volunteers for a mundane task. This can also involve ice cream or candy.
Disneyland on the Rideau—National Defense Headquarters.
dobby—Navy term for washing/laundry. That basket's gettin kinda full...better put a dobby on. Get the dobby soap.
dogfuck—engage in severe laziness, or severe procrastination. Synonymous with "Dog Humping a Football".
dogfucker Means someone who do not follow the rule to get the job's done even sometime disregard the law and safety
donkey—a foolish individual.
double cock—Getting twice the amount of discipline. Or receiving discipline from two people at the same time.
dozer—Aviation Technician.
drip pan—a female soldier in a Service Battalion who engages in promiscuity. Coined from the literal definition: a pan laid underneath vehicles as a means of collecting dripping fluids. Its association with the Service Battalion stems from the large company of vehicle repairmen and drivers present in any service battalion or similar area support unit.
drop ass—to expel intestinal gas through the anus; break wind.
drop shorts—the artillery who supposedly drop rounds short onto friendly troops.
duff—what sailors call dessert
EIS—Extra Included Stuff or Extra Infantry Shit. Additional parts that accompany a piece of kit that is signed for. Generally small and easy to lose.
fart sack—sleeping Bag.
fat pills—slang for dessert items, i.e., cake, candy. Also known as; Jim booglies, fizzy pops; licky chewies
FIGJAM- Fuck I'm Good, Just Ask Me. Used when one has confidence in their ability and it shows.
FIGMO—fuck it, got my orders, generally refers to someone who is posted and has received their posting message and their lack of interest in their current position. Would hear someone who is posted say they are "Figmoed" means they are done.
fill your boots—take as much as you want. Help your self.
fitter & turner—a cook as he fits perfectly good food into pots and turns it into shit.
fitter—A CF-18 Engine Tech.
FK9—Slang for "F...ing the Dog"
Flag fag— Refers to Navy Signalman / Naval Communicator
flat face civy -person who has no idea what the military does - also reffers to oriental origin civilian
float testing - when sailors throw something overboard (or when something fell overboard)
floor chimp - Refers to Vehicle technician on account a traiend monkey can do what they do.
FML—term used when tasked with a job that is considered to be un good. Standing for F... My Life.
FNG—fucking new guy.
FOBIJAR—Fuck Off Buddy I'm Just A Reservist. Might be heard from a reservist if given an undesirable task by a Regular Force member.
FOBit—Also FOB Hobit- a soldier who never leaves a forward operating base (FOB). See also KAFer, Hesco Hobit.
foot in your ass—severe discipline. "If one of you isn't pulling your weight here, you will feel the shock of my foot in your ass!!!"
Four Fan Garbage Can—C-130 Hercules
fragiles—avionics techs (pronounced like fraggle)
frozen Chosen—slang term for anyone having served a sentence at the end of the world, commonly known as CFS Alert. Originated in the Korean war, from the Korean name for Korea. Particular to Air Force types.
FUBAR -Fucked up beyond all repair,
fuck o—an incompetent, obnoxious, bumbling oaf. Like a bag of shit but even worse. Perhaps a play on common officer titles such as 'Admin O' or 'Sup O'
fuck off—an auxiliary superlative. "Reference that big fuck-off tree at 2 o'clock."
full time retard—Member of the regular forces
funnel faggot—any member of the Marine Engineering Branch.
GAFF—Give a fuck factor i.e. 'My GAFF is pretty low right now'
gaggle fuck—a disorganized mass of people who aren't doing anything productive. Reference Cornflake MEAFORD PAT+PAR
gagtown – a term used to refer to CFB Gagetown.
get on the dog, get the dog on—to put one's best effort forward. Derived the naval term "Dog" which is what sailors use to control the sail of a ship.
glue bag—A person who is a moron.
go to ground—To go to bed.
[[GPIG}}- GPMG C4 used 1958 to 1989.
grape smugglers—Slang for the swim trunks you get issued in basic training.
gravel technician—infantry soldier. Created on grounds that the Infantry spend much time digging trenches.
green light—Paratrooper. Taken from the 'Go'/'No Go' lights when jumping.
green pyjamas—collective term given to the former olive-green combat dress.
ground pounder—infantry soldier; gunner.
ground sheet—See drip pan. Taken from its literal form of noun— a padded mat on top of which soldiers sleep. Normally said in combat trades. See also Drip Pan.Also refers to any female in the cobat arms trades who is notorius for her permiscuity.
growlies—Slang for food.
grunt—a large Bornian ground-dwelling ape that digs holes for no apparent reason (PONGO) —infantry soldier. Also: Government Reject Unfit Naval Training
gucci kit—non issued kit or equipment bought by the soldier.
gun plumber—weapons technician, responsible for repairing firearms.
gunner—a trained private in the Royal Canadian Artillery, although the term can informally refer to an artillery soldier at any rank: "once a gunner, always a gunner." This term has also been used as a call sign for the machine gunner in a formation of members who bear rifles.
guppy—Navy
gut truck—Slang for the Coy Canteen vehicle. aka Roach Coach, Goodie truck
gut wrenches—aka cutlery
ham fisted—Something that is so unbelievably tight that the person who installed it has hams for fists.
hang dump—Slang for hovering over a cold blue rocket seat while defecating.
haybox—a large insulated container used for serving and storing food in field operations.
head shed—Any headquarters element.
head shrinker—Slang for the base therapist.
heads—Sailor's term for toilets. "Gotta use the heads"
headspace and timing check—Slang for a visit to the base therapist.
Helmet Fire— A situation where a pilot aggravates a minor emergency by over-reacting.
Herman the German—figure printed on figure 11 targets at a rifle range.
Hesco Hobitt— A timid creature who never strays from the protective embrace of an area surrounded by Hesco Bastions- see also FOBit, KAFer.
hindquarters and pigs— Headquarters and Sigs (Signals) Squadron of any brigade.
honey wagon—Slang term for the chemical toilet maintenance vehicle
hooah!, HUA!—heard, understood, acknowledged, borrowed from the U.S. Army term or the USMC's "OOO-RAH!]]Used in a ironic manner, for a idiotic task that you have no enthusiasm in doing.
horse cock—a flexible spout used for pouring fuel from a jerry can to a vehicle.
hump—carry or lift a load, originally an Australian term meaning "to carry one's swag,"; also a forced march carrying full equipment loads.
hurry up and wait—denotes a situation where something isn't well organized, is rushed into by personnel and some form of delay makes them all wait in the end.
I must puke—Individual Meal Pack (IMP), referring to a dislike for the pre-packaged food.
infantard—Infantry Solider. Based on the belief that most infantry soldiers are not quite as bright as their peers.
infantillery—Artillery Solider employed in an infantry role; artillerymen performing infantry-like tasks.
iron fist—hat badge of the Armoured Corps.
jacked up—to have one's faults corrected in a swift and severe manner.
jag on—To get a jag on; to hurry up.
jammie—everything is good to go
Jesus ______—an item that is of monumental, singular importance. For example, if a particular computer in an office should not fail or be tampered with whatsoever, it is the "Jesus Computer".
Jimmy Jesus—St Andrew holding the cross
Jimmy—a member of the Signals branch. The Executive officer of HMC ships—from RN "Jimmy the One." Also the nickname of the statue of Mercury at the CFB Kingston main gate
JOUT—Junior Officer Under Training.
jug fuck—a disaster in the making.
