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Veterans in Practice have put together a glossary of words used while they were in service. Have you got one? Please email.
Veterans in Practice will be adding further projects about life in the military soon.
Move something (Navy)
A p*** up after an exercise
Being late (Navy)
automatic kalashnikov. Derived from the AK – 47 and the popular culture surrounding it, generic reference to enemy small arms.
Utterly fair, nothing hidden – things “above board” were on or above the upper deck and so open for all to see.
Arrogant Regular Army Bastard
Absent Without Leave
Steak and Kidney Pudding
constantly changing your mind
Situation deteriorated beyond repair, about as much use as a ball of chalk
Shelter
Getting a kicking while in bed
Basic fitness test
To acquire something
(Army) stretcher bearer
gossip, rumours
Infantry (front line troops)
casualty evacuation
Combat fitness test
Tired
short for company. ie A COY, B COY
RAF personnel
RAF) faultless landing
Laundry
Not washing your pants properly and it giving you a rash
Knife, Fork, Spoon
(RM) idiot
Mortar platoon
Going to the toilet
Egg buttie
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Estimated Time of Arrival
Forward Air Controller
The nickname for the Hercules plane of the RAF
Forward Operating Base
Corporal
(Army) infantryman’s personal weapon (rifle)
Getting punished in double quick time
Jail
Medals
The nickname of the British Army Intelligence Corps
Helicopter landing site
Sharing a sleeping bag whilst on duty
Being made to rush, getting ready but only to sit about waiting for ages
Extra duties
members of the (former) Women’s Royal Naval Service
knife,fork,spoon
Lance Corporal
Sleeping bag
Dirty
Navy, Army, Air Force Institute
Not F****** Interested
Come here
generic term for chaplain
Washing pots in the cookhouse
Rifle exercises
Royal Marines for Army
Person Of No Tactical Importance. A more polite form of REMF (unpopular)
Pack Up – F*** Off
Quartermaster
Looking like S***, Scruffy B******
Thrown in a bath of p*** and s*** and cleaner for being a meff
Rear Echlon Mother F***** (people at the back when going into battle – originally American)
a commissioned officer, including medical officers (physicians)
Watch tower or Lookout post
Dinner Hall
Food
Army Chef
Situation Normal All F***** Up
Service No Longer Required (kicked out of service)
Standard Operational Procedures
(RN) tell a story
Drill or Marching
(Army) Stupid Territorial Army Bastard
The bar
To leave the Navy for good
A new recruit
(RN, spec. Submarine Service) crazy; “to go wibble” means to go crazy after being at sea too long
(Army) a soldier from the Guards Division
(RM) To force march with a heavy load
Young Officer, an officer in training
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