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The most irritating military phrase you ve ever heard

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c_jackson

You guys know, the ones that just put your damn teeth on edge!

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 12:50 AM

"On your feet" was one of the most aggravating. Like the powers that be didn't already know we'd stand our asses up when they were done addressing us.

Another one was the ubiquitous asshole screaming, "Squadbay, Ten-Hut!" after the first man announced it.

Joined:
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Oct 21st 07
MS US

InstructorPyro

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 02:18 AM

I had this platoon leader once (1st Lt. Tacket) that used to say to me, "Load 'em up, Staff Sergeant!" And of course I would respond with either, "Yes, Sir!" or the standard "Hooooah, Sir!" But to me, the 'load 'em up' phrase would be appropriate if we were getting into a cattle car, flat bed, deuce and a half or 5 ton, airplane, helicopter, etc... But he would say that phrase all the time. Like an idiot that says a phrase and 1 out of 10 times it fits the situation. There was this teen spoof movie where this one kid kept trying to start a "slow clap" and it was alway inappropriate until the very end when he had his chance and someone else started it. The only thing that kid had to get right during that whole movie was a "slow clap" this Lt. was just saying something hoping that one day it would be appropriate.

Example: We'd be in formation with me out in front, ready to march the platoon to the rifle range. He come out and say what he had to say and when he was done, "Load 'em up, Staff Sergeant!" What an ASS! "Move 'em out" is a hell of a lot better than that "load 'em up" crap.

Thanks for reminding me Staff Sergeant Jackson. Now drop and give me 50!

Joined:
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May 22nd 08
CA US

c_jackson

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 03:26 AM

I've only got a $20 and a couple $5s. You got change for a $100?

Joined:
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Oct 21st 07
MS US

c_jackson

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 03:45 AM

Another one that got under my skin was the phrase, "Swabbie on deck!" after somebody dropped a tray on the mess deck. Recoil could probably ID this one back in the day. Another one I just couldn't stand was "Stow that geedunk!" when a Corporal overheard some of the kids talking/bitching about the POD or OOD. After putting up with this idiocism after a hard day of myself and my Marines humping for almost 20 hours, I addressed said in my office thus: "Marine, my men are allowed to complain at their leisure after getting back from a hard day incountry. The last thing they want to hear is some hardnose rear telling them they can't raise hell about it. They're supposed to bitch, it's what lower ranks do. You speak that term to me or in front of my men again, the next time they address you, they'll address you as PFC."

While I understand he was doing what he suspected as his job, he was the platoon scribe. While I understood the importance of what he thought his job was, I was the platoon NCOIC. I will NOT have my Marines screamed at when they've had a hard day. If they wanted to bitch, let 'em. It gives the kids a chance to get it out of their system. Besides, I was in the mudholes right alongside them so they had nothing to complain about.

We retired to the barracks together. The scribe transferred, his dad was a Navy LCDR.

Joined:
Location:

Oct 21st 07
MS US

Room 055

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 07:29 AM

I constantly hear, "Kick the tires and light the fires!" from guys in the unit I fly around. Yep, that's getting old. Some guys know how to wreck a good phrase.

Joined:
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Jan 8th 09
VA US

InstructorPyro

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 09:52 AM

When someone dropped something in the mess hall the whole room would say, "Airborne." That go so implanted in my head I actually said it when I heard someone drop a glass in an actual restaurant.

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May 22nd 08
CA US

Room 055

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 10:28 AM

Another one is, "Keep the shiny side up, greasy side down." It refers to keeping the aircraft upright and in control since the bottom side of an aircraft tends to not get washed as much since it isn't seen as often and the spatter from taxing, takeoff, and landing makes it pretty dirty. I can't even say it anymore it's been used so much.

I always thought it was more appropriate when talking about jarheads and soldiers that like to crawl in the mud!

Joined:
Location:

Jan 8th 09
VA US

spitfiremkii

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 10:42 AM

Now I do apologize, as I did not serve in our countries finest, but My Father sure did! One of the phrases that frequented his lips, and most often directed at me was " Trouble follows you like cloud, boy! You had best square yourself away before my foot finds its way to your ass!"

And of course the infamous "I was born at night, but not last night!"

Joined:
Location:

Oct 4th 09
IL US

majordad

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 11:57 AM

How about: "We can't say that cadence any more, it's too ________"

I've been in long enough to remember the cadence that everyone said and no one took offence. It was just part of the job. Now days there aren't very many cadences that are sung, and they don't have any imagination to them either.

Joined:
Location:

Jul 6th 10
UT US

suncat05

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 09:19 PM

I was an MP. Every day in Guard Mount(that's the Army term for "roll call", or "check-on", in civilian speak)we had an E-8 MSG(Master Sergeant for those of you who are unannointed around here)who, during the course of his daily ritual of assignment postings would always mess up what he was trying to say, and then he would say "As you were.........." and then proceed to correct his verbal gaffe.

I find myself saying that to my wife and kids occasionally.............

Joined:
Location:

Sep 20th 09
FL US

Bishopn87

Posted: Jul 9th 2010, 10:59 PM

Suncat- I find myself saying 'belay my last' every now and then. :)

There were a couple things I hated hearing on the 1MC ... one of them being "Shift Colors. Moored." That meant that I had to go home to my (now ex-)wife. The other one was "ENS [name deleted], your presence is requested in the CHENG's stateroom."

Joined:
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Sep 18th 09
CA US

InstructorPyro

Posted: Jul 10th 2010, 01:26 AM

That's too funny, I find myself telling my daughter that her attitude needs to do an about face.

Joined:
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May 22nd 08
CA US

Recoil

Posted: Jul 10th 2010, 02:10 AM

Students here the phrase "Are you tracking?" a lot at work. A simple "Do you understand?" would be nice to hear every now and then.

Joined:
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Dec 27th 07
AL US

InstructorPyro

Posted: Jul 10th 2010, 10:11 AM

Oh shit, Recoil, I used to ask my ROTC students, "is everybody tracking?" and "hooah?" Funny how the Army can take a weird sound and make it a question/statement/cheer?

Joined:
Location:

May 22nd 08
CA US

c_jackson

Posted: Jul 11th 2010, 06:16 AM

I always used to ask my Gyrenes, " Have you gotten your heads attached to the same piece of cardboard as your ass?" When I passed through my lounge after a particularly hard inspection, one of my Marines said, " I'd like to staple Staff's head to his cardboard!" I miss my Leathernecks.!

Joined:
Location:

Oct 21st 07
MS US

xamraci

Posted: Jul 16th 2010, 01:26 PM

Hua/Hooah
Are you Tracking?
That Make sense?
At Ease
Area Tench Hut
Stand By
-With the exception of the element leaders and Guide-on, Taller Tap-
FALL IN

Joined:
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Mar 10th 09
AL US

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