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About This Quiz
You have seen them portrayed in hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters. The United States Marine Corps is a feared fighting force and the infantry division of the United States Navy.
These brave men and women have fought in conflicts across the globe. Marines played a massive part in the American war effort during World War II, particularly in the Pacific theatre, where they came across the formidable Japanese army. These battles on islands across the Pacific fiercely fought. The Marines, however, a supremely trained fighting force, prevailed in the end.
Maritime history, however, goes much further back than World War II. The United States Marine Corps was formed in 1775. Their initial task was to guard vessels belonging to the United States Navy during the Revolutionary War. Although the Marine Corp is associated with the United States Navy, it is a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on its own with representation on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.ÂÂ
Of course, like most military units, Marines have slang terms that are unique to them. How many of these terms do you know? Let's find out, shall we?
If a Marine is sent to the "brig" where will they be going?
Jail
The "brig" is undoubtedly a place in which a Marine doesn't want to end up. If you are sent to the "brig," you are put into the military equivalent of jail. And how long will a Marine stay in the "brig?" Well, it all depends on their offense.
Bar
Nightclub
Diner
When experienced Marines call new recruits "boots," these recruits are ________.
Going to clean their barracks.
Fresh out of boot camp.
Old Marines have seen it all. They are no longer "boots." That is the term reserved only for new Marines, fresh out of boot camp and still a little wet behind the ears. But don't worry. In a few months, they will have their own "boots" to mess with!
Going to go on a 5-mile hike.
None of the above.
Which of these terms is the slang term for a Marine?
Flyboy
GI
Jarhead
The term "Jarhead" has been used to describe Marines since World War II. It was a name given to them by sailors on U.S. naval ships. The term also refers to a book by ex-Marine, Anthony Swofford which was turned into a Hollywood movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
Puddle pirate
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When USMC troops are issued with a "box nasty" while in the field, they are given which of these?
Rain jacket
Sleeping bag
Ammunition
Rations
A "box nasty" is something a Marine out in the field will receive. It is the nickname given to rations, particularly "A" rations. A lunch "box nasty" would include a boiled egg, fruit, a sandwich and a drink. It is sometimes referred to as a "bag nasty" since it comes in a brown paper bag.
When on a vessel, if a Marine is told to go to the "bow," where must they go?
The back of the vessel
The front of the vessel
Naval terms figure strongly in Marine lingo. After all, they do spend plenty of their time at sea. The front of the ship is called the "bow," pronounced as you would say "cow," not as the weapon that shoots arrows.
Below deck
None of the above
What would a "brain bucket" be in terms of gear issued to troops?
Boots
Infrared glasses
Helmet
Yes, a simple description that tells it like it is. To Marines, a helmet is a "brain bucket" and certainly one of their most important pieces of equipment, along with their weapon, especially in combat!
Gloves
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Marines taking part in a "dog and pony" show are likely to be in which of these?
A physical training contest
An actual dog and pony show
A parade of some kind
A "dog and pony show" is usually a parade of some kind in which Marines will take part. This is usually requested by senior commanders.
None of the above
Those in the USMC hate them. Which of these best describes a "field day"?
A day spent cleaning their barracks
A "field day" is not a trip away from the base. It is time all Marines hate. "Field days" are spent cleaning the barracks. And this means everything needs to be spic and span. Everything is cleaned and cleaned again, and furniture is moved to ensure all floors are clean as well. And all this is done at night, not during the day.
A trip to the local zoo
A day off
None of the above
"Deep six" means what exactly?
The time the roll call is taken
To dispose of something overboard
While on a ship, things get thrown overboard. That's called to "deep six" something.
The time Marines must be in their beds
None of the above
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"Fallen Angel" is jargon for which of the following?
Second tour as a Marine
Failed flight school
When a Marine officer fails flight school and takes up another military occupational specialty, or "MOS," they are said to be a "fallen angel." This is used in a derogatory way.
Died in an air crash
None of the above
A "5.56 hickey" is best described by which of these?
A burn or scar received on the neck from an ejected cartridge
It's a scar, alright, and it's generally in the neck region. This is a result of hot cartridges ejected from a weapon as a Marine fires it. Turning up a shirt collar can help protect the neck, however.
A wake-up call before 6 a.m.
A quick meal before the mess hall closes
None of the above
When calling for a "moonbeam" what should be handed over?
Match
Flashlight
That's a brilliant description for a flashlight ... a moonbeam! Obviously, flashlights are never used on the battlefield, but they're useful in camp on a dark night when you have to find the latrine.
Weapon
Night vision goggles.
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When a Marine is said to be "D and D" they are _________.
Getting a bite to eat
Playing a role-playing game
Drunk and disorderly
Like most armed forces, Marines enjoy their downtime. That said, they are expected to behave at all times. A Marine that is "D and D," or drunk and disorderly, could end up with a serious problem.
None of the above
In a unit, who would be the "Grand old man of the Marine Corps"?
The oldest member
In modern Marine slang, the "Grand old man of the Marine Corps" is a term reserved for the oldest member of the unit. It originally was the nickname given to Archibald Henderson, a Commandant of the Corp who served for an incredible 54 years.
The newest member
The youngest member
None of the above.
What does the term "chest candy" refer to?
A warm bomber jacket
Sweets
Medals and ribbons
Think about it, it makes complete sense to call medals and ribbons "chest candy". Although this is usually used in positive way, it can also be very derogatory.
None of the above
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While on a ship, a Marine going to the "rack" is going to _________.
Sleep
On U.S. Navy ships, Marines, and sailors for that matter, sleep in very close proximity on bunks. These are often called "racks."
Shower
Eat
None of the above
True or false? "devil dogs" was a term used to describe the USMC in World War I.
True
It's true; Marines are known as "devil dogs." It is thought the phrase came from German soldiers in World War I who were so impressed by the Marines that they called them "teufelhund," which, in German, means ... you guessed it, devil dog.
False
When attending boot camp, Marines will be issued "BCGs." What are they?
Boot camp glasses
No matter what you tell the Marine Corps when you sign up and attend boot camp, your eyes will be checked. If you need glasses, you will receive special Marine issues. These are called "BCGs," boot camp glasses. And no, they aren't very fashionable.
A uniform
Boot camp gadgets
None of the above
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Which USMC base is known as "K-Bay"?
Chicago
Hawaii
Marines tend to have shortened names for all their major bases. The one on the island of Hawaii is known simply as "K-Bay."
New York
Detroit
While on board a ship, if you are told to go to the "aft" of that vessel, where must you go?
The right side
The back
The "aft" of the ship is the rear. A good joke when you get there is to say to a fellow Marine, "Do you come here aften?" OK, so maybe it's not such a good joke!
The front
The left side
Which form of transport would a "helo" be?
Aircraft
Helicopter
Helo" is military slang for a helicopter. They play a significant role in the military and are indispensable vehicles, as demonstrated during a war, either bringing Marines to contact points or removing the injured.
Dinghy
Aircraft carrier
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Marines often tell each other to "SITFU." What does that mean?
Sit in the fuller unit
Suck it the f*** up
When a Marine complains about something, his fellow Marines might take exception and tell him to "SITFU" or "suck it the f*** up!" To tell them subtly, Marines might ask the moaning member of the corps if they are in possession of a straw.
Say it to federal units
See it there fully installed
During World War II, other than "Jarheads" what was another name given by U.S. Navy crews to Marines?
Dirty Dogs
Bullet Sponges
Marines spend a lot of time on Navy ships. This was especially true during World War II as they moved through the Pacific. Of course, when they got to the field of conflict, the Marines had to do their job. They were called "bullet sponges" by the Navy crews.
Grunts
None of the above
True or false? Marines are sometimes called "leathernecks."
True
True! The term has been used to describe Marines for many years. It is thought to have originated due to the fact that their stiff collars were made of leather to protect from sword strikes.
False
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What does it mean to perform a "fire watch"?
Preparing food in the mess
On guard duty
A "fire watch" is simply Marine slang for guard duty. And guard duties are handed out from the moment a Marine steps into boot camp and will continue throughout their service.
Going to fight a fire
Taking a nap
When the call goes out for "all hands" what are Marines expected to do?
Clap
To report to a certain area
"All hands on deck" is a phrase often used in both the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps. It means all Marines on board that ship must report to the staging area on the deck.
Put on their dress uniform with gloves
None of the above
In USMC slang, what does "skating" mean?
Swimming
Slacking off
Any Marine said to be "skating" isn't rolling around on small wheels. No, they are "slacking off." For example, when cleaning for an inspection, a Marine not pulling their weight will be said to be "skating." This has another term in the U.S. Army. Here it is known as "shamming."
Sleeping
None of the above
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Who would a "Master Gunny" be?
Major
Master Gunnery Sergeant
A "Master Gunny" or a "Master Guns" is the term Marines affectionately give to the Master Gunnery Sergeant in a unit. You will remember them from many Hollywood movies, as they are often the grizzled veteran who tries to look after all the troops, especially new Marines.
Colonel
Lieutenant
If Marines receive a command to "muster," what is going to happen?
It's lights out! Time to rest
They will ready their weapons
They will attend a meeting
When U.S. Marines "muster," it is for a roll call (the most likely use of the word) or perhaps for a meeting.
They will be given the weekend off
"Klicks" refer to what exactly in Marine speak?
Running out of ammo
Kilometers
Five klicks till contact, sir. You understand that, right? A klick is a kilometer. You would not associate the use of kilometers with the U.S. military, but it is used as a standard distance measurement by all branches of the military, including the Marines.
The need to sleep
A shower
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What is a "chit"?
Small talk between Marines
A piece of paper
A "chit" is thought to come from the word "citthi," which were pieces of paper used by Hindu traders for money. It can refer to any type of paper, including dollar bills, Navy orders or a form that needs to be filled out.
A plastic cup
None of the above
When a Marine tells another to "break it down, Barney-style" what do they want?
To dance.
To have a chat over a beer.
For something to be explained simply.
Struggling to understand something been explained to you? Well, if you were a Marine, you would ask for it to be "broken down, Barney-style." Yes, as in Barney the purple dinosaur explains things to kids. Simply.
None of the above.
What does it mean to be "on the double"?
Swimming
Training
Moving as quickly as possible
This is probably one you have heard before. To a Marine, "on the double" means doing whatever task they are performing as fast as possible and certainly without delay.
Under fire
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If someone is "A.W.O.L." what are they doing?
They have a weekend pass.
They are on leave with the blessing of their commanding officer.
They are absent without leave.
Marines who have gone "A.W.O.L." have left their post or unit without permission and are said to be absent without leave. This is a very serious offense and can turn into desertion if a Marine is gone for 30 days or more.
None of the above
You Got:
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