ABOARD: on base; with us. ACTUAL: radio talk for unit commander. ALL HANDS: everyone. AMTRACK: amphibious tractor; landing craft. AS YOU WERE!: resume what you were doing; correction. BARRACKS COVER: garrison (frame) cap. BATTLE PIN: necktie clip. BCD: Bad Conduct Discharge. BELAY: stop; quit. BILLET: assignment or job; place of residence. BIRD: aircraft. BLOUSE: n. jacket; v. tuck in, secure. BLOUSING BANDS: elastic bands used to secure utility trouser cuffs. BLUES: Dress Blues. BLT: Battalion Landing Team. BOONDOCKS (BOONIES): rugged isolated back country. BOONDOCKERS: low-topped work boots issued to reservists. BOOT: recruit. BRAIN HOUSING GROUP: your gourd, mind, brain, or head. BRASS: officers. BRIG: jail. BRIG RAT: jail inmate. BRIG CHASER: MP assigned to escort prisoners. BULKHEAD: wall. BY-THE-NUMBERS: in sequence. CANNON COCKERS: artillerymen. CARRY ON!: resume what you were doing; as you were. CG: Commanding General. CHIT: written authorization or receipt. CHOW: food. CHOW HALL: mess hall. CLICK: one notch of adjustment on a rifle. CINDERELLA LIBERTY: time off which ends at midnight. COLORS: n. the flag; v. ceremony of raising or lowering the flag. C-RATS: C rations, canned field rations. CORPSMAN: Navy medic serving with Marines. COVER: hat. DECK: floor. DEUCE-AND-A-HALF: 2 1/2 ton truck. DIDDY BAG: cloth, drawstring bag for small items. DIDDY BOP: swagger; affected walk. DOG-AND-PONY-SHOW: special presentation put on for visiting dignitaries. DOUBLE TIME: quickly; at a run. DRY FIRE: practice. DRY RUN: practice. EIGHTH & EYE: Headquarters Marine Corps. ENTRENCHING TOOL (E-TOOL): small folding field shovel. FIELD DAY: general cleanup of barracks. FIELD SCARF: necktie. FIELD STRIP: disassemble; take apart. FIRE IN THE HOLE!: warning that explosives are about to be detonated. FIRST SHIRT (ALSO TOP): First Sergeant. FMF: Fleet Marine Force. FRONT LEANING REST POSITION: pushup position ("the Position"). GALLEY: kitchen. GANG WAY!: stand back! move away! GEDUNK: sweets or a store that sells sweets. GEAR: equipment. GI CAN: garbage can. GIZMO: gadget; anything that defies discription. GOURD: grape; head; where you hang your cover. GRINDER: parade ground. GUIDON: pennant bearing unit designation. GUNG HO: lit. work together; (from Chinese) highly motivated. GUNGY: gung ho. GUNNY: Gunnery Sergeant. GREEN MACHINE: Marine Corps. HATCH: door. HARD CHARGER: motivated Marine. HEAD: toilet. HIGH-AND-TIGHT: standard Marine haircut; shaved sides and short on top. HOLLYWOOD MARINE: San Diego MCRD graduate. HOOCH (Jap.): any kind of shelter, residence. HONCHO (Jap.): boss; man in charge. HOUSE MOUSE: Drill Instructor's go-fer. HUMP: to march; to carry; to be burdened with. IRISH PENNANT: string dangling from clothing indicating unkempt appearance. ITR: Infantry Training Regiment. JARHEAD: Marine. JUNK-ON-THE-BUNK: complete clothing and equipment inspection (also Things-on-the-Springs) laid out on the rack. K-BAR: Marine-issue fighting knife. KLICK: kilometer. LADDER (or ladderway): stairs. LEAVE: authorized absence of more than 24 hours. LIBERTY: authorized absence of less than 24 hours. MAKE A HOLE!: stand back! gang way! MAGGIE'S DRAWERS: red disc used on the rifle range to signify missing the target. MOS: military occupatinal specialty. MUSTANG (Mustanger): enlisted man who becomes an officer. NON-QUAL: Marine who fails to fire a qualifying score at the rifle range. OFFICE HOURS: summary court marshall, official inquiry or reprimand. OFFICE POGUE: desk-bound Marine. OUTSTANDING!: exceptional; well done! OVERHEAD: ceiling. OVER THE HILL: absent without authorization. OVER THE HUMP: more than halfway through enlistment. PASSAGEWAY: corridor; hallway. PIECE: rifle. P*** CUTTER: envelope-shaped overseas cap. garrison cover. POGUE: lazy individual, also office worker. POGEY BAIT: candy, sweets. POLICE CALL: time allocated to clean up an area. POLICE UP: clean up. POP-FLARE: hand held and launched aireal illumination flare. PT: Physical Training; exercise. QUARTERS: living space. RACK: bed, bunk. RAPPEL: descend from cliff or helicopter by rope. RECON (also Force Recon): Force Reconnaissance Marine. ROMP 'N' STOMP: to drill, march. ROUND: bullet or artillery or mortar shell. RUBBER LADY: inflatable air mattress. SALT: experience; an old-timer Marine. SALTY: smart-mouthed; opinionated. SCOSHI (or scosh'): small, short, a little bit. SCUTTLEBUTT: rumors; a drinking fountain. SEABAG: duffle bag. SEA DUTY: billited aboard a ship. SEA STORY: a lie or an exaggeration. SEA LAWYER: self-appointed expert. SECURE: tie down or make fast; also to recycle or dispose of; to put something in its proper place; to desist. SEVEN-EIGHTY-TWO GEAR(782): field equipment; canvas web gear. SHORT: nearing the end of a tour of duty or enlistment. SHORTTIMER: Marine nearing the end of an enlistment period. SICK BAY: clinic or hospital. SIX-BY (six-by-six): standard three-axle truck. SKIPPER: captain; commanding officer. SKIVVIES: underwear. SNAP IN: practice, esp. on the rifle range. SOUND OFF!: assertively voice. SQUAD BAY: barracks. SQUARED AWAY: neat, orderly, organized. SQUID: (derog.) sailor. STACK ARMS!: command given to place 3 rifles in a pyramid. STACKING SWIVEL: appendage near muzzle of rifle allowing stacked arms; neck. STAND BY!: prepare. STANDBY: waiting status. SURVEY: dispose of; recycle. SWAB: mop. SWABBIE: sailor. TOP: Senior SNCO. TOPSIDE: upstairs; on deck. TURN TO: begin work. UA: Unauthorized Absence. UTILITIES: field uniform. THE WORD: confirmed official information; the straight scoop. ZERO-DARK-THIRTY: pre-dawn; early.
General Marine Corps Information
782Gear – This is the individual combat equipment issued to Marine officers and men; it is so called because of the designation of the receipt forms employed.
The President's Own – Official name of the Marine Band.
Number of Marines in a Marine Expeditionary Force - 47,000, a Division - 16,000, a Brigade - between 4,000 and 16,000, a Regiment - 2,250, a Unit - 2,200, a Battalion - 750, a Company/Battery - 150, a Platoon - 42, a Squad - 13 and a Fire Team - 4.
Mission of Marine Corps Rifle Squad – To locate, close with, and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver, and to repel the enemy assault through fire and close combat.
Here is the typical organization for Marine Corps infantry units:
Fire team: four Marines; team leader, automatic rifleman, assistant automatic rifleman, and rifleman. Infantry Squad: three fire teams and a corporal or sergeant as squad leader. Rifle Platoon: three squads, a Navy corpsman, a platoon sergeant (staff sergeant), and a lieutenant as platoon commander. Weapons Platoon: a 60mm mortar section, an assault section, a medium machinegun section, a Navy corpsman, a platoon sergeant (gunnery sergeant), and a lieutenant as platoon commander. Rifle Company, Weapons Company or Headquarters and Support Company : three rifle platoons, a weapons platoon, a Navy corpsman, a administrative clerk, a training NCO, a company gunnery sergeant, first sergeant, a first lieutenant as executive officer, and captain as commander. Infantry Battalion: three or four companies, commanded by a lieutenant colonel. Infantry Regiment: three or four battalions, commanded by a colonel. Brigade: uncommon in the Marine Corps, but typically made up of one or more regiments and commanded by a brigadier general Division: three or four regiments, officers and others, commanded by a major general.
Battalions and larger units have a sergeant major, and an executive officer as second in command, plus officers and others for: Administration (S-1), Intelligence (S-2), Operations (S-3), Logistics (S-4), Civil Affairs [wartime only] (S-5), and Communications (S-6).
There are four Marine divisions: The First in Camp Pendleton, California; The Second in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; The Third at Camp Smedley Butler in Okinawa, Japan; and the Fourth is a reserve unit headquarted in New Orleans, Louisiana, with units scattered throughout the continental United States.
In World War II, two more Marine Divisions were formed: the Fifth and Sixth, which fought in the Pacific War. These divisions were disbanded after the end of the war.
Typical aviation units are squadron, group and wing.
There are four Marine aircraft wings: The First in Okinawa, Japan; The Second in Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina; The Third at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California; and The Fourth, a reserve unit.
There are also four Force Service Support Groups: The First in Camp Pendleton, California; The Second in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; The Third in Okinawa, Japan; and the Fourth in New Orleans.
Air-ground task forces: The Marine Corps organization is flexible, and task forces can be formed of any size. Modern deployed Marine units are based upon the doctrine of the Marine air-ground task force, or MAGTF. A MAGTF can generally be of any of three sizes, based upon the amount of force required in the given situation; however, all MAGTFs have a similar organization.
A MAGTF is comprised of four elements: the command element (CE), the ground combat element (GCE), the air combat element (ACE) and the combat service support element (CSSE).
Command element - A headquarters unit that directs the other elements Ground combat element - Usually infantry, supported by armor (tanks), and artillery, but including special units such as scouts or Force Reconnaissance, snipers and forward air controllers. Air combat element - The total airpower strength of the MAGTF, the ACE includes all aerial vehicles (both fixed wing and helicopter), their pilots and maintenance personnel. Combat service support element - This element includes all of the support units for the MAGTF: communications, combat engineers, motor transport, medical and supply units, and certain specialized groups such as air delivery and landing support teams.
The smallest type of MAGTF is the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The MEU is trained to operated as an independent force or as part of a Joint Task Force. Four elements make up a Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable): The Command Element is the standing headquarters for the MEU, usually headed by a Colonel (O-6). The Ground Combat Element is a Battalion Landing Team; an infantry battalion reinforced with tanks, artillery, engineers, amphibious vehicles, light armored vehicles, and other ground combat assets. The Aviation Combat Element is made up of a composite squadron of both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. The Combat Service Support Element consists of a MEU Service Support Group which handles the logistics and administration needs of the MEU.
The specific makeup of the MEU can be customized based upon the task at hand; additional artillery, armor, or air units can be attached, including squadrons of F/A-18 Hornet and Harrier jets.
There are usually three MEUs assigned to each of the U.S. Navy Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, with another MEU based on Okinawa. While one MEU is on deployment, one MEU is training to deploy and one is standing down, resting its Marines, and refitting. Each MEU is rated as capable of performing special operations.
A Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) is larger than a MEU, and is based upon a Marine regiment, with larger air and support contingents.
A Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), as deployed in Iraq in 2003, comprises a Marine division with an artillery regiment, several tank battalions, several LAV battalions, as well as an air wing. The I Marine Expeditionary Force as deployed in the Persian Gulf War ultimately consisted of the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions as well as considerable Marine air and support units.