0 Dark 30.
Very early in the morning, pronounced oh, dark thirty. [Editor's Note: A lot of people have complained that a Marine would not call the numeral zero an "oh". That is possibly correct but it was pronounced in that unorthodox way when it was first used in the 1960s, possibly to add emphasis to the phrase.]
030SHIT.
Pronounced "Oh three, Oh shit." Military Occupational Specialty of a junior infantry officer.
I Corps.
(Vietnam) The northernmost of four corps areas in South Vietnam. I Corps was the province of the U. S. Marines while II, III and IV Corps were U. S. Army areas. Pronounced eye-corps.
I Marine Expeditionary Force
A Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) of the primarily composed of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 1st Marine Logistics Group. Among Marines, it is common to pronounce I MEF as "eye mef", "first mef", or "one mef". The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force is commanded by a Lieutenant General. (I stole this from Wikipedia so I left the links hot)
1st Civ. Div.
1st Civilian Division. Civilian life. Before or after service in the Marine Corps. See COMCIVLANT.
1-MC.
The communication system aboard ship which allows orders and information to be passed immediately to all members of the crew. Usually a series of speakers throughout the entire ship.
1st Marine Division
Located at Camp Pendleton, CA it is a unit of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. It consists of the 1st, 5th, 7th and 11th Marine Regiments as well as supporting battalions of engineers, reconnassance and amphibians. Commanded by a major general.
II Marine Expeditionary Force
A Marine Air-Ground Task Force consisting of ground, air and logistics forces capable of projecting offensive combat power ashore while sustaining itself in combat without external assistance for a period of 60 days. The II Marine Expeditionary Force is commanded by a Lieutenant General, who serves as Commander, US Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic, providing Marine fighting formations and units to European Command, Central Command and Southern Command. Consits mainly of the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. (Also stolen from Wikopedia)
2nd Marine Division
Located at Camp LeJeune, NC it is a unit of the II Marine Expeditionary Force. It consists of the 2nd, 6th, 8th and 10th Marine Regiments as well as supporting battalions of engineers, reconnassance and amphibians as well as the the Marine Corps' only Anti-Terrorism Battalion. Commanded by a major general.
III Marine Expeditionary Force
A Marine Air-Ground Task Force that is forward-deployed and able to deploy rapidly and conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to amphibious assault and high intensity combat. III MEF maintains a forward presence in Japanand Asia to support the U.S. – Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and other alliance relationships of the United States. III MEF also conducts combined operations and training throughout the region in support of the National Security Strategy for Theater Security Cooperation. Its major units are the 3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 3rd Marine Logistics Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. (Thanks again to Wikopedia)
3rd Marine Division
Located on the island of Okinawa, Japan it is a unit of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. It consists of the 3rd, 4th and 12th Marine Regiments as well as the 3rd Reconnassance Battalion and a Combat Assault Battalion. Commanded by a major general.
4merMarine.com.
The web site that hosts this dictionary and the compiled quotes. It is in reality a misnomer because, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine." In order to be a former Marine, one must have been first a Marine and then be either dead or incarcerated--the editor qualifies only on the first point. Unfortunately all of that was just too complicated to put into a domain name. This is a private project and actively seeks your assistance in the form of corrections and additions (I am in particular need of current words and phrases). I would also not turn down financial help in the cost of the domain and the server--as a retired, disabled GI who is still paying the Retired Military Disability TAX, money is always tight. This is also permission to link to this dictionary or to use this dictionary in any way that is legal. It is here to enjoy at no charge.
4-striper.
A Navy or Coast Guard captain. The informal reference alludes to the four wide stripes worn on the cuffs of the blue uniform by captains.
5th Marine Division
The National Guard. Jokingly given the name due to the large population of Marines who got out and elected to serve in the National Guard.
8th and Eye.
Location of the Commandant's house, Marine Barracks, Washington, the Marine Corps Band and Drum and Bugle Corps as well as MCI. It is the ceremonial home of the Corps. It was the only public building not set afire when the British overran Washington, DC in the War of 1812, some say because of their stoic defense at Bladensburg Pike. From its address at 8th and I Streets SE, Washington, DC.
24/7.
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Essentially always. Originally a reference to the perpetual card games on the fantail of a troop ship.
25-MC.
The communication system aboard ship which allows orders and information to be passed immediately to specific compartments and preselected crew members.
45.
.45 caliber weapon, usually an M1911A1.
72.
A 72-hour absence from duty. Granted by commanding officers and not charged as leave.
86.
To throw away or get rid of something. From the number of the form originally used to remove an item from a stock record.
90-Day Wonder.
Unflattering term for an OCS graduate. Refers to the early practice of training commissioned officers in three months rather than the four years in the Naval Academy or the 4 year part-time training in ROTC. Also, 90-day blunder.
96.
A 96-hour absence from duty. Granted by commanding officers for outstanding duty, unit successes or special holidays. Not charged as leave.
782 Gear.
Originally individual equipment owned by a unit and issued to a Marine while assigned to that unit. In boot camp that included a bucket, cleaning equipment, a poncho and a shelter half. The name is derived from the original form number used to issue the equipment (WWII and Korea). When the Federal Stock Number (FSN) system was created an effort was made to continue use of the number for unit individual issue equipment (For Example 8415-00-782-2888 medium field jacket liner). Present use refers to the Load Bearing Vest, cartridge belt and the equipment attached to the belt as well as other field equipment.
900 inch Range.
A rifle range of approximately 100 inches used to zero weapons prior to qualification.
1369.
