Appendix:Australian English military slang

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Members of the Australian military (known officially as the Australian Defence Force or ADF) use many unique slang terms. The ADF is made up of the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Each have their own distinct traditions but share a defence force culture. Some military slang words, such as digger, have become widely used by Australians in general. However, most slang used in the ADF is restricted to its personnel.

• Ace Fuckheads - headquarters in an armoured unit. Comes from the callsigns 9A, 9C, 9E, 9F, 9H. 90s usage.Being the 2ic,Tech O, LO, SSM and SQMS, respectively.
• Adgie - Refers to a RAAF Airfield defence guard.
• After Fives - Refers to the plain black spit polished dress shoe worn by soldiers either with their pollies or after dinner to give their feet a rest from their boots.
• Airy - Fairies - Refers to Air Force personnel, usually used by the Army or Navy
• A.J. (A Jay) - Army Jerk. A derogatory term often used by civilians in reference to soldiers in townships with large concentrations of soldiers (particularly Darwin and Townsville). Also often used by soldiers in reference to other soldiers behaving badly in public, for example "He was being a real AJ" or "They were acting like a bunch of real AJ's and giving the rest of us a bad name". As in 'this was written by an A.J....' Often used as a derogatory term by reservists to describe regular soldiers.
• A.J Fade-away - Refers to the habit of Army personnel to 'fade away' when having a night out, usually in the form of leaving without saying goodbye to the people they are there with. Often used to describe the habit of Army males leaving the females they have been trying to become romantically involved with. As in "Where'd you end up last night, I didn't see you after dinner?" "Yeah I did the old A.J Fade-away"
• Angel Raper - A member of the RAA, an artilleryman.
• Angry Chook - Army Chinook heavy lift helicopter.
• Angus - A sub standard ALS FITTER (Australian Airforce), usually used as derogatory.
• Ankles - See 'Boots'.
• APC - Armoured Personnel Carrier.
• APC - A type of bath taken in the bush with limited water: ArmPits and Crotch
• Arc-up - To initiate an engagement against an enemy force with offensive fire. Also to shout at, as in "Sarge arced-up at me for not ironing my DPCUs."
• Arse-end Arnold - Used to refer to the person who is guarding the rear in any field patrol formation (typically used by all Army).
• AusCam - The standard camouflage pattern on Australian Military equipment. Derived from 'AUStralian CAMouflage'.
• Back-ups - Seconds (when having a meal).
• Bagger - Air Force term for a married member living off-base. Refers to 'brown-bagging' meals from home instead of eating in the Mess.
• Bait layer - An Army cook. Refers to a person who drops poison meat to kill dingos.
• BANT - An acronym describing an unattractive woman's appearance. 'Big Arse, No Tits'.
• Banjo - Refers to a Bacon and Egg breakfast roll wrapped in tin foil and delivered in Hot Boxes typically to troops staying overnight at the range.
• Barbecue - After firing weapons at the range, or on exercise, the unit will spend as long as it takes to clean all the weapons. This is called a barbecue. "After we finish here, we're going back to the barracks for a barbecue." "A barbecue! Great! Will there be beer and snags?" "Ha ha ha, no son, it's not that kind of barbecue." Derived from the similar appearance of both a barbecue and a weapon cleaning bath made from a 44-galloon drum that has been cut lengthwise.
• Barracks lawyer - A soldier who professes to know everything about military law, who reckons he could have probably got david Hicks out of Gitmo by finding a technicality in his charge sheet.
• Bash - To mould a KFF (q.v.) or beret into an acceptable, close-fitting shape.
• Bastardisation - An archaic term used in reference to illegal initiations and punishments that often involved putting subordinates or peers in highly irregular situations.
• Bat - slang for the disgusting act young soldiers indulge in when away from their women folk (or any women folk). "I've been bush for six weeks, I'm off to have a bat". Nothing to do with team sports. Whilst not on the official scale of issue, a batting sock can be found amongst every young male soldier, sailor or airman's field equipment.
• Bat Cave - Secluded place adorned with or having access to pornographic material. (eg. assemblage (Sigs Corps). connex, command bunker/pit (Infantry Corps, Engineers Corps), armoured command vehicle (Armoured Corps)). Usually used on long deployments or exercises. In training establishments, also denotes a supposedly secret location where dirty clothing and other contraband is hidden by recruits prior to an inspection.
• Bean Counter - Refers to anyone that knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
• Beasting - To 'Beast' means to stand over or 'monster' a subordinate. The expression is more commonly used by officers. For example He copped a beasting off the Sergeant Major.
• Bird Bath - Hygienic activity taken by a soldier in the field to clean body parts, utilising any available resources such as baby wipes or a small basin of water. This action replaces normal daily showering or bathing at home. Also refers to the airfield spray system used to wash salt residue from maritime patrol aircraft.
• Black handers - Air Force term for maintenance personnel working on mechanical systems, i.e. those who get their hands dirty (cf gay traders).
• Black Hat - Refers to either Armoured Corps personnel (Black Berets) or to non-SAS personnel(who wear very dark blue berets that look black) posted to the SAS regiment.
• Black plastic fantastic - slang for the M16 when the SLR and M16 were the common service rifles.
• Blanket Stacker/ Blanket Counter - a Q-bloke. Trained to make large stacks of blankets in the Q-store, and to make sure that the blankets stay where they are. Fully aware of the risk of a collapsing stack of blankets, these highly trained warriors have the stealth of a ninja and the reflexes of a cat.
• Blowies - The term 'Blowie' or 'Blow Fly', refers to Royal Australian Army Medical Corps Environmental Health personnel.
• Blow Flow – see Blowies. Also the civilian contractor who removes the contents of a 'Honey Pot' (see below) when latrines are not allowed to be dug.
• Blue orchids - Derogatory term for Air Force personnel (used by soldiers and sailors in reference to their preciousness and scarceness).
• Blues - Navy or Air Force (Blue) Service Dress uniform. Also Blue Suiter, a member of the RAAF (Not necessarily wearing blues). Army full dress uniform, commonly used at the RMC. Once issued to all ranks from Sergeant upwards.
• Blunt - A derogative term to describe anyone deemed not to be at the 'pointy end' (ie front-line/operational). Always a favourite of fighter pilots, who believe that pretty much anyone that isn't strapped into a chair is a blunt.
• Boffin - An Army electronics/communications technician.
• Bog roll or Date roll - Toilet paper.
• Boggy - Short for bograt, the slang term for a Pilot Officer (the most junior commissioned Air Force Officer rank).
• BOHICA - Bend Over, Here It Comes Again. Often heard prior to the delivery of a pineapple (q.v.), i.e. one is about to be 'shafted' with an unpleasant task.
• Bomb Up - To be issued or restocked with ammunition, equipment or stores.
• Bongos - In general, equipment; often refers to field equipment, webbing and/or packs carried on the person. Pack up your bongos and get on that truck.
• Boots - A suck up. Refers to somebody who is so far up somebody elses backside that all that you can see is his/her boots.
• Boozer - Pub or Bar on an Army Base - usually a Soldiers' Boozer as distinct from a Sergeants' or Officers' Mess.
• Boss - A complimentary term used by soldiers to refer to their immediate superior officer, usually their Platoon Commander, but can be other Officers in their unit, in the chain of command like the Company Commander or Company 2IC (Second in Charge). E.g. Do you know what we're doing today boss? Implies respect: unpopular and/or incompetent officers remain 'sir' or 'ma'am'. Also used in the British Armed Forces.
• Brass - A high ranking officer. Referring to the amount of brass on someones uniform.
• Brass up - To fire a lot of rounds at something.
• Bucket - As in bucket of shit. An M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier or its crew.
• Bug Out - Leave an area.
• Bullshit Castle - Headquarters Air Command, Glenbrook, New South Wales.
• Bush Hat - The floppy hat worn by soldiers in the field or in non-barracks training.
• Cake and arse party - see shit fight.
• Can anybody drive a tractor? - See Motorbike licence
• Canteen Medals - Beer or food stains on the breast of a shirt or jacket.
• Cams - Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniform (DPCU), working dress for Army and Air Force and worn on exercises / deployment. Also used in the British Armed Forces.
• C-Dubs - Short for CWD, or Combined Working Dress; the obsolete, Hard Yakka-esque dark blue uniform worn by the Air Force as working dress until the turn of the century. Subsequently replaced by DPCU (see Cams).
• Cent - a Centurion Armoured Fighting Vehicle.
• Chicken Strangler - An SAS soldier; refers to ability to live off the land.
• Chief Wheelnut - Refers to a Warrant Officer of the Transport Corps.
• Choco - (Pronounced "Cho-cko") A "chocolate soldier". First used in World War 2 to describe CMF units joining the AIF units in the war in Papua New Guinea. Many interpretations of the name's origin include the AIF belief they would melt like chocolate in battle or the fact that they were constantly caked in mud. The name has continued on, referring to current Reservists.
• Chook – A signals operator. The term comes from the days of morse code communications, where an operator transmitting a message resembled a chook pecking the ground. 108th Signals Squadron has the famous cartoon chook Foghorn Leghorn as their unit mascot.
• Chook on a stick - the cap badge of 2nd Cavalry Regiment, - the 2 Cav cap badge is a wedge tailed eagle carrying a lance in it's talon, with a guidon bearing the word "Courage".
• Clacker - The hand-held firing device for a 'Claymore' anti-personnel weapon. (As distinct from the mild Australian profanity meaning 'anus'.)
• Clinton - Refers to a person with a soft almost fairy like telephone voice.
• Cloud puncher – Refers to the Air defence branch of Artillery.
• Cluster - Short for 'cluster fuck'. A individual that has a tendency to get things wrong. Can also be used to describe the current situation in a negative light. E.g. Exercise Mantail Sword 2005 was an absolute cluster
• Cockroach - An Ordnance Corps (Supply) person, also referred to as a 'ROACH'.
• Coffin Nail - A cigarette.
• Conehead - See "Boffin". Also refers to Airborne Electronics Analyst crewmembers on AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.
• Craftie - A private in the corps of Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME) - short for "Craftsman".
• Crump in - To have a relatively bad landing when parachuting.
• Cunt - Someone who when asked for help, immediately asks the question (whether openly or not), "What's in it for me?"
• Cut Lunch Commando - A member of the CMF (Citizens Military Forces), precursor of the current Army Reserve.
• Cyclone Training - To be spread out on ones bed as if to be holding down your bed in a cyclone. Term is widely used in the northern parts of Australia, particularly in reference to soldiers shirking away from work to their rooms and getting some quiet sleep.
• Dargon - a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer or Warrant Officer in the Army.
• Digger – A soldier in the Australian Army, for example Look after your diggers, Lieutenant. Term comes from the Anzacs.
• DILLIGAF - Does It Look Like I Give A F*ck.
• Dirt Dart - A soldier undertaking Army parachuting.
• Dixies - Small aluminium cooking and eating pans used by individuals in the bush.
• Dixie-bashing - Washing up.
• Dobie - A wash, or shower, from the Urdu 'dobie-wallah,' a launderer.
• Doc - Medic.
• Dog and pony show - A painstakingly prepared briefing, usually of little real substance or value, pandering to the whims of a senior officer.
• Doona Wrestling - a favourite "sport", i.e. sleeping. "What are you doing for sport this arvo?", "I'm doona wrestling.". Cyclone training.
• Door kicker* - A member of the SAS who is trained in gaining entry by force.

DPCU - Disruptive Pattern Cammouflage Uniform. see 'Cams'.

• Drabs - Air Force Tropical Dress which replaces Service Dress (see Blues) in tropical areas
• Drop shorts – An artillery solider, for example Say again, I’m a drop short; or in English "Can you repeat yourself, I'm in the artillery corps (and hence deaf)". 'Drop shorts' also implied that gunners dropped their rounds onto our grunts rather than the enemy.
• Durries/Darts - A common army term for cigarettes.
• Duty First - The motto of the Royal Australian Regiment. It is said to refer to mess duty, guard duty, etc.
• Eating irons - Cutlery (mainly known in the army as KFS - knife, fork and spoon).
• Elephant gun - L1A1 SLR Self Loading Rifle (not used while the SLR was the main rifle).
• Elephant trackers - RAAF security police. A derisive reference to their supposed lack of investigative acumen.
• Emu bob - A line of soldiers, under the control of a junior NCO, side by side, almost shoulder to shoulder, walking slowly forwards cleaning up an area, therefore bobbing up and down to pick up litter (usually cigarette butts or brass), which resembles an emu searching for food. Also known as an "Emu Parade".
• Enemy Pam - Woman's fashion magazine
• EX - Shorthand for an "Exercise" or training mission/deployment.
• Face ripping - A one-way discussion, usually between a soldier and a subordinate, where the "face ripper" gets so close that the "face rippee" can see the pores on his forehead. This usually occurs on the drill square or in the CSM's office.
• Fake - Refering to a civilian contractor usually working on a RAAF Base. 'That guys fake.....'
• Fang - Food. To eat or in reference to food. For example "Go and get a fang" or to "Fang out".
• Fang Farrier - An Army dentist.
• Farter - Bed or sleeping bag. Normally refers to going to bed, for example "Hit the Farter".
• Fatcans or Fat shop - Describes Australian Defence Force Canteens, for example "I'm going to get some food from Fatcans".
• Fat-truck - Vehicle used to supply hot food and cold drinks to soldiers in the lines. Driven by the "Fat-slut". Also known as the "Gut-truck" and "gut-slut" respectivly or "pie-slut".
• Fat, dumb and happy – To be complacent or less than vigilant.
• Fat pills – Chocolate and lollies (sweets/candy).
• Ferret - Beret
• F.I.N.C.L.E - A F--king Idiot No C--t Likes.
• Fish head - Maritime patrol aircrew.
• Fitter and turner - An Army cook. It means "to fit good food into a pot and turn it into sh-t".
• Flight Lewie - Nickname for Flight Lieutenant, Air Force Junior Officer rank.
• Flogg Off - Spoken abbreviation for Flying Officer (FLGOFF), Air Force Junior Officer rank. Also used in the Army to describe the act of onaism. At least it was in the 90s.
• Fornicatorium an armoured vehicle with a meeting room incorporated into its design or any office where (f***ed-up) decisions were made
• Four Star Hotel - The accomodation used by Air Force members on exercise whilst Army members reside in dirt pits or tents if lucky.
• F.R.E.D - A small device which is a combination of a can opener, a bottle opener and a spoon. Officially named a "Field Ration Eating Device", but more popularly known as a "F--king Ridiculous/Retarded Eating Device". In the Air Force this acronym can also denote a 'F--king Ridiculous Electronic Device'.
• Free Balling / Free Snaking - Going without underwear. Often done in the field for hygiene and comfort reasons. Known also as "going commando".
• Frontscam - Another common name for the on base canteen monopoly 'Frontline'.
• Fruit salad - Medal ribbons.
• Front Bum - Female.
• F.O.N.C - Friend Of No Cunt - An offensive term for anybody who is disruptive and who does not fit in.
• Fudge factor to inflate and estimation for unexpected events. 'Carry an extra 50 rounds each as our fudge factor ' or 'Carry an extra 50 rounds as fudge '.
• Full-track - Term used in place of the rank Corporal.
• Gammas - Go get some sunlight on the upper decks.
• Gay traders - Air Force term for electronics technicians and others working on non-mechanical systems (cf black handers).
• Gaz - Used to describe someone of unparalleled skill. Also used to describe SAS troops.
• Gazontopede - An archaic term commonly used by the Army in the 70's and 80's used to describe somebody who was hopelessly uncoordinated in drill.
• Gedunk Machine - refers to a soft drink / candy bar dispensing machine.
• Get This - Used to indicate thugs from the scallop industry. "Get this! Damn those thugs from the scallop industry!"
• Giggle-hat - Bush head dress; '80s term that is fading from use.
• Giggle-suit - Bush clothes.
• Ginger Beers - Term used to describe a member of the Royal Australian Engineers Corps.
• God Botherer - The Padre or anybody remotely religious. (sometimes called "sky pilots").
• Goffer - Soft drink.
• Going commando - See "Free Snaking".
• Golf bag - Accessory pouch for the obsolescent AN/PRC-77 manpack radio or the accessories bag used to carry spare barrels cleaning kit and other equipment for a machine gun.
• Gomper / Gumpy Bar - A chocolate bar like a Mars bar or Picnic. "Have a goffer and a gomper mate."
• Gong/s - Medal(s).
• Gonk - To sleep. Also Gonking, the act of having a sleep.
• Groundsheet - derogatory slang for a female soldier. I.e. something you lay on the ground.
• Grunt/s - An acronym meaning the same in Australia as it does everywhere else, a negative name for an infantry soldier. Often adopted with pride by the Grunts themselves. (Government Reject Unfit for Normal Training)
• Gucci - A piece of kit that is really good or expensive.
• Gun Bunny - An artillery soldier, for example Bloody Gun Bunnies can't do anything right.
• Gunny/Gunnie - Air Force term for an armaments fitter. No relation to the US Marine Corps rank of Gunnery Sergeant.
• Gun Plumber - A fitter/armourer, usually those attached to artillery units.
• Half Screw / Half Track - Term used in place of the rank Lance Corporal. Also see Full Track.
• Handbag – A signals operator. The term is derived from the satchel used carry a VHF dipole antenna known as an Antenna Lightweight for either a 'Seventy Seven Set' or its modern equivalents. Particularly applicable to Royal Australian Signals Corps personnel as their corps badge resembles the Interflora symbol. Also used to be used to describe medics whose medical kits looked like handbags and were often carried like a lady carries a handbag.
• Hard Corps - RAInf, the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. Sgt: What corps are you, dig? Digger: Hard corps, Sergeant.
• Harden Up - A standard response to whinging or complaining, telling a person to shut up and get on with the job. Often provided in imaginary consumable form, e.g. here's a harden-up pill or have a can of harden-up.
• Healthkeys - medical data base system that in theory is supposed to make life better for medics but in reality is a tool for blood sucking bean counters and auditors that load up the medical system with even more work.
• Helicopter Pad - A badly bashed (q.v.) beret.
• Helo – Army/Navy term for helicopter (pronounced HEEL-o).
• Helicopter piquet - Usually used when in the field, it refers to soldiers shirking away from work by lying down somewhere. From the idea of looking up for approaching helicopters. Similar to Cyclone Training.
• Ho Chi Min Shuffle - a slow run designed to conserve energy over long distances. The feet are not lifted very high.
• (To get) Holes In Your T Shirt - To get shot, usually on a "Two Way Rifle Range".
• Honey Pot _ A cylindrical galvanized steel recepticle used for defeacation out in the field. Usually emptied or replaced by soldiers lance corporal and below.
• Hoochie/Hutchie - Individual shelter sheet used in the field. Presumably derived from 'hooch', a term for a Vietnamese rural dwelling.
• Hook in - To perform a task aggressively or with gusto. "Hook in,get your work done and we'll have an early knock off".Army slang from the 60s,70s,80s,90s.
• House on back – To put on ones pack; because soldiers in the field are required to live out of their pack.
• Hot Box - The large plastic containers which bring fresh rations to Diggers in a field environment, which contains inadequately small portions of cooked vegetables and a small helping of whatever yesterdays leftovers were from the base mess packed into tinfoil trays.
• Jack – To be selfish or to go it alone, for example Don't jack on your mates!, Going Jack, or Stop being jack and give us a hand. The term comes from digger jack...he didn’t put in.
• Jack-up - going on strike (akin to a mutiny but unable to identify ring leaders - comes from the industrial background of the mass armies of the world wars)(potentially archaic)
• Jack – A sailor, from the term Jack Tar.
• Jack Rations - civilian food taken to the field to liven up the issue rations. As in "I'm all right Jack F*** you" or "don't be jack, let me have one of your goffas".
• Jedi – An adjective or noun indicating respect for a colleague's military professionalism. Nick gave us a totally Jedi briefing on the Musorian ORBAT - he's an INT Jedi. A reference to the supernatural warrior caste depicted in a well-known film series.
• Jellybean-dispenser – F1 sub-machine gun. Derived from the jelly-bean like appearance of low velocity bullets that may be observed leaving the barrel.
• Jellybean-suit - Offensive term for army camouflage used by RAN or RAAF.
• Jube - A new or inexperienced soldier, thought to be because they are soft and sugarcoated. also JOOB - Just Out Of Basic
• Juvie juice - Fruit flavoured cordial, for example, Have a drink of juvie.
• KFF - Khaki Fur Felt (Hat). More official term for the Slouch Hat.
• KFS - Knife Fork Spoon. A piece of equipment which hosts all three cutlery items.
• Kip - A short sleep or nap.
• Koala Bear - Refers to somebody who is generally considered a protected species and useless in the greater scheme of things. Usually accompanied by the phrase "Not to be exported or shot at" was used to refer to Armoured Corps.
• Knuck - A fighter pilot; short for 'knucklehead'. Also used in US military slang.
• Lance Jack – Term used in place of the rank Lance Corporal. E.g. We have 3 Corporals and 2 Lance Jacks in this unit. The term comes from a VC winner. Also used in the British Armed Forces.
• Lid - Live-In Divorced and Single. Comes from Soldiers post-Vietnam.
• Light Colonel, Half Colonel - Lieutenant Colonel
• Limers - Navy term for cordial fruit drink.
• Lobster - Refers to a Physical Training Instructor, usually meaning "Hard on the outside and head full of sh-t". Also refers to their bright red training uniform.
• Luncheon Meat Type 2 - An inedible can of pink stuff issued in some Ratpaks. Do not attempt to eat. Do not attempt to feed it to a dog - dogs won't eat it.
• Maccas - Chips, crisps, chocolate bars and other food sold in canteens or messes
• Maggoty - Short for "maggot bag", meaning a meat pie.
• Maggoted - Drunk for example Got maggoted last night...."
• Makers - Naval euphemism for an early stand-down from work. Derived from the naval custom of 'make and mend', whereby sailors were allocated 'free' time to repair personal clothing and equipment.
• Mango - Term for Army Reservist. Green on the outside, yellow on the inside and too many of them give you the shits.
• Meat Bomb - See "Dirt Dart".
• Meat Heads - Derogatory term referring to Military Police (well in use before their red berets). Also known to refer to Army Physical Training Instructors (PTI's).
• Mike-Mike millimetre ; often used to describe 9mm ammo.
• MIMMS - A convoluted computerised materiel management system (Mount Isa Mines). The bane of the existance of RAEME and RASIGS trade personnel.
• Mog - Referring to an ADF medium transport truck the Mercedes Unimog.
• Morale Vampire - Usually refers to an officer who is highly focussed on his own goals and needs, showing little or no care for the welfare or needs of the soldiers under his command.
• Mordor - Canberra, the Australian National Capital and location of Army Headquarters.
• Motorbike licence - A ruse to get diggers to volunteer for something. Sgt: Has anybody here got a motorbike licence? (Two or three new diggers jump to their feet) "I have Sergeant!" Sgt: Good. Grab these shovels and go dig a latrine. Diggers: What about the motorbike? Sgt: GRAB THOSE SHOVELS AND START DIGGING!
• Now you can't see me suit - DPCU or other camouflaged uniform. Used before DPCU was on wide issue.
• Numpty – An individual who just doesn't get it, for example This numpty recruit forgot his boots. Also used in the British Armed Forces. From the Scots, as in, "He's a numpty heid" normally used in reference to the English.
• Off Cut - Nickname for an Officer Cadet, derived from the abbreviation OFFCDT.
• Oci Dot - Nickname for an Officer Cadet, derived from the abbreviation OCDT.
• O Group - A meeting conducted by a commander where orders are distributed. The shortened form is an 'Owey'.
• Old Mate - Any person about whom you speak, for example "Old mate over there isn't working that much" or "Old mate came up and tried to bum a few ciggies off me."
• OP - Shorthand for an "Operation".
• On the pill - to get with with, smarten up (used in the 1960s and 70s)
• One-ers - Naval term for making tea or coffee solely for oneself, without offering to make a cuppa for your mates. A jack (q.v.) practice.
• Oppo - A friend or comrade, usually also in the military. Mainly restricted to use within the RAN.
• Other enemy - Archaic term for Military Police or Provost, now little used.
• Oxygen thief - A person who is so useless that existence deprives the rest of the human race of oxygen.
• Pam - military doctine manual
• Pams Excitable - Pornographic material. Derived from the army use of the term ‘pamphlet’ to refer to a training manual.
• Packed lunch commando - a member of the CMF or Army Reserve.
• Pies and Beers – A play on the term Ginger Beers. Refers to Pioneer specialists from the Royal Australian Infantry Corps who carry out less technically demanding engineering tasks than Royal Australian Engineers Corps personnel.
• Pig Battalion - The Seventh Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (because the first words spoken to it on parade by its first CO Lt Col Eric Smith in 1966 at Puckapunyal Barracks was " you're nothing but a bunch of pigs" after a bad weekend by most ranks on the turps.
• Pig - An officer (within the RAAF, Snorker has become a popular alternative, to avoid confusion with the aircraft).
• Pig - An F-111 aircraft. Also an Australian RAAF nickname given to SAAF's Piaggio "Albatross" aircraft.
• Pig Pen - The officer's mess.
• Pineapple - A term used to describe an odious task or command, delivered by a Sergeant or above. Akin to having a pineapple jammed up one's arse.
• Pissaphone - A conical metal funnel partially stuck into the ground for soldiers to urinate into. It looks a bit like a five foot long loud hailer, but those who use it for that purpose usually regret doing so.
• Pixie shirt/Pixie greens - 'Old school' name for the 'tropical' jungle green field uniform, distinguished by pockets on the shirt sleeves. Refers to its tight-fitting cut compared to earlier versions, i.e. only a pixie could fit into it comfortably. Replaced by DPCU (q.v.) from the late 1980s onwards.
• Plastic fantastic - Steyr F88 rifle, standard assault rifle for Australian infantry. Not used as often now, but was once popular when the rifle was first introduced due to the (for the time) revolutionary use of plastics in construction.
• PMKeyS - The succubus Defence computer database that consumes 60% of all human endeavour. A staff officer's wet dream, it is particularly useful for creating nice pie charts to impress the CO (see also: dog and pony show).
• Pollies – The polyester dress, for example Iron your pollies, dig!. The term comes from the material they are made from (Polyester).
• Pongo - A derogatory name for a soldier. "Where the army goes, the pong goes."
• Pogo or Poag – A soldier not involved in combat. Usually in protected areas well behind the front lines. Comes from POAG (Posted On A Garrison) or POGO (Posted on garrison operations). Also the term was used in the Vietnam era as rhyming slang for 'Pogo Stick' (rhyming with 'Prick'). This term is often used by any soldier against any other soldier or group who he/she perceives as living an easier life than their own.
• Prove - Raising your hand on command - e.g. "All those with a Mog driver's licence - prove!".
• Pucka Tucka F-cka - The Army Cooks at Puckapunyal.
• Pusser - A sailor, also used in the Royal Navy; derivative of 'purser'. Originally used to describe just the supply branch. ( Pussers rum was issued to the British Navy )
• Quarmbie - Used by the Army, it refers to a highly uncoordinated person lacking in motor skills. Usually in relation to drill or weapon handling. Eg. A Drill Quarmbie
• Q - Quartermaster - An officer who has the enviable job of making sure that the Q-store is always full of every kind of stuff ever invented, and making sure that those dirty diggers don't get any of if because they will break it for sure. Delegates these tasks to ordinary Q-blokes.
• Q-blokes / Q-waller / Quey - People who work in the Q-store.
• Q-store - Quartermaster's Store - A large building full of stacks of every kind of stuff you could ever want or need. If you ask for any of it, you will be told: "Sorry mate, I've only got one left and somebody else might want it." You may be offered a few consolation tins of Luncheon Meat Type 2, or if you're really lucky, Ham And Egg In A Can.
• Raffie - Used by the Army and RAN to identify Royal Australian Air Force personnel ..."He's a Raffie"
• Ration Assassin - An Army cook.
• Rat-Catcher - Common and affectionate term for Royal Australian Air Force's Environmental Health members or hygienists.
• Ratpak - Refering to an ADF ration pack.
• Redders - Tomato sauce. A tomato sauce stain on one's uniform is a 'redders medal'.
• Red Tabs - Referring to Senior Officers in the Army: Colonel and above. They are distinguished by the red tabs worn on their collars.
• Resup - a resupply, usually in the field of water, food and ammunition.
• Retread - A soldier that is changing trades. Used while they on course to distinguish them from IET's
• Reg - A regular (full-time) soldier.
• ROP - Restriction Of Privileges. A type of punishment handed to a person who has been found guilty of a military offence (a defaulter).
• RP - A Regimental Policeman. The sycophantic arse-lickers who follow the RSM around, and lap up tasks like drilling defaulters and nailing parade ground markers into the ground. Out of the same stable as a "Meat Head".
• R.H.I.P - Stands for "Rank Has Its Privileges", sometimes quoted as "Rank Hath Its Privileges".
• Rupert/s - An Army Officer (from British Army - newly commissioned officer and therefore very inexperienced).
• Sad-on - To be unhappy. What's up mate? You've had a sad-on all day.
• Sads - To whinge, as in Crack the sads.
• Sally Man - A Salvation Army Officer. A term of endearment.
• SAS - Special Air Service or when used to describe Army Reservists means 'Saturdays and Sundays'.
• Scablifter - A medic.
• SCRAN - Term used to refer to food - "Sultanas, Currants, Raisins and Nuts" and "Shit Cooked by the Royal Australian Navy".
• Scran-bag - Lost clothing bag. Also used metaphorically to describe a slovenly, disorganised or incompetent sailor: I don't want 'X' on my watch, he/she's a complete scranbag.
• Screw - Corporal.
• Screws - Another derisive term for RAAF security police. Quick, the screws are coming!
• Seventy-Seven Set - AN/PRC-77 manpack radio.
• Shit fight Used to comment on the way a soldier looks, how his/her room looks or how something is turning out, e.g. 'Your a shit fight Gunner Dickson, sort your shit out' or ' This is turning into a shit fight'.
• Shit-Locker Used to describe a large stomach of a service person, e.g. 'Get that dog's eye into your shit locker'.
• Shit pit - A latrine. You'll be digging lots of these if you admit to having a motorbike licence.
• Short arm parade - Inspection of soldiers' genitals to discover any VD infection.
• Sig - A private in the Royal Australian Signals corps, for example Sig Smith go to the Q-Store to collect our equipment for the EX. Abbreviation for Signalman.
• SL(u)R - A name for the L1A1 rifle. It was a Real Man's Weapon... but then again our ancestors lamented the passing of the boomerang & spear.
• Skippy Badge - Hat or beret badge insignia for the Royal Australian Regiment (Regular Army Infantry organisation) Skippy for the kangaroo in the centre of it.
• Slouchie or Slouch Hat - Unique form of wide brimmed khaki/light brown coloured fur-felt hat worn by Australian Soldiers with the left brim turned up for ceremonial occasions. A KFF.
• S.L.U.G. - slow, lethargic, unco-ordinated, grot. Often used for those who are physically challenged or endemically hopeless.
• Smellie - A Short Magazine Lee Enfield rifle .303 (in Australian Service No1 MkIII or its varients in the main) (archaic).
• Snake - Term used to refer to Sergeants.
• Snake Pit - Term used to refer to the Sergeants Mess. Also shortened to "the pit". E.g. "See you down the pit."
• Social Climber - Derogative, used to describe a person who tries to mix and socialise in with higher ranking persons and groups.
• Soggy Sao - Equivalent to the British "biscuit race". "SAO" is a brand of cracker biscuit made by Arnotts.
• Space Cadet - Name for a Staff Cadet(Officer in training) with rank abbreviated as SCDT.
• Spanner - A member of the corps of Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME).
• Sparky - An electrician or electornics tech of the RAEME.
• Splat-cat - See 'Dirt Dart'.
• Spook - A name used for RAAF Intelligence Officers: "Yeah, that FLTLT's a spook."

• Squashed Moth The aircrew brevet - the 'wings' badge worn on a pilot's uniform. By extension, derogatory slang for aircrew.
• Squeezer - A jocular term of derision used to describe another soldier or person. (eg. Old mate is a f#cking squeezer)
• Stabbed - To be assigned a task by a superior, it usually not being a task an individual would volunteer to complete. E.g. I've been stabbed by the boss to sell Unit T-shirts at our function.
• Subbie - An officer of subaltern rank, i.e. Army Lieutenants, Air Force Pilot/Flying Officers, and Navy Sub-Lieutenants.
• Super-grunt a member of the Special Air Service.
• S.W.A.T - refers to the reserves. Some Weekends And Tuesdays
• Tail-end Charlie a soldier who is bring-up or protecting the rear of a platoon, or formation (same as "Arse-end Arnold").
• Tailor mades - Mass-produced cigarettes, i.e. bought as is, as opposed to rolling your own ('rollies').
• Tanker/Tanky - Member of the Armoured Corps.
• Tea and medals - A successful conclusion to an operation. From the British TV series 'Blackadder Goes Forth'.
• T.H.E.M. - SAS
• (A) Thick - An army tradesman who did not serve an army apprenticeship (generally in the days when Army Apprentices School existed)
• Tillie - An M548A1 Tracked Load carrier - member of the M113 family used for cargo / resupply duties.
• Tooth Fairy - A member of the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps.
• Training Pam or Training Manual - hard core pornography.
• Traveller or travel fat - Used to describe an erection caused by vehicle motion / vibration. Also known as 'motion thickness'.
• Tubbin - Thumb Up Bum Brain In Neutral.
• Trash haulers - Transport aircrew. Often shortened to 'trashies'.
• Trashies - Slang for AAFCANS, a RAAF canteen. (Trashies referring to the low quality fried food served there).
• Trucky - A slang term used for soldiers of The Royal Australian Corps Of Transport.
• Truckwit - Used as a derisive term to describe a Transport Corps soldier (by other corps to describe an inept Transport Corp member).
• Tubs - A shower.
• Tucker fucker - An Army cook. 'Tucker' is an Australian word for food.
• Tupperware - Steyr F88 rifle see Plastic fantastic. Derived from the name of a plastic kitchenware manufacturer.
• Turd burglars - Environmental Health/Preventative Medicine technicians from the RAAMC.
• Turd toucher - A plumber/gasfitter tradesman from the RAE.
• Turps - Any form of alcoholic beverage drank to excess.
• Turret-head - Member of the Armoured Corps.
• Two-way rifle range - The battlefield.
• Underwater Panel Beating - See 'Dixie Bashing'.
• Vege bin - An armoured personnel carrier. Implies that the troops carried in the vehicle are 'vegetables'.
• Veggies - Royal Australian Armoured Corps Assault Troopers. Depending on the context the term can be one of endearment or derision.
• Vue Tue - Pronounced 'viewee toowee'. Refers to a small green plastic folder with clear plastic sleeves for inserting notes and cribs commonly used by the Army. Aussie equivalent of a 'Nirex' (UK) or 'dope book' (USA).
• Wank Booth - a soldier's room on base.
• Wanking Spanner - Your prominent hand. E.g. "Stick your wanking spanner in the air if you ....". (Also known as (c__t scratcher").
• WOFTAM - 'Waste Of Fucking Time And Money'. Once used by Regulars to describe Reservists, but you don't hear it so much these days.
• Wombat gun - M79 grenade launcher. More common now is the GLA (Grenade Launcher Attachment) for the in service F88 AUSTEYR.
• WRAN - 'Women in the RAN'.
• Wreckie Mech - An RAEME soldier who operates motor recovery equipment i.e. a wrecker. Generally not all that bright.
• Yowie suit - Heavily camouflaged garments worn by snipers, resembling a mythical creature of the bush. Australian term for a Ghillie suit.
• Zeds or Zees" to sleep is to "punch out zeds".
• Zoom bag - A flying suit.