USS Implicit MSO-455 
Wooden Ship – Iron Men
1MC
The primary microphone communication circuit aboard ship. When used it
is heard by everyone aboard the ship in all spaces.
AOL
Absent Over Leave, Navy term for the Army’s AWOL (Absent Without Leave).
Aye, Aye
“I understand and I will comply.”
Black Shoe
Term used to describe officers and enlisted chief petty officers by the
black footwear worn by these sailors.
Bluejacket
An enlisted sailor below the rank of E-7 (Chief Petty Officer).
Blue Water
Also called “high seas,” deep water far from land were only larger self-sufficient
ships operate. Term used to describe a “blue water sailor.”
Boot Camp
Term used to refer to the enlisted men’s basic training course held by the
United States Recruit Training Command.
Brain Fart
Term used to describe the sailor’s inability to recall information or perform
a task that normally would be easy or second nature.
Brig
Navy term for a jail.
Brown Bagger
A married sailor who brings his lunch from shore (home) in a brown paper bag.
Brown Water
Shallow waters close to shore or in rivers where smaller Navy ships operate.
Term used to describe a “brown water sailor.”
Bug Juice
Kool-Aid like powered beverage served at chow (meal) times.
Also used by sailors to describe the cleaning solution used to scrub decks.
Bulkhead
Navy term for a wall.
Burn a Copy
Make a Xerox copy of a document.
Busted
Reduction in rate and pay grade as a result of Captain’s Mast.
Butt Kit
Ash tray aboard ship, usually mounted on a bulkhead containing
a removal lid with a hole for the cigarette “butts.”
Navy term for Non-Judicial Punishment held by the Commanding Officer (captain)
under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The term originated from the
old English Navy days of sail where the Ship’s Captain conducted the ceremony
at the ship’s mast on the bridge.
Chief
Title given to enlisted personnel who have achieved the rank of E-7.
Chow
Navy term for food.
Chow down means to eat.
Chow hall is a dining room.
Cinderella Liberty
Liberty that expires before midnight.
CO
Short for Commanding Officer responsible for the operation of a ship
or command of a shore station.
COMMO
Short for Communications Officer in charge of the Communications Division.
Cover
Navy term for hat.
CPO
Short for Chief Petty Officer for pay grades E-7 through E-9.
Cruise
Ship deployed from its home port for duty lasting one to several months.
Dear John Letter
Letter received by a sailor from his significant other declaring a
breakup in their relationship.
Deck
Navy term for floor.
Deck Ape
A non-designated (job description) enlisted sailor serving on the deck force.
Deep Six
Term for throwing something overboard, referring to the lowest fathom (six feet)
before the ocean floor.
Dish Tank
tank and a garbage disposal.
Ditty Bag
Cloth bag hanging from your rack (bed bunk) containing soiled clothes.
Double Digit Midget
A short timer or someone who is less than 100 days or two digit days from discharge
to civilian life, change of station transfer, or retirement from active duty.
Field Day
All hands clean up usually lasting on a good day 3-4 hours (30 minutes of work
and goofing off the remaining time).
Freeboard
The vertical distance between the water and the ship’s deck
FUBAR
Fouled Up Beyond All Repair.
Geedunk
Candy, ice cream, sodas, beer or a place that sells these items.
Good Humor Man
Reference to the sailor’s white summer uniform.
Guns
Nickname for a sailor who is a Gunner’s Mate.
Hatch
Not a door, but an opening in a horizontal deck.
A door is an opening in a vertical bulkhead.
Head
The Navy term for a bathroom originating from the days of sail. When sailing the wind
blows from or near the rear of the ship forward and as a result, the bathroom was located
at the front or “head” of the ship to carry the foul smell away from the crew.
Knee Knockers
A passageway opening through a bulkhead where the lower lip
of the opening sits at shin height.
Ladder
Navy term for stairs.
Leave
Navy term for paid vacation.
Liberty
Free time away from the ship.
Lifer Stripe
Also known as “Hash Marks,” lifer stripes indicate 4 years of service per stripe
and are found on the right sleeve just above the cuff of Navy Service Uniform.
Mess Decks
Another name for “Chow Hall” or dining room.
Mid Rats
Short for midnight rations or meal served at midnight.
Mid Watch
Another name for the 0000 to 0400 hour (midnight to 4 AM) watch.
Mustang
An officer who came from the enlisted ranks.
Navy Shower
When underway fresh water has to be manufactured. A common sense way of
saving water is to wet down your body in the shower and then turn off the water.
Lather up and scrub down and then turn on the water to rinse off.
Nuts to Butt
Navy term for standing in line at close quarters, body to body and nuts to butt.
Old Man
A term used in conversation for the Commanding Officer when the CO
has gained the respect of the crew.
Old Salt
Term used for a Naval veteran.
One Eyed Jack
A hamburger topped with a fried egg.
Pollywog
A sailor who has not crossed the equator.
Port
Left side of the ship when facing the bow.
Quarterdeck
Area of the ship used while in port for boarding or disembarking the ship.
When in port the quarterdeck is always manned with armed sailor(s) on watch.
Rack
Navy term for bed or bunk.
Rain Locker
Navy term for shower.
Rating
Refers to an enlisted man’s job description, such as Signalmen, Engineman,
Electrician, Ship Fitter, etc.
Reefer
Refrigeration ship carrying refrigerated and frozen food stores.
Render Honors
A Navy custom honoring a ship passing on the port side with a salute and when
passing the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor.
River Rat
A crew member of a brown water patrol craft.
Saltpeter
A chemical rumored to be added to food aboard ship to stifle libido.
Screw
Navy term for propeller.
Scuttlebutt
Navy term for a drinking fountain and the name for shipboard rumored
information obtained while gathered around the water barrel.
Sea and Anchor Detail
Sailor assigned stations manned when entering and leaving port.
Sea Bag
A large green canvas bag issued to every sailor during boot camp to be used
like a suitcase to carry Navy clothing.
Shellback
The name given to a sailor who has crossed the Equator.
Ship Over
The Navy term for re-enlisting.
Skate
A sailor who avoids work while not being detected.
Skate Golden – the ability to skate while assigned to a 7 man working party.
Skateboard – A clipboard full if random papers, carried as skating prop,
to provide a visual excuse for wandering around the ship.
Skid Mark
The stain that you get in your skivvies that are a result of wiping with
cheap government issued toilet paper.
Skipper
A respectful term used in reference to the Commanding Officer of a ship.
Skivvies
Navy term for underwear.
Snipes
Nickname for sailors assigned Engineering rates, such as Machinists mates,
Boilermen, Enginemen, Pipefitters, etc.
Starboard
Right side of the ship when facing the bow.
TDY
Navy term for a Temporary Duty assignment.
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club
Unofficial designation for those ships of the Pacific Fleet which operated in the
Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam Conflict 1965-1875.
Turn To
Navy term for get to work.
Underway Watches
Defined as those shipboard stations that need to be manned or watched while underway,
such as the helm, lookouts on the bridge, engineroom watch, radio room watch, signal
bridge watch, etc.
Daily Watch Sections are:
0000 to 0400 hours (Midnight to 4 AM)
0400 to 0800 hours (4 Am to 8 AM)
0800 to 1200 (8 AM to Noon)
1200 to 1600 hours (Noon to 4 PM)
1600 to 2000 hours (4 PM to 8 PM)
2000 to 2400 hours (8 PM to Midnight)
Underway watch periods are 4 hours on watch followed by 8 hours off watch, followed
by 4 hours back on watch, repeating itself 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
The worst watch period is the Four (4) by Eight (8) watch because your first watch
is 0400 to 0800 hours (4 AM to 8 AM), then you work your 0800 to 1600 hours
(8 AM to 4 PM) duty station, followed by your second watch from 1600 to 2000 hours
(4 PM to 8PM). You do this every day. However, the Navy in all of its wisdom,
eliminates this problem by “Dog Watches.”
Dog the Watch
The Navy “Dogs” or splits the 1600 to 2000 hour (4 PM to 8 PM) watch into two - two
hour watches, so that the watch sections rotate rather than keeping the same schedule
every day and permit the ship’s crew to eat the evening chow at a reasonable time.
Vampire Liberty
Getting a day off for donating a pint of blood.
XO
Term used for the Executive Officer, second in command and
authority to the Commanding officer.
