My Men are My Heroes

by Nathaniel R. Helms

  QRF—Quick Reaction Force

  Rack—Bed

  Rappel—To descend by rope

  RCT—Regimental Combat Team

  Recon—Reconnaissance

  Recruit—An individual attending boot camp

  ROE—Rules of Engagement

  Round—Bullet or shell

  RPG—Rocket-propelled grenade

  S-1—Administrative Section of a unit

  S-2—Intelligence Section of a unit

  S-3—Operations and Training Section of a unit

  S-4—Logistics and Supply Section of a unit

  SAW—Squad automatic weapon; a 5.56mm light automatic weapon that is both belt- and magazinefed capable

  Scuttlebutt—Rumor, gossip

  Secure—Lock up, close, take care of, or finish for the day

  Semper Fi—Short for “Semper Fidelis,” which is Latin for “Always Faithful”

  Sick bay—Hospital, clinic, or office of medical personnel

  Sick call—Assigned time for ill Marines to go to sick bay, usually first thing in the morning

  Skivvies—Underwear

  SMAW—Shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon

  SMAWNE—Shoulder-saunched multipurpose assault weapon—novel explosive

  SNCO—Staff Noncommissioned Officer

  SOC—Special-operations-capable group of Marines assigned to a Marine Expeditionary Unit

  SOI—School of Infantry

  SOP—Standard operating procedure

  Sound off—Shout very loudly

  Squad bay—Large room where many Marines live

  Squared away—Prepared, taken care of, or sharp looking

  Squid—Navy person; also called a “swabbie”

  SRB—Service Record Book

  SSN—Social Security number

  SVBIED—Suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device

  The word—Confirmed information

  TOW—M-220 tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missile

  UA—Unauthorized absence

  UAV—Unmanned aerial vehicle

  UH-1E/N—The “Huey”; the standard Marine helicopter able to operate from shipboard

  Unsat—Unsatisfactory

  UXO—Unexploded ordnance

  VA—Slang for Department of Veterans Affairs, formerly Veterans Administration

  VBIED—Vehicle-borne improvised explosive Devise

  VMA—Marine Corps designation for aviation attack squadron

  VMF—Marine Corps designation for aviation fighter squadron

  Warrant Officer—A person who holds a warrant in a warrant officer grade

  WESTPAC—Western Pacific tour, such as Okinawa

  WIA—Wounded in action

  WM—Woman Marine

  WO—Warrant Officer

  XO – –Executive Officer; 2d in command of a unit