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10 Question World Quiz: U.S. Military Lingo | Military Matters

The language of the United States military is a language all its own. If you're familiar with it then you'll ace this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by nmerr. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
nmerr

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
360,933

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
690

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A shoe clerk might be someone who sells shoes in a department store. To someone serving in the U.S. Air Force, its meaning is entirely different. What does it mean? Hint

Boot cleaner

Locker

New recruit

Desk job

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Night Ops might sound like secret maneuvering under the cover of darkness, but to a sailor it's something quite different. What does a sailor mean when he/she talks about Night Ops? Hint

Sleeping

Using the 'head'

Disposing of trash

Shore leave

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. 'Whip it out' is NOT what you think it is. What does it mean to an enlisted man/woman? Hint

A proper salute

Completing a task quickly

Basic training

Using a weapon

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. If soldiers or marines are 'staying frosty', are they trying to keep cool in hot temperatures? Hardly. What are they actually doing? Hint

Falling asleep

Not reacting

Experiencing nausea

Remaining alert

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Here in the U.S. we love eating hot dogs. Certain occasions call for it: watching a ballgame or enjoying a family barbecue. In the U.S. Air Force, a hot dog really means what? Hint

Rations

Fighter pilot

Expression of glee

New recruit

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. The U.S. military in general is fond of using acronyms, especially when those acronyms stand for something less than flattering. One example is the acronym ROAD. What does it stand for? Hint

Retired On Active Duty

Reversible Destructive Airway Disease

Read Once And Destroy

Run Or Act Defensively

7. The term "Fiddler's Green" goes back to 1832 where it first appeared in print. The term, first used by sailors, is still used. It has since found its way into the vernacular of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. What exactly is "Fiddler's Green"? Hint

None of these

Place for dead sailors

Irish jig

Hearty drinking

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Which department of the U.S. government is known as "The Octopus"? Hint

Coast Guard

Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI)

Department of Homeland Security

Central Intelligence Agency(CIA)

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the U.S. Armed Forces, "spastic plastic" is used to refer to what? Hint

Poncho

Pouch

Plastic utensils

M-16 rifle

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Cyberwarfare is alive and well in the military. Netrusion is a term used to refer to what? Hint

System failure

Cyberattack

Panic attack

None of these

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A shoe clerk might be someone who sells shoes in a department store. To someone serving in the U.S. Air Force, its meaning is entirely different. What does it mean?

Answer: Desk job

The U.S.A.F. refers to a military bureaucrat in this way. It's meant to be used in a pejorative sense, as in a desk jockey who doesn't ever see combat but is convinced that shuffling papers is what keeps the Air Force going.

2. Night Ops might sound like secret maneuvering under the cover of darkness, but to a sailor it's something quite different. What does a sailor mean when he/she talks about Night Ops?

Answer: Disposing of trash

Like everything else in the Navy, disposing of garbage is no easy process. Steps must be taken to avoid enemy detection while protecting the environment. Sometimes sailors wait until the middle of the night to throw trash overboard when no one is looking.

3. 'Whip it out' is NOT what you think it is. What does it mean to an enlisted man/woman?

Answer: A proper salute

"When in doubt, whip it out" means this: if you're unsure whether or not to salute a superior in any given situation, go ahead and salute him/her anyway but do it like you mean it and do it quickly! Failure to salute or hesitating to do so is not recommended.

4. If soldiers or marines are 'staying frosty', are they trying to keep cool in hot temperatures? Hardly. What are they actually doing?

Answer: Remaining alert

If you think about it, the term makes sense. To U.S. soldiers or marines, it is imperative that they remain detached and alert in order to avoid complacency. It is unwise to think that he/she is in a friendly or safe environment at any given time. It may be neither.

5. Here in the U.S. we love eating hot dogs. Certain occasions call for it: watching a ballgame or enjoying a family barbecue. In the U.S. Air Force, a hot dog really means what?

Answer: Fighter pilot

An arrogant and/or aggressive fighter pilot is referred to as a hot dog, used in the pejorative sense, of course. In the Navy it means a sexually active sailor.

6. The U.S. military in general is fond of using acronyms, especially when those acronyms stand for something less than flattering. One example is the acronym ROAD. What does it stand for?

Answer: Retired On Active Duty

This particular acronym is not meant to be a compliment. Far from it. It is used to describe a soldier, marine, sailor, or airman who is marking time, usually weeks or months, until retirement. In other words, that individual isn't doing very much.

Answer: Place for dead sailors

"Fiddler's Green" is supposedly a place where sailors go after they die. It is filled with lush surroundings, revelry, and dancing to the tunes of a fiddler. Even today, many Navy petty officers' clubs are dubbed "Fiddler's Green".

8. Which department of the U.S. government is known as "The Octopus"?

Answer: Department of Homeland Security

The DHS is fairly new. It was created after 9/11 and is part of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. This department seems to have a hand (tentacle) in many things, hence the nickname.

9. In the U.S. Armed Forces, "spastic plastic" is used to refer to what?

Answer: M-16 rifle

The M-16 is the primary service rifle used by those serving in the armed forces. The nickname is attributed to how the weapon is made. Many of the elements are made with plastic in order to reduce weight. Older weapons, such as the M1 Garand, were made of metal and wood which made them heavier to carry and use.

10. Cyberwarfare is alive and well in the military. Netrusion is a term used to refer to what?

Answer: Cyberattack

Netrusion is a contraction for network intrusion. It consists of the insertion of false data, corrupt data, or a Trojan horse spy program into an enemy's computer network. Usually this is achieved by communication links.

Source: Author nmerr

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