alpha number - A seven
digit number assigned to be used in email addresses and
other bookkeepping functions. The first two numbers refer
to their company number and platoon number. The subsequent
2 numbers are randomly assigned. The M/C's know their alpha
numbers after the first day of Indoc.
aye - confirmation
of an order being repeated, e.g. "man low-visibilty watch, aye."
aye-aye (pronounced
"i-i") -I understand and will comply.
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BEQ - Batchelor Enlisted Quarters. BOQ
- Batchelor Officers Quarters. All Naval Bases/Stations have them. They are
available to all transients in those categories; i.e. those who are not stationed
there or are passing through or, if stationed there, do not have quarters
yet. By Batchelor, it means single for purposes of travel, not married status.
It's a hotel for service personel that is on base. On weekends when M/C's
have overnight privileges, they can rent a room and avoid having to get up
early. It's like going away, but you don't have to go anywhere.
BZ - means "Bravo Zulu" military phrase
for good job. It comes from the Allied Signal Book (ATP-1, whatever version
by now). It's the code book which ships use to communicate. When they send
flashing lights or signal flags, they do not spell words but send letter/number
combinations which have a meaning described in the Signal Book. It's alpha/numerically
arranged and "BZ" breaks to "Well Done".
belay my last - it's a Navy term, meaning
disregard my last message. I'm not sure why.
bulkhead - The walls, of course!
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Captain's Mast - Nonjudicial punishment
(NJP) refers to certain limited punishments which can be awarded for minor
disciplinary offenses by a commanding officer to members of his/her command.
In the Navy and Coast Guard, nonjudicial punishment proceedings are referred
to as "captain's mast" or simply "mast." In the Marine Corps, the process
is called "office hours," and in the Army and Air Force, it is referred to
as "Article 15." Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ),
and Part V of the Manual for Courts-Martial constitute the basic law concerning
nonjudicial punishment procedures. Captain's Mast is like a court session
in front of a judge (the Captain). Charges are heard and punishments given
out. The accused can have a say and give an explanation. A lot of times the
accused will request a Captain's Mast to try and get a punishment changed.
It is up to the CO to allow the possibility of new evidence and to allow a
call for Captain's Mast. The CO's decision is final.
CD/MI - Character Development / Military Instruction
Chit- Used on the POD. A formatted sheet
for special requests routed through the chain of command. Depending on the
request, the Company Officer, XO, or CO "bottom line" it. Meaning, they approve
it by signing on the bottom line
chop - Marching with knees high and corners
squared. NAPSters chop in the p-ways (halls) shouting "Beat Army"
at every squared corner (90 degee turns are required). They must chop down
the center of the p-way during Indoc. The required enthusiastic "Beat
Army" at every corner is one of the many reasons that NAPSters are frequently
hoarse by the end of Indoc.
Corfam shoes - Vinyl shoes that are very
shiny without having to polish them. For inspections they must wear the leather
shoes that require alot of work to get them shiny. Corfams are too easy, spit
and polish is required for inspection.
cover - a hat or cap
Color Competition - A competition between
platoons which grants extra weekend leave time for the winners as well as
bragging rights. The points are awarded for academics, phyical readiness,
cleanliness, and many other factors. For more information than you probably
bargined for, read all the regulations here
.
Deck - The floors in
a building. Everything on land is really at sea.
Detailers - The group
of Annapolis upperclassmen who are in charge of a platoon
during NAPS Indoc. They will return to Annapolis once classes
begin in mid August. The sooner, the BETTER!
Drill - Marching. It's
the part of the day where Candidates get to learn to count
to 2. They learn to stand at attention for alot longer than
they ever knew they could and generally learn the art of
robotics.
Dog the Hatch - That's
Navy for close the door.
DOR - Dropped On Request. Found on list
of M/C's who drop out of sports teams. The term is specifically for people
who quit. If NAPS disenrolls someone for academics, conduct or whatever, they
use the same term for simplicity sake.
Duty - assignment of
some job during normal off duty hours
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GQ
(general quarters) - when all hands on decks go to their battlestations.
GMT- General Military Training. It's
seat time where you learn insignias, ranks, official military organizational
stuff. Useful for knowing how to get along, but detail overload is common.
GPA- Grade
point average. Alot hangs on this number. To see how
it is figured out, go to the underlined link. If they have
a good enough gpa, students get extra weekend liberties.
With a high gpa, they can have one or even two weekday evenings
off. Of course they have to have at least a 2.0 to graduate
and go to their academy, but there are perks to having a
high gpa all along. This also figures into the TQPA and
the Color Competition. It's an important number.
Guidon - is the flag
that represents a unit. It is a wooden pole with the Platoon
number on it. I would guess they would be 1/1 signifying
Company 1, Platoon 1, 2/2, 2/2 3/1 and 3/2. They carry it
when they march.
Geedunk - a naval term
for sweets, candies, cookies, chips, sodas, etc. (The fifth
food group - Junk food). A small store that sells these
items is also referred to as the Geedunk.
Gouge - information
that you need to know to get through training. Basically the essential information
required for day to day life. It's actually used throughout a navy career
since they are always training or being tested on something! A very common
question students ask each other: "Did you get the gouge for the navigation
exam?"
Happiness Factor - The number of days of Christmas leave divided by the number of days until leave. Not something to be overlooked
HARP - Home Area Recruiting Program. HARP duty requires the service member to work for 2 weeks at their local recruiting station at home. The Recruiters pay for the flight down and back but they do expect the service member to work normal working hours while at home. This wasn't always the case. HARP used to be a real good deal to have the Navy fly you home for 2 weeks (Christmas) to goof off with friends. Not anymore. Now you have to really work.
Hatch - The door
Head - bathroom. If
they chose this name by tossing a coin, it landed on the
wrong side.
High and Tight - A Marine haricut
Honor Nazi - A midshipman who delights in turning in their fellow Mids for honor offenses.
Hooo-Yaah! - A motivational yell. Particular to the Marines or SEALS.
Locked On - A Mid who is extremely motivated and very positive about life at the Academy.
Leatherneck - Leatherneck is a 4 week training conducted by the Marines at The Basic School, in Quantico, VA. Topics covered include amphibious assault and ground warfare.
Liberty - time off
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M/C - The shortened version of Midshipman
Candidate/Cadet. It is the title put before NAPSter's names. The Coasties
use C/C, but the M/C is most often used in official text to refer to our kids.
"MAAMYESMAAM!" - An essential phrase
said with enthusiasm and vigor on a regular basis. The basic level of communication
from NAPSters to all female senior level service personel. The alternate form
is "SIRYESSIR!".
Marching
Tours
- a form of punishment. M/C's must march for 2 hours
on Saturday and/or Sunday. The route is back and forth across
Nimitz Field (weather permitting).
Mess - their food
Messhall - the dining
facility
Moored
- When the ship is anchored and securely fastened
to the pier or dock.
Muster - The M/C's
are gathered 2or 3 times a day to do a head count. They
stand in 3 lines by platoon and hear information about upcoming
activities
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NAPSter - The students at the Naval Academy Prep School. The school is called NAPS (not because anyone is sleepy). Technically the students heading to the USNA are referred to as Midshipman Candidates (M/Cs). Students going to the Coast Guard Academy are referred to as Cadet Candidates (C/Cs). As a group they are all just called NAPSters.
NITRO - NITRO stands for NAPS Indoctrination Training & Readiness Operation. The NITRO is an all day event summarizing the end of the hard part of INDOC. The day begins with Color Competition. This is series of events pitting platoon vs. platoon in physical events to determine who the top platoon and company is. All throughout the day, the candidates will run approx 8.5 miles that will culminate with a Battalion run from the aircraft carriers back to Nimitz Field led by the Commanding Officer and the Master Chief. Upon completion of the Battalion Run, selected candidates will assume striper positions and conduct a turnover ceremony with the departing Cadre. Then the Battalion Commander will assemble the Battalion and march them over to the Naval Station Bowling Center for a party including: bowling, pizza, hot dogs, chips, salsa and access to the liberty center and computer cafe.
NPQ - "Not Physically Qualified". Used to describe a NAPSter in the context of not being able to perform in the Physical Readiness Test (PRT), or normal military duties, or team sports participation. You definitely don't want to go here!
NTR - "None to Report" This is what we all want to see on the POD restrictions section.
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POD - Plan of the Day. The POD is put
out daily as a general schedule of events during the day. It's the daily outline.
Pogie bait - another
word used in the Submarine Force for gee-dunks! (Remember,
that's your basic junk food staples.)
Port - left
Portholes - Sometimes,
novice seamen will ask, "how come holes on the starboard
side are called portholes instead of starboard holes?" Actually
the name "porthole" has nothing to do with its location.
The word originated during the reign of Henry VI of England
(1485). It seems the good king insisted on mounting guns
too large for his ships and therefore the conventional methods
of securing the weapons on the forecastle and aftcastle
could not be used. (What's a castle?) A French shipbuilder
named James Baker was commissioned to solve the problem.
And solve it he did by piercing the ship's sides so the
cannon could be mounted inside the fore and after castles.
Covers for the gun ports were fitted for heavy weather and
when the cannon were not in use. The French word "porte"
for door was Anglicized to "port" and later corrupted to
porthole. Eventually, it came to mean any opening in a ship's
side, whether for cannon or not. (A bit of history from
Larry C Darveau. Thanks Larry!)
Prior - a NAPSter who
was enlisted before coming to NAPS
PRT - Physical Readiness Test. A check up against the NAPS physical standards requirement - to see how they have improved, and THEY HAVE! These are the requirements.
PT - Physical Training. It's the 'work
up a sweat, and go beyond your capacity' kind of exercise that is a hallmark
of Indoc.
PSD - Personnel Support Detachment. This department handles all the processing of paperwork. We hear about PSD when students DOR and are delayed in their departure dates. Sometimes it takes a long time to leave when you declare DOR, especially at the end of they year when there is so much other paperwork to process as well.
P-way - Passageway
- the hall
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Secure - to
cease action or activity, e.g. "secure from flight quarters."
SIQ - Sick in Quarters.
scuttlebutt - A strange but real word
they use for the water fountain. Angelo DeFilippo, father of M/C Frank DeFilipposays
he has often heard scuttlebutt used as a term for gossip or rumor. "I understand
this usage originated years ago when sailors gathered around the ship's drinking
fountain (i.e. scuttlebutt) and exchanged stories, news, gossip, information,
etc."
"SIRYESSIR!" - An essential phrase said
with enthusiasm and vigor on a regular basis. The basic level of communication
from NAPSters to all male senior level service personel. The alternate form
is "MAAMYESMAAM!".
starboard - right side
streamer - A streamer is an award that
is displayed on the guidon to signify that unit has won a competition or received
an award in some way. At NAPS they have several competitions and the winner
will get the streamer and attach it to the top of their guidon. It is usually
tied on or slips over the top of the staff and secured. It entitles that unit
to bragging rights! The streamers are VERY, VERY important to the kids who
compete for them and win or lose them. "
Striper- The M/C Battalion Commander and
M/C officers who are appointed to supervise the routine operations of the
battalion. Stripers normally serve for one trimester, but may be relieved
or extended at the discretion of the Battalion or Company Officer.
Swab- The name of a Coastie who is in
Basic Training before their first year at the Coast Guard Academy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T.Q.P.A. Trimester Quality
Point Average. The determination of the TQPA is:
TQPA = (English x 4 + Math x 10 + Chem x 5 + Phys x 5)/24
Math counts more because they have twice as many math classes as the rest of their classes.
Taps - Lights out. Every
night its "taps, taps, lights out, all hands turn into
your bunks, maintain silence about the decks, now taps..."
Tool - A jerk.
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Unsat- Below 2.0 gpa or even if you get a D. If grades are unsat, a Mid loses weekend privileges and has to spend extra time studying.
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Watch -NAPSters are required to stand watch regularly. It's just something they have to do and if your student has watch, do not expect to plan family activities during this time. Often itt's a shift at the security desk in the front hall of Nimitz Hall. Platoons rotate one out of six days and each M/C in that platoon can be randomly assigned during any non-classroom time. They answer the phones, receive visitors, guard the entrance and keep a log book of who comes and goes.
NAPSters are responsible for checking doors, making sure everything is secure, that all personnel are on duty, etc. Some watch duties include walking the parimeter of the area to make sure all is secure and then it is noted in a watch book. Sometimes it is making sure each hall or area is secure and nobody is sneaking around, doors locked, etc. Watch is just a part of military life that we all take for granted and it's just something NAPSters do. Their responsibilities are:
To take charge of a particular area and all government property in view.
To walk a post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
To quit the post only when properly relieved.
To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
To be especially watchful at night...to challenge all persons near the post...and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
Woop - Kaydet; a student at West Point Military Academy.
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