Military Drill, Etiquette, and Navy Terminology

Vocabulary and rank flashcards based on military drill, etiquette, Navy terminology, and rank structures.

Customs

Usual ways of acting in a given situation; a long established practice that carries the force of law.

Courtesies

Acts or words that express consideration and respect for another person.

Hand Salute

One of the required acts of military courtesy that shows respect and is a sign of comradeship, rendered to the National Anthem, the U.S. Flag and Officers.

Proper Hand Salute Position

The right hand is raised with the arm bent at the elbow until the tip of forefingers touches the lower part of the cover or forehead above the right eye; fingers extended and aligned with the thumb, upper arm parallel with the deck, forearm at a $45$-degree angle.

Adrift

Loose from moorings and out of control; applied to anything lost, out of hand, or left lying about.

Aft-End

Near or toward the stern of the vessel.

All Hands

The entire ship’s company, both Officer and Enlisted.

Allotment

An amount of money a member has coming out of his regular pay.

Aye-Aye

Reply to an order or command meaning ‘I understand and will comply’.

Barracks

Building where Sailors live.

Below

Downstairs.

Brightwork

Brass or shiny metal kept polished rather than painted.

Bunk or Rack

Bed.

Buoy

An anchored float used as an aid to navigation or to mark the location of an object.

Carry On

An order to resume work or duties.

Cast Off

To throw off; to let go; to unfurl.

Chain Locker

Compartment in which anchor chain is stowed.

Chit / Chit Book

Coupon or receipt book.

Chow Hall (Mess Deck)

Place to eat.

Colors

Raising or lowering of a national flag; ceremonies held at $0800$ and sunset for hoisting and hauling down the National Ensign.

Deep Six

To dispose of by throwing over the side.

Ensign (Rank/Flag)

National flag; or a Commissioned Officer between the rank of Chief Warrant Officer and Lieutenant Junior Grade.

Fast

Snugly secured.

Fathom

A unit of length equal to $6\,feet$ used for measuring the depth of water.

Flag Officer

Any Commissioned Officer in pay grade O-7 and above.

Galley

Kitchen.

Gangway

An opening in a bulwark or lifeline that provides access to a brow; also an order meaning to clear the way.

Gear Locker

Storage room.

Geedunk

Candy, gum or cafeteria.

General Quarters

Battle stations.

Head

Bathroom or toilet.

Liberty

Permission to leave the base, usually for not more than $48\,hours$.

Lifeline

Lines erected around the weatherdecks of a ship to prevent personnel from falling or being washed over the side.

Overhead

Ceiling.

Passageway

Hallway.

Quarters

Assembling of all hands for muster, instruction and inspection.

Rating

A job specialty title.

Reveille

Wake up, start a new day.

Scullery

Place to wash dishes.

Scuttlebutt

Drinking fountain; also refers to a rumor.

Secure

Lock, put away or stop work.

Sickbay

Hospital or Medical clinic.

Swab

Mop.

Taps

Time to sleep, end of day.

Tattoo

Five minutes before taps.

Topside

Upstairs.

Turn To

Begin work.

Working Aloft

Working above the highest deck, generally performing maintenance on the ship’s mast.

N (Phonetic Alphabet)

Nov.

Ensign (O-1)

Insignia is a one gold bar collar device, or one $\frac{1}{2}$-inch gold stripe outboard of one gold five-pointed star.

Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2)

Insignia is a one silver bar collar device, or one $\frac{1}{2}$-inch gold stripe outboard of one $\frac{1}{4}$-inch gold stripe outboard of one gold five-pointed star.

Lieutenant (O-3)

Insignia is a two silver bar collar device, or two $\frac{1}{2}$-inch gold stripes outboard of one gold five-pointed star.

Lieutenant Commander (O-4)

Insignia is a one gold oak leaf collar device, or a stripe pattern of $\frac{1}{2}$-inch, $\frac{1}{4}$-inch, and $\frac{1}{2}$-inch outboard and a gold star.

Commander (O-5)

Insignia is a one silver oak leaf collar device, or three $\frac{1}{2}$-inch gold stripes outboard of one gold five-pointed star.

Captain (O-6)

Insignia is a one silver eagle collar device, or four $\frac{1}{2}$-inch gold stripes outboard of one gold five-pointed star.

Rear Admiral Lower Half (O-7)

Insignia is a one silver five-pointed star collar device, or one silver five-pointed star outboard of one silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards.

Rear Admiral Upper Half (O-8)

Insignia is a two silver five-pointed star collar device, or two silver five-pointed stars outboard of one silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards.

Vice Admiral (O-9)

Insignia is a three silver five-pointed star collar device, or three silver five-pointed stars outboard of one silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards.

Admiral (O-10)

Insignia is a four silver five-pointed star collar device, or four silver five-pointed stars outboard of one silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards.

Fleet Admiral (O-11)

Insignia is a five silver five-pointed star collar device, or five silver five-pointed stars outboard of one silver fouled anchor on gold shoulder boards.

Warrant Officer 1 (W-1)

Single bar collar device with blue background and one gold break, or a gold $\frac{1}{4}$-inch stripe with $3$ blue breaks on shoulder board/sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 (W-2)

Single bar collar device with blue background and two gold breaks, or a gold $\frac{1}{2}$-inch stripe with $3$ blue breaks on shoulder board/sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 (W-3)

Single bar collar device with blue background and one silver break, or a gold $\frac{1}{2}$-inch stripe with two blue breaks on shoulder board/sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 (W-4)

Single bar collar device with blue background and two silver breaks, or a gold $\frac{1}{2}$-inch stripe with one blue break on shoulder board/sleeve.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 (W-5)

Single bar collar device with silver background and horizontal blue line, or a gold $\frac{1}{2}$-inch stripe with a horizontal line and a blue break.