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The Military Has a Vocabulary All its Own. Here are Some Common Terms and Phrases

How would you respond if you heard someone say, “I’m a 90A, and I just finished up as the S1 for the 728th. I ran the battalion PAC and was responsible for OERs, NCOERs, awards and all MILPO actions”?

The military jargon used to communicate systems, positions, geography and terminology is plentiful. Within the military, it’s a shorthand that makes communication more efficient, although to civilian listeners, it can be confusing to say the least.

The U.S. military uses many unique items and concepts that civilians aren't exposed to. Because of this and the need for expedient, clear communication, service members are immersed in a linguistic world apart from the daily life of a civilian. Some are self-explanatory and others are completely cryptic, but they each have a specific and important (sometimes) meaning.

Be sure to check out Military.com's Glossary of Military Acronyms .

If you want to know more, check out our complete guide to the military alphabet .

What is Military Slang?

Military slang refers to the unique jargon and expressions commonly used by service members in the armed forces. Military slang is a way for soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coasties to not only communicate more efficiently, but also as a way to build camaraderie with “insider” language.

Military slang typically includes abbreviations and other shortened ways of saying things, such as acronyms, nicknames for equipment, and more. It’s often direct and tinged with dark humor, reflecting the culture.

Military jargon and slang can change from region to region, and sometimes evolve over time and with different missions.

Military Terms, Slang, and Jargon

11 Bullet Catcher/Bang-Bang -- An Army infantryman.

40 Mike-Mike -- An M203 grenade launcher, usually mounted under an M-16 or similar weapon.

Air Picket -- Any airborne system tasked with detecting, reporting and tracking enemy aerial movements within a certain area of operation.

Alpha Charlie -- Military alphabet used to represent ass chewing. Defines getting verbally reprimanded.

Anymouse -- A lockbox on Navy ships where sailors may drop anonymous suggestions.

Ass -- Armored vehicles such as Strykers and Tanks.

Ate-Up -- Describes a service member who follows regulations so closely that they disregard the context of the situation. Conversely, may describe a service member who doesn't understand regulations at all.

Band-Aid -- A Vietnam-era term for a medic.

Bang-bang -- An Army term describing a pistol or rifle.

Big Voice -- Term used to describe the loudspeaker on a military base. The Big Voice warns of everything from incoming attacks to scheduled ordnance disposal.

Bird -- Helicopter.

Bitchin' Betty -- Most U.S. military aircraft feature warning systems that frequently utilize female voices. The phrase is derived from the same anthropomorphizing applied to GPS units in cars, only Bitchin' Betty's alert pilots to life-threatening situations.

'Black' on ammo, fuel, water, etc. -- A common phrase denoting a particular resource is gone.

Blowed up -- The state of being hit by an IED.

Blue Falcon -- A euphemism for buddy **** or buddy ****er, which is slang for a backstabber.

Bolo -- A derogatory remark for recruits who cannot pass marksmanship training. The idea being that if one cannot use a rifle, one must resort to a bolo.

Bone -- A B-1 bomber.

Bull**** Bomb -- A package intended to disperse propaganda leaflets.

Bullwinkle Badge -- Another name for the Air Assault Badge.

Burn Bag -- A bag used to hold shredded documents, designed to be burned. May also refer to a useless person.

Cannibalize -- The act of taking workable parts of one item and using them in another.

Chancre Mechanic -- Medical officer who checks service members for venereal diseases.

Charlie Foxtrot -- Commonly used expression utilizing the military alphabet to stand for clusterf***.

Chem-Light Batteries -- A mythical object that would be extremely, functionally pointless. Often the source of fruitless hunts embarked upon by hapless privates.

Chest Candy -- Ribbons and medals worn on a uniform. Can be insulting or applauding.

Chicken plates -- Sheets of protective material, called Small Arms Protective Inserts, which are used in the Interceptor body armor system.

Comics -- Term used to describe maps presented by military intelligence. The term is fairly derogatory in nature as a slight against the accuracy of the maps. It also refers to the brightly colored layouts and symbols usually included.

Commo -- Communications equipment or the individuals who operate it. Usually given to communications officers on U.S. Navy vessels.

CONUS -- Continental United States, the 48 states on the U.S. mainland (not including Alaska or Hawaii.)

Crank -- Navy term for a sailor pulling temporary duty in the galley.

Crumb Catcher -- Military slang describing the mouth.

Crusher -- Hats worn by pilots during World War II. The hat's wide top brim would need to be crushed down to allow for headsets to be worn.

DD 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) -- Every separated service member receives a Department of Defense (DD) Form 214 upon retirement, separation, or discharge from military service. This document states all the information related to their time of service (such as assignments, awards, dates of service, etc.) as well as the type and characterization of the discharge.

Dear John -- Common term referring to a significant other breaking up with a service member through a letter.

Demilitarized Zone -- A specific area in which any type of military force -- including but not limited to personnel, hardware and infrastructure -- are banned.

Digit Midget -- Usually used with a number as a prefix. X digit midget refers to the number of days till an individual goes on leave or retires.

Digies -- Digital camouflage worn by soldiers and Marines.

Dittybopper -- A term in the Army referring to signals intelligence radio operators trained to utilize Morse code. Also used as a verb to describe soldiers marching out of synch with a cadence.

Dope on a Rope -- Derogatory term used for air-assault soldiers.

Dust-off -- Specifically, a medical evacuation by helicopter.

Duty Station -- the geographic location at which a service member is conducting official duties. This may be a temporary location for professional military education or training, or it may be permanent (i.e., home station).

Dynamited Chicken -- Term originating in the Navy referring to chicken cacciatore or chicken a la king.

Embed -- When a reporter stays with the military in order to conduct journalistic business. They typically are provided with security and basic necessities provided by the unit they are embedded with.

Expectant -- A casualty who is expected to pass die.

Eagle Keeper -- Maintenance crew chief of an F-15 .

Fang -- A verb to describe being rebuked, called out or otherwise disparaged.

Fangs -- A Marine Corps term for one's teeth.

Fart Sack -- Refers to a sleeping bag or an airman's flight suit.

Farts and Darts -- Refers to the clouds and lightning bolt embellishments found on Air Force officer caps.

Fashion Show -- A Naval punishment where a sailor is required to dress in each of his uniforms over a period of several hours.

Fast Mover -- A jet fighter. Aptly named due to the rapidity of a jet fighter's movement.

First Light -- The time of nautical twilight when the sun is 12 degrees below the horizon.

Flaming ***hole -- An Air Force term to describe the fiery effect of a jet plane turning on its afterburners during combat or any other military operation.

Flight Suit Insert -- Air Force slang for a pilot.

Fitty -- An M2 .50 caliber machine gun.

Five-Sided Puzzle Palace -- The Pentagon.

FOB (Forward Operating Base) -- Larger than a COP (smaller base located in a particularly hostile area.) A FOB typically offers more resources and comfort provisions such as hot meals, hot water and laundry facilities.

Football Bat -- An individual or way of doing things that is particularly odd.

Force Projection -- The ability of a nation-state to extend military force beyond their borders.

Fourth Point of Contact -- From rolling after a successful parachute drop: a term to describe an individual's buttocks. The first three points are feet, calves and back of the thigh.

Fruit Salad -- Slang for a service member's display of medals and ribbons on a dress uniform.

Fugazi -- Completely out of whack, ****ed up, screwy. This term originated during the Vietnam War and experienced limited use by civilians.

Galloping Dandruff -- An Army term used since World War I to refer to crab lice.

Geardo -- An Army term for a soldier who spends an inordinate amount of money on gear, regardless of actual need.

Gedunk -- Refers to snack foods, such as candy and chips, as well as the place they're sold. Associated with the Navy and can be used in the phrase "gedunk sailor" as a pejorative remark for inexperienced sailors.

Gofasters -- A term for sneakers used in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

GOFO -- Literally stands for "grasp of the ****ing obvious."

Gone Elvis -- A service member who is missing in action.

Grape -- A term with two meanings; one for the Air Force and one for the Navy. A Navy Grape is an individual who refuels aircraft. An Air Force Grape, on the other hand, refers to an easy assignment and can be used as a compliment when a service member makes something look easy.

Great Mistakes -- The name sailors have given the Great Lakes Naval Training Center north of Chicago. It references the closing of two other training facilities in San Diego and Orlando, which both feature far more enjoyable weather.

Grid Squares -- A nonexistent item recruits typically are told to go find.

Groundhog Day -- Term originating from the titular movie that refers to deployment s that seem to proceed in the exact same way despite attempts to change them.

Gum Shoe -- Navy slang for a sailor cryptology technician. The first CT school was located on top of a building where tar would get stuck to the bottom of students' shoes.

Gun -- Term for a mortar or artillery piece. Must never be used within the military to describe a pistol or rifle.

Gunner -- A service member who operates a crew-served weapon, such as a piece of artillery or ship's cannon.  

Hangar Queen -- An aircraft that is used primarily for spare parts to repair other planes.

Hardball -- A hard-surfaced road.

Hardened Site -- A structure usually built under rock or concrete designed to withstand conventional, nuclear, biological and chemical attack.

Hat Up -- To change one's location. Refers to the need to wear a hat for the intended destination.

Hawk -- Term for cold weather. Commonly referred to as "the hawk."

Helo -- Short-hand term for a helicopter.

High Speed -- An individual who is highly motivated and at or near peak efficacy. Can be used sarcastically.

Hit the Silk -- Ejecting from an aircraft and utilizing a parachute.

IED (Improvised Explosive Device) -- A popular weapon with insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, IEDs are roughly-organized, inexpensive bombs that are be easily modified to exploit an enemy’s vulnerabilities.

Inactive Status -- Members of the Reserves who are unable to train for points, receive pay and cannot be considered for promotion.

Ink Stick -- Marine Corps term for a pen.

Iron Rations -- Rations used in an emergency survival situation.

Jawa -- Term for an Army soldier who is stationed in a desert area, named after the desert-dwelling aliens of "Star Wars."

Jesus Slippers -- Military-issued shower footwear.

Jockstrap Medal -- Derogatory term for medals given by the military to active CIA members.

Joe -- Army term for a soldier. Shortened from G.I. Joe.

Joint Operation Planning -- All type of planning involving joint military forces in regard to military operations, including, but not limited to, mobilization, deployment and sustainment.

Kinetic -- Slang adjective meaning violent.

Klicks -- Kilometers.

Latrine Queen -- Air Force specific term for a trainee in basic who is in charge of the team responsible for cleaning bathrooms.

Left-Handed Monkey Wrench -- A nonexistent tool. Often the object of fruitless searches undertaken by recruits at the behest of more experienced service members.

Long Pig -- Slang for when a human being is used as a source of food. Typically this happens in extremely desperate situations.

Major Nuclear Power -- Any nation-state with a nuclear arsenal capable of being delivered to any other nation in the world.

Meat Identifier -- A dish or sauce that identifies what type of meat is being served. For example, cranberry sauce indicates turkey while applesauce indicates pork chops.

Meat Wagon -- Slang for an ambulance or any other medical emergency vehicle.

Moonbeam -- Marine term for flashlight.

MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) – Military jobs are classified by codes that attach to their specialty. The Army, Marines and Coast Guard call this an MOS (military occupational specialty) or MOC (military occupation code); the Air Force calls them Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC). The Navy uses a system of ratings and the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) system. The Department of Defense lists more than 7,000 codes representing various job skills someone might perform while on duty.

Moving Like Pond Water -- Moving so slowly that a unique term is required to describe it.

Mustang -- Term referring to any officer who was promoted from the enlisted ranks. Can be used respectfully or pejoratively.

Nut to Butt -- The instruction used to tell soldiers to line up in a tight, forward-facing line wherein one's nuts are in extreme proximity to the butt of the soldier before them.

OCONUS – “Outside of the Continental United States”

OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) – The combat operation that Veterans may have deployed to in support of the War on Terror, where the theater of operations was in Afghanistan.

Officer's Candy -- Navy term used by sailors to describe the scented cake placed in urinals.

Officer of the Deck -- Any officer charged with the operation of a ship. Reports to the commanding officer, executive officer and navigator for relevant issues and concerns.

OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) -- The combat operation that Veterans may have deployed to in support of the War on Terror where the theater of operations was in Iraq.

Over the Hill -- Missing in action or someone who officially has gone missing from their post.

Oxygen Thief -- A biting piece of slang for someone who's useless or talks too much.

Pad Eye Remover -- A nonexistent item used by sailors to trick new service members into a fruitless search. Pad-eyes are used to secure airplanes with chains.

PCS (Permanent Change of Station) -- When a service member and their family from one geographic unit location to another due to orders for a new assignment. This is not temporary; thus, the use of the word “permanent.

People Tank -- A U.S. Navy term for the inner hull of a submarine.

Pill Pusher -- A U.S. Navy term for a hospital corpsman.

Pink Mist -- A distinct effect created by certain types of gunshot wounds.

Pogey Bait -- Snack food. A "pogue" is an individual who does not serve on the frontlines and performs non-combat-oriented roles. "Pogey bait" is, subsequently, a bribe given to these individuals in exchange for expedited or high-quality services.

Pollywog -- A sailor who has not crossed the equator on a U.S. Navy ship.

Puddle Pirate -- Member of the Coast Guard . So called due to a fallacious belief that the Coast Guard never operates in deep water.

PX Ranger -- An individual who purchases, from the Post Exchange, paraphernalia unique to certain prestigious ranks or occupations and passes them off as though they earned the items.

Quay -- A man-made structure between a shore and land that can be used by ships to berth and is typically an area for handling cargo.

Rainbow -- A new recruit in basic training.

Red Team -- A body of experts on a specific topic who are instructed to research and suggest alternative methods regarding a planned course of action.

Remington Raider -- A somewhat derogatory term used for Marines given the harrowing task of performing office duties.

Rocks and Shoals -- U.S. Navy rules and regulations.

Rotorhead -- A helicopter pilot.

Ruck Up -- "Ruck" is short for "ruck sack," which refers to backpacks service members sometimes wear. To "ruck up" is to get through a particularly challenging or stressful situation.

Salad Bar -- Service ribbons found on a military uniform.

Sandbox – A desert area, specifically either Iraq or Kuwait. To say this is a short list is an understatement. Having a “cheat sheet” of commonly used terms is helpful for your hiring managers to refer to and use in interviewing and hiring. As an employer, work with your veteran hires to teach them common lingo and jargon for your company and industry, and accept that it might take time for your veteran employees to break old habits.

Scrambled Eggs -- The embellishments found on some officer's caps.

Self-Propelled Sandbags -- A derogatory term for a Marine based on their emphasis on fighting on the front lines.

Shavetail -- Second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. It primarily refers to the haircuts received in Officer Candidate School. The term's origins date to the time when the Army used pack animals, and handlers shaved the tail of newly broken animals to distinguish them from those more seasoned.

Shellback -- A sailor who has crossed the equator on a U.S. Navy ship. Responsible for turning all Pollywogs into Shellbacks once they cross the equator themselves.

Snake Eater -- Member of the U.S. Army Special Forces .

S*** on a Shingle -- A piece of toast with gravy.

Sky Blossom -- A deployed parachute.

Slick Sleeve -- A sailor who has not yet earned a rank that requires decoration on the sleeves.

Smoke -- To punish a service member with excessive physical work due to a minor infraction.

Snivel Gear -- Any equipment meant for use in cold weather.  

Soap chips -- A psychological operations (PSYOPS) tactic where fake letters from an enemy's home country are written and placed on bodies and battle wreckage. They include sentimental content, hint at the infidelity of loved ones back home and are designed to demoralize combatants.

Soup Sandwich -- An individual, object, situation or mission that has gone horribly wrong. The thrust of the term's meaning derives from the fact that it is incredibly difficult, some would say impossible, to make a sandwich out of soup.

Swoop -- Marine term for a weekend trip off base.

Taco -- An Air Force term for receiving an "unsatisfactory" grade on a training exercise due to the vague taco-shape of the letter "u."

Tango Uniform -- Slang for "tits up," which is the position dead bodies tend to face. The term can be applied to the deceased as well as broken pieces of equipment.

Target Discrimination -- The capability of a surveillance or guidance system to choose certain targets when multiple options are presented.

Trench Monkey -- A derogatory term referring to a member of the U.S. Army.

Twidget -- A sailor who repairs electronic equipment. Suggested by user X-USN-DS1 .

Un-Ass -- To move immediately or leave one's current position.

Uncle Sam's Canoe Club -- A U.S. Navy term for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Unit Identification Code -- An alphanumeric, six-character string that identifies all active, reserve, and guard units of the United States military.

Voice in the Sky -- Term referring to military base announcements broadcast over speakers.

Voluntold -- An assignment that is technically voluntary but understood to be mandatory.

Weapons of Mass Destruction -- Weapons that can cause destruction or death beyond the ability of conventional weapons. These typically are nuclear, biological, chemical, radiological or high-yield explosive in nature. This definition does not include the vehicle, or transportation method, of delivering the weapon.

Zone of Action -- A smaller section of a larger area. Typically these are under the purview of a tactical unit, usually during an offensive maneuver.

Zoomie -- Term used by non-flying service members for anyone who operates a flying vehicle.

Lida Citroën and Tiffini Theisen contributed to this report. 

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Glossary of Military Terms

• Self-Employment

Check this glossary for commonly used military terms.

The list of terms below is from Today's Military online guide by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Active Duty Continuous duty on a daily basis. Comparable to "full time" as used in reference to a civilian job.

Allowances Money, other than basic pay, to compensate in certain situations for expenses, such as meals, rent, clothing, and travel. Usually given for maintaining proficiency in a specific skill area, such as flying or parachuting.

Artillery Large cannons or missile launchers used in combat.

ASVAB Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. A test that assists students in career exploration and decision-making. Used by the military services to determine enlistment eligibility and to assign occupational specialties.

Base A location of an installation on which a military force relies for supplies or from where it initiates operations.

Basic Pay The pay a military member receives, as determined by pay grade and length of service. Does not include other benefits such as allowance or bonuses.

Civilian Anyone not on active duty in the military.

Commissioned Officer A member of the military with the rank of second lieutenant or ensign or above. This role in the military is similar to that of a manager or executive.

DEP Delayed Entry Program. Allows an applicant to delay entry into active duty for up to one year for such things as finishing school.

Drill To train or exercise in military operations.

Duty Assigned task or occupation.

Enlisted Member Military personnel below the rank of warrant or commissioned officers. This role is similar to that of a company employee or supervisor.

Enlistee A service member, not a warrant officer or commissioned officer, who has been accepted by the military and has taken the Oath of Enlistment.

Enlistment Agreement/Contract A legal contract between the military and an enlistment applicant. Includes information on enlistment date, term of enlistment, and other options such as a training program guarantee or a cash bonus.

GI Bill Benefits A program of education benefits for individuals entering the military. Allows service persons to set aside money to be used later for educational purposes.

Inactive Reserve Duty Affiliation with the military in a non-training, non-paying status after completing minimum obligation off active duty service.

Infantry Units of men trained, armed, and equipped to fight on foot.

Job Specialty A specific job or occupation in one of the five services.

MEPS Military Entrance Processing Station. The enlistment process occurs at stations located around the country.

National Guard Serves in both a state and federal capacity. May be call on to assist in community support, disaster relief, and other local emergencies. During national emergencies, units are called on to support their active counterparts in the Army and Air Force.

NCO Non-commissioned Officer. An enlisted member in pay grades E-4 or higher.

Obligation The period of time one agrees to serve on active duty, in the reserve, or a combination of both.

OCS Officer Candidate School. For college graduates with no prior military training who wish to become military officers. Qualified enlisted members may also attend. After successful completion, candidates are commissioned as military officers.

OTS (OTG) Officer Training School (Group). See OCS, Officer Candidate School.

Officer See commissioned officer.

Pay Grade A level of employment designated by the military. There are nine enlisted pay grades and 10 officers pay grades through which they can progress during their career. Pay grade and length of service determine a service member's pay.

Quarters Living accommodations or housing.

Recruit See enlistee.

Regular Military Compensation Total value of basic pay, allowances, and tax savings. The amount of pay a civilian worker would need to earn to receive the same take home "pay" as a services member.

Reserves People in the military who are not on full-time, active duty. May be called up in a national emergency to serve on active duty. During peacetime, they support the active duty forces in our country's defense. Reservists are also entitled to some of the employment benefits available to active military personnel.

ROTC Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Training given to undergraduate college students who plan to become military officers. Often they receive scholarships for tuition, books, fees, uniforms, and a monthly allowance.

Service or Services A branch or multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces. There are five in all: the Army, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Marine Corps (or Marines) and the Navy.

Services Classifier A military information specialist who helps applicants select a military occupational field.

Service Obligation The amount of time an enlisted member agrees to serve in the military as stated in the enlistment agreement.

Station A place of assigned duty.

Tour of Duty A period of obligated service. Also used to describe a type of duty tour, such as a "Mediterranean tour."

Warrant Officer A member of the Army, Navy, or Marines who is a technical specialist or pilot. These members are generally appointed from the enlisted, non-commissioned officer ranks.

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• General Military Questions

204 Common Military Terms / Slang / Jargon / Lingo

Each Military Branch has terms/slang words that may not make sense to a civilian or a member of a different branch.

Military terms/slang originates for various reasons and changes throughout time.

Movies and TV shows may depict terminology that was used in World War II, that is no longer referenced anymore.

It can be hard to stay current with military slang, so OMK created a list of terms/slang that are new or established, but still used, found below.

1MC: The overhead public address system on US Navy ships.

3rd Deck Dive Team:  Mainly a Marine Corps term, meaning someone is suicidal and should dive off of the third deck.

11 Bang-Bang:  Army infantryman

5 Fingers of Death: Beef franks with beans served in some MREs. Named for the number and unpleasant taste

99:  Navy term meaning the information being discussed is pertinent to all personnel

100mph Tape:  Standard Army green duct tape

  Related Article – What is a Navy Squid? 11 Slang Nicknames For Navy  Sailors

AAV:  Amphibious Assault Vehicle

ACU:  Army Combat Uniform

Ali Baba: Iraqi term for the bad guy, criminal, or insurgent

Alpha Charlie:  Verbally reprimanded

Angel:  Used in Iraq to refer to a soldier killed in combat

AOR:  Area of responsibility

As you were: Return to your previous task or posture

AWOL:  Absent Without Official Leave; leaving post without permission

Azimuth Check: A procedure designed by the Army to help soldiers assess their own well-being and readiness 

BAH:  Basic housing allowance

Bang Bang:  Pistol or a Rifle

Barracks Rat:  Personnel who stay in the barracks during downtime

Battlefield Airman: Air Force Special Operations Command pararescue, combat control, and weather troops

Beans, Bullets, and Band-Aids: Reference to supply items such as food, ammunition, or medical supplies

Beat Feet: Move quickly

Beat Your Face:  Push-ups

BFT:  Blue Force Tracker; Equipment that connects with a satellite to provide locations of units as well as maps and routes

Big Voice/Giant Voice: Term used to describe the loudspeaker system on a military base. It will often make a range of announcements, such as alerting soldiers of incoming attacks, the schedule of upcoming ordnance disposal explosions, and when and where to take cover as an attack strikes. It also broadcasts Reveille and Retreat when in Garrison.

Bird:  Helicopter

Blue Canoe:  Portable toilet

BLUF:  Bottom line upfront

Blue Falcon:  Battle buddy who informs higher command of actions; tattletale

Blue-on-Blue: Refers to an attack in which soldiers are unknowingly fighting against their own side, often ending up with injuries and even death

Blue-on-Green:   Similar to the ‘Blue-on-Blue’, this means your own forces are accidentally engaging forces friendly to your force. 

BOLO: Usually an Army derogatory term for an individual who cannot perform a task or meet basic requirements; also can mean “be on the lookout”

Bone:  B1 Bomber

Brad:  M2 Bradley Armored Personal Carrier (APC)

Bravo Zulu:  Good Job

Bubblehead: Personnel in a submarine

Butter Bar:  2nd Lieutenant

C-Wire:  Razor Wire

CAB: (Army) Combat Action Badge; soldiers who perform in the infantry but do not have an infantry MOS

Cat Hole:  Hole in the ground dug by a soldier to use as a bathroom

CC: Company commander 

CCP:  Casualty Collection Point; closest area to action where personnel are triaged

Charlie Mike:  Continue Mission; continue with your task

Chest Candy: Ribbons or Medals worn on the chest of the uniform

CHU:  Small container housing units on large bases

CIB:  (Army) Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Award for infantry who is under fire

Clearing barrel: Dirt-filled area used to clear weapons at entry points of FOB.

Commo: Communications personnel or equipment

CONUS:  Continental United States

COP:  Small base in a combat area, combat outpost

CP:  Check Point

Crank:  (Navy) Temporary galley duty

Crypto: Code that scrambles a radio signal, or those who work in intelligence gathering

CSH:  Combat Support Hospital

Related Article – Military Banned Supplements List

DAP:  Deltoid Auxiliary Protection. Shoulder armor

Dash Ten: An army publication; usually a user or technical manual

Dear John: Break-up letter sent to a soldier from a significant other

Demilitarized Zone: Area where military forces and equipment are banned from

Dependa:  Dependents of a military personnel

Detail:  Referring to a usually unappealing task such as cleaning

DFAC:  Dining facility

Digies:  Digital Camouflage

Double Gates:  The task of referring to individuals with names not of their own when around detainees

Drive On:  To keep going

Dustoff:  Helicopter medical evacuation

Duty Station: Location where a service member is temporarily or permanently conducting work

Embed: Term for a reporter who is provided security, shelter, and transportation by military personnel so they can observe and report on firsthand operations

ERB: (Army) Enlisted Record Brief; a document containing information such as rank, ASVAB details, promotion points, etc.

ETS:  Expiration Term of Service; the date a soldier completes their contract

Farmer Armor- Improvised armor for a vehicle

Fart Sack:  Sleeping Bag, or in some cases a mattress cover.

Fast Mover: Fighter jet

Fat Cakes:  Unhealthy desserts or sweets

File 13:  Garbage can

First Shirt:  First Sergeant

Five-Sided Puzzle Palace:  The Pentagon

FOB:  Forward operating base; a mid-size base with basic provisions

Fobber or Fobbit- Someone who does not leave the FOB

Fourth Point of Contact: Butt; the term comes from a parachute drop in which the fourth point of contact is the butt.

Fruit Salad: Refers to the display of ribbons on a dress uniform (similar to “Chest Candy”)

FST:  Forward Surgical Team

Galley:  Kitchen on a ship

Geardo:  Soldier who spends a large amount of money on military gear that is generally not needed

Gedunk: Snack Food that can be purchased, usually used by Navy sailors on a ship

Glass House: An example of a target house for rehearsing assaults

Goat Trail:  Dirt road

Gofasters:  Sneakers

Good Cookie: The Good Conduct Medal 

Green Beans: A civilian coffee shop company common on larger bases, especially in the Middle East

Green-on-Blue:  Forces “thought to be” friendly to your force accidentally, or not so accidentally, engaging your forces. 

Groundhog Day: Referring to the movie by the same name, and the feeling that each day is the same during deployment

Grunt:  Infantryman

Gum Shoe:  Sailor Cryptology Technician

Haji: Indigenous Iraqi or person of Arabic descent

Hardball:  Paved Road

Hangar Queen:  Aircraft used for replacement parts

Hawk:  Cold weather

Head:  Bathroom on a ship

Helo:  Helicopter

Hesco:  Dirt-filled bins for absorbing explosions

High Speed:  An individual who is highly motivated and at or near peak efficacy. Can be used sarcastically. Often includes “Low Drag”

HMMWV:  High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle

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IDF:  Indirect fire

IED:  Improvised Explosive Device

Ink Stick:  Pen

INTSUM- Intelligence Summary given after events happened

Iron Rations: Rations used in an emergency situation

Jawa- Soldiers stationed in a desert area

JDAM: A bomb dropped from a U.S. aircraft

Joe:  Soldier

JOP:  Joint Operation Planning; Military forces joining for operations

JTF:  Joint Task Force

Kevlar/Kpot/ACH:  Helmet

Kinetic:  Violent military action

Kicks- Kilometers

Knees in the Breeze:  Airborne term for exiting an aircraft

KP:  Kitchen Patrol; kitchen duty

Lands:  Raised spiral surface in the bore of a weapon

Latrine Queen:  (Air Force) Term for a trainee during basic training who is a team lead responsible for bathroom duty.

Left (or Right) Flank:  The far left or right edge of troops in relation to the enemy

LES:  Leave and Earnings Statement; holds information similar to a civilian pay stub

Lima Charlie:  Loud and Clear

Meat Wagon:  Medical Emergency Vehicle

Midnight Rats: Late night food from the chow hall

Mike:  Minutes

Moonbeam- (Marines) Flashlight

MRE:  Meal Ready to Eat. A vacuum-sealed meal with a long shelf life

MSR:  Main supply route

Mustang:  Officer promoted from enlisted ranks

MWR:  Morale, Welfare, and Recreation; military department in charge of recreational facilities

Naval Landing Party:  Navy personnel for ground-force operations ashore

Net:  Radio Network

NGO:  Non-government Organization

No-Go:  Failure at a training station or job task

Nut to Butt:  Standing very close together

O Dark Thirty:  Early in the morning

Oscar Mike:  On the Move

Oconus:  Overseas; not in the continental U.S.

OCS/OTS:  Officer Candidate School; Officer Training School

Officer’s Candy:  Scented cake placed in urinals

OPTEMPO:  Operating Tempo; the pace at which one is working

OTV:  Outer Tactical Vest

PCC:  Pre-combat check

PCS:  Permanent Change of Station

People Tank:  (Navy) Inner hull of a submarine

Pill Pusher:  (Navy) Hospital Corpsman; or a medic

PLF:  Parachute Landing Fall

POG:  Person Other than Grunt. Anyone who’s not Infantry. In other words, if you ain’t Infantry you’re a POG

Pogey Bait: Tasty snacks that are not normally available to soldiers in the field

POO Site:  Point of Origin site

Pond Water- The speed at which a slug / laggard is moving

Pop Smoke:  To leave without being seen

PSD:  Personal Security Detail

QRF:  Quick Reaction Force; ready to react

Quay- Man-made structure between shore and land

Quick Time: Cadence at 120 steps per minute, or also, double time march

Rack:  Refers to a bed; soldiers ‘rack out’, meaning they go to sleep

Red on Red:  Enemy on enemy fire

Release Point: A geographical point where soldiers change from central command to that of their commander 

REMF: Rear Echelon Mother F**ker — a solider far from the front line

Rocks and Shoals:  (Navy) Rules and regulations

ROE:  Rules of Engagement

Ropeyarn Sunday:  (Navy) Half-holiday

ROTC:  Reserve Officer Training Corps

Rotorhead:  Helicopter pilot

RTO:  Radio Telephone Operator or RO-Radio Operator

Ruck:  Rucksack; backpack

Related Article – Reenlistment Codes For Each Military Branch

Sandbox: Iraq, Afghanistan, or other desert area

Scrambled Eggs:  Embellishments on Officer’s caps

Scuttlebutt:  (Navy) Rumors or gossip

Sky Blossom:  Deployed parachute

Smoked:  Physical punishment for some sort of infraction

Snivel Gear:  Cold weather gear

Soup Sandwich:  Something has gone extremely wrong

Speedball:  Refers to a bag dropped from a plane or helicopter for soldiers in the field that contains supplies

Spoon: A cook or culinary specialist

Squid or Swabbie:  U.S. Navy member

SRB: Selective Reenlistment Bonus; Bonus offered to enlisted members as an incentive to reenlist

Taco:  (Air Force) Receiving an unsatisfactory grade during training; shape of the letter resembles a taco shape

TAD:  Temporary Additional Duty

Take a Knee:  Rest

Tango Mike- Thanks much

Target Discrimination: Ability of a surveillance system to choose an individual target when there are multiple options

TCP:  Traffic Control Point

TDY: Temporary Duty – refers to a short-term assignment, and is sometimes expressed as “Temporary Duty Yonder”

TIC:  Troops in a contact fight; can relate to a firefight or IED

TOC:  Tactical Operations Center

Turtleback:  Swimming on your back to watch for direction and a compass

Twidget:  Sailor who works on electronic equipment

UAV:  Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Underground:  Individuals who support resistant movement through secret operations

Unit Identification code: Six character code that identifies military active, reserve, and guard units

UXO:  Unexploded Explosive Ordnance; potential to explode

VBIED:  Vehicle Borne IED; car bomb

Voice in the Sky:  Military base broadcast announcements

Voluntold:  Assignment that is presented as voluntary but is seen as mandatory

Weapons of Mass Destruction: Advanced weapons with the capability of causing mass destruction of casualties

Wingnut: Term for USAF members — WINGNUT comes from the shape of the Air Force E2 rank with single stripes, which looks like a wingnut.

Wire: Term referring to the base; a person is inside or outside the wire

Woobie:  (Army) Issued poncho liner used as a blanket

XO:  Executive Officer; just below the Commanding Officer

Zone of Action:  Small Section of the total tactical area

Zonk:  Released after formation

Zoomie: Army slang for someone in the USAF, normally a pilot

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Military Terms

4.8 out of 5 (85 ratings), related articles you might be interested in:, 7 replies to “ 204 common military terms / slang / jargon / lingo ”.

Rob The USAF term WINGNUT comes from the shape of the E2 rank with single stripes, which looks like a wingnut.

Thanks for that William, just got it changed up.

Rob V, thought of a couple more: Knees in the Breeze – Airborne term for exiting an aircraft. No-Go — Failure at a training station or job task PLF — Parachute Landing Fall

Thanks for those Robert, just got them added.

Rob V. Owner / Founder OperationMilitaryKids.org

Rob V, these are all really good but POG stans for Person Other than Grunt, meaning anyone who’s not Infantry. In other words, if you ain’t Infantry you’re a POG. Said pōg.

Also, you’re missing Blue on Blue, meaning, from the speaker’s perspective their own military accidentally fighting another element of its own forces. Blue on Green meaning your own forces accidentally engaging forces friendly to your force. And Green on Blue meaning Forces “thought to be” friendly to your force accidentally, or not so accidentally engaging your forces. (See the February 17th Militia, Sep 11 2012, Benghazi)

Thanks for that Galen, just made the updates. I appreciate it!

Rob V. OMK Founder

Oscar Mike- on the move

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MILITARY ASSIGNMENT Crossword Clue

All solutions for military assignment, top answers for: military assignment, military assignment crossword puzzle solutions.

3 Solutions - 0 Top suggestions & 3 further suggestions. We have 3 solutions for the frequently searched for crossword lexicon term MILITARY ASSIGNMENT. Furthermore and additionally we have 3 Further solutions for this paraphrase.

For the puzzel question MILITARY ASSIGNMENT we have solutions for the following word lenghts 4 & 6.

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We have 3 solutions to the crossword puzzle MILITARY ASSIGNMENT. The longest solution is DETAIL with 6 letters and the shortest solution is POST with 4 letters.

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The lenght of the solutions is between 4 and 6 letters. In total we have solutions for 2 word lengths.

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noun as in responsibility, task

Strongest matches

• appointment

Strong matches

noun as in selecting or setting apart

• distribution
• apportionment
• appropriation
• assignation
• attribution
• authorization
• consignment
• designation
• determination
• specification
• stipulation

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Example sentences.

Yariel Valdés González and I faced these challenges while on assignment in South Florida and the Deep South from July 21-Aug.

They’re putting time into decoration just as they would in their physical classroom, and students can interact with the space by, say, clicking on a bookshelf to get a reading assignment.

For now, if the district moves to in-person learning, instruction in Carlsbad will take place on campus five days per week and students may engage in additional independent practices and other assignments at home.

The assignments must also respect the relationships between the elements in the group.

It’s very hard, by the way, to do real random assignment studies of couples therapy.

His most recent assignment was the 84th Precinct, at the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn Bridge.

When Lewis was shipped off to Vietnam, his son was just three months old, and the timing of the assignment worried Lewis.

When Vial got that first assignment, she was just beginning her photography career, and Cirque du Soleil was only a few years old.

“For our winter issue, we gave ourselves one assignment: Break The Internet,” wrote Paper.

By the 1950s the rapid assignment of gender to an ambiguously gendered infant had become standard.

Consent to an assignment may be given by the president of the company, without formal vote by the directors.

A transfer by the lessee of the whole or a part of his interest for a part of the time is a sublease and not an assignment.

An assignment to one who has an insurable interest as relative, creditor and the like, is always valid.

When an assignment of it is made, the assignee may sue in his own name for rent accruing after the assignment.

In some states statutes forbid the assignment of such policies for the benefit of creditors.

Related Words

Words related to assignment are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word assignment . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in matter or business to be taken care of; happening activity

• circumstance
• office function
• responsibility
• transaction
• undertaking

noun as in arrangement for meeting; prearranged meeting

• consultation

noun as in job, position of responsibility

• officeholder
• representative

noun as in allocation, setting aside

• setting apart

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On this page you'll find 85 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to assignment, such as: appointment, chore, drill, duty, homework, and job.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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Special military assignment

Today's crossword puzzle clue is a quick one: Special military assignment . We will try to find the right answer to this particular crossword clue. Here are the possible solutions for "Special military assignment" clue. It was last seen in American quick crossword. We have 1 possible answer in our database.

Possible answer:

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Why rights groups say so many Palestinians in the West Bank are being attacked with impunity

Measures aimed at punishing perpetrators are welcomed by advocates but rejected by israel.

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For years, even decades, human rights groups that monitor the occupied West Bank have implored Israel's allies to take steps to punish Jewish settlers and members of Israel's military who attack Palestinians and seem to carry out their actions with impunity.  

And so when word came over the weekend that Israel's closest ally, the United States, reportedly plans to hold members of an Israeli military battalion composed of ultra-orthodox and religious nationalist members accountable, they saw it as progress.

Earlier, the United States and Europe had placed economic and travel sanctions on a few key settlers believed to be responsible for instigating attacks, but implementing penalties and putting restrictions on a branch of the Israel Defence Forces is unprecedented. 

Israel's government was indignant and rejected the suggestion that the military unit should be singled out.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said imposing sanctions on the Netzah Yehuda battalion while the war against Hamas still rages and the unit is fighting in Gaza "casts a heavy shadow" on other IDF units.

And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the potential U.S. measure was "the peak of absurdity and a moral low," as he vowed to fight it.

A series of U.S. statutes, known as the Leahy Laws, prohibit U.S. military assistance from being transferred to organizations that the U.S. State Department determines have committed human rights abuses.

And by many accounts, the abuses attributed to Netzah Yehuda during its decades-long time as enforcers of Israel's rules in the West Bank are about as bad as they get. 

In one incident in 2022, members of the unit dragged a 78-year-old American Palestinian man, Omar Assad, from his car after being stopped at a checkpoint. He was bound, gagged, blindfolded and beaten. An autopsy concluded he died of a heart attack from the stress of the encounter.

Violent rampages against property, Palestinians say

While the U.S. move is linked to events that happened before Oct. 7, the potential sanctions come at a time when violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has reached new levels in the aftermath of Hamas's attacks on southern Israel.

There have been violent rampages against Palestinian homes, businesses and property almost every day of late, in many cases with Israeli soldiers present, but not intervening to stop the rampages, say Palestinians who witnessed them.

Palestinian officials say  more than 486 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7, many in military raids and others from attacks by settlers. 

West Bank engulfed by wave of settler violence

The United Nations has recorded 774 attacks by settlers on Palestinians in the past six months, with Israeli soldiers present in nearly half the attacks. Human Rights Watch says the violence has forced Palestinians to flee at least seven communities permanently. 

In its most recent report encapsulating the whole of the year — both before and after Oct. 7 —  the UN said 2023 was the worst year for settler attacks on Palestinians in any year since tracking started in 2006. 

"If you want to solve the problem, you have to go after the government that's responsible for allowing this to happen," said Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director for Human Rights Watch.

"The reason why we're seeing this unprecedented increase in settler violence is because of decades of impunity for settler violence," he told CBC News in an interview in Ramallah.

"They [settlers] are armed by the Israeli government. They are sometimes directly encouraged to carry out attacks, and they're doing so in more and more areas that the Israeli government covets for settlements."

In a WhatsApp message to CBC News, the IDF said its role is to "protect the property and lives of all citizens," and that security forces have "means to disperse demonstrations."   

A team from CBC News recently spent time in the village of Al Mughayyir, about 27 kilometres northeast of Ramallah, which was the site of a deadly rampage by hundreds of settlers on April 12.   

Over the following two days and nights,  other Palestinian villages  nearby were also burned, causing damage to 60 properties and more than 100 vehicles, according to Israeli human rights group Yesh Din.

We visited the scene of a deadly shooting at the home of Abdullatif Abu Alia.

A blood-soaked pillow and blanket on the flat roof of his home marked the spot where he said his cousin, Jehad Abu Alia, bled to death.

"Hundreds of settlers besieged the house," he told CBC News.

• 15 Palestinians killed across West Bank in Israeli forces raid, settler violence: health officials
• Violence flares in West Bank as Israeli army reports finding body of missing teenager

Jehad Abu Alia, 25, was visiting his extended family when the home was suddenly surrounded by masked settlers,  many carrying guns, and others throwing rocks.

Abu Alia said his family barricaded themselves inside as windows were smashed and vehicles outside set on fire.

Abu Alia said at one point, someone on the ground fired shots at their position on the top of the building and Jehad was hit in the head.  

" The army was helping [the settlers] and they stopped all kinds of ambulances and medical people from coming to help the injured," Abu Alia said. 

With no way to get his cousin to hospital, Abu Alia said all he could do was to try to stop the blood gushing from the wound himself, in what turned out to be a futile effort to save his life.

The trigger for the Al Mughayyir rampage was the disappearance that morning of a 14-year-old Israeli teenager and sheep herder, Benjamin Achimeir.   

Not long after the mob attack began, a police drone spotted his body not far from the outskirts of Al Mughayyir.

Although the circumstances of his death remain unexplained by Israeli authorities, Netanyahu called it a "heinous murder."

On Monday morning, the IDF, Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet and Israeli police announced they had arrested a 21-year-old Palestinian. The statement said he had "implicated himself" in the teen's death after an interrogation by Shin Bet. 

Since the violence in Al Mughayyir, there have been several attacks by settlers in the West Bank, including one this past weekend that killed a Palestinian ambulance driver who came to help the injured in the town of As-Sawiya, according to the Palestinian Health Authority.

• U.S. action on West Bank violence too little too late, says aunt of slain Palestinian American teen

"Since Oct. 7, we have seen an unprecedented integration of violent settlers into the security forces," said Shakir, of Human Rights Watch.

"So whereas before there was a clear differentiation between security forces and settlers, you have increasing situations where settlers are wearing army uniforms."

Settler population increased

Under successive Israeli governments, the settler population has surged, growing 15 per cent in the last five years, according to one study by the pro-settler group WestBankJewishPopulationStats.com. 

There are now more 517,000 settlers  living in the occupied West Bank, with 200,000 Jewish settlers living in occupied areas of East Jerusalem.

The United Nations considers the Jewish settlements to be illegal, as do Canada and many other Western countries.

Shakir said of late, revenge has been another motive for the violence, with many settlers seeking retribution on Palestinians in the West Bank for Hamas's massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7.

The Hamas militants who streamed across the Gaza border and into Israel on Oct. 7 killed more than 1,200 people and kidnapped 253 people, according to Israeli government tallies.

Palestinian officials say more than 34,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, with Israel's military flattening vast parts of the territory in an effort to destroy Hamas.

West Bank family blames Israeli settlers, U.S. for violence

During the CBC News visit to Al Mughayyir, our team also met with Palestinian shepherd Imad Abu Alia.

He said in the months leading up to the attack on the village, settlers from several nearby communities had been using drones to watch his property and track his herd of sheep while they grazed.

During the mayhem in Al Mughayyir, he said a group came onto his farm and burned his barn, killing some of his sheep and stealing the rest of the 120 animals in his herd. 

When he tried to save his flock, he said the mob attacked him, leaving him with a neck brace and immobilized in bed.

"They beat me so much to the point that I saw death with my own eyes," he told CBC News.

Without his sheep to support his family, Abu Alia said he does not know what he will do.

"These sheep are like my children," he said. "I just want them back."

Rights groups say seizing the livestock of Palestinians and constructing grazing outposts has become a new tactic of the settlers, as it deprives Palestinians of an income and often forces them to abandon their properties.

CBC News asked Israel's military for more details on the death of Benjamin Achimeir.   

In a WhatsApp message, the IDF said that there were "signs of violence" but did not provide further details.

With regards to Palestinian allegations about the conduct of Israeli soldiers in Al Mughayyir, the IDF said complaints "about soldiers' behaviour that is not in accordance with orders will be examined."

• Killings of Palestinian children are soaring in the West Bank. Advocates say it happens with impunity
• Analysis With focus on Gaza, Israeli settlers ramping up attacks on Palestinians in West Bank

Regarding the allegations that security forces held up ambulances and prevented the wounded from reaching hospital, the IDF said that was necessary for a "security check" before the ambulances were given the authorization to continue.   

Israeli human rights group Yesh Din says between 2005 and 2022, 93 per cent of investigations against settlers who attacked Palestinians were closed without any charges.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Foreign Correspondent

Chris Brown is a foreign correspondent based in the CBC’s London bureau. Previously in Moscow, Chris has a passion for great stories and has travelled all over Canada and the world to find them.

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Attack was a calculated message to Iran, retired US Army general says

From CNN's Michael Holmes and Elizabeth Wolfe

The attack on Iran early Friday was likely intended as both a retaliatory measure and a cautionary message, a retired US Army Major General told CNN.

For days, Israel has been weighing its response to unprecedented weekend strikes from Iran, which were launched in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria earlier this month.

A US official told CNN that Friday's attack was an Israeli strike. Israel has declined to comment on it.

“Israel must maintain its vigilance” in case Iran decides to respond with another show of force, retired Major General Mark MacCarley said.

By targeting the Iranian province of Isfahan — the site of significant nuclear facilities —Israel was likely warning that it could easily overwhelm Iran's defenses, MacCarley said.

“I think that there was a very deliberate thought process on the part of the Israeli war cabinet," he said.

"Israelis had to retaliate, but at the same time, within that retaliation was a message, and that is, 'Yes, we can get through. Don’t do it again. If you do it again, then all heck will break out.'"

Blast heard near Isfahan was caused by air defense firing at "suspicious object," Iranian official says

From CNN's Adam Pourahmadi and Irene Nasser

A loud blast heard near the Iranian city of Isfahan was caused by "air defense firing at a suspicious object," an Iranian senior military commander said, according to Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency.

There was no "damage or incident," said senior military commander Second Brigadier General Mihandoust in Isfahan Province, according to Tasnim.

A US official told CNN that Israel had carried out a strike inside Iran. The Israeli military has not commented.

Iranian state media are reporting that all facilities in the area are secure, including significant nuclear facilities .

Three explosions were heard early Friday near the military base where fighter jets are located in the Isfahan province, Iran's semi-official FARS news agency reported.

Iran's National Cyberspace Center spokesman, Hossein Dalirian, said air defenses shot down three drones and "there are no reports of a missile attack for now."

The Middle East is on edge after a strike on Iran. Here's what we know

From CNN staff

Israel has carried out a strike inside Iran, a US official told CNN on Friday , in a move that threatens to further escalate conflict in the Middle East.

Iran’s air defense systems were activated in several locations after explosions were heard close to the airport and an army base in the province of Isfahan, state media reported early Friday morning.

Israel has not taken responsibility for the attack.

Here's what we know:

• What Iranian reports say: Three blasts were heard near a military base where fighter jets are located in northwest Isfahan, Iran’s semi-official FARS news agency reported. Following the strike, Iranian media reported that all facilities around Isfahan are secure, including significant nuclear facilities in the area. Iran's National Cyberspace Center spokesman, Hossein Dalirian, said air defenses shot down three drones and "there are no reports of a missile attack for now."
• What was the target? That remains unclear, but the US official told CNN the strike's target was not nuclear. According to FARS, a military radar was a possible target. Ghahjaworstan, where an explosion was heard, is located near Isfahan Airport and “the eighth hunting base of the Army Air Force,” FARS reported.
• How did we get here? Tensions remain acute across the Middle East as Israel wages war in Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas, an Iranian ally. Meanwhile, a decades-long shadow conflict between Israel and Iran erupted into the open on the weekend when Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel that Tehran said was retaliation for a deadly suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria.
• What Israel says: The Israeli military said Friday they "don't have a comment at this time" when asked by CNN about reports of explosions in Iran. Israel's war cabinet has met periodically this week without announcing any definitive action following the Iranian strikes on Israel last weekend.
• What the US says: Israel’s allies, including the United States , have called for restraint from Israel in a bid to prevent a regional war. The US "didn’t green light" an Israeli response, another senior US official told CNN. Prior to Friday's strike, the US expectation was that Israel would not target civilian or nuclear facilities, the second official said.
• What happens next? That also remains unclear. Reports of the explosions came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN  that if Israel takes any further military action against Iran, its response would be “immediate and at a maximum level.” He added: “If the Israeli regime commits the grave error once again our response will be decisive, definitive and regretful for them.”

Iran lifts flight suspensions put in place following reports of explosions

Iran has lifted flight suspensions put in place after reports of explosions near a military base in Isfahan province, according to the spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Organization.

"We inform you that the operational restrictions imposed on the airports have been removed and the airlines are allowed to carry out scheduled flights," the spokesperson said.

Flights have resumed at Mehrabad Airport and Imam Khomeini International Airport, the two major airports in Iran's capital, Tehran, after being suspended earlier today.

Iran had earlier temporarily suspended all flights heading to the cities of “Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, the airports of the West, North West and South West," state-run Mehr TV reported.

Outgoing flights were also briefly canceled.

Iranian state media reports no major disruption to Isfahan's infrastructure

From CNN's Nic Robertson and Elizabeth Wolfe

Following a strike in Iran's Isfahan province, Iranian state media are reporting that all facilities in the area are secure, including significant nuclear facilities, CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson reports.

Though a US official told CNN Israel has carried out a strike inside Iran, Israel has not taken responsibility for the attack.

"The overall impression that's being related by the Iranian government and other media outlets in Iran is that whatever events have happened — and they do leave it rather ambiguous — it has not damaged significantly any important facilities near Isfahan," Robertson said.

State media is also reporting that they have not had any enemy aircraft come into Iranian airspace, he added.

Flight en route to Tehran returns to Dubai

From CNN's Sandi Sidhu in Hong Kong 

A flight from Dubai to Tehran was diverted back to the United Arab Emirates on Friday morning after Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport closed. 

A Flydubai spokesperson told CNN that flights from Dubai to Iran had been canceled. 

"Flydubai flight FZ 1929 from Dubai to Tehran on 19 April has returned to Dubai due to the closure of Tehran Airport (IKA). In line with the issued NOTAM, our flights to Iran today have been canceled. The safety of our passengers and crew is our priority," the spokesperson said.

The flight left for Dubai at 4:10 a.m. (8:10 p.m. ET) and arrived back in Dubai at 5:51 a.m. (9:51 a.m. ET). 

US Secretary of Defense spoke with Israeli Defense Minister earlier Thursday before Israel attacked Iran

From CNN's Mary Kay Mallonee

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant earlier Thursday about “regional threats and Iran’s destabilizing actions in the Middle East,” according to a Pentagon readout.

The call happened before Israel carried out a strike inside Iran . The Pentagon readout does not mention any discussion of Israel’s plans to attack.

Austin also discussed "the importance of increasing and sustaining the flow of humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians, including via the new route from Ashdod Port in Israel," the readout said.

CNN reported Thursday night that Israel had told the US that it would be retaliating against Iran in the coming days, according to a senior US official.

Iran's air defense downs 3 drones, official says, as state media reports no large-scale strikes

From CNN's Adam Pourahmadi and Hamdi Alkhshali

Iranian air defenses shot down three drones Friday, according to a Tehran official, as state media said no large-scale strikes or explosions had been reported following blasts near the central city of Isfahan.

It comes after a US official told CNN Friday that Israel had carried out a strike inside Iran, in a move that threatens to raise regional tensions.

Iran's air defense systems were activated in several regions as a precaution against potential aerial threats, according to state news agency IRNA.

“Following the activation of air defense in some parts of the country to deal with some possible targets, reports indicate that so far, no large-scale strikes or explosions caused by any air threat has been reported,” IRNA said early Friday local time.

Extensive checks in Isfahan, a critical central province with significant nuclear facilities, indicate that all sensitive military and security installations remain secure, with no incidents reported.

Missile defense systems were not activated, IRNA added.

This post has been updated.

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Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Astros first baseman averaging less than jersey number.

• April 24, 2024
• Carly Wimer

Houston Astros first baseman José Abreu , once one of the best hitters in baseball, has a batting average lower than his jersey number.

No batter has had a worse start to the season than Abreu . The Astros first baseman has just four hits in 65 plate appearances nearly a month into the season. Abreu, who wears the No. 79, is batting .068/.138/.085 with a career-high 26.2% strikeout percentage.

Less than a month after winning the World Series in 2022, the Astros signed free agent José Abreu to a three-year, $58.5 million contract. After nine years with the Chicago White Sox, Abreu entered free agency following a season where he slashed .304/.378/.446. The two-time American League RBI leader had long been one of the best middle-of-the-order run producers in baseball. Lesser known for his homers, Houston pursued the former MVP because he was an elite contact hitter capable of driving in runs.

Forget weight, Jose Abreu is no longer hitting his jersey number. pic.twitter.com/0aPiP1dB9B — BK (@TheBennettK) April 17, 2024

José Abreu Has Lower Batting Average Than Jersey Number

However, the veteran slugger has struggled in an Astros uniform. The 37-year-old began his Astros career with a 10-game hit streak before finishing the season with a line of .237/.296/.383. Abreu struggled with a back injury for much of the season and seemed to turn a corner after a 10-day stint on the injured list. He averaged .248 with 29 hits, eight homers, and 34 RBI in the final 31 games of the season. Astros general manager Dana Brown has said Houston will continue to give Abreu playing time to “see if he can get hot” like he did late last season. Brown also said if the veteran doesn’t show signs of improvement, they’ll have to “circle back and make some decisions.”

After winning the AL West in six of the last seven seasons , Houston now sits dead last in the division. The Astros have had an injury problem that has plagued their rotation with several key starters on the injured list. Houston lost several relievers to free agency in the off-season who pitched nearly 185 innings of relief combined last season.

Players who start off a season slowly are often scrutinized because terrible starts are more noticeable than mid-season struggles. As Brown noted, teams are often wary about overreacting to a small sample in April. However, given Abreu’s disappointing season last year, his struggles in year two seem to be magnified. 

“He’s scuffling right now and I think he knows it. It’s wearing on him. I’m sure it’s wearing on our hitting coaches,” Brown said. “The frustration mounts but ultimately, hopefully, he can turn this thing around.”

Photo Credit: © Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

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