Learn the lingo

Any military organization has its own vocabulary and Officer Candidates School is no exception. Some of the nomenclature may border on profane, but no one has ever accused leathernecks of speaking the King’s English.

Although Marine officer candidates are acquainted with the usual nautical terms – referring to left and right as “port” and “starboard” and calling a door a “hatch,” there are some terms used in the OCS squad bays that are a little more obscure:

Candidate: The name used to describe someone going through a Marine commissioning program. It is the first word in almost any sentence a would-be officer utters, such as: “Candidate Amalfi requests permission to speak to the company commander, sir!”

Fart sack: A sock-like sheet that slips over a candidates’ mattress in place of a fitted bottom sheet.

Portholes: Thick-framed – and particularly ugly – glasses. “If you have the guts to wear those portholes out on liberty, I’ll buy you a drink,” one gunny said. Also known as “BCGs” – an abbreviation for “birth-control glasses.” When you see them, it’s not hard to figure out why.

House: The term used to describe the candidates’ barracks housing. The staff also have offices there.

Squad bay: The long open room that houses each candidate platoon. It is filled with bunk beds, lockers and fast-moving officer candidates.

Moonbeam: A flashlight.

Ruck: A backpack.

Shower shoes: “They’re not flip flops; we’re not in Miami. They’re ‘shower shoes.’ ” Thin, cheap flip flops worn by the candidates in the locker room-style shower attached to the squad bay.

Go-fasters: “They’re not Reeboks, they’re not Nikes, they’re not Adidas, they’re ‘go fasters.’ ” Regardless of the brand, this term refers to the running shoes the candidates wear early in their training cycle, while they’re still breaking in their boots, as well as during physical training throughout the course.

Ink stick: A ball-point pen.

Gouge: Any information or instructions, written or verbal.

Scuttlebutt: Can be used alternately as word to describe a water fountain or a rumor.

Pogey bait: Candy or snacks. The term possibly derives from the term “pogue,” used to describe anyone working in an administrative capacity. One would use “pogey bait” to bribe a “pogue” into doing a Marine a favor.

War belt: A web fabric utility belt on which candidates carry their canteens and ponchos.

Knowledge: The small green candidate regulations book that every would-be officer must carry at all times.

Hats: The nickname for a platoon’s sergeant instructors. The term refers to the iconic “smokey bear” campaign cover worn by drill instructors at the Marine Corps’ recruit depots – though the sergeant instructors don’t wear them at OCS.

Killed in action: When a candidate drops from the program or is otherwise sent home early without earning a commission, the remaining candidates refer to that individual as “killed in action.”