Navy SEALs Slang

"Navy SEAL Slang"

Once your Sailor ships out for BUD/S training it's time to speak the language ( Navy SEAL Slang ). Your Sailor will arrive as a Tappole and after passing BUD/S they will be on there way to being known as a member of the most Elite Force in the military "Navy SEALS". Navy Dads wishes them the best from the days when they're known as Tadpoles to when they earn the right to be called a Navy Special Warfare Operator. Good luck to them during BUD/S and good luck to you learning their language.


A SEAL Team Glossary:


40 Mike Mile - 40 millimeter grenade launcher. Accurate to 400 yards. At closer range, this weapon fires a "beehive" round -- an annoying package full of 200 finned roofing nails.

AOT - Advanced Operator Training. A comprehensive, ongoing series of training evolutions to keep SEAL Team members at peak readiness.

Body Snatch - An operation to capture high-value enemy personnel. A kidnapping.

Banana - A student at Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL Training (BUD/S.) Said to be a qualified member of the SEAL Teams, it's a HORRENDOUS insult.

BUD/S - Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training. BUD/S is the 26-week basic course of SEAL instruction. Described in the military lexicon as "demanding physically and mentally," dropout rates of 80-90% are not uncommon. It is the crucible in which SEALS are made.

Budweiser - Nickname for the device worn by qualified Navy Special Warfare Operators. The Navy prefers to call the badge a "Trident" -- the name Budweiser stuck because of the strong resemblance the device bears to the eagle on a can of Budweiser beer.

Bullfrog - The Title of Bull Frog is given to the UDT/SEAL operator with the most time in service after they complete Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL BUD/S or Underwater Demolition Team Replacement Accession (UDTRA) training. Rank does not matter.

Burn In - As a verb, it describes a parachute malfunction. A total burn in usually results in a bad case of "dirt poisoning."

Circus - A special training evolution conducted at BUD/S. A punishment exercise reserved for students who have shown themselves in need of extra motivation. A circus might include dragging a telephone pole from Coronado, California to the Mexican border. (No kidding.)

Dreager - A German made, closed-circuit SCUBA rig. Used by SEAL teams for maritime sabotage. The Dreager is unique because the gases exhaled by the diver are re-used. Leaves no bubbles.

Drown-proofing - A swimming evolution at BUD/S. Tied hand and foot, students have to tread water ten minutes, swim 100 yards and retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool with their teeth. The exercise is designed to build confidence -- if you live.

E and E - Escape and Evade. Individual passage back to safe areas following a SEAL operation.

Fast Rope - Method of descending from a helicopter by gripping a special rope and sliding. No carabiners, climbing harnesses, or other sissy stuff.

Frog Hog - A female SEAL groupie.

HAHO - High Altitude, High Opening. A method of parachute insertion where a ram-air parachute, opened at altitude, is flown toward the target. Great distances can be covered by this method.

HALO - High Altitude, Low Opening. Converse of above. An exiting high, the parachute is deployed at a low-altitude directly over the target. Pretty scary at night.

Haversack - A 20-pound knapsack full of plastic explosive. A frogman's friend.

Hell Week - Usually the fourth week of BUD/S. The class is divided into boat crews and set against each other in a six-day contest of foot races, boat races, swims and paddles. Running 24-hours a day, for six days, there is physical and psychological harassment designed to push each man to his breaking point -- and beyond. It is not unusual for 60% of a class to quit during this period. See "Ring Out" below.

Hoo Yah - Class frogman yell. ("HooYah, HooYah, HooYah, HEY! Today's gonna be another easy day!")

K-Bar - Navy issue diving and fighting knife. Also called the "rusty trusty".

Kick Stroke and Glide - UDT power stroke. A sidestroke swimming technique developed by frogmen in World War II. This powerful stroke allowed for members of the Underwater Demolition Teams to swim for miles towing demolitions and weapons. It continues in use today.

Limpet - A particularly nasty magnetic mine. Placed by SEALS against the hulls of enemy vessels, cars, tanks, etc.

Monster Mash - A gruelling PT evolution. The basic Monster Mash might include, a ten-mile run followed by a two-mile swim, followed by a three-mile boat paddle and rifle shoot. It's a race, naturally, and it pays to be a winner. Believe it or not, Monster Mashes were the predecessors of the modern triathlon.

Non-Qual - Any human being who did not graduate from BUD/S.

Op - A special Warfare operation.

O Course - The grueling obstacle course at BUD/S.

Operator - A designated member of a SEAL Team. To earn the Navy's 5326 designation, a Team member must graduate from BUD/S, Army Airborne School, SEAL AOT and a 6 to 12-month probationary period. Only then is a sailor allowed to wear the Budweiser, marking him as a Navy SEAL.

Platoon - The operational unit of the Navy SEALS. Usually two officers and 12 enlisted.

Probation - 6 to 12-month period following graduation from BUD/S where the neophyte frogman is evaluated.

PT - Daily physical training. Varies greatly from calisthenics, runs, swims, triathlons. See Monster Mash.

Quitter - People who drop out of BUD/S. The worst insult anyone can say to a qualified Operator.

Ring Out - Quit. At BUD/S a brass bell hangs in the quadrangle. Whenever a student desires to quit, all he has to do is ring the bell 3 times. No questions asked. No prejudicial comments are placed in his records. It can be a pretty tempting proposition after an 8-mile swim.

Rollback - A BUD/S student (usually an injury) who is rolled back to the following class.

Rope a Dope - A static line parachute jump.

Rubber Duck - Method of parachuting a Zodiac boat and motor from an airplane. Of course, you have to jump out after it.

Smooth Dog - As a noun, a slick-talking womanizer. As a verb, it means to talk your way out of a tough situation.

Sneak and Peak - A reconnaissance operation.

Sneak Attack - An underwater demolition attack against a surface vessel.

Sugar Cookie - What happens when a wet BUD/S student is told to roll in the sand for 100 yards.

Tadpole - A BUD/S student. (See "Banana")

The Teams - The Navy Special Warfare Community.

Toasty Warm - The temperature of the Pacific Ocean at Coronado, California. Usually about 56'F. (Try treading water in it for six hours without a wetsuit.)

UDT - Underwater Demolition Teams. Phased out in 1983, UDT teams were manned by Navy special Warfare Operators who specialized in Maritime sabotage and Amphibious Reconnaissance. The real frogmen.

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