What does Hooah mean to you?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 09:49:00 -0400

I heard hooah means anything but no. What does it mean to you?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Oct 2 at 2015 9:52 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 09:52:24 -0400

"I don't know what to say and just want out of this formation."

Response by SGT David T. made Oct 2 at 2015 9:57 AM

SGT David T. — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 09:57:20 -0400

Am I strange that I never used that word in 9 years of service? lol

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 10:07 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:07:52 -0400

Nothing. It is Armyspeak and I am not fluent in that language.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 10:12 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:12:13 -0400

No matter what I could say, SGT Ben Keen has the best response IMHO.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 2 at 2015 10:14 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:14:32 -0400

Response by SGT Carissa Lara, RCS made Oct 2 at 2015 10:15 AM

SGT Carissa Lara, RCS — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:15:14 -0400

It depends on the context. I've found it can be used for anything from Yes to Roger to F-You. In fact, I knew an NCO that would make you do push ups if you said Hooah to him because he interpreted it as F-You.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 10:16 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:16:31 -0400

I've heard a rumor that it started as an acronym HUA, Heard, Understood, Acknowledged. I think there's about a 50% chance that's accurate.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 10:21 AM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:21:56 -0400

Heard. Understood. Acknowledged.

But really... It's becoming a derogatory term to describe a Soldier that eat breaths and lived Army or does something that's over the top enthusiastic. Unless you're in TRADOC hah

Response by SFC Stephen King made Oct 2 at 2015 10:27 AM

SFC Stephen King — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 10:27:50 -0400

Is it the word or how it is expressed with the emotion attached to it? I say "Hooah?!" but it depends on my non-verbal communication and emotion as to the intent of meaning

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 2 at 2015 1:31 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 13:31:53 -0400

"With everything I got".....even if it is agreeing that a mission deserves more dirt on top of it in the slit trench.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Oct 2 at 2015 3:03 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 15:03:59 -0400

It is an odd sound that is irritating and reminds me of the bleating sheep. Having said that, I must disclose I was in the army long before hooah was in the army. So, when it first started creeping into the army lingo my though was, what the hell? Hmmm, it's a fling thing, it will pass. I was, and still am, irritated by its meaninglessness, omni-meaning, and even its utilization, specially false enthusiasm. At first I thought it was a misappropriation and bastardization of the the Marine Corps "Hoo-Rah". I thought, that's for the Marines, so we can't do that, and not only that, you're saying it wrong, it's Hoo-Rah, not Hooah. Well, since the early 80s, when I first started hearing it, till now, it has picked up steam and, to the new kids, is part of the army. So, enjoy it. For me, I prefer, "let's roll".

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Oct 2 at 2015 5:24 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 17:24:40 -0400

Hooah originated in the Ranger Battalions in the late 70's. It was derived from a Samoan/Hawaiian chant who did it as a morale booster each time they made a stroke with their oars. It was used originally as "I understand and will comply with your request". It has expanded considerably since it's first use to mean just about anything.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2015 8:20 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 08:20:42 -0400

Sir, I think that about sums it up. Hooah answers ANY question, and really does mean anything you want it to mean. It can even mean an under-your-breath "f#*! you" when that is how you feel toward a superior at a bad moment... *laughter*

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2015 4:39 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 16:39:06 -0400

It means... I understand and will accomplish any task set forth, in a high speed, low drag manner! Hooah!

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Oct 26 at 2015 1:30 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 01:30:16 -0400

Thankfully it wasn't used when I was in. To me is sounds sort of dumb.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2015 11:04 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 11:04:33 -0500

its the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I have never once said it and I look at people who do in a pretty negative way. its another example of the army playing "me too!" the marines have a cool catch phrase so we need one too!
kinda like the ACU's.. the marines got cool, functional real camo uniforms and the army once again said "me too!" and came out with the most worthless uniform I have ever seen. the army is like the younger brother to other services that's always trying to keep with trends by coming up with its own stuff but it sucks at it.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2017 8:13 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 08:13:31 -0400

HUA: Heard Understood Acknowledge. An accronym used for brevity in the Army. HOOAH: I dont know what I am saying. lol

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2018 8:21 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 08:21:38 -0400

That is what it means

Response by SGT Brian Pasquarelli made Jun 15 at 2022 6:35 PM

SGT Brian Pasquarelli — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 18:35:04 -0400

Giving it all you got. Also the sound of an artillery round leaving a gun.

Response by GySgt Jesse Goodson made Jun 16 at 2022 10:24 AM

GySgt Jesse Goodson — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 10:24:32 -0400

Ready, willing and able

Response by CH (1LT) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2022 7:17 PM

CH (1LT) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 19:17:49 -0400

Come at me bro

Response by SPC Joseph Harris made Jul 6 at 2022 8:29 PM

SPC Joseph Harris — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 20:29:43 -0400

HOOAH!!! Everything but no...

Response by SSG Conrad Sylvestrelamb made Jul 26 at 2022 1:07 AM

SSG Conrad Sylvestrelamb — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 01:07:13 -0400

US ARMY , UNCLE SAM AIN'T RELEASED ME YET . HOOAH

Response by SPC Nancy Detwiler made Jul 28 at 2022 4:46 AM

SPC Nancy Detwiler — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 04:46:19 -0400

Heard, understood and acknowledged. Or just plain old hell yeah!

Response by Cpl Peter Murphy made Jul 29 at 2022 1:18 AM

Cpl Peter Murphy — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 01:18:49 -0400

army

Response by SPC Russell Nixon made Aug 11 at 2022 9:23 PM

SPC Russell Nixon — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 21:23:47 -0400

Anything except "No".

Response by Sgt Leon Hoskins made Aug 31 at 2022 8:20 PM

Sgt Leon Hoskins — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 20:20:13 -0400

Marines

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Oct 28 at 2022 1:51 PM

SSG Eric Blue — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 13:51:13 -0400

Similar to what "Airborne" means. More often than not during my career, "hooah" meant "REALLY?!? THIS G--DAMN SHIT AGAIN?!?", "Sure thing, sir/ma'am/sergeant/1SG/chief!", or "I hear what you're saying...your logic is flawed and your plan is all kinds of f---ed up, but I'm going to execute what you're saying because I respect your rank. Not YOU!" Those were the most basic interpretations of "hooah" that I heard during my career. I think that it's supposed to be motivating and all it ever did was drain me.

Response by SSG Steve Knox made Dec 30 at 2022 10:36 AM

SSG Steve Knox — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 10:36:04 -0500

It is the armed forces "battle cry" of brotherhood and unity during peacetime and in conflict.

Response by SP5 Lorie Teshak-Johnson made Jan 6 at 2023 11:15 AM

SP5 Lorie Teshak-Johnson — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 11:15:56 -0500

To an outsider it means absolutely nothing. To me it is a shout of comradely, cohesiveness and a sense of pride. Being one of many who shout together at the top of their lungs “hoohah “ gives one an instant sense of belonging and family and tribe. It is a wonderful binding word that connect us as soldiers as one. It is a “military call” you never forget.

Response by 1SG John Millan made Jan 30 at 2024 10:06 AM

1SG John Millan — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:06:08 -0500

Literally, from British Army, when Commonwealth colonial troops often spoje no English. A NCO who spoke both languages would tell an officer after getting an order, Heard, Understood, Acknowledged, HUA, which morphed into Hooah. Means yes Sir, Yes Ma'am, all is good, rock n rol!