What's your favorite military "nickname" or "call sign"?

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 20:37:34 -0500

It's no secret, we're big on nicknames in the military, and there's some really great ones out there... so, what's your favorite?  It could be a nickname that you had, or someone you know, from a move or tv show; it could be a nickname for a rank, base/location, career field, position/title, weapon system, piece of gear, personnel, or just about anything else under the sun. Perhaps it was a nickname for a mascot, civilian personnel, military family member, or something altogether different that has to do w/ the military, military life, or life from the military perspective.  Well, this should be an absolute blast folks; so, feel free to share any related info, facts, photos, links, historical context, or just plain entertaining sea stories.  The idea here is simple, to share fun and interesting info and to learn a thing or two in the process; now let's get this thing started, so pull up a keyboard, and... see you all in the discussion threads! 

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2013 8:41 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 20:41:04 -0500

They call me " SKI" and that has been with me for 16yrs.

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Dec 4 at 2013 4:57 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:57:23 -0500

When I was a PVT E-1 very new to the Army, I was the baby of my group and my NCOIC called me "Little man", lol

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 12:25 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 00:25:00 -0500

I have no idea where it came from but during my first deployment they started calling me "GibRAWR".

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 12:34 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 00:34:01 -0500

All through Basic, and Several other times in my Military Career, I've been called "Shrek" (for obvious reasons)... I really like that.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 7:20 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 07:20:43 -0500

People seem to like to call me granpa  ever since I was in basic at the age of 37.  I still get called grandpa in my unit even from some that are around my age.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 7:43 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 07:43:42 -0500

I was Chicken Little (thank you BCGs). Lets just say that the PRK surgery was the best thing that ever! 

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Dec 5 at 2013 7:40 PM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 19:40:20 -0500

<p>It's not a favorite military nickname but "combat Barbie" and "PAO princess". </p><p> </p><p>My response: "am not" lol. </p>

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 5 at 2013 7:50 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 19:50:48 -0500

Oh man I got a ton of them.  My first was in AIT.  I had a really nice car at the time (98 Supra Twin Turbo).  The 1SG and drill sergeants couldn't believe I had a car like that at that age so they said I had to be undercover CID.  So thats what they called me CID.<div>My 1SG later became the commandant for our NCOES as a CSM.  When I saw him there all those years later he told me he used to take my car out at night because I had to turn in my keys to him until graduation.  I didn't believe him until he showed me pictures!  LOL</div>

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Dec 5 at 2013 8:45 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 20:45:51 -0500

My nickname was "<b>Princess</b>" when I was an O-1.  I probably should not type that on the internet.  Wait, how do I edit a comment again, SSG Burns? ;-)

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Dec 5 at 2013 9:30 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:30:38 -0500

Oh boy, mine all depend on when and where you may have heard of me. While I was a student at the Naval Academy Prep School in NETC Newport, RI from 94-95, everyone called me Crazy Ray. The name had even spread to the Naval War College where I'd have random Marine Colonels, Navy Captains, a few Generals, and Admirals walk right up to me and say "Do you know Crazy Ray?" followed by "Everyone knows Crazy Ray." Let's just say I some how ended up in a few interesting situations while I was over there.<br><br>Then from 99 on while on Work Ups for the 15th MEU, one of the Marines in my platoon called me The Ferndog, after that it caught on and some how spread through out the MEU, and to the various ports we visited. There were a lot of crazy adventures there too, and luckily the statute of limitations expired on those events as well.<br>

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 9:33 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:33:50 -0500

B.R. Assfield at your service. Not as bad as this soldier I knew some years back. He was pretty lazy, so naturally Whitworth became Whitworthless and sometimes Shitworth. 

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 9:34 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:34:27 -0500

When I was in Basic the cadre called me Shrek (because they said I looked like the human Shrek without the hair) and J.I. Joe because I went to basic right after have the best off season of training to be a MLB with a power lifter as a strength coach. Weighed 230lbs. with less than 15% body fat going in.

The rest of the platoon called me Shrek because of the DFAC food and constant MREs my farts would smell like rotten eggs.

Response by CPT Brandon Christensen made Dec 5 at 2013 9:39 PM

CPT Brandon Christensen — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:39:26 -0500

Mine would be Napoleon Dynamite. When I went through accelerated OCS, during Phase I, my TAC officer realized I looked like Napoleon with a shaven head and in my glasses. So every time she saw me, she would scream out OC, WHAT TIME IS IT, and no matter what I was doing or talking to, I would have to stop, stand at attention and scream back at the top of my lungs, "Ma'am, Officer Candidate Napoleon, I want a dang quesadilla, Ma'am." That went on for 2 weeks, then it ended till Phase III, then it picked up again.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 9:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:41:45 -0500

Lucky, since my last
name is apparently hard to pronounce. The guys used to rub my head before
missions thanks to this nickname...usually it was my bad luck that was
activated.

Some of my buddies also
call me Trulicky because they know it aggravates me to no end.

The rest are just embarrassing.

Response by SrA Paul Skyberg made Dec 5 at 2013 9:45 PM

SrA Paul Skyberg — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:45:30 -0500

I was Skypup. A bunch of us gave each other "dog" nick names, a portion of their name ending in DOG. I'm small so it it was declared that I was too small to be a dog and was called Sky"pup" instead. It stuck and 30 years later I'm still called it!<br>

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 9:48 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:48:01 -0500

During IBOLC I had two nicknames. One from the cadre and one from my classmates. <div><br></div><div>The cadre called me 2LT Staff Sergeant. As a prior service infantry squad leader I did know just as much as most of the cadre. I also won a bet when a cadre member said he could put together a SAW faster than anyone in my platoon. </div><div><br></div><div>My classmates called me Papa Rosa. This came due to my age compared to them and how most of them were in elementary school when I joined the army and were in Junior High when I was in the Iraq Invasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Either way I was well respected and took it as a sign of respect.</div>

Response by SGT Robert Riley made Dec 5 at 2013 10:03 PM

SGT Robert Riley — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 22:03:35 -0500

I earned my first nickname "Bulldog Riley" in the Coast Guard because I was very persistent in getting the job done no matter what and when the CO and XO starts using it, it's official. My second nickname "Life of Riley" I got when I reported to my first unit which was an MI unit. The admin doing my paperwork just looked up and said,"Okay "Life of Riley" welcome to the unit. It followed me ever since.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 11:44 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 23:44:25 -0500

For about the first 10 years or so I was Wilky or Wilk, then for a few years it was Silky Wilk and the last few at ACU-5 I was Wookie.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 11:44 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 23:44:29 -0500

For about the first 10 years or so I was Wilky or Wilk, then for a few years it was Silky Wilk and the last few at ACU-5 I was Wookie.

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 6 at 2013 1:01 AM

SFC James Baber — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 01:01:03 -0500

<p>I had the same nickname in service that I had as a child growing up, it started out as a smart "ass" one from my friends as a kid, but stuck with me growing up because of my wild side and adventurousness, but when I went into the Army, some of my colleagues had learned from my girlfriend at the time and it came to pass with me there as well, especially with my job and working drug interdiction in the late 80s into the early 90s. It was "Bad Boy", just like the song and the movie, but I was the original one before both, so I used to have to tell people in the later 90s, I was not copying because of the career choice I had, but because I was nicknamed that from 20 years earlier. Of course many shrugged it off as BS from me, but many of my fellow MPs that knew me from years prior backed me up and even found a photo of me in the mid-80s with it on the back of my football jersey for a unit team from Germany.</p><p><br></p><p>Long story I know, but had to include the back story as well for all to understand, and to this day many in my family (mine and my military one) still refer to me by that nickname.</p>

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 8:11 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 08:11:51 -0500

In AIT, there was a SGT that called me "Nacho" because "No-key" (how my last name is pronounced) was too difficult (actually, he was an awesome NCO).  He PCS'd with me to Korea so the name continued for a while.  When I commissioned into the Air Force, Nacho became my callsign.  <div><br></div><div>Now that I'm in the Army as a Signal Officer, I pretty much answer to "SIGO" ... about 100 times a day when people can't figure out that if you don't plug the network cable in the right spot in the computer, you don't get network access.</div>

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 8:34 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 08:34:39 -0500

My first NCOIC called me "Vann-skee" for years, and don't know why but I swear he was in the mob so I just accepted it and said "Yes, sir". My last CDR in this unit called me either "Vann-man or Dick" depending on the situation. If he needed me for something, the first, if I made fun of something or someone, the latter. 

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 9:03 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 09:03:46 -0500

<p>I picked up two on deployment.  The first one was "HoneyBadger" after doing a spot-on impression of the youtube video.  It was funny, but I'm indifferent to it.</p><p><br></p><p>The other one, which I was honored to be called, was "Doc" by some of the brass in HHC 82nd ABN who I treated at the TMC.  </p>

Response by CPT Mike M. made Dec 6 at 2013 11:31 AM

CPT Mike M. — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 11:31:30 -0500

<p>Drill Sergeants were awesome at coming up with nicknames for the trainees.  My all time favorite was this one kid who came through who had pretty dang big ears that stuck way out.  The very fitting nickname given was "Sippy Cup" because of the resemblance of his head to a child's sippy cup.  Laughed every time I heard it.</p>

Response by LTJG Robert M. made Dec 6 at 2013 5:52 PM

LTJG Robert M. — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 17:52:12 -0500

I had two, first 12 years I was "Doc", and even after my commission I was "Doc" or "LT", and when I ran into somebody I knew before I got my Commission, inevitably, "Doc".  <br>After I had completed OCS, I ran into my old XO from a prior unit, He had reached Full Capt rank, (COL for Army types), and after returning my salute he said "Hey Doc, I see you made it", Made my day!<br>

Response by SSG Mark Payton made Dec 6 at 2013 10:52 PM

SSG Mark Payton — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 22:52:58 -0500

I got mine while in the Guard. During one field exercise I was testing out a civilian backpack with plastic frame.  I put the bedroll in the normal spot on top.  It quickly became a liability since the bedroll was above my head. It was winter in Texas and the trees were very brittle. I plowed a trail through the woods and had branches sticking out everywhere. We were training in evasion and camoflauge. When we got to a clearing we did combat rushe's across.  During my turn I got halfway when our CO drove through trying to find us.  I squatted down in place and thought "you are a tree".  He kept one, never seeing me(he says he thought I WAS a tree).  From that time on my "call sign" was always "TREE PLOW" <br>

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 11:12 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 23:12:27 -0500

I was going to say Sgt Hulka with the big toe.    However I've been called many names, most due to my red hair.   I lost that hair and now it is in my nose.    I have fallen so far. lol

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 11:20 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 23:20:31 -0500

My favorite, even though we were all called it, was D.I.C.K.  The Drill Sergeants in Fort Benning would call us this all the time.  Dedicated Infantry Combat Killers!  I used this all the way up until I attended Equal Opportunity Leaders Course...lol

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 12:38 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 00:38:36 -0500

Major Burns. In the Stargate SG-1 pilot, there was a security officer with Maj Insignia and on his arms, SSGT stripes. I was laughing at that.. Does that make me a major too or just a major pain?

Response by SGT Drue Rockwell made Dec 7 at 2013 10:22 AM

SGT Drue Rockwell — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 10:22:33 -0500

In OSUT they called me Norman, PVT Einstein and Quaker. Since, I've been called Rock by anyone from buddies to BC, Rainman by people at DLI, Crazy Mexican/Costa Rican. Rock is my favorite, but I like them all for the meaning and those using them.

Response by SPC Michael Campbell made Dec 7 at 2013 11:11 AM

SPC Michael Campbell — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 11:11:57 -0500

That's some fun nicknames! After OSUT I was stationed in Camp Page Korea as my first assignment. I was always having to get taped for BF% after PT tests because of my size. The guys would call me "Lunchbox" (after Silent Bob's nickname Jay would call him in the movies). Although I ended up dropping more than 40lbs, almost 12 years later to this day, my buddies who know me best still call me Lunchbox. I hated it at first, but it became who I was and drove me to becoming a more fit soldier. I love it now. HAHA!

Response by SGT Dan Knispel made Dec 7 at 2013 5:24 PM

SGT Dan Knispel — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 17:24:12 -0500

Actually I had a lot of nicknames while in the service, most of which are unfit to put down in print and generally only used in conjunction with one of the many CS chambers or CS missions I ran (funny how that stuff brings out the vulgarity in people). But my favorite nickname was "trooper" from my time with the 11th ACR in Germany and yes I know they called everyone that but it still made me feel good hearing it.

Response by SFC Kevin Cornett made Dec 7 at 2013 7:13 PM

SFC Kevin Cornett — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 19:13:28 -0500

I have been "Doc" since June of 1993.. Kind of obvious, I guess... but even my civilian friends picked up on it from my Army buddies... so it has stuck.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 2:25 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 02:25:40 -0500

Major Burns, I am a cabledawg. It is not my nickname alone it is what we call ourselves in my field. We run wire and cable for the army. A lot of soldiers in the signal world sit behind a desk providing Internet to the troops. My MOS gets up early and works late every night running cable. We work like dogs. We are Army CableDawgs.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 2:12 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 14:12:33 -0500

Because most people have hard time pronouncing my name I prefer to be called MSG B.

Response by CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 4:19 PM

CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 16:19:12 -0500

My current call sign as the Chaplain for the "Balls of the Eagle" Battalion is "Holy Balls." It is not uncommon for one of my soldiers to yell out "Holy Balls" while I am walking through the Commissary.

Response by SSG Chuck H. made Dec 8 at 2013 5:31 PM

SSG Chuck H. — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 17:31:31 -0500

They say you can't choose your own nickname and I firmly believe this. <br>I got mine in AIT as an Air Force retread after a 22 year break in service at the ripe age of 46. My then 22 year old room mate's favorite movie was Talladega Nights (the saga of Ricky Bobby). Well given my seemingly "elderly" status he started calling me Grandpa Chip at first as a great joke but as most nicknames go it spread like wild fire and I had almost everyone calling me either Grampa Chip or just Chip. This actually continued to my unit and many of my former soldiers still call me Sgt Chip. 

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 9:38 PM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 21:38:30 -0500

<div>I've had a few: </div><div><br></div><div>PROFESSOR: Had an overly analytical opinion about many things and would provide factual evidence to support those opinions.</div><div><br></div><div>SNAKE EATER: Nothing strange, I just made a strong push to catch a cobra in the Philippines to make cobra adobo. Got blasted by the CoC. I later drank snake blood and venom in Taiwan to satisfy my in-laws. </div><div><br></div><div>ROBOT: As an E-6 there was a LOT going on in my life, so I basiclly switched to robot mode and had very few personal connections with juniors or superiors. I focused on getting the job done, and getting the job done. I worked out like a machine, quoted regulation, and took every mission possible. I’m better now. =) </div><div><br></div>

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2013 10:53 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 22:53:49 -0500

Well I love to cook and was not always a first time go on the rang so my military nickname would be Spoon or AKA 1,000 Round Brown

Response by CMC Robert Young made Dec 9 at 2013 2:08 PM

CMC Robert Young — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 14:08:31 -0500

Capt. Chaos is stenciled across the back of my boat crew hockey helmet. At one time, I was responsible for initial small boat crew and coxswain certification evaluations for newly reported members at our unit. The evaluation process was a multi step event that culminated with the trainee actually performing all of the tasks typically required to prosecute the mission. This was supposed to include simulated marine casualties. The problem was that we didn't simulate them so much as they really happened; the boat would catch on fire; we'd hit submerged objects in the water; people would fall over board...it was just madness. The consequence was the nick name and the reminder that "if you can survive one of Senior Chief Young's check rides, nothing will ever be that bad for the rest of your career."

Response by SPC Gary Basom made Dec 9 at 2013 3:21 PM

SPC Gary Basom — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:21:12 -0500

Being a Native American in the Army for some reason I was given the nick of "Chief."

Response by SPC Gary Basom made Dec 9 at 2013 3:24 PM

SPC Gary Basom — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:24:17 -0500

There are other unglamorous nicknames given you because of performance as well.

Response by SPC Gary Basom made Dec 9 at 2013 3:27 PM

SPC Gary Basom — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:27:23 -0500

Anyone ever hear "command private major?"

Response by CDR Richard Tucker made Dec 9 at 2013 8:54 PM

CDR Richard Tucker — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 20:54:51 -0500

I was given orders to a new DDG being built in Bath Main, I was assigned as Main Propulsion Assistant. I was a LT at the time. Anyway, the propulsion crew was sent to a 3 week school at Philly. We were staying in a pretty nice hotel with hot tub and pool. Everyday after class would find us at the pool with adult beverages. Anyway, I had 2 E6's working for me that were huge, both over 6 feet and carrying lots of beef, not to say I was small, I was 5'11" and well over 220. One day these 2 decided it would be fun to dunk the MPA in the pool. I was an old salty LDO and deemed it necessary to accept the invitation. I was in the middle of the pool and they came to get me, as they grabbed me around the neck and the legs, I reached down and took myself a hand full of shall we say delicate manly features and squeezed. At this point I should say that I have unusually large hands. As I started to squeeze, both of these big men started howling. One of them said get them @7^%$&^% knuckles off of me, experience wins out every time, I never got dunked.  From that day, I never had a discipline problem and was always known respectfully as KNUCKLES, a nick name that still stands almost 20 years later. Turned out to be the best ship and best crew I ever served with.

Response by TSgt Marcial Guajardo made Dec 9 at 2013 9:34 PM

TSgt Marcial Guajardo — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 21:34:44 -0500

One of the troops at Cannon AFB referred to me as cool breeze. Not sure why but it stuck. Later in my career, since I didn't join until I was 23, I was clearly older than most at my rank and was usually referred to as Pappy.

Response by MAJ Joseph Parker made Dec 9 at 2013 11:57 PM

MAJ Joseph Parker — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 23:57:16 -0500

Army General Barry R McCaffrey, later to become the USG's "Drug Czar", while a COL assigned to the 9th ID at FT. Lewis as the G3, had a private nickname among all the junior officers in the Division HQs. COL McCaffrey smoked and drank coffee heavily (in those days you could smoke in government bldgs). COL McCaffrey, a highly decorated officer, had been wounded seriously in Vietnam and had much of the left forearm muscles shot away. His left fingers didn't work very well and were curled up and arched back. He would walk around the HQs building with a cup of coffee in his right hand and a cigarette tucked between his left middle and ring finger of his left hand, occasionally taking a puff by bringing the back of his left hand up. It instantly gave rise to the nickname "DOCTOR STRANGELOVE". The imagery from the movie is perfect. Note: COL McCaffrey later went on to command the 9th ID's 3d Bde, and he gave up smoking, so the nickname went away.

Response by MAJ Joseph Parker made Dec 10 at 2013 12:32 AM

MAJ Joseph Parker — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 00:32:08 -0500

<p>A funny, albeit ill-advised and short-lived nickname was bestowed upon then MG Richard Cavasos, The first Hispanic American general of the US Army and Division CDR of the 9th ID at Ft. Lewis, from 1976-1979. As was customary at the time, certain training events were designated as Bn, Bde, and Div training "Highlights" and as such were subject to inspection at various levels of command. Naturally, every "3" shop had an intricate system of intelligence to find out about these inspections so they could radio out to the training site to be ready if a commander or training inspector was en route.</p><p><br></p><p>One fine day the Division's armor BN M16 rifle qualification was a Div training highlight and their S3 found out that MG Cavasos himself was going to inspect the training range. Thinking quickly, the S3 hopped on Bn's command frequency and using his best RTO procedure, informed his Bn CDR (who was at the firing range) that "TACO 6" was on the way to inspect training. Cute Nickname.</p><p><br></p><p>Unfortunately, "TACO 6" was monitoring the Bn's command frequency, too. MG Cavasos quickly transmitted to the Bn CDR something to the effect of "This is 'TACO 6'. I want to speak to you about RTO procedure when I arrive. Out." Yikes. The next day a directive was issued by the G3 that said all units were to use proper call signs and RTO procedures at all times and no one was to refer to the commanding general as "TACO 6" - Ever. No sensitivity training. No big to-do over race relations. Just a VERY stern order over a really dumb move. MG Cavasos was a great Infantry leader and respected by men and officers alike. The whole episode was funny (and idiotic); but his leadership was such that nobody needed to be told twice about "TACO 6". We obeyed out of respect and discipline; not fear.    </p><p><br></p>

Response by SSG Shannon Howe made Dec 17 at 2013 3:04 PM

SSG Shannon Howe — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:04:50 -0500

How much time do you have? lol. Let's see...my various nicknames in BCT included Barbie, Hilga, Howie (pronounced howeeee instead of the e being silent, as it is supposed to be). My Sr DS (who by the way, had a Hitler stache) loved to call me that. One time the DSs made a bunch of us PVTs who had last names that sounded like common words stand in a row, and they made a sentence, I wish I could remember what it was lol.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2013 4:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:20:50 -0500

In Basic Training, my Battalion was the "River Raiders" which quickly became everything from "Refrigerators" to the much less PC "Panty Raiders" (strangely enough, initiated by one of our female Soldiers.)

Response by SSG Matthew Thomas made Dec 17 at 2013 5:27 PM

SSG Matthew Thomas — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:27:24 -0500

Bit Shirt...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 5:39 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 05:39:16 -0500

I've had a few....

BearDog, Bear, the Red Barin, and the ever so simple but eloquent: B

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 3:19 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 15:19:43 -0500

Boot = Fresh meat

Nasty = Undisciplined person

Portholes = Those who wear glasses

Brain = Smart person

Lance Creature = Nasty Lance Corporal

Lance Criminal = Troublemaking Lance Corporal

Lance Cooly = Lance Corporal who tries to be cool with everybody

Sausage... Sausage First Class... Sausage Major = Nasty Sergeant... Nasty Sergeant First Class... Nasty Sergeant Major

Panda = Asian

Xeres = For tall, dark, slender body

Gummy Bear = Soft bodied

I have many more but they are way too controversial!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 8:45 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 20:45:36 -0500

I think my favorite calling of a name would have to be when us E4's in my unit are tasked out to "take the new guys and do (whatever the hell it is we need to do at the given moment)" my battle buddy just yells at a crowd of privates "Hey, You! Guy with the Face" and somehow we get every private in the platoon running to come help...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 9:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 21:24:00 -0500

AMMODAWG

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 10:09 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 22:09:37 -0500

Sir,

Another good question. My favorite nickname, although not unique at all, was LT. This nickname gave me so much detail about how my men felt about me in two seconds. If anyone called me Lieutenant or Sir I knew they were pissed off about something but when they were calling me LT I knew they were in good spirits. Those 15 months as a PL, 6 of them downrange, where some of the best in my career working with the best Soldiers I have ever had the pleasure of serving with. Oldest and Finest!!!

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2013 9:14 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 09:14:43 -0500

When I first got here on this base everyone at the fire department started calling my "Hurricane" because of my first name being Katrina. Then once we got hit by Hurricane Sandy it picked up a little more because they thought my middle name was Sandy which is not. I will say "Hurricane Hartley" has a nice ring to it enough that I even put it on the back of my motorcycle jacket.

Response by 1SG Charmaine R. made Dec 22 at 2013 4:45 AM

1SG Charmaine R. — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 04:45:15 -0500

Optimus Prime LOL.

A few Soldiers and Battles said I earned this after seeing me go from 0 to 60 in a matter of secs when ever my daughter came around. I was a few other choice words as a Drill Sergeant, not appropriate for this dialogue LOL.

Another was Auntie, for always budding my nose in whether others wanted me to or not.....sometimes we have to protect our Soldiers from themselves.

Platoon Mama' my fav by far!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 4:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 16:46:16 -0500

I have had some strange nicknames in Army career "don't do it", "whoosaaaa", those were namely because my patience was always missing. I'm a little calmer now, so everyone calls me "mama", seems fitting because every problem under the sun comes to me first, it's funny to me to think my opinion matters like it does. I love my Army kids

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 24 at 2013 3:34 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 03:34:47 -0500

I thoroughly enjoyed "Top" while I was a 1SG.  I'd love to put the Diamond back on again...

Response by SGT Tommy Silvas made Dec 30 at 2013 7:29 PM

SGT Tommy Silvas — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:29:34 -0500

"TOP" of course

Response by SGT Tommy Silvas made Dec 30 at 2013 7:33 PM

SGT Tommy Silvas — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 19:33:57 -0500

Not sure if this counts but during WW2 the Nazi's called the 82nd Airborne "Devils in baggy pants" always liked that one

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2014 11:11 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 23:11:47 -0500

The one I'm called the most and has stuck with me for years and still does is "Lt Dan" from Forest Gump!! I was with Gary Sinise one time in Kuwait and some one asked if we where brothers.  ATW!!!

Response by SGT William B. made Jan 8 at 2014 7:06 AM

SGT William B. — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 07:06:11 -0500

I think the only two I've ever been called were "Stupid Pogue" and "Hey You."

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2014 8:33 PM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 20:33:01 -0500

Well its "Key Board Ranger" So I took this pic last July..

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2014 11:16 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 11:16:07 -0500

It was the first night of my first FTX after airborne school. I'd just gotten to the unit the night before and had slept about 3 hours before we SP'd for the field early that morning. That night in the S-2 tent, my eyes went crossed (but in my defense, they stayed open), my head started falling, and everyone: my S2, PL, PSG, SL, TL and peers watched me struggle to stay awake. And there was drool. My squad leader finally nudged me and I woke up with the whole tent in laughter.

Since then, I've been called Narco... as in narcoleptic. I love it.

Response by SFC James Baber made Jan 11 at 2014 10:12 PM

SFC James Baber — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 22:12:22 -0500

I think this is a good thread for those we are trying to get to join can see the substance of some things we discuss between us as current and former military, soft spoken as well as informational and mentoring types of postings.

We also have fun at times while remaining professional.

Response by SGT Tommy Silvas made Jan 12 at 2014 3:35 AM

SGT Tommy Silvas — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 03:35:42 -0500

when I was in the 82nd there was a private whos head was shaped like an egg, when he cut his hair real short it looked like fur so we called him "egg fur" so stupid but it still makes me laugh and he was a good sport about it, and he was a good trooper.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2014 3:36 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 15:36:39 -0500

I made the mistake of showing up to BCT with a black eye. Since the DS did not know anyone's name for the first week or two."Blackeye" always got stuck with leading details or doing busy work. Once they learned our names it didnt help much I just became Black Eye Blackburn. Once I broke my foot in BCT, the name changed to broke dick (broke Dedicated Individual Combat Killer). Then when I finally healed and was able to return to training, I had been in BCT a total of 9 months and was super squared away, all the new soldiers just called my Drill Private Blackburn!

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2014 5:17 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 17:17:16 -0500

My current call-sign at the 99th GCTS is Akon...when I first arrived our flights were big into doing off-duty activities together. I preferred karaoke when available, so we made it a point to go every so often. Needless to say, my song list was rather eclectic.
SSgt Heckenliable gave me the call-sign after I stunned him by rapping "Smack That" and hitting every line...I performed "No Love" by Lil' Wayne, a few minutes later and impressed a few Ranger Instructors that were TDY for Pre-Ranger.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2014 12:31 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:31:04 -0500

E-Ore like the donkey from Winnie The Poo, because even when I'm happy or sad I'm still monotone and apparently look uninterested. I was banned from reading power points because I'd put the whole room to sleep. "But Sergeant, I looveee power points."

Response by CPL Paul B. made Jan 14 at 2014 12:43 AM

CPL Paul B. — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:43:05 -0500

Ox, when stuff needed to be lifted or moved that was too heavy for other soldiers they would shout. "Hey Ox, come help us with this." Or "Ox got this" Ha... started to catch on too.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2014 9:03 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:03:17 -0500

My Favorite nickname is "Fister" I take pride in being called that, and having earned a nickname from being a part of a great Fire Support Team

Response by 1SG Chris Davis made Jan 14 at 2014 9:53 AM

1SG Chris Davis — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:53:34 -0500

While 1SG Paul Cottrell and i were serving in the 82nd together i got the nick name "Heavy D" (Heavy Drop)(a) cause i am a barrel chested dude and (b) every time i jumped i had one of the heaviest rucks... deemed by my BDE FSO

FISTER!!!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2014 10:22 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 10:22:21 -0500

The one nickname that I remember the most is "ALF", which I acquired when I was in Basic Training.
The Drill Sergeant could not pronounce my last name, so he just called me "Alphabet". Then one day, because of my thick "New Joisey" accent, one of the Privates in my platoon said I sounded like the T.V. character ALF. Well, since I had a talent for doing voice impressions, I began doing ALF impressions. My Drill Sergeant heard this; he then called me "ALF" from then on, as well as all of the Privates in my platoon.

Response by SSG Shaun Dydasco made Jan 15 at 2014 2:34 PM

SSG Shaun Dydasco — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:34:35 -0500

I have been called "Hawaiian Assassin", "Pineapple", "Coconut", and "Hawaiian Punch".

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jan 15 at 2014 5:11 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 17:11:39 -0500

USS Anzio (CG-68) Was named for the Battle of Anzio. All of our Sports Teams were called Beach Heads.

I came into the Navy as "Tree" because for some reason people have a hard time with my last name (pronounced TreeAnts). That stuck until I made Chief. Upon advancement to E-7 in the Navy, you become Chief and lose your name except inside the mess, Everyone else just calls you Chief, Senior Chief or Master Chief. Or at least that is all they call you and let you hear.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2014 4:20 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 16:20:07 -0500

I used the nickname/term Battle with my peers or someone I work closely with, harking back to where you have a battle buddy at your side. 

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2014 8:57 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 20:57:09 -0500

As a Chief Warrant Officer, I enjoy being called 'Chief', because it's a recognition and respect for my skills and subject matter expertise... though by regs I should be addressed as Mr. Walker. It's just one of those unwritten customs and traditions of the service.

Just don't try calling a pilot 'Chief', even if he is a warrant officer, unless he (or she) specifically invites you to do so. The enlisted crew chief of their bird is called 'Chief', so for them, it's a demotion.

For us technicians, it's an honor. For pilots, it's not.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2014 12:32 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 12:32:56 -0500

Soulless 2-3, due my Ginger heritage and the fact Gingers have no souls lol jk.

Response by SPC Gary Basom made Jan 27 at 2014 10:12 PM

SPC Gary Basom — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 22:12:39 -0500

Being Native American it had to be "Chief." I was often asked if I thought I was a CWO though.

Response by MAJ Aaron Tuemler made Feb 3 at 2014 1:50 PM

MAJ Aaron Tuemler — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 13:50:28 -0500

I had a nick-phrase given to me right after I entered the service and within recent memory of a movie quote from Kindergarten Cop, "It's not a tumor." Given the close phoenetic similarity of my last name Tuemler, I would hear "It's not a Tooom-ler" with a Schwarzenegger accent at least three times a week for 12-years.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2014 7:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 19:46:14 -0500

I have another story. So when I first came to my unit here at MacDill AFB, there was this CW4 that worked at the Production Chief for the unit J2. He always joked around with us to make it more relaxed and allowed us to act and think like real analysts. It was a pretty good time. Anyway, one day I was walking into the office and he asked me for a product. I replied that I was still working on it. The look on his face was priceless and all I could do was laugh. As I'm turning around I hear him asking one of the guys in the other side of the room, "Hey, doesn't Pitt's head look like a Milkdud?" From that very moment, I was known as "Milkdud" at work. Terrible, isn't it?

Response by MAJ John Drake made Feb 6 at 2014 1:01 AM

MAJ John Drake — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 01:01:05 -0500

Of the ones I heard for me, it would have to be either CPT Caveman or Gunslinger 6.

Response by SSG Shawn M. made Feb 11 at 2014 7:57 PM

SSG Shawn M. — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 19:57:45 -0500

Sir, gotta be Warpig for us MP folks.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 7:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 19:58:35 -0500

My squad in Iraq were the Magnificent Bastards. We got the name from our train-up because we were running almost all of the platoon's missions with 2-4 hours of sleep a day while everyone else had as much sleep as they wanted. While we were completely burned out by the end of the 2 weeks, we outperformed the rest of the company (no, we weren't delirious from sleep deprivation) in evals. We were the best trained and the company's bastard children so we dubbed, "magnificent bastards" as our name.

Response by SSG Oliver Mathews made Feb 11 at 2014 8:25 PM

SSG Oliver Mathews — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 20:25:10 -0500

During my last deployment to the Kabul area in 2010 we had to provide a Call sign for our convoy. We became Bro-dude. I was Bro-Dude16. We called our TOC Lebowski...

My personal two nicknames that i have had since joining.

Toby.... That came from slaving over an ex girlfriend.

Darwin. Named not after the scientist. Nor for being the fittest. I was given that name as being the most likely to Earn A Darwin Award in my first unit. (http://www.darwinawards.com/)

Darwin Awards. Homo sapiens decline; Neo Sapiens rise! February 2013

The Darwin Awards. The Evolution
Revolution 2012. The Darwin Awards declares evolution to be the new
revolution. With intelligence MIA and presumed dead, the impending
extinction of Homo sapiens sa...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 9:46 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 21:46:11 -0500

When I was in Iraq we had a MRAP that had been hit quite a few times by IED's. It was pieced together from other MRAPs and reminded me of that car you see rolling around with a blue hood, red door, broken tail lights, and burning a quart of oil an hour. We called it Frankenstein. May not be the best one, but it was the first one that popped in my head and i know i will never forget patrolling Iraq in that POS!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 9:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 21:57:16 -0500

when I was in Alaska I had a Soldier who was big and slow in more ways than one if you get my drift. My section chief called him "CHOCK BLOCK". For the longest we never understood why. One day we all finally asked him why he calls him Chock Block and he told us because he impedes progress.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Feb 18 at 2014 7:20 AM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 07:20:30 -0500

While working on an aircraft at Fairchild AFB I was singing along to a song on the radio. One of the Airmen I worked with started laughing and asked who it was. It was Steely Dan, "Hey Nineteen." As my name is Daniel, I then acquired the nickname "Steely." After the initial laughter ended I liked the nickname.

For reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipc9pL27krs&feature=kp

Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan

From their album "Gaucho" (In honor of my daughter's 19th birthday) http://www.steelydan.com _____________________________________ Walter Becker & Donald Fag...

Response by LT Jessica Kellogg made Feb 18 at 2014 8:55 PM

LT Jessica Kellogg — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 20:55:12 -0500

My name lends itself well to a several nicknames, but the most common is Special K. I also worked with someone who called me Double L Double G, because otherwise he couldn't remember how to spell my name.

At OCS, there was a Clark and Clarke in my class (pronounced the same), so they became Clark-E and Clark-No E.

Response by SSG Raymond Tobin made Feb 18 at 2014 9:00 PM

SSG Raymond Tobin — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:00:42 -0500

During basic my DS referred to me as "Opie", as my aunt has for my whole life....at my old unit a few of us has a little too much liquid influence and a took a dive across the hallway, earing the name "Soulja Boy" (referring to the rapper and his dance) I've also been referred to as Red, for obvious reasons. My call signs have been T-Bone and Rage.

Response by SSG Carl Sensabaugh II made Feb 19 at 2014 12:15 AM

SSG Carl Sensabaugh II — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 00:15:19 -0500

Let's see, in OSUT I ended up being called Sensimilla due to my last name and the Drill Instructor figured I must have been a pothead. The only other nickname I received was "Papa Smurf" because within the platoon the only one older than myself was the platoon Sergeant. That stuck for a while. The irony is that my wife was called "Smurfette" while she was in the Navy.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2014 9:02 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:02:13 -0500

well, being that my name is bubba, I always go by bubba or bubba_biscuits. Anyone I meet names Jones I call them J-ones (Jay-1's), I used to call my BCT PVT's Privits, someone said earlier they liked Special K , I used to call one of my buddies that or Circle K since his name also started with a "K". I caught a Privit dancin around in front of the CQ door one time and she was really short so I called her "tiny dancer" for the rest of the cycle. smh,, lots n lots of em... lol

Response by CPT Lance Cutsforth made Feb 19 at 2014 9:16 PM

CPT Lance Cutsforth — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:16:51 -0500

When we deployed to Bosnia, I was the mortar platoon leader for 3-5 CAV, and my call sign was Mohawk 6. Though I wasn't technically a "6" as a platoon leader, I was overstrength for the deployment, had a medic slice and a mechanic slice (M-106s from Vietnam will garner you a mechanic slice...), so I had enough soldiers to equate to a company minus and the "6" stuck...

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2014 9:20 PM

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:20:02 -0500

I just get called "Radio" or "Commo"... original, I know.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2014 9:19 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:19:44 -0500

As a UH-60 Pilot in South Korea, I had the call sign "Dragon-00". I thought the "00" would be kinda cool, like 007...until the first time I was called "Dragonballz" by a fellow Pilot. The name stick. Still my favorite!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2014 9:30 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:30:08 -0500

Thundercats 251

Response by 1SG Alan Bailey made Feb 25 at 2014 5:01 PM

1SG Alan Bailey — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 17:01:25 -0500

My Drill Sergeants did not put alot of thought into it, but from day 1 and for a long time I was called "Beetle" go figure.

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Feb 26 at 2014 10:27 AM

SPC Christopher Smith — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 10:27:57 -0500

While on a field exercise in Korea, we all got to make our own call signs, small group so we could have some fun. I decided to call myself "Porch Monkey", I thought it was funny, aparently a few people felt uncomfortable calling me over the radio so I was forced to change my name.

Porch Monkey, out. LMAO

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2014 1:11 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 01:11:18 -0500

People at work always said I looked intimidating, that I didnt smile often, always serious looking and pretty much a no nonsense straight to business kind of guy. I overheard a conversation one day and someone asked why did I always look grumpy, a SFC in my section(later became WO) stated "Garza is a real 'huggy bear' once you get to know him." Ever since then, Huggy Bear has been my nickname, and that former SFC, still calls me Huggy Bear. For the record, not really a hugging type person, you have to be like in the inner most circle of friends for me to reciprocate with a friendly hug if the occasion warranted it :)

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Mar 3 at 2014 3:08 PM

MSG Gene Potocki — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:08:13 -0500

I got the nickname "Deputy Dawg" when I took over duties as a LRSD NCOIC, I had told them in company formation there was a new sheriff in town.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2014 8:20 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 08:20:08 -0500

I am currently deployed to Afghanistan as a Route Clearance company, RCP-27, and our platoon nickname is the "Creepers", due mainly to the fact that we creep along the roadways at an incredibly slow and boring rate of speed.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2014 11:13 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 23:13:23 -0500

Back when I was assigned to the 423rd MP Co., our unit callsign was "Guardian" So, the commander was Guardian 6, 1st PLT was Guardian 1, etc. As the head of the medic section in HQ Platoon, I got the callsign Guardian Angel. I really did like that one.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2014 11:27 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:27:29 -0400

I was known as colon cancer through basic.

Response by SPC David Wyckoff made Mar 12 at 2014 4:58 PM

SPC David Wyckoff — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:58:47 -0400

Drill Sergeant in basic found out I was from Alaska; that combined with the fact that I entered basic as a rather rotund young man. I became known as Pvt Nanook. I had buddies that went from basic to AIT and then on to my first unit, so it followed me. Pretty much stuck the whole time I was in.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2014 7:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:18:18 -0400

I'll never forget it. We were down range in Iraq and my NCOIC went by the call sign "blue water"

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2014 8:29 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 08:29:26 -0400

While serving on a MiTT Team in Al Anbar we had a combat camera team attached to us for a short period of time. To keep track of them with higher they were given their own call sign. We came up with the call sign "Moneyshot" for them and it stuck. It wasn't too long before most of the Marines in the TOC were calling them by their call sign rather than their last names.

Response by SGT Charles Tittl made Mar 14 at 2014 8:33 AM

SGT Charles Tittl — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 08:33:25 -0400

Not exactly a nickname but more like a title, I was dubbed "Most Likely to Cause an International Incident"

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Mar 14 at 2014 12:55 PM

Maj Chris Nelson — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 12:55:44 -0400

When I was in Afghanistan, I had 2 nurses, both O-6 (one Air Force, one Navy) that that used my FULL first name and middle name..... no last name, no rank..... It was more of a joke, and was only done in the office area when no outside visitors were around....it was almost like Mom yelling out when I had done something OR was about to do something wrong. Was pretty funny.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2014 5:20 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 17:20:23 -0400

My personal favorites were my individual one, "Scar" and my first sniper platoon's, "Banshee".

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2014 7:11 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 19:11:49 -0400

My favorite was from basic, "Shithead."

Response by SPC(P) Delcina Myers made Mar 14 at 2014 11:21 PM

SPC(P) Delcina Myers — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 23:21:32 -0400

Sir, Back in basic and AIT, I was given the nickname "Hellraiser" because I would wrestle/combat with anyone that was chosen for me. Being however that this past weekend was my first drill with my new unit, I was given the nickname "Stealth"... Either because I didn't have my old name tapes, or I stealthily came up to someone, no matter their rank. Personally, I like the nickname stealth more than hellraiser.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 14 at 2014 11:49 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 23:49:35 -0400

Had a Squadron Commander that renamed each Lieutenant and Captain with a nickname. You were never referred to by your real name again. I was given the Packhorse name of McClintock ( ie the John Wayne movie). You knew he did not like you if he called you by your real name. He was actually a great SCO. The only time he referred to me by my name was my PCS award presentation.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2014 12:45 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 00:45:02 -0400

My favorive "Call Sign" is Doc. This is a term all Marines give to their Hospital Corpsman. Just like the title of United States Marine, this is also an earned title. To earn this title the Marine Unit you are assigned to must have complete trust and faith in your medical/combat/team skills and ability. And once you have received this title from a Marine you are now part of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the USMC.

This is also a "nickname" that I received from my grandmother. Maybe she knew something I didn't. I always knew I would enter into the US Armed Service, but never knew what service or job I would select.

HM1 (FMF) Graves "DOC"

Response by PO2 John Breton made Mar 16 at 2014 5:44 AM

PO2 John Breton — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 05:44:28 -0400

I had two nicknames while serving with the Marines. First was "Doc", and the second was "Capt. America" from the movie "Easy Rider", cause I was always riding my motorcycle, and was very involved with any bases' motorcycle club or organization.

Response by SCPO Max Sanchez made Mar 16 at 2014 11:49 AM

SCPO Max Sanchez — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 11:49:12 -0400

As an Air Intercept Controller, my call sign was "Bounty Hunter' during the Vietnam conflict.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2014 2:28 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:28:07 -0400

Well, every once in awhile, the MAs would mess around over VHF Channel 14, and use their own made up callsigns, so one weekend I started using my own. I had to think of one, and the first that came to mind was Magic Man, from Talladega Nights. Now, it's stuck, and my callsign on the water is always Magic Man. Led to a my friend who is an MM2 going as El Diablo, another friend as Lextacy, etc.

Response by SPC Michael Hunt made Mar 16 at 2014 9:07 PM

SPC Michael Hunt — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 21:07:40 -0400

"Jelly Donought" and "Sloth" ... lol

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 3:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:35:44 -0400

I am occasionally referred to as FIFI, short for F__k It, Fire it.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 1:08 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:08:39 -0400

"4-2" in a real obnoxious country accent followed by "lay the hammer down to the flyin jay"

and my personal callsign Soulless 2-3 (Because I am a ginger lol)

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 2:02 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 02:02:46 -0400

I think we all know that nobody's call sign will ever be cooler than Maverick.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 4:19 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 04:19:10 -0400

Ive been called Gomer Pyle evr since I joined the Army by my family. Thats the only nickname I have.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 4:07 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 16:07:42 -0400

Patriot 4

Response by SPC Michael Hunt made Mar 23 at 2014 8:40 PM

SPC Michael Hunt — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 20:40:42 -0400

My favorite call sign is Merlyn.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Mar 24 at 2014 10:25 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 22:25:15 -0400

My first two years in the Army I was called "elevator" because I went up and down in rank so many times that it just fit.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 24 at 2014 10:33 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 22:33:12 -0400

I do love my own Navys Terminology, The George (Most Jr 0-1 Ensign). As far as my Nickname I was a Naval Communicator we use a "Chop" your initials, Unfortunately in my case my Initials matched the highest precedence message trigger alert, so that wouldn't work. I used my Home Town of KC as my Chop, That Mutated to Casey and that was who I was known as in the Pacific Fleet CTO Community.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Mar 24 at 2014 10:45 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 22:45:33 -0400

I remember a First Sergeant I had in Korea, by most people he was referred to as the "bulldog", however, to me in his green fatigue uniform he looked more like what I referred to him as (behind his back of course) as the great bullfrog. This may be why I was called elevator.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Mar 25 at 2014 8:58 AM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:58:18 -0400

For myself:

I went back to Active duty after 12 years of reserve time. I was a 35 year old Navy E-3, and was given the nickname "Papa Smurf" for the blue uniform and the white in my hair.

Response by CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2014 9:06 AM

CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 09:06:10 -0400

A buddy of mine was the Chaplain for first battalion 41st Field Artillery Regiment: "Glory's Guns!" His call sign on the Radio was "Glory Glory Hallelujah." That's easily my most favorite.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2014 9:06 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 21:06:54 -0400

mine would be F.I.D.O ( f#$* it drive on). liked it so much my riding group starting calling me it and now it is my road name.

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Mar 25 at 2014 9:29 PM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 21:29:53 -0400

My CO in Afghanistan turned my last name Croswhite into Hatchet Straight Black. And it stuck. I kinda like that.

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Mar 25 at 2014 9:30 PM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 21:30:37 -0400

We started calling our chaplain God Hammer.

Response by CMSgt Robert Gates made Mar 25 at 2014 10:28 PM

CMSgt Robert Gates — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 22:28:04 -0400

While assigned to the 605th MAW Enroute on Guam, I was training other technicians on how to use the C-5A IDNE (Inertial and Doppler Navigational Equipment) Computer. Each time I would enter data into the computer I would receive a RED NO-GO Light. After several tries and still receiving the RED NO-GO Light, the other technicians started to refer to me as "No-Go" after returning to the maintenance shop after rpairs were made to correct the errors. Having just been assigned after being assigned at Edwards Flight Test Center, CA, on the C-5A Test Program, I was frequently being called by other shift technicians to assist working enroute C-5A's as required. I would get a phone call and "No-Go" was requested.

Response by SN Michael Mygas made Mar 26 at 2014 3:00 PM

SN Michael Mygas — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:00:00 -0400

Tom Cruise's nickname in Top Gun - "Maverick"

Response by Cpl Robert Hernandez made Mar 26 at 2014 3:46 PM

Cpl Robert Hernandez — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:46:03 -0400

VN 1966 I was attach with name of the ( THE KID) I looked young than 18 years old I was deploy with the 26 Marines 3/26 Marines FMF BLT which was shut down after WWW II and reopen in 1966 ,A new and green 0311 Grunt and later rotation to 5 TH Marine KILO 3/5 Marine first Marines from the frying pan into the fair as they say

Response by Cpl Robert Hernandez made Mar 26 at 2014 4:12 PM

Cpl Robert Hernandez — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:12:33 -0400

1966 VN I was attach with the name of ( THE KID) was trained with 26 Marines ,which were shut down after WW II and reopen in 1966 to become an FMF BLT, being put with the 3/26 I Co. 0311 grunt deploy to Vietnam and I was being told i looked younger that 18, so every call was hey KID then a rotation to 5th Marines put in 3/5 KILO First Marines First to Fight was our motto, I went from the pan into the fire as a young 0311 grunt green Marine and would do it again !!!

Response by SGT James Elphick made Mar 26 at 2014 4:29 PM

SGT James Elphick — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:29:11 -0400

When we were deployed a friend of mine got a letter from a family friend back home and they addressed it to "Airborne Andy". Well someone looked over his shoulder and saw this and of course, originally derisive but eventually as endearing, the name stuck. This lead to everyone getting names like this though. "Trooper Tucker", "Mechanized Mike", a guy who got malaria became "West Nile Wayne". When it got to me no one had anything to go with Shelby (my middle name that I go by) until a buddy came up with "Chute-Failure Shelby". I told him he was gonna feel bad on our next jump if you chute didn't open. Thankfully I had a full canopy every jump, haha

Response by Sgt John Henry made Mar 28 at 2014 3:41 PM

Sgt John Henry — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 15:41:45 -0400

Mine was 'Torque'... my favorite!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2014 8:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 20:35:03 -0400

I've had a few, one of which is Jonesy (the main one people call me), another is snack bandit (Im always eating)....lol

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2014 8:46 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 20:46:55 -0400

The call sign I like the most is from my colleague CW3 Joe Parenteau. He was the commander of the 25th ID Band. When they were in Iraq, he was known as Rock Star 6. That is still the current call sign for that unit CO.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2014 6:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 18:22:25 -0400

My call sign is Gravedigger or Grim Reaper. Goes with the Mortuary Affairs MOS, some get it; some don't.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2014 11:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 23:48:20 -0400

Durring the tactical phase of WLC my instructor came up with some good ones including "I'm bringing sexy back" (my call sign) and "fairies wear boots" (my higher's call sign). So during the whole scenario while running around if I need to call higher I had to get on the radio and say "fairies wear boots, fairies wear boots, this is I'm bringing sexy back over". It was funny the first couple of times, but it got old as things started popping off.

Response by CW4 Glen Nardin made Mar 31 at 2014 4:28 PM

CW4 Glen Nardin — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 16:28:39 -0400

My call sign in OIF 06-08 as the band commander was Bugle6.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2014 9:40 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:40:39 -0400

HAVOC!!!!!!!!!

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Mar 31 at 2014 9:52 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:52:37 -0400

Call sign in Iraq: Gunslinger 39. Memories...some good, some not so good.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2014 10:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:15:55 -0400

I know that 1P40A was the worst; that's "One Panther Four Zero Alpha." Terrible. "Warhorse 53" sounded the coolest, but "Big Dog 6" was the best.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 2:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 02:39:23 -0400

My Soldiers in Germany gave me the nickname "Big Flem" and it stuck with me.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 9:38 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:38:55 -0400

when I was in Basic and Tech school they called me "Joker"......but when I was recently deployed the name they we're calling me was Sgt T as in Harda** Mr T.......what a transition.....I still respond to both:-)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 9:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:47:37 -0400

During my last deployment to Afghanistan in 10-11, my flight platoon was detached from our parent battalion and attached to a cav squadron. We fell right into the whole cav mentality and they loved us for it. We called our Chinook detachment "Big Sneaky" to feel more air cav and thought it was pretty funny because there is really nothing sneaky about a Chinook. Right before we left, we had to choose a callsign for our operations and tried to make Big Sneaky work, but it was shot down at higher levels and one was chosen for us that aligned with the fact that we were from Ft. Drum, NY. Won't say what it was, but it worked I guess. Great group that I would gladly deploy with again and again.

Response by 1SG Frank Rocha made Apr 1 at 2014 9:51 PM

1SG Frank Rocha — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:51:32 -0400

NightStalkers,  NightStalkers Don't Quit<br>

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 11:10 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 23:10:27 -0400

Back when the army was aligned by unit specialty, FA Bde's, Eng Bde's, the Division Artillery Bde at the 101st were the "Balls of the Eagle" and when you saluted a DIVARTY officer they responded with "BALLS". It always made me smile, better than Voice of the Eagle.(signal). And I just saw the chaplains post from that unit! Still called balls.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 11:38 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 23:38:28 -0400

Downrange, I went by "Red". The staff officers in my BN call me "Six", and my call sign is "Thunder 10". However, my favorite nickname is "Porkins", and if you don't get that you aren't a true Star Wars fan.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2014 8:27 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 20:27:57 -0400

When I was in Afghanistan we had a lot of "special bearded units" who had ridiculously evil call signs like "Soul Reaper" and "Skull Crusher." Platoon Sergeant and I adopted the call signs of Care Bear and Peanut just to be difficult.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2014 9:52 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 21:52:27 -0400

I know a guy that goes by "Meat-Whistle". He obviously got the name from his buddies, as that is how call signs are done. It always gets a lot of laughs, especially when we go TDY and introductions are made. He is one of the few guys that doesn't get asked how he got the name!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2014 6:07 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 18:07:03 -0400

Reaper 1. Snipers

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2014 5:41 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 05:41:42 -0400

Many of the guys in my unit call me SPC River because when they first heard my first name one of my SGTs thought there was a river by that name and it just stuck.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Apr 26 at 2014 9:27 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 09:27:49 -0400

Puma 6 - 'cuz that's me, at least for another week.
Red 1 - My company internal call sign as a tank PL.

These are both positions that defined me. I wasn't IN the positions. I WAS the positions.

Oddly enough, I cannot recall my Co Cmd call sign right now. It was a good job, connected with my commander, did well, got a good eval, but it was just a position I held.

Response by MAJ Joseph Parker made Apr 26 at 2014 10:46 AM

MAJ Joseph Parker — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 10:46:57 -0400

My father, whose name I carry, was a LCDR in Naval Intelligence and in the late 1960's was an instructor at the old Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, MD. They had a WWII PT boat there that was used for infiltration exercises and as an instructor he sometimes crewed the boat. He caught the nickname...you guessed it...Ensign Parker, of McHale's Navy fame.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2014 12:23 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 12:23:17 -0400

With a last name like "Eichenfels," I was bound to get a nickname. Luckily it was also my grandfathers nickname, so I am fine with it. I am called "Ike" by almost everyone.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Apr 26 at 2014 10:45 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 22:45:41 -0400

My platoon on my first tour in Vietnam gave me the callsign "Warlord".

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2014 12:49 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 00:49:33 -0400

Favorite Callsign was our Brigade name..."STRIKE." So you can imagine, BDE CDR/CSM.....STRIKE6 & 7

My best nickname by far was Issac Hayes because I was the intel soldier

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2014 11:19 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 11:19:46 -0400

Blue Thunderbird 3 was my call sign in the 118th Avn. Co. My first tour but my team called me Eagleheart My Indian name during and after my 2nd tour as an Infantry recon Sargent!

Response by COL Richard Bassett made Apr 28 at 2014 11:17 AM

COL Richard Bassett — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 11:17:39 -0400

When I was a company commander, I had a platoon sergeant we called Dr. Pain, based on his PT prowess and his ability to smoke us all when the need arose, which was pretty much everyday.

Most folks here won't recall CEOIs or SOIs (Communications-Electronics or Signals Operating Instructions). Before secure communications, we received our call signs via these thick books the RTOs (Radio Telephone Operators) wore around their neck. The call signs changed daily at midnight or some other ungodly hour. There was a long version, and a short version to the call sign. The long version was only used in training, or when someone new was entering your net. The short version was something like X27 or D03. They where based on position and went in 10 day cycles, so if you were in the field for 2 weeks, you were repeating your call signs beginning on Day 11. Continuous operations combined with sleep deprivation made it difficult to remember your call sign for any given day, so you either wrote it on your hand, or you got the, "Sir, you've got to be kidding me look" from your RTO when you asked him for your call sign for the 5th time that morning.

Anyway, secure communications drove the re-introduction of fixed call signs. I have 2 favorites:

Catamount 6 and Tarantula 7

Response by SPC Geoffrey Jenkins made Apr 28 at 2014 2:10 PM

SPC Geoffrey Jenkins — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:10:07 -0400

Bat 21,

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2014 10:23 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 May 2014 10:23:32 -0400

My favorite was the radio call sign for my first platoon as a PSG. I was Viking 7. But for most I was referred to as Big Hoss cause apparently I looked like Dan Blocker from Bonanza. Who knew..

Response by Thomas Rancourt made May 13 at 2014 11:47 AM

Thomas Rancourt — Tue, 13 May 2014 11:47:24 -0400

Robocop. It was the nickname the guys in BMT gave me when I first got there. I was doing everything by the book, so they called me Robocop, and some of them even thought I would make Element Leader at the least. However, I ended up as the supply guy (go figure).

Response by CPT Marc Serrá made May 13 at 2014 3:56 PM

CPT Marc Serrá — Tue, 13 May 2014 15:56:45 -0400

Best unit nickname came from my time at Fort Campbell with the 101st Screaming Eagles.

Everything was ..... of the Eagle. Don't remember the specifics except for two:
MI Bn: Eyes of the Eagle (my unit)

and the best motto ever:
FA Bn: Balls of the Eagle

Now that was something to hear when the unit sounded off with that at a parade!

Response by SN Michael Mygas made May 14 at 2014 11:52 AM

SN Michael Mygas — Wed, 14 May 2014 11:52:32 -0400

INTRUDER

Response by LT John Selman made May 15 at 2014 11:52 AM

LT John Selman — Thu, 15 May 2014 11:52:23 -0400

When I was on USS Nimitz, my callsign was Psycho lol

Response by SSG Curt Pangracs made May 15 at 2014 12:38 PM

SSG Curt Pangracs — Thu, 15 May 2014 12:38:43 -0400

I always enjoyed "Bandaid 7" for my jump Aid Station...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2014 1:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 May 2014 13:49:07 -0400

As the only MI guy in a platoon of scouts and tankers going around kicking in doors, I was eloquently named "PowerPoint"...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2014 3:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 May 2014 15:47:00 -0400

We had one guy that was "Woody" and another one named "Buzz." Best part was they actually looked similar the the characters.

Response by Sgt Victor Matos made May 15 at 2014 8:27 PM

Sgt Victor Matos — Thu, 15 May 2014 20:27:16 -0400

With a tendency to fall asleep wherever or whenever and a last name like "Matos", it didn't take long for someone to start calling me "Comatose".

Response by MSgt Joseph Haynes made May 15 at 2014 9:31 PM

MSgt Joseph Haynes — Thu, 15 May 2014 21:31:15 -0400

"Doc" was my favorite call sign. That was my job and my TACPs loved me for trying to do the right thing for my guys all the time. I've been retired for 2 years now and some will still call me that when I talk with them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2014 12:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 May 2014 12:45:22 -0400

My nickname given to me in early 01' by CPL Ranger Starling was "Rangel". LOL to this day my buddy @ Carson still calls me that.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 1:20 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 01:20:40 -0400

I haven't developed a new call sign at my current unit but I feel that's coming soon....

As for my favorites, I mean come on folks Goose and Maverick! HELLO Top Gun!!??!! Highway to the danger zone anyone?

Response by PO2 Robert Hunter made May 17 at 2014 12:59 PM

PO2 Robert Hunter — Sat, 17 May 2014 12:59:18 -0400

I had a couple of nicknames. Early on I was called Thumper because I was a wrestler who liked to throw, and because I constantly tapped my right foot on the deck like Thumper in "Bambi."

My other nickname was "Havok," because whenever I was with a bunch of buddies, pretty chaotic stuff seemed to go on around me. I was once in Glyfada, Greece and having finished my lunch, wound up in the midst of a Communist Party march where we Yanks were most certainly NOT welcome. Funny in retrospect, worrisome when it happened to the lot of us.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2014 1:22 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 May 2014 13:22:41 -0400

My Favorite has always been "White Wolf" or my fathers callsign "Nightstalker" I enjoy both of those

Response by Sgt Randy Hill made May 21 at 2014 2:29 PM

Sgt Randy Hill — Wed, 21 May 2014 14:29:32 -0400

Romeo hotel my phonetic initials on air field sign offs.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 21 at 2014 8:52 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 21 May 2014 20:52:06 -0400

God, I've been through so many, but "Hotwire" and "Protector8" seem to always stick out in my memory.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 28 at 2014 1:26 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Wed, 28 May 2014 01:26:29 -0400

In my last assignment of my most favorite duty station of Fort Hood, TX in a traffic collision investigation (TCI) section my call sign was "513". The series 500 was for the TCI section, and my identifying number was 13. The reason why I selected 13 was because I knew the new position would be challenging yet I excelled. I am really dragging this out I know but when someone heard my call sign on the radio which was a lot during peak time traffic between 1600 and 1800 I was making traffic stops. I could hear the despair in dispatches voice. I was wearing out their fingers. I took pride in traffic code enforcement, and I worked by myself. I absolutely loved that job.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2014 6:34 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 May 2014 18:34:09 -0400

Skeletor because I was 112 lbs when I was in AIT. The name has followed me to every duty station since.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made May 31 at 2014 2:33 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Sat, 31 May 2014 14:33:40 -0400

I've had several some I felt were applicable and some I didnt like. I was rarely the biggest guy in the room but "The Human Forklift" ran for a while, "Mighty Joe" a reference to my work capacity and the Gorilla character Mighty Joe Young took for a while. I was known in some HF communication communities as "Iron Grip" for a while.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2014 3:38 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 May 2014 15:38:20 -0400

If you're ejoying this conversation, you'll definitely want to check out some of these other RP discussions; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by CPL Paul Burke made May 31 at 2014 6:55 PM

CPL Paul Burke — Sat, 31 May 2014 18:55:45 -0400

During water recovery training one of my squad mates said i looked like a drowned rat coming out of the water and when we would go out for field training I used to stash in my pack extra ramens .soda,and plenty of cigs. developing into the nickname pack rat, hence the email pakratt8166

Response by LCpl Rick Ponton made Jun 1 at 2014 5:54 AM

LCpl Rick Ponton — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 05:54:53 -0400

HARD CHARGER OR ROCK

Response by CW2 Geoff Lachance made Jun 1 at 2014 11:41 AM

CW2 Geoff Lachance — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 11:41:53 -0400

Chief

I just really enjoyed being called Chief! To my men, it was meant as affection and respect. To my Commanders, Platoon leaders, NCO's, it was respect and brotherhood! I know - the Navy is the only organization that has Chief's, but it warmed me nonetheless!

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 3:15 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 15:15:58 -0400

My favorite I've had was "White Lightning" due to my Kentucky heritage and pasty white skin tone...

Response by LCpl Rick Ponton made Jun 1 at 2014 3:57 PM

LCpl Rick Ponton — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 15:57:53 -0400

MY FAVORITE IS HARD CHARGER

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2014 4:32 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 16:32:56 -0400

This is just too good not to share... the "TOPGUN Call Sign Generator," first click the link below, then enter your name, and press 'submit.' Then, at lighting speed your officially-unofficial 'TOPGUN Call Sign' will be assigned to you! Good stuff... enjoy! lol
http://www.topgunday.com/call-sign-generator/

Call Sign Generator

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Jun 2 at 2014 11:53 AM

SPC David Hannaman — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 11:53:12 -0400

My parents called me "Troop" growing up, so Basic training was interesting (good AND bad).

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Desert Storm I was reading Mark Twain's "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court" and commented to my buddies when I reached this part:

"There were very few THE’S, and I was one of them. If you spoke of the duke, or the earl, or the bishop, how could anybody tell which one you meant? But if you spoke of The King or The Queen or The Boss, it was different."

Afterward they started calling me "The Dave" which I thought was pretty cool.

~~~~~~~~~~~

At Ft Campbell, the civilians I hung out with knew me as Danger Dave. I still use it for an eMail address.

~~~~~~~~~~~

In Korea we ALL had nicknames (to the point we often forgot each other's real name), but all nicknames were tongue in cheek... I mentioned "Danger Dave" and they responded with "Noooo.... too serious", so I was dubbed "Super Dave" as a nod to "Super Dave Osborne".

Response by LCDR Jeffery Dixon made Jun 2 at 2014 4:33 PM

LCDR Jeffery Dixon — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:33:40 -0400

Dr. Death described the triage officer on a nuclear submarine after a nuclear weapons issue.

Response by SGT Jack Mays, III made Jun 3 at 2014 5:11 PM

SGT Jack Mays, III — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 17:11:36 -0400

When I finished Lance Missile training at Ft. Sill, OK, most other artillery personnel referred to us as "MCMF"S (Missile-Cranking Mother F***ers!) We took it in stride and did our job! Lance has been since 1992, but it was another link in the ever-evolving system that is the Field Artillery, which will always be "KING OF BATTLE!" Proud to have been Lance!

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2014 7:23 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 19:23:51 -0400

Guys in the Navy called me, "Little Debbie" because I was always eating and snacking on food. I still do. Hey, I love food!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2014 10:27 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 10:27:36 -0400

Maverick, Goose, and Iceman.......

"Negative Ghost Rider the pattern is full"

Response by SSgt Roger Daniell made Jun 5 at 2014 3:51 PM

SSgt Roger Daniell — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:51:35 -0400

During my Air Force years at Mather AFB, 320th Bomb Wing I was the third shift supervisor. We launched on average 25 30 B52-G's and KC135's a day. I was a SSgt. at the time and my call sign was (TD). My crew never missed a launch and we always launched all our aircraft every morning for 2 years. They use to call me TD because I was a SSgt but did the job of a Tech Sgt or higher the TD stood for Tech Sgt Daniell 9some day). Got out of the Air Force before I ever made Tech, one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made. President Reagan gave the military a 13.8% pay raise right after I got out ..............damn it.

Response by MSgt Charles Osbourn made Jun 6 at 2014 12:27 PM

MSgt Charles Osbourn — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 12:27:26 -0400

The most popular one for me was "Oz" taken from my last name. A group of my closest friends gave me "Wizard" playing off of "Oz" to be different.

Response by MSgt Brian Woodbury made Jun 7 at 2014 11:58 AM

MSgt Brian Woodbury — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 11:58:47 -0400

I was calls "Silver Fox" because of all of my grey hair.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2014 6:09 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 18:09:37 -0400

At my last two commands I've been nicknamed "Swaggy B" and "Swagzilla." Pretty much anything with the word swag in it. I guess it's because of my cool and calm demeanor.

Response by SGT Mitch McKinley made Jun 11 at 2014 12:30 PM

SGT Mitch McKinley — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 12:30:51 -0400

My personal favorite was the our company commander at 546th Maintenance Company. Her call sign was "Goodwrench". Not hilarious by any means...but for some reason it always stood out to me.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2014 2:51 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 02:51:55 -0400

We called my Platoon Sergeant "Uncle Salty" when I was deployed to Iraq. We even painted it on the blast shield of his vehicle as a joke and it turned out that he liked the name so it stuck.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2014 4:10 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:10:04 -0400

Prior to becoming a Chief, I had Sailors that called me "The GosFather". Some of them still do. I have civilian friends that call me Chief or Senior Chief.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Jun 14 at 2014 3:09 PM

SSG Mike Angelo — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 15:09:20 -0400

MacGyver was my nick. Murphy a.k.a Smurf, 13F gave me that nick, probably because I was resourceful and inventing stuff. We were all at the POC, platoon operation center and Murphy wanted to use his personal cell phone and charger, I direct wired the charger to the military track vehicle battery system and got him online; early 1990s. Consequently, the requests grew and installed several kits.

I wonder if todays military equipment have 12vdc conversion kits.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 12:52 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 00:52:51 -0400

During my first Army enlistment (1987-89), my fellow Soldiers called me FlemDawg or FlemFlam. From 2005-08 during my tour in Germany, my Soldiers called me BigFlem and it stuck ever since.

Response by SGT Bobby F. made Jun 16 at 2014 1:37 AM

SGT Bobby F. — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 01:37:26 -0400

When it was finally earned, "Doc" quickly became my favorite nickname. In the mean time, and even to this day, there are all the variations of Snowman or Iceman I can't seem to get away from.

Response by MSgt Lancia Stewart made Jun 16 at 2014 1:26 PM

MSgt Lancia Stewart — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 13:26:00 -0400

During one particular assignment, a Marine called me Xena Warrior Analyst. The fact I played rugby may have been part of it...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 4:05 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 16:05:38 -0400

I had a few while I was with the Rough Riders in Iraq. My commander called me Doogie Howser, because I was by far the youngest medic in the company, and knew what I was doing. But my favorite was Mr. Krabs. The truck that I usually loaded in was the "Pineapple Express". My driver was Patrick, my Gunner was Spongebob, and my TC was Squidward...because he looked like freaking Squidward. It made sense, I could do a good Mr. Krabs impression plus, when things went horribly wrong, who did spongebob, patrick and Squidward run to? Mr. Krabs.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 11:42 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 11:42:45 -0400

While I was in Iraq it seemed to never fail that no matter which FOB or COB I went to (my mision had me jumping around alot) it would get rocketed while I was there and stop when I left. It didn't take long for my OIC to notice this odd coincidence and start to try out different nick names. Personal favorites included "lucky", "the duck" (for duck and cover), and "snake eyes". Naturally it was the simplest one that stuck, and thats how I became "IDF Magnet"

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 12:25 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:25:09 -0400

I met a female A-10 driver whose call sign was G-Spot. She said it had something to do with blacking out in the centrifuge but somehow I doubt that was it. She was a hoot though.

Response by SSG David Hollingshead made Jun 18 at 2014 11:09 PM

SSG David Hollingshead — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 23:09:56 -0400

as corny as it was i was "sparky" for a while

Response by MAJ Derrick J. made Jun 20 at 2014 9:29 PM

MAJ Derrick J. — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:29:27 -0400

Mine is Senator - I knew politics and my fellow recruits (went to Ft Leonard Wood) decided their Platoon Guide needed to be felled Senator & it's been that way ever since.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2014 5:51 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 17:51:33 -0400

I've had two call signs, call sign Sapper in Iraq, call sign chaos Afghan.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2014 9:27 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 21:27:03 -0400

My best call sign was "Uncle Ruckus" during my first deployment to Afghanistan.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2014 11:44 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 11:44:39 -0400

My call sign in Afghan was Human Torch cause I was always covered in JP8 and smoking while refueling trucks

Response by SN Sean Willson made Jun 25 at 2014 1:01 AM

SN Sean Willson — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 01:01:40 -0400

I have read a lot of these. Some are pretty cool, some are kinda dorky. I have to admit to being a little jealous. I never had a nickname, cool or dorky. We had this one guy in my div on the Kitty Hawk. His name was Williams. He was about 6' 5", skinny as a rail and had kind of a high voice. We called him Big Bird. I was never really sure if he minded but he didn't kill us in our sleep so I guess it's all good.

And speaking of the Kitty Hawk we lovingly called her the Shitty Kitty.

Response by Capt Andre Toman made Jul 8 at 2014 2:06 PM

Capt Andre Toman — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 14:06:56 -0400

There was one guy in our squadron called "NASA." Situational awareness was not applicable to this guy.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2014 2:13 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 14:13:54 -0400

My nickname was Freeze, because no one in my OTS flight could pronounce my last name (DeVries) correctly. So I told them it rhymed with Freeze. Guess that was easier to say than my last name, cause it stuck. It's ok. I preferred that over them mispronouncing my name.

Response by MCPO Robert Kelley made Jul 8 at 2014 3:02 PM

MCPO Robert Kelley — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 15:02:06 -0400

I was pretty partial to "Senior" (Senior Chief). The pattern didn't translate to Master Chief but that was pretty good too...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 10:56 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:56:13 -0400

Mine is Loctitie (lock tight). I was called that for several weeks and never really thought about. I came later to find out that I had that name because I had a few screws loose and need some Loctite to make sure they didn't come out.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2014 12:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 00:25:32 -0400

In Iraq our company call sign was Patriot. There was a team that operated in our AO who used Carebear as their call sign.

In Afghanistan we were BoSox.

After my first aerial gunnery I was affectionately called T-Rex for a time because I could nail the moving targets but could hit the stationary ones to save my life. Then i picked up B.O.D. ( Bag of D's) because someone thought it would be funny to put a sticker on my face shield that said that.. and I didn't realize it was there and gave everyone I interacted with that day a good laugh.. That one lasted for the rest of the deployment.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2014 9:41 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 21:41:38 -0400

SIDEWINDER 2-6... That was my Call Sign when competing in the Iowa National Guard Sidewinder Challenge as the Team Captain and received the Outstanding Leadership Award.

Response by SPC Robert Bibbo made Jul 13 at 2014 6:24 PM

SPC Robert Bibbo — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 18:24:34 -0400

Harbringer not to be confused with Harbinger.....Harbringer is a Welsh word meaning ...One who goes before the Army...it is a supply term from the revolution General George Washington himself used it when communicating with the Army Quartermaster General....so I was Harbringer 6 and Godfather of the E4 mafia..lol

Response by SPC Robert Bibbo made Jul 14 at 2014 4:13 PM

SPC Robert Bibbo — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:13:29 -0400

I forgot to list my nickname......my call sign was Harbringer but my nickname was Bilbo as in Bilbo Baggins since my last name is Bibbo.....and I didn't mind he is one of my favorite fictional characters

Response by LTC Charles Sherman made Jul 14 at 2014 8:35 PM

LTC Charles Sherman — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 20:35:52 -0400

Nickname? With a last name like mine?

I had a gym teacher call me "Tank" in school.

My DS somehow found out that I was an ROTC/SMP...I didn't get a nickname, but "anyone who was going to be HER officer" did EVERYTHING the hardest way possible...OVER the sawdust mountain when everyone else lowcrawled around it, shot Expert or else, etc.

When I was a truck company Commander, my vehicle was a HMMWV. My platoons were in M915A2s, which was just a military version of the Freightliner C6...they still had the "Freightliner" badge on the front. Needless to say, their trucks ran much faster on the highway than my HMMWV, and more so if their governors inexplicably "malfunctioned". The only time I saw them was at morning SPs, rest stops, and at the evening RON site. My callsign was "Coyote" on the rare occasions I was actually in radio range of "Roadrunner1/2/3"...always chasing, never catching!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2014 8:57 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 08:57:16 -0400

I received my most recent "call sign" when I was assigned to DASN (M & RA). Everyone in the office had "call signs" as we had aviators in our office. My call sign/nickname became "Minion". It came about after I had finished a phone call from a retired USMC LTC that worked at the VA and told me that someone with more rank and authority than me should be communicating with the Senior Executive Service folks at the VA. Well my billet was Program Manager for the SECNAV Retiree Council, and that never happened since my Reporting Senior was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Needless to say the attached images appeared on my desk soon after.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Sep 5 at 2014 10:35 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 22:35:41 -0400

When I was a supply troop it was "Token", currently it is Batman....my office also has a Robin and Joker in it.

Response by SSG John Bacon made Sep 6 at 2014 3:34 PM

SSG John Bacon — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 15:34:12 -0400

Jolly Green Giant, Baconator, Too Tall.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 13 at 2014 11:16 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 23:16:17 -0400

"Mad dog"

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2014 11:32 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 23:32:49 -0400

Well, with this last name I am sure you can imagine, for awhile it was Papa (yeah, papa boner), but that changed to OT as I got saltier. OT= Old Testament.

Tango!
Doc(this one too)

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2014 12:44 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 00:44:01 -0400

My commander called me Moose for dragging 50' and 100' power cables thru three foot snow in Alaska. And my favorite was my junior airman in our shop calling me Gunny for my hard nose Marine attitude.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Sep 14 at 2014 11:39 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 11:39:31 -0400

Duck Hunter - Back in the 90's it is what infantry guys called us Stinger teams. Unfortunately I never got to grow a long tactical beard and make millions from the show.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Sep 15 at 2014 8:24 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:24:07 -0400

Officially I was Charlie 2X actual. Unofficially I was "Paranoia". Taken from the Buffalo Springfield song "For what it's worth"..."Paranoia strikes a beat, into your life it will creep......". I was known in I Corps through the underground radio net that just about anyone with radio access knew about.

Response by Sgt Jennifer Mohler made Sep 15 at 2014 8:35 PM

Sgt Jennifer Mohler — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:35:39 -0400

I knew someone who petitioned the command to let him go out on his last mission as Tonka One, since he was typically the lead vic. They didn't let him do it, but I still think it was funny.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2014 4:53 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 04:53:38 -0400

Mine is "Starbux." I used to fly with an espresso machine in the jet that I bought in Sicily. The jet used 220 power and I was able plug it in. I was flying some fighter pilots to another base and during the whole trip they kept calling me that. When I was at the deid they recognized me and kept calling me that so it stuck officially.

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Sep 22 at 2014 9:23 AM

SPC David Shaffer — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 09:23:20 -0400

My favorite was Loose Face Killah. Drill sergeant Davis called me it through basic training and AIT at Fort Benning. Reminded me of something from a Wu Tang album.

Response by PO1 Donald Kennelly made Nov 16 at 2014 4:34 PM

PO1 Donald Kennelly — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 16:34:56 -0500

My favorite was one of the Jolly Rogers F-14s. It was number 111 or "triple-sticks".

Response by SFC William "Bill" Moore made Nov 16 at 2014 5:53 PM

SFC William "Bill" Moore — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 17:53:05 -0500

I was given the nickname "BFFI", pronounced "Biffy" by one of my LT's. Stands for "Brute force and f'ing ignorance." It stuck for the last 10 years of my career.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Jan 2 at 2015 7:43 PM

SGT Michael Glenn — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 19:43:59 -0500

Dont know if it was my FAVORITE... but I was called floppy chicken because when we did patrols in Korea I was always on point and would walk into huge spiderwebs ( yes Im arachnophobic, so a small webb seems HUGE to me) drop and flop on the ground like a chicken with its head cut off.....

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 11:35 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:35:10 -0500

I was a torpedoman on Submarines and it was neigh impossible to get promoted at the time because we had recently been merged with Machinist's Mate and were ridiculously top heavy (basically some MCPO somewhere would've had to kick the bucket to open slots for me to move up, lol). Shortly before I got out (after taking the test for E-5 for the 8th time and scoring VERY well), my detailer informed me that I was the senior E-4 torpedoman on the ENTIRE East Coast by about a year. Once word got out, my division began calling me the 3PON, which stood for Third Class Petty Officer of the Navy. I think it's a tie between "3PON" and "Command Master Third" for my favorite nickname, lol...

Response by CW2 Stephen Pate made Jan 3 at 2015 12:02 AM

CW2 Stephen Pate — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 00:02:17 -0500

While deployed to Iraq on my 3rd or 4th tour (can't remember which) we had set up a patrol of three to four vehicles and a wrecker. It was known as the Repo Patrol or QRF Recovery because we held ourselves to the same standards as the QRF in regards to how fast we could get spun up and out the gate. Well, I was in the second truck and my call sign was Repo Duece. I later found out (when my CSM pointed it out to me) that when I was dismounted my guys had their own callsigns and even had nametapes made. Of the ones I can remember there was Marlboro Man and I Need Money. After the CSM so kindly pointed out the name tapes I had to tell my guys that "nobody needed to see those anymore".

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2015 12:10 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 00:10:47 -0500

My nickname is Barnyard, a rough corruption of my surname. My dad had the same nickname during his time in the service, so I'm quite proud of it. In Basic Training I was Hoser, because the drill sergeants thought I sounded Canadian.

Response by Sgt Adam Jennings made Jan 3 at 2015 9:59 AM

Sgt Adam Jennings — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 09:59:18 -0500

My two favorite nicknames that I personally had were Pappy at boot camp, because I was 29, and Bear when I was at MWCS-28 because of my size and bearing.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Jan 4 at 2015 2:31 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 02:31:05 -0500

My nickname at my first duty station was Pepsi. I got it because I was a self-avowed Straight Edge adherent (despite being Scottish) in a unit where acts of drunkenness were common at 1701-local on a Monday. Pepsi was my beverage of choice.

My nickname at subsequent units after I reclassified into the intel field, where people tend to follow each other to assignments after training, was Freaky. I don't want to go into details why I got that nickname, either.

Response by MSgt Rob Weston made Jan 4 at 2015 12:41 PM

MSgt Rob Weston — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 12:41:37 -0500

While stationed in Kunsan S.Korea all the flight members had call signs based on something we said, did, or our past. There was Preacher (both of his granddad a were ministers), Wednesday (from Adams Family and only female), Lyrch (really tall guy), etc. I got the name Hannibal for scaring the hell out of one of our guys, my partner on patrol. It was late at night on post, I was bored, and thought it was a good idea to sharpen my pocket knife. But for the most part my nickname has been "Wes"

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 2:23 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:23:08 -0500

In the first Company I was in after Basic, there's a guy whose nickname was "Tampon" because he couldn't hold his alcohol... This wasn't just an inside joke either. Pretty much everybody in the company called him that...

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 2:23 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:23:42 -0500

Charles, after Charles Xavier of X-men fame. Solely because I happen to shave my head once a week. I also earned Bean Sprout and Mighty Mouse, for reasons that have never been explained to me.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 2:24 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 14:24:17 -0500

as a private, i responded to Dumbass
PFC - hey idiot
SPC - hey dipshit
SGT - Buck SGT
SSG - high speed
SFC - plt daddy
MSG - Mass Sarn ...

Response by SGT(P) Bruce Van Havermaet made Jan 6 at 2015 10:04 AM

SGT(P) Bruce Van Havermaet — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:04:02 -0500

my nickname has been Van Halen, hence my last name start's with Van. I have been called that since basic training in 1979.

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Jan 6 at 2015 10:34 AM

TSgt Kevin Buccola — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:34:37 -0500

Call me "Road Kill"

Response by PO3 Ben Wallace made Jan 7 at 2015 5:49 PM

PO3 Ben Wallace — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:49:51 -0500

My nickname has always been Wallygator.

Response by SSG John M. made Jan 14 at 2015 10:22 AM

SSG John M. — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 10:22:50 -0500

The CG of the 82nd AIRBORNE is ALL AMERICAN SIX

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 12:11 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 00:11:05 -0500

This could be a topic in itself, my last "morale booster" was deleted! So what ( :' No one ever placed a pseudonym (nickname) on their favorite box o' field toys?

Response by SPC Ron Reda made Jun 29 at 2015 6:23 PM

SPC Ron Reda — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 18:23:10 -0400

OLD BALLS was mine in the INF

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 29 at 2015 10:20 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 22:20:53 -0400

Granite6....my real name is Eugene, but I have been Bink all my life

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 10:44 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 22:44:30 -0400

Sweetcheeks and Eagle-eyes.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 30 at 2015 8:44 AM

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:44:19 -0400

We don't get them for life. My best one was Goat Roper 6. Col Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 30 at 2015 8:46 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:46:25 -0400

My last name was Vongtanaanek. So they all called me V12. Wish I drove an Aston Martin to back it up.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 8:54 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 08:54:58 -0400

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Jun 30 at 2015 5:53 PM

Sgt Spencer Sikder — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 17:53:41 -0400

A Marine roommate called me "Slick." It was a better name than the nicknames from elementary school. When I started on the Internet and needed a nickname, I modified Slick to SlickJarhead.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 7:42 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 19:42:18 -0400

"Ranger"

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 8:42 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 20:42:28 -0400

Boonie...its Arabic for Brown...which makes it easy for our partners to join in the fun.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 7:25 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 07:25:33 -0500

As you can see, with my last name being Conway, growing up I had the nickname Conway twitty, which wasn't a bad thing. I happen to like his music. Later on, I earned the nickname by some fellow NCOs, when I was a corporal, Cpl Twitty. it stuck with me for years, well the twitty part.

Response by SSG Ronald Limbaugh made Nov 23 at 2015 12:48 PM

SSG Ronald Limbaugh — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 12:48:18 -0500

In case its not obvious, I got tagged as "Rush" by my DS in basic. Been stuck with it for 22 yrs now.

Response by SGT Scott Gossett made Jul 28 at 2016 4:57 PM

SGT Scott Gossett — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 16:57:51 -0400

My favorite was given to me in Afghanistan, Preacher. I was an Infantry team leader and one of the few in my platoon who went to church, and I became the unofficial counselor to my platoon. They all said that they'd rather talk to me than the chaplain. And now that I'm out I'm going to school to be a pastor!

Response by MSG B D. made Jul 28 at 2016 5:45 PM

MSG B D. — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 17:45:14 -0400

1990, Infantry basic/AIT training in Ft Benning, Ga we had a guy (Pvt Robinson) that somehow in week 8 or 9, had to go to sick call because he had crabs! During the next morning pt we were getting smoked because of failing a barracks inspection. We were in the middle of gorilla drills, iron Mikes and crab walks. The d.s. yells at Pvt Robinson, bet you can do this one good, can't you seafood"! From then on he was known as seafood. I saw him many years later while attending ANOC. He was with several other guys when I noticed him. Of course being the true Infantryman, I yell across the room, "hey seafood, seen any crabs lately"? Never heard as much cussing out of 1 man in my entire life.

I spent a good amount of time in Honduras, El Salvador and Columbia while on a joint task force with the dea and other drug enforcement units. I was a weapons specialist at the time and our units sniper team nco. After a particular nasty mission I was given the name El diablo blanca. Come to find out, snipers were hated above everyone else in those areas, so it definitely was not a name of affection.

Response by SPC Sheryl Koch made Jul 28 at 2016 5:48 PM

SPC Sheryl Koch — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 17:48:20 -0400

Mine are what they are. Despite my MOS'S I was called "cookie" and "Frog Priencess" some commented they couldn't get over they let me out of camp with out "Bubble Wrap" protection. they were all clowns!

Response by MSgt Richard Rountree made Jul 28 at 2016 7:16 PM

MSgt Richard Rountree — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 19:16:52 -0400

When I was assigned to the 511th Tactical Fighter Squadron (USAFE) (aka The Vultures) during Operation Desert Storm at KFIA, I was required to carry a 'brick' (portable FM 2-way radio). My assigned call sign was 'Vulture Scrounge'. I was also referred to around the squadron as 'Sgt Bilko'. I was the 'go to' guy when the unit needed something/anything ASAP. I would beg, borrow, barter, trade, use 'midnight requisition' techniques, etc., to get whatever we needed as fast as possible. My one rule/request to my superiors was to never ask me how I 'did it'.

Response by SFC Jonathan Surprise made Jul 28 at 2016 7:37 PM

SFC Jonathan Surprise — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 19:37:40 -0400

Because of my last name, I always was referred to as SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE! Almost all of the Soldiers and peers I have worked with usually refer to me a the "Satellite Chief" or Old Crusty.

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Jul 28 at 2016 7:49 PM

TSgt Joe C. — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 19:49:19 -0400

So here we go...my nicknames from the bases I've been stationed at or deployed to:

Grand Forks AFB: "Bubbles" from Trailer Park Boys (not nearly as thick in the glasses dept)
Kirkuk Reg AB: "Mouth" because I hardly ever talked
JBSA-Lackland: "Grumpy Cat" I got this while I was a CBRN instructor for Basic training
Cannon AFB: "Big Cat" Friendlier version of Grumpy Cat

Kunsan AB, ROK: Nickname and call sign---- "Sweat Shop"! Damn near sweat through everything here on the peninsula!

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jul 28 at 2016 8:14 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 20:14:50 -0400

My nickname is V12, because there is twelve letters in my last name. If only I owned a vehicle that suited my name.

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Jul 28 at 2016 8:59 PM

Capt Michael Greene — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 20:59:06 -0400

As a flightline officer, my call sign was boring, Blue Lead, based on the color on the aircraft tails. But as a aviator, the aircraft I flew in were always Peter Rabbit.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2016 10:18 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 22:18:34 -0400

In basic thanks to BCGs I was nicknamed Ralphie like from the Christmas Story. Made for an interesting weapons qual. Somewhat related our unit is the "Stingers" with a bee as our mascot. The unofficial hand sign was what we called the Stinger. Most everyone else would call it the shocker. Needless to say higher ups but an end to that

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2016 10:19 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 22:19:01 -0400

Response by SFC John Hill made Jul 28 at 2016 10:20 PM

SFC John Hill — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 22:20:11 -0400

After SINGAARS came into being and the Army went back to "Hollywood" call signs, one of my favorites was our FIST team "Bonecrusher 6." My last tour in Iraq as a SPTT, we went by "Streetgang."

Response by SPC Ron Williams made Jul 29 at 2016 11:30 AM

SPC Ron Williams — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 11:30:46 -0400

I was given the nickname of " Baby Face" by our platoon of females. We were at USAMPS at Ft. Mc Clellan, Alabama ( 1977).Every morning at formation, they regaled me with that old song...most flattering, even though I was only 22 at the time.☺

Response by MAJ Brents Pepper made Jul 29 at 2016 5:31 PM

MAJ Brents Pepper — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 17:31:38 -0400

One year we were using Motorola hand helds and were using simple call signs that most had given themselves. Our motor sgt's last name was Spears and since he wasn't around to give us a call sign I wrote down Brittany beside his name. Later on when he came in to get his radio and cheat sheet he saw that his call sign was Brittany. He said "who came up with that?" Everybody pointed at me. He said "come on sir, that is the kind of name that sticks with a fellow." That was around 2004 and people still call him Brittany.

Response by SGT Herman Peake made Jul 29 at 2016 5:37 PM

SGT Herman Peake — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 17:37:40 -0400

Blackjack6

Response by SPC Mike Moulton made Jul 30 at 2016 7:17 AM

SPC Mike Moulton — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 07:17:45 -0400

I was called Army Guy!
Might not sound exciting, but when you get stationed aboard camp Lejeune for 4 years. There wasn't many of us so it worked for me

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2016 12:47 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 12:47:08 -0400

I was happily called Ben Franklin, apparently for the last name and giving a guy a lesson in history. Thankfully I was not given the fond nickname of pukey. Poor bastard.

Response by PO3 David Phillips Jr. made Jul 30 at 2016 5:20 PM

PO3 David Phillips Jr. — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 17:20:59 -0400

Back in the 80's I was in the VF-101 IWT shop. We had a tall, stout, black avionics tech named Damon Knaff. A big, friendly, good humored sort whom we nicknamed "Grape Ape"
As for my own nickname, in "A" School, one of my instructors, SSG Snyder, liked to refer to me as "Staypuft". I miss those days. Marines and sailors in the same class and we were family. We had a high and tight day once, and those who didn't show up with one, allowed the marines to give them one. It was awesome!

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Jul 30 at 2016 6:53 PM

GySgt John O'Donnell — Sat, 30 Jul 2016 18:53:39 -0400

For many years my nickname was "OD" because of my last name. But after my promotion to Gunnery Sergeant my XO of the unit made the t-shirt, and an new nickname "GYOD" stuck, which ended up become my call sign for all future missions.

Response by PO1 Jack Howell made Jul 31 at 2016 3:16 PM

PO1 Jack Howell — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 15:16:49 -0400

After graduating from ASTAC (ASW/ASUW Tactical Air Controller), the instructors gave me the call sign Mr. Vernon from the movie, 'The Breakfast Club'.

Response by PO1 Jack Howell made Jul 31 at 2016 3:21 PM

PO1 Jack Howell — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 15:21:36 -0400

One of my favorite quotes comes from General Patton when he was commenting on the difference between officers from West Point and those who received their commission after graduating from Texas A&M. He said, “Give me an Army of West Point graduates and I'll win a battle... Give me a handful of Texas Aggies and I'll win a war". I think that speaks to the quality of officers that come out of A&M.

Response by MSG Oskar Schlomer made Aug 1 at 2016 1:17 PM

MSG Oskar Schlomer — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 13:17:27 -0400

I was the NCOIC of CATD Engineer Branch and we taught all the demo classes for all the schools here at Ft. Benning. For our basic demo class we put on a skit to keep it interesting for the students. The instructor had an assistant call Buddy Row Kudzu (BRK) which I am the last one. It was BRK's responsibility to harass the instructor to know end but everything he did two repeated what the instructor just said and the hands own demo was by the book. Sadly after I had gone back to the line in 1994 the new NCOIC stopped the skit.

Response by SFC Alfred Galloway made Aug 1 at 2016 1:29 PM

SFC Alfred Galloway — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 13:29:30 -0400

Mine was bestowed upon me by a Brig Gen John Shalikashvili; "Tubes" Galloway all because my team had more direct fire reports than 2 divisions and my Alma Mater the 2nd ACR. Too bad it was only training exercises though.

Response by SFC Alfred Galloway made Aug 1 at 2016 1:48 PM

SFC Alfred Galloway — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 13:48:15 -0400

A 2lt, was nicknamed Blitz because he jumped his TOC and platoon to new positions without authenticating said order over the radio. Needless to say our CO didn't order him to jump to a new position. He was in big doo doo, when our CO found out he jumped his unit without permission, the CO started cursing him out on the radio!

Response by LCpl Todd Houston made Aug 5 at 2016 2:41 PM

LCpl Todd Houston — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 14:41:30 -0400

I got out of the Marine Corps in 1992 and to this day the folks I served with still call me "Hack, Hack" because of my ridiculous laugh.

Response by TSgt Mario Guajardo made Aug 11 at 2016 12:55 PM

TSgt Mario Guajardo — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 12:55:57 -0400

Aardvark, I'm a former F-111 Fire Control Specialist

Response by SFC Terry Fortune made Aug 18 at 2016 2:16 PM

SFC Terry Fortune — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:16:51 -0400

The call sign given to me in Iraq by troops was Duke.

Response by PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster made Aug 21 at 2016 6:49 PM

PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 18:49:10 -0400

Mom

Response by SGT Tim Soyars made Aug 22 at 2016 12:32 AM

SGT Tim Soyars — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 00:32:32 -0400

Oh Man! Callsign - Bad JuJu. Seemed like all the bad things happened when I was around.

Response by PO2 Jerri Jackson made Nov 12 at 2016 11:08 PM

PO2 Jerri Jackson — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 23:08:44 -0500

Being a woman in the Navy, I always thought it was funny how the Navy brass kept changing our names, of personally I think because what they kept coming up with was easily used in derogatory ways.
When I first came in we were called Waves, so "ride the waves" was popular. Next came WINS (women in the Navy), well, of course, "Wins blow", was used. Then while on my 2nd ship they came up with"WAS" (women at sea). This one at least I dont remember if was used badly, but thought it was funny that I "was", not in the present.lol
Why couldn't we just be called sailors? Of course I always called myself, n still do, a "squidette"! Go Navy!

Response by MSgt Greg Gates made Nov 13 at 2016 1:41 AM

MSgt Greg Gates — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 01:41:24 -0500

"Wedge" because the first check ride I gave as a newly upgraded FEFE resulted in me busting him and driving a wedge between him and his career.

Response by Sgt E Patrick Anthony made Nov 13 at 2016 9:37 PM

Sgt E Patrick Anthony — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 21:37:32 -0500

Sarge

Response by PO3 Christopher Jonah Nelson made Nov 13 at 2016 10:23 PM

PO3 Christopher Jonah Nelson — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 22:23:17 -0500

I was Juliet November. It was my radio callsign that I had to sign every message with when I was communicating inter-position. I still use it four and a half years later.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2016 11:48 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 23:48:46 -0500

My old CO's first name was Romin so he ended up with the call sign "Noodles". It was pretty funny to hear him over coms.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 14 at 2016 10:19 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 10:19:39 -0500

"STEEL" and then the number

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 14 at 2016 10:24 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 10:24:50 -0500

"GUNNER"

Response by SSgt Boyd Welch made Nov 14 at 2016 10:58 AM

SSgt Boyd Welch — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 10:58:54 -0500

When I joined the army at 17, I was so skinny, my recruiter said I looked like a preying mantis. The name stuck throughout my service and now my riders group has decided to call me "mantis" as well. Not so thin anymore!

Response by SGT Tammy Fornwald made Nov 15 at 2016 10:46 AM

SGT Tammy Fornwald — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:46:04 -0500

I am not only a 92 but was also a 43M Which is renovations now part of the 92S. So we were called STITH B**CH

Response by MSG Jay Jackson made Nov 15 at 2016 3:26 PM

MSG Jay Jackson — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:26:48 -0500

In one unit that I was assigned to we all had beaver call signs. I being the M88 driver used "Beaver Retriever", I will stop at that on that one. In Iraq in 07-08 one of our MITT Teams had a cup cake 6 call sign.

Response by CPL Randy Sturdivant made Nov 18 at 2016 10:09 PM

CPL Randy Sturdivant — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 22:09:14 -0500

Flipper23...../

Response by Mario Leone made Oct 22 at 2017 10:21 AM

Mario Leone — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 10:21:13 -0400

The Fulkon

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2018 6:37 PM

CAPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:37:40 -0500

What would you call Scott Norris

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2018 11:27 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 May 2018 23:27:52 -0400

MightyMouse.

Response by COL Brad Welch made May 4 at 2018 6:41 PM

COL Brad Welch — Fri, 04 May 2018 18:41:23 -0400

Hammer 6

Response by SPC John Parmenter made May 4 at 2018 8:50 PM

SPC John Parmenter — Fri, 04 May 2018 20:50:24 -0400

As Assistant 1st Infantry Division Commander at Ft. Riley, BG Robert "Monk" Meyer earned the nick -name "Snack Bar 6" for his habit of inspecting on-post snack-bars for troops malingering during duty hours.

Response by CSM Tee Oden made May 6 at 2018 7:52 PM

CSM Tee Oden — Sun, 06 May 2018 19:52:45 -0400

My favorite call sign was "Rapture 7". My world is always to make it happen!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2018 7:59 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 May 2018 19:59:44 -0400

I use this one quite a bit......."Naval Retread".

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2018 8:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 20:09:34 -0400

My guys all gave me the nickname of "Iceman"

Response by A1C Rene Provencher made Jun 19 at 2019 10:58 PM

A1C Rene Provencher — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 22:58:19 -0400

My nickname was Frenchie, No one could say my last name correctly!

Response by Sgt Robert M Roush made Jun 20 at 2019 12:59 AM

Sgt Robert M Roush — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:59:19 -0400

Sgt Ready/Sgt GreenBlood
Ready 4 anything @ anytime, anywhere.
Also, the ultimate Marine warrior. When I bled,I bled green not red.
Those who know me, knew this!

Response by PO3 Karen McNeal made Jun 20 at 2019 4:34 AM

PO3 Karen McNeal — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 04:34:21 -0400

My Favorite nickname was our CO Captain "Red Fox" and he had a stamp w a Fox that stamped out Red. Don't remember his last name gofigure,since we all called him Capt Red Fox and I do believe he enjoyed it;this was in Key West,Fl. 1982-83.

Response by PO3 Doug Threadgill made Jun 20 at 2019 1:49 PM

PO3 Doug Threadgill — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 13:49:13 -0400

My nickname came at "boot" in 1966! I was "Recruit Battalion Master at Arm's!"
No one in the OD's office could remember or correctly pronounce my last name. Instead (they could remember I was Memphis, TN) they started calling me "TENNESSEE!" That stuck with me through my time in the Navy. Funny thing is, I am originally from Mississippi, & where I currently reside.

Response by 2LT Earl Dean made Jun 25 at 2019 4:58 PM

2LT Earl Dean — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 16:58:29 -0400

War Eagle, Dancer, Night Hawk

Response by SPC David S. made Jun 28 at 2019 10:13 AM

SPC David S. — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 10:13:50 -0400

The Three Rules of Call signs
1) If you don't already have one, you will be assigned one by your "buddies".
2) You probably won't like it.
3) If you complain and moan too much about 1. and 2., you'll get a new nickname you'll like even less!

As such a guy I know his last name was Clapper so in rather obvious form his call sign was "drip"

Response by Sgt Robert M Roush made Aug 28 at 2019 8:20 PM

Sgt Robert M Roush — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 20:20:47 -0400

Sgt Roush, aka SgtReady.
Ready 4 anything, anytime, anyhow.
Rough and Ready.
Also Stud! Only by a close knit group.
You can figure that one out.
Sgt GreenBlood. I was so Militaristic, Marine Corps wound,that if I was shot, I would bleed green not red.

Response by LCpl David Laird made Aug 29 at 2019 1:35 AM

LCpl David Laird — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 01:35:10 -0400

Duck

Response by A1C Chris Mannifield made Aug 29 at 2019 1:50 AM

A1C Chris Mannifield — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 01:50:41 -0400

I was Shakes, I went TDY to Ellsworth to help clean up their ORI, I got shocked, had a bunch of siezures and was relegated to tool crib when taken off the flight line.
I still laugh at it, been out for 11 years, and my left hand is still fried, many good times and jokes about it, when my face wasnt working I did a heck of a Stallone impersonation " that's brisk baby"

Response by SSgt Melissa De La Rosa made Aug 29 at 2019 1:04 PM

SSgt Melissa De La Rosa — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 13:04:47 -0400

"Giggles" because I had the loudest laugh in my flight. I had too much fun in there!!

Response by 1LT James Rosebrough made Apr 27 at 2020 6:38 PM

1LT James Rosebrough — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 18:38:44 -0400

Bullwhip 6- Commander of 1/9 Cav, the first (and best) Air Cavalry Squadron in the Army. I was a proud member of this test unit that went to Vietnam in August 1965 and fought so well. Have you seen “We were Soldiers Once “ ? 1/9 was in at the beginning of that battle with our 92 helicopters!

Response by SSG Dick Martin made Jun 23 at 2020 3:54 PM

SSG Dick Martin — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:54:48 -0400

I was called Airman Demerit while attending the Security Police Academy because I was always missing an ace on an exam/inspection by one question, one speck of dust, etc.

Response by SSG Dick Martin made Jun 24 at 2020 7:28 PM

SSG Dick Martin — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 19:28:21 -0400

Field Artillery Surveyor (E-7) was known as Short Round, not because of his body type, but because of the likely success of his career.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2020 10:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 22:52:32 -0400

In AIT I was “loose cannon”
I’m not artillery in any way, just...yeah I was 18 and liked 18 year old things.

In Iraq I was Duke (from GI Joe) or Bulldog (from RBF/thick build)

One of the staff nerds in my current unit calls me the Electromancer because I do eldritch things with lighting and math.

Response by PFC Craig Karshner made Jan 8 at 2021 11:47 PM

PFC Craig Karshner — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 23:47:18 -0500

When we got to Benning for basic had a soldier whose head was shaped like Yoda. The DI were are over that lol..Rangers lead the way

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 9 at 2021 6:18 AM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 06:18:12 -0500

"Sir"

Response by MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. made Jan 9 at 2021 7:02 AM

MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 07:02:37 -0500

As CO of D Co., 2-34th AR at Ft. Carson in 1984-85 my callsign was "Deathdealer Six."