Posted on Dec 3, 2013
What's your favorite military "nickname" or "call sign"?
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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!
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Edited 12 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 325
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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
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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".
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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.
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.
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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.
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Because most people have hard time pronouncing my name I prefer to be called MSG B.
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG B,
How DO you pronounce your name? I would guess maybe something like BAZE-den?
How DO you pronounce your name? I would guess maybe something like BAZE-den?
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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.
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SFC Kevin Cornett
And "Solar Powered Ranger" I earned that one when I did the Rakkasan Pre-Ranger Program. Apparently, once the sun was up I was good... bouncing and ready to go no matter how little sleep I had had... once it went down... I could fall asleep standing up, and did a header over my rucksack while doing an AAR.
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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
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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
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Col (Join to see)
SSgt Olson, we'll have to hear some of those names one day, in the meanwhile... this one's for you, enjoy the "big toe" show! : )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtbBmwgxKc0
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<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>
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Col (Join to see)
<p>Hahaha, that's great, CPT Brian "HB" Healey 'don't care!' Most excellent indeed... thanks for sharing! lol</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg</p><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/4r7wHMg5Yjg/maxresdefault.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg" target="_blank">The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger (original narration by Randall)</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">**VOTE 4 RANDALL'S VID: http://on.fb.me/1ed6NyU * *SUBSCRIBE NOW STUPID: http://bit.ly/1a7WiGO *Special thanks 2 Colleen+Keith Begg 4 their extensive work & ...</div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>
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SCPO (Join to see)
I love the Honey Badger video. We have a female Chief in our Mess and her nickname is also Honey Badger
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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.
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Col (Join to see)
Great nicknames, thanks for sharing your stories, SSG "Bulldog" Riley! lol I have a mentor that was aptly nicknamed "Pit-Bull" for tenacity. Good stuff, thanks again!
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SGT Robert Riley
Col (Join to see) - Your welcome,sir.The nickname still follows me around in my civilian life.
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