Airborne lingo: what is your favorite?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 08:29:55 -0400

So I learned more lingo yesterday that I never heard before going to an airborne unit. What I thought was velcro is actually called something else just like rubber bands! What airborne lingo is your favorite and why?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Sep 4 at 2015 8:37 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 08:37:46 -0400

You never heard of hook and pile tape before LTC Private RallyPoint Member? LOL

Response by SFC Douglas Duckett made Sep 4 at 2015 8:58 AM

SFC Douglas Duckett — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 08:58:07 -0400

Knees in the Breeze

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Sep 4 at 2015 9:02 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 09:02:22 -0400

Breakaway breakaway breakaway! Wait, that's Air REFUELING lingo. Sorry, nevermind.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Sep 4 at 2015 9:57 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 09:57:30 -0400

4th point of contact

Have fun on your jump LTC Private RallyPoint Member!
A-ATW!

Response by SGT Robert Zuniga made Sep 4 at 2015 11:03 AM

SGT Robert Zuniga — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 11:03:13 -0400

100 MPH Tape. Half-inch tubular nylon. 550 cord. The crazy list goes on and on.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 12:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 12:35:03 -0400

Lawn Dart. 5 Jump Chump. Triple Digit Midget. Tree Hugger. Leg. All these told to me by an old Airborne buddy of mine.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 4 at 2015 3:32 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 15:32:47 -0400

Type II cotton webbing. Cloth tape, pressure sensitive. Counting canopies. Deployment bags. J hook knife. Raised angle markers (RAM) . Energy absorption panels. Helicoil spring. Riggers and ADO have its own language

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 6:07 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 18:07:37 -0400

Beat your boots!!!

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 4 at 2015 6:08 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 18:08:46 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member making a jump. "Keep your eyes on the horizon and knees together". Airborne all the way everyday.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 6:10 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 18:10:05 -0400

Slide Fastner with Tabbed Thong... Sounds like a Ranger in skimpy women's underwear on a slip and slide hahahaha

Response by SSG Jamil Spruill made Sep 4 at 2015 6:14 PM

SSG Jamil Spruill — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 18:14:42 -0400

Retainer bands, holes with metal around them are grommets, non airborne personnel are sometimes called legs, velcro is called hook pile tape

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Sep 4 at 2015 6:29 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 18:29:45 -0400

SKY SHARK - (Noun) a dangerous paratrooper in the air. A cherry jumper. (Verb) To be "Sky Sharked" - a dangerous paratrooper has slipped beneath you effectively stealing your air (I was "sky sharked by that PoS PFC Brown")

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Sep 4 at 2015 6:49 PM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 18:49:14 -0400

Circa 1984-86; Drive-on rag = a cravat intended for first aid, always ended as a headband or head cover

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Sep 4 at 2015 7:07 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 19:07:31 -0400

Dirt dart, pull dirt duty, and by the way don't forget to sign for the DZ's key!

Response by SGT Paul S. made Sep 4 at 2015 7:19 PM

SGT Paul S. — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 19:19:07 -0400

Normanclature is key to a paratroopers existence while serving in an Airborne Unit
Elastic Retainer Bands and Hook & Pile tape I do miss the Jargin
AATW

Response by MSG Marcel Guaring made Sep 4 at 2015 7:45 PM

MSG Marcel Guaring — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 19:45:58 -0400

Slip Away, Lower jumper has the right of way!

Response by SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. made Sep 4 at 2015 8:18 PM

SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 20:18:10 -0400

Towed Jumper (Almost was one on my first jump).
Ass Feet Head. Head Ass Back Feet.- Just 2 of the various versions of a PLF.Ive done a few.
Riding the chute out, example to the jumper standing in front of you, more fun if its a cherry officer"Hi my name is Clyde and Ill be riding your chute out tonight!" Done with a smile and hding on to the chute till about 5 feet from the door.
Is that tarmac/trees/platform? (Mostly night jumps)

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Sep 4 at 2015 8:50 PM

LTC Jason Strickland — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 20:50:01 -0400

Ya-Borne!

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Sep 4 at 2015 8:50 PM

SSG Michael Hartsfield — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 20:50:54 -0400

Hollywood Jump. No combat equipment and it's done in daylight hours. I can still hear the sighs of relief when the CO would announce it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 10:19 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 22:19:29 -0400

"If you main chute doesn't open, don't panic... you have the rest of your life to pull the reserve..."

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Sep 4 at 2015 10:35 PM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 22:35:13 -0400

Meat Bomb... If your chute /s don't open... Aim for an enemy combatant!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 12:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 00:25:21 -0400

I'm not a Jumpmaster, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night!

Response by SFC Toby Northen made Sep 5 at 2015 7:53 AM

SFC Toby Northen — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 07:53:21 -0400

MAJ Javier Rivera after reading all of these comments, I was about to say to LTC Private RallyPoint Member "Don't forget the keys to the Drop Zone!" So I'm glad SOMEBODY covered it! LOL!

Response by SPC Nathan Freeman made Sep 5 at 2015 10:49 AM

SPC Nathan Freeman — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 10:49:42 -0400

It took me a while to figure out my "4th point of contact" is. Now I'm sitting on it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 1:39 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 01:39:18 -0400

Leapfrogging: a game played by 2 jumpers when the "lower jumper has the right away" rule wasn't followed and the upper jumper didn't "slip away". 1st jumper to the ground loses (in a painful, life threatening manner).

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 1:12 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 13:12:58 -0400

jump practice = "Sustained airborne training" to all the legs in my company

Response by SGT Jason Hartnett made Sep 12 at 2015 8:19 AM

SGT Jason Hartnett — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 08:19:01 -0400

Take your head out of your fourth point of contact Troop!!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 13 at 2015 10:15 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:15:57 -0400

I was particularly fond of the term "Wind Dummy".

Response by SSG Timothy McCoy made Sep 20 at 2015 12:06 AM

SSG Timothy McCoy — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 00:06:43 -0400

PLF vs PFL
PLF= Parachute Landing Fall; when done properly there is nothing to talk about.
PFL= Pretty F**k-Up Landing; Normally Feet, Butt, Head. With any additions and or subtractions from this formula. VERB. Example
"Yo soldier, why you gimpin'?"
"I got Sky Sharked last night and had a PFL, landing on my canteen "
" Oh that will leave a bruise"

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made Sep 25 at 2015 1:54 PM

SSG Nick Tramontano — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 13:54:56 -0400

Get your head out of your 4th point of contact !!

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made Sep 25 at 2015 1:57 PM

SSG Nick Tramontano — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 13:57:04 -0400

Canopy lights ( for night jumps)...Riser grease....keys to the drop zone !!

Response by CW2 Donald Loughrey made Oct 15 at 2015 12:48 PM

CW2 Donald Loughrey — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 12:48:44 -0400

"Its Windy Upstairs" "Feet, Knees and Face", "Keep your head out of your 4th point of contact". I head they don't have Break Area Procedures on the first day of Ground Week anymore......end of an era....

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 10:24 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:24:41 -0400

Damn right I'm a shock trooper ;)

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 15 at 2015 10:44 PM

SPC David S. — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:44:19 -0400

Treejumping - most try to avoid the lumber mill however there are those lucky few that train to jump into trees thus treejumping.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 31 at 2015 10:43 AM

SFC Pete Kain — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:43:33 -0500

From- A Bridge to Far. Where is the bloody armor?

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2016 11:18 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 23:18:54 -0400

Although I am not a rigger, the term rigger roll has always stuck with me. No matter how many times they try to teach me, I cannot remember. For those who are not familiar this is how you receive you parachute at the departure airfield and should be put back into this configuration if the operation is cancelled.

I would say the favorite right now is for a particular part of nomenclature on the Modular Airborne Weapons Case (MAW-C). The technical term is called the yellow safety lanyard but we all joke around and call them the anal beads (picture for reference).

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Mar 5 at 2017 5:47 PM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 17:47:24 -0500

Not having ever jumped or have any plans in doing so the first question that come to My mind is "Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good airplane? "

Response by SGT Michael Waller made Mar 5 at 2017 6:05 PM

SGT Michael Waller — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 18:05:17 -0500

C-130 Vomit Comet

Response by SFC George Smith made Mar 5 at 2017 10:48 PM

SFC George Smith — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 22:48:23 -0500

the Reason they can not is the name "Velcro" is because it is" trade marked" and the generic materials had to be remanned something generic... "Hook and Pile Tape... "

Response by SSG Robert Clark made Mar 6 at 2017 11:59 AM

SSG Robert Clark — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 11:59:10 -0500

Stick pusher

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Mar 9 at 2017 11:59 AM

SFC J Fullerton — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 11:59:32 -0500

Parachutist Impact Resister Pad. A Band-Aid rapped around the center of your glasses with the gauze on the inside, to protect the bridge of your nose when the front on your helmet hits the top of your glasses on impact.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 1:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 13:49:59 -0500

Knees in the breeze, take up the rope slack man, rigger roll,PLF etc.

Response by SPC Jason Cantrell made Oct 14 at 2019 7:19 PM

SPC Jason Cantrell — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 19:19:17 -0400

Riser grease - the one item every Private is sent to Company Supply to acquire. Then to Battalion. Then Group. Then Base.

Response by SSG Doug Freeman made Oct 15 at 2019 4:16 PM

SSG Doug Freeman — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 16:16:37 -0400

Leg

Response by SSG Doug Freeman made Oct 15 at 2019 4:18 PM

SSG Doug Freeman — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 16:18:13 -0400

Streamer, you’re guaranteed to land on your feet

Response by SFC T Slaughter made Jul 19 at 2020 8:06 PM

SFC T Slaughter — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 20:06:16 -0400

left testicle misrouted under right leg strap

Response by SPC Aj Yokley made Jul 19 at 2020 8:38 PM

SPC Aj Yokley — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 20:38:35 -0400

Lawn Dart! When your chute didn't open and you burned in!

Response by SSG Jason Penn made Oct 17 at 2020 6:06 PM

SSG Jason Penn — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 18:06:23 -0400

My favorite lingo is in response to Airborne lingo. They call me a LEG and my response leaves them puzzled until I explain it. It usually goes as follows:
A: You're nothing but a leg.
M: Better than being a lawn dart.
A: Lawn dart? *quizzical look*
M: What happens when that chute doesn't open? You become a lawn dart!

Response by 1SG Ed Bernas made Sep 28 at 2021 6:15 PM

1SG Ed Bernas — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 18:15:03 -0400

And he ain’t gonna jump no more!

Response by SFC Bill Kurtz made Sep 28 at 2021 9:36 PM

SFC Bill Kurtz — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 21:36:10 -0400

Canopy lights. When a cherry I was told you use them to check your main on night jumps. Really meant your eyeballs. Or Mae West for a fouled up chute that gives you two smaller domes instead of one (named for an old time busty actress)

Response by SSG John Jensen made Sep 28 at 2021 10:37 PM

SSG John Jensen — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 22:37:09 -0400

Was on drop zone detail so many times my Company joked that I had more time on the drop zone than the Sgt Maj!