FAMILYGRAM: Short messages from submarine sailors’ families to their deployed sailors. Often the only contact with the outside world that a submarine sailor on deployment has.
FF/FFG: Abbreviation for a fast frigate (no, there aren’t slow frigates) and a guided- missile fast frigate.
FLAG OFFICER: In the Navy and Coast Guard, an admiral. In the other services, a general.
FLAG PASSAGEWAY: The portion of the aircraft carrier that houses the admiral’s staff working spaces. Includes the flag mess and the admiral’s cabin. Normally separated from the rest of the ship by heavy plastic curtains, and designated by blue tile on the deck instead of white.
FLIGHT QUARTERS: A condition set on board a ship preparing to launch or recover aircraft. All unnecessary persons are required to stay inside the skin of the ship and remain clear of the flight deck area.
FLIGHT SUIT: The highest form of navy couture. The perfect choice of apparel for any occasion — indeed, the only uniform an aviator ought to be required to own.
FOD: Stands for foreign object damage, but the term is used to indicate any loose gear that could cause damage to an aircraft. During flight operations, aircraft generate a tremendous amount of air flowing across the deck. Loose objects — including people and nuts and bolts — can be sucked into the intake and discharged through the outlet of the jet engine. FOD damages the jet’s impellers and doesn’t do much for the people sucked in, either. FOD walkdown is conducted at least once a day on board an aircraft carrier. Everyone not otherwise engaged stands shoulder to shoulder on the flight deck and slowly walks from one end of the flight deck to the other, searching for FOD.
FOX: Tactical shorthand for a missile firing. Fox one indicates a heat-seeking missile, fox two an infrared missile, and fox three a radar-guided missile.
GCI: Ground control intercept, a procedure used in the Soviet air forces. Primary control for vectoring the aircraft in on enemy targets and other fighters is vested in a guy on the ground, rather than in the cockpit where it belongs.
GIB:
GMT: Greenwich mean time.
GREEN SHIRTS:
HANDLER: Officer located on the flight deck level responsible for ensuring that aircraft are correctly positioned—“spotted”—on the flight deck. Coordinates the movements of aircraft with yellow gear (small tractors that tow aircraft and other related gear) from maintenance areas to catapults, and from the flight deck to the hangar bar via the elevators. Speaks frequently with the air boss.
HARMS: Anti-radiation missiles that home in on radar sites.
HOME PLATE: Tactical call sign for
HOT: In reference to a sonobuoy, holding enemy contact.
HUFFER: Yellow gear located on the flight deck that generates compressed air to start jet engines. Most Navy aircraft do not need a huffer to start engines, but it can be used in emergencies or for maintenance.
HUNTER: Call sign for the S-3 squadron embarked on the
ICS: Interior communications system. The private link between a pilot and a RIO, or the telephone system internal to a ship.
INCHOPPED: Navy talk for a ship entering a defined area of water, e.g. inchopped the Med.
IR: Infrared, a method of missile homing.
ISOTHERMAL: A layer of water that has a constant temperature with increasing depth. Located below the thermocline, where increase in depth correlates to decrease in temperature. In the isothermal layer, the primary factor affecting the speed of sound in water is the increase in pressure with depth.
JBD: Jet blast deflector. Panels that pop up from the flight deck to block the exhaust emitted by aircraft.
USS
LEADING PETTY OFFICER: The senior petty officer in a workcenter, division, or department, responsible to the leading chief petty officer for the performance of the rest of the group.
LINK:
LOFARGRAM: Low-frequency analyzing and recording display. Consists of lines arrayed by frequency on the horizontal axis and time on the vertical axis. Displays sound signals in the water in a graphic fashion for analysis by ASW technicians.
LONG GREEN TABLE: A formal inquiry board. It’s better to be judged by six than carried by six.
MACHINIST’S MATE: Enlisted technician that runs and repairs most engineering equipment on board a ship. Abbreviated as “MM,” e.g., MM1 Sailor is a petty officer first class machinist’s mate.
MDI: Mess decks intelligence. The heartbeat of the rumor mill on board a ship and the definitive source for all information.
MEZ: Missile engagement zone. Any hostile contacts that make it into the MEZ are engaged only with missiles. Friendly aircraft must stay clear in order to avoid a blue-on-blue engagement, i.e., fratricide.
MiG: A production line of aircraft manufactured by Mikoyan in Russia. MiG fighters are owned by many nations around the world.
MURPHY, LAW OF: The factor most often not considered sufficiently in military planning. If something can go wrong, it will. Naval corollary: shit happens.
NATIONAL ASSETS: Surveillance and reconnaissance resources of the most sensitive nature, e.g., satellites.
NATOPS: The bible for operating a particular aircraft.
NFO: Naval flight officer.
NOBRAINER: Contrary to what copy editors believe, this is one word. Used to signify an evolution or decision that should require absolutely no significant intellectual capabilities beyond those of a paramecium.
NOMEX: Fire-resistant fabric used to make “shirts.”
NSA: National Security Agency. Primarily responsible for evaluating electronic intercepts and sensitive intelligence.
OOD: Officer of the day, in charge of the safe handling and maneuvering of the ship. Supervises the conning officer and other under-way watchstanders. Ashore, the OOD may be responsible for a shore station after normal working hours.
OPERATIONS SPECIALIST: Formerly a radar operator, back in the old days. An enlisted technician who operates combat detection, tracking, and engagement systems, except for sonar. Abbreviated OS.
OTH: Over the horizon, usually used to refer to shooting something you can’t see.
P-3S: Shore-based anti-submarine warfare and surface surveillance long-range aircraft. The closest you can get to being in the Air Force while still being in the Navy.
PHOENIX: Long range anti-air missile carried by U.S. fighters.
PIPELINE: Navy term used to describe a series of training commands, schools, or necessary education for a particular specialty. The fighter pipeline, for example, includes Basic Flight then fighter training at the RAG (Replacement Air Group), a training squadron.
