#british-army

Laundry — wash day, forces style.

Soldier on the sick list or light duties — a skiver.

Royal Signals radio operator — the army's comms tech.

Your opposite number — close mate at work.

A dugout or shelter used to take cover from incoming fire.

Useless paperwork — admin you'll never read.

A British Army commissioned officer — usually Sandhurst, usually posh.

Free, spare, or extra — no cost, no questions.

A British Army ordinary soldier.

British Para/SF slur for any soldier not wearing a maroon or green beret.

Civilian clothes — anything that isn't a uniform.

A British Army private soldier — from Tommy Atkins.

Guard duty or sentry shift in the British Army.

A freebie scrounged or blagged off someone — 'give us it'.

The on-base canteen and shop — and by extension, a name for a slacker.

Poor Bloody Infantry — the grunt's affectionate self-pity.

'New In Greens' — a soldier fresh out of basic training.

Fighting In Someone's House — British shorthand for urban combat.

Tea. The forces' lifeblood.

Civilian life outside the forces.

Rubbish — or, weirdly, spare and free.

Royal Navy/Marines nickname for a soldier — 'where the army goes, the pong goes'.