Military Abbreviations, Nicknames and Slang Terms
Beginning with R
Compiled by Jon Stacy

R & R-
(Short) Rest and Relaxation.

Racers-
(Squadron Nickname) 113th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-16 Falcon for the Indiana Air National Guard.

Rack Time-
(Slang) Sleep.

Radar Fence-
(Nickname) DEW Line in Canada & at sea.

Radial Interceptor-
(Nickname) Beech T-34 Mentor.

Radioing It In-
(Navy) A White Lie.

Raider-
The Northrop C-125, tri-engine transport.

Raiders-
(Squadron Nickname) VMGR-352, which operates the KC-130 Hercules.

Railsplitters-
The 84th Infantry Division, that served in World War I and the European Theater in World War II.

Rainbow- The 42nd Infantry Division, that served in World War I and in Europe in World War II.

Rake-
(Slang) To sweep a target with gunfire.

Ramagen-
The 9th Armored Division, that served in World War II in Europe.

Rammin’ Sammy-
(Nickname) USS Samuel M. Moore DD-747; an Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer.

Rampagers-
(Squadron Nickname) VFA-83 that flies the F/A-18 Hornet.

Ramrod-
(Slang) A World War II bomber strike without fighter escort.

Rams-
(Squadron Nickname) 732nd Airlift Squadron, that operated the C-141 Starlifter.

Randy-
1. (Nickname) The USS Randolph CV-15; an Essex Class aircraft carrier.
2. (Allied Codename) Japanese Kawasaki Army Ki-102.

Rangers-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VT-28 that conducts flight training in the T-34 Mentor.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VMGR-234, that flies the KC-130 Hercules.

Raptor-
1. The Lockheed F-22, Air Dominance Fighter.
2. The AGM-142

Rat Race-
(Slang) A chaotic situation, that can be exhausting to all involved.

Ratbat-
The Lockheed EC-121 Super Constellation.

Ratling Gatling-
(Nickname) USS Gatling DD-671, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

RATO-
(Acronym) Rocket Assisted Take Off.

Rats-
(Squadron Nickname) 336th Air Refueling Squadron, that flies the KC-135.

Raven-
The General Dynamics/Grumman EF-111. A modified F-111A Aardvark. Served during the Persian Gulf War.

Ravens-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 966th AACS, that operates the E-3 Sentry & the TC-18.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 344th Air Refueling Squadron, that flies the KC-135.

Rawhides-
(Squadron Nickname) VRC-40, that operates the C-2 Greyhound.

Ray-
(Nickname) Douglas F4D/F-6A Skyray.

Razorbacks-
(Squadron Nickname) 154th Training Squadron, that flew the C-130 Hercules. (Disestablished).

READ-
(Acronym) Reserve on Extended Active Duty.

Rebel Riders-
(Squadron Nickname) 149th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-16 Falcon for the Virginia Air National Guard.

Rebels-
(Squadron Nickname) 106th Air Refueling Squadron, that flies the KC-135 for the Alabama Air National Guard.

Red Arrow-
The 32nd Infantry Division, which served in World War I and World War II in the Pacific.

Red Bull-
The 34th Infantry Division, that served in World War I, and World War II in the European Theater.

Red Bulls-
(Squadron Nickname) 87th Flying Training Squadron, that flies the T-38 Talon.

Red Circle-
The 71st Infantry Division, that served in Europe during World War II.

Red Dawgs-
(Squadron Nickname) 12th Missile Squadron, that operates the LGM-30 Minuteman III.

Red Devils-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMSB/VMTB/VMF/VMFA-232; that has operated the SBD Dauntless, TBM Avenger, F4U Corsair, F9F Panther, FJ Fury, F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II and currently the F/A-18 Hornet. The unit has seen duty during World War II, Korea & the Persian Gulf.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 96th Bomb Squadron, that operated the B-47 Stratojet & currently the
B-52 Stratofortress.
3. (Squadron Nickname) 50th Airlift Squadron, who flies the C-130 Hercules.
4. (Squadron Nickname) 107th Tactical Bomb Squadron/Fighter Squadron that operated the B-26 Invader & currently the F-16 Falcon.

Red Diamond-
The 5th Infantry Division, that served in World War I, Europe during World War II, and during the
Vietnam War.

Red Dog-
(Squadron Nickname) HMLA-773, which flies the UH-1 Huey & AH-1 Cobra.

Red Dragons-
(Squadron Nickname) HMM-268, that operates the CH-46 Sea Knight.

Red Eagles-
(Squadron Nickname) 911th Air Refueling Squadron, that flies the KC-135.

Red Falcons-
(Squadron Nickname) 350th Air Refueling Squadron, that flies the KC-135.

Red Griffins-
(Squadron Nickname) VS-38, that operates the S-3 Viking.

Red Hawks-
(Squadron Nickname) 123rd Fighter Squadron, that operated the F-15 Eagle for the Oregon Air National Guard. (Disestablished)

Red Lancers-
(Squadron Nickname) VP-10, that flies the P-3 Orion.

Red Lightning's-
(Squadron Nickname) VF-194, that operated the F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II & F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)

Red Lions-
1. (Squadron Nickname) HS-15, that flies the SH-60 Sea Hawk.
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMH-363, that operates the CH-53 Super Stallion.

Red Rippers-
(Squadron Nickname) VF-4/VF/VFA-11, the squadron has flown the F2F, F3F, F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat, & currently the F/A-18 Hornet.

Red Scorpion-
(Nickname) USS Rasher SS-269, Gato Class Submarine.

Red Tail Angels-
(Squadron Nickname) 301st Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-16 Falcon.

Red Tails-
(Squadron Nickname) VS-21, that operates the S-3 Viking.

Red Wolves-
(Squadron Nickname) HCS-4, which flies the HH-60 Sea Hawk.

Redstone-
Name of a Strategic Guided Missile of the 1950’s that was adapted for NASA’s Project Mercury, sub-orbital space flights.

Reliant-
The Vultee AT-19/UC-81 Advanced Trainer/Utility Aircraft of World War II.

REMCO-
(Acronym) Rear Echelon Maintenence Combined Operation.

REMF-
(Acronym) Rear Echelon Mother Fuckers. Used by Marine Grunts, to describe those back at base.

Remington Raider-
(Slang) A Marine with a desk job. (See: REMF)

Renegades-
(Squadron Nickname) VF-24, that flew the F-8 Crusader & the F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)

Repulsive Thunderbox-
(Nickname) Republic P-47/F-47 Thunderbolt.

Reserve Salute-
(Slang) A shrugging of the shoulders.

Retreads-
USMC Retirees who volunteered to come back into the service during Vietnam.

Rex-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Kawanishi Navy N1K1, Flying Boat.

Revelers-
(Squadron Nickname) VR-54, who flies the C-130 Hercules.

Revolutionary Gator-
(Nickname) USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6, a Wasp Class Amphibious Attack Ship.

Rhapsody in Glue-
(Nickname) Cessna UC-78 Bobcat, of World War II.

RHAW-
(Acronym, Vietnam) Radar Homing And Warning.

Rhino-
(Nickname) McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II.

Rhinos-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 905th Air Refueling Squadron, that operates the KC-135 Stratotanker.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 89th Airlift Squadron, that flew the C-141 Starlifter, & currently the C-5 Galaxy.

RHIP-
(Acronym) Rank Has Its Privileges.

Ridge Runners-
(Squadron Nickname) HMM-163, which flies the CH-46 Sea Knight.

RIO-
(Acronym) Radar Intercept Officer, the backseater onboard a F-14 Tomcat.

Rio Lobos-
(Squadron Nickname) 86th FTS, that flies the T-1 Jayhawk.

Rita-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Nakajima Army G8N1, a prototype 4 engine bomber.

River Rattlers-
(Squadron Nickname) VFA-204, that operated the A-4 Skyhawk & currently the F/A-18 Hornet.

Roachcatcher-
(Nickname) USS Rochester CA-124, an Oregon City Class Heavy Cruiser.

ROAD-
(Acronym) Retired On Active Duty.

Road Hogs-
(Squadron Nickname) HMH-769, which flies the CH-53 Super Stallion.

Road Runners-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VA-36, that operated the A-4 Skyhawk & A-6 Intruder. (Disestablished)
2. (Squadron Nickname) VMR-1, that flew the C-9 Skytrain II, C-12 Huron, & CH-46 Sea Knight.

Roaring 20-
(Nickname) USS Richmond K. Turner DLG/CG-20, a Leahy Class Missile Cruiser.

Robbie-
(Nickname) USS Robinson DD-562, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Rock-
1. Nickname for the islands of Guam and Okinawa.
2. (Nickname) Confederate General Henry L. Benning.

Rock, The-
1. (Nickname) USS Little Rock CL-92/CLG-4/CG-4. A Cleveland Class Light Cruiser modified to a Galveston Class Light Missile Cruiser.
2. (Nickname) USS Rochester CA-124.

Rock of Chickamunga-
(Nickname) Union General George H. Thomas.

Rock Pile-
(Nickname) Himalayan Mountains. Better known as the “Hump”.

Rocketeers-
(Squadron Nickname) 336th Fighter Squadron, that flew the F-86 Sabre during the Korean War, and currently flies the F-15 Eagle.

Rocks-
(Nickname) USS Rooks DD-804, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Rodeo-
(Slang) A fighter sweep over Europe without bombers.

Roger-
(Codeword) Received.

RoK-
Pronounced Rock. Stands for Republic of Korea, or South Korea.

Rolling W-
The 89th Infantry Division, that served in World War I and World War II in Europe.

Ronson Lighter-
(Nickname) The M-4 Sherman Main Battle Tank of World War II. Named so because after it was hit by enemy fire, the tank would most likely catch on fire.

Rooks-
(Squadron Nickname) VAQ-137 that flies the EA-6 Prowler.

Roos-
(Squadron Nickname) 52nd Airlift Squadron, that flew the C-130 Hercules. (Disestablished)

Ropeyarn Sunday-
(Navy) A day off to take care of personal business.

Rose Garden-
(Nickname) Nam Phong AB, Thailand, during the Vietnam War.

Rosie-
1. (Nickname) USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CV-42; a Midway Class aircraft carrier.
2. (Nickname) Major General Emmett O’Donnell, USAF; of the Korean War.

Rosie Roads-
(Nickname) NAS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

Rotorheads-
(Slang) A helicopter pilot or a helicopter crew.

Rough Raiders-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VFA-125 that operates the F/A-18 Hornet.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 500th Bomb Squadron that flew the B-25 Mitchell during World War II, with the 345th Bomb Group “Air Apaches”.

Rough Riders-
(Slang) A vehicular convoy of US Marines, during Vietnam.

Rounded Delta-
(Nickname) Douglas F4D/F-6A Skyray and the F5D Skyknight.

Rover Joe-
(Nickname) Forward Air Controllers, in Europe, during World War II, that coordinated Close Air Support.

Royal Maces-
(Squadron Nickname) VFA-27, that flies the F/A-18 Hornet. Previously known as the “Chargers”.

RQS-
Air Force designation for a Rescue Squadron.

RS-
Air Force designation for Reconnaissance Squadron.

Rubber Lady-
(Slang) An inflatable rubber mattress.

Rube-
(Nickname) USS Belleau Wood CVL-24; an Independence Class Light Aircraft Carrier.

Rude Rams-
(Squadron Nickname) 34th Fighter Squadron, that operates the F-16 Falcon.

Rumble-
(Slang) To Advance the throttle of an aircraft engine too quickly.

Rupe-
(Nickname) USS Rupertus DD-851, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Ruptured Duck-
(Slang, WWII) Honorable Service Lapel Pin or Patch.

Rusty Rosie-
(Nickname) USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CV-42.

 



This list was created by Jon Stacy and is displayed on MaritimeQuest with his permission.
This information may not be duplicated, displayed or published without the express written consent of the author.

© 2006 John Stacy All Rights Reserved.


If you have an addition, correction or clarification please
email John Stacy.