What are all of the different nicknames for rank that you've heard over the years, and if you know it, the reason behind them?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 May 2021 18:04:48 -0400

What are all of the different nicknames for rank that you've heard over the years, and if you know it the reason behind them?

E1 Private - Slick Sleeve, Fuzzy.
E2 Private - Mosquito Wings, Buck Private, Private Second Class
E3 Private First Class - Perfect For Cleaning
E4 Specialist - Sham Shield, E4 Mafia, Full Bird Private
E8 First Sergeant - Top, Diamond

W1 Warrant Officer - Spot
W5 Chief Warrant Officer 5 - Tower, Lightsaber

O1 Second Lieutenant - Butter Bar
O3 Captain - Railroad Tracks, Double Lieutenant
O5 Lieutenant Colonel - Light Colonel
O6 Colonel - Eagle, Full Bird
O7+ Generals - Stars

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2021 6:08 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 May 2021 18:08:56 -0400

CW5 - coin slot
O1 - Butters, rich PVT

Not sure how I feel about "spot"

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made May 29 at 2021 7:45 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Sat, 29 May 2021 19:45:35 -0400

In the Marines:

E-1, Private No Class
E-8 (Master Sergeant) - Top
E-8 1stSgt - First Shirt
E-9 MGySgt - Top

Haven't a clue where they came from. Just what we said!

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made May 29 at 2021 8:07 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sat, 29 May 2021 20:07:02 -0400

E6 Staff Sergeant ..........Staff Sergeant Who?

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made May 29 at 2021 9:26 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sat, 29 May 2021 21:26:25 -0400

Others I have heard:

CPL: Practice NCO / Pretend SGT
SGM/CSM: Smaj (pronounced "smadge")
2LT: Private we salute / Officer Private
MAJ: Field Grade Lieutenant
WO1: Dot
CW2: Two mediocre OERs
CW5: Unicorn
BG: Big Guy

W1 - CW5: Ghosts / Invisible / Ninjas / Jedi

SFC: God's LT
1SG: God
CSM: God's Boss

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made May 30 at 2021 10:02 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Sun, 30 May 2021 10:02:54 -0400

We always called Specialists Speedy, as in Speedy 4, Speedy 5, etc. Lieutenants L T

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made May 30 at 2021 6:59 PM

Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis — Sun, 30 May 2021 18:59:42 -0400

Depending on your rank:

E1 Private - Slick Sleeve, Fuzzy.
E2 Private - Mosquito Wings, Buck Private, Private Second Class
E3 Private First Class - Perfect For Cleaning
E4 Specialist - Buddy
E5 Sergeant - Sergeant
E6 Staff Sergeant - Sergeant
E7 Sergeant First Class - Sergeant
E8 First Sergeant - Top, Diamond - Sergeant

W1 Warrant Officer - Sir
W2 Chief Warrant Officer - Sir
W3 Chief Warrant Officer - Sir
W4 Chief Warrant Officer - Sir
W5 Chief Warrant Officer - Sir

O1 Second Lieutenant - Sir
O3 Captain - Sir
O4 Major - Sir
O5 Lieutenant Colonel - Sir
O6 Colonel - Sir
O7+ Generals - Sir

Response by LCDR Keith Trepanier made May 31 at 2021 6:26 PM

LCDR Keith Trepanier — Mon, 31 May 2021 18:26:41 -0400

W1 - WOJG or Warrant Officer Junior Grade

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 31 at 2021 7:57 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 31 May 2021 19:57:16 -0400

Sarge — almost any type of sergeant
Sham shield — Army Spec 4

Response by Sgt Wayne Horton made Jun 1 at 2021 8:01 AM

Sgt Wayne Horton — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 08:01:44 -0400

1st Sgt as 1st Shark

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jun 1 at 2021 12:10 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:10:33 -0400

2LT - Shave Tail. It's an old term from WW2 times. It comes from the common practice of EMs to 2LT or other new 2LTs cutting the tails off of their issue shirts to make the epaulets for their officers shirts.