# Doughboys, dogfaces, grunts, legs... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 5, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406 "2002-05-05T18:11:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/1 "2002-05-05T18:11:13Z")
All jargon for U.S.A. infantry soldiers from past eras. What’s the current jargon? Has it changed since the Gulf War? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2002, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/2 "2002-05-05T23:00:00Z")
The current British term is “squaddies”, in a derogatory tone of voice. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2002, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/3 "2002-05-06T11:57:37Z")
Thanks for that input, **Crusoe**. I wonder if anyone on the workday crew knows the answer for American GIs. ---
**Author:** ![stankow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@stankow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stankow)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2002, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/4 "2002-05-06T12:12:21Z")
“Grunt” still works. “Leg” is a derisive term for non-Airborne troops, not specifically infantry (the Ops officer in my current battalion takes great glee in pointing out that his wife is Airborne qualified, since he would never marry a Leg). ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/5 "2002-05-07T01:11:16Z")
Thanks **stankow**. I wasn’t too clear on “leg,” but I now realize that the only person I’ve seen use it is ex-Airborne. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/6 "2002-05-07T01:23:53Z")
“Jarhead” is still both a loving and derogatory name. (Marine) “Squid” is tirelessly continuing. (sailor) “Wrap-legged-dog-faced-doughboy” seems to have fallen out of favor. (soldier) “Flyboy” may still be kosher (airman) for the United States Air Force Corporation. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/7 "2002-05-07T02:24:09Z")
**UncleBill** , disabuse me of my ignorance if you will, but I had the impression that “squid” referred specifically to submariners. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/8 "2002-05-07T05:50:43Z")
Marines: Jar Head Navy: I always though “seaman” was mean enough Army: Bullet Stoppers Chair Force: Fly boys and Propellor head dead0man ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/9 "2002-05-08T01:11:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ringo \* > \*\*I had the impression that “squid” referred specifically to submariners. \*\* “Squid” refers to sailors in general; submariners are called “bubbleheads.” ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/10 "2002-05-08T01:16:10Z")
I have also heard “ground-pounders” for Army and “zoomies” for Air Force . ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/11 "2002-05-08T01:57:35Z")
“Ground-pounders” I’d heard, “bubbleheads” I had not. Thanks, Rock-Goddess. ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/12 "2002-05-08T02:17:21Z")
Medics are still “Doc.” ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/13 "2002-05-08T02:35:58Z")
Air Force Personell I have heard derogatorily referred to as F.L.A.P.s, The last three letters being 'Lazy Air-Force People. I forget what the ‘F’ stood for… ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doughboys-dogfaces-grunts-legs/107406/14 "2002-05-08T12:07:27Z")
> [@](#): > > I forget what the ‘F’ stood for… Heh, heh…