Just read Orson Scott Card’s novelization of the movie The Abyss (Pocket Books 1989). Coffey, the tightly-wound SEAL lieutenant, is described as being good at knowing the MCT - the “minimum correct thing” to do or say when dealing with civilians.
Is this an actual bit of U.S. military slang, or did Card make it up? Can’t find it listed in Wikipedia.org, or through Googling.
MCT apparently has several possible military meanings, according to Acronym Finder. However, “minimum correct thing”, is not one of them. Unless it’s a very obscure usage, I’m going to have to go with “made up”.
In 6 days I will hit my 17th army anniversary. 5 years active the rest in the National Guard. I have been enlisted, NCO and officer. I have never heard that acronym or expresion. I would vote for made up. It’s possible it is branch specific to the Navy but I have worked closely with the Navy in a joint environment and I have never heard it.
Six years active, five years active reserve, submarines and EOD. Saw the movie, heard that line, said WTFO? Never heard of it.