ESL Podcast 367 - Going into the Military
attention - a word shouted to get someone to look at or listen to oneself, especially in the military
The general entered the room and one of the soldiers shouted, "Attention!" Everyone immediately stood up and looked at him.
to salute - to raise one's right hand to one's forehead, with the fingers held straight, touching those fingers to one's forehead, and then quickly move them a few inches to the right and to the front
Sometimes Americans salute the American flag as a sign of respect.
superior officer - a person who works in the military and has a higher rank than another person
Is Geraldine your superior officer, or do you and she have the same rank?
to goof around - to be silly; to not act seriously; to waste time; to do things that are not important
The children spent the afternoon goofing around, playing outside and telling silly jokes to each other.
to pack - to put the things that one will need into suitcases or other bags for traveling
Did you remember to pack your toothbrush and toothpaste?
to report to duty - to present oneself for the first day on a new job, or for the first day of military service
When you report to duty, you need to bring your identification card and only one suitcase.
AWOL - absent without leave; missing, especially from the military, without permission and/or having told anyone where one would be not where one is supposed to be
How many soldiers go AWOL each year?
dismissed - allowed to leave a room, especially in the military; no longer needed; with permission to leave
When the army general calls you into his office, you cannot leave until you are dismissed by him.
to enlist - to sign up; to register to participate in something
Frank enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he turned 18 years old.
camouflage - a green, brown, and gray design that is used on fabrics and on painted surfaces to make things more difficult to see, especially in the military
The men and women wore camouflage clothing and hid in the forest, where it was very difficult to see them.
no laughing matter - not funny; nothing to laugh about; something that should be taken very seriously and should not be joked about
Their parents told them: Deciding to get married is no laughing matter, since your marriage should last for the rest of your life.
recruiter - a person whose job is to get other people to work in an organization or participate in a specific group, especially in the military
The university sent a recruiter to Megan's high school to try to get her and other good students like her to apply to the university.
discipline - the ability to control one's actions, words, and/or thoughts; the ability to control one's behavior; the ability to be obedient and do what other people tell one to do
Losing weight requires a lot of discipline regarding what you eat and how much you exercise.
foxhole - a small hole in the ground that soldiers lie in for protection while they are shooting at other people and while they are being shot at
The soldiers were cold, hungry, and tired, yet they had to stay in the foxholes for their own protection while the enemy was shooting at them.
deployment - the planned and coordinated movement of soldiers, equipment, and supplies to a place where they are needed
Denise is on deployment in Afghanistan.