New 'Nouns of Assembly' for Soldiers, by Type

PHOTO: Wisconsin Dept. of Military Affairs

Last week, the Red Bull Rising blog reported on a list of suggested collective nouns for "Blue Falcons," a rude slang term for soldiers who take advantage of others. You can see that list here.

While we were at it, we thought we'd also offer a similar list below. This one regards particular groups of Army soldiers by type.

Other than the creative-writing flavor of the exercise, this idea shouldn't seem too foreign to veterans and service members. Particularly those who have served in "troops" of cavalry, or "batteries" of field artillery, rather than "companies"—which is what the rest of the Army calls units of that size.

Many of the following suggestions, of course, were borrowed from collective nouns used in describing the animal kingdom.

Here they are, in no particular order:

• A "muttering" of staff

• A "cluster" of cadets

• A "mash" of Army doctors

• A "mischief" of Army specialists

• A "scrum" of sergeants

• A "brace" of drill sergeants

• A "hoard" (note the spelling) of supply sergeants

• A "bellowing" of first sergeants

• A "mess" or "mermite" of Army cooks

• A "yawn" of PowerPoint briefers

• A "6-pack" of commanders

• A "behoovement" of sergeants major

• A "ream" of admin soldiers

• A "snoop" of intel analysts

• A "coven" of intel officers

• A "concern" of HUMINTers

• A "binder" of training officers

• A "gross" or a "pallet" of logisticians

• A "wheel" or a "drove" of Army truckers

• A "bolt" of Army mechanics

• A "push" of Radio Telephone Operators (R.T.O.)

• A "scurry" of TOC-roaches

• A "mop" of chemical officers

• A "breach" or a "seige" of Army engineers

• A "turn" or a "hover" of aviators

• A "stockade" of military police

• A "brief" of Army attorneys

• A "chorus," a "dazzle," or a "mute" of Public Affairs Officers/NCOs

• A "charm" or a "congregation" of chaplains

• A "dole" of military contractors