Army & Navy – MARINES: BAMs

When the Marines began recruiting women reservists seven months ago, the Corps decided that its uniformed women would carry no telescoped name like WACs, WAVES or SPARS; they would be Marines. But “women Marines” is a lip-twisting phrase. “She-Marines” (TIME, June 21) was frowned on, too. But the eventual development of some unofficial nickname was certain. Last week the Corps had it: BAMs. In leatherneck lingo that stands (approximately) for Broad-Axle Marines.