These are two terms used for people either in boot camp or just out of boot camp. Of course both are short recruit. Since this is used for the recruits then everything in boot camp is called Ricky this or that.

The worst thing from boot camp is Ricky Crud. This is a sickness that hits 99% of all recruits. It normally goes away just before you go home on leave.

Then there is Ricky Heaven. This is the grouping of fast food places just off base. It is the first place all the recruits head when they get liberty. Then those that smoke head over to the closet gas station to get a pack of smokes. When I was headed home from boot camp I had the earliest flight so I went to check in at the airport. When I made it back to the main lounge there were two groups, 5 in the bar and 84 hanging out smoking. I went to the bar. The 5 in the bar each had a pitcher and a glass. Outside Great Lakes there was a motel called Ron Rick. They even charged by the hour, that is a true story!!

Ricky Dive is a fast simple effective cleaning method. When you first get to boot camp cleaning your compartment and head is a major task. After the first week, you figure out how to get that job done faster and just as effectively as you did the first time.

Ricky Energy is a nasty mixture of soda and maybe even coffee. It is an attempt to formulate an energy drink. During my time in boot camp there was no such thing as an energy drink. We either stuck to coffee or soda, with extra sugar.

Ricky sweeper is your hand and it is used to clean anything fast. Just like a Ricky Dive, if it can be done faster and have the same results do it. This gives you time to do nothing.

We were not called Ricks in Orlando, but the guys from Great Lakes were. Not sure if that was just a regional thing or not. Now since only Great Lakes handles boot camp I guess all recruits are called Ricks. Even the ladies get called Ricks now I suppose. During my boot camp time the ladies all went to Orlando. But that is a different story!