Accurate to the “ish”

Yesterday at a meeting the senior cheif (yes, Navy – we don’t discriminate too much…) mentioned that we had to be accurate-ish.

Everyone else snickers and I am looking clueless.

Afghan time, it is explained to me, carries over to dealing with the US military. Things will happen when they happen and accurancy and pin point timing are out of the question.

Example – a tour is 6 months, or 180 days. More or less, given a whole lot of changes, variables and the arrival of one’s replacement. Means that I am on a six-ish month tour. Expected but no guarentees.

This particular group may have to relocate offices in the April-ish time frame. They will worry about it when the dates roll a bit closer so as to not waste time and energy on something that might just not happen. Time is a variable, and not a precise one.

It is all “ish” explains the senior chief. Arrive Octoberish, leave Octoberish, travel next weekish.

Can you use the “ish” for something other than time? I ask – Such as billeting-ish or dining-ish?

No, I am informed -that is simply ick.

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10 Responses to Accurate to the “ish”

  1. Diane says:

    This does not surprise me….not in the least! Seems to work the same way here as well.

  2. Steve says:

    Ah, come on now Holly…33 years and you hadn’t heard the term till now?
    Hell, even I my enlistment was 4 years ish… (actually 3 year, 8 months, 13 days). Guess this is what happens when you aren’t briefed more often by the folks in charge, that is, the Navy Chief. Heck, if you were on a ship, you’d have known that, yes, the Captain of the ship is God, and virtually everyone else reports to the fellow known as the COB or Chief of the Boat, who in turn reports to…well, you get the picture. I thought the Army had a similiar position, the Sergeant Major. Of course, the Navy structure tends to be a bit more closed.

  3. Holly says:

    nope – this is apparently an Navy thing. I don’t hang out with Squids all that often…. (grin)

  4. Mary says:

    Did NOT like the ish-ness of the reference to your deployment one bit…. no ish ands or buts!!!

  5. Bob says:

    Understand the commands are now taking applications for transfers to Cairo. No Army and no police; please bring your own weapon(s) and ammo.

  6. Berg says:

    Very funnyish

  7. Helen says:

    If it is dining-ish you would get a ‘dish’ ….the thing is, do you like what they have served up to you?

  8. Berg says:

    That was, I must admit, perfectish

  9. Helen says:

    You may come across something suspic’ish’

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