General
dust-off
What does dust-off mean?
A medevac by helicopter, especially of battlefield casualties.
"We called in a dust-off for the wounded within minutes."
Origin
Vietnam War-era U.S. Army; from the dust kicked up by the medevac helicopter, and a unit call sign.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dust-off in the military?
A dust-off is a helicopter medical evacuation, especially of battlefield casualties who need urgent care.
Where does the term dust-off come from?
It dates to the Vietnam War-era U.S. Army, tied to the dust kicked up by medevac helicopters and to a medevac unit call sign.
How is dust-off different from medevac?
Dust-off is essentially slang for a helicopter medevac; the terms overlap heavily in everyday use.
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