2 definitions by Dave Lawrence Baker
A person in the military who knows he or she cannot function outside a military environment. Hence, they remain in the military for life. Even after retirement, a lifer will remain in the type of social structure fostered by military retirees. In other words, a group whose authoritarian characteristics can only exist around military people. "Lifer" also describes a person who is imprisoned for life, either by sentencing or, as with the military types, by choice.
"Randy is a real gung-ho lifer. If he tried to act that way in the civilian world, they'd get rid of him in a heartbeat"
by Dave Lawrence Baker October 26, 2008
A term used by fighter pilots (and those who want to be) which means "Shit-Hot!!" Whatever is described by that term is wonderful. The words 'Sierra' and 'Hotel' are part of the aviation phonetic alphabet.
"That landing was Sierra-Hotel"
by Dave Lawrence Baker October 27, 2008