chairborne

[ chair-bawrn, -bohrn ]

adjective

1. (of military, especially Air Force, personnel) having a desk job rather than a field or combat assignment.

chairborne

/ ˈtʃɛəˌbɔːn /

adjective

1. informal.
   having an administrative or desk job rather than a more active one

Word History and Origins

Origin of chairborne¹

1940–45; blend of chair and airborne

Example Sentences

“Our next conversation — ‘The Digital World: Killing Espionage and Saving Intelligence?’ — will take place June 16th between Sue Gordon, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Ellen McCarthy, former director of the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the successor to the OSS Research and Analysis Branch - its ‘chairborne division’ — and the oldest civilian component of the intelligence community,” James Pink, founder of the OSS Society, advises Inside the Beltway.

From Washington Times

And not like any of this BS remote-controlled bombing where we only admit to it two weeks later, after photos surface of some remote-control jockey from the 38th Chairborne precision-striking a Yemeni funeral.

From The Guardian

The Pentagon admits that three divisions are being created by using formerly chairborne soldiers, but denies that they are intended for any such specific duty.

From Time Magazine Archive

General Lionel McGarr, who many critics think was too chairborne and conventional-minded to deal with the hit-and-run tactics of the Communist Viet Cong insurgents.

From Time Magazine Archive

His chairborne specialties: contract termination, the Navy's rejuvenated inspection system, the new Office of Naval Research, and the important new Interdepartmental Committee on Atomic Energy.

From Time Magazine Archive