Here are some cool tidbits about Full Metal Jacket:

Based on the excellent short novel: "Short Timers" by Gustav Hasford. Lots more jargon can be found in there.

R. Lee Ermy, currently hosting "Mail Call" on the History Channel, was originally a technical consultant but he was more believeable as the drill instructor (helps that he was one for several years) that the original actor for the DI was fired and Ermy took on the role. Ooo Rah!

Filmed on location in...England. Part of Kubrick's dislike of traveling, I've heard.