Because you are a good friend, and very capable of keeping a closely guarded secret, we'll let you in on the coded language. But don't tell anyone else and keep it just between us.

In U.S. Navy jargon, "gouge" is the essential piece of information; the heart of the matter; or outstanding test-preparation material (such as an old test copy). A person who is tired of hearing all the extraneous information surrounding a problem might exclaim, "Just give me the gouge!" Originated at the U.S. Naval Academy and introduced from there into the wider Navy, where it sees less frequent usage.

See https://www.doncio.navy.mil/ContentView.aspx?ID=893

Airedales are of the aviation variety and blackshoes are of the shipboard variety.