We use a straight-in approach fairly frequently in the military. However, for us the procedure is only flown once already visual with the airfield and joining. Our norm join is through Initials (runway track but displaced on the deadside), and then turn turnwind into the visual circuit. If offered or electing to go for a straight-in we would position the aircraft visually to arrive on short finals and dispense with the circuit (saves time etc). This may effectively mean joining left or right base but we tend to only call 'straight-in'.
