MILITARY
ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS
A
large number of the more commonly used military acronyms are provided in the
section. You
may have other references on the subject to add to this section and you may have
acronyms or terms that are unique to your location.
A-ALPHA
AAFES
Army and Air
Force Exchange Service
ACCOMPANIED TOUR
Tour of duty
with family members
ACES
Army Continuing
Education System
ACS/FPC
Army Community
Service/Family Program Coordinator
ACTIVE AIR FORCE
On active
duty
ACTIVE ARMY
On active
duty
AD
Active
Duty
AER
Army Emergency
Relief
AFAP
Army Family
Action Plan
AFTB
Army Family
Team Building
AG
Adjutant
General
AGR
Active Guard
Reserve
ALERT
Emergency call
to be ready
ALLOTMENT
Designated
payment by Guardsman to bank or individual
ALLOWANCE
Pay and special
compensation
APF
Appropriated
Funds
APFT
Army Physical
Fitness Test
APO
Army Post
Office
AR
Army
Regulation
ARC
American Red
Cross
ARNG
Army National
Guard
ARNGUS
Army National
Guard of the United States
ARTICLE
15
Disciplinary
action
ASAP
As Soon As
Possible
AT
Annual
Training
ATRRS
Army Training
Requirement and Resources System
AWOL
Absent Without
Leave
B-BRAVO
BAQ
Basic allowance
for quarters
BARRACKS/BILLETS
Place where a
Guardsman lives
BAS
Basic allowance
for subsistence
BCT
Basic Combat
Training
BDE
Brigade
BDU
Battle dress
uniform (jungle, desert, cold weather)
BENEFITS
Medical,
dental, commissary, etc
BN
Battalion
BNCOC
Basic
Noncommissioned Officer Course
BX
Base
Exchange
C-CHARLIE
CADRE
Leadership at
training level
CHAIN OF COMMAND
Leadership
structure
CHAIN OF CONCERN
An informal
self-help channel for family members
CDR
Commander
CDS
Child
Development Services
CG
Commanding
General
CGSC
Command and
General Staff College
CHAMPUS
Civilian Health
& Medical Program for the Uniformed Services
CHAPLAIN
Military
minister, priest, rabbi, or pastor
CID
Criminal
Investigation Division
CLEARING
Obtaining
official release from post/base
CO/Co
Commanding
Officer/Company
COB
Close of
Business
CODE OF CONDUCT
Rules by which
a Guardsman must live
COLA
Cost of Living
Allowance
COLORS
National and
unit/organization flags
COMMISSARY
Grocery store
for military
CONUS
Continental
United States
COURT-MARTIAL
Trial system
within the Army/Air Force
CPO
Civilian
Personnel Office
CQ
Charge of
quarters (duty required after duty hours)
CS/C of S
Chief of
Staff
CY
Calendar
year
D-DELTA
DA
Department of
Army
DAYROOM
Recreation area
in Guardsman lodging
DCSPER
Deputy Chief of
Staff for Personnel
DECA
Defense
Commissary Agency
DEERS
Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
DEP
Delayed Entry
Program
DEPLOYMENT
Guardsman sent
on a mission without family members
DETAIL
A job or
assignment
DEROS
Date of
Estimated Return from Overseas
DFAS
Defense Finance
and Accounting System
DI
Drill
Instructor
DINING IN
Formal social
gathering for Guardsmen only
DINING OUT
Formal social
gathering for Guardsmen only
DIRECT DEPOSIT
Guardsman’s
guaranteed check to bank
DISCHARGE
Departure from
active duty
DO
Duty
Officer
DOB
Date of
Birth
DOD
Department of
Defense
DOGTAGS
Identification
tags worn by Guardsmen
DOR
Date of
Rank
DPP
Deferred
Payment Plan
DRESS BLUES
Informal attire
with four-in-hand tie/formal attire with bow tie
DRESS MESS
Formal attire;
short jacket equivalent to “white tie and tails”
DSN
Defense
Switched Network (current term for Autovon)
DUTY ASSIGNMENT
Job/place while
on active duty
E-ECHO
EOA
Equal
Opportunity Adviser
EEO
Equal
Employment Opportunity
EER/OER
Enlisted/Officer Evaluation Report
EFMP
Exceptional
Family Member Program
EM
Enlisted
Member
EN
Enlisted
ESPRIT DE
CORPS
Morale within
unit or organization
ETS
Estimated Time
of Separation
F-FOXTROT
FAC
Family
Assistance Center
FAMILY ADVOCACY
Program that
assists with child and spouse abuse problems
FAMILY
CARE PLAN
Written
instructions for care of family members while sponsor is away from duty station (can include
provisions
for finances, wills, and guardianship)
FAMILY PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Provides family
support services to active duty members and their families
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Organization of
family members, volunteers, and mutual Guardsmen/civilian employees belonging to a
unit/organization that together provide an avenue of support and
assistance and a network of command, communication among the family
members, the chain of command, and community
resources
FCP
Family Care
Plan
FDU
Full Dress
Uniform
FIELD DAY
Designated day
for military displays
FIELD GRADE
Majors,
lieutenant colonels, and colonels
FLO
Family Liaison
Office
FM
Family
Member/Field Manual
FMEAP
Family Member
Employment Assistance Program
FORMATION
Gathering of
Guardsmen in a prescribed way
FORSCOM
Forces
Command
FPC
Family Program
Coordinator
FRG
Family
Readiness Group
FRO
Family
Readiness Officer
FROCK
Assume next
higher grade without pay
FRSSC
Family
Readiness and Support Service Contractor
Family
Readiness and Support
Service
Contractor
FRUIT SALAD
Ribbons and
medals worn on uniform
FRG
Family Support
Group
FY
Fiscal
Year
FYI
For Your
Information
G-GOLF
GARRISON
Post or
community
GEAR
Equipment used
by Guardsmen
GED
General
Education Diploma
GI BILL
Education
entitlement
GI PARTY
Clean up
duty
GO
General
Officer
GRADE
Corresponds to
pay level of Guardsman (E-3, O-2, etc.)
GREEN
BERETS
Special
Forces
GS
General
Schedule (Government civilian employee pay grades)
GUEST HOUSE
Temporary
living quarters
GUIDON
Unit
identification flag
H-HOTEL
HARDSHIP TOUR
Unaccompanied
tour of duty
HASH MARKS
Stripes for
enlisted members’ time in service
HAZARDOUS DUTY
PAY
Extra pay for
duty in hostile area
HHC
Headquarters
and Headquarters Company
HOR
Home of
Record
HOUSING OFFICE
Where Guardsmen
check in for housing
HQ
Headquarters
HQDA
Headquarters,
Department of the Army
HS
Home
Station
I-INDIA
IADT
Initial Active
Duty Training
ID
Card
Identification
card
IET
Initial Entry
Training
IG
Inspector
General
INFO
For the
Information Of
INSIGNIA
Indicates
branch of Guardsmen
IRR
Individual
Ready Reserve
ITO
Information
Travel Office/Invitational Travel Order
ITT
Information,
Tours, and Travel
J-JULIET
JAG
Judge Advocate
General
JODY CALL
Troop cadence
for marching or running
JR EN
Junior Grade
Enlisted Personnel
JR NCO
Junior Grade
Noncommissioned Officer
JUNGLE
BOOTS
Special boots
for tropical climates
JUMPS
Joint Uniform
Military Pay System
K-9
Dogs trained
for military police service
KLICK
Slang for
kilometer
KP
Kitchen
Patrol
L-LIMA
LATRINE
Toilet
LEAVE
Approved time
away from duty
LES
Leave and
Earnings Statement
LOCATION
ALLOWANCE
Leave and
Earnings Statement
LOGISTICS
Allowance
received for PCS move
M-MIKE
MACOM
Major Army
Command
MEDIVAC
Medical
evacuation
METL
Mission
Essential Task List
MIA
Missing in
Action
MOI
Memorandum of
Instruction
MOS
Military
Occupational Specialty
MOTOR
POOL
Area where
official vehicles are kept
MP
Military
Police
MPRJ
Military
Personnel Records Jacket (201 File)
MRE
Meals Ready to
Eat
MUSARC
Major U.S. Army
Reserve Command
MUTA
Multiple Unit
Training Assembly
MWR
Morale,
Welfare, and Recreation
N-NOVEMBER
NA
Not
Applicable
NAF
Non-Appropriated Funds (generally
located)
NATO
North Atlantic
Treaty Organization
NCO
Noncommissioned
Officer
NCOA
Noncommissioned
Officers Association
NCODP
Noncommissioned
Officer Professional Development Program
NCOER
Noncommissioned
Officer Evaluation Report
NCOIC
Noncommissioned
Officer in Charge
NGB
National Guard
Bureau
NGR
National Guard
Regulation
NLT
Not Later
Than
O-OSCAR
OBC/OAC
Officer
Basic/Advanced Course
OCONUS
Outside
Continental United States
OCS
Officer
Candidate School
OIC
Officer-in-Charge
OJT
On the Job
Training
ORDERLY ROOM
Company
office
ORDERS
Spoken or
written instructions to
Guardsman
P-PAPA
PA
Private
Auto
PAC
Personnel
Administration Center
PAM
Pamphlet
PAO
Public Affairs
Officer
PCS
Permanent
Change of Station
PEBD
Pay entry basic
date
PERSCOM
Total Army
Personnel Command
PLATOON
Several squads
within a company
PLDC
Primary
Leadership Development Course
PM
Provost Marshal
(police chief)
POA
Power of
Attorney
POC
Point of
Contact
POI
Program of
Instruction
POLICE CALL
Clean
up
POST EXCHANGE
Army department
store
POV
Privately Owned
Vehicle
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
Legal document
permitting a person to act on behalf of another
PROTOCOL
Customs and
courtesies
PT
Physical
Training
PX
Post
Exchange
Q-QUEBEC
QTRS Quarters
(living area)
R-ROMEO
RA
Regular
Army
RANK
Official title
of Guardsman
RC
Reserve
Component
RD
Rear
Detachment
RDC
Rear Detachment
Commander
RDF
Rapid
Deployment Force
R&D
Research and
Development
REFRAD
Release From
Active Duty
REG
Regulation
REGT
Regiment
RETREAT
Bugle/flag
ceremony at end of day
RE-UP
Reenlist
REVEILLE
Bugle
call/ceremony at beginning of day
R&R
Rest and
Recreation
RFO
Request For
Orders
RIF
Reduction In
Force
ROSTER
List of
members
ROTC
Reserve
Officer’s Training Corps
RUFFLES AND
FLOURISHES
Musical honor
for general officers and equivalent ranking
officials
S-SIERRA
SBP
Survivor
Benefit Plan
SD
Staff
Duty
SDNC
Staff Duty
Noncommissioned Officer
SDO
Staff Duty
Officer
SEPARATION PAY
Pay for
unaccompanied duty
SGLI
Serviceman’s
Group Life Insurance
SHORT TIMER
Person with
short time left to serve on active duty
SHORT TOUR
Unaccompanied
tour
SICK CALL
Specific block
of time for medical attention
SIDPERS
Standard
Installation/Division Personnel System
SJA
Staff Judge
Advocate
SMI
Supplemental
Medical Insurance
SOCOM
Special
Operations Command
SOF
Special
Operations Forces
SOP
Standard
Operating Procedure
SPACE A
Space
available
SPONSOR
Person who is
salaried by the Government
SQD
Squad, a unit
within a platoon
SRB
Selective
Reenlistment Bonus
SSN
Social Security
Number
STARC
State Area
Command
SUBSISTENCE
Food
allowance
SURE PAY
Guardsman’s
guaranteed check to bank
T-TANGO
TAG
The Adjutant
General
TAF
Total Army
Family
TAFP
Total Army
Family Program
TAPS
Last bugle call
of the day
TDA
Tables of
Distribution and Allowances
TDY
Temporary
Duty
TOE
Table(s) of
Organization and Equipment
TRADOC
Training and
Doctrine Command
TSP
Troop Support
Packages
U-UNIFORM
UCMJ
Uniform Code of
Military Justice
UIC
Unit
Identification Code
UMT
Unit Ministry
Teams
USACFSC
U.S. Army
Community and Family Support Center
USAR
U.S. Army
Reserve
USARC
U.S. Army
Reserve Command
USC
United States
Code
USO
United Service
Organization
V-VICTOR
VA
Department of
Veterans Affairs (formerly Veterans Administration)
VHA
Variable
Housing
Allowance
W-WHISKEY
WO
Warrant Officer
WOB Warrant
Officer Basic Course
X-X-RAY
XO Executive
Officer
Y-YANKEE
YS Youth
Services
Z-ZULU