The

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

, like any organization, produces its own acronyms and abbreviations, which often come to have meaning beyond their bare expansions. United States Navy personnel sometimes colloquially refer to these as ''NAVSpeak''. Like other organizational colloquialisms, their use often creates or reinforces a sense of esprit and closeness within the organization.

Official acronyms

For a comprehensive list of unit organizations in the United States Navy, see

List of units of the United States Navy This article is a list of commands of the United States Navy. The list is organized along administrative chains of command (CoC), and does not include the CNO's office or shore establishments. Deployable/operational U.S. Navy units typically ...

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* 1MC –

1 Main Circuit 1 Main Circuit (1MC) is the term for the shipboard public address circuits on United States Navy and United States Coast Guard vessels. This provides a means of transmitting general information and orders to all internal ship spaces and topside ...

, shipboard public address system * 2MC – 2 Main Circuit, same as 1MC, but limited to the engine room * 3M – Maintenance and Material Management (3M System) * 3MA – Maintenance and Material Management Assistant * 3MC – Maintenance and Material Management Coordinator * 3MI – Maintenance and Material Management Inspection * 5MC – 5 Main Circuit, Carrier Flight Deck address system * 27MC – Control Room to Sonar Room address system

A

* A-STRIKE – Assistant STRIKE Operations Officer (Carrier Scheduler/Planner) * AA – Airman Apprentice (E-2) * AAW –

Anti-Air Warfare Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes Surface-to-air m ...

* AB – Aviation Boatswain's Mate * ABE – Aviation Boatswain's Mate – Equipment (Launch and Recovery Systems) * ABF – Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) * ABFD – Advanced Base Floating Dry Dock, class/type of ship * ABH – Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Aircraft Handling) * AC – Air Traffic Controlman * ACR –

Armored cruiser The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was designed like other types of cruisers to operate as a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship and fast eno ...

, class/type of ship * AD – Auxiliary, Destroyer Tender, class/type of ship * AD – Aviation Machinist's Mate * ADCON – Administrative control * ADNS – Automated Digital Network System * ADSW – Active Duty Special Work (U.S. Navy Reserve, type of active duty orders, typically 6 months in duration) * ADT – Active Duty Training (

U.S. Navy Reserve The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called R ...

, type of active duty orders, typically more than 30 days but less than 6 months) * AE – Auxiliary, Explosives, class/type of ship. An ammunition ship. * AE – Aviation Electrician's Mate * AF – Aviation Photographer's Mate * AFC – Aviation Fire Control * AFCM – Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman * AFFF –

Aqueous Film Forming Foam Firefighting foam is a foam used for fire suppression. Its role is to cool the fire and to coat the fuel, preventing its contact with oxygen, thus achieving suppression of the combustion. Firefighting foam was invented by the Russian engineer a ...

* AFS – Auxiliary, Fast Stores, class/type of ship. A supply ship that carries a little bit of everything, nicknamed "7-11" * AFSB – Afloat Forward Staging Base * AG – Aerographer's Mate * AIMD – Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (or Detachment) * AK – Auxiliary, Cargo, class/type of ship. An attack transport. * AK – Aviation Storekeeper (outdated; merged into LS rating) * ALNAV – All Navy * ALPO – Assistant Lead Petty Officer * AM – Aviation Structural Mechanic * AME – Aviation Structural Mechanic – Environmental (Air Conditioning, Oxygen, and Ejection Seats), Aviation Mechanical Exception * AMH – Aviation Structural Mechanic – Hydraulics * AMMRL – Aviation Maintenance Material Readiness List * AMO – Assistant Maintenance Officer * AMS – Aviation Structural Mechanic – Structures * AN – Airman * AO – Auxiliary, Fleet Oil, class/type of ship; Aviation Ordnanceman * AOE – Auxiliary, Oil, Explosives, class/type of ship. * AOR – Auxiliary, Oil, Replenishment, class/type of ship * AOW – Auxiliaryman of the

Watch A watch is a portable timepiece intended to be carried or worn by a person. It is designed to keep a consistent movement despite the motions caused by the person's activities. A wristwatch is designed to be worn around the wrist, attached by ...

* API – Aviation Preflight Indoctrination * AR – Auxiliary, Repair, class/type of ship. A repair ship * AR – Airman Recruit (E-1) * ARRS – Afloat Readiness Reporting System * ARS – Auxiliary, Repair and Salvage, class/type of ship * AS – Auxiliary, Submarine Tender, class/type of ship * AS – Aviation Support Equipment Technician * ASAU – Air Search and Attack Unit * ASR – Auxiliary, Submarine Rescue, class/type of ship * ASUW –

Anti-Surface Warfare Anti-surface warfare (ASuW or ASUW) is the branch of naval warfare concerned with the suppression of surface combatants. More generally, it is any weapons, sensors, or operations intended to attack or limit the effectiveness of an adversary's su ...

* ASVAB – Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery * ASW – Auxiliary Seawater system * ASW –

Anti-Submarine Warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations are t ...

* ASWO – Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer * AT – Annual Training (U.S. Navy Reserve, type of active duty orders, typically less than 30 days) * AT – Aviation Electronics Technician * ATS – Auxiliary, Towing and Salvage, class/type of ship * AUTEC –

Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center The United States Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) is a laboratory that performs integrated three-dimensional hydrospace/aerospace trajectory measurements covering the entire spectrum of undersea simulated warfare ...

* AUXO – Auxiliaries Officer * AVCM – Master Chief Avionics Technician * AVGAS – Aviation Gasoline * AWCS – Assistant Work Center Supervisor * AZ – Aviation Maintenance Administrationman

B

* B/N – Bombardier/Navigator; NFO in A-3B Skywarrior, A-5A Vigilante and A-6 Intruder attack aircraft (no longer used) * BAM – Bad Ass Marine ("Broad Ass Marine" if used in reference to a female) * BB –

Battleship A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of large caliber guns. It dominated naval warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term ''battleship'' came into use in the late 1880s to describe a type of ...

* BCD – Bad Conduct Discharge (also colloquially known as "Big Chicken Dinner") * BCGs –

Birth Control Glasses Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring, also referred to in technical contexts as parturition. In mammals, the process is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the f ...

* BCM – Beyond Capable Maintenance. Equipment status that indicates the item cannot be repaired and must be sent out for rework or disposed. * BEQ – Bachelor Enlisted Quarters * BESS –

Basic Enlisted Submarine School Basic Enlisted Submarine School (BESS) is the U.S. Navy's submarine training school for enlisted sailors. Located on Naval Submarine Base New London (NAVSUBASE NLON) in Groton, New London County, Connecticut New London County is in the sou ...

* BJOQ –

Blue Jacket Blue Jacket, or Weyapiersenwah (c. 1743 – 1810), was a war chief of the Shawnee people, known for his militant defense of Shawnee lands in the Ohio Country. Perhaps the preeminent American Indian leader in the Northwest Indian War, i ...

of the Quarter * BJOY –

of the Year * BLUF – Bottom Line Up Front * BM – Boatswain's Mate * BMOW – Boatswain's Mate of the Watch * BOHICA – Bend Over Here It Comes Again * BOL –

BUPERS The Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) in the United States Department of the Navy is similar to the human resources department of a corporation. The bureau provides administrative leadership and policy planning for the Office of the Chief of Nava ...

Online * BT – Boiler Technician * BU – Builder * BUDS – Basic Underwater Demolition School * BUMED –

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) is an agency of the United States Department of the Navy that manages health care activities for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. BUMED operates hospitals and other health c ...

* BUPERS –

Bureau of Naval Personnel The Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) in the United States Department of the Navy is similar to the human resources department of a corporation. The bureau provides administrative leadership and policy planning for the Office of the Chief of Nava ...

* BUSANDA –

Bureau of Supplies and Accounts The Bureau of Supplies and Accounts (BuSandA) was the United States Navy's supply organization between 1892 and 1966. Established in 1842 as the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, the bureau was responsible for the procurement, receipt, storage, ...

* BUWEPS –

Bureau of Naval Weapons The Bureau of Naval Weapons (BuWeps) was part of the United States Navy's material organization between 1959 and 1966, with responsibility for procurement and support of naval aircraft and aerial weapons, as well as shipboard and submarine naval we ...

* BZ – Bravo Zulu (meaning well done)

C

* CA – Construction Apprentice * CA – Cruiser, Armoured, class/type of ship. Heavy Cruiser (outdated) * CAG –

Cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...

, Attack, Guided Missile, class/type of ship. Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser (outdated) * CAG –

Commander, Air Group A carrier air wing (abbreviated CVW) is an operational naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft squadron (aviation), squadrons and detachments of various types of fixed-wing aircraft, fixed-wing and rotorcraft, rotary-wing aircr ...

* CAPT – Captain * CBMU – Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit * CASCAN – CASREP Cancellation or Cancellation of Casualty Report * CASCOR – CASREP Correction or Correction of the Casualty in the Casualty Report * CASREP – Casualty Report * CC –

, class/type of ship * CCC – Comprehensive Communications Check * CDB – Career Development Board *CDC – Combat Direction Center (CIC on carriers) * CDO – Command

Duty Officer A duty officer or officer of the day is a position that is assigned to a worker on a regularly rotational basis. While on duty, duty officers attend to administrative tasks and incidents that require attention regardless of the time of day, in add ...

* CDR – Commander * CE – Construction Electrician * CEC –

Civil Engineer Corps The Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) is a staff corps of the United States Navy. CEC officers are professional engineers and architects, acquisitions specialists, and Seabee Combat Warfare Officers who qualify within Seabee units. They are responsib ...

* CEC –

Cooperative Engagement Capability Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) is a sensor network with integrated Fire-control system, fire control capability that is intended to significantly improve battle force anti-aircraft warfare, air and missile defense capabilities by combining ...

* CED – Current Enlistment Date * CENTCOM – U.S. Central Command (

USCENTCOM The United States Central Command (USCENTCOM or CENTCOM) is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense. It was established in 1983, taking over the previous responsibilities of the Rapid Deployment Joint Tas ...

) * CF – Charlie Foxtrot (polite form of "Cluster Fuck") * CG –

, Guided Missile, class/type of ship * CGN –

, Guided Missile, Nuclear, class/type of ship (outdated) * CHC –

Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy The Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy (CHC) is the highest-ranking military chaplain in the United States Navy and head of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. As part of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and Department of ...

* CHENG – Chief Engineer (surface only) * CHMC –

Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps (CHMC) is a position always filled by the officers serving as Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000.

(always a Navy flag officer) * CIC –

Combat Information Center A combat information center (CIC) or action information centre (AIC) is a room in a warship or AWACS aircraft that functions as a tactical center and provides processed information for command and control of the near battlespace or area of op ...

* CICO –

Officer * CIS – CASREP Information System * CIVLANT – "Civilian Life" as defined by Atlantic Fleet personnel * CIVPAC – "Civilian Life" as defined by Pacific Fleet personnel * CIWS –

Close-In Weapon System A close-in weapon system (CIWS ) is a point-defense weapon system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted on a naval ship. Nearly all classes of ...

* CM – Construction Mechanic * CMC –

Commandant of the Marine Corps The commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) is normally the highest-ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions. The CMC reports directly to the secr ...

Chaplain of the Marine Corps The Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps (CHMC) is a position always filled by the officers serving as Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy as a "dual hatted" billet since 2000.

or Command Master Chief * CMDCM – Command Master Chief * CMDCS – Command Senior Chief * CMS-ID – Career Management System-Interactive Detailing * CN – Constructionman * CNATRA – Chief of Naval Air Training * CNAVRES – Chief of Navy Reserve * CNET – Command Naval Education and Training * CNIC – Commander, Navy Installations Command * CNO –

Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the professional head of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the secretary of the Navy. In a separate capacity as a memb ...

* CO –

Commanding Officer The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...

Not confined to USN use. * COB –

Chief of the Boat The chief of the boat (COB) is an enlisted sailor on board a U.S. Navy submarine who serves as the senior enlisted advisor to both the Commanding Officer (CO) and Executive Officer (XO). Overview The COB assists with matters regarding the ...

(traditionally found only on submarines; pronounced "cob"). Can also be used for " close of business" (pronounced "C-O-B"). * COD – Carrier Onboard Delivery * COMCVW – Commander,

Carrier Carrier may refer to: Entertainment * ''Carrier'' (album), a 2013 album by The Dodos * ''Carrier'' (board game), a South Pacific World War II board game * ''Carrier'' (TV series), a ten-part documentary miniseries that aired on PBS in April 20 ...

Air Wing * COMDESGRU – Commander, Destroyer Group * COMDESRON – Commander, Destroyer Squadron * COMEX – Commence Exercise * COMLANTFLT – Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet * COMMO – Communications Officer * COMNAVAIRES – Commander, Naval Air Force, Reserve * COMNAVAIRFOR (also CNAF) –

Commander, Naval Air Forces Commander, Naval Air Forces ( COMNAVAIRFOR, and CNAF; and dual-hatted as Commander, Naval Air Force, Pacific, and COMNAVAIRPAC) is the aviation Type Commander (TYCOM) for all United States Navy naval aviation units. Type Commanders are in Admini ...

* COMNAVAIRLANT (also CNAL) – Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic * COMNAVAIRPAC – Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific * COMNAVRESFOR – Commander, Navy Reserve Forces * COMNAVSEASYSCOM – Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command * COMNAVSECGRU – Commander, Naval Security Group * COMPACFLT – Commander, Pacific Fleet (formerly CINCPACFLT) * COMPATRECONGRU – Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group * COMPATRECONWING – Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing * COMPTUEX – Composite Training Unit Exercise * COMSEC – Communications Security * COMSUBFOR – Commander, Submarine Forces * COMSUBLANT – Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic * COMSUBPAC –

Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) is the principal advisor to the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet (Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, COMPACFLT) for submarine matters. The Pacific Submarine Force (SUBPAC) includes att ...

* COMTACGRU – Commander, Tactical Air Control Group * COMTRAWING – Commander, Training Air Wing * CORTRAMID – Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen * COS (also CoS) – Flag Officer's Chief of Staff * CPO – Chief Petty Officer * CPOM – Chief Petty Officer's Mess * CR – Construction Recruit * CRG – Coastal Riverine Group * CS – Culinary Specialist * CSADD – Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions * CSC – Combat Systems Coordinator * CSC – Command Senior Chief * CSC – Culinary Specialist Chief (E-7) * CSEC – Computerized Self Evaluation Checklist * CSMC – Combat Systems Maintenance Center * CSOOW – Combat Systems Officer of the

* CSOSS – Combat Systems Operational Sequencing Systems * CT – Cryptologic Technician * CTA – Cryptologic Technician, Administrative (now-defunct, merged with yeoman) * CTI – Cryptologic Technician, Interpretive * CTM – Cryptologic Technician, Maintenance * CTN – Cryptologic Technician, Networks * CTO – Cryptologic Technician, Communications * CTR – Cryptologic Technician, Collection * CTT – Cryptologic Technician, Technical * CV –

Aircraft Carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...

, class/type of ship * CVA – Aircraft Carrier, Attack, class/type of ship * CVAN – Aircraft Carrier, Attack, Nuclear, class/type of ship * CVN – Aircraft Carrier, Nuclear, class/type of ship * CVW –

Air Wing * CWO –

Chief Warrant Officer Chief warrant officer is a military rank used by the United States Armed Forces, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Pakistan Air Force, the Israel Defense Forces, the South African National Defence Force, the Lebanese Armed Forces and, since 2012, th ...

D

• D1-R – 3M periodicity code or a shower (slang for daily, once, or as required) * DAPA – Drug and Alcohol Programs Advisor * DC – Damage Controlman * DC – Dental Corps * DCA – Damage Control Assistant * DCAG – Deputy Air Wing Commander (see CAG) * DCC – Damage Control Central * DCO – Damage Control Officer (Chief Engineer) or

Direct Commission Officer A direct commission officer (DCO) is a United States uniformed officer who has received an appointed commission without the typical prerequisites for achieving a commission, such as attending a four-year service academy, a four-year or two-year ...

* DCPO – Damage Control Petty Officer * DD –

Destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...

* DDG –

Guided Missile Destroyer A guided-missile destroyer (DDG) is a destroyer whose primary armament is guided missiles so they can provide anti-aircraft warfare screening for the fleet. The NATO standard designation for these vessels is DDG, while destroyers who have a prim ...

* DDR –

Radar Picket A radar picket is a radar-equipped station, ship, submarine, aircraft, or vehicle used to increase the radar detection range around a nation or military (including naval) force to protect it from surprise attack, typically air attack, or from cr ...

Destroyer * DE –

Destroyer Escort Destroyer escort (DE) was the United States Navy mid-20th-century classification for a warship designed with the endurance necessary to escort mid-ocean convoys of merchant marine ships. Development of the destroyer escort was promoted by th ...

* DESDIV – Destroyer

Division Division or divider may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication *Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...

* DESRON –

Destroyer Squadron A destroyer squadron is a Squadron (naval), naval squadron or flotilla usually consisting of destroyers rather than other types of vessel. In some navies other vessels, such as frigates, may be included. In English the word "squadron" tends to be ...

* DEVGRU –

Naval Special Warfare Development Group The Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), abbreviated as DEVGRU ("Development Group") and commonly known as SEAL Team Six, is the United States Navy component of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). The unit is often referre ...

, formerly (and informally still) SEAL Team SIX * DFM – Diesel Fuel Marine (F-76), standard Navy

bunker fuel Fuel oil is any of various fractions obtained from the distillation of petroleum (crude oil). Such oils include distillates (the lighter fractions) and residues (the heavier fractions). Fuel oils include heavy fuel oil, marine fuel oil (MFO), ...

* DILLIGAF – Does It Look Like I Give A Flip(uck), standard Navy slang * DIRNSA –

Director of the National Security Agency The director of the National Security Agency (DIRNSA) is the highest-ranking official of the National Security Agency, which is a defense agency within the U.S. Department of Defense. The director of the NSA also concurrently serves as the Chief ...

* DL –

Leader (outdated) * DLG – Guided Missile Destroyer Leader (outdated) * DLGN – Nuclear-powered Guided Missile Destroyer Leader (outdated) * DM – Destroyer Minelayer (outdated) * DM – Illustrator Draftsman * DMHRSi – Defense Medical Human Resources System – internet * DOD (also DoD) –

Department of Defense Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...

* DoN –

Department of the Navy Navy Department or Department of the Navy may refer to: * United States Department of the Navy, * Navy Department (Ministry of Defence), in the United Kingdom, 1964-1997 * Confederate States Department of the Navy, 1861-1865 * Department of the ...

* DRB – Discipline Review Board * DRRS-N – Defense Readiness Reporting System – Navy * DS – Data Systems Technician * DSG – Defense Strategic Guidance * DVS – Department of Veterans Services, usually administered by each state

E

* EAOS – End of Active Obligated Service * EAWS – Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist * ECRC – Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center * EDMC – Engineering Department Master Chief (Submarines) * EDO – Engineering

* EEBD – Emergency Escape Breathing Device * EIDWS – Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Specialist * EISM-Electronic Information Security Manager * EM – Electrician's Mate * EM – Emergency Management * EMCON – Emissions Control * EMI – Extra Military Instruction * EMN – Electrician's Mate, Nuclear Field * EMO – Electronics Material Officer * EN – Engineman * ENS – Ensign * EO – Equipment Operator * EOD – Explosive Ordnance Disposal * EOOW – Engineering Officer of the

* EOS – Enclosed Operating Space * EOSS – Engineering Operational Sequencing Systems * ERS – Engineroom Supervisor * ESWS – Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist * ET –

Electronics Technician Electronics technicians help design, develop, test, manufacture, install, and repair electrical and electronic equipment such as communication equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and computers. They may be employed i ...

* ETN – Electronics Technician, Nuclear Field * EW –

Electronic Warfare Electronic warfare (EW) is any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM spectrum) or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponen ...

*EWO – Electronic Warfare Officer * EWS – Engineering

Supervisor * EXW – Expeditionary Warfare

F

* F/MC – Fleet (or Force) Master Chief * FA – Fireman Apprentice * FAC –

Forward Air Controller Forward air control is the provision of guidance to close air support (CAS) aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops. This task is carried out by a forward air controller (FAC). ...

*FAC – Fast attack craft * FAC/A – Forward Air Controller/Airborne * FBM – Fleet Ballistic Missile * FC – Fire Controlman * FCDSSA - Fleet Combat Direction Systems Support Activity * FCF – Functional Check Flight * FCPCP – Fleet Computer Programming Center of the Pacific * FCPOM – First Class Petty Officer's Mess * FDO – Flight Deck Officer * FF – Frigate, class/type of ship * FFG – Frigate, Guided Missile, class/type of ship *FIAC – Fast Inshore Attack Craft * FICEURLANT – Fleet Intelligence Center Europe & Atlantic * FIGMO – F(uck) IT, Got My Orders *FIS – Fire Inhibit Switch * FLEACT – Fleet Activity * FLTMPS – Fleet Training Management and Planning System * FMF – Fleet Marine Force * FMSS – Field Medical Service School * FN – Fireman *FNAEB – Field Naval Aviator Evaluation Board * FNMOC – Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center * FOD –

Foreign Object Damage In aviation and aerospace, foreign object debris (FOD), is any particle or substance, alien to an aircraft or system, which could potentially cause damage. External FOD hazards include bird strikes, hail, ice, sandstorms, ash-clouds or obje ...

(Debris and Detection also used in some cases) *FPCON – Force Protection Condition * FR – Fireman Recruit * FRC – Fleet Readiness Center * FRS – Fleet Replacement Squadron (Formerly RAG) * FSA – Food Service Attendant * FSO – Food Service Officer * FT – Fire control technician * FTB – Fire Control Technician Ballistic Missile * FTM – Fire Control Technician Missiles * FTN – Forget the Navy (polite form) * FTN – Full-time Navy (humorous form) * FTS – Full-time Support (full-time, active-duty personnel in U.S. Navy Reserve)

G

* GCCS-M – Global Command and Control System-Maritime * GM – Gunner's Mate * GQ –

General Quarters General quarters, battle stations, or action stations is an announcement made aboard a naval warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed ...

(Call to battle stations) * GS – Guided Missileman * GSA –

General Services Administration The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. gover ...

* GSE- Gas Turbine Systems Technician – Electrical * GSM- Gas Turbine Systems Technician – Mechanic

H

* HA – Hospital Apprentice * HAC – Helicopter Aircraft Commander * HEDSUPPACTLANT – Headquarters, Support Activity Atlantic * HELO – Helicopter * HM –

Hospital Corpsman A hospital corpsman (HM r corpsman is an enlisted medical specialist of the United States Navy, who may also serve in a U.S. Marine Corps unit. The corresponding rating within the United States Coast Guard is health services technician (HS) ...

* HMFIC – Head Mother Fucker In Charge (See SOPA Below) * HN – Hospitalman * HR – Hospital Recruit * HS – Helicopter Squadron, Anti-Submarine Warfare (HS-4 Black Knights) * HT – Hull Maintenance Technician

I

* IAMM – Individual Augmentation Manpower Management * IAP – In Assignment Processing * IAW – In Accordance With * IC – Interior Communications Electrician * ICO – In Case Of (or In Care Of / In Concern Of) * IHO – Industrial Hygiene Officer * IMF – Intermediate Maintenance Facility * IMRL – Individual Material Readiness List * INCOM– Incoming * IOIC - Integrated Operational Intelligence Center * IP – Irish Pennant – A loose thread of a Naval or Marine uniform. * IRT – In Reference To * IT – Information System Technician * ITS – Information Technology Submarines

J

* JAG –

Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy The Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as the "JAG Corps" or "JAG", is the legal arm of the United States Navy. Today, the corps consists of a worldwide organization of more than 730 commissioned officers serving as judge advocates, 30 Lim ...

* JBD –

Jet Blast Deflector A jet blast deflector (JBD) or blast fence is a safety device that redirects the high energy exhaust from a jet engine to prevent damage and injury. The structure must be strong enough to withstand heat and high speed air streams as well as dust ...

(on board carriers) * JHSV – Joint High Speed Vessel * JO – Journalist (obsolete), Junior Officer * JOPA – Junior Officer Protection Association *JP-5 – Jet Propellant no. 5, standard Navy jet fuel (F-44, AVCAT) * JTF – Joint Task Force * JTFEX – Joint Task Force Exercise

K

* KISS –

Keep It Simple, Stupid KISS, an acronym for "Keep it simple, stupid!", is a design principle noted by the U.S. Navy in 1960. First seen partly in American English by at least 1938, the KISS principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather tha ...

L

* LANTCOM – Atlantic Command * LAWS –

Laser Weapon System The AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System or XN-1 LaWS is a laser weapon developed by the United States Navy. The weapon was installed on for field testing in 2014. In December 2014, the United States Navy reported that the LaWS system worked perfectly ...

* LCAC – Landing Craft, Air Cushion. * LCC – Amphibious Command Ship. * LCDR – Lieutenant Commander * LCPO – Leading Chief Petty Officer * LCM – Landing Craft, Mechanized, class/type of boat. Usage: LCM-4, LCM-6, LCM-8 * LCPL – Landing Craft, Personnel Launch, class/type of boat. * LCS – Littoral Combat Ship, class/type of ship. * LCVP – Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel, class/type of boat. * LDO –

Limited Duty Officer A limited duty officer (LDO) is an officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps who was selected for commissioning based on skill and expertise. They are the primary manpower source for technically specific billets not best s ...

* LES –

Leave and Earnings Statement A Leave and Earnings Statement, generally referred to as an LES, is a document given on a monthly basis to members of the United States military which documents their pay and leave status on a monthly basis. Employees in the civil service receive ...

* LHA – Landing, Helicopter, Assault, class/type of ship. * LHD – Landing, Helicopter, Dock, class/type of ship. * LKA – Landing, Cargo, Attack, class/type of ship. * LPD – Landing, Personnel, Dock, class/type of ship. * LPA – Landing, Personnel, Attack, class/type of ship. * LPH – Landing, Personnel, Helicopter, class/type of ship. * LPO – Leading Petty Officer * LPOD – Last Plane On Deck * LRAD –

Long Range Acoustic Device A long-range acoustic device (LRAD) is an acoustic hailing device (AHD), sound cannon and sonic weapon developed by Genasys. It has been used as a method of crowd control, which has caused permanent hearing damage, having an extremely high ...

* LS –

Logistics Specialist The logistics specialist (LS) is a US Navy enlisted rating that was created on 1 October, 2009 by the merger of the storekeeper (SK) and postal clerk (PC) ratings. It also included the previous functions of the former aviation storekeeper (AK) r ...

* LSD – Landing Ship, Dock, class/type of ship. * LSO –

Landing Signal Officer A landing signal officer or landing safety officer (LSO), also informally known as paddles (United States Navy) or batsman (Royal Navy), is a naval aviator specially trained to facilitate the "safe and expeditious recovery" of naval aircraft ab ...

* LST – Landing Ship, Tank, class/type of ship. * LT – Lieutenant * LTJG – Lieutenant Junior Grade

M

* MAA (also meMA) –

Master-at-Arms A Master-at-Arms (US: MA; UK & some Commonwealth: MAA) may be a naval rating, responsible for law enforcement, regulating duties, security, anti-terrorism/force protection (AT/FP) for/of a country's navy; an army officer responsible for physical ...

* MALS – Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron * MC – Mass Communication Specialist * MCO – Material Control Officer * MCPO –

Master Chief Petty Officer U.S. Coast Guardmaster chief petty officercollar device U.S. Coast Guardmaster chief petty officersleeve rating insignia United States Navymaster chief petty officer collar insignia United States Navymaster chief petty officershoulderb ...

* MCPON – Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (pronounced "Mick Pon") * MIDN –

Midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...

* MIDRATS – Midnight Rations * MLCPO – Machinery Division Leading Chief Petty Officer (Submarine) * MM – Machinist's Mate * MMCO – Maintenance/Material Control Officer * MMCPO – Maintenance Master Chief Petty Officer * MMN – Machinist's Mate, Nuclear Field * MO – Maintenance Officer (pronounced "Moe") * MOA – Memorandum of Agreement * MOU – Memorandum of Understanding * MPA – Main Propulsion Assistant * MPA – Military Patrol Craft (P-3 Orion, etc.) * MR – Machinery Repairman * MRDB – Material Readiness Database * MSG – Message * MSW – Main Seawater System * MT – Missile Technician * MTS – Master Training Specialist * MU – Musician

N

* NAB – Naval Amphibious Base * NAF – Naval Air Facility * NALCOMIS – Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System * NAMI – Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute * NAS – Naval Air Station * NAS JRB – Naval Air Station / Joint Reserve Base * NATOPS – Naval Air Training and Operational Procedure Standardization * NAVAIR –

Naval Air Systems Command The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) provides materiel support for aircraft and airborne weapon systems for the United States Navy. It is one of the Echelon II Navy systems commands (SYSCOM), and was established in 1966 as the successor to the ...

* NAVCOMP –

Comptroller of the Navy The post of Controller of the Navy (abbreviated as CofN) was originally created in 1859 when the Surveyor of the Navy's title changed to Controller of the Navy. In 1869 the controller's office was abolished and its duties were assumed by that of ...

* NAVEDTRA – Chief of Navy Education and Training * NAVFAC –

Naval Facilities Engineering Command The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) is the United States Navy's engineering systems command, providing the Navy and United States Marine Corps with facilities and expeditionary expertise. NAVFAC is headquartered at the Washi ...

* NAVFLIGHTDEMRON –

Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron The Blue Angels is a flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy.

(

Blue Angels The Blue Angels is a flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy.

) * NAVMAT – Naval Material Command * NAVMILPERSCOM – Navy Military Personnel Command * NAVSEA –

Naval Sea Systems Command The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is the largest of the United States Navy's five "systems commands," or materiel (not to be confused with "material") organizations. From a physical perspective, NAVSEA has four shipyards for shipbuilding, c ...

* NAVSECGRUACT – Naval Security Group Activity * NAVSTA – Naval Station * NAVSUBASE – Naval Submarine Base * NAVSUP –

Naval Supply Systems Command The Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) is the United States Navy's supply command, providing the Navy and United States Marine Corps with supplies, services, and quality-of-life support. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, the NAVSUP ...

* NAVTRA – Chief of Naval Training * NAWCAD – Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division * NAWCWD –

Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC) is the former name of the current Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division. The name of the center was the Naval Air Missile Test Center prior to PMTC. It is located at Naval Base Ventura County/Naval Air Stat ...

(formerly

Pacific Missile Test Center Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC) is the former name of the current Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division. The name of the center was the Naval Air Missile Test Center prior to PMTC. It is located at Naval Base Ventura County/Naval Air Stat ...

) * NBSD –

Naval Base San Diego Naval Base San Diego, also known as 32nd Street Naval Station, is the second largest surface ship base of the United States Navy and is located in San Diego, California. Naval Base San Diego is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, cons ...

* NC – Navy Counselor * NCDU – Navy Combat Demolition Unit * NCF – Naval Construction Force (

Seabees United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, form the U.S. Naval Construction Force (NCF). The Seabee nickname is a heterograph of the initial letters "CB" from the words "Construction Battalion". Depending upon ...

) * NCIS –

Naval Criminal Investigative Service The United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is the primary law enforcement agency of the U.S. Department of the Navy. Its primary function is to investigate criminal activities involving the Navy and Marine Corps, though its ...

* NCM –

Navy Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...

* NCTAMS – Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station * NCTS – Naval Computer Telecommunications Station * NECC – Navy Expeditionary Combat Command * NeL – Navy eLearning * NEX –

Navy Exchange Navy Exchange is a retail store chain owned and operated by the United States Navy under the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM). The Navy Exchange offers goods and services to active military, retirees, and certain civilians on Navy installati ...

* NFAAS – Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System * NFO –

Naval Flight Officer A naval flight officer (NFO) is a commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps who specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots (naval aviators), but they may perform many "co-pilot" or ...

* NFO – Normal Fuel Oil * NIWC –

Naval Information Warfare Center A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...

(pronounced "nie-wik") * NJROTC – Navy

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC -- commonly pronounced "JAY-rotsee") is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools across the United States and at US military ...

* NKO – Navy Knowledge Online * NMCB – Naval Mobile Construction Battalion

* NMCI – Navy/Marine Corps Intranet * NMPS – Navy Mobilization and Processing Site * NMTI – Navy Military Training Instructor * NNPTU – Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit * NNSY –

Norfolk Naval Shipyard The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships. It is the oldest and largest industrial facility tha ...

* NOSC – Navy Operational Support Center (a U.S. Navy Reserve shore command) * NOSR – Network On-Site Representative * NPC – Navy Personnel Command * NROTC –

Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program is a college-based, commissioned officer training program of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Origins A pilot Naval Reserve unit was established in September 192 ...

* NS – Naval Station * NSAWC –

Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center The Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC, pronounced NAW-DIK) was formerly known as the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC, pronounced "EN-SOCK") at Naval Air Station Fallon located in the city of Fallon in western Nevad ...

* NSFO – Navy Special Fuel Oil * NSGA – Naval Security Group Activity * NSIPS – Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System * NSWC –

Naval Surface Warfare Center * A Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) is part of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) operated by the United States Navy. NAVSEA Warfare Centers supply the technical operations, people, technology, engineering services and products needed t ...

* NSWG – Naval Special Warfare Group * NSY – Naval Shipyard * NTC – Naval Training Center * NUWC –

Naval Undersea Warfare Center The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) is the United States Navy's full-spectrum research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support center for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, and offensive and defensive weapons ...

* NWTD – Non Watertight Door * NWU – Navy Working Uniform

O

* OAE – Old Antarctic Explorer * OBA – Oxygen Breathing Apparatus * OCS –

Officer Candidate School An officer candidate school (OCS) is a military school which trains civilians and Enlisted rank, enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a Commission (document), commission as Commissioned officer, officers in the armed forces of a country. ...

, located at

Naval Station Newport The Naval Station Newport (NAVSTA Newport) is a United States Navy base located in the city of Newport and the town of Middletown, Rhode Island. Naval Station Newport is home to the Naval War College and the Naval Justice School. It once was th ...

* OFS – Out Freaking Standing (polite form) * OIC – Officer in Charge * OM – On the Move * OMPF – Official Military Personnel File * ONR –

Office of Naval Research The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is an organization within the United States Department of the Navy responsible for the science and technology programs of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Established by Congress in 1946, its mission is to plan ...

* OOC – Out of

Calibration In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of know ...

or Out of Compliance * OOD – Officer of the Deck * OOMA – Optimized Organizational Maintenance Activity * OPCON –

Operational control Control is a function of management which helps to check errors in order to take corrective actions. This is done to minimize deviation from standards and ensure that the stated goals of the organization are achieved in a desired manner. Accordi ...

* OPNAV – Office of the

* OPS-O – Operations Officer * OSA – Overseas Contingency Operation Support Assignments * OTSR – Optimal Track Ship Routing

P

* PACOM – Pacific Command * PAPERCLIP – People Against People Ever Reenlisting Civilian Life Is Preferred * PAX – Passengers * PCO – Prospective

* PCS – Permanent Change of Station * PDHA – Post-Deployment Health Assessment * PDHRA – Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment * PFA – Physical Fitness Assessment * PHA – Physical Health Assessment * PHRA – Physical Health Re-Assessment * PLD – Permanent Limited Duty * PIR – Pass in Review *PMCS – Preventative Maintenance Checks & Service(s) * PO(3/2/1) – Petty Officer (Third/Second/First Class) * POC – Point of Contact * POD – Plan of the Day * POM – Plan of the Month * POOW – Petty Officer of the

* POTUS – President of the United States * POW – Plan of the Week * POW – Prisoner of War * PRD – Projected Rotation Date * PRIFLY – Primary Flight Control ( carriers) * PRT – Physical Readiness Test * PSNS and IMF –

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, officially Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), is a United States Navy shipyard covering 179 acres (0.7 km2) on Puget Sound at Bremerton, Washington in uninterrupted u ...

* PT – Physical Training * PTS – Perform to Serve * PWD – Public Works Department * PXO – Prospective Executive Officer

Q

* QAWTD/QAWTH – Quick Acting Water Tight Door/Quick Acting Water Tight Hatch * QM – Quartermaster * QMOW – Quartermaster of the

R

* RADCON – Radiation Control * RADM –

Rear Admiral (United States) A rear admiral in the uniformed services of the United States is either of two different ranks of commissioned officers: one-star flag officers and two-star flag officers. By contrast, in most other countries, the term " rear admiral" refers only ...

(Upper Half) * RADM – Relational Administrative Data Management * RAG – Replacement Air Group, now known as Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) * RCA – Reactor Controls Assistant * RDBM – Red Data-Base Manager * RDC – Recruit Division Commander * RDML –

(Lower Half) * REPO – Repair Division Officer * RHIB (RIB) –

Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat A rigid inflatable boat (RIB), also rigid-hull inflatable boat or rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), is a lightweight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a rigid hull bottom joined to side-forming air tubes that are ...

* RIMPAC – Rim of the Pacific * RIO –

Radar Intercept Officer A naval flight officer (NFO) is a commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps who specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots (naval aviators), but they may perform many "co-pilot" or ...

(NFO in

F-4 Phantom II The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and Bow ...

and

F-14 Tomcat The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is an American carrier-capable supersonic aircraft, supersonic, twinjet, twin-engine, two-seat, twin-tail, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experi ...

) * RL – Restricted Line Officer * RM – Radioman * RMD – Restricted Maneuvering Doctrine * RPM – Remedial Project Manager * RP –

Religious Program Specialist Religious program specialist (RP) is a United States Navy rating. Religious program specialists assist naval chaplains in their duties as well as provide support to naval chaplains in developing programs to meet the needs of U.S. Navy sailors, ...

* RPOC – Recruit Petty Officer in Charge or Recruit Chief Petty Officer * ROM – Restriction of movement (14 day quarantine during COVID-19) * RT –

Radiotelephone A radiotelephone (or radiophone), abbreviated RT, is a radio communication system for conducting a conversation; radiotelephony means telephony by radio. It is in contrast to '' radiotelegraphy'', which is radio transmission of telegrams (mes ...

(voice radio) * RTC – Recruit Training Command * RTD – Return to Duty

S

* S2F – Speed to Fleet * SA – Seaman Apprentice * SAG – Surface Action Group * SAM –

Surface-to-Air Missile A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...

* SAPR – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response * SARC –

Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman A Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman (SARC) is a United States Navy hospital corpsman who provides MARSOC and other USSOCOM units advanced trauma management associated with combatant diving and parachute entry. Traditionally, they are a ...

* SAU – Search and Attack Unit * SCAT – Small Craft Attack Team * SCBA –

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), sometimes referred to as a compressed air breathing apparatus (CABA) or simply breathing apparatus (BA), is a device worn to provide breathable air in an atmosphere that is immediately dangerous to ...

* SCPO –

Senior Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Petty Officer ''(SCPO)'' is an enlisted rank in the navies of some countries. United States U.S. Coast Guardsenior chiefpetty officercollar device U.S. Coast Guardsenior chiefpetty officerinsignia Senior chiefpetty officer ...

* SCRAM – Safety Control Rod Axe Man. Reactor emergency shutdown * SCW –

Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist insignia The Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist (SCWS) insignia is a warfare qualification of the United States Navy. To be eligible to earn the SCWS insignia, personnel must first be assigned to a qualifying unit of the Naval Construction Force (Seabees) ...

* SE – Support Equipment * SES –

Surface Effect Ship A Surface Effect Ship (SES) or Sidewall Hovercraft is a watercraft that has both an air cushion, like a hovercraft, and twin hulls, like a catamaran. When the air cushion is in use, a small portion of the twin hulls remains in the water. When the ...

, class/type of ship * SEL – Senior Enlisted Leader (also seen as SEA – Senior Enlisted Advisor) * SEALs –

United States Navy SEALs The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's primary special operations force and a component of the Naval Special Warfare Command. Among the SEALs' main functions are conducting sma ...

(stands for Sea, Air, Land), officially termed Special Warfare Operators (SO) * SEAOPDET – Sea Operational Detachment * SECDEF –

Secretary of Defense (United States) The United States secretary of defense (SecDef) is the head of the United States Department of Defense, the executive department of the U.S. Armed Forces, and is a high ranking member of the federal cabinet. DoDD 5100.1: Enclosure 2: a The ...

* SECNAV –

Secretary of the Navy (United States) The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the sec ...

* SICLOS – Shift Inspect Clean Lube Oil Strainers * Sitrep – Situation report * SLBM –

Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which carries a nuclear warhead ...

* SN – Seaman * SNA – Student Naval Aviator * SO – Special Warfare Operator, aka

US Navy SEAL The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. * SOFA – Status of Forces Agreement * SONAR – Sound Navigation And Ranging * SOP(A) – Senior Officer Present (Ashore) * SOPA –

Senior Officer Present Afloat Senior Officer Present Afloat, usually referred to as SOPA, is a U.S. Navy term to indicate the U.S. Navy officer, with the highest ranking by rank, or number in rank, present in a harbor occupied by more than one U.S. Navy vessel. That officer is e ...

* SOQ – Sailor of the Quarter * SOY – Sailor of the Year * SPAWAR –

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWARSYSCOM), based in San Diego, is one of six SYSCOM Echelon II organizations within the United States Navy and is the Navy's technical authority and acquisition command for C4ISR (Command, Contro ...

* SPAWARSYSCEN – Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center * SR – Seaman Recruit * SRB – Selective Reenlistment Bonus * SRW – Shutdown Roving Watch * SS – Submarine Specialist * SS –

Submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

, class/type of ship * SSBN (aka Boomers) –

Hull classification symbol The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) use a hull classification symbol (sometimes called hull code or hull number) to identify their ships by type and by ind ...

for

ballistic missile submarine A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. The United States Navy's hull classification symbols for ballistic missile submarines are SSB and SSBN – t ...

(Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear) * SSES – Ships Signals Exploitation Space: compartment on a ship where embarked NAVSECGRU personnel, known a Cryptologic Technicians, do their work * SSGN –

for

cruise missile submarine A cruise missile submarine is a submarine that carries and launches cruise missiles (SLCMs and anti-ship missiles) as its primary armament. Missiles greatly enhance a vessel's ability to attack surface combatants and strike land targets, and alt ...

(Submersible Ship Guided Missile Nuclear) * SSMG – Ships Service Motor Generator; engine room equipment used to convert electrical current from AC to DC or DC to AC * SSN –

for general-purpose fast

attack submarine An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants and merchant vessels. In the Soviet and Russian navies they were and are called "mul ...

s (Submersible Ship Nuclear) * SSOQ – Senior Sailor of the Quarter * SSOY – Senior Sailor of the Year * SSTG – Ships Service Turbo Generator * STG – Sonar Technician Surface * STREAM – Standard Tension Replenishment Alongside Method * STS – Sonar Technician Submarines * SUBRON –

Submarine Squadron A submarine squadron (SUBRON) is a naval formation or unit in such states such as the United Kingdom, United States, and Russia/Soviet Union. In France the equivalent unit is the ' (ESNA), part of the French submarine forces (and before the Second ...

* SUBSAFE – Submarine Safety Program * SUPPO – Supply Officer * SWCC (swick) – Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, the

Special Operations Forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

who operate and maintain an inventory of boats used to conduct special operations missions or to support special operations missions conducted in maritime environments, particularly those of the U.S. Navy SEALs. * SWO –

Surface Warfare Officer The surface warfare insignia is a military badge of the United States Navy which is issued to U.S. Navy personnel who are trained and qualified to perform duties aboard United States surface warships. There are presently four classes of the surf ...

T

* TAD – Temporary Additional Duty, equivalent to Army's TDY * TADCEN – Training and Distribution Center * TAO – Tactical action officer (fights the ship under the supervision of the captain) * TAR – Training and Administration of the Reserve (U.S. Navy Reserve, former designation for FTS personnel) * TE – Task element * TF – Task force * TFO – Temporary flight orders. Non-aircrew personnel that have passed the minimum requirements to act as part of the aircrew for some purpose, e.g. secondary door gunner. * TFOA – Things falling off aircraft * TG – Task group * TLD – Temporary limited duty * TM – Torpedoman's mate * TOPGUN –

United States Navy Fighter Weapons School United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two fi ...

* TSP – Troubled systems process * TU – Task unit * TYCOM – Type commanders

U

* UA – Unauthorized Absence, equivalent to Army's

absent without leave Desertion is the abandonment of a military duty or post without permission (a pass, liberty or leave) and is done with the intention of not returning. This contrasts with unauthorized absence (UA) or absence without leave (AWOL ), which a ...

(AWOL) * UA – Urinalysis * UAS –

Unmanned Aerial System An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controlle ...

* UAV –

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...

* UCMJ –

Uniform Code of Military Justice The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 801–946 is the foundation of military law in the United States. It was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution ...

*UCT – Underwater Construction Team * UDT –

Underwater Demolition Team Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT), or frogmen, were amphibious units created by the United States Navy during World War II with specialized non-tactical missions. They were predecessors of the navy's current SEAL teams. Their primary WWII func ...

* UNODIR – Unless Otherwise Directed * UNREP –

Underway Replenishment Replenishment at sea (RAS) (North Atlantic Treaty Organization/Commonwealth of Nations) or underway replenishment (UNREP) (U.S. Navy) is a method of transferring fuel, munitions, and stores from one ship to another while under way. First develope ...

* UNSAT – Unsatisfactory * UOD – Uniform of the day * URL –

Unrestricted Line Officer An unrestricted line officer (shortened to URL officer) is a List of United States Naval officer designators, designator given to a commissioned officer of the line in the United States Navy, who is eligible for command at sea of the navy's warfi ...

* USCG – United States Coast Guard * USMC –

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

, organized under the

United States Department of the Navy The United States Department of the Navy (DoN) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. It was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, at the urging of Secretary o ...

* USN –

* USNA –

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

(Annapolis) * USNR –

United States Naval Reserve The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called Reservists, are categorized as being in either the Sele ...

* USS –

United States Ship United States Ship (abbreviated as USS or U.S.S.) is a ship prefix used to identify a commissioned ship of the United States Navy and applies to a ship only while it is in commission. Before commissioning, the vessel may be referred to as a " pr ...

* UWT –

Underwater Telephone Underwater acoustic communication is a technique of sending and receiving messages below water. There are several ways of employing such communication but the most common is by using hydrophones. Underwater communication is difficult due to factor ...

V

* VA/VAM – Fixed Wing Attack/Fixed Wing Medium Attack (no longer used) * VAQ – Fixed Wing Electronic-Attack Squadron * VAW – Fixed Wing Airborne Early Warning Squadron * VBSS –

Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure Visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) is the term used by United States military and law enforcement agencies for maritime boarding actions and tactics. VBSS teams are designed to capture enemy vessels, combat terrorism, piracy, and smuggli ...

* VCNO –

Vice Chief of Naval Operations The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) is the second highest-ranking commissioned United States Navy officer in the Department of the Navy and functions as the principal deputy of the chief of naval operations and by statute, the vice chief ...

* VDS – Variable Depth Sonar * VERTREP –

Vertical Replenishment Vertical replenishment, or VERTREP, is a method of supply of seaborne vessels by helicopter. The United States Department of Defense defines VERTREP as: ...the transfer of cargo between ships using helicopters. VERTREP is often used to supplement ...

* VF – Fixed Wing Fighter (no longer used) * VFA – Fixed Wing Strike Fighter Squadron * VLS – Vertical Launching System * VP – Fixed Wing Patrol Squadron * VRC – Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC-30 Providers) * VTU – Volunteer Training Unit * VX – Air Test & Evaluation Squadron (VX-4 Evaluators)

W

* WAVES –

Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service Waves most often refers to: *Waves, oscillations accompanied by a transfer of energy that travel through space or mass. *Wind waves, surface waves that occur on the free surface of bodies of water. Waves may also refer to: Music * Waves (band ...

* WCS – Workcenter Supervisor * WO – Warrant Officer * WSO – (Wizzo) – Weapon Systems Officer (

) in USMC F/A-18D Hornet and USN F/A-18F Super Hornet) * WTC – Watertight Compartment * WTD – Watertight Door * WTF – Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, usually an interrogative phrase, but may also be used in a declarative manner * WTH – Water Tight Hatch

X

* XO –

Executive Officer An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer, o ...

Y

* YN – Yeoman

Notes

References

External links

{{Wiktionary, Appendix:U.S. Navy slang
Navy Acronyms and Navy Abbreviations

EEBD - Emergency Escape Breathing Device
*Z Acronyms list

Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...

United states Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

Official acronyms

#

A

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D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

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R

S

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V

W

X

Y

See also

Notes

References

External links