List A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby unio ...

of initialisms,

acronym An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in ''NATO'' (''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''), but sometimes use syllables, as ...

s ("words made from parts of other words, pronounceable"), and other abbreviations used by the government and the military of the United States. Note that this list is intended to be specific to the United States government and military—other nations will have their own acronyms.

0–9

* 0K – Zero Killed (pronounced OK, as the expression that everything is okay) * 1LT –

First Lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

(U.S. Army) (USMC uses "1stLt" and USAF uses "1st Lt") * 2LT – Second Lieutenant (U.S. Army) (USMC uses "2ndLt" and USAF uses "2nd Lt") * 2IC –

Second In Command ''Second in Command'' is a 2006 American action film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and directed by Simon Fellows. The film was released direct-to-DVD in the United States on May 2, 2006. Plot Commander Sam Keenan (Jean-Claude Van Damme), a decor ...

* 1SG – First Sergeant (E-8 Army) * 777 – (Pronounced triple 7) Refers to the

M777 howitzer The M777 howitzer is a British towed 155 mm artillery piece in the howitzer class. It is used by the ground forces of Australia, Canada, Colombia, India, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and the United States. It was first used in combat during the US ...

, a towed 155 mm artillery weapon. It succeeded the

M198 howitzer The M198 is a medium-sized, towed 155 mm artillery piece, developed for service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. It was commissioned to be a replacement for the World War II-era M114 155 mm howitzer. It was designed and prototyped ...

in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army in 2005. The M777 is also used by the ground forces of Australia, Canada, India and Saudi Arabia. It made its combat debut in the War in Afghanistan.

A

* A – Analog * A1C – Airman First Class (USAF E-3) * A2C2 – Army Airspace Command And Control * A-3 – (Operations Directorate (COMAFFOR)) * A-5 – (Plans Directorate (COMAFFOR)) * AA – Anti-Aircraft * AA – Armed Forces America * AA – Assembly Area * AA – Assessment Agent * AA – Avenue Of Approach * AAA – Army Audit Agency * AAA –

Antiaircraft Artillery 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 based ...

* AAA – Arrival And Assembly Area * AAA – Assign Alternate Area * AAAD – Airborne Anti-Armor Defense * AAAS – Amphibious Aviation Assault Ship * AABB – American Association of Blood Banks * AABWS – Amphibious Assault Bulk Water System * AAC – Activity Address Code * AACG – Arrival Airfield Control Group * AADC – Area Air Defense Commander * AADP – Area Air Defense Plan * AA&E – Arms, Ammunition, And Explosives * AAEC – Aeromedical Evacuation Control Team * AAFC –

Australian Air Force Cadets The Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC), known as the ''Air Training Corps (AIRTC)'' until 2001, is a Federal Government funded youth organisation. The parent force of the AAFC is the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Along with the Australia ...

(Australia) * AAFES – Army and Air Force Exchange Service * AAFIF – Automated Air Facility Information File * AAFS – Amphibious Assault Fuel System * AAFSF – Amphibious Assault Fuel Supply Facility * AAGS – Army Air-Ground System * AAI – Air-To-Air Interface * AAM – Air-To-Air Missile * AAMDC – US Army Air And Missile Defense Command * AAOE – Arrival And Assembly Operations Element * AAOG – Arrival And Assembly Operations Group * AAP – Allied Administrative Publication * AAP – Assign Alternate Parent * AAR –

After Action Report An after action report (or AAR) is any form of retrospective analysis on a given sequence of goal-oriented actions previously undertaken, generally by the author themselves. The two principal forms of AARs are the literary AAR, intended for recrea ...

* AAR – After Action Review * AAS – Army Apprentice School (Australia) * AAST – Aeromedical Evacuation Administrative Support Team * AAT – Automatic Analog Test * AAT – Aviation Advisory Team * AAU – Analog Applique Unit * AAV –

Amphibious Assault Vehicle The Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV)—official designation AAVP-7A1 (formerly known as Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Personnel-7 abbr. LVTP-7)—is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems (previously by Unit ...

* AAW – Antiair Warfare * AB – Airbase * AB –

Airman Basic Airman basic (AB) is the lowest enlisted rank in the United States Air Force immediately below airman. The pay grade for airman basic is E-1. As opposed to all other USAF enlisted and officer ranks, airman basic has no rank insignia affiliated. ...

(USAF E-1) * ABCA – American, British, Canadian, Australian Armies Program * ABCS –

Army Battle Command System {{Short description, American digital military system The Army Battle Command System (ABCS) is a digital Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence ( C4I) system for the US Army. It includes a mix of fixed/semi-fixed and mobile net ...

* ABD – Airbase Defense * ABU – Airman Battle Uniform (U.S. Air Force) * ABV –

Assault Breacher Vehicle The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) is a U.S. military mine- and explosives-clearing vehicle, based on the M1 Abrams chassis, equipped with a mine plow and line charges. Its first large scale use by the US Marines was in the joint ISAF-Af ...

(U.S. Army) * ABFC – Advanced Base Functional Component * ACU –

Army Combat Uniform The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is the current combat uniform worn by the United States Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Space Force. Within U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, it is referred to as the OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern) Uniform ...

(U.S. Army) * ADOS – Active Duty, Operational Support * ADSW – Active Duty, Special Work * AE – Armed Forces Europe * AEW&C – Airborne Early Warning And Control * AFI – Awaiting Further Instruction/

Air Force Instruction An Air Force Instruction (AFI) is a documented instruction for members of the United States Air Force intended for use by active duty, guard, and reserve members and associated civilians. It is one of many forms of directives published by the Air F ...

(requirement guide) * AFMC – Armed Forces Medical College * AFOQT – Air Force Officer Qualifying Test * AFOSI –

United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations The Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is a U.S. federal law enforcement agency that reports directly to the Secretary of the Air Force. OSI is also a U.S. Air Force field operating agency under the administrative ...

* AFSC –

Air Force Specialty Code The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing fo ...

* AHA – Ammunition Holding Area * AIM – Airborne Intercept Missile (U.S. Military) * AIP - Assignment Incentive Pay * AIPD – Army Institute For Professional Development * AIS –

Automated Information System An automated information system (AIS) is an assembly of computer hardware, software, firmware, or any combination of these, configured to accomplish specific information-handling operations, such as communication, computation, dissemination, proc ...

* AIT –

Advanced Individual Training United States Army Basic Combat Training (BCT) is the recruit training program of the United States Army, for service in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. Some trainees attend basic combat training along with their ...

(U.S. Army) * Amn –

Airman An airman is a member of an air force or air arm of a nation's armed forces. In certain air forces, it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank. An airman can also be referred as a soldier in other definitions. In civilian aviation usage, t ...

(USAF E-2) * ALCON – All Concerned (U.S. Military) * AMU – Aircraft Maintenance Unit * AMXG – Aircraft Maintenance Group * AMXS – Aircraft Maintenance Squadron * ANG – Air National Guard (USAF) * AOC –

Air Operations Center An Air Operations Center (AOC) is a type of command center used by the United States Air Force (USAF). It is the senior agency of the Air Force component commander to provide command and control of air operations.Absent Over Leave (U.S. Navy) * AO –

Area Of Operations In U.S. armed forces parlance, an area of operations (AO) is an operational area defined by the force commander for land, air, and naval forces conduct of combat and non-combat activities. Areas of operations do not typically encompass the entire ...

* AOR – Area of responsibility * A&P – Administrative And Personnel * AP – Armed Forces Pacific * AP –

Armor-Piercing Armour-piercing ammunition (AP) is a type of projectile designed to penetrate either body armour or vehicle armour. From the 1860s to 1950s, a major application of armour-piercing projectiles was to defeat the thick armour carried on many wars ...

* APC –

Armored Personnel Carrier An armoured personnel carrier (APC) is a broad type of armoured military vehicle designed to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones. Since World War I, APCs have become a very common piece of military equipment around the world. Ac ...

* APFSDS –

Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), long dart penetrator, or simply dart ammunition, is a type of kinetic energy penetrator ammunition used to attack modern vehicle armour. As an armament for main battle tanks, it succeeds ...

* APFT –

Army Physical Fitness Test The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) was designed to test the muscular strength, endurance, and cardiovascular respiratory fitness of soldiers in the United States Army. Soldiers were scored based on their performance in three events consistin ...

(U.S. Army) * APFU – Army Physical Fitness Uniform (U.S. Army) * APO –

Army Post Office Military mail, as opposed to civilian mail, refers to the postal services provided by armed forces that allow serving members to send and receive mail. Military mail systems are often subsidized to ensure that military mail does not cost the sende ...

; See Also FPO * APPN – Appropriation Number (U.S. Military) * APRT – Army Physical Readiness Test (U.S. Army) * ARCENT/TUSA – US Army Central/HQ Third US Army (TUSA)US CENTCOM Command Structure *

ARPANET The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was the first wide-area packet-switched network with distributed control and one of the first networks to implement the TCP/IP protocol suite. Both technologies became the technical fou ...

–

Advanced Research Projects Agency Network The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was the first wide-area packet-switched network with distributed control and one of the first networks to implement the TCP/IP protocol suite. Both technologies became the technical foun ...

(e.g., 1969 to 1989; antecedent of the information superhighway; now

DARPA The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. Originally known as the Ad ...

) * ARM –

Anti-Radar Missile An anti-radiation missile (ARM) is a missile designed to detect and home in on an enemy radio emission source. Typically, these are designed for use against an enemy radar, although jammers and even radios used for communications can also be t ...

* ARM –

Anti-Radiation Missile An anti-radiation missile (ARM) is a missile designed to detect and home in on an enemy radio emission source. Typically, these are designed for use against an enemy radar, although jammers and even radios used for communications can also be ...

* ARMS – Automated Recruit Management System (U.S. Military) * ARMS – Aviation Resource Management System (USAF) * ARNG – Army National Guard (U.S. Army) * ARS – Air Refueling Store * ART – Alarm Response Team (USAF) *

ARVN The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN; ; french: Armée de la république du Viêt Nam) composed the ground forces of the South Vietnamese military from its inception in 1955 to the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. It is estimated to have suffe ...

– Army Of The Republic Of (South) Viet Nam (U.S. Military) * ASAP – Army Substance Abuse Program (U.S. Military) * ASAP – As Soon As Possible *

ASEAN ASEAN ( , ), officially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, militar ...

– Association Of South East Asian Nations * ASM – Air-to-Surface Missile * ASCM – Anti-Ship Cruise Missile *

ASROC The RUR-5 ASROC (for "Anti-Submarine Rocket") is an all-weather, all sea-conditions anti-submarine missile system. Developed by the United States Navy in the 1950s, it was deployed in the 1960s, updated in the 1990s, and eventually installed ...

– Anti-Submarine ROCket * ASV – Anti-Surface Vessel (airborne radar) * ASVAB –

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple choice test, administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. It is o ...

* 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 ...

* ATC –

Air Training Corps The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a British volunteer-military youth organisation. They are sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Air Force. The majority of staff are volunteers, and some are paid for full-time work – including C ...

* ATC –

Air Traffic Control Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airs ...

* ATFU – Ate The Fuck Up (not squared away) * ATO – Air Tasking Order * ATO – Antiterrorism Officer * ATRRS – Army Training Requirements And Resources System * AWACS –

Airborne Warning and Control System Airborne or Airborn may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis * ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film * ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...

* AWOL – Absent Without Leave

B

* BAH –

Basic Allowance for Housing Basic allowance for housing (BAH) is a United States military entitlement given to many military members. It was previously called Basic allowance for quarters (BAQ) and is administered by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO). How it works ...

* BAMCIS – Begin planning, Arrange recon, Make the plan, Complete the plan, Issue the order, Supervise (U.S. Marine Corps five paragraph order) * BAR – Browning Automatic Rifle * BAS - Basic Allowance for Subsistence * BAU – Behavioral Analysis Unit * BCD – Battlefield Coordination Detachment * BCD –

Bad Conduct Discharge A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve. Each country's military has different types of discharge. They are generally based on whether the persons completed their training and the ...

(aka Big Chicken Dinner) * BCG – Birth Control Glasses (U.S. military slang) * BCT – Basic Combat Training (U.S. Army) * BCT – Brigade Combat Team * BDA –

Bomb Damage Assessment Bomb damage assessment (BDA), also known as battle damage assessment, is the practice of assessing damage inflicted on a target from a Standoff missile, stand-off weapon, most typically a bomb or air launched missile. It is part of the larger disc ...

or Battle Damage Assessment * BDE –

Brigade A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division. B ...

(U.S. Army) * BDF –

Barbados Defence Force The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is the name given to the combined armed forces of Barbados. The BDF was established 15 August 1979, and has responsibility for the territorial defence and internal security of the island. The headquarters for the ...

(Barbados) * BDU –

Battle Dress Uniform The Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) is a camouflaged combat uniform that was used by the United States Armed Forces as their standard combat uniform from the early 1980s to the mid-2000s. Since then, it has been replaced or supplanted in every br ...

(U.S. military) * Be – Beriev (Russian) * BEA – Budget Execution Authority (U.S. Navy) * BEQ – Batchelor Enlisted Quarters (U.S. military) * BFT – Blue Force Tracker (U.S. military) * BG – Bodyguard * BGHR – By God He's Right (U.S. military) * BLUF – Bottom Line Up Front (U.S. military) * BMNT – Begin Morning Nautical Twilight (U.S. Army) * BMOW – Boatswain's Mate Of The Watch (U.S. Coast Guard) * BN –

Battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions a ...

(U.S. Army) * BOHICA – Bend Over Here It Comes Again (U.S. military slang) * BRAC –

Base Realignment And Closure Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is a process by a United States federal government commission to increase United States Department of Defense efficiency by coordinating the realignment and closure of military installations following the end ...

* BRAT (American) – Born Raised And Transferred (American usage, refers to dependent children of military personnel) Usually pronounced "Military Brat" (Or "Air Force BRAT", or Army "Brat", Navy "Brat" etc.). * BRAT (British) – British Regiment Attached Traveler (British military usage, may have been the original usage, which was later adapted to the American military: Means "child that travels with a soldier"), or "Born, Raised and Trapped". Usually pronounced "Military Brat" or "Base Brat". * BUB – Battle Update Brief * BVR –

Beyond Visual Range A beyond-visual-range missile (BVR) is an air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) that is capable of engaging at ranges of or beyond. This range has been achieved using dual pulse rocket motors or booster rocket motor and ramjet sustainer motor. In additio ...

(USAF) * BX –

Base Exchange An exchange is a type of retail store found on United States military installations worldwide. Originally akin to trading posts, they now resemble contemporary department stores or strip malls. Exact terminology varies by armed service; some examp ...

(USAF) * BZ – spoken "

Bravo Zulu The combination of the Bravo and Zulu nautical signal flags, i.e., Bravo Zulu, also referred to as "BZ," is a naval signal, typically conveyed by flaghoist or voice radio, meaning "Well Done" with regard to actions, operations or performance. In ...

", meaning "congratulations, job well done"

C

* C1 – Command * C2 –

Command And Control Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or en ...

* C3 – Command Control And Communication * C4ISTAR – Command, Control, Communication, Computers; Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, And Recognition * C6ISR – Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber-defense and Combat systems, and Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance * CAC –

Common Access Card The Common Access Card, also commonly referred to as the CAC is a smart card about the size of a credit card. It is the standard identification for Active Duty United States Defense personnel, to include the Selected Reserve and National Guard, ...

(U.S. DoD, pron. "cac") * CAG –

Commander, Air Group A carrier air wing (abbreviated CVW) is an operational naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft squadrons and detachments of various types of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Organized, equipped and trained to conduct mode ...

(U.S. Navy, pron. "cag") * CAG – Civil Affairs Group. Term used for military members assigned to assist civilian governments with restoring infrastructure (All U.S. branches, pron. "cag") * CAGE –

Commercial and Government Entity The Commercial and Government Entity Code, or CAGE Code, is a unique identifier assigned to suppliers to various government or defense agencies, as well as to government agencies themselves and various organizations. CAGE codes provide a standardi ...

CALL Call or Calls may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Games * Call, a type of betting in poker * Call, in the game of contract bridge, a bid, pass, double, or redouble in the bidding stage Music and dance * Call (band), from Lahore, Paki ...

– Center for Army Lessons Learned * CAP -

Combat Air Patrol Combat air patrol (CAP) is a type of flying mission for fighter aircraft. A combat air patrol is an aircraft patrol provided over an objective area, over the force protected, over the critical area of a combat zone, or over an air defense area, ...

* CAP - Civil Air Patrol * CAPT – Captain (U.S. Navy, USCG O-6) * Capt – Captain (USMC O-3) * CPT – Captain (U.S. Army, USAF O-3) * CAS – Close Air Support * CASEX – Coordinated Anti-Submarine EXercise * CASEVAC –

Casualty Evacuation Casualty evacuation, also known as CASEVAC or by the callsign Dustoff or colloquially Dust Off, is a military term for the emergency patient evacuation of casualties from a combat zone. Casevac can be done by both ground and air. "DUSTOFF" i ...

* CAT – Combat Application Tourniquets *

CBRN Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN defence) are protective measures taken in situations in which chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) hazards may be present. CBRN defence consi ...

– Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear * CBU – Cluster Bomb Unit * CCIP – Continually Calculated Impact Point (USAF/USMC Aviation) * CCIR – Commanders Critical Information Requirements * CCP – Casualty Collection Point * CCRP – Continually Calculated Release Point (USAF/USMC Aviation) * CDAT – Computerized Dumb Ass Tanker ( M1 Abrams Crewmen) * CDIAC –

Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) was an organization within the United States Department of Energy that had the primary responsibility for providing the US government and research community with global warming data and analysi ...

* CDRUSPACOM – Commander United States Pacific Command * CENTCOM – Central Command (U.S. Military) * CF – Cluster Fuck (always pronounced phonetically "Charlie Foxtrot") * CHU –

Containerized Housing Unit A containerized housing unit, usually abbreviated as CHU (and sometimes called containerized living unit or CLU) is an ISO shipping container pre-fabricated into a living quarters. Such containers can be transported by container ships, railroad ...

* Chief –

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 ...

* CIA –

Central Intelligence Agency The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, ...

* CIB –

Combat Infantry Badge The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a United States Army military decoration. The badge is awarded to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers in the rank of colonel and below, who fought in active ground combat while assigned as members of ei ...

* CIC – Command Intelligence Center (U.S. Navy) * CINCLANT – Commander-in-chief, Atlantic Forces (U.S. Navy before 2002) * CINCLANTFLT – Commander-in-chief, Atlantic Fleet (U.S. Navy before 2002) * CINCPAC – Commander-in-chief, Pacific Forces (U.S. Navy before 2002) * 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 ...

* CJOTUS – Chief Justice of the United States * CMB –

Combat Medical Badge The Combat Medical Badge is an award of the United States Army which was first created in January 1945. Any member of the Army Medical Department, at the rank of colonel or below, who is assigned or attached to a ground combat arms unit of brigad ...

* CMSgt – Chief Master Sergeant (USAF E-9; highest AF enlisted rank) * CMSAF –

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (acronym: CMSAF) is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Air Force. The holder of this rank and position of office represents the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force, ...

(USAF E-9 – Senior Enlisted Member) * CO – Commanding Officer * COA – Course of Action * 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 ...

(Chief Petty Officer in charge of the Boat usually a Master Chief (USN Submariner Terminology)) * CoB – Close of Business (End of the duty day) * COCOM – Combatant Commander * CODELS – Congressional Delegations * COL –

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

* COMINT –

Communications Intelligence Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is list of intelligence gathering disciplines, intelligence-gathering by interception of ''Signal, signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from ele ...

* COMPACFLT – Commander, Pacific Fleet (U.S. Navy) * COMSEC – Communication Security * CONUS –

Continental United States The contiguous United States (officially the conterminous United States) consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the Federal District of the United States of America. The term excludes the only two non-contiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii ...

(U.S. military, pron. "cone-us") * CONUSA – Continental

United States 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 ...

Army (numbered Armies of U.S. military) * CORDS – Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support (U.S. military,

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

era) * COP – Combat Out Post * CoS – Chief of Staff * COT – Commissioned Officer Training * CPL –

Corporal Corporal is a military rank in use in some form by many militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. The word is derived from the medieval Italian phrase ("head of a body"). The rank is usually the lowest ranking non- ...

(U.S. Army and Marine Corps E-4) * CPO –

Chief Petty Officer A chief petty officer (CPO) is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards. Canada "Chief petty officer" refers to two ranks in the Royal Canadian Navy. A chief petty officer 2nd class (CPO2) (''premier maître de deuxi ...

(USCG/USN E-7) * CPT – Captain (U.S. Army O-3) * CP – Check Point (Usually Numbered i.e. "CP1") * CPX – Command Post Exercise * CQB –

Close Quarters Battle Close-quarters combat (CQC) or close-quarters battle (CQB) is a tactical situation that involves a physical fight with firearms involved between multiple combatants at short range. It can occur between military units, police/corrections officer ...

* CRC – CONUS Replacement Center (a military processing center at Fort Benning,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, US) * CSM – Command Sergeant Major (U.S. Army E-9 highest Army enlisted rank)) * CSAR – Combat Search And Rescue * CT –

Counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or ...

Team * CTA – Common Table of Allowances * CTR – Close Target Reconnaissance * CUB – Commander Update Brief * CVN – Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier (NOTE: the V comes from the expression "heavier than air flying machine") * CWO –

* CZN – Nuclear-powered

Airship An airship or dirigible balloon is a type of aerostat or lighter-than-air aircraft that can navigate through the air under its own power. Aerostats gain their lift from a lifting gas that is less dense than the surrounding air. In early ...

Carrier (NOTE: the Z comes from the use of the word

Zeppelin A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin () who pioneered rigid airship development at the beginning of the 20th century. Zeppelin's notions were first formulated in 1874Eckener 1938, pp ...

although non-Zeppelin airships would also be transported on a CZN)

D

* DA – Defence Attaché * DAC – Department of the Army Civilian * DAGO – Department of the Army General Officer * DAGR –

Defense Advanced GPS Receiver The AN/PSN-13 Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR; colloquially, "dagger") is a handheld GPS receiver used by the United States Department of Defense and select foreign military services. It is a military-grade, dual-frequency receiver, and has t ...

– Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (U.S. Military) * DASA – Division Artillery Security Area * DAT – Dumb Ass Tanker * DC3 – Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center * DCAA –

Defense Contract Audit Agency The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense under the direction of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). It was established in 1965 to perform all contract audits for the Department of ...

* DCMA –

Defense Contract Management Agency The Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) is an agency of the United States federal government reporting to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. It is responsible for administering contracts for the Department of ...

* DD-214 – Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty * DEROS – Date Estimated Return From Overseas *

DEVGRU 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 ...

– United States Naval Special Warfare DEVelopment GRoUp * DFAC – Dining Facility (U.S. Military) * DFAS –

Defense Finance and Accounting Service The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. DFAS was established in 1991 under the authority, direction, and control of the Under Secret ...

(U.S. Military) * DIA –

Defense Intelligence Agency The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an intelligence agency and combat support agency of the United States Department of Defense, specializing in defense and military intelligence. A component of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the ...

* DIFM - Due In From Maintenance * DINFAC – Dining Facility (U.S. Military) * DISA –

Defense Information Systems Agency The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), known as the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) until 1991, is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) combat support agency composed of military, federal civilians, and contractors. DISA pro ...

* DLA –

Defense Logistics Agency The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is a combat support agency in the United States Department of Defense (DoD), with more than 26,000 civilian and military personnel throughout the world. Located in 48 states and 28 countries, DLA provides su ...

* DLB – Dead Letter Box * DMDC –

Defense Manpower Data Center The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) serves under the Office of the Secretary of Defense to collate personnel, manpower, training, financial, and other data for the Department of Defense. This data catalogues the history of personnel in the mili ...

* DME – Depot Maintenance Enterprise (U.S. Military) * DMEA – Defense Microelectronics Activity * DMS –

Defense Message System The Defense Message System or Defense Messaging System (DMS) is a deployment of secure electronic mail and directory services in the United States Department of Defense. DMS was intended to replace the AUTODIN network, and is based on implementati ...

(U.S. Military) * DMZ –

Demilitarized Zone A demilitarized zone (DMZ or DZ) is an area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel. A DZ often lies along an established frontier or bounda ...

* DOA –

Dead on Arrival Dead on Scene ('' 'DOS' '') Found dead before first responders get on scene and no medical treatment was given. Dead on arrival (DOA), also dead in the field and brought in dead (BID), are terms which indicate that a patient was found to be ...

* DoDAAC – Department of Defense Activity Address Code (U.S. Military) * DoDAF –

Department of Defense Architecture Framework The Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) is an architecture framework for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) that provides visualization infrastructure for specific stakeholders concerns through viewpoints organized b ...

(U.S. Military) * DoDIC – Department of Defense Identification Code (U.S. Military) * DOEHRS – Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System (U.S. Military) * DOP – Drop-Off Point * DPMs – Disruptive Pattern M * DRT – Dead Right There; wounded in such a way as to indicate immediate and/or unavoidable death; often used as a sarcastic form of the civilian acronym DOA (Dead On Arrival) * DTO – Daily Tasking Order * DTRA –

Defense Threat Reduction agency The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense (DoD) for countering weapons of mass destruction (WMD; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high explosives). Ac ...

* DZ –

Drop Zone A drop zone (DZ) is a place where parachutists or parachuted supplies land. It can be an area targeted for landing by paratroopers, or a base from which recreational parachutists and skydivers take off in aircraft and land under parachutes. In ...

E

* E&E – Escape and Evade * EA – Electronic Attack * ECP – Entry Control Point * EDCSA – Effective Date of Change of Strength Accountability (obsolete for U. S. Army) * EFP -

Explosively Formed Penetrator An explosively formed penetrator (EFP), also known as an explosively formed projectile (EFP), a self-forging warhead, or a self-forging fragment, is the product of a shaped charge designed to penetrate armor effectively. As the name suggests, the ...

* EHRS – Electronic Health Records (Software) * EI – Engineering and Installation * EIS – Engineering and Installation Squadron, Environmental Impact Statement * EIB –

Expert Infantry Badge The Expert Infantryman Badge, or EIB, is a special skills badge of the United States Army. The EIB was created with the CIB by executive order in November 1943 during World War II. Currently, it is awarded to U.S. Army personnel who hold infan ...

* EI SIT – Engineering and Installation Site Implementation Team * EKIA – Enemy Killed in Action *

ELINT Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is intelligence-gathering by interception of '' signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from electronic signals not directly used in communication ...

– Electronic Intelligence * EMI – Extra Military Instruction * ENS –

Ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

(U.S. Navy junior officer rank, O-1) * EOD –

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bomb disposal is an explosives engineering profession using the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. ''Bomb disposal'' is an all-encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the milit ...

* EOS – End of Service * EP – Electronic Protection * EPR − Enlisted Performance Report * EPW – Enemy Prisoner of War * ERV – Emergency Rendezvous * ESSENCE – Electronic Surveillance System for Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (U.S. Military) * ETA –

Estimated time of arrival The estimated time of arrival (ETA) is the time when a ship, vehicle, aircraft, cargo, emergency service, or person is expected to arrive at a certain place. Overview One of the more common uses of the phrase is in public transportation where the ...

* ETS – Expiration Term of Service * EUCOM – European Command (U.S. Military) * 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 ...

(comprises EA, EP) *

Exfil In military tactics, extraction (also exfiltration or exfil) is the process of removing personnel when it is considered imperative that they be immediately relocated out of a hostile environment and taken to an area either occupied or controlle ...

– Exfiltration (Opposite of infiltration; exiting undetected)

F

* FA – Field Artillery * FAK –

First Aid Kit A first aid kit or medical kit is a collection of supplies and equipment used to give immediate medical treatment, primarily to treat injuries and other mild or moderate medical conditions. There is a wide variation in the contents of first aid ...

* FAR –

Federal Acquisition Regulation The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the principal set of rules regarding Government procurement in the United States,. and is codified at Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations, . It covers many of the contracts issued b ...

FBCB2 Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) is a Linux-based communication platform designed for commanders to track friendly and hostile forces on the battlefield. It increases a vehicle commander's situational awareness of the battlef ...

– Force XXI Battlefield Command Brigade and Below * FBI –

Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...

* FEBA –

Forward Edge of the Battle Area A front line (alternatively front-line or frontline) in military terminology is the position(s) closest to the area of conflict of an armed force's personnel and equipment, usually referring to land forces. When a front (an intentional or unint ...

* FFE – Fire for effect * FIDO – Fire Direction Officer * FIGMO – Fuck It, Got My Orders * FIST – Fire Support Team * FISTer – Member of a Fire Support Team * FIST-V – Fire Support Team Vehicle * FISINT –

Foreign Instrumentation Signals Intelligence Foreign instrumentation signals intelligence, FISINT (''F''oreign ''I''nstrumentation ''S''ignature ''INT''elligence) is intelligence from the interception of foreign electromagnetic emissions associated with the testing and operational deployment o ...

* FISHDO – Fuck It, Shit Happens, Drive On * FitRep –

Fitness Report {{unreferenced, date=November 2011 A Fitness Report (FITREP) is an evaluation form used by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. Navy officers are given Fitness Reports, while Navy chief petty officers (E-7 to E-9) are given "Chi ...

* FLOT – Forward Line of Troops * FLOTUS – First Lady of the United States (U.S. – see

POTUS The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

) * FM – Field Marshal; more commonly "

Field Manual ''Field Manual'' is the debut solo album by Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla, released on January 29, 2008 on Barsuk Records. This is Walla's first album under his own name. It was previously speculated that Walla may use a moniker, mo ...

" * FMC – Fully Mission Capable * FMTV – Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (U.S. Army) * FNG – Fucking New Guy * FO –

Forward Observer An artillery observer, artillery spotter or forward observer (FO) is responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire onto a target. It may be a ''forward air controller'' (FAC) for close air support (CAS) and spotter for naval gunfire sup ...

* FO – Foxtrot Oscar (i.e. Fuck Off) (US/UK Forces) * FOB –

Forward Operating Base A forward operating base (FOB) is any secured forward operational level military position, commonly a military base, that is used to support strategic goals and tactical objectives. A FOB may or may not contain an airfield, hospital, machine ...

* FOD – Foreign Object Damage (U.S.) * FOD – Foreign Object Debris (U.S.) * FOI – Field of Imaging * FPO –

Fleet Post Office Military mail, as opposed to civilian mail, refers to the postal services provided by armed forces that allow serving members to send and receive mail. Military mail systems are often subsidized to ensure that military mail does not cost the sen ...

; See also APO * FRACU – Flame-Resistant Army Combat Uniform (U.S. Army) * FSA – Force Structure Allowance * FSTE – Foreign Service Tour Extension * FTG – Fleet Training Group (U.S. Navy) or Fuck The Guard (U.S. Coast Guard) * FTUS – Full Time Unit Specialist * – Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition or Fucked Up Beyond All Repair * FYSA – For Your Situational Awareness * FYI – For Your Information

G

* G1 – General Staff Level office for Personnel and Manpower (Division and Above) * G2 – General Staff Level office for Military Intelligence (Division and Above) * G3 – General Staff Level office for Operations and Plans (Division and Above) * G4 – General Staff Level office for Logistics (Division and Above) * G5 – General Staff Level office for Military/Civil Affairs (Division and Above) * G6 – General Staff Level office for Signal and Communication (Division and Above) * G7 – General Staff Level office for Training and Exercises (Division and Above) * G8 – General Staff Level office for Force Development and Analysis (Division and Above) * G9 – General Staff Level office for Civil Operations (Division and Above) * GBU – Guided Bomb Unit * GEN –

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED ...

* GI – Government Issue * GIG –

Global Information Grid The Global Information Grid (GIG) is a network of information transmission and processing maintained by the United States Department of Defense. More descriptively, it is a worldwide network of information transmission, of associated processes, a ...

* GIGO – Garbage In Garbage Out * GM – Gone Mersault * GO – General Officer * GOCO – Government owned, contractor operated * GPMG –

General Purpose Machine Gun A general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) is an air-cooled, usually belt-fed machine gun that can be adapted flexibly to various tactical roles for light and medium machine guns. A GPMG typically features a quick-change barrel design calibered f ...

* GPS –

Global Positioning System The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of the global navigation satellite sy ...

* GS – General Schedule

H

* HAAMS – High Altitude Airdrop Missions * HAHO – High Altitude High Opening * HALO – High Altitude Low Opening ( Airborne) * HAU – * HBL – Holiday Block Leave (U.S. Army) * HE – High Explosive * HEAT –

High-Explosive Anti-Tank High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) is the effect of a shaped charge explosive that uses the Munroe effect to penetrate heavy armor. The warhead functions by having an explosive charge collapse a metal liner inside the warhead into a high-velocity ...

* HEP – High Explosive, Plastic (U.S. usage for HESH) * HESH –

High-explosive squash head High explosive squash head (HESH) in British terminology, or high explosive plastic/plasticized (HEP) in American terminology, is a type of explosive projectile which uses a plastic explosive that conforms to the surface of a target before deton ...

(British anti-tank and anti-fortification round) * HIMARS –

High Mobility Artillery Rocket System The M142 HIMARS (M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a light multiple rocket launcher developed in the late 1990s for the United States Army and mounted on a standard United States Army Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) truc ...

* HMAS – Her Majesty's Australian Ship ( Australia) * HMCS – Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

) * HMFIC – Head Motherfucker In Charge – colloquialism for the highest-ranking person present; more commonly used by NCO's than by officers (

United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is ...

) * HMMWV –

High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the ori ...

(U.S. Military) (Pronounced Humvee) * HMNZS – Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship (

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

) * HMS – ''Hans Majestäts Skepp'' (His Majesty's ship, Sweden) * HMS – Her Majesty's Ship (Royal Navies such as British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

) (His Majesty's Ship if King) * Hr.Ms – His/Her Dutch Majesty's Ship (Dutch Royal Navy ship) * HOMSEC – Homeland Security * HRAP – Hometown Recruiter Assistance Program * HQ – Headquarters * HHB – Headquarters and Headquarters

Battery Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

(artillery units) * HHC –

Headquarters and Headquarters Company In United States Army units, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) is a company-sized military unit, found at the battalion level and higher. Considered one unit, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company is essentially two elements within ...

* HHT – Headquarters and Headquarters

Troop A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Tr ...

(cavalry units) * HUMINT – Human intelligence (intelligence gathering), Human Intelligence (intelligence gathering) * HVI – High-value target, High Value Individual * HVT – High-value target, High Value Target * HYT – High Year Tenure

I

* IAF – Indian Air Force * IAF – Israeli Air Force * IAVA – Information assurance vulnerability alert, Information Assurance Vulnerability Alert (U.S. Military) * ICBM – Intercontinental ballistic missile * ICE – Individual Carrying Equipment, e.g. All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment * ID – IDentification * IED – Improvised explosive device * IFAK – Individual First aid kit * IFF – Identification Friend or Foe * IFF – Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals (USAF) * IG – Office of Inspector General (United States), Inspector General (U.S. Military) * IFV – Infantry Fighting Vehicle * Il – Ilyushin, Russian aircraft company * IN – Infantry * INSCOM – United States Army Intelligence and Security Command * Interpol – International Criminal Police Organization * IOC – Initial Operational Capability * ISO – Inter School Course * ISR – Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance * IYAAYAS – "If You Ain't Munitions Systems Specialist (U.S. Air Force), AMMO, You Ain't Shit"

J

* JA – Judge-advocate, Judge Advocate [General] * JAFO – Just Another Fucking Observer * JAG – Judge Advocate General * JDAM – Joint Direct Attack Munition * JSF – Joint Strike Fighter program * JATO – Jet-assisted Take Off * JETDS – Joint Electronics Type Designation System * JNN – Joint Network Node (U.S. Army) * JSAM – Joint Service Achievement Medal * JSTARS – Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System * JSOC – Joint Special Operations Command * JTF – Joint task force, Joint Task Force * JTAC - Joint terminal attack controller, Joint Terminal Attack Controller * JEEP – "Just Enough Essential Parts"

K

* KATUSA – Korean Augmentation To the United States Army, Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (also known by lower ranking U.S. soldiers as "Koreans Aggravating The U.S. Army") * KIA – Killed in action, Killed In Action * KFOR – Kosovo Force * KISS – KISS principle, Keep It Simple, Stupid * KO – Contracting Officer, Navy * KP – KP duty, Kitchen Police or Kitchen Patrol * KBO – Keep Buggering On

L

* Low Altitude Air Defense, LAAD – Low Altitude Air Defense * Low Altitude Assault Transport, LAAT – Low Altitude Assault Transport * LAV-25, LAV – Light Armored Vehicle * LCDR – Lieutenant commander (United States), Lieutenant Commander (U.S. Navy) * LCpl – Lance corporal, Lance Corporal (U.S. Marines) * LES – Leave and Earnings Statement *LIC – Low-intensity conflict, Low Intensity Conflict * LP – Listening station, Listening Post * Listening Post / Observation Post, LP/OP – Listening Post Observation Post * Leather Personnel Carrier, LPC – Leather Personnel Carrier (boot) * Little Group Of Paratroopers, LGOP – Little Group Of Paratroopers * LMTV – Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (U.S. Army) * LPO – Lead petty officer, Leading Petty Officer (U.S. Navy) * LT – Lieutenant * LTC or Lt Col or LtCol– Lieutenant colonel (United States), Lieutenant Colonel (U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force) * LTG or Lt Gen or LtGen – Lieutenant general (United States), Lieutenant General (U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force) * LTJG – Lieutenant (junior grade), Lieutenant, Junior Grade (U.S. Navy) * LRIP – Low rate initial production, Low-Rate Initial Production * LUP – Lying-Up Point * LZ – Landing zone, Landing Zone

M

* MACV/SOG – Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group, Military Assistance Command Vietnam / Studies and Observation Group * MAJ – Major * MARCORSYSCOM – Marine Corps Systems Command, MARine CORps SYStems COMmand (U.S. Military) * MARCENT United States Marine Forces Central Command, Marine Corps Central Command * MARFORRES – United States Marine Corps Reserve, MARine FORces REServe (U.S. Marine Corps) * MARSOC – United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command * MAV – Micro Air Vehicle * MAW – Maximum Allowable Weight * MBT – Main battle tank * MC 326/2 – ″NATO Medical Support Principles and Policies″, approved by Military Committee, second revision. * MCCS – Marine Corps Community Services (also known by the humorous backronym "Marine Corps Crime Syndicate") * MCEN – Marine Corps Enterprise Network (U.S. Military) * MCEITS – Marine Corps Enterprise Information Technology Service (U.S. Military) * MCPO – Master Chief Petty Officer (USCG/USN E-9) * MCPOCG – Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (U.S. Coast Guard E-9 – Senior Enlisted Member) * MedEvac – Medical evacuation * MFA – Ministry of Foreign Affairs * MG – Machine gun * MG – Major general (United States), Major general * MI – Military intelligence, Military Intelligence * Mi – Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant (Russian) * MIA – Missing in action * MICAP – Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts * MICV – Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle ( an Infantry fighting vehicle) * MiG – Mikoyan-Gurevich (Russian) * MILCON – Military Construction * MK – Mark (designation), Mark * MK – Machinery Technician (U.S. Coast Guard rating) * MLRS – Multiple rocket launcher, Multiple Launch Rocket System * MMFD – Miles and Miles of F...ing Desert (unofficial report in Gulf War) * MOA – Military Operating Area (USAF Airspace) * MOAB – GBU-43/B MOAB, Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, also known as "Mother Of All Bombs". * MOAC – Mother of All Coffee (Green Bean Coffee) * MOB – Main operating base, Main Operating Base * MOBCOM – MOBile COMmand * MOPP – Mission Oriented Protective Posture * MOS – United States military occupation code, Military Occupation Specialty * MOUT – Urban warfare, Military Operations in Urban Terrain * MPDS – Military Planning Data Allowance * MRAP – Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected * MRE – Meal, Ready-to-Eat (U.S. Military) * Mission Rehearsal Exercise, MRX – Mission Rehearsal Exercise * MSG – Master Sergeant (US Army E-8) * MSgt – Master Sergeant (USAF E-7) * MSO – Marine Safety Office (U.S. Coast Guard) * MTOE – Modified Table of organization and equipment, Table Of Organizational Equipment * MTS+ – Movement Tracking System Plus * MTV – Medium Tactical Vehicle (U.S. Army) * MSDC+ – Marine Science Diving Club (Diving Club Of Hasanudin University) * MSR – Main supply route, Main Supply Route * MSR – Main supply route, Major Supply Route * MWR – Morale Welfare Recreation

N

* NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement * NAS – Naval air station, Naval Air Station * NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization * NCIS – Naval Criminal Investigative Service (U.S. Navy) * NAVAIR – Naval Air Systems Command * NAVCENT – United States Naval Forces Central Command, Naval Forces Central Command (U.S. Navy) * NAVOCEANO – Naval Oceanographic Office * NBACC – National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center * NCI – National Cancer Institute * NCO – Non-commissioned officer, Non-Commissioned Officer * NCOIC – Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge * NCOES – Non-Commissioned Officer Education System * ND – Unintentional discharge, Negligent Discharge * NDP – Night Defensive Position * NEFF – New Equipment Fielding Facility * NIBC National Interagency Biodefense Campus * NICBR – National Interagency Confederation for Biological Research * NLT – No Later Than * NMC – Not Mission Capable * NME – Non-Mission Essential * NMCI – Naval Marine Corps Intranet (U.S. Navy) * NNMSA – Non-Nuclear Munitions Storage Area * NOC – Non-official cover, Non Official Cover * NORAD – North American Aerospace Defense Command * NPDES – Clean Water Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System * NS – Network Services * NSA – National Security Agency * NSW – United States Naval Special Warfare Command, Naval Special Warfare * NSWDG – SEAL Team Six, Naval Special Warfare Development Group * NUB – Non-Useful Body / Nuclear Unqualified Bitch (U.S. Nuclear Navy)

O

* OBE – Overcome/Overrun By Events * OCONUS – Outside

* Operational Camouflage Pattern, OCP – Operational Camouflage Pattern (U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force) * OCS – Officer candidate school, Officer Candidate School * ODA – Operational Detachment-Alpha (the standard 12-man team composed of U.S. Army Special Forces operators) * ODU – Operational Dress Uniform (U.S. Coast Guard) * Duty officer, OIC – Officer in Charge * OIG – Office of Inspector General (United States), Office of Inspector General * OM – On the Move (Normally just spelled out Oscar Mike) * O&M, MC – Operations & Maintenance, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps (United States Navy, U.S. Navy) * O&M, N – Operations & Maintenance, Navy (U.S. Navy) * OODA loop, OODA – Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act * OP – Observation post, Observation Post * OPFOR – Opposing force, Opposing Force or Opposition Force * OPR – Officer Performance Report * OPT – Operational Planning Team * ORM – Operational risk management, Operational Risk Management * Oscar – Man overboard * OSM – Oh Shit Moment (U.S. Marine Corps) * OSP – On Site Procurement * OSP – Orbital Services Program * OPORD – Operations order, Operations Order * OPSEC – Operations security, Operations Security * OTF – Out There Flapping (Airborne) * OTS – Air Force Officer Training School, Officer Training School * OTV – Outer Tactical Vest

P

* PACOM – United States Indo-Pacific Command, Pacific Command * Pacific Air Forces, PACAF – Pacific Air Forces * PAQ – PALACE Acquire * PCS – Permanent change of station, Permanent Change of Station * PDS – Permanent Duty Station (U.S. Military) * PDT – Pre-Deployment Training * PE – Plastic explosive, Plastic Explosive * PFC – Private first class, Private First Class (U.S. Military) * PFM – Pure Fuckin Magic (U.S. Military) * PFT – Physical Fitness Test * PII – Personally Identifiable Information or Personal Identity Information * PL – Platoon leader, Platoon Leader (U.S. Army) * PLL – Prescribed Load List (U.S. Army) * PLT – Platoon (U.S. Army) * PMC – Partially Mission Capable * PME – Professional Military Education * PMS – Planned Maintenance Schedule (U.S. Navy) * PNG – Passive Night Goggles * PO – Post office, Post Office * PO1 – Petty officer first class, Petty Officer 1st Class (USCG/USN E-6) * PO2 – Petty officer, 2nd class, Petty Officer 2nd Class (USCG/USN E-5) * PO3 – Petty officer third class, Petty Officer 3rd Class (USCG/USN E-4) * User error, POBCAK – Problem Occurs Between Chair And Keyboard * POL – Petroleum Oil & Lubricants (U.S. Air Force) * POC – Point of contact, Point Of Contact * POTUS – President of the United States * Pogue, POG – Person Other than Grunt (All non-combat arms job fields i.e. any United States military occupation code, MOS or CMF other than infantry, cavalry, armor, and artillery; among infantrymen, refers to anyone other than infantry or Special Forces) * Prisoner of war, POW – Prisoner of war, Prisoner Of War * POV – Privately Owned Vehicle * PPG – PT Parade Games * PPPPPPP, (the Seven P's) – Proper Prior Planning Prevents Pitifully (colloquially "Piss") Poor Performance * PRP – Personnel Reliability Program * PRP – Pretty Retarded Program * PRT – Provincial Reconstruction Team * PRT – Physical Readiness Training (U.S. Army) * PT – Physical fitness, Physical Training * PTB – The powers that be, Powers That Be * PV2 – Private (rank), Private 2nd class (U.S. Army E-2) * PVT – Private (rank), Private (U.S. Army and Marine Corps E-1) * PX – Post exchange, Post Exchange (U.S. Army)

R

* RAAF – Royal Australian Air Force * RAF – Royal Air Force (UK) * RAN – Royal Australian Navy * RATELO – Radiotelephone Operator * RATO – JATO, Rocket Assisted Take Off * RCSC – Royal Canadian Sea Cadets (Canada) * Pogue, REMF – Rear Echelon Mother Fucker * Pogue, RFL – Response Force Leader * RMC – Royal Military College of Canada * RN –

(UK) * ROE – Rules of engagement, Rules Of Engagement * ROMA Data, Right Out of My Ass Data. Unverifiable created data (different from SWAG) * ROWPU – Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit * RNZAF – Royal New Zealand Air Force * ROZ – Restricted Operating Zone * RP – Rendezvous point * RPG – Rocket-propelled grenade * RPM – Rounds per minute (Rate of fire) * RS – RatShit (Australia – related to #U, U.S. – Unserviceable) * RSS – Regional Security System (Caribbean) * RTB – Return To Base * RV – wikt:rendezvous, rendezvous * RTO – Radiotelephone Operator

S

* SA – Seaman apprentice, Seaman Apprentice (USCG/USN E-2) * SA – Situation awareness, Situation Awareness * SAAS – Standard Army Ammunition System (U.S. Army) * SAM – Surface-to-air missile, Surface-to-Air Missile * SAR – Search and rescue, Search and Rescue (U.S. Coast Guard) * SARS – Search and Rescue Swimmer * SARSS – Standard Army Retail Supply System (U.S. Army) * SAS – Special Air Service (British special forces) * SBS – Special Boat Service (British special forces) * SCIF – Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility * SCO – Squadron Commander (Squadron as used in the U.S. Army Regimental System) * SCOTUS – Supreme Court of the United States * SCPO – Senior chief petty officer, Senior Chief Petty Officer (USCG/USN E-8) * SD – "Status Destroyed" or "Salty Dog". (Equipment that is written off as unrepairable and unsalvageable. ) * SDD – Solution Delivery Division (Military Health) * SEAC – Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff * SFAS – Special Forces Assessment and Selection, Special Forces Assessment Selection * United States Navy SEALs, SEAL – United States Navy SEALs, Sea, Air and Land (U.S. Navy SEALs) * SERE – Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape * SFC – Sergeant First Class (U.S. Army E-7) *SFOD-A – United States Army Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha – U.S. Special Forces team (see ODA) *SFOD-B – Special Forces Operational Detachment Bravo – U.S. Special Forces support group *SFOD-C – Special Forces Operational Detachment Charlie – U.S. Special Forces command group *Delta Force, SFOD-D – Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (U.S. Army counter-terrorism unit) * SGM – Sergeant major, Sergeant Major (U.S. Army E-9 – Sometimes referred to as Staff Sergeant Major) * SGT – Sergeant (U.S. Army E-5) (U.S. Marines uses Sgt) * SHORAD – Short range air defense, Short Range Air Defense * SITREP – Situation report, Situation Report * SJA – Staff judge advocate, Staff Judge Advocate * SLAM – Standoff Land Attack Missile * SLBM – Submarine-launched ballistic missile * SLOTUS – Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States, Second Lady of the United States * SMA – Sergeant Major of the Army (U.S. Army E-9 – Senior Enlisted Member) * SMEAC – Situation Mission Execution Admin/logistics Command/signal (U.S. Marine Corps basic knowledge) * SMSgt – Senior master sergeant, Senior Master Sergeant (USAF E-8) * SN – Seaman (rank), Seaman (USCG/USN E-3) * SNAFU – Situation Normal: All Fucked/Fouled Up * SOCCENT – Special Operations Command Central * SOCOM – United States Special Operations Command * SOFA – Status of forces agreement, Status of Forces Agreement * SOL – Shit Out of Luck (U.S. Army) * SOLJWF – Shit Out of Luck and Jolly Well Fucked (U.S. Marines) * SOP – Standard operating procedure, Standard Operating Procedures * SOS – Shit On a Shingle, or creamed chipped beef on toast. * SPC – Specialist (rank), Specialist (U.S. Army E-4) * SPORTS – Slap, Pull, Observe, Release, Tap, Shoot. * SR – Seaman recruit, Seaman Recruit (USCG/USN E-1) * SrA – Senior airman, Senior Airman (USAF E-4) * SRBM – Short-range ballistic missile, Short Range Ballistic Missile * SRR – Special Reconnaissance Regiment (British special Forces) * SSBN – Nuclear-Powered Ballistic missile submarine * SSDD – Same Shit Different Day * SSDDBS – Same Shit Different Day Bigger Shovel * SSG – Staff sergeant, Staff Sergeant (U.S. Army E-6) * SSGN – Nuclear-Powered Cruise missile submarine * SSgt – Staff sergeant, Staff Sergeant (U.S. Air Force E-5) (U.S. Marines E-6) * SSN (hull classification symbol), SSN – Nuclear-powered attack submarine * STOVL – STOVL, Short Takeoff, Vertical Landing * SUSFU – Situation Unchanged, Still Fucked Up * SWAG – Scientific Wild Ass Guess * SWAK – Sealed With A Kiss

T

* TACP – Tactical Air Control Party (USAF) * TAD – Temporary Additional Duty (U.S. Military) * TAO – Tactical Action Officer (U.S. Military) * TBD – To Be Determined * TC3 – Tactical Combat Casualty Care * TCCC – Tactical Combat Casualty Care * TDPFO – Temporary Duty Pending Further Orders (U.S. Military) * TDY – Temporary duty assignment, Temporary Duty (U.S. Military) * TEL – Transporter erector launcher, Transporter Erector Launcher * TF – Task force, Task Force * TFOA – Things Falling Off Aircraft * TG6 – Task Group 6 (group designation for NZ SAS – NZ Army) * TOC – Tactical operations center, Tactical Operations Center * TIC – Troops In Contact * TSgt – Technical sergeant, Technical Sergeant (USAF E-6) * TU – Tits Up (dead, inoperable), a.k.a. "NATO phonetic alphabet, Tango Uniform" * TARFU – Things Are Really Fucked Up, or Totally And Royally Fucked Up * TRADOC- United States Army Training and Doctrine Command, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

U

* UA – Desertion, Unauthorized Absence * UA - Urinalysis * UAS – Unmanned Aerial System * UAV – Unmanned aerial vehicle, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle * UCP – Universal Camouflage Pattern (U.S. Army) * UCAV – Unmanned combat aerial vehicle, Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle * ULLS – Unit Level Logisitics System (U.S. Army) * UMA – Unit Mobilization Assistor * UN – United Nations * US – Unserviceable * United States Ship, USS – United States Ship * USSS – United States Secret Service * USAF – United States Air Force * USAFA – the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado * USAFE – United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, United States Air Forces in Europe * USAMRICD – United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense * USAMRIID – United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease * USAMRMC – United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, United States Army Medical Research and Materiél Command * USAMRAA – United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity * USA PATRIOT Act – Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act * USAREC – United States Army Recruiting Command, US Army REcruiting Command * Seventh United States Army, USAREUR – U.S. Army European Command * USASOC – United States Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Special Operations Command * USFK - United States Forces Korea * USCG – United States Coast Guard * USCGC – United States Coast Guard Cutter * USMA – United States Military Academy (U.S. Army) at West Point, New York * USMC – United States Marine Corps * USN – United States Navy * USNA – United States Naval Academy (U.S. Navy) at Annapolis, Maryland * USO – United Service Organizations (U.S. Military) * USR – Unit Status Report * UUV – Unmanned underwater vehicle, Unmanned Underwater Vehicle * UXB – Unexploded bomb, Unexploded Bomb (bomb disposal; British) * UXO – Unexploded ordnance, Unexploded Ordnance

V

* VBIED – Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device, Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device * VDM – Visual Distinguishing Mark * VFD – Volunteer Fire Department * VFR – Volunteer Fire and Rescue (or in Aviation Visual Flight Rules) * VPOTUS – Vice President of the United States

W

* WIA – Wounded in action, Wounded In Action * Warrant Officer (United States), WO1 – Warrant officer (United States), Warrant Officer 1 * WSA – Weapons Storage Area * WMD – Weapon of mass destruction, Weapons of Mass Destruction * WILCO – Will Comply * WCS – Worst-case scenario, Worst Case Scenario * WORM – War operating ready material

X

* XO – Executive officer, Executive Officer

Y

* Wild Weasel, YGBSM – You Gotta Be Shitting Me

References

External links

AcronymFinder – Military and Government

Abbreviation.com – Military Abbreviations

All Acronyms – Military Acronyms

{{DEFAULTSORT:Government and military acronyms Lists of acronyms, U.S. Government Government-related lists United States military-related lists Lists of United States abbreviations, Acronyms Military terminology of the United States Lists of government and military acronyms, United States