Military Definitions, Terms, and Acronyms
Updated: Apr 29
Definition of Terms & Acronyms
Military slang is compiled of an array of colloquial terminology used commonly by military personnel, including slang that is usually unique to the armed forces. It often takes on the form of abbreviations (acronyms) that incorporates various aspects of formal military missions, structure, terms and concepts. Military slang is often utilized to reinforce or convey the friendly and humorous rivalries developed with the service.
The military is a very distinct community that has a language that is unique and different from that of its civilian counterparts. It utilizes many other terms and acronyms that are sometimes foreign to many people. Here is some explanation of some of those terms that you may encounter throughout the website:
Definition of Terms
· Advanced Individual Training. (AIT or “A School”). The hands-on career training and field instruction that each service member receives before being qualified to do a specific military job. This specialized schooling varies by military branch.
· Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). The primary retailer that operates post exchanges on Army and Air Force installations.
· American Disabilities Act (ADA) (2010). Refers to the phrase, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This term is concerning an individual that has a physical or mental disability that substantially limits at least one, if not more, major life activities.
· Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). A multiple-choice test for prospective recruits to see if they are qualified to join and which military jobs they are qualified for before enlisting.
· Basic Housing Allowance (BAH). Monetary compensation service members receive to cover the cost of housing when government quarters are not provided.
· Blended Retirement System (BRS). The military’s newest retirement system, which extends benefits to the majority of service members. This system uses the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
· Commanding Officer (CO). The appointed officer in charge of a military unit, like a Lt. Colonel for a Battalion (Army) and squadron commander of a squadron (Air Force).
· CONUS/OCONUS: The continental United States, or CONUS, is the 48 connected states. OCONUS is outside the continental United States.
· Coping. Refers to coping is a mechanism that is developed to deal with stress at an individual level. As shown by Marini (2014), dyadic coping and family systems theory share the core assumption that individuals who are in close relationships have interrelated emotions, behaviors, and experiences; this phenomenon is often referred to as interdependence (p. 5). Interdependence can loosely be defined as the notion that family members exert a mutual influence on one another.
· Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). Monetary compensation service members receive to offset the cost of living in more expensive areas of the U.S.
· Counter Insurgency (COIN). Refers to a term created during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) where the U.S. military engaged in comprehensive military efforts to defeat an insurgency organized to create subversion and violence or to nullify or challenge political control of Iraq (Department of the Army, 2009).
· Department of Defense (DoD). The primary department of the United States government that is responsible for all military operations.
· Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). A primary database of military families to receive TRICARE and other military entitlements.
· Do-It-Yourself (DITY). A personally acquired move, which can save a service member more money moving by doing it themselves. This is often related to moving between the permanent change of stations.
· Executive Officer (XO). The second-in-command to a commanding officer.
· Forward Operating Base (FOB). A temporary, secured operational post that supports strategic goals and tactical objectives.
· Government Issue Bill (G.I. Bill). Refers to a legislative bill formally known as the Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, established during World War II and is a Department of Veterans Affairs education benefit designed to aid military members and eligible veterans to cover the costs of receiving education or training (Veterans Affairs, 2020).
· Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC). A carefully selected group of senior military leaders who advise the President, the Homeland Security Council, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council concerning military matters.
· Leave and Earning Statement (LES). A bimonthly financial statement that reports earnings, taxes withheld, leave balance, and allotments.
· Military Culture. This refers to the military way of life that creates its own unique culture. Military culture can be defined by its unique beliefs, language, knowledge, habits, customs, and capabilities that are acquired by military members and their families through membership in military organizations. Military culture shapes a shared set of learned values and beliefs that are reinforced through experiencing military service. People who have not directly experienced the military culture often misunderstand this culture through a lack of knowledge (Veterans Affairs, 2020b).
· Military Discharge. Refers to a military member’s obligation of service in the armed forces is either voluntarily or involuntarily fulfilled (i.e., retired, medical, dishonorable, etc.). There are different types and categories of military discharges that may affect future benefits and employment options. Generally, to receive VA benefits and services, the Veteran’s character of discharge or service must be under honorable conditions or be administratively separated or have a long enough service period to qualify (Militarybenefits.info, 2020).
· Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). Where service members take the ASVAB, in process, get a physical, choose their military job, and swear in to enter into military service.
· Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). This is a service member’s specific job and duties in the military, from infantry, artillery, aviation, engineering, intelligence, maintenance, etc.
· Military Veteran. Refers to the definition of a veteran. As shown by Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, it defines a veteran as an individual who has served as an active member of the military in one of the branches of service and who was discharged or released under honorable conditions. This regulation explains that any individual who has completed a tour of service with any branch of the armed forces is classified as a veteran as long as they were not dishonorably discharged. National Guard and Reservists members who have received DD214 for being deployed can be considered Veterans by serving as an active-duty veteran. Non-deployed National Guard and Reservists do not qualify legally as a Veteran (Smith, 2019).
· Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). A military officer who is not commissioned, such as sergeant (Army) and warrant officer (Navy).
· Operational Security (OPSEC). The secure process of protecting and identifying information about military operations.
· Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). This refers to a U.S. military operation in Afghanistan that began on October 7, 2001, and ended December 28, 2014 (CNN, 2020).
· Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). This refers to a U.S. military operation in Iraq that began March 20, 2003, and ended on December 18, 2011 (Ford & Vignare, 2015).
· Operation New Dawn (OND). Refers to a specific U.S. military operation in Iraq after September 1, 2010, and ended December 15, 2011 (Globalsecurity.org, 2020).
· Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA). Monetary compensation for service members for housing outside the U.S. when government quarters aren’t available.
· Permanent Change of Station (PCS). The action and relocation of an active-duty service member to a different duty location. Service members usually PCS every few years based on the needs of the military.
· Personally Procured Move (PPM). A move that a service member plans and conducts on their own, instead of the military providing help. PPM expenses are reimbursed by the military.
· Physical Training (PT). One of the main emphasis of military readiness, service members are expected to meet fitness standards throughout their enlistment.
· Point of Contact (POC). The primary person that is contacted about for a specific program or assignment.
· Post 9/11 Veterans. Refers to veterans serving in the U.S. armed forces on active duty after September 11, 2001. These veterans are eligible for education benefits as a result of the Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Holder, 2018).
· Post Exchange (PX). A shopping center at a military installation that sells merchandise and services to military personnel and authorized civilians.
· Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This refers to a mental health condition classified by the American Psychological Association (APA), which includes flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety about the event that caused the ailment (APA, 2020).
· Privately Owned Vehicle (POV). A service member’s personally owned vehicle that is not owned by the government.
· Reintegration Stress. This refers to military veterans who encounter numerous types of stressors during their reintegration process back into society. As shown by Marek et al. (2014), reintegration presents veterans and their families with unique stressors that impact all aspects of their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social health. The family dynamic must always adjust due to the absence of the Veteran from deployments and readjustments upon return, causing a constant state of stress for all (p. 444).
· Resilience. This refers to resilience as a process that individuals develop to overcome adversities, challenges, and transitions in their lives. Resiliency is the actively achieved outcome of the resilience process. Resiliency is measured by the degree to which individuals can perform their daily routines, while simultaneously, successfully performing their military duties and responsibilities (Military.com, 2020).
· Social Resilience. Refers to the prevalence of resilience in the social setting or surroundings. As shown by Pietrzak and Cook (2013), the prevalence of psychological resilience may be correlated with significant changes that occur during military service, trauma, stress, and reintegration related to the dislocation of social networks, retirement, and income reduction and issues of physical functioning. The more individuals experience stressors and trauma, the more enhanced coping skill develops and increases psychological resilience for future encounters. As shown by Marek et al. (2014), veterans respond and cope differently with reintegration stressors. These stressors affect emotional health. Veterans who have reported having lower mental health issues (PTSD, anxiety, stress, and depression) are more likely to experience reintegration issues.
· Social Stigma. This refers to military veterans who are confronted with social labels and stigmas that are placed on them as a result of media-driven encounters and events. Social stigma leads to disenfranchisement and disempowerment of groups, and in the case of the military, this social stigma stems from cultural beliefs and attitudes about mental health that influence negative feelings psychologically distressed service members to have about themselves. (Gibbons et al., 2014, p. 366)
· Temporary Duty Station (TDY). A temporary assignment location that is different from the service member’s permanent assigned duty station.
· Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Similar to a 401(k), the TSP is a government-sponsored retirement savings and investment plan.
· Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This refers to a brain condition, whereas the brain is exposed to a blunt force trauma. For this study, this refers to military veterans who may have suffered a TBI from a concussive blast from an IED or other explosive devices while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation New Dawn (DVBIC, 2020).
· TRICARE: The primary health care program. TRICARE provides health benefits to service members, retirees, and their families.
· Veteran Coping. This refers to an individual’s characteristics and individual effort to manage stressful events. As shown by Knezevic, Krupic, and Sucurovic (2016), in the transactional model of stress and coping, if an event exceeds a person’s coping capacity, it will be perceived as stressful, especially if his/her well-being is recognized as being at stake. People use a variety of coping strategies, which are often divided into engagement and disengagement coping. Many veterans encounter challenges while transitioning from their military, which can be caused by different events like severe combat trauma. There is a strong relationship between traumatic events, like PTSD, and coping strategies that would affect reintegration.
· Veteran Reintegration. This refers to a veteran’s ability to readjust or transition back into their previous environment, either before service or deployment. As shown by Elnitsky, Fisher, and Blevins (2017b), veterans may experience a variety of stress-related challenges when reintegrating from the military back to regular civilian life. Facilitating this reintegration, transition, resilience, readjustment, and coping, and community integration makes it a societal priority. Coping and resilience will ultimately affect this outcome variable of reintegration.
Acronyms
0K – Zero Killed (pronounced OK, as the expression that everything is okay)
1LT – First Lieutenant (U.S. Army) (USMC uses "1Lt" and USAF uses "1st Lt")
2LT – Second Lieutenant (U.S. Army) (USMC uses "2Lt" and USAF uses "2d Lt")
2IC – Second In Command
1SG – First Sergeant (E-8 Army)
‘’’777’’’ – (Pronounced triple 7) Refers to the M777 howitzer. A towed 155 mm artillery weapon. It succeeded the M198 howitzer 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
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 (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
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
AAW – Antiair Warfare
AB – Airbase
AB – Airman Basic (USAF E-1)
ABCA – American, British, Canadian, Australian Armies Program
ABCS – Army Battle Command System
ABD – Airbase Defense
ABU – Airman Battle Uniform (U.S. Air Force)
ABV – Assault Breacher Vehicle (U.S. Army)
ABFC – Advanced Base Functional Component
ACU – Army Combat 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 (requirement guide)
AFMC – Armed Forces Medical College
AFOQT – Air Force Officer Qualifying Test
AFOSI – United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations
AFSC – Air Force Specialty Code
AHA – Ammunition Holding Area
AIM – Airborne Intercept Missile (U.S. Military)
AIPD – Army Institute For Professional Development
AIS – Automated Information System
AIT – Advanced Individual Training (U.S. Army)
Amn – Airman (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
AOL – Absent Over Leave (U.S. Navy)
AO – Area Of Operations
A&P – Administrative And Personnel
AP – Armed Forces Pacific
AP – Armor-Piercing
APC – Armored Personnel Carrier
APFSDS – Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot
APFT – Army Physical Fitness Test (U.S. Army)
APFU – Army Physical Fitness Uniform (U.S. Army)
APO – Army Post Office; See Also FPO
APPN – Appropriation Number (U.S. Military)
APRT – Army Physical Readiness Test (U.S. Army)
ARCENT/TUSA – US Army Forces Central Command (CENTCOM)/Hq Third US Army (TUSA)
ARPANET – Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (e.g., 1969 to 1989; antecedent of the information superhighway; now DARPA)
ARM – Anti-Radar Missile
ARM – Anti-Radiation Missile
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 – 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 – Association Of South East Asian Nations
ASM – Air-to-Surface Missile
ASCM – Anti-Ship Cruise Missile
ASROC – Anti-Submarine ROCket
ASV – Anti-Surface Vessel (airborne radar)
ASVAB – Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
ASW – Anti-Submarine Warfare
ATC – Air Training Corps
ATC – Air Traffic Control
ATO – Air Tasking Order
ATO – Antiterrorism Officer
ATRRS – Army Training Requirements And Resources System
AWACS – Airborne Warning and Control System
AWOL – Absent Without Leave
B
BAH – Basic Allowance for Housing
BAMCIS – Begin planning Arrange Recon Make the plan Complete the plan Issue the order Supervise (U.S. Marine Corps)
BAR – Browning Automatic Rifle
BAU – Behavioral Analysis Unit
BCD – Battlefield Coordination Detachment
BCD – Bad Conduct Discharge (aka Big Chicken Dinner)
BCG – Birth Control Glasses (U.S. Military Slang)
BCT – Basic Combat Training (U.S. Army)
BCT – Brigade Combat Team
BDA – Battle Damage Assessment
BDE – Brigade (U.S. Army)
BDF – Barbados Defence Force (Barbados)
BDU – Battle Dress Uniform (U.S. Military)
Be – Beriev (Russian)
BEA – Budget Execution Authority (U.S. Navy)
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 (U.S. Army)
BRAC – Base Realignment And Closure
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 RegimentAttachedTraveler (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 (USAF)
BX – Base Exchange (USAF)
BZ – spoken "Bravo Zulu", meaning "congratulations, job well done"
C
C1 – Command
C2 – Command And Control
C3 – Command Control And Communication
C4IR – Command Control Communication Computers Intelligence And Recognition
CAC – Common Access Card (U.S. DoD, pron. "cac")
CAG – Commander, Air Group (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
CALL – Center for Army Lessons Learned
CAPT – Captain (U.S. Navy, USCG O-6)
CPT – Captain (USMC, U.S. Army, USAF O-3)
CAS – Close Air Support
CASEX – Coordinated Anti-Submarine EXercise
CASEVAC – Casualty Evacuation
CAT – Combat Application Tourniquets
CBRN – 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)
CDIAC – Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
CDRUSPACOM – Commander United States Pacific Command
CENTCOM – Central Command (U.S. Military)
CHU – Containerized Housing Unit
Chief – Chief Warrant Officer
CIA – Central Intelligence Agency
CIB – Combat Infantry Badge
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
CJOTUS – Chief Justice of the United States
CMSgt – Chief Master Sergeant (USAF E-9; highest AF enlisted rank)
CMSAF – Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (USAF E-9 – Senior Enlisted Member)
CO – Commanding Officer
COA – Course of Action
COB – Chief Of the Boat (Chief Petty Officer in charge of the Boat usually a Master Chief (USN Submariner Terminology))
COCOM – Combatant Commander
CODELS – Congressional Delegations
Col – Colonel
COMINT – Communications Intelligence
COMPACFLT – Commander, Pacific Fleet (U.S. Navy)
COMSEC – Communication Security
CONUS – Continental United States (U.S. military, pron. "cone-us")
CONUSA – Continental United States Army (numbered Armies of U.S. military)
CORDS – (U.S. military, Vietnam era)
COP – Combat Out Post
CoS – Chief of Staff
COT – Commissioned Officer Training
CPL – Corporal (U.S. Army and Marine Corps E-4)
CPO – Chief Petty Officer (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
CRC – CONUS Replacement Center (a military processing center at Fort Benning, Georgia, US)
CSM – Command Sergeant Major (U.S. Army E-9 highest Army enlisted rank))
CSAR – Combat Search And Rescue
CT – Counter-terrorism Team
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 – Chief Warrant Officer
CZN – Nuclear-powered Airship Carrier (NOTE: the Z comes from the use of the word Zeppelin 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
DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (U.S. Military)
DASA – Division Artillery Security Area
DC3 – Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center
DCAA – Defense Contract Audit Agency
DCMA – Defense Contract Management Agency
DEROS – Date Estimated Return From Overseas
DEVGRU – the United States naval special warfare DEVelopment GRoUp
DFAC – Dining Facility (U.S. Military)
DFAS – Defense Finance and Accounting Service (U.S. Military)
DIA – Defense Intelligence Agency
DINFAC – Dining Facility (U.S. Military)
DISA – Defense Information Systems Agency
DLA – Defense Logistics Agency
DLB – Dead Letter Box
DMDC – Defense Manpower Data Center
DME – Depot Maintenance Enterprise (U.S. Military)
DMEA – Defense Microelectronics Activity
DMS – Defense Message System (U.S. Military)
DMZ – Demilitarized Zone
DOA – Dead on Arrival
DoDAAC – Department of Defense Activity Address Code (U.S. Military)
DoDAF – Department of Defense Architectural Framework (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 Material
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
DZ – Drop Zone
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)
EHRS – Electronic Health Records (Software)
EI – Engineering and Installation
EIS – Engineering and Installation Squadron, Environmental Impact Statement
EIB – Expert Infantry Badge
EI SIT – Engineering and Installation Site Implementation Team
EKIA – Enemy Killed in Action
ELINT – Electronic Intelligence
EMI – Extra Military Instruction
ENS – Ensign (U.S. Navy junior officer rank, O-1)
EOD – Explosive Ordnance Disposal
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
ETS – Estimated Termination of Service
EUCOM – European Command (U.S. Military)
EW – Electronic Warfare (comprises EA, EP)
Exfil – Exfiltration (Opposite of infiltration; exiting undetected)
F
FA – Field Artillery
FAK – First Aid Kit
FAR – Federal Acquisition Regulation
FBCB2 – Force XXI Battlefield Command Brigade and Below
FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
FEBA – Forward Edge of the Battle Area
FFE – Fire for effect
FIDO – FIre Direction Officer
FIST – Fire Support Team
FISTer – Member of a Fire Support Team
FIST-V – Fire Support Team Vehicle
FISINT – Foreign Instrumentation Signals Intelligence
FitRep – Fitness Report
FLOT – Forward Line of Troops
FLOTUS – First Lady of the United States (U.S. – see POTUS)
FM – Field Marshal; more commonly "Field Manual"
FMC – Fully Mission Capable
FMTV – Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (U.S. Army)
FO – Forward Observer
FOB – Forward Operating Base
FOD – Foreign Object Damage (U.S.)
FOD – Foreign Object Debris (U.S.)
FOI - Field of Imaging
FPO – Fleet Post Office; See also APO
FRACU – Flame-Resistant Army Combat Uniform (U.S. Army)
FSA – Force Structure Allowance
FSTE – Foreign Service Tour Extension
FTUS – Full Time Unit Specialist
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
GI – Government Issue
GIG – Global Information Grid
GM – Gone Mersault
GO – General Officer
GOCO – Government owned, contractor operated
GPMG – General Purpose Machine Gun
GPS – Global Positioning System
GS – General Schedule
H
HALO – High Altitude Low Opening (Airborne)
HAHO – High Altitude High Opening
HAAMS – High Altitude Airdrop Missions
HBL – Holiday Block Leave (U.S. Army)
HE – High Explosive
HEAT – High Explosive Anti-Tank warhead
HEP – High Explosive, Plastic (U.S. usage for HESH)
HESH – High-explosive squash head (British anti-tank and anti-fortification round)
HIMARS – High Mobility Artillery Rocket System
HMAS – Her Majesty's Australian Ship (Australia)
HMCS – Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (Canada)
HMMWV – High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (U.S. Military) (Pronounced Humvee)
HMNZS – Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship (New Zealand)
HMS – Hans Majestäts Skepp (His Majesty's ship, Sweden)
HMS – Her Majesty's Ship (Royal Navies such as British Royal Navy) (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 (artillery units)
HHC – Headquarters and Headquarters Company
HHT – Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (cavalry units)
HUMINT – Human Intelligence (intelligence gathering)
HVI – High Value Individual
HVT – High Value Target
HYT – High Year Tenure
I
IAF – Indian Air Force
IAF – Israeli Air Force
IAVA – Information Assurance Vulnerability Alert (U.S. Military)
ICBM – Intercontinental ballistic missile
ICE – Individual Carrying Equipment, eg 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 – Inspector General (U.S. Military)
IFV – Infantry Fighting Vehicle
IN – Infantry
INSCOM – United States Army Intelligence and Security Command
Il – Ilyushin, Russian aircraft company
Interpol – International Criminal Police Organization
ISO – Inter School Course
ISR – Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
J
JA – Judge Advocate [General]
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
JEEP – "Just Enough Essential Parts"
K
KATUSA – Korean Augmentation Troops to the United States Army (also known by lower ranking U.S. soldiers as "Koreans Aggravating The U.S. Army")
KIA – Killed In Action
KFOR -- Kosovo Force
KO – Contracting Officer, Navy
KP – Kitchen Police or Kitchen Patrol
L
LAAD – Low Altitude Air Defense
LAAT – Low Altitude Assault Transport
LAV – Light Armored Vehicle
LCDR – Lieutenant Commander (U.S. Navy)
LCPL – Lance Corporal (U.S. Marines)
LES – Leave and Earnings Statement
LIC – Low Intensity Conflict
LP – Listening Post
LP/OP – Listening Post Observation Post
LPC – Leather Personnel Carrier (boot)
LMTV – Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (U.S. Army)
LPO – Leading Petty Officer (U.S. Navy)
LT – Lieutenant
LTC or Lt Col – Lieutenant Colonel
LTG or Lt Gen – Lieutenant General
LTJG – Lieutenant, Junior Grade (U.S. Navy)
LUP – Lying-Up Point
LZ – Landing Zone
M
MACV/SOG – Military Assistance Command Vietnam / Studies and Observation Group
MAJ – Major
MARCORSYSCOM – MARine CORps SYStems COMmand (U.S. Military)
MARCENT Marine Corps Central Command
MARFORRES – MARine FORces REServe (U.S. Marine Corps)
MARSOC – 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
MI – Military Intelligence
Mi – Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant (Russian)
MIA – Missing in action
MICV – Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (an Infantry fighting vehicle)
MiG – Mikoyan-Gurevich (Russian)
MILCON – Military Construction
MK – Mark
MK – Machinery Technician (U.S. Coast Guard)
MLRS – Multiple Launch Rocket System
MOA – Military Operating Area (USAF Airspace)
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
MOBCOM – MOBile COMmand
MOPP – Mission Oriented Protective Posture
MOS – Military Occupation Specialty
MOUT – Military Operations in Urban Terrain
MPDS – Military Planning Data Allowance
MRAP – Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected
MRE – Meal, Ready-to-Eat (U.S. Military)
MRX – Mission Rehearsal Exercise
MSG – Master Sergeant (US Army E-8)
MSgt – Master Sergeant (USAF E-7)
MTOE – Modified 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
MSR – Major Supply Route
MWR – Morale Welfare Recreation
N
NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement
NAS – Naval Air Station
NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
NCIS – Naval Criminal Investigative Service (U.S. Navy)
NAVAIR – Naval Air Systems Command
NAVCENT – 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
NCOIC – Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge
NCOES – Non-Commissioned Officer Education System
ND – 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
NORAD – North American Aerospace Defense Command
NPDES – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NS – Network Services
NSA – National Security Agency
NSW – Naval Special Warfare
NSWDG – Naval Special Warfare Development Group
NUB – Non-Useful Body / Nuclear Unqualified Bitch (U.S. Nuclear Navy)
O
OBE – Overcome/Overrun by Events
OCONUS – Outside Continental United States
OCP – Operational Camouflage Pattern (U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force)
OCS – 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)
OIC – Officer in Charge
OIG – Office of Inspector General
OM – On the Move (Normally just spelled out Oscar Mike)
O&M, MC – Operations & Maintenance, Marine Corps (U.S. Navy)
O&M, N – Operations & Maintenance, Navy (U.S. Navy)
OODA – Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act
OP – Observation Post
OPR – Officer Performance Report
OPT – Operational Planning Team
ORM – Operational Risk Management
OSP – On Site Procurement
OSP – Orbital Services Program
OPORD – Operations Order
OPSEC – Operations Security
OTS – Officer Training School
OTV – Outer Tactical Vest
P
PACOM – Pacific Command
PACAF – Pacific Air Forces
PAQ – PALACE Acquire
PCS – Permanent Change of Station
PDS – Permanent Duty Station (U.S. Military)
PDT – Pre-Deployment Training
PE – Plastic Explosive
PFC – Private First Class (U.S. Military)
PFT – Physical Fitness Test
PII – Personally Identifiable Information or Personal Identity Information
PL – 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
PO1 – Petty Officer 1st Class (USCG/USN E-6)
PO2 – Petty Officer 2nd Class (USCG/USN E-5)
PO3 – Petty Officer 3rd Class (USCG/USN E-4)
POL – Petroleum Oil & Lubricants (U.S. Air Force)
POC – Point Of Contact
POTUS – President of the United States
POW – Prisoner Of War
POV – Privately Owned Vehicle
PPG – PT Parade Games
PRP – Personnel Reliability Program
PRP – Pretty Retarded Program
PRT – Provincial Reconstruction Team
PRT – Physical Readiness Training (U.S. Army)
PT – Physical Training
PTB – Powers That Be
PV2 – Private 2nd class (U.S. Army E-2)
PVT – Private (U.S. Army and Marine Corps E-1)
PX – Post Exchange (U.S. Army)
R
RavMonE – Known as the Trojan that opens a backdoor on computers running Microsoft Windows however nicknamed for a new enlisted soldier that is deployed to a unit during combat operations.
RAAF – Royal Australian Air Force
RAF – Royal Air Force (UK)
RAN – Royal Australian Navy
RATELO – Radiotelephone Operator
RATO – Rocket Assisted Take Off
RCSC – Royal Canadian Sea Cadets (Canada)
RFL – Response Force Leader
RMC – Royal Military College of Canada
RN – Royal Navy (UK)
ROE – Rules Of Engagement
ROWPU – Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit
RNZAF – Royal New Zealand Air Force
ROZ – Restricted Operating Zone
RPG – Rocket-propelled grenade
RPM – Rounds per minute (Rate of fire)
RSS – Regional Security System (Caribbean)
RTB – Return To Base
RV – rendezvous
RTO – Radio Telephone Operator
S
SA – Seaman Apprentice (USCG/USN E-2)
SA – Situation Awareness
SAAS – Standard Army Ammunition System (U.S. Army)
SAM – Surface-to-Air Missile
SAR – 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 (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
SEAL – 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
SFOD-D – Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (U.S. Army counter-terrorism unit)
SGM – 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)
SITREP – Situation Report
SJA – Staff Judge Advocate
SLAM – Standoff Land Attack Missile
SLBM – Submarine-launched ballistic missile
SLOTUS – 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 (USAF E-8)
SN – Seaman (USCG/USN E-3)
SOCCENT – Special Operations Command CENTCOM
SOCOM – United States Special Operations Command
SOFA – Status of Forces Agreement
SOP – Standard Operating Procedures
SPC – Specialist (U.S. Army E-4)
SR – Seaman Recruit (USCG/USN E-1)
SrA – Senior Airman (USAF E-4)
SRBM – United States Army Special Forces
SRR – Special Reconnaissance Regiment (British special Forces)
SSBN – Nuclear-Powered Ballistic missile submarine
SSG – Staff Sergeant (U.S. Army E-6)
SSGN – Nuclear-Powered Cruise missile submarine
SSgt – Staff Sergeant (U.S. Air Force E-5) (U.S. Marines E-6)
SSN – Nuclear-powered attack submarine
STOVL – Short Takeoff, Vertical Landing
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 (U.S. Military)
TEL – Transporter Erector Launcher
TF – Task Force
TFOA – Things Falling Off Aircraft
TG6 – Task Group 6 (group designation for NZ SAS – NZ Army)
TOC – Tactical Operations Center
TIC – Troops In Contact
TSgt – Technical Sergeant (USAF E-6)
TRADOC- U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
U
UA – Unauthorized Absence
UAS – Unmanned Aerial System
UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
UCP – Universal Camouflage Pattern (U.S. Army)
UCAV – Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle
ULLS – Unit Level Logisitics System (U.S. Army)
UMA – Unit Mobilization Assistor
UN – United Nations
US – Unserviceable
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
USAMRICD – United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense
USAMRIID – United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease
USAMRMC – 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 – US Army REcruiting Command
USAREUR – U.S. Army European Command
USCG – United States Coast Guard
USCGC – United States Coast Guard Cutter
USMA – the United States Military Academy (U.S. Army) at West Point, New York
USMC – United States Marine Corps
USN – United States Navy
USNA – the 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
UXB – Unexploded Bomb (bomb disposal; British)
UXO – Unexploded Ordnance
V
VBIED – 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
WO1 – Warrant Officer 1
WSA – Weapons Storage Area
WMD – Weapons of Mass Destruction
WILCO – Will Comply
WCS – Worst Case Scenario
WORM – War operating ready material
X
XO – Executive Officer
Humorous and Entertaining Acronyms
· Air Force Instruction (AFI). It also stands for Another F**king Inconvenience.
· Ate The F**k Up (not squared away) (ATFU).
· Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD). Usually spoken as Big Chicken Dinner.
· Birth Control Glasses (BCGs). Large, black plastic-framed glasses issued to service members in need of corrective lenses. Generally considered exceptionally unattractive.
· Bum F**k Egypt, or Big F**king Empty (BFE). A derogatory term for any place that is very remote and undesirable to inhabit.
· Big F**king Hammer (BFH). Acronym referring to a problematic, mechanical job.
· Blinding Flash of the Obvious (BFO).
· Big F**king Wrench (BFW). This refers to the wrench used to tighten the grounding nut on generators.
· Big Lump on Board (BLOB). Primarily used on aircraft to describe any passengers that are without a clear function
· Bend Over, Here It Comes Again (BOHICA). (U.S. Military Slang)
· Big Ugly Fat F**ker (BUFF). Specifically refers to the B-52 Stratofortress. The Stratofortress is famous for its large size and was capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of munitions.
· Bravo Zulu (BZ). Shorthand for “great job!”
· Cluster F**k (always pronounced phonetically "Charlie Foxtrot") (CF).
· Clear as a F**king Bell (CFB).
· Collection, Holding, and Transfer (CHT). An acronym that is Pronounced “chit,” and refers to the sewage on a Navy ship.
· Containerized Housing Unit (CHU). These are climate-controlled trailers that can house up to eight service members. They can be connected to form larger units, may contain a bathroom, and are unarmored.
· Containerized Kitchen (CK). A vehicle or container used to prepare food in the field.
· Continue Mission (CM).
· Command Master Chief (CMC). In the Navy or Coast Guard.
· Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC).
· Computerized Dumb Ass Tanker (CDAT). (M1 Abrams Crewmen)
· Chief of the Boat (COB). The senior chief petty officer onboard a ship.
· Combat Outpost (COP). A small base in a remote location, which can contain between 40 and 150 service members and is usually placed in hostile areas.
· Close Station, March Order, or Collect your S**t and Move Out (CSMO). Both are intended to get servicemembers to close their stations and move out due to a mission ending.
· Dumb Ass Radio/Radar Troop (DART).
· Dumb Ass Tanker (DAT). An Army acronym.
· Does it Look Like I Give a F**k (DILLIGAF)?
· Day of no scheduled activity. (DONSA).
· End Exercise. Used by the U.S. Army (ENDEX).
· Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).
· Feet, Ass, and Nuts (FAN). A common acronym that best describes the foul smell of a barracks.
· F**k It, Got My Orders (FIGMO).
· F**k It, S**t Happens, Drive On (FISHDO).
· Forward Air Navigator (FAN).
· Forget/F**k it, Drive On (FIDO).
· F**k I’m Good, Just Ask Me (FIGJAM). A term that was initially coined by the Australians in the Vietnam war, borrowed by American forces.
· Foxtrot Oscar (i.e. F**k Off) (US/UK Forces) (FO).
· Fighting in Someone’s House (FISH). Acronym describing urban warfare.
· F**king Magic (FM). Describes the phenomenon of when a dysfunctional electronic device just miraculously starts to work again.
· F**king New Guy (FNG). A pervasive acronym for new members of a group. Not to be meant as derogatory.
· Forward Operating Base (FOB). A base that is much larger than a COP. It is strategically located between COPs and super bases. They tend to be found in safer locations than COPs and offer more luxuries such as varied meals and hot water.
· F**k the Army (FTA). Usually written on the latrine walls to “look forward to” or “celebrate” leaving the service. If asked about the meaning of the acronym, the proper response would be “Fun, Travel, and Adventure” or “Finest, Training, Available.”
· Failure to Adapt (FTA). One of the main reasons why basic trainees fail out of training. This is their reason for failure.
· Fleet Training Group (U.S. Navy) or F**k The Guard (U.S. Coast Guard)(FTG).
· F**k the Navy (FTN). An acronym coined to describe the distaste for Navy and found as graffiti in hard to find places as a type of game. This game resulted in upsetting officers, that constituted a victory for its assailants.
· F**ked up Beyond All Recognition (FUBAR). Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition or F**ked Up Beyond All Repair
· F**k You Buddy, I’m Shipping (FUBIS). Used by service members during the Vietnam war when they didn’t have much time before shipping.
· F**k You, New Guy, U Suck (FUNGUS). This acronym was traditionally coined in the Navy for new shipmates.
· Garbage In Garbage Out (GIGO).
· Guy in Back (GIB). An acronym that is coined to describe an aviator riding in the backseat of an aircraft.
· General Officer Bright Idea (GOBI).
· Get The F**k Out (GTFO).
· High Altitude, No Opening (HANO). This refers to a parachute jump where the parachute fails to deploy. This is usually a fatal situation.
· Head in Clouds/Concrete (HIC). A coined acronym for identifying and describing officers who insist on making ineffective courses of action.
· Head Motherf**ker In Charge (HMFIC) – colloquialism for the highest-ranking person present; more commonly used by NCO's than by officers (United States Armed Forces).
· Head-Up Ass or Heard, Understood, Acknowledged (HUA).
· Instant Boatswain’s Mate (IBM). An acronym coined for a sailor who has failed out of specialty school and is an undesignated servicemember.
· Inflatable Boat, Small (IBS). An acronym for small boats used by the Navy SEALs that require stealth landings.
· Improvised Explosive Device (IED). An acronym for a global method of attack in the Middle East. IEDs are hidden in extremely varied ways to surprise attack friendly forces.
· Indirect Fire (IDF). An acronym that identifies any munitions that are delivered with a high-arching trajectory like mortars, rockets, or artillery. Usually used to describe enemy fire.
· I F**king Refuse (IFR). An acronym that displays a definite lack of compliance. Generally considered impolite.
· If You Ain’t Ammo, You Ain’t S**t (IYAAYAS).
· Just Another F**king Observer (JAFO).
· Japanese National (JN). Used to refer to any Japanese citizen.
· Junior Officer (JO). Usually reserved for insufferable junior officers.
· Keep Buggering On (KBO).
· Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS). USAF
· Long Binh Jail (LBJ). An acronym coined in Vietnam for a U.S. stockade built in Long Binh.
· Large Heavy Object (LHO).
· Little Group Of Paratroopers (LGOP).
· Local National (LN). Army term for friendly locals.
· Landing Zone (LZ).
· Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Not Expected/Essential (MARINE). An acronym coined by the Navy in a derogatory connotation of Marine personnel.
· Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy (MCPON). – (Pronounced “mick-pawn.”)
· Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD).
· Meal Ready to Eat (MRE). A high-calorie meal that is packaged in a wrapper and is usually despised by the military ranks. The meal consists of about 3,600 calories.
· Miles and Miles of F**king Desert (unofficial report in Gulf War) (MMFD).
· Never Again Volunteer Yourself (NAVY).
· National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP). An acronym that is pronounced “kneecap.” The Boeing E-4 is designed to serve as a mobile command post for the President’s staff in the case of a nuclear attack.
· NonFunctioning Gear (NFG). A label used on broken equipment in the Navy and Air Force. It can also mean No F**king Good.
· Naval Flight Officer (NFO). The weapons officer of the aircraft who is responsible for discharging weapons during flights.
· Oh S**t Moment (U.S. Marine Corps) (OSM).
· Out There Flapping (Airborne) (OTF).
· Pretty Freakin’ Awesome (PFA). An acronym adopted from the band Willy Pete in the song “PFA.”
· Pure F**king Magic (PFM). When Airmen and Marines have to explain something to someone that might not understand.
· Parachute Landing Fall (PLF).
· Park the Mother and Call the Shop (PMCS). A humorous term that was coined from the original meaning of Preventative, Maintenance, Checks, and Services.
· Preventative Maintenance Scheduled (PMS). Alternatively can mean Pure Meaningless S**t.
· Person Other than Grunt (POG). Carries a derogatory connotation.
· Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants (POL). An acronym coined to refer to different types of fuel like gas, diesel, and other types of petroleum.
· Problem Occurs Between Chair And Keyboard (POBCAK).
· Person Other than Grunt (POG). (All non-combat arms job fields i.e. any MOS or CMF other than infantry, cavalry, armor, and artillery; among infantrymen, refers to anyone other than infantry or Special Forces)
· Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance (PPPPPPP).
· Recruit Chief Petty Officer (RCPO). Pronounced “are-pock.” Not inherently derogatory, but is used dismissively for fun and humor.
· Rear Echelon Mother F**ker (REMF).
· Retired on Active Duty (ROAD). Generally, it refers to any service member who is lazy and ineffective, typically those weeks or months away from leaving the military.
· Return to Base (RTB).
· Read the F**king Manual (RFTM). An acronym coined to express an aggravated response to someone who is asking a precise, complex technical question.
· Right Out of My Ass Data (ROMA Data). Unverifiable created data (different from SWAG).
· RatS**t (RS). (Australia – related to U.S. – Unserviceable).
· Situational Awareness (SA).
· Secretary of the Air Force (SECAF).
· Secretary of the Army (SECARMY).
· Survivable Enduring Command Center (SECC).
· Security Clearance (Management System) (SECCLEAR).
· Secretary of Defense (SECDEF).
· Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV).
· Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE).
· S**t Out of Luck (SOL). (U.S. Army)
· S**t Out of Luck and Jolly Well F**ked (SOLJWF). (U.S. Marines)
· Situation Normal All F**ked up/Fouled Up (SNAFU).
· Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
· S**t On a Shingle and Same Old S**t (SOS). It was initially derived from the Morse code signal for distress. S**t on a shingle refers to ground beef on toast and gravy, while the latter definition being self-explanatory.
· Same S**t Different Day (SSDD).
· Same S**t Different Day Bigger Shovel (SSDDBS).
· Start Point (SP). A U.S. Army term.
· Stupid Tankers Under Mortar Protection (STUMP). Typically used by an infantryman in a derogatory manner towards personnel in armored units.
· Small Unit Coward (SUC). A created MOS for individuals who are deemed cowardly or unfit for duty.
· Scientific/Swinging Wild Ass Guess (SWAG).
· Situation Unchanged, Still F**ked Up (SUSFU).
· Scientific Wild Ass Guess (SWAG).
· Sealed With A Kiss (SWAK).
· Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO). Also used by the Pentagon as a designation for aircraft integral to the U.S. nuclear warfare program.
· Things Are Really F**ked Up, or Things Are Royally F**ked Up (TARFU).
· The Hooah Syndrome (THS). A term coined in the Army for when a leader holds everyone to extremely high technical standards.
· Tactical Operations Center Roach (TOCRoach). The TOC is a well-protected location and is where command and operational staff work. Tocroach, subsequently, is a derogatory term.
· Top Secret (TS).
· Tits Up (Dead, Inoperable), a.k.a. "tango uniform" (TU).
· Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children (USMC). Derogatory appropriation of the acronym signifying the United States Marine Corps.
· Wild-Ass Guess (WAG).
· We Eat This S**t Up (WETSU). Commonly used by those performing grueling labor.
· Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF). Military alphabet code for What The F**k.
· What the F**k, over? (WTFO). A question implying sharp disbelief. A typical response is, “What the F**k, out.”
· eXecutive Officer (XO).
· You Gotta F**kin’ Be Kidding Me (YGFBKM)
· You Gotta Be S**tting Me (YGBSM)
I hope you enjoy!

References:
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Image provide by