Shortly after your initiation into military life, you can hardly help but notice the Armed Forces’ fascination with acronyms; if there is a way to shorten a name or title of a facility or agency, the military will do it.
The following is a partial list of common acronyms you will run across in everyday life on base. Please consider this a “living document”; I’ll add entries on a continuing basis.
Please note: There are some terms which are the same but have slightly different acronyms, depending on which service is using it, i.e. First Lieutenant’s acronym in the Army is 1LT and 1st Lt in the Air Force and Marines. When such conflicts occurred, I placed the acronyms with all caps first, i.e. 1LT is listed before 1st Lt (with 1SG in between, alphabetically).
1LT: Army officer rank of First Lieutenant (O-2)
1SG: Army enlisted rank of First Sergeant (E-8). Master Sergeant (MSG) is another E-8 rank in the Army.
1stLt: Marine Corps officer rank of First Lieutenant (O-2)
1st Lt: Air Force officer rank of First Lieutenant (O-2)
1stSgt: Marine Corps enlisted rank of First Sergeant (E-8). Master Sergeant (MSgt) is another E-8 rank in the Marines.
2LT: Army officer rank of Second Lieutenant (O-1)
2ndFlt: U.S. Naval Second Fleet
2ndLt: Marine Corps officer rank of Second Lieutenant (O-1)
2nd Lt: Air Force officer rank of Second Lieutenant (O-1)
3rdFlt: U.S. Naval Third Fleet
5thFlt: U.S. Naval Fifth Fleet
6thFlt: U.S. Naval Sixth Fleet
7thFlt: U.S. Naval Seventh Fleet
10thFlt: U.S. Naval Tenth Fleet
A1C: Air Force enlisted rank of Airman First Class (E-3)
AAFES: Army & Air Force Exchange Service
AB: Air Force enlisted rank of Airman Basic (E-1)
ACPOL: Army Civilian Personnel On-Line
ADM: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Admiral (O-10)
AFOSI: Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Amn: Air Force enlisted rank of Airman (E-2)
AOIC: Assistant Officer In Charge of a detachment of a command.
ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Test
(AW): Air Warfare designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing
BAS: Basic Allowance for Subsistence
BCA: Body Composition Assessment—along with the PRT, one half of the Navy’s PFA.
BCD: “Big Chicken Dinner” which means Bad Conduct Discharge
BCT: Basic Combat Training
BG: Army officer rank of Brigadier General (O-7)
BGen: Marine Corps officer rank of Brigadier General (O-7)
BOT: Basic Officer Training for Air Force, part of their OTS.
Brig Gen: Air Force officer rank of Brigadier General (O-7)
CAPT: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Captain (O-6)
Capt: Air Force and Marine Corps officer rank of Captain (O-3)
CBs: Construction Battalion of the Navy, commonly spelled “Seabees.”
CCM: Air Force rank enlisted rank of Command Chief Master Sergeant (E-9).
CDO: Command Duty Officer
CDR: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Commander (O-5)
CGIS: Coast Guard Investigative Service
CENTCOM: U.S. Central Command
CID: Army’s Criminal Investigative Command also known as “USACIDC” or U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command
CINC: Commander in Chief
CINCHouse: Commander in Chief at home, i.e. me (entered by request of my husband).
CMDCM: Command Master Chief (E-9) is the senior enlisted member of a naval command.
CMEO: Command Managed Equal Opportunity
CMH: U.S. Army’s Center of Military History
CMSAF: Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force is the senior enlisted person in the entire Air Force.
CMSgt: Air Force enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9).
CNA: Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa
CNE: Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe
CNO: Chief of Naval Operations
CO: Commanding Officer
COL: Army officer rank of Colonel (O-6)
Col: Air Force and Marine Corps officer rank of Colonel (O-6)
COLA: Cost of Living Allowance
COMFFC: Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command
COMLANTFLT: Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
COMPACFLT: Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
CONUS: Continental United States
COT: Commissioned Officer Training for Air Force personnel already carrying an advanced healthcare, religious, or law degree.
CPL: Army enlisted rank of Corporal (E-4). Specialist (SPC) is another E-4 rank in the Army.
Cpl: Marine Corps enlisted rank of Corporal (E-4).
CPO: Navy and Coast Guard enlisted rank of Chief Petty Officer (E-7), commonly called “Chief”.
CPT: Army officer rank of Captain (O-3)
CQ: Charge of Quarters. A term used by the Army and Air Force.
CSAF: Chief of Staff of the Air Force
CSM: Army enlisted rank of Command Sergeant Major (E-9). Sergeant Major (SGM) is another E-9 rank in the Army.
CW02: Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard warrant officer rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 (W-2)
CW03: Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard warrant officer rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (W-3)
CW04: Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard warrant officer rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 (W-4)
CW05: Navy and Marine Corps warrant officer rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5 (W-5)
CW2: Army warrant officer rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 (W-2)
CW3: Army warrant officer rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (W-3)
CW4: Army warrant officer rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 (W-4)
CW5: Army warrant officer rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5 (W-5)
DeCA: Defense Commissary Agency. For more information, refer to their website.
DFAS: Defense Finance and Accounting Service—where the paychecks come from.
DITY: Do-It-Yourself move
DoD: Department of Defense
DoN: Department of Navy
(DSW): Diving Salvage Warfare Specialist designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
(DV): Diver designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
E-1 (E-2, E-3, …): enlisted personnel ranked from one (1) as the lowest to nine (9) or ten (10) as the highest, depending on the branch of service.
ECP: Entry Control Point or Navy’s Enlisted Commissioning Program
ENS: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Ensign (O-1)
EUCOM: U.S. European Command
FLTCM: Fleet Master Chief (E-9) is the senior enlisted member of a naval fleet.
(FMF): Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
FOB: Forward Operating Base or a temporary secured position established to support tactical operations.
(FPJ): Freefall Parachutist designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
GEN: Army officer rank of General (O-10)
Gen: Air Force and Marine Corps officer rank of General (O-10)
GMT: General Military Training
GySgt: Marine Corps enlisted rank of Gunnery Sergeant (E-7)
GSA: Global War on Terrorism Support Assignment between tours, also known as Individual Augmentee (IA).
HHG: Household Goods
HQDA: Headquarters, Department of the Army
IA: Individual Augmentee assignment during a tour, similar to Global War on Terrorism Support Assignment (GSA)
JAG: Judge Advocate General
JPPSO: Joint Personal Property Shipping Office
LCDR: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Lieutenant Commander (O-4)
LCpl: Marine Corps enlisted rank of Lance Corporal (E-3)
LDO: Limited Duty Officer Program available to Navy members with prior enlisted service but not requiring a degree.
LT: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Lieutenant (O-3)
LTC: Army officer rank of Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
LtCol: Marine Corps officer rank of Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
Lt Col: Air Force officer rank of Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
LTG: Army officer rank of Lieutenant General (O-9)
LtGen: Marine Corps officer rank of Lieutenant General (O-9)
Lt Gen: Air Force officer rank of Lieutenant General (O-9)
LTJG: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2)
MA: Master at Arms in the Navy
MAJ: Army officer rank of Major (O-4)
Maj: Air Force and Marine Corps officer rank of Major (O-4)
MajGen: Marine Corps officer rank of Major General (O-8)
Maj Gen: Air Force officer rank of Major General (O-8)
MCPO: Navy and Coast Guard enlisted rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), commonly called “Master Chief”.
MCPOCG: Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard is the senior enlisted person in the entire Coast Guard.
MCPON: Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is the senior enlisted person in the entire Navy.
(MDV): Master Diver designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
MG: Army officer rank of Major General (O-8)
MGySgt: Marine Corps enlisted rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant
MOS: Military Operational Specialty or job specialty
MPs: Military Police also known as base security
MSG: Army enlisted rank of Master Sergeant (E-8). First Sergeant (1SG) is another E-8 rank in the Army.
Msgt: Air Force and Marine enlisted rank of Master Sergeant. In the Air Force, the rank is E-7. In the Marine Corps, Master Sergeant is an E-8. First Sergeant (1stSgt) is another E-8 rank in the Marine Corps.
(MTS): Military Training Specialist designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
MWR: Morale, Welfare, and Recreation is the agency that provides sports and entertainment services to military bases, i.e. the gym, bowling alley, softball leagues, etc.
(NAC): Naval Air Crew designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service
NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer. In Air Force, this the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant (E-5) or higher. In the Navy and Coast Guard, this is the enlisted rank of Petty Officer Third Class (E-4) or higher. In the Army and Marines, this is the enlisted rank of Corporal (E-4) or higher, although the other Army E-4 rank, Specialist, is not considered a NCO.
NEC: Navy Enlisted Classification or job specialty
NEX: Navy Exchange. Note: Their link may come up with a website security certificate error. If you want to visit their homepage, click on “Continue to this website.”
NJP: Non-Judicial Punishment
NORTHCOM: U.S. Northern Command
NRT: Navy Recruit Training
NSA (or NSA/CSS) : National Security Agency or National Security Agency/Central Security Service
O-1 (O-2, O-3, …): Officer personnel ranked from one (1) as the lowest to nine (9) or ten (10) as the highest, depending on the branch of service.
OCONUS: Outside Continental United States
OCS: Officer Candidate School
OHA: Overseas Housing Allowance
OIC: Officer In Charge of a detachment of a command. This position can be permanent or temporary.
OOD: Officer of the Deck (can be enlisted or officer depending on the situation)
OTH: Other Than Honorable discharge (dismissal from military service)
OTS: Officer Training School for all Air Force Officers or Navy doctors and lawyers.
PACOM: U.S. Pacific Command
PCS: Permanent Change of Station—a move or transfer required by military orders
PFA: Physical Fitness Assessment
PFC: Army and Marine Corps enlisted rank of Private First Class. In the Marines, Private First Class is an E-2, and in the Army the rank is an E-3.
(PJ): Basic Parachutist or Navy/Marine Corps Parachutist designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
PO1: Navy and Coast Guard enlisted rank of Petty Officer First Class (E-6)
PO2: Navy and Coast Guard enlisted rank of Petty Officer Second Class (E-5)
PO3: Navy and Coast Guard enlisted rank of Petty Officer Third Class (E-4)
POC: Point of Contact
POTUS: President of the United States
POV: Privately Owned Vehicle
PRT: Physical Readiness Test—along with the BCA, one half of the Navy’s PFA.
PV2: Army enlisted rank of Private (E-2)
PVT: Army enlisted rank of Private (E-1)
Pvt: Marine Corps enlisted rank of Private (E-1)
RADM: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Rear Admiral, Upper Half (O-8)
RDML: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Rear Admiral, Lower Half (O-7)
ROTC: Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
SA: Navy and Coast Guard enlisted rank of Seaman Apprentice (E-2)
SCPO: Navy and Coast Guard enlisted rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8), commonly called “Senior Chief” or “Senior”.
(SCW) : Seabee Combat Warfare designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
SDDC: Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
(SEAL) : Navy Special Warfare designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
SecAF: Secretary of the Air Force
SecDef: Secretary of Defense
SECNAV: Secretary of the Navy
SEL: Senior Enlisted Leader in Navy
(Sel): This acronym is added to someone’s rank to designate they have been selected for promotion, but have not been promoted yet, i.e. CAPT (Sel).
SFC: Army enlisted rank of Sergeant First Class (E-7)
(SG): Warfare designator for someone who has qualified in the subsurface rating, but is not assigned to submarines.
SGLI: Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance. For more information, go to their hompage.
SGM: Army enlisted rank of Sergeant Major (E-9). Command Sergeant Major (CSM) is another E-9 rank in the Army.
SGT: Army enlisted rank of Sergeant (E-5)
Sgt: Marine Corps enlisted rank of Sergeant (E-5)
SgtMaj: Marine Corps enlisted rank of Sergeant Major (E-9). Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) is another E-9 rank in the Marine Corps.
SMA: Sergeant Major of the Army the senior enlisted person in the entire Army.
SME: Subject Matter Expert
SMMC: Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is the senior enlisted person in the entire Marine Corps.
SMSgt: Air Force enlisted rank of Senior Master Sergeant (E-8)
SN: Navy and Coast Guard enlisted rank of Seaman (E-3)
SOUTHCOM: U.S. Southern Command
SPC: Army enlisted rank of Specialist (E-4). Corporal (CPL) is another E-4 rank in that service.
SR: Navy and Coast Guard enlisted rank of Seaman Recruit (E-1)
SrA: Air Force enlisted rank of Senior Airman (E-4)
(SS): Subsurface Warfare designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
SSG: Army enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6)
SSgt: Air Force and Marine Corps enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant. In the Air Force, the rank is E-5 while in the Marine Corps the rank is E-6.
(SW): Surface Warfare designation that appears in parenthesis following rank, i.e. AT2 Joe Smith (AW).
TAD: Temporary Additional Duty term used by the Navy and Marines, meaning the same thing as TDY.
TDY: Temporary Duty term used by the Air Force and Army, meaning the same thing as TAD.
TLA: Temporary Lodging Allowance
TSgt: Air Force enlisted rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6)
TSP: Thrift Savings Plan
UA: Unauthorized Absence
UIM: Unit Identification Marker
USA: United States Army
USACIDC: U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command also known “CID.”
USAF: United States Air Force
USCG: United States Coast Guard
USMC: United States Marine Corps
USN: United States Navy
VADM: Navy and Coast Guard officer rank of Vice Admiral (O-9)
W-1 (W-2, W-3, …): Warrant Officer personnel ranked from one (1) or two (2) as the lowest to four (4) or five (5) as the highest, depending on the branch of service. Warrant Officers are ranked between enlisted and officers. The Air Force does not have warrant officers.
WO1: Army and Marine Corps warrant officer rank of Warrant Officer 1 (W-1)
XO: Executive Officer, second in command
