Yes, the military does speak a different language. In fact, when I was researching this post, I found out that there are over 12,000 military specific terms and acronyms. No wonder family members get confused!

Learning what all those letters stand for makes military life much easier. Below is a list of common military acronyms. If I left any out feel free to add yours in the comments, as long as they are “G” rated. 🙂

A-B

• AAFES – Army and Air Force Exchange Service (This is the tax-free department store for military members, retirees, and their dependents.)
• ACU – Army Combat Uniform
• AD – Active Duty
• AFPFT – Air Force Physical Fitness Test
• APFT – Army Physical Fitness Test
• APO – Army Post Office (Address used for overseas duty locations. Mailing to an APO costs the same as mailing to a US address.)
• ASVAB – Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (Test recruits take that helps determine what their job will be in the service.)
• AWOL – Absent Without Leave
• BAH – Basic Allowance For Housing (paid to a service member based on location and dependents.)
• BAS – Basic Allowance for Substinence (The money a service member receives for food.)

C-D

• CDO – Command Duty Officer
• CINC – Commander In Chief
• CO – Commanding Officer (The one in charge.)
• COLA – Cost of Living Allowance (Extra pay given to service members in high cost areas, based on area and number of dependents.)
• CONUS – Continental United States
• DEERS – Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (You must be enrolled in this to be eligible for benefits.)
• DITY – Do-It-Yourself move
• DOD – Department of Defense
• DS – Drill Sargeant

E-M

• EFMP – Exceptional Family Member Program (Program for military dependents who need have special physical and or mental needs.)
• FPO – Fleet Post Office
  
• IG – Inspector General
• JAG – Judge Advocate General (Military Lawyers)
• LES – Leave and Earning Statment (This form, which is available online is your pay stub.)
• TDY – Temporary Duty (Military member is temporarily assigned to a different duty station, may or may not involve travel.)
• MAC – Military Airlift Command
• MCCS – Marine Corps Community Service
• MEPS – Military Entrance Processing Center (Entrance point for your military career.)
• MP – Military Police
• MWR – Morale, Welfare, and Recreation. (Comprehensive network of support and leisure services designed to enhance the lives of soldiers, their families, civilian employees, military retirees, and other eligible participants.)

N-T

• NCO – Non Commissioned Officer
• NCIOC – Non-commissioned Officer In Charge
• NEX – Navy Exchange (Same thing as AAFES, but for the Navy)
• OCONUS – Outside Continental United States (Used to describe duty station location)
• OCS – Officer Candidate School (Boot camp for officers)
• OPR – Officer Performance Report
• PCS – Permanent Change of Station (time to call the movers!)
• PFT – Physical Fitness Test
• POA – Power of Attorney (Every military family must have one of these!)
• POV – Personally Owned Vehicle (Your car, truck, van, bus, etc)
• PRT – Physical Readiness Test (Navy)
• TAD – Temporary Additional Duty (Marines & Navy)
• TAP –  Transition Assistance Program  (Program to help separating service members during their period of transition into civilian life by offering job-search assistance and related services)

U-X

• USA – United States Army
• USAF – United States Air Force
• USCG – United States Coast Guard
  
• USMC – United States Marine Corps
• USN – United States Navy
• WO – Warrant Officer
• XO – Executive Officer (Second in Command)

Didn’t see what you are looking for? Check out this site for a comprehensive listing of military acronyms.

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• Surviving Deployment
• On Base Housing: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
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