Independent study resource — not an official Department of Defense website

How this site sources its material
Staff & Admin

Acronym finder

Search the acronym or the words behind it. Where two terms get confused for each other, the entry says so.

Acronyms

260 of 260 shown

1

1LT
First Lieutenant
1SG
First SergeantSame pay grade as master sergeant, but a command billet.

2

2LT
Second Lieutenant

A

AA&E
Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives
AAM
Army Achievement Medal
AAR
After Action ReviewIn supply channels the same letters mean Administrative Adjustment Report, DA Form 4949.
ABCP
Army Body Composition Program
ABCT
Armored Brigade Combat Team
ACFT
Army Combat Fitness TestSuperseded by the Army Fitness Test.
ACH
Advanced Combat Helmet
ACOG
Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight
ACOM
Army Command
AFT
Army Fitness TestThe test of record since 1 June 2025. It replaced the ACFT.
AGSU
Army Green Service Uniform
AIT
Advanced Individual Training
ALC
Advanced Leader Course
AMC
United States Army Materiel Command
AMHRR
Army Military Human Resource RecordThe official record formerly called the OMPF.
AOC
Area of ConcentrationThe officer equivalent of an MOS.
APD
Army Publishing Directorate
APFT
Army Physical Fitness TestThe push-up, sit-up, and two-mile run test retired in favor of the ACFT and then the AFT.
APFU
Army Physical Fitness Uniform
ARCOM
Army Commendation Medal
ARIMS
Army Records Information Management System
ARNG
Army National Guard
ASAP
Army Substance Abuse ProgramIn staff traffic ASAP just as often means as soon as possible.
ASCC
Army Service Component Command
ASCOPE
Areas, structures, capabilities, organizations, people, events
ASI
Additional Skill Identifier
ASL
Authorized Stockage List
ASU
Army Service Uniform
AWOL
Absent Without Leave

B

BAH
Basic Allowance for Housing
BAS
Basic Allowance for Subsistence
BCT
Brigade Combat TeamIn the training pipeline BCT means basic combat training.
BG
Brigadier General
BH
Behavioral Health
BLC
Basic Leader Course
BSB
Brigade Support Battalion
BSM
Bronze Star Medal

C

CAB
Combat Action BadgeIn unit designations CAB usually means combat aviation brigade.
CAS
Close Air Support
CASEVAC
Casualty EvacuationMovement of casualties on a non-medical platform of opportunity. Not interchangeable with MEDEVAC.
CAT
Combat Application Tourniquet
CATS
Combined Arms Training Strategy
CBRN
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and NuclearReplaced the older term NBC.
CCC
Captains Career Course
CCIR
Commander's Critical Information Requirements
CIB
Combat Infantryman Badge
CID
Department of the Army Criminal Investigation DivisionRenamed from U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command; the CID abbreviation stayed.
CIF
Central Issue Facility
CLS
Combat Lifesaver
CMB
Combat Medical Badge
COA
Course of ActionIn awards context, COA means Certificate of Achievement.
COL
Colonel
COMPO
ComponentCOMPO 1 is the Regular Army, COMPO 2 is the Army National Guard, COMPO 3 is the Army Reserve.
COP
Common Operational Picture
CP
Command PostAlso used for checkpoint and, in casualty handling, for collection point. Context decides.
CPL
CorporalSame pay grade as specialist, but an NCO.
CPT
Captain
CQ
Charge of Quarters
CRM
Composite Risk ManagementRetired term. Current doctrine is simply risk management, and the worksheet is DD Form 2977.
CSDP
Command Supply Discipline Program
CSM
Command Sergeant Major
CSSB
Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
CTC
Combat Training Center
CUI
Controlled Unclassified Information
CW5
Chief Warrant Officer 5

D

DIVARTY
Division Artillery
DLC
Distributed Leader CourseReplaced Structured Self-Development (SSD).
DODAAC
Department of Defense Activity Address Code
DODIC
Department of Defense Identification CodeThe code that identifies a specific ammunition item.
DOR
Date of Rank
DRU
Direct Reporting Unit
DSC
Distinguished Service Cross
DTG
Date-Time Group
DTMS
Digital Training Management System
DX
Direct Exchange

E

EEFI
Essential Element of Friendly Information
EFMB
Expert Field Medical Badge
EFMP
Exceptional Family Member Program
EIB
Expert Infantryman Badge
ENVG-B
Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular
EO
Equal Opportunity
EOA
Equal Opportunity Advisor
EOD
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
ERB
Enlisted Record BriefSuperseded by the Soldier Record Brief in IPPS-A.
ESB
Expert Soldier Badge
ETS
Expiration Term of Service

F

FFIR
Friendly Force Information Requirement
FLIPL
Financial Liability Investigation of Property LossDocumented on DD Form 200; the older term was report of survey.
FMC
Fully Mission Capable
FMTV
Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
FORSCOM
United States Army Forces Command
FRAGORD
Fragmentary OrderCommonly spoken as FRAGO. It changes part of an existing OPORD rather than replacing it.
FSC
Forward Support Company
FTX
Field Training Exercise

G

G3
Operations staff section at division level and aboveSame function as an S3, at a higher echelon.
GCSS-Army
Global Combat Support System-ArmyReplaced legacy systems including PBUSE, SAMS, and ULLS.
GEN
General
GOMOR
General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand

H

H2F
Holistic Health and Fitness
HEMTT
Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
HHB
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
HHC
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
HHT
Headquarters and Headquarters Troop
HMMWV
High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
HQDA
Headquarters, Department of the Army
HR
Hand ReceiptIn personnel channels HR means human resources.
HRC
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
HRP
Hand-Release Push-Up

I

IBCT
Infantry Brigade Combat Team
IDES
Integrated Disability Evaluation System
IED
Improvised Explosive Device
IFAK
Individual First Aid Kit
IG
Inspector General
IHPS
Integrated Head Protection System
IMR
Individual Medical Readiness
IOTV
Improved Outer Tactical Vest
IPB
Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
iPERMS
Interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System
IPPS-A
Integrated Personnel and Pay System-ArmyThe Army's personnel and pay system of record; it replaced eMILPO and several legacy systems.

J

J3
Operations directorate of a joint staffJoint headquarters use J; Army headquarters use G or S.
JBC-P
Joint Battle Command-PlatformThe current mission command network device; earlier fielding was known as Blue Force Tracker.
JLTV
Joint Light Tactical Vehicle
JRTC
Joint Readiness Training Center

L

LD
Line of Departure
LES
Leave and Earnings Statement
LFX
Live Fire Exercise
LIN
Line Item Number
LOD
Line of DutyDetermination that an injury or illness occurred in the line of duty; it starts with DA Form 2173.
LOGPAC
Logistics Package
LOGSTAT
Logistics Status Report
LTC
Lieutenant Colonel
LTG
Lieutenant General
LZ
Landing Zone

M

MAJ
Major
MDL
Maximum DeadliftThe first event on the Army Fitness Test.
MDMP
Military Decision-Making Process
MEB
Medical Evaluation BoardIn unit designations MEB also means maneuver enhancement brigade.
MEDEVAC
Medical EvacuationA dedicated, marked medical platform with medical care en route.
MEDPROS
Medical Protection System
MET
Mission Essential Task
METL
Mission Essential Task List
METT-TC
Mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, civil considerationsCurrent doctrine writes it METT-TC (I), adding informational considerations.
MFR
Memorandum for Record
MG
Major General
MILSTRIP
Military Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures
MLC
Master Leader Course
MOH
Medal of Honor
MOLLE
Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment
MOPP
Mission Oriented Protective Posture
MOS
Military Occupational Specialty
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
MRC
Medical Readiness Classification
MRE
Meal, Ready to Eat
MSG
Master Sergeant
MSM
Meritorious Service Medal
MTOE
Modified Table of Organization and Equipment
MUC
Meritorious Unit Commendation

N

NAI
Named Area of Interest
NCO
Noncommissioned Officer
NCOIC
Noncommissioned Officer in Charge
NCOLCoE
Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Center of ExcellenceFormerly the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA).
NJP
Nonjudicial PunishmentThe Article 15 process, documented on DA Form 2627.
NMC
Not Mission Capable
NMCM
Not Mission Capable MaintenanceDown waiting on maintenance labor or a service.
NMCS
Not Mission Capable SupplyDown waiting on a part.
NSN
National Stock Number
NTC
National Training Center
NVG
Night Vision Goggle

O

OAKOC
Observation and fields of fire, avenues of approach, key and decisive terrain, obstacles, cover and concealmentThe military aspects of terrain. Older references use OCOKA.
OC/T
Observer Coach/Trainer
OCIE
Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment
OCP
Operational Camouflage Pattern
OCS
Officer Candidate School
OIC
Officer in Charge
OPORD
Operation Order
OPSEC
Operations Security
ORB
Officer Record BriefSuperseded by the Soldier Record Brief in IPPS-A.

P

PBO
Property Book Officer
PCS
Permanent Change of Station
PEB
Physical Evaluation Board
PEBD
Pay Entry Basic Date
PFC
Private First Class
PH
Purple Heart
PHA
Periodic Health Assessment
PIR
Priority Intelligence Requirement
PL
Phase LineOn a graphic overlay PL means phase line; in a unit roster PL means platoon leader.
PLL
Prescribed Load List
PMCS
Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services
PMESII-PT
Political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, physical environment, time
PPW
Promotion Point WorksheetDA Form 3355.
PRT
Physical Readiness TrainingPRT is the doctrinal training program in FM 7-22. PT is the everyday word for the session itself.
PSG
Platoon Sergeant
PT
Physical Training
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PUC
Presidential Unit Citation
PULHES
Physical capacity and stamina, upper extremities, lower extremities, hearing and ears, eyes, psychiatricThe six factors of the physical profile serial.
PVT
PrivateCovers both E-1 and E-2; E-2 is usually written PV2.

Q

QMP
Qualitative Management Program

R

REFRAD
Release from Active Duty
RM
Risk Management
ROE
Rules of Engagement

S

S1
Personnel staff section at brigade level and belowS is a battalion or brigade staff, G is a division or higher Army staff, and J is a joint staff. S3, G3, and J3 are the same function at different echelons.
S3
Operations staff section at brigade level and below
SALUTE
Size, activity, location, unit, time, equipment
SARC
Sexual Assault Response Coordinator
SAW
Squad Automatic Weapon
SBCT
Stryker Brigade Combat Team
SDC
Sprint-Drag-Carry
SDNCO
Staff Duty Noncommissioned Officer
SDO
Staff Duty Officer
SDZ
Surface Danger Zone
SFAB
Security Force Assistance Brigade
SFC
Sergeant First Class
SGLI
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
SGM
Sergeant Major
SGT
Sergeant
SHARP
Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention
SHR
Sub Hand Receipt
SINCGARS
Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System
SITREP
Situation Report
SLC
Senior Leader Course
SMA
Sergeant Major of the Army
SMC
Sergeants Major Course
SMCT
Soldier's Manual of Common Tasks
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
SPC
Specialist
SRB
Soldier Record BriefIn retention channels SRB means selective reenlistment bonus. The record brief replaced the ERB and ORB.
SRP
Soldier Readiness Processing
SS
Silver Star
SSA
Supply Support Activity
SSG
Staff Sergeant
STEP
Select, train, educate, promoteThe rule that a Soldier completes the required leader course before being promoted.
STP
Soldier Training Publication
STX
Situational Training Exercise

T

T&EO
Training and Evaluation Outline
TACSOP
Tactical Standard Operating Procedure
TAI
Target Area of Interest
TAMMS
The Army Maintenance Management System
TBI
Traumatic Brain Injury
TCCC
Tactical Combat Casualty Care
TDA
Table of Distribution and AllowancesTDA organizations are fixed installation or support activities; MTOE organizations are deployable units.
TDY
Temporary Duty
TLP
Troop Leading ProceduresThe company-and-below process. MDMP is the staff process at battalion and above.
TOC
Tactical Operations Center
TRADOC
United States Army Training and Doctrine Command

U

UAS
Unmanned Aircraft System
UCMJ
Uniform Code of Military Justice
UIC
Unit Identification Code
UMO
Unit Movement Officer
USAR
United States Army Reserve

V

VA
Victim AdvocateIn benefits discussions VA means the Department of Veterans Affairs.
VUA
Valorous Unit Award

W

WARNORD
Warning OrderOften written and spoken as WARNO. Doctrinal publications use WARNORD.
WO1
Warrant Officer 1
WTBD
Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills

X

XO
Executive Officer

Y

YTB
Yearly Training Brief