I was always asking what things meant or what the military acronyms stood for when I first became a part of the military circles as a girlfriend. Sometimes I felt as though I was the only one who didn’t know what everyone else was saying. Which in turn made me not want to even ask anymore because I was embarrassed.
Has there ever been a time you have felt like everyone around you is speaking a foreign language…even your husband? Do your conversations with other military members or spouses leave you even more confused?
It can be baffling and overwhelming when these acronyms and slang come up regularly in conversations. I’m here to help you decipher them and learn the military lingo.
The military as a whole has the same language across the board for the most part. But each service does have some of their own ‘slang’ language, which I will touch on here as well.
The military has had a long tradition of using acronyms and abbreviations. You will find that you will continue to encounter these even after leaving active or reserve duty. Because if you have to deal with the Department of Veteran Affairs – VA, that’s your first acronym to learn – they are exceptionally good at using them as well.
The list of acronyms is quite lengthy, so I will be touching on the most popular you should know. Luckily for us the Department of Defense – DoD, that’s your second acronym! – has a searchable online dictionary for any others you might come across. Two down and you’re already on your way to speaking military!
Pay & Benefits Acronyms
BAH – Basic Allowance for Housing (Used to be referred to VHA/BAQ prior to 1998)
BAS – Basic Allowance for Subsistence (Used to offset cost of meals)
COLA – Cost of Living Allowance (Compensation to service members for the high cost of living at certain duty stations.)
DFAS – Defense Finance and Accounting Service
LES – Leave and Earnings Statement
MGIB – Montgomery GI Bill
SGLI – Service Members Group Life Insurance
TSP – Thrift Savings Plan
There are many more acronyms associated with the Leave and Earnings Statement your service member receives. However, many of the extra pay acronyms will not apply because of criteria which must be met prior to receiving it. Leave and Earning Statements (LES) can be confusing when you look at one.
Moving / PCS Acronyms
APO – Army Post Office (Used for overseas addresses)
CONUS – Continental United States
PPM – Personally Procured Move (Formerly DITY – Do It Yourself Move) (Can be entire household goods or partial on CONUS moves)
DLA – Dislocation Allowance (The government will partially reimburse you for expenses incurred in relocation)
DPS – Defense Personal Property System (Internet-based program that manages DoD household goods moves)
FPO – Fleet Post Office (Used for overseas addresses)
HEAT – Housing Early Assistance Tool (Navy)
HHG – Household Goods
HHGSO – Household Goods Shipping Office (Coordinates and handles shipping aspect of your move for Coast Guard)
ITO – Installation Transportation Office (Coordinates and handles shipping aspect of your move for Army)
OCONUS – Outside of Continental United States
PCS – Permanent Change of Station
PDS – Permanent Duty Station
POV – Personally Owned Vehicle
PPSO – Personal Property Shipping Office (Coordinates and handles shipping aspect of your move for Navy/Marines)
TLA – Temporary Lodging Allowance (The government will partially reimburse you for the additional costs you may incur when house hunting or living in temporary quarters in conjunction with a move outside of the United States)
TLE – Temporary Lodging Expense (The government will partially reimburse you for lodging and meals at your old duty station or after you arrive at the new duty station for stateside moves)
TMO – Traffic Management Office (Coordinates and handles shipping aspect of your move for Air Force)
UAB – Unaccompanied Baggage (Used for outside of the United States moves to get a limited amount of personal items shipped by air until your household goods arrive)
Healthcare Acronyms
DEERS – Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System
EFMP – Exceptional Family Member Program (For military dependents who need to have special physical and or mental needs)
PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
TRICARE – Military Healthcare Program
Base/Post Facility Acronyms
AAFES – Army and Air Force Exchange Service (Tax-free department store for military members, veterans, and their dependents)
BEQ – Base Enlisted Quarters
BOQ – Base Officer Quarters
BX – Base Exchange (another name for AAFES in the Air Force)
Class Six – Base/Post Liquor Store
Commissary – Tax-free grocery store for military members, veterans, and their dependents
DFAC/DINFAC – Dining Facility (For single or geographical bachelor service members)
MPD – Military Personnel Division (Where Army members or dependents would go for military ID and make changes to a service members personnel file like adding dependents etc)
MPS – Military Personnel Section (Where Air Force members or dependents would go for military ID and make changes to a service members personnel file like adding dependents etc)
MWR – Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (Provides a variety of leisure programs designed to support military personnel and their families)
NEX – Navy Exchange (Tax-free department store for military members, veterans, and their dependents)
PSD – Personnel Support Detachment (Where Navy members or dependents would go for military ID and make changes to a service members personnel file like adding dependents etc)
PX – Post Exchange (Another name for AAFES in the Army)
Service and Organization Acronyms
AFN – Armed Forces Network (Television and Radio Station for outside of United States military members)
AMC – Air Mobility Command (Also known as MAC)
DoD – Department of Defense
DoDEA – Department of Defense Education Activity
DoDDS – Department of Defense School
FCP – Family Care Program
FRG – Family Readiness Group (A group that supports military families in the military)
MAC – Military Airlift Command (Now known as AMC)
MCCS – Marine Corps Community Service
Ombudsman – Navy liaison between a command and the spouses
TAP – Transition Assistance Program (Retiring/Separating service members transitioning into civilian life)
USO – United Service Organization (Support troops/families in various ways)
Legal Acronyms
CIS – Criminal Investigation Service (Army/Air Force)
IG – Inspector General
JAG- Judge Advocate General (Military Lawyers)
MP – Military Police
NCIS – Naval Criminal Investigation Service (Navy/Marines/Coast Guard)
POA – Power of Attorney
Other Helpful Acronyms
AFPFT – Air Force Physical Fitness Test
AFSC – Air Force Specialty Code (Air Force Job)
APFT – Army Physical Fitness Test
CWO – Chief Warrant Officer
DOE – Date of Enlistment
DOR – Date of Rank
ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival
EOS – End of Service
ETS – Expiration of Term of Service
EPR – Enlisted Performance Report
MEPS – Military Entrance Processing Center
MilSO – Military Significant Other
MOS – Military Occupational Specialty (Army Job)
MRE – Meal Ready to Eat (Field Rations)
NCO – Non-Commissioned Officer
OCS – Officer Candidate School
OPR – Officer Performance Report
PRD – Projected Rotation Date
PRT – Physical Readiness Test (Navy)
SITREP – Situational Report
SOP – Standard Operating Procedure
TAD – Temporary Additional Duty (Marine/Navy)
V/R – Very Respectfully
WO – Warrant Officer
Want to remember all these acronyms! Pin this to your favorite Pinterest Board!
Elizebeth is a seasoned military spouse, educator, mentor, and mom to a blended family of four children. She is dedicated to helping fellow spouses create a life they love. Elizebeth is the creator and founder of Home Anchor Following Seas where military spouses will find advice and information to help navigate the crazy military lifestyle.
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