Life in the Military

Common Acronyms & Terms

If there is one thing you are sure to encounter in the Military, its acronyms and terms unique to serving. From joining to training to shopping and even eating, you’ll find them throughout all aspects of military life. Below are just a few examples:

  • “A” and “C” Schools — Advanced Training schools in the Navy and Coast Guard.
  • About Face — The drill movement where a person or group turns and faces the opposite direction.
  • ACU — Army Combat Uniform. It is the daily work uniform, as opposed to the dress uniform (for Army personnel).
  • Aim High … Fight, Fly, Win. — The motto of the U.S Air Force.
  • AIT — Advanced Individual Training, where soldiers receive specialty training after completing basic training.
  • ASVAB — Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), an aptitude test developed by the Department of Defense that measures a young adult’s strengths and potential military success.
  • ASVAB CEP — Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Career Exploration Program, which is used for career exploration and given in high schools and community colleges, at Job Corps centers, and at correctional facilities.
  • AWOL — Absent Without Official Leave, which means to leave duty without permission.
  • BAH — Basic Allowance for Housing.
  • BAS — Basic Allowance for Subsistence.
  • BCT — Basic Combat Training, sometimes known as boot camp.
  • Bravo Zulu — Praise for a good job or “well done.”
  • Blues — Blue dress uniform (for Marine Corps and Air Force).
  • BX, PX or AAFES — Base Exchange, Post Exchange, and Army and Air Force Exchange Service. They’re essentially department stores (or shopping centers) where service members and their families can purchase tax-free items with very little markup cost.
  • CO — Commanding Officer. 
  • DCO — Direct Commission Officers, who are specially skilled officers who transition directly from civilian careers that are needed for military operations, such as law, medicine, religious studies, etc. Regular age limits and requirements may be waived for some of these positions.
  • DEP — Delayed Entry Program, a program that allows newly enlisted members to delay reporting for basic training — sometimes up to a year.
  • DFAC — Dining Facility.
  • DoD — Department of Defense.
  • EOD — Explosive Ordnance Disposal, responsible for the safe handling, deactivation and removal of an unexploded ordnance — the military version of a bomb squad.
  • EPW — Enemy Prisoner of War.
  • File 13 — The garbage can.
  • Galley — The kitchen aboard a ship.
  • Head — The bathroom or latrine aboard a boat or ship.
  • IRR — Individual Ready Reserve, which is a Reserve component of the Armed Forces made up of former active-duty or reserve personnel.
  • JTF — Joint Task Force.
  • Medevac or Medivac — Removing a wounded person by using designated ambulance equipment, vehicles or aircraft.
  • MEPS — Military Entrance Processing Station.
  • MOS — Military Occupational Specialty, a job classification.
  • MP — Military Police.
  • MRE — Meal, Ready-to-Eat, a self-contained meal packed in a flexible bag designed to eat while training or during operations when normal food service facilities are not available.
  • MWR — Morale, Welfare and Recreation are programs that help service members keep an active social life with activities, facilities and other opportunities. 
  • Non Sibi Sed Patriae — Latin for “Not Self but Country,” this is the unofficial motto of the U.S. Navy.
  • NCO — Noncommissioned Officer.
  • OCS/OTS — Officer Candidate School/Officer Training School
  • Oorah/Hooah/Hooyah — Marine Corps’/Army’s/Navy SEALs’ (respectively) spirited cries. They are usually in response to a verbal greeting or as an expression of enthusiasm.
  • PCS — Permanent Change of Station is a relocation to another base.
  • PFT — Physical Fitness Test.
  • PiCAT — Pending Internet Computerized Adaptive Test, an untimed, unmonitored version of the ASVAB that can be taken online.
  • POC — Point of Contact, the person to connect with on a given matter.
  • PT — Physical Training, physical exercise to build or maintain strength, agility and flexibility.
  • ROTC — Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
  • SEALs — United States Navy SEALs (stands for SEa, Air, Land).
  • Semper Fi — Short for “Semper Fidelis,” this is the motto of the U.S. Marine Corps and is Latin for “Always Faithful.”
  • Semper Paratus — Latin for “Always Ready,” this is the motto of the U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Semper Supra — Latin for “Always Above,” this is the motto of the U.S. Space Force.
  • TAD/TDY — Temporary Additional Duty/Temporary Duty.
  • This We’ll Defend — The motto of the U.S. Army.
  • Topside — The upper deck of a ship.
  • UA — Unauthorized Absence (similar to AWOL).
  • UAV — Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
  • VA — Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides dozens of federal benefits to veterans and their dependents, including home loans that are guaranteed by the federal government, educational assistance and disability compensation.
  • XO — Executive Officer.