The Language of Acronyms

The Language of Acronyms: The Air Force language of acronyms can be confusing for all spouse (not only all Japanese!) Here are "the lingoes" I learned from " Spouse Guide to The Air Force " If you are the one who is struggling with these abbreviations like me, you may want to know them. :) I was very much confused on these lingoes for the first time and had no idea what my hubby was talking about..) Check these out! Hope it will help you a lot!

You might hear often the words that are underlined and marked such as "*".

See more details by clicking on the blue colored letters.

*THE LANGUAGE OF ACRONYMS*

*Common Military Phrases*

AAFES: Army Air Force Exchange Service; also called *BX/Post Exchange

ACC: Air Combat Command

ADSC: Active Duty Service commitment

AETC: Air Education Training Command

AFAS: Air Force Aid Society

AFB: Air Force Base

AFLC: Air Force Logistics Command

AFSC: Air Force Specialty Code

ALPHA: A way of saying "A" (??)

AMC: Air Mobility Command

AMN: Airman

ARC: *American Red Cross

AT: Annual Tour

AWC: Air Wafare Center

BAS: Basic Allowance for Subsistence

BAQ: Basic Allowance for Quarters

BDU'S: Battle Dress Uniform AKA Cammies

BOQ: Bachelor officer Quarters

CC: Commander

CCF: First Sergeant

CDC: Career Development Course

CE: Civil Engineer

CINC: Commander -in -Chief

COLA: Cost of Living Allowance

CONUS: Continental United States

CPO: Civilian Personnel Office

DECA: Defense Commissary Agency

DEERS: Defense Enrolment Eligibility Reporting System

DEROS: *Date Estimated Return Overseas

DFAS: Defense Finance and Accounting Service

DLA: Dislocation Allowance

DOD: Department of Defense

DOR: Date of Rank

DOS: Date of separation

DPP: Deferred payment Plan

DS: Dependent Spouse

DSN: Defense Switch Network *Worldwide telephone system

EFMP: Exceptional Family Member Program

EPR: Enlisted Performance Report

ETS: Expiration of Term of Service

EWC: Enlisted Wives Club

FSC: *Family Support Center

FS: Family Services

GOV: Government Owned Vehicle

GS: General Schedule (base Civil Service worker)

GSU: Geographically Separated Unit

HHG: Household Goods

HOLA: Housing Overseas Living Allowance

HQ: Headquarters (generally wing commander's office)

　I , J & L:

IG: Inspector General

JAG: Judge Advocate General

LES: Leave and Earning Statement

MP: Military Police

MPF: Military Personnel Flight

MMS: Mission Support Squadron

MWR: Morale Welfare and Recreation

NAF: Non-Appropriated funds

NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer

NCOIC: Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge

OIC: Office in Charge

OJT: On-the Job-Training

OPR: Office of primary Responsibility

OSI: Office of Special Investigation

OTS: Officer Training School

OWC: Officer's Wives Club

PCA: Permanent Change of Assignment

PCS: Permanent Change of Station

PFMP: Personal Financial Management

PME: Professional Military Education

POC: Point of Contact

POV: Privately Owned Vehicle

PRP: Personal Reliability Program

R & S:

RIF: Reduction In Force

ROTC: Reserve Officer Training Corps

SBP: Survivor's Benefit Plan

SEA: Senior Enlisted Advisor

SGLI: Serviceman's Group Life Insurance

SOP: Standard Operating Procedures

SORTIE: Name of a flight

SF: *Security Forces

TAP: Transition Assistance Program

TDY: Temporary Duty

TLF: Temporary Living Facility

TMO: Traffic Management Office

UTA: Unit Training Assembly

USAF: United States Air Force

USAFE: United States Air Force Europe

V& W:

VA: Veteran's Administration

VHA: Variable Housing Allowance

VOQ: Visiting Office Quarter

WAPS: Weighted Airman Promotion

WIC: Women, Infants and Children's

*COMMON MILITARY PHRASES*

A & B:

Accompanied Tour: Tour of duty with family members

Active Duty: Member is on active duty

Allotment: Designated payment by member to bank or individual

Alert: Emergency call to be ready

Allowance: Pay and special compensation

Article15: Disciplinary action

Benefits: Medical, dental, commissary, BX

Blues: Dress Uniform

Commander: The Officer in charge of an entire unit of military members

Commissary: Base grocery store

Chain of Command: Leadership structure

Chaplain: Military minister, priest, rabbi or pastor

Civilian: Refers to civilian employees who work for DoD

Code of Conduct: Rules by which military must live

Colors: National and unit/organizational

Courts-Martial: Trial system within the military

D& E:

Deployment: Military or civilian employee sent on a mission without family members

Dining In: Formal dinner for military members only

Dining Out: Formal dinner for military members and spouses

Enlisted/NCO: An individual who is not commissioned. Either an Airman

-Rank of E1-E4 or an NCO (Non Commissioned Officer)

-Rank of E5-E9

F&G:

Family Advocacy: Program that addresses family issues and concerns

Family services: Non-profit official AF organization manned by Volunteers

Field Grade: Majors, Lieutenant Colonels, and Colonels

Formation: Gathering of military in prescribed way

Gear: Equipment used by military and civilian employees

GI Bill: Education entitlement

Grade: Corresponds to pay level of military/Civilian employee

H, I&K:

Hazardous Duty Pay: Extra pay in hostile area

Housing Office: Responsible for managing base housing and off base(?)

ID Card: Identification card issued to legally recognized member of military

L&M:

Last 4: the last four numbers of a person's SSN

Leave: Approved time away from duty

Location Allowance: Allowance received for PCS move

O'Club: Officers' Club

Officer: An individual who has a college degree and is commissioned.

Orderly Room: Squadron Office

Orders: Spoken or written instructions to military /Civilian members

(usually for TDY's, Deployments, or PCS)

P& Q:

Power of Attorney: Legal document permitting a person to act on behalf of another

Protocol: Customs and courtesies

Quarters: Government housing for married members

Rank: Official title of member (also relative position within a military

grade such as sergeant or captain)

Remote: An overseas assignment, usually for 12 or 18 months, families

can not accompany with sponsor.

Retreat: Bugle/Flag ceremony at end of the day

Roster: List of members by name

Separation Pay: pay for unaccompanied duty

Short timer: Person with short time left to serve on active duty

Sick Call: Specific block of time for for medical attention

Space A: Space Available (referring to aircraft space)

Sponsor: Person who is salaried by the Government

Subsistence: Food allowance

Sure Pay/ Direct Deposit: Member's or civilian employee's guaranteed check to bank

T, U&W:

Tech school: Formal school training for a military job

UCMJ: Uniform Code of Military Justice

Unit: Group of military members, both officers and enlisted personnel

assigned to work together with a common purpose and goal.

Wing Down Day: A day off; not counted against leave ( personally, I like this

word: " Wing Down Day". My air man does " Wing down

Day " today. .. it's a cool phrase to tell somebody!)

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