Army Terms and Common Military Jargon

Sometimes, the Army can use some confusing terminology. If you’re stuck, this guide to common Army terms and acronyms may help explain.

Term	Definition
1st Lt.	First lieutenant
1st Sgt.	First sergeant
2nd Lt.	Second lieutenant
AAFES	Army and Air Force Exchange Service
ACC	See Army Community Covenant
ACE	American Council on Education
ACS	See Army Community Service
ACSIM	Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management
Active Duty	Active duty is full-time duty in the active military service of the United States. This includes members of the Reserve Components serving on active duty or full-time training duty, but does not include full-time National Guard duty.
Adaptive Sports	Adaptive Sports are engaged in by persons with disabilities, with the aid of equipment or techniques adapted for a disability.
AFAP	See Army Family Action Plan
AFRC	See Armed Forces Recreation Center
AFTB	See Army Family Team Building
AKO	Army Knowledge Online
AMEDD	Army Medical Department
ARFP	Army Reserve Family Programs
Armed Forces Entertainment	Armed Forces Entertainment is the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel overseas. Armed Forces Entertainment hosts more than 1,200 shows around the world each year, reaching more than 500,000 personnel at 270 military installations.
Armed Services YMCA	The Armed Services YMCA helps make military life easier with free and low cost programs for junior enlisted military Families at 33 branches and affiliates nationwide. Local programs and services focus on family life, recreation and fitness, medical and therapy needs and education. http://www.asymca.org/
Army	The Army is the branch of a nation's armed services that conducts military operations on land.
Army Community Covenant	The Army Community Covenant program is designed to foster and sustain effective state and community partnerships with the Army to improve the quality of life for Soldiers and their Families. While ACC is an Army program, it extends to the other military services as well, recognizing that many community efforts support all service members and their Families regardless of the uniform they wear.
Army Community Service	Army Community Service is an empowered team that provides comprehensive, coordinated, and responsive advocacy and prevention, information and referral, outreach, financial, employment, Soldier and Family Readiness, Exceptional Family Member and relocation assistance services that support the readiness and well-being of Soldiers and their Families, civilian employees, and retirees.
Army Entertainment	Army Entertainment promotes Soldier based entertainment competitions that include “Operation Rising Star”, the U.S. Army Soldier Show and the U.S. Army Festival of Performing Arts & Recreation Program Competition, as part of the Army’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programming. These competitive events encourage local participation and serve as feeder activities for USAED’s many Soldier based programs, providing a platform for potential candidates and future participants.
Army Family Action Plan	Army Family Action Plan is the Army's grassroots process to identify and elevate the most significant quality of life issues impacting Soldiers, retirees, civilians, and Families to senior leaders for action. The AFAP is a year-round process that begins at the installation or unit level.
Army Family Covenant	The Army Family Covenant represents the Army's commitment to providing Soldiers and their Families with a quality of life commensurate with their service and sacrifice. The signing of the Army Family Covenant resulted in a variety of programs such as Survivor Outreach Services, Child, Youth and School Services, Exceptional Family Member respite care and New Parent Support.
Army Family Team Building	Army Family Team Building prepares individuals through specialized training generating flexible, adaptive and capable Soldiers, Families and civilians. It aims to enhance personal growth and professional development to meet the needs of the transforming military as well as build and strengthen enduring partnerships resulting in resilient strong communities.
Army Lodging	Army Lodging provides quality lodging and hospitality services to Eligible Patrons.
Army Outdoor Recreation	The Army Outdoor Recreation program offers outdoor recreation activities and instruction for active duty Soldiers, Family members, DoD civilians and other authorized patrons.
ARNG	See Army National Guard
ASYMCA	See Armed Services YMCA
Authorized Patrons	See Eligible Patrons
Base	See Garrison
Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers	Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) is an Army program designed especially for single Soldiers. BOSS enhances the morale and welfare of single Soldiers, increases retention and sustains combat readiness. BOSS is the collective voice of single Soldiers through the chain of command, which serves as a tool for commanders to gauge the morale of single Soldiers regarding quality of life issues. Additionally, BOSS also sponsors a variety of activities before, during and after deployment to maintain the morale of single Soldiers affected by increased operational tempo and deployment stress.
BOSS	See Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers
BRAC	See Base Realignment and Closure
Brig. Gen.	Brigadier general
CAC	Casualty Assistance Command
CAC	Common Access Card
CAO	See Casualty Assistance Officer
Capt.	Captain
Casualty Assistance Officer	Casualty Assistance Officers are responsible for notifying Family members, providing a wide variety of assistance and support when a Soldier has died.
CDC	See Child Development Centers
Central Reservation Center	The Central Reservations Center helps with on-post Army Lodging reservations and can be contacted at 1-866-363-5771 or centralreservations@redstone.army.mil.
CEUs	Continuing Education Units
CFSC	See Community and Family Support Center
Chief Warrant Officer 2	Chief warrant officer two (CW2)
Child Development Centers	Army Child Development Centers are on-post child care centers that offer full-day, part-day and hourly care for children.
Child, Youth & School Services	Child, Youth & School Services are a wide range of quality programs to help Army Families meet their parental challenges and maintain their mission readiness.
CISM	Conseil Internationale Du Sport Militare
Civilian Personnel Advisory Center	The Civilian Personnel Advisory Center provides advisory services in the administration of civilian personnel services in a regionalized environment. The Center develops, promotes and monitors civilian personnel policies to meet the needs of management, supervisor, the workforce and represents the installation.
CMAOC	Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Center
Col.	Colonel
Command	A command is an organizational unit for which the individual in military command is responsible.
Command Sgt. Maj.	Command sergeant major
Commander	The commander is the officer in command of a military unit.
Community and Family Support Center	The Community and Family Support Center helps Soldiers and their Families thrive through a robust network of Soldier and Family support programs including Army Community Service; child care; youth services; financial counseling; spouse employment programs; sports and recreation opportunities; MWR support to deployed Soldier. The Community and Family Support Center is now the G9 of the Installation Management Command.
Community Service	Community Service is volunteered time by individuals or an organization to benefit a community or its institutions.
Conseil Internationale Du Sport Militare	Conseil Internationale Du Sport Militare is one of the largest multidisciplinary organizations in the world. It organizes various sporting events for the armed forces of 133 member countries.
Contractor	An individual or vendor that has entered into an agreement to provide goods or services to an agency. NAF Contracts often include minor and major construction, service and supply contracts, consolidated contracts, information technology, the use of an automated procurement system, and policy.
CONUS	Continental United States
CPAC	Civilian Personnel Advisory Center
Cpl.	Corporal
CRC	See Central Reservation Center
CSA	Chief of Staff Army
CSM	Command Sergeant Major
CYS	See Child, Youth & School Services
DCIPS	Army Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System
DCoE	Defense Centers of Excellence
DCSPER	Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel
DoD	See Department of Defense
DSN	Defense Switched Network
EFM	Exceptional Family Member
EFMP	See Exceptional Family Members Program
Eligible Patron	Eligible Patrons include active duty Army, Department of the Army civilian employees, US Army Retirees, and members of the Army National Guard or Army Reserve (18 years or older). Family Members of the above groups, 18 years or older with a military/Government ID card are also eligible. Many MWR facilities and service are also available to all branches of service. Always check with the staff at your local MWR facility or office to check eligibility.
Exceptional Family Members Program	The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, educational, medical and personnel services to Families with special needs. Soldiers on active duty enroll in the program when they have a Family member with a physical, emotional, developmental or intellectual disorder which requires specialized services so those needs can be considered in the military personnel assignment process.
Family	A military Family by definition is a unit that may consist of a husband,wife and children with either the husband and/or wife as the primary military enlisted.
Family Advocacy Program	The U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program is dedicated to the prevention, education, prompt reporting, investigation, intervention and treatment of spouse and child abuse.
Family Advocacy Program: Victim Advocacy Services Program	The Victim Advocacy Services Program, part of The Family Advocacy Services Program, provides comprehensive assistance and support to victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation Programs	Morale, Welfare and Recreation, abbreviated MWR, is a network of support and leisure services designed for use by Soldiers (active, Reserve, and Guard), their Families, civilian employees, military retirees and other eligible participants. In 2010, MWR added "Family" to its official name to show its commitment to supporting Families of Service members in addition to the Service member.
Family Readiness Groups	A Family Readiness Group is a command-sponsored organization of family members, volunteers, Soldiers and civilian employees associated with a particular unit. They provide activities and support to enhance the flow of information, increase the resiliency of unit Soldiers and their Families, provide practical tools for adjusting to military deployments and separations, and enhance the well-being and esprit de corps within the unit.
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Association
Festival of the Arts	The Festival of the Arts Program was established to recognize and encourage distinguished achievement in entertainment, recreation programming and theatrical production. Each year the program awards excellence at Army garrisons in fully produced plays, musicals, garrison-wide variety shows, non-competitive musical and theatrical workshops.
FMWRC	See Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation Command
FRG	See Family Readiness Groups
G-9	Under IMCOM command the "General Staff" model is used to organize the major divisions. For example: G-1 is Personnel, G-3 is Operations, G-6 is IT. G-9 represents Army Family and MWR Programs in the IMCOM Command structure. G-9 is new and only unique (within the Army) to IMCOM after the deactivation of FMWRC.
Garrison	A garrison is a military post, a permanent military installation.
Gen.	General
Get Fit, Be Strong	Get Fit, Be Strong is a program within Child, Youth and School Services which aims to improve the health and fitness of Army Youth.
GFBS	See Get Fit, Be Strong
HIRED	The HIRED! Apprenticeship Program provides 15-18 year-old youth with paid work experience, professionally-managed career-exploration opportunities and training in MWR operations.
HQDA	Headquarters, Department of the Army
HRC	Human Resources Command
IACET	International Association for Continuing Education and Training
IHG	See Intercontinental Hotel Group
IMA	See Installation Management Agency
IMCOM	See Installation Management Command
Information, Ticket & Travel	See Leisure Travel Office
Installation	See Garrison
Installation Management Agency	The U.S. Army Installation Management Agency assumes the mission to bring together all base operations support services to ensure the United States Army is well trained, fed, equipped and cared for in an environment where Soldier and Family well-being and combat readiness are both vitally important.
Installation Management Command	The United States Army Installation Management Command supports the United States Army's warfighting mission by working to provide standardized, effective & efficient services, facilities and infrastructure to Soldiers, civilians and Families.
Intercontinental Hotel Group	Intercontinental Hotel Group is an international hotel company who is contracted by the Army to provide lodging to Soldiers.
ITR office	See Leisure Travel Office
ITT	See Leisure Travel Office
JAG	Judge Advocate General
Joint Base	A joint base is a location from which operations of two or more military branches of service are projected, supported, manned for purposes of base defense operations.
Joint Service	Joint Service is a function performed by a jointly staffed and financed activity in support of two or more military services.
Joint Service Facility	A Joint Service Facility is a facility that is open to members of more than one branch of service and will be found on Joint Bases.
L-LAAD	Leader-Led After Action Debriefing
Leader-Led After Action Debriefing	The Leader-Led After Action Debriefing is a training technique utilized by the Warrior Adventure Quest Program.
Leisure Travel Office	The Leisure Travel Office is located on an Army Installation and offers a full range of vacation travel services, discount attraction tickets and can help book reservations and rentals, including condominiums, hotels, cruises, automobiles and tours.
Lodging Success	The Lodging Success Program provides DoD official travelers with quality commercial hotels when installation lodging is unavailable.
Long Term Family Case Management	The Army Long Term Family Case Management program provides long-term support to Families of fallen Soldiers by helping them through the often painful and sometimes arduous steps toward receiving benefits and various other types of support.
Lt. Col.	Lieutenant colonel
Lt. Gen	Lieutenant general
LTFCM	See Long Term Family Case Management
LTO	See Leisure Travel Office
Maj.	Major
Maj. Gen.	Major general
Master Sgt.	Master sergeant
MPO	Military Protective Order
MPOGS	Multi Player Online Games
MWR	See Morale, Welfare and Recreation
MWR Patrons	See Eligible Patrons
NAF	Non-Appropriated Funds
NAF Benefits	Comprehensive range of benefits to which NAF Employees, or employees with full-time positions created with non-appropriated funds are entitled.
National Guard	The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of National Guard military members or units of each state and the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands plus the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia (54 organizations) under federally recognized active or inactive Armed Force service for the United States.
NCO	See Non-Commissioned Officer
Non-Commissioned Officer	A Non-Commissioned Officer is an officer who has not been given a commission, usually obtains their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks.
OACSIM	Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management
OCLL	Office of The Chief Legislative Liaison
OCONUS	Outside of Continental United States
ODR	See Army Outdoor Recreation
Operation Rising Star	Operation Rising Star is Army Entertainment’s premiere individual performing competition. Each year, garrisons around the world host local talent contests and send in their winner’s video for judging nationally. The finals take place each fall and award one individual as the Army’s top vocal talent.
ORS	See Operation Rising Star
OTSG	Office of the Surgeon General
PALA	Presidential Active Lifestyle Award
PATHS	See Providing Army Travellers Hospitality Services
Paths Across America	Paths Across America is an online directory for locating campgrounds and recreational vehicle (RV) sites on military installations and recreation areas in the United States.
PCP	Presidential Champions Program
PCS	See Permanent Change of Station
Per Diem	Per Diem is a daily payment instead of actual expense reimbursement for lodging, meals and related incidental expenses when traveling.
Per Diem Rates	Per Diem Rates are the amount of per diem allowed and are determined by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA); rates are set by fiscal year, effective October 1.
Permanent Change of Station	A Permanent Change of Station is the official relocation of an active duty military service member, including Family, to a different duty location.
Providing Army Travellers Hospitality Services	See Paths Across America
PTSD	Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PX	Post Exchange
QOL	See Quality of Life
Quality of Life	Quality of Life is the general well-being of individuals including mental, physical and emotional health.
Recreation Center	A Recreation Center is a place where people can work out, play sports, and often serves as a social hub.
Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program	The Army's Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program exists so the Army can prevent sexual harassment and sexual assaults before they occur. The program strives to eliminate sexual assaults and sexual harassment by creating a climate that respects the dignity of every member of the Army Family.
Sgt.	Sergeant
Sgt. 1st Class	Sergeant first class
Sgt. Maj.	Sergeant major
Sgt. Maj. of the Army	Sergeant major of the Army
SHARP	Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program
Soldier	Soldiers are members of the United States Army.
Soldier Show	The Soldier Show is a live Broadway-style variety performance featuring the Army’s best talent. Each year, Army Entertainment brings together a troupe of Active Duty Soldier as performers and backstage crew who are selected through a rigorous audition process. They spend months rehearsing and training before taking the show “on the road” annually between May and September.
SOP	Standard Operating Procedures
SOS	See Survivor Outreach Services
Spc.	Specialist
Staff Sgt.	Staff sergeant
Survivor Outreach Services	Survivor Outreach Services is the official Army program designed to provide long term support to surviving Families of Fallen Soldiers. Conceived of and developed by Survivors, the SOS program is continually refined based on Survivor feedback and involvement by senior Army leaders.
TBI	Traumatic Brain Injury
TDY	See Temporary Duty
TDY Travel	TDY Travel is travel associated with an assignment at a location other than the Soldier's permanent duty station, usually of relatively short duration.
Temporary Duty	Temporary Duty is an assignment at a location other than the Soldier's permanent duty station, usually of relatively short duration.
Temporary Lodging Facility	A Temporary Lodging Facility is short-term housing accommodation for military members, their Families, and guests.
TLF	See Temporary Lodging Facility
Travel Order	Travel Orders are a written instrument issued/approved by person(s) to whom authority has been delegated directing, authorizing, approving a traveler, or group of travelers, to travel.
USAR	US Army Reserve
VA	See Victim Advocate
Victim Advocacy	See Family Advocacy Program: Victim Advocacy Services Program
Victim Advocate	A Victim Advocate is a trained professional who provides non-clinical advocacy services and support to Soldiers and Family members experiencing domestic abuse. Victim Advocates are on-call 24 hours a day/7 days week to provide immediate assistance, safety planning, non-judgmental support and information on available resources.
WAQ	See Warrior Adventure Quest
Warrant Officer	Warrant officer (WO1)
Warrior Adventure Quest	The Warrior Adventure Quest Program allows Soldiers the opportunity to participate in structured high-adventure outdoor activities after a recent redeployment. This training opportunity generates coping outlets that help Soldiers better transition after returning from operations.

Army Terms

Leaving U.S. Army Family and MWR