List of U.S. Navy acronyms
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The United States Navy, like any bureaucratic organization, produces its own acronyms and abbreviations, which often come to have meaning beyond their bare expansions. United States Navy personnel sometimes colloquially refer to these as NAVSpeak. Like other organizational colloquialisms, their use often creates or reinforces a sense of esprit and closeness within the organization.
Official acronyms
For a comprehensive list of unit organizations in the United States Navy, see List of units of the United States Navy.
- 1MC - 1 Main Circuit, shipboard public address system
- 3M - Maintenance and Material Management (3M System)
- 3MC - Maintenance Material Management Coordinator
- 5MC - 5 Main Circuit, Carrier Flight Deck address system
A
- AA - Airman Apprentice[1]
- AAW - Anti-Air warfare
- AB - Aviation Boatswain's Mate[1]
- ABE - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Launching and Recovery)[1]
- ABF - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels)[1]
- ABH - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Aircraft Handling)[1]
- AC - Air Traffic Controlman[1]
- ACR - Armored cruiser
- AD - Aviation Machinist's Mate[1]
- ADNS - Automated Digital Network System
- ADT - Active Duty Training [U.S. Navy Reserves, type of orders, typically more than 30 days but less than 6 months]
- ADSW - Active Duty Special Work [U.S. Navy Reserves, type of orders, typically 6-months in duration]
- AE - Aviation Electrician's Mate[1]
- AF - Aviation Photographer's Mate[1]
- AFC - Aviation Fire Control[1]
- AFCM - Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman[1]
- AFFF - Aqueous film forming foam
- AFSB - Afloat Forward Staging Base [2]
- AG - Aerographer's Mate[1]
- AIMD - Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (or Detachment)
- AK - Aviation Storekeeper[1]
- AlNav - All Navy
- ALPO - Assistant Lead Petty Officer
- AM - Aviation Structural Mechanic[1]
- AMMRL - Aviation Maintenance Material Readiness List
- AMO - Assistant Maintenance Officer
- AN - Airman[1]
- AO - Aviation Ordnanceman[1]
- AOW - Auxilliaryman of the Watch
- AR - Airman Recruit[1]
- ARRS - Afloat Readiness Reporting System
- AS - Aviation Support Equipment Technician
- ASAU - Air Search and Attack Unit
- A-STRIKE - Assistant STRIKE Operations Officer (Carrier Scheduler/Planner)
- ASUW - Anti-surface warfare
- ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
- ASW - Anti-submarine warfare
- ASWO - Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer
- ASW - Auxiliary SeaWater system
- AT - Aviation Electronics Technician[1]
- AT - Annual Training [U.S. Navy Reserves, type of orders, typically less than 30 days]
- AUTEC - Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center
- AUXO - Auxiliaries Officer
- AVGAS - AViation Gasoline
- AWCS - Assistant Work Center Supervisor
- AZ - Aviation Maintenance Administrationman[3]
B
- BAM - Bad Ass Marine
- BB - Battleship
- BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge (also colloquially known as "Big Chicken Dinner")
- BCGs - Birth Control Glasses
- BJOQ - Blue Jacket of the Quarter
- BJOY - Blue Jacket of the Year
- BM - Boatswain's Mate[1]
- B/N - Bombardier/Navigator (no longer used)
- BMOW - Boatswain's Mate of the Watch
- BOHICA - Bend Over Here It Comes Again
- BOL - Bupers Online[4]
- BU - Builder[1]
- BUMED - Bureau of Medicine and Surgery[5]
- BUPERS - Bureau of Naval Personnel[6]
- BuSandA - Bureau of Supplies and Accounts
- BuWeps - Bureau of Naval Weapons
- BZ - Bravo Zulu (meaning Well Done)
C
- CA - Construction Apprentice[1]
- CA - Heavy Cruiser (outdated)
- CAG - Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser (outdated) or Commander Air Group
- CAPT - Captain
- CDB - Career Development Board
- CDO - Command Duty Officer
- CDR - Commander
- CE - Construction Electrician's Mate[1]
- CEC - Civil Engineer Corps
- CEC- Cooperative Engagement Capability
- CENTCOM - U.S. Central Command
- CF - Charlie Foxtrot Polite form of "Cluster Fuck"
- CG: Guided Missile Cruiser
- CGN: Guided Missile Cruiser, Nuclear Powered
- CHENG: Chief Engineer (Surface only)
- CIC - Combat Information Center
- CICO - Combat Information Center Officer
- CIWS - Close-In Weapon System
- CIS - CASREP Information System
- CM - Construction Mechanic [1]
- CMC - Command Master Chief [3]
- CMS-ID - Career Management System-Interactive Detailing
- CN - Constructionman [1]
- CNO - Chief of Naval Operations
- CO - Commanding Officer[NB 1]
- COB - Chief Of the Boat (traditionally found only on submarines; pronounced "cob"). Can also be used for "close of business" (pronounced "C-O-B").
- COD - Carrier Onboard Delivery
- COMDESGRU - COMmander, DEStroyer GRoUp
- COMDESRON - COMmander, DEStroyer squadRON
- COMLANTFLT - COMmander, u.s. atLANTic FLeeT (see CINCLANTFLT)
- COMEX - Commence Exercise
- COMMO - COMMunications Officer
- COMNAVAIRFOR - COMmander, NAVal AIR FORces
- COMNAVAIRLANT - COMmander, NAVal AIR forces, atLANTic
- COMNAVAIRPAC - COMmander, NAVal AIR forces, PACific
- COMNAVSEASYSCOM - COMmander, NAVal SEA SYStems COMmand
- COMNAVSECGRU - COMmander, NAVal SECurity GRoUp
- COMPACFLT - COMmander, PACific FLeeT (formerly CINCPACFLT)
- COMPTUEX - COMPosite Training Unit EXercise
- COMSEC - COMmunications SECurity
- COMSUBFOR - COMmander, SUBmarine FORce
- COMSUBLANT - COMmander, SUBmarine force AtLANTtic
- CORTRAMID - Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen
- Carrier (Lighter-than-air) (No longer in use)
- CMC - Command Master Chief
- CMDCM - Command Master Chief
- CMDCS - Command Senior Chief
- CNET - Command Naval Education and Training
- CPO - Chief Petty Officer
- CPOM - Chief Petty Officer's Mess
- CR - Construction Recruit[1]
- CRG - Coastal Riverine Group
- CS - Culinary Specialist[1]
- CSC - Command Senior Chief
- CSC - Combat Systems Coordinator
- CSC - Culinary Specialist Chief (E-7)
- CSEC - Computerized Self Evaluation Checklist
- CSMC - Combat Systems Maintenance Center
- CSOOW - Combat Systems Officer of the Watch
- CSOSS - Combat Systems Operational Sequencing Systems
- CT - Cryptologic Technician
- CTI - Cryptologic Technician Interpretive
- CTM - Cryptologic Technician Maintenance
- CTN - Cryptologic Technician Networks
- CTR - Cryptologic Technician Collection
- CTT - Cryptologic Technician Technical
- CVN - Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier (Aircraft Carrier, Nuclear),[7] i.e. CVN-72 USS Abraham Lincoln
- CVW - Carrier Air Wing
- CWO - Chief Warrant Officer
D
- DAPA - Drug and Alcohol Programs Advisor
- DC - Damage Controlman[1]
- DCA - Damage Control Assistant
- DCAG - Deputy Air Wing Commander (see CAG)
- DCC - Damage Control Central
- DCO - Damage Control Officer (Chief Engineer)or Direct Commission Officer
- DCPO - Damage Control Petty Officer
- DD - Destroyer
- DDG - Guided Missile Destroyer
- DDR - Radar Picket Destroyer
- DE - Destroyer Escort
- DESDIV - DEStroyer DIVision
- DESRON - DEStroyer squadRON
- DEVGRU - Naval Special Warfare DEVelopment GRoUp, formerly (and informally still) SEAL Team SIX
- DFM - Diesel Fuel Marine (F-76), standard Navy bunker fuel
- DIRNSA - DIRector of the National Security Agency
- DL - Destroyer Leader
- DLG - Guided Missile Destroyer Leader
- DLGN - Nuclear-powered Guided Missile Destroyer Leader
- DM - Illustrator Draftsman
- DM - Destroyer Minelayer
- DMHRSi - Defense Medical Human Resources System - internet
- DoD - Department Of Defense
- DON - Department Of the Navy
- DRB - Discipline Review Board
- DRRS-N - Defense Readiness Reporting System - Navy
- DSG - defense strategic guidance [2]
E
- EAOS - End of Active Obligated Service
- EAWS - Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist
- ECRC - Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center
- EDMC - Engineering Department Master Chief (Submarines)
- EDO - Engineering Duty Officer
- EEBD - Emergency Escape Breathing Device
- EIDWS - Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Specialist
- EM - Electrician's Mate[1]
- EM - Emergency Management
- EMCON - Emissions Control
- EMI - Extra Military Instruction
- EN - Engineman[1]
- ENS - Ensign
- EO - Equipment Operator[1]
- EOD - Explosive Ordnance Disposal
- EOOW - Engineering Officer of the Watch
- EOS - Enclosed Operating Space
- EOSS - Engineering Operational Sequencing Systems
- ERS - Engineroom Supervisor
- ESWS - Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist
- ET - Electronics Technician[1]
- EW - Electronic Warfare
- EWS - Engineering Watch Supervisor
- EXW - Expeditionary Warfare
F
- FA - Fireman Apprentice[1]
- FAC - Forward Air Controller
- FAC/A - Forward Air Controller/Airborne
- FC - Fire Controlman[1]
- FCDSSA - Fleet Combat Direction Systems Support Activity
- FCF - Functional Check Flight
- FCPCP - Fleet Computer Programming Center of the Pacific
- FCPOM - First Class Petty Officer's Mess
- FDO - Flight Deck Officer
- F/MC - Fleet (or Force) Master Chief
- FICEURLANT - Fleet Intelligence Center Europe & Atlantic
- FMF - Fleet Marine Force
- FMSS - Field Medical Service School
- FN - Fireman[1]
- FOD - Foreign Object Damage (Debris and Detection also used in some cases)
- FR - Fireman Recruit[1]
- FRC - Fleet Readiness Center
- FRS - Fleet Replacement Squadron (Formerly RAG)
- FSA - Food Service Attendant
- FSO - Food Service Officer
- FTN - Forget the Navy (Polite Form)
- FTN - Full-time Navy (Humorous Form)
- FTS - Full-time Support
G
- GCCS-M - Global Command and Control System-Maritime
- GM - Gunner's Mate[1]
- GQ - General Quarters (Call to battle stations)
- GSA - General Services Administration
- GSE- Gas Turbine Systems Technician - Electrical
- GSM- Gas Turbine Systems Technician - Mechanic
H
- HA - Hospital Apprentice[1]
- HEDSUPPACTLANT - Headquarters, Support Activity Atlantic
- HELO - Helicopter
- HM - Hospital Corpsman[1]
- HMFIC - Head M F In Charge (See SOPA Below)
- HN - Hospitalman[1]
- HR - Hospital Recruit[1]
- HS - Helicopter Squadron (HS-4 Black Knights)
- HT - Hull Maintenance Technician[1]
I
- IAP - In Assignment Processing
- IAMM - Individual Augmentation Manpower Management
- IAW - "in accordance with"
- IC - Interior Communications Electrician[1]
- ICO - "in case of" "in care of"
- IHO - Industrial Hygiene Officer
- IMF - Intermediate Maintenance Facility
- IMRL - Individual Material Readiness List
- IP - Irish Pennant - A loose thread of a Naval or Marine uniform.[8]
- IRT - "in reference to..."
- IT - Information System Technician
- ITS - Information Technology Submarines
J
- JAG - Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
- JBD - Jet Blast Deflector (carriers)
- JHSV - Joint High Speed Vessel [2]
- JO - Journalist[1] (obsolete)
- JP-5 - Jet Propellant no. 5, standard Navy jet fuel (F-44, AVCAT)
- JTF - Joint Task Force
- JTFEX - Joint Task Force Exercise
L
- LANTCOM - Atlantic Command
- LaWS - Laser Weapon System
- LCDR - Lieutenant Commander
- LCPO - Leading Chief Petty Officer
- LDO - Limited Duty Officer
- LES - Leave and Earnings Statement
- LHA - Landing Helicopter Assault (Amphibious Class Ship)
- LKA - Amphibious Cargo Ship i.e. LKA-117 USS El Paso
- LPD - Land Platform Dock (Amphibious Class Ship, Diesel Propulsion),[9] i.e. LPD-18 USS New Orleans
- LPO - Leading Petty Officer
- LPOD - Last Plane On Deck
- LRAD - Long Range Acoustic Device
- LSO - Landing Signal Officer
- LS - Logistic Specialist
- LT - Lieutenant
- LTJG - Lieutenant Junior Grade
M
- MA - Master At Arms
- MALS - Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron
- MC - Mass Communication Specialist
- MCPO - Master Chief Petty Officer
- MCPON (pronounced "Mick Pon") - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
- MCO - Material Control Officer
- MIDN - Midshipman
- MIDRATS - MIDnight RATions
- MMCO - Maintenance/Material Control Officer
- MMCPO - Maintenance Master Chief Petty Officer
- MPA - Main Propulsion Assistant
- MPA - Military Patrol Craft (P-3 Orion, etc.)
- MO - (pronounced "Moe") Maintenance Officer
- MOA - Memorandum of Agreement
- MOU - Memorandum of Understanding
- MM - Machinist's Mate[1]
- MRDB - Material Readiness Database
- MSW - Main Seawater System
- MSG - Message
- MT - Missile Technician
- MTS - Master Training Specialist
- MU - Musician
N
- NALCOMIS - Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System
- NAB - Naval Amphibious Base
- NAS - Naval Air Station
- NAVAIR - Naval Air Systems Command
- NAWCAD - Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division
- NAVCOMP - Comptroller of the Navy
- NAVEDTRA - Chief of Navy Education and Training
- NAVFAC - Naval Facilities Engineering Command
- NAVFLIGHTDEMRON - Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels)
- NAVMAT - Naval Material Command
- NAVMILPERSCOM - Navy Military Personnel Command
- NAVSEA - Naval Sea Systems Command
- NAVSECGRUACT - Naval Security Group Activity
- NAVSTA - Naval Station
- NAVSUP - Naval Supply Systems Command
- NAVTRA - Chief of Naval Training
- NAVY -Never Again Volunteer Yourself
- NAWCWD - Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (formerly Pacific Missile Test Center)
- NBSD - Naval Base San Diego
- NCDU - Navy Combat Demolition Unit
- NCIS - Naval Criminal Investigative Service
- NCM - Navy Commendation Medal
- NCTAMS - Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station
- NCTS - Naval Computer Telecommunications Station
- NECC - Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
- NeL - Navy eLearning
- NEX - Navy Exchange
- NFO - Naval Flight Officer / Normal Fuel Oil
- NKO - Navy Knowledge Online
- NMCI - Navy/Marine Corps Intranet
- NMTI - Navy Military Training Instructor
- NMPS - Navy Mobilization and Processing Site
- NNSY - Norfolk Naval Shipyard
- NOSC - Navy Operational Support Center
- NPC - Navy Personnel Command[10]
- NROTC - Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps
- NJROTC - Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
- NSAWC - Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center
- NSIPS - Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System
- NSY - Naval Shipyard
- SSES - Ships Signal Exploitation Space
- NSGA - Naval Security Group Activity
- NSWG - Naval Special Warfare Group
- NSWC - Naval Surface Warfare Center
- NUWC - Naval Undersea Warfare Center
- NWTD - Non Watertight Door
- '"NWU'" - Navy Working Uniform
O
- OBA - Oxygen Breathing Apparatus
- OCS - Officer Candidate School, located at Naval Station Newport
- OFS - Out Freaking Standing (polite)
- OM - On the Move
- OMPF - Official Military Personnel File
- OOD - Officer of the Deck
- OOMA - Optimized Organizational Maintenance Activity
- OPS-O - Operations officer
- OPNAV - Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
- OSA - Overseas Contingency Operation Support Assignments
- OSTR - Optimal Ship Track Route[11]
P
- PACOM - Pacific Command
- PAX - Passengers[12]
- PCS - Permanent Change of Station
- PDHA - Post-Deployment Health Assessment
- PDHRA - Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment
- PFA - Physical Fitness Assessment
- PHA - Physical Health Assessment
- PHRA - Physical Health Re-Assessment
- PIR - Pass In Review
- POD - Plan of the Day
- POM - Plan of the Month
- POTUS - President of the United States
- POC - Point Of Contact
- POW - Plan of the Week
- POW - Prisoner of War
- PRD - Projected Rotation Date
- PRIFLY - PRImary FLight Control (Aircraft carriers)
- PRT - Physical Readiness Test
- PSNS and IMF - Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility
- PT - Physical Training
- PTS - Perform to Serve
- PWD - Public Works Department
- PAPERCLIP - People Against People Ever Reenlisting Civilian Life is Preferred
Q
- QM - Quartermaster[1]
- QMOW - Quartermaster of the Watch
R
- RADCON - RADiation CONtrol
- RADM - Rear Admiral (United States) (Upper Half)
- RAG - Replacement Air Group, now known as Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS)
- RCA - Reactor Controls Assistant
- RDC - Recruit Division Commander
- RDML - Rear Admiral (United States) (Lower Half)
- RIMPAC - Rim of the Pacific
- RIO - Radar Intercept Officer
- RL - Restricted Line Officer
- RMD - Restricted Maneuvering Doctrine
- RT - Radiotelephone (voice radio)
- RTC - Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois
- RPOC - Recruit Petty Officer in Charge or Recruit Chief Petty Officer
S
- S1C - Seaman 1st Class
- S2C - Seaman 2nd Class
- S2F - Speed to Fleet[2]
- SA - Seaman Apprentice[1]
- SAG - Surface Action Group
- SAM - Surface-to-air missile[NB 1]
- SAPR - Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
- SARC - Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman
- SAU - Search and Attack Unit
- SCAT - Small Craft Attack Team
- SE - Support Equipment
- SEALs - United States Navy SEALs (stands for SEa, Air, Land), officially termed Special Warfare Operators.
- SEAOPDET - Sea Operational Detachment
- SECDEF - United States Secretary of Defense
- SECNAV - United States Secretary of the Navy
- SCBA - Self-contained breathing apparatus
- SCPO - Senior Chief Petty Officer
- SCW - Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist insignia
- SICLOS - Shift Inspect Clean Lube Oil Strainers
- SLBM - Submarine-launched ballistic missile
- SN - Seaman[1]
- SNA - Student Naval Aviator
- SO - Special Warfare Operator, aka US Navy SEAL.
- SOFA - Status of Forces Agreement
- SOPA - Senior Officer Present Afloat
- SOP(A) - Senior Officer Present (Ashore)
- SPAWAR - Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command
- SPAWARSYSCEN - Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center
- SR - Seaman Recruit[1]
- SRB - Selective Reenlistment Bonus
- SRW - Shutdown Roving Watch
- SS - Submarine or submersible ship
- SSBN (aka Boomers) - Hull classification symbol for ballistic missile submarine. The SS denotes submarine, the B denotes ballistic missiles, and the N denotes nuclear-powered.
- SSGN - Hull classification symbol for cruise missile submarine. The SS denotes submarine, the G denotes guided missile, and the N denotes nuclear-powered.
- SSES - Special Signals Exploitation Space. A compartment on a ship where embarked NAVSECGRU personnel, known a Cryptologic Technicians, do their work.
- SSN - Hull classification symbol for general-purpose fast attack submarines. The SS denotes submarine, while N denotes nuclear-powered.
- SSTG - Ships Service Turbo Generator
- ST – Sonar Technician[1]
- STREAM - Standard Tension REplenishment Alongside Method
- SUBRON - SUBmarine squadRON
- SUBSAFE - SUBmarine SAFEty program
- SUPPO - SUPPly Officer
- SWCC (swick) - Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, the Special Operations Forces who operate and maintain an inventory of boats used to support special operations missions, particularly those of the U.S. Navy SEALs.
- SWO - Surface Warfare Officer
T
- TAD - Temporary Additional Duty
- TADCEN - Training and Distribution Center
- TAO - Tactical Action Officer (Fights the ship under the supervision of the Captain)
- TE - Task Element
- TF - Task Force
- TFOA - Things Falling Off Aircraft
- TG - Task Group
- TM - Torpedoman's Mate[1]
- TOPGUN - United States Navy Fighter Weapons School
- TSP - Troubled Systems Process
- TU - Task Unit
U
- UA - Unauthorized absence, equivalent to Army absent without leave
- UA - Urinalysis
- UAS - Unmanned Aerial System
- UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
- UCMJ - Uniform Code of Military Justice
- UDT - Underwater Demolition Team
- UNODIR - UNless Otherwise DIRected
- UNREP - Underway replenishment
- UNSAT - Unsatisfactory
- USMC - United States Marine Corps, organized under the United States Department of the Navy
- USN - United States Navy
- USS - United States Ship
- URL - Unrestricted line officer
- USNA - United States Naval Academy (Annapolis)
- UWT - Underwater telephone
V
- VERTREP - Vertical replenishment
- VCNO - Vice Chief of Naval Operations
- VA/VAM - Fixed Wing Attack/Fixed Wing Medium Attack (no longer used)
- VAQ - Fixed Wing Electronic-Attack Squadron
- VAW - Fixed Wing Airborne Early Warning Squadron
- VDS - variable depth sonar [2]
- VF - Fixed Wing Fighter (no longer used)
- VFA - Fixed Wing Strike Fighter Squadron
- VP - Fixed Wing Patrol Squadron
- VRC - Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC-30 Providers)
- VTU - Volunteer Training Unit
- VX - Air Test & Evaluation Squadron (VX-4 Evaluators)
W
- WAVE Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
- WCS Workcenter Supervisor
- WO Warrant Officer
- WSO (Wizzo) - Weapon Systems Operator/Naval Flight Officer
- WTC Watertight Compartment
- WTD Watertight Door
- WTF Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, usually an interrogative phrase, but may also be used in a declarative manner
- WTH Water Tight Hatch
X
- XO - Executive officer
Y
- YN - Yeoman[1]
See also
- List of acronyms
- List of military slang terms
- Glossary of nautical terms
- United States Navy bureau system
- List of U.S. government and military acronyms
Notes
NNPTU :Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit.
References
- ^ a b http://bluejacket.com/usn_ratings.html#rate
- ^ https://www.bol.navy.mil
- ^ http://www.med.navy.mil/bumed/Pages/default.aspx
- ^ http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/Pages/default.aspx
- ^ http://www.abbreviations.com/b1.aspx?KEY=69376
- ^ Wiktionary
- ^ http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/09/0918.htm
- ^ http://www.npc.navy.mil
- ^ PAULHAMILONINST 3120.1
- ^ http://www.militaryacronyms.net/
External links
Look up Appendix:U.S. Navy slang in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.