Military Acronyms and Phrases
Denise Sloan
I could feel my eyes glazing over as my husband of just a year threw out one acronym after another as we discussed our first move. Five minutes in to the conversation, I still had no idea what he was talking about. That’s when I knew I needed to learn his language if I hoped to survive Army life. Twenty three years later, I’m still learning acronyms!
So don’t feel bad if you’re drowning in alphabet soup. It’s normal. Luckily our PCS Adventures team researched and compiled acronyms from all six of the services to make your life easier.
A
AAFES: Army and Air Force Exchange Service. AAFES runs the PX (Post Exchange) for the Army and BX (Base Exchange) for the Air Force. They operate physical stores as well as an online store for service members and their dependents.
ACS: Army Community Services. This organization offers a variety of programs and services to help soldiers and civilian employees plus their families walk through Army life successfully. Some of their services include: lending closet, Army Family Team Building, financial planning and the Exceptional Family Member Program.
AD: Active Duty. Military members employed full time by the government.
AER: Army Emergency Relief. A non-profit organization that provides financial help to soldiers and their families through interest-free loans, scholarships, grants and financial education.
AF: Air Force.
AFAS: Air Force Aid Society. Organization that helps Air Force and Space Force families with financial aid and emergency situations.
AFHO: Air Force Housing Office. AFHO provides airmen and their families help finding housing on base and in the local community.
AFIPPS: Air Force Integrated Pay and Personnel System. Electronic pay and personnel records system for Airman and Space Force Guardians.
AFSC: Air Force Specialty Code. The category of work an airman does for the Air Force.
AGR: Active Guard Reserve. This is a soldier, airman or marine who works as a full time Reservist and follows both the active component and Reserve regulations. His mission is to support weekend Reservists with tasks that need to take place prior to Battle Assembly weekend to make it a success.
AHSO: Army Housing Services Office. AHSO provides help with off-post house rental and sale referrals, review of leases and rental agreements and local community information. They also oversees the privatized housing on the post. All soldiers must visit the AHSO while in-processing at their new duty station.
AIT: Advanced Individual Training. Schools that train soldiers in the skills they need for their specific job. Soldiers usually attend AIT after completing Basic Training.
ANG: Army or Air National Guard. Both the Army and Air Force have National Guard units. Each group is organized federally but controlled by states unless the country is in a time of war, national emergency or a under a national security threat. Then the Guard may be deployed stateside or overseas. Guard members participate in training drills one weekend a month and two weeks per year.
B
BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing. The service member receives money each month from the military to pay for rent or mortgages. The amount depends on rank, location and if the service member dependents.
BAS: Basic Allowance for Subsistence. The service member (not the dependents) receives money each month for food.
BEQ: Bachelor Enlisted Quarters. Housing for unmarried, enlisted soldiers.
BOQ: Bachelor Officer Quarters. Housing for unmarried, commissioned officers.
BX: Base Exchange (Air Force). These stores are the equivalent of a department store with a variety of items for the home and family as well as military-related products.
C
CAO/CACO/CAR: Casualty Assistance Officer, Army. Other branches: Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard-Casualty Assistance Calls Officer, Air Force-Casualty Assistance Representative. This is a service member assigned to the primary next of kin when a service member dies or is missing. The assistance officer helps the family members understand their options, answers questions and helps them fill out the required paperwork.
CDC: Child Development Center (all services). Provides child care for military families.
CDS: Chid Development Services (Coast Guard). Affordable child care and youth programs for service members’ children.
CGHO: Coast Guard Housing Office. Helps members find safe, affordable housing near their duty station.
CGMA: Coast Guard Mutual Assistance. Organization that helps Coast Guard active duty, civilians and family members with finances, education and family matters.
CGX: Coast Guard Exchange. These stores are the equivalent of a department store with a variety of items for the home and family as well as military-related products.
CIF: Central Issue Facility. Army. Main warehouse where official clothing and equipment can be issued, stored, exchanged and returned.
Class Six: A store on an Army post that sells alcohol.
COLA: Cost of Living Allowance. Money received when living overseas, a remote location or a particularly expensive US location to defray daily living costs like rent and food.
Command Sponsorship: Orders that allow family members to accompany the service member to his or her next assignment, especially in reference to overseas assignments. Command Sponsorship also grants dependents full access to medical and other benefits while overseas.
CONUS: The Continental United States. A move is considered CONUS if the orders are for the Continental US or the lower 48 states. Alaska and Hawaii are OCONUS as are US territories Puerto Rico and Guam.
CSS: Customer Satisfaction Survey. The survey given to service members upon the completion of a move.
CYP: Child and Youth Programs (Navy, Marines, Air Force ). Affordable child care and youth programs for service members’ children.
CYS: Child and Youth Services (Army). Affordable child care and youth programs for service members’ children.
D
DECA: Defense Commissary Agency. Agency that runs commissaries around the world.
DEERS: Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. This database registers service members and their dependents (spouse and children) so they may receive medical benefits (Tricare).
Dependents: Typically the immediate family members related to the service member such as a spouse or child. Other family members such as parents, siblings and adult children might qualify but that would be determined by DFAS’s guidelines.
Destination Agent: Local moving company or agent that will deliver your household goods. They also handle unpacking (if requested) and some will still dispose of debris (empty boxes and packing paper).
DFAC: Dining Facility. Dining hall for soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians, marines and coast guardsmen.
DFAS: Defense Finance and Accounting Service. This unit processes paychecks, TDY travel costs and PCS reimbursements to service members and retirees.
DHS: Department of Homeland Security. Responsible for securing the United States from threats. The Coast Guard falls under Homeland Security.
DITY: Do-It-Yourself Move (old name). Service members may choose to pack and move their household goods themselves rather than using a military contracted moving company. The government reimburses the service member for all costs, according to their “best value”. This is now called PPM.
DLA: Dislocation Allowance. This is money provided to partially defray the costs of moving a service member’s household due to PCS, emergency or evacuation.
DoD: Department of Defense. All branches of the military fall under the Department of Defense (except for the Coast Guard which is under the Department of Homeland Security). This executive branch department deals with US security and armed forces.
DoDEA: Department of Defense Education Activity. This department manages American schools at overseas locations and a smaller number of schools state side.
DPS: Defense Personal Property System. This web-based system allows service members with orders to schedule and track their moves. They may also file a claim through the website.
DTR: Defense Transportation Regulations. Policies that determine how the government may move or store your personal property during a move.
DTS: Defense Travel System. Service members and DoD civilians can book their travel in this system and manage expenses.
E
Education Center: Centers created to help service members and their dependents explore continuing education opportunities, financial options and contacts.
EFMP: Exceptional Family Member Program. This program provides assistance to military families with dependents that have special medical or educational needs. Enrollment is mandatory for active duty military members with qualifying dependents. Once identified these special needs are taken into account during the assignment process.
F
FADD: First Available Delivery Date. First day HHG (household goods) can be delivered.
G
GBD: Government Business Day. Days the government considers an official work day.
GBL: Government Bill of Lading. Document authorizing the government to assume responsibility of moving your HHG (household goods) to a new duty station.
GPC: Government Purchase Card. (Air Force) This credit card is issued by the government to employees to pay for all government-approved travel.
GS: Government Schedule. A level of pay assigned to civilian federal employees. For example, GS-1 or GS-15. A GS-1 job is usually entry level while GS-12 through 15 usually require advanced degrees.
GTCC: Government Travel Charge Card. This credit card is issued by the government to employees to pay for all government-approved travel.
H
Hauling Agent: This is the moving company that transports your HHG (household goods) to the new location or storage.
HHG: Household Goods. All of the service member and his/her dependent’s belongings that the moving company packs and delivers to the next duty assignment.
Also refers to as a household goods move.
HRC: Human Resources Command. Manages Army personnel from the beginning of their career to the end. This includes managing career records and making assignments for PCSes.
HV: High value items that you will be shipping when you PCS. They are listed on the mover’s HV sheets, separate from the regular inventory.
I
IAL: International Auto Logistics. Contracts with the government to provide car shipment for service members on PCS order. Provides website PCSmyPOV.com to ship vehicles overseas or store vehicles during a PCS.
IC Claim: Inconvenience Claim. A moving company is forced to pay the service member an inconvenience claim if they miss the required delivery date (as set by the military).
iPERMS: Interactive Personnel Electronic Military Records System
IPPS-A: Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army. Online system that allows soldiers to access pay and personnel records for the Army.
ITT: Information, Tickets and Travel. Part of the Army’s MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation office) where service members and dependents can purchase discounted tickets to local attractions as well as book travel around the world. Sometimes called Leisure Travel Services or ITT (Information, Tickets and Tours).
ITR: Information, Ticketing and Registration. Same as ITT.
J
JPPSO: Joint Personal Property Shipping Office. Offices that organize and execute personal property shipments of service members. Offices are divided by region.
JTR: Joint Travel Regulations. Spells out policy and law to establish travel and transportation allowances for service members and DoD civilian employees.
LES: Leave and Earning Statement. Pay statement the service member receives twice a month. Once a month the LES will include information on pay, benefits, taxes and deductions for the next month.
M
MCO: Military Claims Office. This office handles claims (for reimbursement) after a PCS when the service provider (moving company) denies a claim.
MCTFS: Marine Corps Total Force System. Electronic pay and personnel records system for the Marine Corps.
MCX: Marine Corps Exchange. These stores are the equivalent of a department store with a variety of items for the home and family as well as military-related products.
MFH: Military Family Housing. Housing on post for military families.
Military One Source: A DoD website that contains a plethora of information on military life, benefits, moving and medical topics. militaryonesource.mil
MOS: Military Occupational Specialty. The category of work a service member does in the military.
M-Pro/S-Pro: Member and spouse professional gear. Includes gear issued by the military to perform a task. Also gear required for a spouse to perform a job. Part of the service member’s total weight allowance for a PCS can include allotments for professional gear.
MWR: Morale, Welfare and Recreation. This organization provides recreation and entertainment opportunities at each military post. They also run many affordable recreation areas with lodging and camping options.
N
NECS: Navy Enlisted Classification System. The category of work an enlisted service member does in the Navy.
NSIPS: Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System. Online pay and personnel system for the Navy. Sailors can access pay, service records, training data and career counseling records.
NEX: Navy Exchange. These stores are the equivalent of a department store with a variety of items for the home and family as well as military-related products.
NHO: Navy Housing Office. Folks in this office help sailors find safe, affordable housing at their new duty station.
NGB: National Guard Bureau.
NMCRS: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Organization that helps active duty and retired sailors and marines with finances and education.
NTS: Non-Temporary Storage. Long-term storage of all or part of your HHG (household goods) instead of shipping them to your next duty station. NTS available for CONUS (some restrictions) and OCONUS assignments.
O
OCONUS: Outside the Continental United States. Overseas assignments that include Hawaii and Alaska.
Origin Agent: Local moving company or agent that will do the pre-move survey, pack and (sometimes) load your household goods.
OSUT: One-Station Unit Training. Recruits stay in the same unit after BT (Basic Training) through AIT (Advanced Individual Training).
P
PB&E: Professional Books, Paper and Equipment. Items designated pro-gear during a PCS. The weight of pro gear is subtracted from your total shipment weight.
PCS: Permanent Change of Station. Military orders that move the service member to a new duty station or a new major command at the same duty location.
Per diem: A set allowance for lodging, meals and costs accrued while on official government travel such as a TDY or PCS.
POA: Power of Attorney. A very necessary legal document that allows a spouse or family member to make decisions on behalf of a service member if deployed or injured.
POC: Point of Contact. The person you contact about a program or assignment.
Post or Base Theater: Just what it sounds like, a movie theater on post or base.
POV: Privately Owned Vehicle. A vehicle owned by a service member or dependents.
PPM: Personally Procured Move (formerly a DITY). Service members may choose to pack and move their household goods themselves rather than using a military contracted moving company. The government reimburses the service member for all costs, according to their “best value”.
PPSO: Personnel Property Shipping Office. Office that provides PCS briefings and helps arrange shipments of personal goods for service members and DoD civilians.
PX: Post Exchange (Army). These stores are the equivalent of a department store with a variety of items for the home and family as well as military-related products.
Q
QA/QC: Quality Assurance and Quality Control. Office or employee who checks to make sure companies, like movers in a military PCS, meet standards.
R
RDD: Required Delivery Date. This is the absolute last date the moving company must deliver your HHG (household goods) as determined by the military.
Reserve: Every branch of the military has a reserve component. The primary mission of the reserve is to fill in stateside when the active duty troops deploy. Reserve members participate in weekend drills once a month and two weeks per year but can deploy for longer periods during periods of war.
RFO: Request for Orders. Request from Human Resources Command (HRC) to the post reassignment office for a service member to fill an open position. This is the first step in moving a service member to a new assignment.
R&R: Rest and recuperation. Free time or leave for the service member.
S
SGLI: Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance. This is a low-cost term life insurance available to active duty service members. The insurance must recertified every year.
Shopette: Small convince store on a military installation.
SIT: Storage in Transit. Short-term storage in between the origin of the shipment and its destination. It’s usually 90 days or less.
SFB: Space Force Base.
Sponsorship: Gaining units often assign a service member as a sponsor for the new service member and his/her family. Use this resource! Sponsors and their dependents can answer questions about your new home base. Units generally assign someone by rank and similar family status. Tip-Service members may forget to mention sponsorship to their spouse, so make sure to ask.
SSN: Social Security Number.
STP: Soldier Talent Profile.
T
TCS: Temporary Change of Station. Temporarily moving to a new location to perform a job. Once the job is completed, the service member returns to the previous official station. Usually dependents do not accompany the service member on a TCS.
TDY: Temporary Duty. These orders mean the service member will temporarily go to a new assignment while the family remains at the current duty station.
TLA: Temporary Lodging Allowance. Given to service members and their dependents while using temporary lodging OCONUS (overseas). This could be upon arrival to a new assignment or when leaving the assignment.
TLE: Temporary Lodging Expense. Given to service members and their dependents while using temporary lodging in a CONUS (Continental US) move or PCS.
TMO/DMO: Traffic Management Office/Distribution Management Office. Provides help with shipment, receipt, pickup, delivery and storage of personal property for service members and Dod civilians
TOS: Tender of Service. The Army Service Component Command of the US Transportation Command generates regulations regarding moving and publishes those in a TOS.
TRICARE: Tricare is the Department of Defense’s military health care service for active duty and their dependents as well as retirees, National Guard/Reserve members and their families. Tricare includes military hospitals and clinics as well as civilian providers and pharmacies.
TRICARE Prime: In this Tricare option, you’re assigned a primary care doctor. All of your care starts with the primary care doctor who then can refer you to other doctors if needed. You must have a referral and authorization before seeing another service provider. Active duty and their dependents pay nothing for this option.
TRICARE Select: Active Duty service members can not use this option. Their family members may use Select. In this Tricare plan, you choose your doctor and are charged a co-pay with each visit. You do not need authorizations for most care with specialists (there are a few exceptions). In addition to the co-pays with each visit, you may have cost shares until your deductible is met. Retirees do pay enrollment fees.
TSP: Transportation Service Provider. This is the company that will actually move your HHG (house hold goods) during a PCS.
TSP: Thrift Savings Plan. This is a retirement savings and investment plan for service members and federal employees.
U
UB: Unaccompanied Baggage. A small amount of your stuff that ships overseas before the bulk of your HHG (household goods). This gives you some key items you might need while waiting on the rest of your HHGs to arrive.
USCGPPC: United States Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center. Online pay and personnel records.
USTRANSCOM: United States Transportation Command. They oversee the DPPP (Defense Personal Property Program).
V
VCC: Visitor Control Center. Screens potential visitors to an installation and issues passes allow them to enter the gates.
VPC: Vehicle Processing Center. Locations where you turn in your POV (privately owned vehicle) to be shipped overseas as part of a PCS.
W
Weight Tickets: To receive reimbursement for a PPM (former DITY move) you need a weight ticket for an empty truck or vehicle as well as a full truck or vehicle.
Did we leave any acronyms out or get something wrong? Shoot us an email so we can update the files.
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