The U.S. military uses many acronyms which can be confusing to civilians. Here is a long list of common military acronyms to help you understand what you are reading or hearing.
Commonly-used Military Acronyms
- 3M - Maintenance And Material Management (MMM)
- A/A - Air-to-air
- A/C - Aircraft
- A/S - Airspeed
- AAA - Anti-aircraft Artillery
- AAA - Artifacts, Agents And Activities
- AAAA - Army Aviation Association Of America
- AALC - Amphibious Assault Landing Craft
- AAW - Anti-air Warfare
- AAWBOT - Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Basic Operator Trainer
- ABC - Analog Backup Computer
- ACCS - Advanced Communications Control System
- ACFT - Aircraft
- ACK - Acknowledge
- ACLS - Auto Carrier Landing System
- ACMS - Air Combat Maneuvering System
- ACMS - Air Combat Maneuvering Simulator
- ACO - Administrative Contracting Officer
- ACSUBS - Aircraft Subsystems
- ADA - Air Defense Artillery
- ADA - Airborne Data Automation
- ADC - Air Data Computer
- ADL - Authorized Data List
- ADPA - American Defense Preparedness Association
- ADPSO - Automatic Data Processing Security Officer
- ADS - Air Data System
- ADS - Automated Data System
- ADSU - Air Direction Sensing Unit
- ADU - Air Data Unit
- ADU - Audio Distribution Unit
- AIF - Airborne Inhabited Fighter
- AIMS - Altitude Identification And Measuring System
- AHD - Ahead
- ASCII - American Standard Computer Information Interchange
- ASD - Assistant Secretary Of Defense
- ASDS - Airborne Serial Data System
- ASSET - Asset Source For Software Engineering Technology
- ASSY - Assembly
- AST - Aircraft System Trainer
- ASTAB - Auto Status Board
- ASTM - American Society For Testing And Materials
- ASW - Anti-submarine Warfare
- AZ - Azimuth
- B - Bottom
- BAT - Battery
- BB - Battleship
- BCM - Beyond Capability Of Maintenance
- BM - Ballistic Missile
- CASE - Computer Aided Software Engineering
- CC - Configuration Control
- CCA - Carrier Controlled Approach
- CCSDSP - Closed Circuit Saturation Diving System
- CCTDA - Cockpit Control Thrust Drive Actuator
- CCTT - Command And Control Team Trainer
- CCU - Computer Control Unit
- CDD - Common Data Dictionary
- CDI - Cumulative Damage Indes
- CIS - Case Integration Services
- CITIS - Contractor Integrated Technical Information Service
- CIU - Cockpit Interface Unit
- CJCS - Chairman Of The Joint Chief Of Staff
- CJCS SROE - Chairman Of The Joint Chief Of Staff Standing Rules Of Engagement
- CKPT - Cockpit
- CL - Center Line
- CL - Channel
- CLIN - Contract Line Item Number
- CLIP - Configuration Logistic Information Program
- CLR - Clear
- CLS - Contractor Logistics Support
- CLTE - Cost And Lead Time Estimate
- CM - Configuration Management
- CMAN - Configuration Management
- CMDS - Cockpit Management Display System
- CMI - Computer Managed Instruction
- CMM - Capability Maturity Model
- CMPTSC - Conventional Marine Propulsion Training Steering Group
- CMR - Configuration Management Review
- CMRS - Calibration/measurement Requirements Summary
- CMS - Cockpit Management System
- CMSS - Configuration Management Support System
- CMVWP - Commander Medium Attack Tactical Warfare Wing Pacific
- CNEWTP - Consolidated Electronic Warfare
- CNI - Comm/nav/iff
- CNIU - Communication/navigation Interface Unit
- DC - Damage Control
- DISP - Display
- DIST - Distance
- DIVERTR - Diverter
- DLSC - Defense Logistic Systems Center
- DNA - Defense Nuclear Agency
- DNS - Doppler Navigation Sensor
- DOC - Descend On Course
- DOD - Department Of Defense
- DF - Direction Finder
- EFIS - Electronic Flight Information System
- EFR - Equipment Facility Requirements
- FRB - Failure Review Board
- FRD - Facilities Requirements Document
- FRS - Fleet Readiness Squadron
- HTCL - Remote Hover Trim Controller
- HUD - Head Up Display
- HVR - Hover
- ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization MDTS Mcdonnell Douglas Training Systems
- MDTS - Mcdonnell Douglas Training Systems
- NVD - Night Vision Device
- PAT - Process Action Team
- PATT - Pattern
- PAX - Passengers
- QUICKSTRIKE - Mine
- QUP - Quantity Per Unit Pack
- STRT - Start
- STT - Schedule Training Time
- STTWG - Submarine Training/trainer Working Group
- STVTS - Submarine Tactical Visual Training System
- SWP - Space, Weight And Power
- SWS - Strategic Weapons System
- TCMDR - Troop Commander
- WST - Weapon System Trainer
- WTHR - Weather
Also, see our list of Common Military Vocabulary.