List of U.S. Navy acronyms

The United States Navy, like any 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)
  • 3MA - Maintenance and Material Management Assistant
  • 3MC - Maintenance and Material Management Coordinator
  • 3MI - Maintenance and Material Management Inspection
  • 5MC - 5 Main Circuit, Carrier Flight Deck address system
  • 27MC - Control Room to Sonar Room address system

A

  • A-STRIKE - Assistant STRIKE Operations Officer (Carrier Scheduler/Planner)
  • AA - Airman Apprentice (E-2) [1]
  • AAW - Anti-Air Warfare
  • AB - Aviation Boatswain's Mate[1]
  • ABE - Aviation Boatswain's Mate - Equipment (Launch and Recovery Systems)[1]
  • ABF - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels)[1]
  • ABFD - Advanced Base Floating Dry Dock, class/type of ship
  • ABH - Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Aircraft Handling)[1]
  • AC - Air Traffic Controlman[1]
  • ACR - Armored cruiser, class/type of ship
  • AD - Auxiliary, Destroyer Tender, class/type of ship
  • AD - Aviation Machinist's Mate[1]
  • ADCON - Administrative control
  • ADNS - Automated Digital Network System
  • ADSW - Active Duty Special Work (U.S. Navy Reserve, type of active duty orders, typically 6 months in duration)
  • ADT - Active Duty Training (U.S. Navy Reserve, type of active duty orders, typically more than 30 days but less than 6 months)
  • AE - Auxiliary, Explosives, class/type of ship. An ammunition ship.
  • 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
  • AFS - Auxiliary, Fast Stores, class/type of ship. A supply ship that carries a little bit of everything, nicknamed "7-11"
  • AFSB - Afloat Forward Staging Base [2]
  • AG - Aerographer's Mate[1]
  • AIMD - Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (or Detachment)
  • AK - Auxiliary, Cargo, class/type of ship. An attack transport.
  • AK - Aviation Storekeeper[1] (outdated; merged into LS rating)
  • ALNAV - All Navy
  • ALPO - Assistant Lead Petty Officer
  • AM - Aviation Structural Mechanic[1]
  • AME - Aviation Structural Mechanic - Environmental (Air Conditioning, Oxygen, and Ejection Seats), Aviation Mechanical Exception
  • AMH - Aviation Structural Mechanic - Hydraulics
  • AMMRL - Aviation Maintenance Material Readiness List
  • AMO - Assistant Maintenance Officer
  • AMS - Aviation Structural Mechanic - Structures
  • AN - Airman[1]
  • AO - Auxiliary, Fleet Oil, class/type of ship; Aviation Ordnanceman[1]
  • AOE - Auxiliary, Oil, Explosives, class/type of ship.
  • AOR - Auxiliary, Oil, Replenishment, class/type of ship
  • AOW - Auxilliaryman of the Watch
  • API - Aviation Preflight Indoctrination [3]
  • AR - Auxiliary, Repair, class/type of ship. A repair ship
  • AR - Airman Recruit (E-1) [1]
  • ARRS - Afloat Readiness Reporting System
  • ARS - Auxiliary, Repair and Salvage, class/type of ship
  • AS - Auxiliary, Submarine Tender, class/type of ship
  • AS - Aviation Support Equipment Technician
  • ASAU - Air Search and Attack Unit
  • ASR - Auxiliary, Submarine Rescue, class/type of ship
  • ASUW - Anti-Surface Warfare
  • ASVAB - Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
  • ASW - Auxiliary Seawater system
  • ASW - Anti-Submarine Warfare
  • ASWO - Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer
  • AT - Annual Training (U.S. Navy Reserve, type of active duty orders, typically less than 30 days)
  • AT - Aviation Electronics Technician[1]
  • ATS - Auxiliary, Towing and Salvage, class/type of ship
  • AUTEC - Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center
  • AUXO - Auxiliaries Officer
  • AVCM - Master Chief Avionics Technician
  • AVGAS - Aviation Gasoline
  • AWCS - Assistant Work Center Supervisor
  • AZ - Aviation Maintenance Administrationman[4]

B

C

  • CA - Construction Apprentice[1]
  • CA - Cruiser, Armoured, class/type of ship. Heavy Cruiser (outdated)
  • CAG - Cruiser, Attack, Guided Missile, class/type of ship. Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser (outdated)
  • CAG - Commander, Air Group
  • CAPT - Captain
  • CBMU - Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit
  • CC - Cruiser, class/type of ship
  • CCC - Comprehensive Communications Check
  • CDB - Career Development Board
  • CDO - Command Duty Officer
  • CDR - Commander
  • CE - Construction Electrician[1]
  • CEC - Civil Engineer Corps
  • CEC - Cooperative Engagement Capability
  • CED - Current Enlistment Date
  • CENTCOM - U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM)
  • CF - Charlie Foxtrot (polite form of "Cluster Fuck")
  • CG - Cruiser, Guided Missile, class/type of ship
  • CGN - Cruiser, Guided Missile, Nuclear, class/type of ship (outdated)
  • CHC - Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy
  • CHENG - Chief Engineer (surface only)
  • CHMC - Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps (always a Navy flag officer)
  • CIC - Combat Information Center
  • CICO - Combat Information Center Officer
  • CIS - CASREP Information System
  • CIVLANT - "Civilian Life" as defined by Atlantic Fleet personnel
  • CIVPAC - "Civilian Life" as defined by Pacific Fleet personnel
  • CIWS - Close-In Weapon System
  • CM - Construction Mechanic[1]
  • CMC - Commandant of the Marine Corps or Chaplain of the Marine Corps or Command Master Chief[4]
  • CMDCM - Command Master Chief
  • CMDCS - Command Senior Chief
  • CMS-ID - Career Management System-Interactive Detailing
  • CN - Constructionman[1]
  • CNATRA - Chief of Naval Air Training
  • CNAVRES - Chief of Navy Reserve
  • CNET - Command Naval Education and Training
  • CNIC - Commander, Navy Installations Command[8]
  • 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
  • COMCVW - Commander, Carrier Air Wing
  • COMDESGRU - Commander, Destroyer Group
  • COMDESRON - Commander, Destroyer Squadron
  • COMEX - Commence Exercise
  • COMLANTFLT - Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
  • COMMO - Communications Officer
  • COMNAVAIRES - Commander, Naval Air Force, Reserve
  • COMNAVAIRFOR (also CNAF) - Commander, Naval Air Forces
  • COMNAVAIRLANT (also CNAL) - Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic
  • COMNAVAIRPAC - Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific
  • COMNAVRESFOR - Commander, Navy Reserve Forces
  • COMNAVSEASYSCOM - Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command
  • COMNAVSECGRU - Commander, Naval Security Group
  • COMPACFLT - Commander, Pacific Fleet (formerly CINCPACFLT)
  • COMPATRECONGRU - Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group
  • COMPATRECONWING - Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing
  • COMPTUEX - Composite Training Unit Exercise
  • COMSEC - Communications Security
  • COMSUBFOR - Commander, Submarine Forces
  • COMSUBLANT - Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic
  • COMSUBPAC - Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
  • COMTACGRU - Commander, Tactical Air Control Group
  • COMTRAWING - Commander, Training Air Wing
  • CORTRAMID - Career Orientation and Training for Midshipmen
  • COS (also CoS) - Flag Officer's Chief of Staff
  • CPO - Chief Petty Officer
  • CPOM - Chief Petty Officer's Mess
  • CR - Construction Recruit[1]
  • CRG - Coastal Riverine Group
  • CS - Culinary Specialist[1]
  • CSADD - Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions
  • CSC - Combat Systems Coordinator
  • CSC - Command Senior Chief
  • 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
  • CV - Aircraft Carrier, class/type of ship
  • CVA - Aircraft Carrier, Attack, class/type of ship
  • CVAN - Aircraft Carrier, Attack, Nuclear, class/type of ship
  • CVN - Aircraft Carrier, Nuclear, class/type of ship[9]
  • CVW - Carrier Air Wing
  • CWO - Chief Warrant Officer

D

• D1-R - 3M periodicity code or a shower (slang for daily, once, or as required)

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
  • EMN - Electrician's Mate, Nuclear Field
  • EMO - Electronics Material Officer
  • 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]
  • ETN - Electronics Technician, Nuclear Field
  • EW - Electronic Warfare
  • EWO - Electronic Warfare Officer
  • EWS - Engineering Watch Supervisor
  • EXW - Expeditionary Warfare

F

  • F/MC - Fleet (or Force) Master Chief
  • FA - Fireman Apprentice[1]
  • FAC - Forward Air Controller
  • FAC/A - Forward Air Controller/Airborne
  • FBM - Fleet Ballistic Missile
  • 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
  • FF - Frigate, class/type of ship
  • FFG - Frigate, Guided Missile, class/type of ship
  • FICEURLANT - Fleet Intelligence Center Europe & Atlantic
  • FIGMO - F(uck) IT, Got My Orders
  • FIS - Fire Inhibit Switch
  • FLEACT - Fleet Activity
  • FLTMPS - Fleet Training Management and Planning System
  • FMF - Fleet Marine Force
  • FMSS - Field Medical Service School
  • FN - Fireman[1]
  • FNAEB - Field Naval Aviator Evaluation Board
  • FNMOC - Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center [11]
  • 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
  • FT - Fire control technician
  • FTB - Fire Control Technician Ballistic Missile
  • FTM - Fire Control Technician Missiles
  • FTN - Forget the Navy (polite form)
  • FTN - Full-time Navy (humorous form)
  • FTS - Full-time Support (full-time, active-duty personnel in U.S. Navy Reserve)

G

  • GCCS-M - Global Command and Control System-Maritime
  • GM - Gunner's Mate[1]
  • GQ - General Quarters (Call to battle stations)
  • GS - Guided Missileman
  • GSA - General Services Administration
  • GSE- Gas Turbine Systems Technician - Electrical
  • GSM- Gas Turbine Systems Technician - Mechanic

H

  • HA - Hospital Apprentice[1]
  • HAC - Helicopter Aircraft Commander[12]
  • HEDSUPPACTLANT - Headquarters, Support Activity Atlantic
  • HELO - Helicopter
  • HM - Hospital Corpsman[1]
  • HMFIC - Head Mother Fucker In Charge (See SOPA Below)
  • HN - Hospitalman[1]
  • HR - Hospital Recruit[1]
  • HS - Helicopter Squadron, Anti-Submarine Warfare (HS-4 Black Knights)
  • HT - Hull Maintenance Technician[1]

I

  • IAMM - Individual Augmentation Manpower Management
  • IAP - In Assignment Processing
  • IAW - In Accordance With
  • IC - Interior Communications Electrician[1]
  • ICO - In Case Of (or In Care Of / In Concern 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.
  • IRT - In Reference To
  • IT - Information System Technician
  • ITS - Information Technology Submarines

J

K

L

  • LANTCOM - Atlantic Command
  • LAWS - Laser Weapon System
  • LCAC - Landing Craft, Air Cushion.
  • LCC - Amphibious Command Ship.
  • LCDR - Lieutenant Commander
  • LCPO - Leading Chief Petty Officer
  • LCM - Landing Craft, Mechanized, class/type of boat. Usage: LCM-4, LCM-6, LCM-8
  • LCPL - Landing Craft, Personnel Launch, class/type of boat.
  • LCS - Littoral Combat Ship, class/type of ship.
  • LCVP - Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel, class/type of boat.
  • LDO - Limited Duty Officer
  • LES - Leave and Earnings Statement
  • LHA - Landing, Helicopter, Assault, class/type of ship.
  • LHD - Landing, Helicopter, Dock, class/type of ship.
  • LKA - Landing, Cargo, Attack, class/type of ship.
  • LPD - Landing, Personnel, Dock, class/type of ship.
  • LPA - Landing, Personnel, Attack, class/type of ship.
  • LPH - Landing, Personnel, Helicopter, class/type of ship.
  • LPO - Leading Petty Officer
  • LPOD - Last Plane On Deck
  • LRAD - Long Range Acoustic Device
  • LS - Logistics Specialist
  • LSD - Landing Ship, Dock, class/type of ship.
  • LSO - Landing Signal Officer
  • LST - Landing Ship, Tank, class/type of ship.
  • LT - Lieutenant
  • LTJG - Lieutenant Junior Grade

M

  • MAA (also meMA) - Master-at-Arms
  • MALS - Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron
  • MC - Mass Communication Specialist
  • MCO - Material Control Officer
  • MCPO - Master Chief Petty Officer
  • MCPON - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (pronounced "Mick Pon")
  • MIDN - Midshipman
  • MIDRATS - Midnight Rations
  • MLCPO - Machinery Division Leading Chief Petty Officer (Submarine)
  • MM - Machinist's Mate[1]
  • MMCO - Maintenance/Material Control Officer
  • MMCPO - Maintenance Master Chief Petty Officer
  • MMN - Machinist's Mate, Nuclear Field
  • MO - Maintenance Officer (pronounced "Moe")
  • MOA - Memorandum of Agreement
  • MOU - Memorandum of Understanding
  • MPA - Main Propulsion Assistant
  • MPA - Military Patrol Craft (P-3 Orion, etc.)
  • MRDB - Material Readiness Database
  • MSG - Message
  • MSW - Main Seawater System
  • MT - Missile Technician
  • MTS - Master Training Specialist
  • MU - Musician

N

O

P

  • PACOM - Pacific Command
  • PAPERCLIP - People Against People Ever Reenlisting Civilian Life Is Preferred
  • PAX - Passengers[15]
  • PCO - Prospective Commanding Officer
  • PCS - Permanent Change of Station[8]
  • PDHA - Post-Deployment Health Assessment
  • PDHRA - Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment
  • PFA - Physical Fitness Assessment
  • PHA - Physical Health Assessment
  • PHRA - Physical Health Re-Assessment
  • PLD - Permanent Limited Duty[16]
  • PIR - Pass in Review
  • PO(3/2/1) - Petty Officer (Third/Second/First Class)
  • POC - Point of Contact
  • POD - Plan of the Day
  • POM - Plan of the Month
  • POOW - Petty Officer of the Watch
  • POTUS - President of the United States
  • POW - Plan of the Week
  • POW - Prisoner of War
  • PRD - Projected Rotation Date
  • PRIFLY - Primary Flight Control (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
  • PXO - Prospective Executive Officer

Q

  • QAWTD/QAWTH - Quick Acting Water Tight Door/Quick Acting Water Tight Hatch
  • QM - Quartermaster[1]
  • QMOW - Quartermaster of the Watch

R

S

T

  • TAD - Temporary Additional Duty, equivalent to Army's TDY
  • TADCEN - Training and Distribution Center
  • TAO - Tactical Action Officer (Fights the ship under the supervision of the Captain)
  • TAR - Training and Administration of the Reserve (U.S. Navy Reserve, former designation for FTS personnel)
  • TE - Task Element
  • TF - Task Force
  • TFO - Temporary Flight Orders. Non-aircrew personnel that have passed the minimum requirements to act as part of the aircrew for some purpose, e.g. secondary door gunner.
  • TFOA - Things Falling Off Aircraft[18][NB 1]
  • TG - Task Group
  • TLD - Temporary Limited Duty[17]
  • TM - Torpedoman's Mate[1]
  • TOPGUN - United States Navy Fighter Weapons School
  • TSP - Troubled Systems Process
  • TU - Task Unit
  • TYCOM - Type Commanders

U

V

  • 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
  • VBSS - Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure
  • VCNO - Vice Chief of Naval Operations
  • VDS - Variable Depth Sonar[2]
  • VERTREP - Vertical Replenishment
  • VF - Fixed Wing Fighter (no longer used)
  • VFA - Fixed Wing Strike Fighter Squadron
  • VLS - Vertical Launching System
  • 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

  • WAVES - Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
  • WCS - Workcenter Supervisor
  • WO - Warrant Officer
  • WSO - (Wizzo) - Weapon Systems Officer (Naval Flight Officer) in USMC F/A-18D Hornet and USN F/A-18F Super Hornet)
  • 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

Y

See also

Notes

  1. Not confined to USN use.

References

  1. Malin, Charles A. (1970). "Abbreviations Used for Navy Enlisted Ratings". Bureau of Naval Personnel, United States Navy. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. Greenert, Adm. Jonathan (20 July 2015), CNO's Navigation Plan, 2016 - 2020 (PDF), Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy, retrieved 8 April 2020
  3. "Aviation PREFLIGHT Indoctrination". Naval Aviation School Command. U.S. Navy. 31 July 2018.
  4. "Navy Ratings". Bluejacket.com.
  5. "BUPERS Online". BUPERS Online. U.S. Department of Defense. 15 August 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013.
  6. "US Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery". Navy Medicine. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, U.S. Navy. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  7. "NPC News & Info". Navy Personnel Command. U.S. Navy. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  8. "Navy Housing's Moving Resources". CNIC: Commander, Navy Installations Command. US Navy. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  9. "What does CVN mean in Shipping & Sailing?". Abbreviations. STANDS4 LLC. 2 November 2012.
  10. "Proudly Serving Our Veterans Across the Commonwealth". Virginia Department of Veterans Services. Government of Virginia. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  11. Keeter, Lt. j.g. Darin; Dimitriou, David S. (18 February 2007). "Navy's Optimum Track Ship Routing Going to Automation (Story Number: NNS070218-02)" (Press release). Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command.
  12. "What does HAC stand for?". AF: Acronym Finder. Acronym Finder. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  13. "Naval Aerospace Medical Institute". GovServ.
  14. "OOC". MilitaryWords.com. Acronym Finder. 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  15. "Military Acronyms and Abbreviations - Acronym Finder". Military Acronyms and Abbreviations. Rubicon Planning, LLC. 2011. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016.
  16. "PERMANENT LIMITED DUTY (PLD)". Navy Personnel Command. U.S. Navy. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  17. "TEMPORARY LIMITED DUTY (TLD)". Navy Personnel Command. U.S. Navy. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  18. Rosenberg, Zach (4 August 2015). "Airplane Droppings: Pieces of airplane fall from the sky more often than you'd think". Air & Space. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
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