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List of U.S. Air Force acronyms and expressions

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This is a list of initials, acronyms, expressions, euphemisms, jargon, military slang, and sayings in common or formerly common use in the United States Air Force. Many of the words or phrases have varying levels of acceptance among different units or communities, and some also have varying levels of appropriateness (usually dependent on how senior the user is in rank). Many terms also have equivalents among other service branches that are not acceptable amongst Marines, but are comparable in meaning. Many acronyms and terms have come into common use from voice procedure use over communication channels, translated into the NATO phonetic alphabet, or both.

The scope of this list is to include words and phrases that are unique to or predominantly used by the United States Air Force. For other military slang lists, see the "See also" section.

0–9[]

A[]

B[]

  • BAH - Basic Allowance for Housing
  • BAS - Basic Allowance for Subsistance
  • BCGs - Birth Control Glasses (nickname for eye glasses issued by the US military)
  • BCOT - Basic Communications Officer Training
  • BDU - Battle Dress Uniform
  • BIT - Bystander Intervention Training
  • BITC - Base Information Transfer Center
  • BITS - Base Information Transfer System
  • BF - Slang - 'Buddy Fucker' (Someone who through action or inaction causes harm or distress for a fellow Airman) Also, 'Bravo Foxtrot' or 'Blue Falcon'
  • BFM - Basic Fighter Maneuvers
  • BFT - Blue Force Tracking
  • Blueberry - Airman in blues, typically fresh out of BMT and just arriving at techschool (Often used as a negative term)
  • BLUF - Bottom Line Up Front
  • BOHICA - Bend Over, Here It Comes Again
  • BONE - Nickname for the B-1 Lancer
  • BMT - Basic Military Training
  • BOQ - Bachelor Officer Quarters
  • BOS - Base Operating Support
  • BOT - Basic Officer Training
  • Brig Gen - Brigadier General
  • BS - Bomb Squadron
  • BSA - Basic Surface Attack
  • BTZ - Below the zone Early promotion from E-3 to E-4
  • BUFF -Big Ugly Fat Fucker/Fellow, nickname for a B-52 Stratofortress
  • Butterbar - Slang expression for the rank of second lieutenant; refers to the distinctive gold color of the rank insignia.
  • BW - Bomb Wing
  • BX - Base Exchange

C[]

D[]

  • D-Day - The unnamed day on which an operation begins or is to begin
  • DACBT - Dissimilar Air Combat Training
  • DBA - Dirtbag Airman (An Airman who does not represent the Air Force Core Values)
  • DEAD - Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses
  • DEERS - Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System
  • DEROS - Date Estimated Return from OverSeas
  • DFAC - Dining Facility
  • DMSP - Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
  • DOE - Date of Enlistment
  • Dollar Ride - A pilot's first flight in an airframe
  • Doolie - nickname for a first year Air Force Academy cadet
  • DOR - Date of Rank
  • Double Dip - Term used when in a dual status and receiving income from two sources (e.g. Military Technician on civilian leave and orders)
  • DRSN - Defense Red Switch Network
  • DRU - Direct Reporting Unit
  • DSCS - Defense Satellite Communications System
  • DSN - Defense Switched Network
  • DSP - Defense Support Program
  • DSPD - Defense Support to Public Diplomacy
  • DT - Development Team
  • DTS - Defense Travel System

E[]

  • EAD - Effective Active duty Date
  • EADS - Eastern Air Defense Sector
  • EELV - Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle
  • EET - Exercise Evaluation Team
  • EFMP - Exceptional Family Member Program
  • EI - Engineering & Installation
  • EIS - Engineering & Installation Squadron
  • ELINT - Electronic signals Intelligence
  • EGI - Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation
  • EMEDS - Expeditionary Medical Support
  • ENJJPT - Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training
  • EO - Equal Opportunity
  • EOC - Emergency Operations Center
  • EOD - Explosive Ordnance Disposal
  • EPR - Enlisted Performance Report
  • ERCC - Engine Run Crew Change
  • ERO - Engine Running Onload/Offload
  • EW - Electronic Warfare
  • EWO - Electronic Warfare Officer

F[]

  • FAA - Federal Aviation Administration
  • FAC - Forward Air Controller
  • FAIP - First Assignment Instructor Pilot
  • FGO - Field Grade Officer (majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels)
  • FIGMO - Fuck it I Got My Orders
  • Fini Flight - A pilot's last flight in the aircraft before he/she leaves a squadron
  • FLPP - Foreign Language Profeciency Pay
  • FMC - Fully Mission Capable
  • FMS - Foreign Military Sales
  • FMS -Field Maintenance Squadron
  • FNG - Fucking New Guy
  • FOA - Field Operating Agency
  • FOD - Foreign Object Damage or debris that can cause damage
  • FOUO - For Official Use Only
  • Four Fan Trash Can - Nickname for the C-130 Hercules
  • Four Fans of Freedom - Nickname for the C-130 Hercules
  • FRED - Fucking Ridiculous Economic Disaster (term for the C-5 Galaxy)
  • FS - Fighter Squadron
  • FSB - Force Shaping Board
  • FSS - Force Support Squadron
  • FTAC - First Term Airman's Center
  • FTU - Formal Training Unit
  • FTW - Flying Training Wing
  • FUBAR - Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition
  • F.U.C.K. – Fornication Under Consent (of the) King - Always used correctly by an NCO as a Verb, Noun, Adjective, Adverb, Pronoun, Preposition, Conjunction,Interjection.
  • FW - Fighter Wing

G[]

  • G-LOC - G-induced Loss of Consciousness
  • GBS - Global Broadcast Service (pronounced: jibz—IPA: dʒɪbz)
  • GC / GNC - Guidance and Control
  • GCCS - Global Command and Control System (pronounced: geeks—IPA: giks)
  • GCIC - Global Cyberspace Integration Center
  • GCS - Ground Control Station
  • GDT - Ground Data Terminal
  • Gen - General
  • GLCM - Ground Launched Cruise Missile
  • GOCO - Government Owned, Contractor Operated
  • GOGO - Government Owned, Government Operated
  • GOV - Government Owned Vehicle
  • Gp - Group
  • GPC - Government Purchase Card
  • GPS - Global Positioning System
  • GTC - Government Travel Card

H[]

  • HAF - Headquarters Air Force
  • HALO - High Altitude, Low Opening
  • Hangar "[#]" - A nonexistent hangar (e.g. if there are 4 hangars, then it would be hangar 5) heard most often over the radio that is code for the bathroom/Porta John. Example: "Get me to hangar 5!"
  • HARM - High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile
  • HARRT - Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team
  • Hawg - Nickname for the A-10 Thunderbolt II
  • HAZCON - Hazardous Condition
  • HIA - Held in Abeyance
  • HO - Historians Office
  • HPC - Historic Properties Custodian
  • HTS - HARM Targeting System
  • HUAW - Hurry Up and Wait
  • HUD - Head-Up Display
  • HUMINT - Human Intelligence

I[]

  • IA - Information Assurance
  • IAW - In Accordance With
  • ICBM - Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
  • IFE - In-Flight Emergency
  • IFF - Identification Friend or Foe or Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals
  • IFFCC - Integrated Flight and Fire Control Computer
  • IFT - Introductory Flight Training
  • IG - Inspector General
  • ILS - Instrument landing system
  • IMDS - Integrated Maintenance Database System
  • IMINT - Imagery Intelligence
  • INOP - Inoperative/Inoperable
  • INOSC - Integrated Network Operations and Security Center
  • IP - Instructor Pilot
  • IPB - Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace
  • IO - Information Operations
  • IOIC - Information Operations Integration Course
  • IS - Intelligence Squadron
  • ISR - Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
  • ITT - Information, Tickets, and Travel
  • IYAAYAS - If You Ain't Ammo, You Ain't Shit

J[]

K[]

  • KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid

L[]

  • LAPES - Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System
  • LATN - Low Altitude Tactical Navigation
  • Lawn Dart - Nickname for F-16 Fighting Falcon or any other fast, pointy, single-engine aircraft.
  • LCAP - Logistics Compliance Assessment Program
  • LEAP - Language Enabled Airman Program
  • LGB - Laser-Guided Bomb
  • LIMFAC - Limiting Factor
  • LRS - Logistics Readiness Squadron
  • LOA - Letter of Admonishment
  • LOA - Letter of Appreciation
  • LOAC - Law of Armed Conflict
  • LOC - Letter of Counseling
  • LOGI - Logistics NCOIC (Squadron, Group, Wing)
  • LOR - Letter of Reprimand
  • LOWAT - Low Altitude Training
  • LRS - Logistics Readiness Squadron
  • Lt Col - Lieutenant Colonel
  • Lt Gen - Lieutenant General
  • LWOP - Leave Without Pay

M[]

N[]

O[]

  • OA - Occupational Analysis
  • OA - Outstanding Airman
  • OAPT - Officer Awaiting Pilot Training.
  • OAPTer - An officer in OAPT status. While other 2nd Lt's begin their training and leadership, OAPTers complete menial tasks in support of the mission, while they wait for their assigned training date (this is known as "casual status"). It is important for all operational bases, as OAPTers are most often supplement workforce.
  • OAR - Occupational Analysis Report
  • OAY - Outstanding Airman of the Year
  • OAYA - Outstanding Airman of the Year Award
  • OCONUS - Outside the Continental United States
  • OCR - Office of Collateral Responsibility
  • OFO - Out Fucking Off
  • OG - Operations Group
  • OL - Operating Location
  • OODA - Observe Orient Decide Act
  • OPCON - Operational Control
  • OPR - Office of Primary Responsibility
  • OPR - Officer Performance Report
  • OPSEC - Operations Security
  • OPTN - Operationalizing and Professionalizing the Network
  • ORI - Operational Readiness Inspection
  • ORM - Operation Risk Management
  • OSI - Office of Special Investigation
  • OSR - Occupational Survey Report
  • OSS - Operations Support Squadron
  • OT&E - Operational Test and Evaluation
  • OTS - Officer Training School

P[]

  • PA - Public Affairs
  • PACAF - Pacific Air Forces
  • PAR - Precision Approach Radar
  • PAS - Political Affairs Strategist
  • PAX - Air passengers
  • PCS - Permanent Change of Station
  • PDS - Permanent Duty Station
  • Perpes - Humorous nickname for PRP, take on herpes
  • PFE - Promotion Fitness Examination
  • PFM - Pure Fucking Magic; Term to refer to a technical problem that somehow resolved itself
  • PFT - Physical Fitness Test
  • PING - Person In Need of Graduation
  • PITT - Person In need of Technical Training
  • PJ - Pararescueman
  • PMC - Partially Mission Capable
  • PME - Professional Military Education
  • Pocket Rocket - Term for the missile badge on ICBM and cruise missile maintenance uniforms
  • Pop Tart - Airman who's technical career schools are 6 weeks or less
  • PRP - Personnel Reliability Program
  • PSYOP - Psychological Operations
  • PTL - Physical Training Leader

Q[]

  • QAF - Quality Air Force
  • Qweep - A task or duty that is completely useless and ultimately unrelated to your primary job. It is often assigned by superiors not of your career field as they assume that you have time to constantly work these tasks. Example: "I have a lot of qweep to do before I go home." "I need to finish all of this qweep before I can go fly."

R[]

  • RA - Resource Advisor
  • RAF - Royal Air Force
  • Rainbow Flight - Fresh trainees at BMT who have not yet received uniforms (clothing colors represent the rainbow)
  • RAM - Random Antiterrorism Measure
  • RAS - Regional Affairs Strategist
  • RED HORSE - Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers
  • RF - Radio frequency
  • RFF - Request [F]or Forces (initiated by Army)
  • RIF - Reduction In Force
  • RNLTD - Report No Later Than Date
  • ROAD - Retired On Active-Duty
  • ROTC - Reserve Officers' Training Corps
  • RQS - Rescue Squadron (formerly ARS)
  • RTB - Return To Base
  • RTIC - Real Time In the Cockpit
  • RW - Reconnaissance Wing

S[]

  • SAASS - School of Advanced Air and Space Studies
  • SAC - Strategic Air Command
  • SAF/SECAF - Secretary of the Air Force
  • SAM - Surface to Air Missile
  • SARC - Sexual Assault Response Coordinator
  • SATCOM - Satellite Communications
  • SAV - Staff Assisted Visit
  • SBIRS - Space-Based Infrared System
  • SDF - Standard Deployment Folder
  • SEAD - Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
  • SEADS - Southeast Air Defense Sector
  • Secret squirrel stuff - Material classified above secret or compartmentalzed information.
  • SEPCOR - Separate Correspondence
  • SERE - Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape
  • SF - Security Forces
  • SFS - Security Forces Squadron
  • Shirt - A unit first sergeant
  • SIGINT - Signals Intelligence
  • SIPR - Secret Internet Protocol Router Network
  • SKT - Specialty Knowledge Test
  • Slick Sleeve - Nickname for an Airman Basic (owing to the absence of rank insignia on an individual's sleeve)
  • SME - Subject Matter Expert
  • SMSgt - Senior Master Sergeant
  • SNAFU - Situation Normal All Fucked Up
  • SNCO - Senior Non-commissioned Officer
  • SNCOA - Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy
  • Snacko - A highly underestimated, mission critical position held most often by Lieutenants in a new flying squadron. Doing well at the Snacko position will prompt one for a laudable career. Failing at such a job will often entail severe ridicule and, if necessary, replacement and retraining by the flying squadron.
  • SOP - Standard Operating Procedure
  • SOPS - Space Operations Squadron
  • SOS - Squadron Officer School or Special Operations Squadron
  • SOW - Special Operations Wing
  • Spirit Mission - A good natured act, commonly in the form of a prank, banner, or...reacquisition...of a person/thing, to show pride for a group of individuals. Usually harmless.
  • Sq - Squadron
  • SrA - Senior Airman
  • SRC - Solid Rock Cafe (new as of 2011, found @ Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls TX - unofficial anogram that is used by officers as well as students)
  • SSgt - Staff Sergeant
  • SST - Supervisor Safety Training
  • STEP - Stripe Through Exceptional Performance
  • Strike Eagle - Nickname for F15 E
  • Stink Bug - Nickname for the F-117 Nighthawk
  • STS - Special Tactics Squadron
  • SVS - Services Squadron
  • SW - Space Wing
  • SWA - Southwest Asia
  • SWAG - Scientific Wild-Ass Guess

T[]

  • T&A - Test and Acceptance
  • TAC - Tactical Air Command
  • TAC-P - Tactical Air Control Party
  • TACON - Tactical Control
  • TAFCSD - Total Active Federal Commission Service Date
  • TAFMSD - Total Active Federal Military Service Date
  • TAG (AG) - The Adjutant General
  • Tail-End Charlie - Person bringing up the rear of a formation or a tail gunner
  • TAP - Transition Assistance Program
  • TCNO - Time Compliance Network Order
  • TCTO - Time Compliance Technical Order
  • TDY - Temporary Duty
  • TFCSD - Total Federal Commissioned Service to Date
  • TGP - Targeting Pod
  • TLAR - That Looks About Right
  • TLF - Temporary Living Facility
  • TO - Technical Order
  • TOT - Time Over Target
  • TRW - Training Wing
  • TSgt - Technical Sergeant
  • TST - Time-Sensitive Target
  • TTP - Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures

U[]

V[]

  • Viper - Nickname for the F-16 Fighting Falcon
  • VML - Vulnerable to Move List
  • vMPF - Virtual Military Personnel Flight
  • V/R - Virtual Regards or Very Respectfully (closing salutation)
  • vRED - Virtual Record of Emergency Data
  • VSP - Voluntary Separation Pay

W[]

X[]

Y[]

Z[]

  • Zoo - Nickname for the Air Force Academy
  • Zoomie - Nickname for an Air Force Academy graduate or cadet

See also[]

External links[]

Leadership
Seal of the US Air Force
Structure
Commands
Direct Reporting Units
Personnel and
training
Uniforms and
equipment
History and
traditions


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The original article can be found at List of U.S. Air Force acronyms and expressions and the edit history here.
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