List of U.S. Navy acronyms

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.

List

Acronym	Meaning	Notes/References
3M	Maintenance and Material Management (3M System)
3MC	Maintenance Material Management Coordinator
AA	Airman Apprentice
AAW	Anti-Air warfare
AB	Aviation Boatswain's Mate
ABE	Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Launching and Recovery)
ABF	Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels)
ABH	Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Aircraft Handling)
AC	Air Controlman
ACR	Armored cruiser
AD	Aviation Machinist's Mate
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
AF	Aviation Photographer's Mate
AFC	Aviation Fire Control
AFCM	Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman
AFFF	Aqueous film forming foam
AG	Aerographer's Mate
AIMD	Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (or Detachment)
AK	Aviation Storekeeper
ALPO	Assistant Lead Petty Officer
AM	Aviation Structural Mechanic
AMMRL	Aviation Maintenance Material Readiness List
AMO	Assistant Maintenance Officer
AN	Airman
AO	Aviation Ordnanceman
AOW	Auxilliaryman of the Watch
AR	Airman Recruit
ASAU	Air Search and Attack Unit
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
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
AWOL	Absent without leave
AZ	Aviation Maintenance Administrationman
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
BMOW	Boatswain's Mate of the Watch
BOHICA	Bend Over Here It Comes Again
BOL	Bupers Online
BU	Builder
BUMED	Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
BUPERS	Bureau of Naval Personnel
BZ	Bravo Zulu (meaning Well Done)
CA	Construction Apprentice
CA	Heavy Cruiser (outdated)
CAG	Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser (outdated) or Commander Air Group
CAPT	Captain
CDB	Career Development Boards
CDO	Command Duty Officer
CDR	Commander
CE	Construction Electrician's Mate
CEC	Civil Engineer Corps
CENTCOM	U.S. Central Command
CF	Charlie Foxtrot Polite form of "Cluster Fuck"
CG	Guided Missile Cruiser
CGN	Guided Missile Cruiser, Nuclear Powered
CM	Construction Mechanic
CMC	Command Master Chief
CMS-ID	Career Management System-Interactive Detailing
CN	Constructionman
CNO	Chief of Naval Operations
CO	Commanding Officer
COB	Chief Of the Boat (traditionally found only on submarines). Can also be used for "close of business."
COD	Carrier Onboard Delivery
COMDESGRU	Commander, Destroyer Group
COMLANTFLT	Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet	See also CINCLANTFLT
COMEX	Commence Exercise
COMMO	Communications officer
COMNAVAIRFOR	Commander, Naval Air Forces
COMNAVAIRLANT	Comander, 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 Atlantic
Carrier (Lighter-than-air)	No longer in use
CMC	Commandant of the Marine Corps
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
CS	Culinary Specialist
CSC	Command Senior Chief
CSC	Combat Systems Coordinator
CSC	Culinary Specialist Chief (E-7)
CSEC	Computerized Self Evaluation Checklist
CSOOW	Combat Systems Officer of the Watch
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), i.e. CVN-72 USS Abraham Lincoln
CVW	Carrier Air Wing
CWO	Chief Warrant Officer
DAPA	Drug and Alcohol Programs Advisor
DC	Damage Controlman
DCA	Damage Control Assistant
DCAG	Deputy Air Wing Commander	See also 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	Destroyer Minelayer
DMHRSi	Defense Medical Human Resources System - internet
DoD	Department Of Defense
DON	Department Of the Navy
DRB	Discipline Review Board
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
EM	Emergency Management
EMI	Extra Military Instruction
EN	Engineman
ENS	Ensign
EO	Equipment Operator
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
EWS	Engineering Watch Supervisor
EXW	Expeditionary Warfare
FA	Fireman Apprentice
FAC	Forward Air Controller
FAC/A	Forward Air Controller/Airborne
FC	Fire Controlman
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
FMF	Fleet Marine Force
FMSS	Field Medical Service School
FN	Fireman
FOD	Foreign Object Damage	Debris and Detection also used in some cases
FR	Fireman Recruit
FRC	Fleet Readiness Center
FRS	Fleet Replacement Squadron	Formerly RAG
FSA	Food Service Attendant
FSO	Food Service Officer
FTN	Forget the Navy; Full-time Navy; Fuck the Navy
GQ	General Quarters	Call to battle stations
GCCS-M	Global Command Communications System-Maritime
GM	Gunner's Mate
GSA	Global War on Terrorism Support Assignments also General Services Administration
HA	Hospital Apprentice
HELO	Helicopter
HM	Hospital Corpsman
HMFIC	Head M F In Charge (See SOPA Below)
HN	Hospitalman
HR	Hospital Recruit
HS	Helicopter Squadron (HS-4 Black Knights)
HT	Hull Maintenance Technician
IAP - In Assignment Processing
IAMM	Individual Augmentation Manpower Management
IAW	"in accordance with"
IC	Interior Communications Electrician
ICO	"in case of" "in care of"
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
JAG	Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
JBD	Jet Blast Deflector
JO	Journalist
JP-5	Jet Propellant no. 5, standard Navy jet fuel (F-44, AVCAT)
JTF	Joint Task Force
JTFEX	Joint Task Force Exercise
LANTCOM	Atlantic Command
LCDR	Lieutenant Commander
LCPO	Leading Chief Petty Officer
LDO	Limited Duty Officer
LES	Leave and Earnings Statement
LPD	Land Platform Dock (Amphibious Class Ship, Diesel Propulsion), i.e. LPD-18 USS New Orleans
LPO	Leading Petty Officer
LPOD	Last Plane On Deck
LSO	Landing Signal Officer
LT	Lieutenant
LTJG	Lieutenant Junior Grade
MAA	Master At Arms
MALS	Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron
MCPO	Master Chief Petty Officer
MCPON	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy	pronounced "Mick Pon"
MCO	Material Control Officer
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	Maintenance Officer	pronounced "Moe"
MOA	Memorandum of Agreement
MOU	Memorandum of Understanding
MM	Machinist's Mate
MSW	Main Seawater System
MSG	Message
MT	Missile Technician
NALCOMIS	Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System
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
NAWCWD	Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (now Pacific Missile Test Center)
NBSD	Naval Base San Diego
NCDU	Navy Combat Demolition Unit
NCIS	Naval Criminal Investigative Service
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
NMPS	Navy Mobilization and Processing Site
NNSY	Norfolk Naval Shipyard
NOSC	Navy Operational Support Center
NPC	Navy Personnel Command
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
OBA	Oxygen Breathing Apparatus
OCS	Officer Candidate School	located at Naval Station Newport
OFS	Out Freaking Standing; Out Fucking Standing
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
PACOM	Pacific Command
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
POD	Plan of the Day
POM	Plan of the Month
POTUS	President of the United States
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
QM	Quartermaster
RADCON	Radiation control
RADM	Rear Admiral
RAG	Replacement Air Group, now known as Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS)
RDC	Recruit Division Commander
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
SA	Seaman Apprentice
SAG	Surface Action Group
SAM	Surface-to-air missile
SAPR	Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
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.
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
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
SRB	Selective Reenlistment Bonus
SRW	Shutdown Roving Watch
SS	Submarine or submersible ship
SSBN	Hull classification symbol for ballistic missile submarine. The SS denotes submarine, the B denotes ballistic missiles, and the N denotes nuclear-powered.	aka Boomers
SSGN	Hull classification symbol for cruise missile submarine. The SS denotes submarine, the G denotes guided missile, and the N denotes nuclear-powered.
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
STREAM	Standard Tension Replenishment Alongside Method
SUBRON	Submarine squadron
SUBSAFE	Submarine safety program
SUPPO	Supply Officer
SWCC	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
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
TOPGUN	United States Navy Fighter Weapons School
TU	Task Unit
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
USMC	United States Marine Corps, organized under the United States Department of the Navy)
USN	United States Navy
URL	Unrestricted line officer
USNA	United States Naval Academy (Annapolis)
UWT	Underwater telephone
VERTREP	Vertical replenishment
VCNO	Vice Chief of Naval Operations
VAQ	Fixed Wing Electronic-Attack Squadron
VAW	Fixed Wing Airborne Early Warning Squadron
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
WCS	Workcenter Supervisor
WO	Warrant officer
WSO	(Wizzo) - Weapon Systems Operator/Naval Flight Officer
WTD	Watertight Door
WTF	Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, usually an interrogative phrase, but may also be used in a declarative manner
WTH	Water Tight Hatch
XO	Executive officer
YN	Yeoman

See also

• List of military slang terms
• List of U.S. government and military acronyms
  • List of U.S. Marine Corps acronyms and expressions
  • List of U.S. Air Force acronyms and expressions

External links

• Navy Acronyms and Navy Abbreviations

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