A
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| A2/AD | anti-access/area denial |
| AAG | Advanced Arresting Gear |
| AAMDS | Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System |
| AAV | Amphibious Assault Vehicle |
| ABCT | Armored Brigade Combat Team |
| ABM | Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis |
| ABMS | Airborne Battle Management System |
| ACF | Army contingency force |
| ACV | Amphibious Combat Vehicle |
| ADIZ | Air Defense Identification Zone |
| ADMM-Plus | ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus |
| AEHF | Advanced Extremely High Frequency (satellite system) |
| AEW | airborne early warning |
| AFAFRICA | U.S. Air Forces Africa |
| AFCYBER | U.S. Air Force Cyber Command |
| AFP | Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| AFRICOM | U.S. Africa Command |
| AFSOC | U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command |
| AFTA | ASEAN Free Trade Area |
| AIP | Air Independent Propulsion |
| AIT | American Institute in Taiwan |
| AMDR | Air and Missile Defense Radar |
| AME | aeromedical evacuation |
| AMPV | Armored Multipurpose Vehicle |
| ANSF | Afghan National Security Forces |
| AN/TPY-2 | Army Navy/Transportable Radar Surveillance |
| ANZUS | Australia–New Zealand–U.S. Security Treaty |
| AOR | area of responsibility |
| APC | armored personnel carrier |
| APS | Army Prepositioned Stocks |
| AQAP | Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula |
| AQI | Al-Qaeda in Iraq |
| AQIM | Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb |
| ARC | Active Reserve Component |
| ARCYBER | U.S. Army Cyber Command |
| ARF | ASEAN Regional Forum |
| ARG | amphibious ready group |
| ARNG | Army National Guard |
| ASAT | anti-satellite |
| ASBM | anti-ship ballistic missile |
| ASEAN | Association of Southeast Asian Nations |
| ASG | Abu Sayyaf Group |
| ASUW | anti-surface warfare |
| ASW | anti-submarine warfare |
| AUSMIN | Australia–United States Ministerial |
| AW | air warfare |
| AWACS | Airborne Warning and Control System |
B
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| BBA | Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 |
| BCA | Budget Control Act of 2011 |
| BCT | Brigade Combat Team |
| BCW | biological and chemical weapons |
| BDCA | border defense cooperation agreement |
| BECA | Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement |
| BJP | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| BMD | ballistic missile defense |
| BUR | Bottom-Up Review |
| BVR | beyond visual recognition |
C
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| C2 | command and control |
| C4ISR | command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance |
| CA | civil affairs |
| CAB | Combat Aviation Brigade |
| CAPE | Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation |
| CATOBAR | conventional takeoff/barrier landing |
| CBO | Congressional Budget Office |
| CCG | Chinese Coast Guard |
| CCP | Chinese Communist Party |
| CCT | Combat Controller Team |
| CELAC | Community of Latin American and Caribbean States |
| CENTCOM | U.S. Central Command |
| CFC | Combined Forces Command (South Korea–U.S.) |
| CFSCC | Combined Force Space Component Command |
| CFT | Cross-Functional Team |
| CHAMSI | Cooperative Humanitarian and Medical Storage Initiative |
| CI | Counterinsurgency |
| CIA | Central Intelligence Agency |
| CISMOA | Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement |
| CJTF-HOA | Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa |
| CLF | Combat Logistics Force |
| CLU | Command Launch Units |
| CMF | Cyber Mission Force |
| CMRR | Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement |
| CMT | combat mission team |
| COCOM | Combatant Command |
| CONUS | continental United States |
| COVID-19 | Coronavirus Disease 2019 |
| CPMIEC | China Precision Machinery Import–Export Corporation |
| CPT | Cyber Protection Team |
| CRS | Congressional Research Service |
| CSF | coalition support funds |
| CSG | carrier strike group |
| CSO | Chief of Space Operations |
| CSO | Critical Skills Operator |
| CT | Counterterrorism |
| CTC | Combat Training Center |
| CTF | Combined Task Force |
| CTIC | Counter Terrorism Information Center |
| CVN | aircraft carrier, nuclear powered |
| CVW | carrier air wing |
| CW | chemical warfare |
| CYBERCOM | U.S. Cyber Command |
| CYOC | Cyberspace Operations Centre |
D
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| D2D | deployment-to-dwell |
| DA-KKV | direct-ascent kinetic-kill vehicle |
| DAF | Department of the Air Force |
| DCA | defense cooperation agreement |
| DDOS | distributed denial of service |
| DDPR | Deterrence and Defense Posture Review |
| DIANA | Defence Innovation Accelerator of the North Atlantic |
| DIME | diplomatic, informational, military, and economic |
| DMSP | Defense Meteorological Satellite Program |
| DMZ | demilitarized zone |
| DNI | Director of National Intelligence |
| DoAF | Department of the Air Force |
| DOD | U.S. Department of Defense |
| DOE | U.S. Department of Energy |
| DON | U.S. Department of the Navy |
| DOS | denial of service |
| DPRK | Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) |
| DSCA | Defense Security Cooperation Agency |
| DSCS | Defense Satellite Communications System |
| DSG | Defense Strategic Guidance |
| DSR | Defense Strategic Review |
| DTTI | Defense Trade and Technology Initiative |
E
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| EAC | enhanced air cooperation |
| eAP | enhanced Air Policing |
| EADRCC | Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre |
| EAS | European Activity Set |
| EBO | effects-based operations |
| ECP | engineering change proposal |
| EDA | excess defense articles |
| EDCA | Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement |
| EDI | European Defense Initiative |
| EEZ | exclusive economic zone |
| EFP | Enhanced Forward Presence |
| EFV | Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle |
| EMALS | Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System |
| EMD | engineering and manufacturing development |
| EMP | electromagnetic pulse |
| EOD | explosive ordnance disposal |
| ERIP | European Recapitalization Incentive Program |
| ESG | Expeditionary Strike Group |
| EU | European Union |
| EUCOM | U.S. European Command |
| EW | electronic warfare |
| EWS-G1 | Electro-Optical Infrared Weather System |
F
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| FATA | Federally Administered Tribal Areas |
| FATF | Financial Action Task Force |
| FCS | Future Combat System |
| FLTCYBER | U.S. Navy Fleet Cyber Command |
| FLTSATCOM | Fleet Satellite Communications System |
| FOC | full operational capability |
| FONOP | freedom of navigation operation |
| FRAGO | fragmentary order |
| FSTM | full spectrum training miles |
| FTA | free trade agreement |
| FY | fiscal year |
| FYDP | Future Years Defense Program |
G
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| GAO | Government Accountability Office (formerly General Accounting Office) |
| GATOR | Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar |
| GCC | geographic combatant commander |
| GCC | Gulf Cooperation Council |
| GCV | Ground Combat Vehicle |
| GDP | gross domestic product |
| GEO | geosynchronous orbit |
| GFMAP | Global Force Management Allocation Plan |
| GMV | Ground Mobility Vehicle |
| GPF | general purpose forces |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| GSOMIA | General Security of Military Information Agreement |
H
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| HA/DR | humanitarian assistance/disaster relief |
| HEO | highly elliptical orbit |
| HMMWV | High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HUMVEE) |
| HVE | homegrown violent extremist |
I
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| IAMD | Integrated Air and Missile Defense |
| IBCT | Infantry Brigade Combat Team |
| ICBM | intercontinental ballistic missile |
| ICS | industrial control systems |
| ICT | Information and communications technology |
| IDF | Israel Defense Forces |
| IED | improvised explosive device |
| IFPC | indirect fire protection capability |
| IFV | infantry fighting vehicle |
| IMF | International Monetary Fund |
| INDOPACOM | U.S. Indo-Pacific Command |
| INEW | Integrated Network Electronic Warfare |
| INF | Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (treaty) |
| INFSA | Integrated Naval Force Structure Assessment |
| IOC | initial operating capability |
| IRGC | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| ISAF | International Security Assistance Force |
| ISIL | Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
| ISIS | Islamic State of Iraq and Syria |
| ISR | intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance |
J
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| JCPOA | Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action |
| JeM | Jaish-e-Mohammed |
| JLTV | Joint Light Tactical Vehicle |
| JOAC | Joint Operational Access Concept |
| JP | joint publication |
| JSF | Joint Strike Fighter (F-35 Lightning II) |
| JSOC | Joint Special Operations Command |
| JSOTF-P | Joint Special Operations Task Force–Philippines |
| JSTARS | Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System |
| JTF North | Joint Task Force North |
| JTF–SD | Joint Task Force–Space Defense |
| JuD | Jamaat-ud-Dawa |
K
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| KATUSA | Korean Augmentees to the United States Army |
| KFOR | Kosovo Force |
L
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| LAC | Line of Actual Control |
| LAF | Lebanese Armed Forces |
| LAV | Light Armored Vehicle |
| LCAC | Landing Craft Air Cushion Vehicle |
| LCS | Littoral Combat Ship |
| LCT | Littoral Combat Team |
| LEMOA | Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement |
| LeT | Lashkar-e-Taiba |
| LFP | lead force package |
| LHA | landing helicopter assault (amphibious ship) |
| LHD | landing helicopter dock (amphibious ship) |
| LNG | liquefied natural gas |
| LoC | Line of Control |
| LPD | landing platform/dock or amphibious transport dock (amphibious ship) |
| LPDE | Long Duration Propulsive Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle |
| LRA | Lord’s Resistance Army |
| LRASM | long range anti-ship missiles |
| LRDR | long range discrimination radar |
| LRIP | low-rate initial production |
| LRS-B | Long-Range Strike Bomber |
| LSD | landing ship, dock (amphibious ship) |
M
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| MAGTF | Marine Air-Ground Task Force |
| MANPADS | man-portable air-defense systems |
| MARCENT | U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command |
| MARFORAF | U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa |
| MARFORCYBER | U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command |
| MARFOREUR | U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe |
| MARFORPAC | U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific |
| MARSOC | Marine Forces Special Operations Command |
| MAWI | Multinational Ammunition Warehousing Initiative |
| MCM | mine countermeasure (ship) |
| MCMV | mine countermeasure vessel (ship) |
| MCO | major combat operation (see MRC, MTW) |
| MDAP | Major Defense Acquisition Program |
| MDO | multi-domain operations |
| MDT | mutual defense treaty |
| MDTF | Multi-Domain Task Forces |
| MEB | Marine Expeditionary Brigade |
| MEF | Marine Expeditionary Force |
| MEU | Marine Expeditionary Unit |
| Milstar | Military Strategic and Tactical Relay |
| MINUSMA | United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali |
| MIRV | multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles |
| MISO | Military Information Support Operations |
| MLR | Marine Littoral Regiment |
| MNLA | National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad |
| MNLF | Moro National Liberation Front |
| MNNA | major non-NATO ally |
| MOJWA | Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa |
| MPC | Marine Personnel Carrier |
| MPS | Maritime Prepositioning Ships |
| MRAP | Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (vehicle) |
| MRBM | medium-range ballistic missile |
| MRC | major regional conflict (see MTW, MCO) |
| MRF | Marine Rotational Force |
| MSI | Maritime Security Initiative |
| MTW | major theater war (see MCO, MRC) |
N
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| NAP | National Action Plan |
| NASIC | U.S. National Air and Space Intelligence Center |
| NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| NAVAF | U.S. Naval Forces Africa |
| NAVEUR | U.S. Naval Forces Europe |
| NDAA | National Defense Authorization Act |
| NDN | Northern Distribution Network |
| NDP | National Defense Panel |
| NDS | National Defense Strategy |
| New START | New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty |
| NGI | next generation interceptor |
| NMI | NATO Mission Iraq |
| NNSA | National Nuclear Security Administration |
| NPR | Nuclear Posture Review |
| NPRIS | Nuclear Posture Review Implementation Study |
| NSA | National Security Agency |
| NSBDF | National Sea-Based Deterrence Fund |
| NSC | National Security Council |
| NSR | Northern Sea Route |
| NSWC | Naval Special Warfare Command |
O
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| OAR | Operation Atlantic Resolve |
| OAS | Organization of American States |
| OCO | overseas contingency operations |
| ODNI | Office of the Director of National Intelligence |
| OEF | Operation Enduring Freedom |
| O-FRP | Optimized Fleet Response Plan |
| OIF | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| OMFV | optionally manned fighting vehicle |
| ONA | Office of Net Assessment |
| ONE | Operation Noble Eagle |
| OPCON | operational control |
| OPE-P | Operation Pacific Eagle–Philippines |
| OPIR | Overhead Persistent Infrared |
| OPLAN | operational plan |
| OPTEMPO | operational tempo |
| OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation In Europe |
| OT&E | Operational Test and Evaluation |
| OTFSTM | Operating Tempo Full Spectrum Training Miles |
P
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| PACAF | U.S. Pacific Air Forces |
| PACFLT | U.S. Pacific Fleet |
| PACOM | U.S. Pacific Command |
| PAF | Philippine Air Force |
| PDD-15 | Presidential Decision Directive-15 |
| PFLP | Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine |
| PFLP-GC | Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command |
| PGM | precision-guided munitions |
| PIM | Paladin Integrated Management |
| PKK | Kurdistan Workers' Party |
| PKO | peacekeeping operation |
| PLA | People’s Liberation Army |
| PLAAF | People’s Liberation Army Air Force |
| PLAN | People’s Liberation Army Navy |
| PLARF | People's Liberation Army Rocket Force |
| PLASSF | People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force |
| PLO | Palestine Liberation Organization |
| PNI | Presidential Nuclear Initiative |
| PNT | positioning, navigation, and timing |
| PRC | People’s Republic of China |
| PRT | Provisional Reconstruction Team |
| PSA | Port of Singapore Authority |
| PSF | Peninsula Shield Force |
| PWSA | Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture |
Q
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| QDR | Quadrennial Defense Review |
| QME | qualitative military effectiveness |
| QNSTR | Quadrennial National Security Threats and Trends |
R
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| RAF | Royal Air Force |
| RAP | readiness action plan |
| RBA | Ready Basic Aircraft |
| RCOH | refueling and complex overhaul (nuclear-powered ship) |
| RDJTF | Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force |
| RDT&E | Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation |
| RFP | Request for Proposals |
| RIMPAC | Rim of the Pacific |
| RKV | redesigned kill vehicle |
| RMA | revolution in military affairs |
| ROK | Republic of Korea (South Korea) |
| RP | Republic of the Philippines |
| RPG | rocket-propelled grenade |
S
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| SAARC | South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation |
| SAC | strategic airlift capability |
| SACEUR | Supreme Allied Commander Europe |
| SAM | surface-to-air missile |
| SAR | search and rescue |
| SBCT | Stryker Brigade Combat Team |
| SBIRS | Space-Based Infrared System (satellite system) |
| SBSS | Space-Based Surveillance System |
| SCN | Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy (budget category) |
| SEAL | Sea Air Land operator (Navy) |
| SEATO | Southeast Asia Treaty Organization |
| SFA | Strategic Framework Agreement |
| SFAB | Security Force Assistance Brigades |
| SIGINT | signals intelligence |
| SIPRI | Stockholm International Peace Research Institute |
| SLBM | submarine-launched ballistic missile |
| SMU | special mission unit |
| SOCAFRICA | U.S. Special Operations Command Africa |
| SOCCENT | U.S. Special Operations Command Central |
| SOCEUR | U.S. Special Operations Command Europe |
| SOCPAC | U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific |
| SOF | U.S. Special Operations Forces |
| SOP | standard operating procedure |
| SORT | Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty |
| SOTFE | Support Operations Task Force Europe |
| SPE | Sony Pictures Entertainment |
| SPMAGTF | Special-Purpose Marine Air–Ground Task Force |
| SpOC | Space Operations Command |
| SRBM | short-range ballistic missile |
| SRM | Sustainable Readiness Model |
| SSBN | ballistic missile submarine, nuclear-powered |
| SSGN | guided missile submarine, nuclear-powered |
| SSN | attack submarine, nuclear-powered |
| SSP | Stockpile Stewardship Program |
| STA-1 | Strategic Trade Authorization-1 |
| STARCOM | U.S. Space Training and Readiness Command |
| STRATCOM | U.S. Strategic Command |
| SUW | surface warfare |
T
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| TACAIR | tactical air |
| TAFWN | The Air Force We Need |
| TAI | total active inventory |
| TANAP | Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline |
| TAP | Trans-Adriatic Pipeline |
| TCO | transnational criminal organization |
| TDY | stateside temporary duty |
| THAAD | Terminal High Altitude Area Defense |
| TLAM/N | Tomahawk Land Attack Missile/Nuclear |
| TMP | technical modernization program |
| TNW | tactical nuclear weapon |
| TPP | Trans-Pacific Partnership |
| TRA | Taiwan Relations Act |
| TRANSCOM | U.S. Transportation Command |
| TSOC | Theater Special Operations Command |
| TTP | Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan |
U
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| UAE | United Arab Emirates |
| UAV | unmanned aerial vehicle |
| UCLASS | Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike |
| UCP | Unified Command Plan |
| U.K. | United Kingdom |
| ULA | United Launch Alliance |
| UNASUR | Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (Union of South American Nations) |
| UNC | United Nations Council |
| UNCLOS | U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea |
| UNIFIL | United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon |
| USAF | U.S. Air Force |
| USAFCENT | U.S. Air Forces Central |
| USAFE | U.S. Air Forces Europe |
| USARAF | U.S. Army Africa |
| USARCENT | U.S. Army Central |
| USAREUR | U.S. Army Europe |
| USARPAC | U.S. Army Pacific |
| USASOC | U.S. Army Special Operations Command |
| USCYBERCOM | U.S. Cyber Command |
| USFJ | U.S. Forces Japan |
| USFK | U.S. Forces Korea |
| USMC | U.S. Marine Corps |
| USNAVCENT | U.S. Naval Forces Central |
| USNORTHCOM | U.S. Northern Command |
| USSF | U.S. Space Force |
| USSOCOM | U.S. Special Operations Command |
| USSOUTHCOM | U.S. Southern Command |
| USSPACECOM | U.S. Space Command |
| USV | unmanned surface vessel |
| USW | undersea warfare |
V
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| VEO | violent extremist organizations |
| VFA | U.S.–Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement |
| VLS | vertical launching system |
| VPM | Virginia Payload Module |
W
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| WGS | Wideband Global SATCOM (satellite system) |
| WMD | weapons of mass destruction |
| WRM | wartime readiness materials |
| WWTA | Worldwide Threat Assessment |
