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 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. Acronyms and abbreviations are common in Officer and Enlisted Performance Reports , but can differ between major commands.
A1C – Airman First Class ; enlisted pay grade E-3, known as Airman Second Class (A2C) from 1952 to 1967
A2C – Airman Second Class; former enlisted pay grade E-3 from 1952 to 1967, now designated as A1C
A3C – Airman Third Class; former enlisted pay grade E-2 from 1952 to 1967, now designated as Amn
AADS – Alaskan Air Defense Sector
AAFES – Army and Air Force Exchange Service (pronounced "A-Fees")
AB – Airman Basic ; enlisted pay grade E-1
AB – Air Base
ABDR – Aircraft Battle Damage Repair
ABM – Air Battle Manager
ABU – Airman Battle Uniform
ABW – Air Base Wing
ACA – Airspace Control Authority
ACC – Air Combat Command , also Area Control Center
ACFT – Aircraft
ACO – Aerospace Control Officer
ACOT – Advanced Communications Officer Training
ACS – Air Control Squadron
ACSC – Air Command and Staff College
ACT – Air Combat Training
ACW – Air Control Wing
ADC – Area Defense Counsel
ADC – (Obsolete term) Air Defense Command , later Aerospace Defense Command (disestablished MAJCOM)
ADCON – Administrative Control
ADP – Airman Development Plan
ADPE – Automated Data Processing Equipment
ADR – Airfield Damage Repair
ADSC – Active Duty Service Commitment
AEF – Aerospace Expeditionary Force
AES – Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
AETC – Air Education and Training Command
AETS – Aeromedical Evacuation Training Squadron
AEW – Air Expeditionary Wing
AFA – Air Force Academy
AFA – Air Force Association
AFAA – Air Force Audit Agency
AFAM – Air Force Achievement Medal
AFAMS – Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation
AFB – Air Force Base
AFC2IC – Air Force Command and Control Integration Center
AFCA – Air Force Communications Agency
AFCAA – Air Force Cost Analysis Agency
AFCAT – Air Force Catalog
AFCEC – Air Force Civil Engineering Center
AFCEE – Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment
AFCENT – Air Forces Central
AFCESA – Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency
AFCFM – Air Force Career Field Manager
AFCLC – Air Force Culture and Learning Center
AFCM – Air Force Commendation Medal
AFDC – Air Force Doctrine Center
AFDW – Air Force District of Washington
AFE – Aircrew Flight Equipment
AFETS – Air Force Engineering and Technical Services
AFFMA – Air Force Frequency Management Agency
AFFSA – Air Force Flight Standards Agency
AFFSC – Air Force Financial Services Center
AFGSC – Air Force Global Strike Command
AFH – Air Force Handbook
AFHRA – Air Force Historical Research Agency
AFI – Air Force Instruction ; or as a duty status, awaiting further instructions
AFIA – Air Force Inspection Agency
AFIAA – Air Force Intelligence Analysis Agency
AFIS – Air Force Inspection System
AFISRA – Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency
AFIT – Air Force Institute of Technology
AFLC – Air Force Logistics Command (disestablished MAJCOM ; merged with AFSC in 1992 to form AFMC )
AFLMA – Air Force Logistics Management Agency
AFLOA – Air Force Legal Operations Agency
AFMA – Air Force Manpower Agency
AFMAN – Air Force Manual
AFMC – Air Force Materiel Command
AFMOA – Air Force Medical Operations Agency
AFMPC – Air Force Military Personnel Center (obsolete), replaced with AFPC
AFMS – Air Force Medical Service or Air Force Manpower Standards
AFMSA – Air Force Medical Support Agency
AFNIC – Air Force Network Integration Center
AFNOC – Air Force Network Operations Center
AFNORTH – Air Forces Northern
AFNSEPO – Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness Office
AFNWCA – Air Force Nuclear Weapons and Counterproliferation Agency
AFOG – Air Force Operations Group
AFOSI – Air Force Office of Special Investigations
AFOQT – Air Force Officer Qualifying Test
AFOTEC – Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center
AFPAA – Air Force Public Affairs Agency
AFPAM – Air Force Pamphlet
AFPC – Air Force Personnel Center
AFPCA – Air Force Pentagon Communications Agency
AFPD – Air Force Policy Directive
AFPEO – Air Force Program Executive Office
AFPET – Air Force Petroleum Agency
AFPOA – Air Force Personnel Operations Agency
AFRAT - Air Force Radiation Assessment Team
AFRBA – Air Force Review Boards Agency
AFRC – Air Force Reserve Command
AFRCC – Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
AFRIMS – Air Force Records Information Management System
AFRL – Air Force Research Lab
AFROTC – Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps
AFRPA – Air Force Real Property Agency
AFS – Air Force Station
AFSA – Air Force Sergeants Association
AFSC – Air Force Sustainment Center The mission of the Air Force Sustainment Center is to Sustain Weapon System Readiness to generate Air power for America. The center provides war-winning expeditionary capabilities to the war fighter through world-class depot maintenance, supply chain management and installation support.
AFSC – Air Force Safety Center
AFSC – Air Force Specialty Code
AFSC – Air Force Systems Command (disestablished MAJCOM ; merged with AFLC in 1992 to form AFMC )
AFSCF – Air Force Satellite Control Facility
AFSFC – Air Force Security Forces Center
AFSO 21 – Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century
AFSOC – Air Force Special Operations Command
AFSOUTH – Air Forces Southern
AFSPC – Air Force Space Command
AFSVA – Air Force Services Agency
AFT – Alert Fire Team
AFTO – Air Force Technical Order
AFVA – Air Force Visual Aids
AFVEC – Air Force Virtual Education Center
AFWA – Air Force Weather Agency
AG (TAG) – Adjutant General, (The)
AGE – Aerospace Ground Equipment; analogous to Ground Support Equipment (GSE) in USN , USMC and USCG (Naval Aviation )
AGE Ranger – An AGE Technician
AGR – Active Guard and Reserve
AGS – Aircraft Generation Squadron
AGSM – Anti-G Straining Maneuver
AGOW – Air-Ground Operations Wing
AIRA – Air Attaché
AKRAOC – Alaska Region Air Operations Center
ALCM – Air Launched Cruise Missile
ALCON – All Concerned (used in message headers for mass emailings)
ALO – Air Liaison Officer
ALS – Airman Leadership School
AMC – Air Mobility Command
AMJAMS – Automated Military Justice Analysis and Management System
Amn – Airman ; enlisted pay grade E-2
AMMO Troop – Munitions Systems Technician AMMO (U.S. Air Force)
AMMS – Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadron Missile Badge
AMS – Academy of Military Science
AMT – Aircraft Metals Technology
AMW – Air Mobility Wing/Anti-morale Warfare
AMXS – Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
ANG – Air National Guard
ANR – Alaskan NORAD Region
AO – Authorized Outage
AOC – Air and Space Operations Center
AOG – Aircraft On Ground
AP – Air Police (Obsolete term); now called Security Forces (SF)
APS – Aerial Port Squadron
ARI – Alcohol Related Incident
ARS – (Obsolete term) Air Rescue Squadron; formerly ARRS, now known as a Rescue Squadron (RQS)
ARRS – (Obsolete term) Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron
ART – AEF (Air Expeditionary Force) Reporting Tool
ART – Air Reserve Technician
ART – Armed or Alarm or Area Response Team
ARW – Air Refueling Wing
AS – Airlift Squadron
AS – Air Station
ASAP – As Soon As Possible
ASBC – Air and Space Basic Course
ASI – Authorized Service Interruption
ASOC – Air Support Operations Center (formerly DASC – Direct Air Support Center)
ASR – Airport Surveillance Radar
ATAG – Assistant to the Adjutant General
ATC – Air traffic control
ATC – Air Training Command (disestablished MAJCOM ; superseded in 1992 by AETC )
ATCALS – Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems
ATO – Air Tasking Order
ATO – Anti-Terrorism Officer
ATO – Authority to Operate
AU – Air University
AU-ABC – Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative
AV – Avionics
AW – Airlift Wing
AWACS – Airborne Warning and Control System on the E-3 Sentry aircraft
AWC – Air War College
AWOL – Absent Without Leave
AWP – Awaiting Parts
BAH – Basic Allowance for Housing
BAS – Basic Allowance for Subsistence
BASH – Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard
BAQ – Bachelor Airman Quarters
BCOT – Basic Communications Officer Training
BDOC – Base Defense Operations Center
BDU – Battle Dress Uniform
BEQ – Bachelor Enlisted Quarters
BIT – Bystander Intervention Training
BITC – Base Information Transfer Center
BITS – Base Information Transfer System
BFM – Basic Fighter Maneuvers
BFT – Blue Force Tracking
BLUF – Bottom Line Up Front
BMT – Basic Military Training
BOHICA – Bend Over, Here It Comes Again; used in response to unfavorable orders.
BONE – Nickname for the B-1 Lancer , as in "B-ONE"
BOQ – Bachelor Officer Quarters
BOS – Base Operating Support
BOT – Basic Officer Training
Box Nasty – A sandwich & snack meal in a cardboard box handed out for flights
BPZ – Below Primary Zone; early promotion of an officer ahead of peers to controlled statutory pay grades of O-4, O-5 and/or O-6
BRAC – Base Realignment and Closure
Brig Gen – Brigadier General ; officer pay grade O-7
BRM – Base Records Manager
BS – Bomb Squadron
BSA – Basic Surface Attack
BTZ – Below the zone ; USAF early promotion program from E-3 to E-4
BUFF – Big Ugly Fat Fucker (Nickname for Boeing B-52 Stratofortress )
BW – Bomb Wing
BX – Base Exchange (see AAFES)
C-Day – The unnamed day on which a deployment operation begins or is to begin
C2 – Command and Control
C4ISR – Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
CA – Combat Arms
CAF – Combat Air Force
CAFSC – Control Air Force Specialty Code
CAI – Computer Aided Instruction
CAOC – Combined Air and Space Operations Center
CAMS – Core Automated Maintenance System (database behind IMDS)
CANX – Cancelled
CAP – Civil Air Patrol , the civilian USAF Auxiliary[ 1]
CAP – Combat air patrol , a kind of sortie mission
CAP-USAF – Air Force support, liaison and oversight of Civil Air Patrol[ 2]
Capt – Captain ; officer pay grade O-3
CAS – Close Air Support
CAST – Combat Airman Skills Training
CAT – Crisis Action Team
CAT – Camper Alert Team (Security Forces, Missile Field Security)
CATCH-22 — Inescapable situation. Stuck between a rock & a hard place. Read the book. Joseph Heller
CATM – Combat Arms Training and Maintenance
CBCS – Combat Communications Squadron
CBMC – Communications Battlespace Management Course
CBT – Computer Based Training
CBRNE – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High Yield Explosives
CC – Commander
CCC – Commanders Chief
CCG - Computer Control Group
CCMDR - Crew Commander
CCS – Commanders Secretary
CCAF – Community College of the Air Force
CCE – Executive Officer
CCF – First Sergeant
CCT – Combat Control
CD – Deputy Commander
CDC – Career Development Course
CE – Civil Engineering or Civil Engineers
CEG – Combat Evaluation Group
CEM – Chief Enlisted Manager
CES – Civil Engineering Squadron
CEVG – Combat Evaluation Group
CFEPT – Career Field Education and Training Plan
CFP – Communications Focal Point
CFR – Crash Fire Rescue
CFT – Cockpit Familiarization Trainer
CGO – Company Grade Officer (lieutenants and captains)
CGOC – Company Grade Officers' Council
Ch – Chaplain
Charlie Bravo – Cut-back, or being released early from duty
Charlie Foxtrot – Cluster Fuck
Chief – Proper term of address for Chief Master Sergeant. Also frequently used by pilots to informally refer to maintenance personnel, specifically "Crew Chiefs."
CI – Counterintelligence
CI – Compliance Inspection
CIF - Crew Information Folder
CISM – Close In Security Mobile
Class Six – BX-administered store where beer, wine & liquor is sold at a discounted price with no sales tax
CJCS – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
CMO – Civil-Military Operations
CMO – Chief Medical Officer (term for senior medical officer at each MEPS – Military Entrance Processing Station)
CMSAF – Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force ; senior active duty enlisted member of the Air Force and a direct advisor to CSAF (holds enlisted pay grade E-9)
CMSgt – Chief Master Sergeant ; enlisted pay grade E-9
CNA – Computer Network Attack
CND – Could Not Duplicate
CND – Computer Network Defense
CNO – Computer Network Operations
CNT – Counter Narco-Terror
COA – Course of Action
Col – Colonel ; officer pay grade O-6
COLA – Cost of Living Adjustment
COMINT – Communications Intelligence
CONOPS – Concept of Operations
CONS – Contracting Squadron
CONUS – Continental United States
COMAFFOR – Commander, Air Force Forces
Cop – term for Air Force Security Forces personnel
COT – Commissioned Officer Training
CPF – Civilian Personnel Flight
CPTS – Comptroller Squadron
Crew Chief – Generally used as an informal slang term for Aerospace Maintenance Personnel, AFSC 2A5. More formally used to refer to an individual in charge of an aircraft maintenance related task requiring multiple people.
CRC – Control & Reporting Center
CRO – Combat Rescue Officer; commissioned officer equivalent of an enlisted PJ
CRO – COMSEC Responsible Officer
CRS – Corneal Refractive Surgery
CS – Communications Squadron
CSAF – Chief of Staff of the Air Force ; senior ranking active duty General in USAF unless the CJCS or VCJCS post is held by a USAF General (holds officer pay grade O-10)
CSAR – Combat Search and Rescue
CSC – Central Security Control
CSS – Commander's Support Staff (orderly room)
CSO – Combat Systems Officer ; a commissioned officer aeronautical rating known as Navigator until 1992
CV – Vice Commander
CUI – Combined Unit Inspection
CWO – Chief Warrant Officer; commissioned officer pay grades W-2 through W-5, currently discontinued in USAF
D-Day – The unnamed day on which an operation begins or is to begin
DACBT – Dissimilar Air Combat Training
DAFSC – Duty Air Force Specialty Code
DART – Dumbass Radio Troop
DAS – Date Arrived Station
DATT – Defense Attaché
DBA – Dirtbag Airman (An Airman who does not represent the Air Force Core Values)
DCO – Defensive Cyber Operations
DEAD – Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses
DEERS – Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System
DEROS – Date Estimated Return from OverSeas
Dependent – Non-Military family member of a service member, typically a non-military spouse and/or children, entitled to a DD 1173 Military Dependent ID Card
DFAC – Dining Facility
DFAS – Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Dickbeaters – term referring to one's hands. Often yelled by MTIs in the form of "pin those Dickbeaters to your side!"
DINSTAAR – Danger Is No Stranger To An AGE Ranger (See AGE)
Disgruntled Airman - In basic training, when things aren't up to par during dorm inspections, any and all write-ups can be blamed on this fictional spectre
DMSP – Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
DNIF – Duties Not Including Flying
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 for certain full-time Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard personnel when in a dual status and receiving income from two sources (e.g., Air Reserve Technician on civilian military leave as a Department of the Air Force civil servant and on concurrent active duty USAF orders)
DRSN – Defense Red Switch Network
DRU – Direct Reporting Unit
DSCS – Defense Satellite Communications System
DSD – Developmental Special Duty
DSN – Defense Switched Network
DSO - Defensive Systems Officer
DSP – Defense Support Program
DSPD – Defense Support to Public Diplomacy
DT – Development Team
DTG – Days To Go
DTS – Defense Travel System
DV – Distinguished Visitor; visiting enlisted personnel in pay grade E-9, visiting officer personnel in pay grades O-6 through O-10, or visiting civilian equivalents such as GS-15, SES or politically appointed or elected government officials
DVQ – Distinguished Visitors Quarters
DVOQ – Distinguished Visiting Officers Quarters
DWC – Deputy Wing Chaplain
DZ – Drop Zone
FA – Fitness Assessment
FAA – Federal Aviation Administration
FAB – Forward Air Base
FAC – Forward Air Controller
FAIP – First Assignment Instructor Pilot
FAM – Functional Area Manager
Farts and darts – clouds and darts embroidery found on field grade and general officers' service cap visors
Fat Albert – Nickname used for the C-5A Galaxy until revoked by USAF as “derogatory”. Name came from Bill Cosby's recording of “Revenge” in 1968, with the story of “Buck Buck” and Fat Albert shaking the ground as he ran.
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, a wing, or retires from the Air Force
FLPP – Foreign Language Profeciency Pay
FM – Financial Management Comptroller
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
Fox One - Brevity code for a simulated or actual release of a semi-active radar-guided air-to-air missile, such as the AIM-7 Sparrow .
Fox Two - Brevity code for a simulated or actual release of an infrared-guided air-to-air missile, such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder .
Fox Three - Brevity code for a simulated or actual launch of an active radar-guided air-to-air missile, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM .
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
FTS – Flying Training Squadron
FTU – Formal Training Unit
FTW – Flying Training Wing
FUBAR – Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition
FW – Fighter Wing
FW&A – Fraud, Waste and Abuse
FYSA – For Your Situational Awareness
G-LOC – G-induced Loss of Consciousness
GAB – Ground Abort; Aircraft flight/sortie that canceled before take-off
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 ; officer pay grade O-10
GLCM – Ground Launched Cruise Missile
GO – General Officer – officers in pay grades O-7, O-8, O-9 and O-10 (analogous to a Flag Officer )
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
GV – Giant Voice (RF Trans)
GuDawg – F-4 Phantom Crew Chief made of Iron (from Tae Gu ROK)
GWOT – Global War On Terrorism
HAF – Headquarters Air Force
HALO – High Altitude, Low Opening
HAHO – High Altitude, High Opening
Hangar "[#]" – A nonexistent hangar (e.g., if there are 4 hangars, then it would be Hangar 5); heard most often over radios as slang code for latrine/bathroom/Porta John. Example: "Get me to Hangar 5!"
HARM – High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile
HARM – Host Aviation Resource Management
HARRT – Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team
Hawg – Nickname for the A-10 Thunderbolt II
HAZCON – Hazardous Condition
HC – Chaplain Headquarters
HIA – Held in Abeyance
HO – Historian's Office
HPC – Historic Properties Custodian
HTS – HARM Targeting System
HUA – Heard, Understood, Acknowledged
HUAW – Hurry Up and Wait
HUD – Head-Up Display
HUMINT – Human Intelligence
IA – Information Assurance
IAW – In Accordance With
ICBM – Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
ID 10 T Problem – A problem that is created by an "idiot "
IFE – In-Flight Emergency
IFF – Identification Friend or Foe
IFF – Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals
IFFCC – Integrated Flight and Fire Control Computer
IFS – Introductory Flight Screening
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 – Illustrated Parts Breakdown - Used for maintainers
IPB – Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace
IO – Information Operations
IOC – Initial Operational Capability
IOIC – Information Operations Integration Course
IS – Intelligence Squadron
ISR – Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
ISRLO – Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Liaison Officer
ISSM – Information Systems Security Manager
ISSO – Information Systems Security Officer
ITT – Information, Tickets, and Travel
IYAAYAS – If You Ain't Ammo , You Ain't Shit
IYAAYWOT – If You Ain't Ammo, You're Waitin' On Them
KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid
LAPES – Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System
LATN – Low Altitude Tactical Navigation
Lawn Dart – Nickname for F-16 Fighting Falcon or any other fast, pointy-nosed, single-engine fighter aircraft
LCAP – Logistics Compliance Assessment Program
LEAP – Language Enabled Airman Program
LFE – Large Formation Exercise
LG – Logistics Group
LGB – Laser-Guided Bomb
LIFT – Lead In Fighter Training
LIMFAC – Limiting Factor
Linda Lovelace (Reference to the C-5 Galaxy aircraft, because it kneels and takes it from both ends)
LMR – Land Mobile Radio
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
LRE - Large-Scale Readiness Exercise
LRS – Logistics Readiness Squadron
LT – Familiar term for a Lieutenant, Second or First; usually used as a form of address by those under his/her command
Lt Col – Lieutenant Colonel ; officer pay grade O-5
Lt Gen – Lieutenant General ; officer pay grade O-9
LWOP – Leave Without Pay
Mud Hen – Nickname for the F-15E Strike Eagle
MUNS - Munitions, or Munitions Squadron/Flight
MW – Missile Wing
MWR – Morale, Welfare and Recreation
MWS – Major Weapons System
MX – Maintenance
MXG – Maintenance Group
MXS – Maintenance Squadron
OA – Occupational Analysis
OA – Outstanding Airman
OAPT – Officer Awaiting Pilot Training.
OAPTer – An officer in OAPT status. While other 2nd Lt's begin their flight training, non-flying technical training and/or initial leadership roles, 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 supplemental to the assigned commissioned officer workforce.
OAR – Occupational Analysis Report
OAY – Outstanding Airman of the Year
OAYA – Outstanding Airman of the Year Award
OCO – Offensive Cyber Operations
OCONUS – Outside the Continental United States
OCP – Operational Camouflage Pattern
OCR – Office of Collateral Responsibility
OFO – Out Fucking Off
OG – Operations Group
OIC – Officer in Command
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
OSO - Offensive Systems Officer
OSR – Occupational Survey Report
OSS – Operations Support Squadron
OT&E – Operational Test and Evaluation
OTS – Officer Training School
PA – Public Affairs
PACAF – Pacific Air Forces
PAFSC – Primary Air Force Specialty Code
PAR – Post Attack Reconnaissance, Precision Approach Radar
PAS – Political Affairs Strategist
Patch - Weapons Instructor Course [Weapons School] Graduate
PAX – Air passengers
PCS – Permanent Change of Station
PDF - Personnel Deployment Function
PDS – Permanent Duty Station
PERSCO – Personnel Support for Contingency Operations
Perpes – Humorous nickname for PRP, takeoff 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
PICNIC – Problem In Chair, Not In Computer; Used by help desk personnel to indicate user ignorance
PING – Person In Need of Graduation
PITT – Person In need of Technical Training
PJ – Pararescueman
PMC – Partially Mission Capable
PME – Professional Military Education
PMEL – Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory
Pocket Rocket – Term for the missile badge on the uniforms of current and former ICBM and cruise missile launch operations and missile maintenance personnel
POL – Petroleum, Oils, & Lubricants, the traditional name for the Fuels Management Flight
Pop Tart – Airman whose technical career schools are 6 weeks or less
posn – position
Prime Beef – Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force
PRD – Pilot Reported Discrepancy
PRF – Promotion Recommendation Form
PRP – Personnel Reliability Program
PSDM – Personnel Services Delivery Memorandum
PSYOP – Psychological Operations
PTL – Physical Training Leader
QA - Quality Assurance
QAF – Quality Air Force
Queep – A task or duty that is completely useless and ultimately unrelated to your primary job.[ 3] 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 queep to do before I go home." "I need to finish all of this queep before I can go fly."
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
RAPCON – Radar Approach Control
RAS – Regional Affairs Strategist
Rated Officer – USAF commissioned officer holding an aeronautical rating as a Pilot (to include Astronaut), Combat Systems Officer (to include Astronaut), Navigator (to include Astronaut), Air Battle Manager , Observer (Astronaut) or Flight Surgeon
RED HORSE – Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers
RET, Ret, (Ret) – Designations for retired military personnel, typically following the service designation in a title, e.g., Col USAF (Ret)
RF – Radio frequency
RFF – Request [F]or Forces (initiated by Army)
RHIP – "Rank Has Its Privileges"
RIF – Reduction In Force
RIP – Report on Individual Personnel
RNLTD – Report No Later Than Date
ROAD – Retired On Active Duty
RON – Remain overnight
ROTC – Reserve Officers' Training Corps
RPA – Remotely Piloted Aircraft
RQG – Rescue Group
RQS – Rescue Squadron (formerly ARS)
RQW – Rescue Wing
RTB – Return To Base
RTIC – Real Time In the Cockpit
RS – Reconnaissance Squadron
RW – Reconnaissance Wing
SAASS – School of Advanced Air and Space Studies
SABC – Self Aid Buddy Care
SAC – Strategic Air Command (disestablished MAJCOM )
SAF/SECAF – Secretary of the Air Force
SAM – Surface to Air Missile
SAMSO – Space and Missile Systems Organization
SAPR – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
SARC – Sexual Assault Response Coordinator
SATCOM – Satellite Communications
SAV – Staff Assistance Visit
SBIRS – Space-Based Infrared System
SCOD – Static Close Out Date
SDF – Standard Deployment Folder
SEAD – Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (pronounced "seed")
SEADS – Southeast Air Defense Sector
SEI – Special Experience Identifier
Secret Squirrel stuff – Material classified above secret or special compartmentalized information
Senior – Informal shortening for Senior Master Sergeant
SEPCOR – Separate Correspondence
SERE – Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape
SF – Security Forces
SF – Space Force
SF – Special Forces
SFS – Security Forces Squadron
Sgt – Sergeant ; former enlisted pay grade E-4 from 1976 to 1991, now designated as SrA
Shirt – A unit first sergeant
Short – Close to a PCS date or retirement
Sierra Hotel (SH) – Shit Hot
SIGINT – Signals Intelligence
SIPR – Secret Internet Protocol
SKT – Specialty Knowledge Test
Slick Sleeve – Nickname for an Airman Basic (owing to the absence of rank insignia on an individual's sleeve)
SLUF – Short Little Ugly Fucker (derogatory nickname for the LTV A-7 Corsair II )
SME – Subject Matter Expert
SMSgt – Senior Master Sergeant , enlisted pay grade E-8
SNAFU – Situation Normal All Fucked Up
SNCO – Senior Non-commissioned Officer; enlisted pay grades E-7, E-8 and E-9
SNCOA – Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy
Snacko – A highly underestimated, mission critical position held most often by newly reported Lieutenants in a 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.
Snuffy – Generic term given to any Airmen of lower rank. "And here came Airman Snuffy late to the party as usual."
SOP – Standard Operating Procedure
SOPS – Space Operations Squadron
SOS – Squadron Officer School
SOS – Special Operations Squadron
SOW – Special Operations Wing
SOWT – Special Operations Weather Technician
Spark Chaser – Nickname for aircraft maintenance personnel dealing with electronic, non-mechanical systems
Spirit Mission – A good-natured act, commonly in the form of a prank, banner, or...re-acquisition...of a person/thing, to show pride for a group of individuals. Usually harmless.
Sq – Squadron
SrA – Senior Airman ; enlisted pay grade E-4
SRC – Solid Rock Cafe (new as of 2011, located at Sheppard AFB , TX – unofficial, used by officers as well as students)
SRT – Security Response Team
SSgt – Staff Sergeant ; enlisted pay grade E-5
SST – Supervisor Safety Training
Staff – Informal shortening for Staff Sergeant
STEP – Stripe Through Exceptional Performance
Stick Actuator – Pilot
Stink Bug – Nickname for the F-117 Nighthawk
Strike Eagle – Name of the F-15E Strike Eagle
STS – Special Tactics Squadron
sUAS – Small Unmanned Aircraft System
SURF – Single Uniform Request Format
SVS – Services Squadron
SW – Space Wing
SWA – Southwest Asia
SWAG – Scientific Wild-Ass Guess
SWO – Staff Weather Officer | Squadron Weapons Officer
T&A – Test and Acceptance
TAC – Tactical Air Command (disestablished MAJCOM )
TAC-P – Tactical Air Control Party
TACAN – Tactical Air Navigation
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
TBA – Training Business Area
TCNO – Time Compliance Network Order
TCTO – Time Compliance Technical Order
TDY – Temporary Duty ; analogous to Temporary Additional Duty (TAD / TEMADD) in USN , USMC and USCG
Tech – Informal shortening of Technical Sergeant
TFCSD – Total Federal Commissioned Service to Date
TFI – Total Force Integration
TGP – Targeting Pod
TIG – The Inspector General
TLAR – That Looks About Right
TLF – Temporary Living Facility
TMO – Traffic Management Office
TO – Technical Order
TOT – Time Over Target
TP - Temporary Procedure
TP - Training Procedure
Tracking – Reference to offensive avionics on combat aircraft. Following and understanding the subject at hand. (IE: "I need this done yesterday, Airman. Are you tracking?")
TRF – Tactical Response Force
TRG – Training Group
TRS – Training Squadron
TRW – Training Wing
TSgt – Technical Sergeant ; enlisted pay grade E-6
TST – Time-Sensitive Target
TTP – Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures
TU – Tango Uniform, slang for 'tits up'.
VAQ – visiting airman quarters
VFR – visual flight rules
Viper – nickname for the F-16 Fighting Falcon
VML – vulnerable to move list
vMPF – virtual military personnel flight
VOQ – visiting officer quarters
VOR – VHF omnidirectional range
V/R – virtual regards / very respectfully (closing salutation)
vRED – virtual record of emergency data
VSP – voluntary separation pay
X-plane – experimental aircraft
XB3 – disposable item
Y-plane – prototype aircraft
Zero – officer
Zoo – nickname for the Air Force Academy
Zoomie – nickname for an Air Force Academy graduate or cadet
Leadership Structure
Personnel and training Uniforms and equipment History and traditions