Navy Abbreviations

AAFES

Army and Air Force Exchange Services

Aboard

On or in a ship. Close aboard; near a ship.

AC

Active Component

ADAPT

Active Duty Assistance Program Team

ADSW

Active Duty for Special Work

ADT

Active Duty for Training

Advance Pay

An advance on your base pay for a move. This must be repaid.

Aft

Toward the stern; opposite of forward.

Airdale

Slang, a naval aviator.

Allotment

Assignment of part of military pay directly to a person or bank.

Alongside

Beside a pier, wharf, or ship.

Anchor

The hook used at the end of a chain and dropped to the sea bottom to hold a ship in one particular place.

Anchorage

A suitable place for a ship to anchor; a designated area of a port or harbor.

Anchors Aweigh

Said of the anchor when just clear of the bottom.

AOC

Aviation Officer Candidate

APO

Army and Air Force Post Office

ARC

American Red Cross

ASAP

As soon as possible

AT

Annual Training

AWOL

Absent without leave

Aye-Aye

A term used to acknowledge receipt of a command or order from a senior. Means “I have heard, understand, and will carry it out.”

BAH

Basic Allowance for Housing

Barnacle

A small marine animal that attaches itself to hulls and pilings.

BAS

Basic Allowance for Subsistence

Belay

To cancel an order; stop; firmly secure a line.

BEQ

Bachelor Enlisted Quarters

Berth

Space assigned ship for anchoring or mooring.

Berthing

Where Sailors sleep onboard ship.

Billet

An allotted sleeping space; an individual’s position in the ship’s organization.

Black Shoe

An officer who is not an aviator; usually a Surface Warfare Officer.

Bluejacket

Navy enlisted member below the grade of Chief Petty Officer.

Boatswain

Pronounced “bosun”; in charge of boats, rigging, and ground tackle aboard a ship.

Bow

The most forward part of a ship.

Bravo Zulu (BZ!)

Good job!

Bridge

Platform or area from which ship is steered, navigated, and conned.

Brig

Sailor’s universal term for jail.

Brow

Large gangplank leading from a ship to a pier or float.

Bulkhead

Upright, crosswise partitions dividing a ship into compartments.

BUMED

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

BUPERS

Bureau of Naval Personnel

CACO

Casualty Assistance Calls Officer

CACP

Casualty Assistance Calls Program

Captain

Rank, or commanding officer of a ship or squadron.

Carry On

To proceed with any duty.

Catapult

A shipboard mechanism for launching aircraft.

CDC

Child Development Center

Chain of Command

The military’s management concept.

Chaplain

Military clergy who nurture the spiritual well-being of service members.

CHINFO

Chief of Information

CIAC

Command Individual Augmentee Coordinator

Classified Matter

Information or material of aid to a possible enemy if improperly divulged (Top Secret, Secret, Confidential).

CMC

Command Master Chief

CMDCM

Command Master Chief

CNAFR

Commander Naval Air Force Reserve

CNIC

Commander, Navy Installations Command

CNO

Chief of Naval Operations

CNP

Chief of Naval Personnel

CNR

Chief of Naval Reserve

CNRFC

Commander Navy Reserve Forces Command

CO

Commanding Officer

COB

Chief of the Boat

COLA

Cost of Living Allowance

Commissary

Grocery store on or near a base offering discounted prices.

Commission

To activate a ship or station; written order giving an officer rank and authority.

Commissioning Ceremonies

Ceremonies during which a new ship is placed in service.

Commodore

Officer commanding a squadron or flotilla of smaller ships.

Compartment

Space enclosed by bulkheads, deck, and overhead; like a room.

COMRATS

Commuted Rations

CONUS

Continental United States (48 states + DC).

CORE

Continuum of Resources and Education

Course

Direction steered by a ship or plane.

Court-Martial

Military court for the trial of serious offenses (summary, special, general).

CPO

Chief Petty Officer

Crow

Slang for the eagle on petty officer’s rating badge.

Cruise

To sail with no definite destination; commonly a deployment.

CST

Command Support Team

Deck

Floor or platform extending from end to end of a ship.

DEERS

Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System

Deploy

To distribute troops or ships strategically.

Detailer

Person responsible for assigning Sailors to their next duty station.

DIC

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

Division

Group of Sailors and officers organized for command purposes.

DLA

Dislocation Allowance

DoD

Department of Defense

DoDDS

Department of Defense Dependents Schools

DoDEA

Department of Defense Education Activity

DRT

Deployment Readiness Training

DSN

Defense Switched Network; DoD’s internal telephone system.

DTF

Military Dental Facilities

DTS

Defense Travel System

EAOS

End of Active Obligated Service

ECC

Emergency Coordination Center

EFMP

Exceptional Family Member Program

Embark

To go aboard a ship preparatory to sailing.

Enlisted Evaluation

Written report of an enlisted member’s duty performance (EVAL).

Ensign

Lowest ranking commissioned officer.

ESGR

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

ETA

Estimated time of arrival

ETD

Estimated time of departure

Exchange

Department store run by the military.