In the Australian Defence Force we use a lot of acronyms to shorten technical military terms and title names for things like universities and training schools. Once you’re in the Defence Force you’ll come to know these well, for now use this glossary to help you.

2

• 2LT

  Second Lieutenant

A

• AA

  Air-to-Air

• AAA

  Anti Aircraft Artillery

• AAAV

  Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle

• AAC

  Australian Army Cadets

• AAFC

  Australian Air Force Cadets

• AAM

  Air-to-Air Missile

• AAV

  Amphibious Assault Vehicle

• ABET

  Able Seaman Electronics Technician

• ABM

  Anti-Ballistic Missile

• ACM

  Air Combat Manoeuvring

• ACMI

  Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation

• ACMR

  Air Combat Manoeuvring Range

• ADATS

  Air Defence Anti-Tank System

• ADF

  Australian Defence Force

• ADF PSA

  Australian Defence Force Pilot Selection Agency

• ADFA

  Australian Defence Force Academy

• ADIZ

  Air Defence Identification Zone

• AEE

  Alternative Education Equivalency

• AEI

  Australian Education International

• Aero

  Aeronautical

• AEV

  Armoured Engineer Vehicle

• AEW

  Air Early Warning

• AEW&C

  Air Early Warning & Control

• AF

  Air Force

• AHS

  Australian Hydrographic Service

• AIFV

  Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle

• ALBM

  Air Launched Ballistic Missile

• ALCM

  Air Launched Cruise Missile

• AMET

  Academy Military Education and Training

• ANC

  Australian Navy Cadets

• ANZAC

  Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

• AP

  Armour Piercing

• APC

  Armoured Personnel Carrier

• APU

  Auxilliary Power Unit

• Ares

  Army Reserve

• ARRV

  Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle

• ARTAP

  Army Reserve Traineeship and Apprenticeship Program

• ARV

  Armoured Recovery Vehicle

• ASIO

  Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

• ASLAV

  Australian Light Armoured Vehicle

• ASM

  Air-to-Surface Missile

• ASPJ

  Airborne Self-Protection Jammer

• ASRAAM

  Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile

• ASTOVL

  Advanced Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing

• ASuW

  Anti-Surface Warfare

• ASV

  Anti-Surface Vessel

• ASW

  Anti-Submarine Warfare

• AT

  Anti-Tank

• ATBM

  Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missile

• ATCO

  Air Traffic Control Officer

• ATGW

  Anti-Tank Guided Weapon

• ATSC

  Applied Skills and Technology Course

• AUSCDTFOUR

  Australian Clearance Diving Team Four

• AUW

  All Up Weight

• AVLB

  Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge

• Avn Regt

  Aviation Regiment

• AWA

  Acoustic Warfare Analyst

B

• BA

  Bachelor of Arts

• Bbus

  Bachelor of Business

• BE

  Bachelor of Engineering

• BFA

  Basic Fitness Assessment

• BMI

  Body Mass Index

• Brig

  Brigadier

• Bsc

  Bachelor of Science (Bsc)

• Btech

  Bachelor of Technology

C

• C2

  Command and Control

• C3

  Command, Control and Communications

• C3I

  Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence

• CAF

  Chief of Air Force

• CC

  Careers Counsellor

• CDAT

  Clearance Divers Acceptance Test

• CDF

  Chief of the Defence Force

• CDT

  Clearance Diving Team

• CEV

  Combat Engineer Vehicle

• CISCON

  Communications and Information Systems Controller

• CMO

  Chief Medical Officer

• CN

  Chief of Navy

• CO

  Commanding Officer

• COIN

  Counter Intelligence

• COL

  Colonel

• CP

  Colour Perception

• CPL

  Corporal

• CPOET

  Chief Petty Officer Electronics Technician

• CPT

  Captain

• CR

  Commando Regiment

• CRARRV

  Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle

• CRMC

  Customer Relationship Management Centre

• CSB

  Close-Support Bridge

• CT

  Cryptologic

• CTC

  Commando Training Course

• CTL

  Cryptologic Linguist

• CTS

  Cryptologic Systems

• CTSSM

  Cryptologic Systems Submariner

• CV

  Combat Vehicle

D

• DEO

  Direct Entry Officer

• DFC

  Distinguished Flying Cross: Air Force Decoration

• DFDA

  Defence Force Discipline Act

• DFR

  Defence Force Recruiting

• DFRC

  Defence Force Recruitment Centre

• DGPS

  Differential GPS

• DIAC

  Department of Immigration and Citizenship

• DIMA

  Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

• DLS

  Defence Library Service

• DoD

  Department of Defence

• DSC

  Defence Service Centre

• DZ

  Drop Zone

E

• E

  Enlisted

• EAC

  Equipment Application Course

• ECCM

  Electronic Counter CounterMeasures

• ECM

  Electronic CounterMeasures

• EFIS

  Electronic Flight Instrument System

• ELINT

  Electronic Intelligence

• Endurance

  Length of time an aircraft's fuel load will permit it to stay airborne

• ENT

  Ear Nose and Throat

• EOD

  Explosive Ordnance Disposal

• ERA

  Explosive Reactive Armour

• ESM

  Electronic Support Measures

• ESP

  Employer Support Scheme

• ESP

  Enhanced Selection Process

• ET

  Electronics Technician

• EW

  Electronic Warfare

F

• FAC

  Forward Air Control / Forward Air Controller

• FAC

  First Appointment Course

• FAE

  Fuel Air Explosives

• FBW

  Fly-by-Wire

• FCPB

  Fremantle Class Patrol Boat

• FIFV

  Future Infantry Fighting Vehicle

• Fire and Forget Missile

  AAM or ASM with electric signalling abilities

• FLIR

  Forward Looking Infrared

• Fly-by-Wire

  Flight control systems with electronic signalling

• FRC

  Funded Reserve Commitment

• FSP

  Flight Screening Program

• FV

  Flying Vehicle

G

• GCI

  Ground-Controlled Intercept

• GE

  General Entry

• GPS

  Global Positioning System

• GSO

  General Service Officer

• GTC

  Group Training Company

H

• HE

  High Explosive

• HEAT

  High Explosive Anti-Tank

• HECS

  Higher Education Contribution Scheme

• HOTAS

  Hands On Throttle and Stick

• HP

  HorsePower

• HQ

  Headquarter(s)

• HTC

  Helicopter Tactics Course

• HWC

  Harbour Watchkeeping Certificate

I

• IADS

  Integrated Air Defence System

• IAS

  Indicated Airspeed Shown

• ICCC

  Initial Collins Class Course

• IFA

  Initial Fitness Assessment

• IFF

  Identification Friend or Foe

• IFV

  Infantry Fighting Vehicle

• IGE

  In Ground Effect

• IIMV

  Interim Infantry Mobility Vehicle

• ILS

  Initial Operation Capability

• IMPS

  Initial Minimum Period of Service

• IO

  Independent Observer

• IOC

  Initial Officer Training

• IR

  InfraRed

• IRAN

  Inspect and Repair as Necessary

• IRBM

  Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile

• IRCM

  InfraRed CounterMeasure

• IRS

  Inertial Reference System

• IRST

  InfraRed Search and Track

• IT

  Information Technology

• ITT

  Initial Technical Training

J

• JNCO

  Junior Non-Commissioned Officer

• JOES day

  Job Options Evaluation Session

K

• KG

  Kilograms

• KM

  Kilometre

• KM/H

  Kilometre per Hour

• kN

  KiloNewton measure of force (1,000 Newtons: 1 Newton = 0.2238 lbs of force)

• Knot

  Aviation and maritime unit of velocity

• KT

  Kiloton (equivalent explosive force of 1,000 tons of TNT)

• Kt/Kts

  Knot(s)

• KTAS

  True AirSpeed in Knots

• kW

  KiloWatt

L

• LABS

  Low Altitude Bombing System

• LAC

  Leading Aircraftman

• LACW

  Leading Aircraftwoman

• LADS

  Laser Airborne Depth Sounder

• LAMPS

  Light Airborne MultiPurpose System

• LANs

  Local Area Networks

• LANTIRN

  Light Altitude Targeting InfraRed for Night

• LAPES

  Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System

• LAV

  Light Assault Vehicle

• LCD

  Liquid Crystal Display

• LCPV

  Light Cavalry Patrol Vehicle

• LF

  Low Frequency (30 to 300 kHz)

• LGB

  Laser-Guided Bomb

• LO

  Low Observables

• LPT

  Low Profile Turret

• LRMP

  Landing Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft

• LSET

  Leading Seaman Electronics Technician

• LT

  Lieutenant

• LTCOL

  Lieutenant Colonel

• LTGEN

  Lieutenant General

• LVTP

  Landing Vehicle Tracked Personnel

• LZ

  Landing Zone

M

• MACH

  Measure of Airspeed (Mach 1 = 1,223 kph/760 mph at sea level

• MAD

  Magnetic Anomaly Detector

• MAJ

  Major

• MAP

  Military Assistance Program

• MBT

  Main Battle Tank

• MCDO

  Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer

• MCM

  Mine Countermeasures

• METOC

  Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) Officer

• MFD

  Multi-Function Display

• MG

  Machine Gun

• MG

  Maritime Geospace (Hydrographic Survey or Meteorology and Oceanography Officer)

• MGO-H

  Maritime Geospace Officer - Hydrography

• MHQ

  Medical History Questionnaire

• min

  Minute(s)

• MLRS

  Multiple Launch Rocket System

• mm

  Millimetre

• MMT

  Mobile METOC Team

• MPA

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft

• MPC

  Multi-Purpose Carrier

• MR

  Maritime Reconnaissance

• MRAV

  Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle

• MRBM

  Medium Range Ballistic Missile

• MSIP

  Multi-Stage Improvement Program

• MT

  Maritime Technician

• MTOW

  Maximum Take-Off Weight

N

• NAS

  Naval Air Station

• NASA

  National Aeronautics & Space Administration

• NATO

  North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

• Nautical Mile

  Measurement of distance

• NBC

  Nuclear, Biological and Chemical

• NCO

  Non-Commissioned Officer

• NEOC

  New Entry Officer Course

• nm

  Nautical Mile

• NR

  Naval Reserve

• NTC

  Naval Training Command

O

• ODM

  One Day Model

• OGR

  Out of Ground Effect

• OPSO

  Operations Officer

• OSB

  Officer Selection Board

• OTC

  Officer Training School, Duntroon

• OTTC

  Operational Type Transition Course

P

• PAF

  Permanent Air Force

• PFA

  Physical Fitness Assessment

• PFC

  Private First Class

• PGM

  Precision-Guided Munition

• PID

  Passive Identification

• PN

  Permanent Naval

• PTI

  Physical Training Instructor

• PVT

  Private

• PWO

  Principal Warfare Officer

Q

• QA

  Qualified Assessor

• QES

  Qualified Entry Sailor

• QFI

  Qualified Flying Instructor

R

• R&D

  Research and Development

• RAA

  Royal Australian Artillery

• RAAC

  Royal Australian Armoured Corps

• RAAF

  Royal Australian Air Force

• RAAFAR

  Royal Australian Air Force Active Reserve

• RAAOC

  Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps

• RAAWS

  Radar Altimeter and Altitude Warning System

• RAM

  Radar Absorbing Material

• RAN

  Royal Australian Navy

• RANC

  Royal Australian Naval College

• RANSSSS

  RAN School of Sea Safety and Survivability

• RAST

  Recovery Assist, Secure and Traverse system

• RATO

  Rocket-Assisted Take-Off

• RCC

  Recognition of Current Competencies

• RCS

  Radar Cross-Section

• Recce

  Reconnaissance

• RISE

  Reliability Improved Selected Equipment

• RMC

  Royal Military College

• RMC-A

  Royal Military College of Australia

• RMC-D

  Royal Military College - Duntroon

• RN

  Royal Navy (UK)

• RNAS

  Royal Navy Air Service

• RNZAF

  Royal New Zealand Air Force

• RO

  Recognition Officer

• ROA

  Record of Attainment

• ROE

  Rules of Engagement

• ROSO

  Return of Service Obligation

• RPG

  Rocket Propelled Grenade

• RPL

  Recognition of Prior Learning

• RPM

  Revolutions Per Minute (or Rounds Per Minute if dealing with small arms)

• RPV

  Remotely-Piloted Vehicle

• RTO

  Registered Training Organisation

• RTS

  Recruit Training School

• RWR

  Radar Warning Receiver

S

• SA

  Surface-to-Air

• SAA

  School of Army Aviation

• SAM

  Surface-to-Air Missile

• SAR

  Search And Rescue

• SAS

  Special Air Service

• SAS-SC

  SAS Selection Course

• SEES

  Sailor Early Enlistment Scheme

• SENSO

  Sensor Operator

• SEP

  Systems Enhanced Package

• SFPB

  Special Forces Panelling Board

• SGT

  Sergeant

• SigInt

  Signals Intelligence

• SLAR

  Side-Looking Airborne Radar

• SLEP

  Service Life Extension Program

• SM

  Submarines

• SMC

  Surface Movement Controller

• SME

  Subject Matter Expert

• SMG

  SubMachine Gun

• SMNET

  Seaman Electronics Technician

• SMSQ

  Submarine Sea Qualification

• SNCO

  Senior Non-Commissioned Officer

• SOCOM

  Special Operations COMmand

• SP

  Specialist (when referred in a soldier's rank)

• SP

  Self-Propelled

• SPAAG

  Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun

• SPG

  Self-Propelled Gun

• SSM

  Surface-to-Surface Missile

• SSO

  Special Service Officer

• SSO FAC

  Special Service Officer First Appointment Course

• SST

  Single Service Training

• STO

  Short Take-Off

• STOL

  Short Take-Off and Landing

• STOVL

  Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing

T

• TA

  Training Advisor

• TANS

  Tactical Air Navigation System

• TBO

  Time Between Overhauls

• TBT

  Tank Bridge Transporter

• TFR

  Terrain Following Radar

• TIALD

  Target Identification Airborne Laser Designation

• TOW

  Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wired-Guided

• TSSAM

  Tri-Service Stand-off Attack Missile

U

• UAV

  Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

• UHF

  Ultra-High Frequency (300MHz to 3 GHz)

• UN

  United Nations

• UNSW

  University of NSW

V

• V/STOL

  Vertical or Short Take-Off and Landing

• VHF

  Very High Frequency (3 to 300MHz)

• VTAS

  Voice, Throttle and Stick

• VTOL

  Vertical Take-Off and Landing

W

• WANs

  Wide Area Networks

• WO

  Warrant Officer

• WO2

  Warrant Officer Class 2

• WOET

  Warrant Officer Electronics Technician

• WSO

  Weapons System Operator (or Weapon System Officer)

Y

• YOU Session

  Your Opportunities Unlimited Session