Ranks, Acronyms & Abbreviations
Army Ranks & Status
Enlisted Personnel
Pvt - Private
Pfc - Private 1st Class
T5 - Technician 5th Grade
Cpl - Corporal
T4 - Technician 4th Grade
Sgt - Sergeant
T3 - Technician 3rd Grade
S/Sgt - Staff Sergeant
T/Sgt - Technical Sergeant
M/Sgt - Master Sergeant
1Sgt - 1st Sergeant
Warrant Officers
WO1 - Warrant Officer 1
WO2 - Chief Warrant Officer 2
WO3 - Chief Warrant Officer 3
WO4 - Chief Warrant Officer 4
WO5 - Chief Warrant Officer 5
Commissioned Officers
2Lt - 2nd Lieutenant
1Lt - 1st Lieutenant
Capt - Captain
Maj - Major
LtC - Leutenant Colonel
Col - Colonel
BG - Brigadier General
MG - Major General
LtG - Lieutenant General
Gen - General
ARM - Airman
A/C - Aviation Cadet
Status
KIA - Killed in Action
DOW - Died of Wounds
WIA - Wounded in Action
POW - Prisoner of War
FOD - Finding of Death
Dis - Discharged
Hon - Honorable discharge
DNB - Died, non-battle
Med - Medical discharge
MIA - Missing in Action
Marine Corps Ranks
Enlisted Personnel
Pvt - Private
Pfc - Private 1st Class
LCpl - Lance Corporal
T/Cpl - Technical Corporal
Cpl - Corporal
Sgt - Sergeant
S/Sgt - Staff Sergeant
GySgt - Gunnery Sergeant
MSgt - Master Sergeant
Warrant Officers
W1 - Warrant Officer 1
W2 - Warrant Officer 2
W3 - Warrant Officer 3
W4 - Warrant Officer 4
W5 - Warrant Officer 5
Commissioned Officers
2Lt - 2nd Lieutenant
1Lt - 1st Lieutenant
Capt - Captain
Maj - Major
Lt Col - Lieutenant Colonel
Col - Colonel
B Gen - Brigadier General
Maj Gen - Major General
Lt Gen - Lieutenant General
Gen - General
Coastal Guard (USCG), Navy (USN), and Merchant Marine (USMM) Ranks
Enlisted Personnel
Pvt - Private
Pfc - Private 1st Class
LCpl - Lance Corporal
T/Cpl - Technical Corporal
Cpl - Corporal
Sgt - Sergeant
S/Sgt - Staff Sergeant
GySgt - Gunnery Sergeant
MSgt - Master Sergeant
Warrant Officers
W1 - Warrant Officer 1
W2 - Warrant Officer 2
W3 - Warrant Officer 3
W4 - Warrant Officer 4
W5 - Warrant Officer 5
Commissioned Officers
2Lt - 2nd Lieutenant
1Lt - 1st Lieutenant
Capt - Captain
Maj - Major
Lt Col - Lieutenant Colonel
Col - Colonel
B Gen - Brigadier General
Maj Gen - Major General
Lt Gen - Lieutenant General
Gen - General
Military Acronyms & Abbreviations
1st O, 2d O, 3d O - First Officer, Second Officer, Third Officer
4-F - Not acceptable for service in the Armed Forces for medical, dental, or other reasons
A-1 - Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Personnel
A-4 - Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Materiel
AA - Antiaircraft
AAA - Antiaircraft artillery
AAB - Army Air Base
AACS - Army Airways Communications Service
AAF - Army Air Forces
ABC - American-British Conversations Jan-Mar 41
ABDA - Australian-British-Dutch-American
ACAN - Army Command and Administrative Communications Network
Acft - Aircraft
ACofAS - Assistant Chief of Air Staff
ACofS - Assistant Chief of Staff
ACU - Army Combat Unit
ADC - Alaska Defense Command
Adv - Advanced
AEF - American Expeditionary Forces 1917-18
AF - Air Forces
AFHQ - Allied Forces Headquarters North Africa
AFPAC - Army Forces in the Pacific
AFWESPAC - Army Forces in the West Pacific
AG - Adjutant General
AGCT - Army General Classification Test
AGD - Adjutant Generals Department
AGF - Army Ground Forces
AGO - Adjutant Generals Office
AGWAR - Adjutant General War Department
Almt - Allotment
AM - Aircraft Maintenance
AM - Air Mechanics
AMC - Allied Military Currency
AMET - Africa-Middle East Theater
ANC - Army Nurse Corps
ANPB - Army-Navy Petroleum Board
AR - Army Regulations
AS - Air Staff
ASC - Air Service Command
ASF - Army Service Forces
Asgd - Assigned
Asgmt - Assignment
ASGS - Assistant Secretary of the General Staff
ASTP - Army Specialized Training Program
ASW - Assistant Secretary of War
ASWA - Assistant Secretary of War for Air
ATC - Air Transport Command
ATS - Auxiliary Territorial Service
Atzd - Authorized
AUS - Army of the United States
Auth - Authority
AVG - American Voluntary Group
AWPD - Air War Plans Division
AWS - Air Warning Service
AWS - Aircraft Warning Service
AWVS - American Womens Volunteer Services
Bd - Board
Bmr - Bomber
Bn - Battalion
Bsc - Basic
CA(AA) - Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft)
CAD - Civil Affairs Division
CBI - China-Burma-India theater
Cbl - Cablegram
CCS - Combined Chiefs of Staff
CDD - Certificate of Disability for Discharge
Cen - Center
CENPAC - Central Pacific
CFTC - Central Flying Training Command
CG - Commanding General
CIC - Counterintelligence Corps
CID - Criminal Investigation Division
CinC - Commander in Chief
CINCAFPAC - Commander in Chief US Army Forces in the Pacific
CINCPAC - Commander in Chief US Pacific Fleet
Cir - Circular
CKC - Cotton Khaki Clothing
Classif - Classification
Cmd - Command
CMTC - Citizens Military Training Corps
CO - Commanding Officer
Co - Company
Cof - Chief of (in combinations)
CofAC - Chief of Air Corps
CofAS - Chief of Air Staff
CofS - Chief of Staff
CofT - Chief of Transportation
Com - Committee
Comd - Command
Comdr - Commander
Comdt - Commandant
COMINCH - Commander in Chief US Fleet
Comptr - Comptroller
Conf - Conference
Contl - Control
Conv - Conversation
COSSAC - Chief of Staff Supreme Allied Command
CPS - Combined Staff Planners
CPT - Civilian Pilot Training program
CQ - Charge of Quarters
CSigO - Chief Signal Officer
CsofS - Chiefs of Staff
CT - China Theater
CWS - Chemical Warfare Service
DF - Disposition form
DcofS - Deputy Chief of Staff
Def - Defense
DEML - Detached Enlisted Mens List
Dep - Deputy
Det - Detachment
Dir - Director
Div - Division
DRB AGO - Departmental Records Branch Adjutant Generals Office
DSM - Distinguished Service Medal
Dtl - Detail
Dy - Duty
EDC - Eastern Defense Command
EFS - Extended Field Service
EM - Enlisted men
Engr - Engineer
Enl - Enlisted
Enlmt - Enlistment
EO - Executive Order
ESCTC - Eastern Signal Corps Training Center
Est - Estimate
ETO - European Theater of Operations
ETOUSA - European Theater of Operations US Army
EW - Enlisted women
Exec - Executive Officer
FA - Field Artillery
FEAF - Far East Air Forces
FEASC - Far East Air Service Command
Fin - Finance
Fld - Field
FM - Field Manual
FY - Fiscal Year
G-l - Personnel Section
G-2 - Military Intelligence Section
G-3 - Operations Section
G-4 - Supply Section
Gen - General
GHQ - General Headquarters
GO - General Order
Gp - Group
Gr - Grade
Grd - Ground
GS - General Staff
GSUSA - General Staff US Army
H Res - House Resolution
Hcom - House Committee
HD SSLSA - Historical Division Special Staff US Army
Hist - Historical
HRPOE - Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation
Hv - Heavy
IE - Information and Education
IARTC - Infantry Advanced Replacement Training Center
IB - India Burma
IBT - India-Burma theater
IG - Inspector General
IGD - Inspector Generals Department
Ind - Indorsement
Info - Information
Insp - Inspection or Inspector
Instr - Instruction
Int - Intelligence
Intrv - Interview
Intpr - Interpreter
IOS - Intermediate Officers School
IPCOG - Informal Policy Committee on Germany
IPD - Industrial Personnel Division
IRTC - Infantry Replacement Training Center
JA - Judge Advocate
JAdC - Joint Administrative Committee
JAG - Judge Advocate General
JB - Joint Board
JCB - Joint Communication Board
JCS - Joint Chiefs of Staff
JLC - Joint Logistics Committee
JLPC - Joint Logistics Plans Committee
JMTC - Joint Military Transportation Committee
JPS - Joint Staff Planners
JPWC - Joint Post-War Committee
JSSC - Joint Strategic Survey Committee
Jt - Joint
JUSSC - Joint US Strategic Committee
JWPC - Joint War Plans Committee
KP - Kitchen Patrol (e.g., peeling potatoes)
LA - Limited Ability
Leg - Legislative
Ln - Liaison
Ltr - Letter
MR - Memo for Record
MT - Manning Tables
MAAF - Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
MAB - Munitions Assignments Board
Maj - Major
MAT - Mental Alertness Test
MC - Medical Corps
MD - Medical Department
MDay - Day when general mobilization of forces should begin
MDW - Military District of Washington
Med - Medical
MI - Military Intelligence
MID - Military Intelligence Division
Mil - Military
Min - Minutes
MIS - Military Intelligence Service
MOS - Military Occupational Specialty
MPB - Military Personnel Branch
MPD - Military Personnel Department
Msg - Message
MT - Motor Transport
MTD - Military Training Division
MTP - Military Training Program
Mtg - Meeting
MTO - Mediterranean Theater of Operations
MTOUSA - Mediterranean Theater of Operations US Army
Mun - Munitions
Mvmt - Movement
NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
NAR - North Atlantic Ring
NATO - North African Theater of Operations
NATOUSA - North African Theater of Operations US Army
NCAC - National Civilian Advisory Council
NCO [NonCom/Non-Com] - Non-Commissioned Officer
NYPOE - New York Port of Embarkation
O - Office in combinations
Obsn - Observation
Obsr - Observer
OC - Officer Candidate
OCMH - Office of the Chief of Military History
OCofOrd - Office Chief of Ordnance
OCofS - Office Chief of Staff
OCS - Office of Chief of Staff
OCS - Officer Candidate School
OCSigO - Office Chief Signal Officer
Off - Officer
OPD - Operations Division
Opn - Operation
Opns - Operations
OQMG - Office of the Quartermaster General
Ord - Ordnance
Orgn - Organization
OSS - Office of Strategic Services
OSW - Office of the Secretary of War
OTI - Office of Technical Information
OWI - Office of War Information
OWM - Office of War Manpower
PA - Personnel and Administration Division
PO - Plans and Operations
Par - Paragraph
Pdn - Production
Pers - Personnel or Personal
PL - Public Law
Plng - Planning
PM - Provost Marshal
PMG - Provost Marshal General
POA - Pacific Ocean Areas
POE - Port of Embarkation
POM - Preparation for Overseas Movement
POW/PW - Prisoner of War
Prov - Provisional
PRO - Public Relations Officer
Proj - Project
Project R - Project Repatriation
PX - Army Exchange
QM - Quartermaster
QMC - Quartermaster Corps
QMG - The Quartermaster General
RI - Recruiting and Induction
Rcd - Record
Rctg - Recruiting
Reasgmt - Reassignment
Rec - Record
Reg - Regulation
Reorgn - Reorganization
Rep - Representative
Repl - Replacement
Reqmt - Requirement
Res - Reserve
ROSP - Readiness Standing Operations Procedures
ROTC - Reserve Officers Training Corps
RPB - Recruiting Publicity Bureau
S - Senate (before bill numbers)
S Doc - Senate Document
SP - Strategy Policy Group
SANACC - State-Army-Navy-Air Force Coordinating Committee
Sch - School
SEAC - Allied Southeast Asia Command
SEAC - Southeast Asia Command
Sec - Section
Ser - Serial
Serv - Service
SFPOE - San Francisco Port of Embarkation
SG - Surgeon General
SGO - Surgeon Generals Office
SGS - Secretary of the General Staff
SHAEF - Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Sig C - Signal Corps
SigO - Signal Officer
SN - Secretary of the Navy
SO - Special Order
SOP - Standing Operating Procedure
SOPAC - Southern Pacific
SOS - Services of Supply
Sp - Special
SPARS - Womens service in the US Coast Guard
SPD - Special Planning Division
Sped - Specialist
SPOBS - Special Observer Group American Mission in Britain
SS - Selective Service
SSN - Specification Serial Number
SSUSA - Special Staff US Army
Stat - Statistical
Stf - Staff
Str - Strength
Sub - Subject
Surr - Surrender
Surv - Survey
Svc - Service Command
SW - Secretary of War
SWNCC - State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee
SWPA - Southwest Pacific Area
T - Theater
TE - Table of Equipment
TO - Table of Organization
Tab - Table
TAFS - Tuskegee Army Flying School
TAG - The Adjutant General
TC - Transportation Corps
Tech - Technical
Telg - Telegram
TIG - The Inspector General
Tng - Training
Tp - Telephone
Tr - Troops
TS - Top Secret
TTCS - Tactical Terminal Control Systems
UK - United Kingdom
UNCIO - United Nations Conference on International Organization
USA - United States Army
USAF - US Air Forces
USAFBI - US Army Forces in the British Isles
USAFFE - US Army Forces in the Far East
USAFI - US Armed Forces Institute
USAFIME - US Army Forces in the Middle East
USAFISPA - US Army Forces in the South Pacific Area
USAFPAC - US Army Forces Pacific
USAFWESPAC - US Army Forces West Pacific
USASOS - US Army Services of Supply Southwest Pacific
USASTAF - US Army Strategic Air Forces
USFCT - US Forces China Theater
USFET - US Forces European Theater Redesignation of ETOUSA after 1 Jul 45
USMA US - Military Academy
USMBW - Munitions Assignments Board
USMC - United States Marine Corps
USN - US Navy
USO - United Service Organizations
USSR - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
USSTAF - US Strategic Air Forces in Europe
USW - Under Secretary of War
VA - Veterans Administration
VLR - Very long-range bomber
WAAC - Womens Army Auxiliary Corps
Waac - A member of the WAAC
WAAF - Womens Army Auxiliary Force proposed name for WAAC
WAAF - Womens Auxiliary Air Force British
WAC - Womens Army Corps
Wac - A member of the WAC
WAF - Women in the Air Force
WASP - Women Air Service Pilots
Wave - A member of the WAVES
WAVES - Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (the women's service in the US Navy)
WCT - Womens Classification Test
WD - War Department
WDBPR - War Department Bureau of Public Relations
WDC - Western Defense Command
WDCMC - War Department Classified Message Center
WDCSA - Chief of Staff US Army
WDGS - War Department General Staff
WDSS - War Department Special Staff
WFTC - Western Flying Training Command
WIRES - Women in Radio and Electrical Service
WMC - War Manpower Commission
WO - Warrant Officer
WPD - War Plans Division
ZI - Zone of Interior
COVER IMAGE: "Men of the 318th Fighter Group look over memorandum tacked on bulletin board. Ie Shima, Ryukyu Retto. 11 July 1945. (U.S. Air Force Number 65171AC)." Courtesy of NARA 342-FH-3A04631-65171AC, NAID 204839653.