Acronyms You Should Know
This post is something I wish I had when I was starting my journey as a military spouse. I found out quickly that the Army LOOOVES acronyms. Probably because they’re easier to yell at recruits than yelling out the entire word. So, here is a list of acronyms that I have found to be helpful and will also make you sound super smart *wink wink*. I will update this list as time goes on, but these are the few that have helped me the most.
ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
This is the test that prospective recruits take before enlisting.
MEPS: Military Entrance Processing Station
This is typically where your recruit will do their physical (hearing exam, eye exam, body comp exam), where they will pick their military job, and where they will swear in.
MOS: Military Occupational Specialty
This is your soldier's specific job in the military.
YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS – this is the question I typically get asked the most.
Here is a link for a list of all military jobs – US Army MOS
30th AG: 30th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception)
This is where your soldier will go when they first ship off. They don’t start basic as soon as they leave. They stay here for anywhere from 7-10 days.
AIT: Advanced Individual Training
This is job training where your soldier will learn specifics of their military job.
OSUT: One Station Unit Training
This is a combination of Basic Training and AIT. This is what your soldier will go to if they have a combat arms job, such as infantry or armor.
PT: Physical Training
Just as it says – when your soldier tells you they do a lot of PT it just means they are doing exercises
ACFT: Army Combat Fitness Test
General physical fitness test
If your soldier wants to go into SF, they need a certain score on this to be approved
SF: Special Forces
Military units trained to conduct special operations
SFAS: Special Forces Assessment and Selection
A systematic procedure for evaluation candidates against job-related dimensions specific to the Special Forces regiment and operation environments in which they serve
SFAS is designed to predict successful completion of the SFQC
SFQC: Special Forces Qualification Course
Six sequential phases of training, upon completion of which Soldiers earn the right to join the Special Forces brotherhood, wear the Special Forces tab and don the green beret
PX: Post Exchange
This is where your soldier will get supplies
My husband didn’t take a lot with him when he left, but the PX has everything from baby wipes to envelopes and stamps
DOD: Department of Defense
CO: Commanding Officer
This is usually the captain of your soldier's company
POC: Point of Contact
There are a lot of these – you could have one, your soldier could have several
If you are a spouse or a designated family member, you are (probably) your soldiers civilian POC
BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing
This is compensation for service members to cover the cost of housing
If you are a spouse and are currently renting, your soldier will get BAH to help cover that cost while they are at OSUT.
BAH is determined by the soldiers rank and location of where their property is.
CONUS: Continental U.S.
OCONUS: Outside the continental U.S.
PCS: Permanent Change of Station
This is used when your soldier relocates
TDY: Temporary Duty Station
A temporary assignment at a location other than the permanent duty station
