Published June 28, 2022
Military Lingo Cheat Sheet
If you're new to the military lifestyle and confused on what all the terms and acronyms mean, this is the blog for you! We've asked our military community to share some basic military terminology and lingo, along with what are or what they mean; think of this as your ultimate cheat sheet!
1. PCS: permanent change of station
2. ETS: expiration term of service
3. COC: chain of command
4. CO: commanding officer
5. TOT: time on target
6. DZ: drop zone
7. OCONUS: onside the contiguous United States
8. CONUS: inside the contiguous United States
9. Medboard: the process of getting medically evaluated for possible discharge
10. TDY: business travel and/or temporary duty station/location
11. LES: leave and earnings statement (paystub)
12. TSP: thrift savings plan (retirement plan)
13. BAH: housing allowance
14. COLA: cost of living allowance
15. MRE: meal ready to eat
16. SFL TAP: soldiers for life transition assistance program
17. VA: veterans administration
18. MyPay: government electronic pay system
19. TRICARE: health insurance
20. ERB: enlisted record brief
21. ETA: estimated time of arrival
22. DLA: dislocation allowance
23. PPM (formerly known as DITY): personally procured move
24. BAS: basic allowance for subsistence
25. ORB: officer record brief
26. OCS: officer candidate school
27. OHA: overseas housing allowance
28: NCOER: non commissioned officer evaluation report
29. EFMP: exceptional family member program
30. Rank: organizational structure of the military
Now that you have access to 30 of the most commonly used acronyms and military lingo, you should be a pro! Remember, however, there is no such thing as a silly question, and if you're ever confused, simply ask for clarification! There's a lot to learn when you start living the military lifestyle and everyone is here to help!
