Defence life is full of acronyms. Here’s a few that might be helpful.

ADML – Admiral

ADO – Australian Defence Organisation

AFR – Application for Relocation

AIRCDRE – Air Commodore

AIRMSHL – Air Marshal

ALW – Alternate Located Work Agreement

ANZAC – Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

APS – Australian Public Service

ARA – Australian Regular Army

ARF – Accompanied Resident Family (formerly MWD)

ATC – Army Training Command

ATC – Air Traffic Control

AVM – Air Vice-Marshall

B

BRIG – Brigadier

C

CA – Chief of Army

CAF – Chief of Air Force

CAPT – Captain

CASG – Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group

CDF – Chief of the Defence Force

CDRE – Commodore

CDS – Chief Defence Scientist

CIO – Chief Information Officer

CMDR – Commander

CN – Chief of Navy

CO – Commanding Officer

COC – Chain of Command

COL – Colonel

COMAST – Commander Australian Theatre

COMCARE – Compensation and Rehabilitation of

COMCARE – Compensation and Rehabilitation of Commonwealth Employees

COS – Conditions of Service

COSC – Chief of Staff Committee

CPERS – Chief of Personnel

CPL – Corporal

CPO – Chief Petty Officer

CSIG – Corporate Support and Infrastructure Group

D

DATSIN – Defence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Network

DCAC – Defence Common Access Card

DCO – Defence Community Organisation, now known as Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS)

DDVA HREC – Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs Human Research Ethics Committee

DE – Directorate of Entitlements

DEB – Defence Establishment Berrimah

DEFGLIS – Defence Gay and Lesbian Information Service

DFA – Defence Families of Australia

DFTP – Defence Force Transition Program

DG – Director General

DGPERS – Director General of Personnel

DH&RP – Directorate of Housing & Relocations Policy

DHA – Defence Housing Australia

DHOAS – Defence Home Owners Assistance Scheme

DMFS – Defence Member and Family Support (previously DCO)

DPAM – Directorate of Protocol and Attache Management

DPC – Defence People Committee

DPE – Defence Personnel Executive

DPN – Defence Protected Network

DPS – Defence Plaza Sydney

DRH – Directorate of Relocations and Housing

DRHM – Defence Relocations and Housing Manager

DSG – Defence Support Group

DSNSG – Defence Special Needs Support Group

DSSC – Defence Service Staff College

DSM – Defence School Mentor

DSR – Defence Strategic Review

DSTG – Defence Science and Technology Group

DTMO – Defence Tax Management Office

DVA – Department of Veterans’ Affairs

E

EDLO – Education Liaison Officer

F

FASFP – First Assistant Secretary, Facilities and Property

FASPERS – First Assistant Secretary of Personnel

FBT – Fringe Benefits Tax

FDV – Family and domestic violence

FLGOFF – Flying Officer

FLO – Family Liaison Officer (DMFS)

FLTLT – Flight Lieutenant

FSAC – Family Support Advisory Committee

FSGT – Flight Sergeant

G

GPCAPT – Group Captain

GPU – General Purpose Uniform

H

HDPE – Head of Defence Personnel Executive

HPAS – Home Purchase Assistance Scheme

HPC – Head of People Capability

HPSEA – Home Purchase or Sale Expenses Allowance

HQ – Headquarters

HQADF –  Headquarters Australian Defence Force

J

JHC – Joint Health Command

JNR OFFR – Junior Officer – includes MIDN/SCDT/OCDT/ OFFCDT, ASLT/2LT/PLTOFF, SBLT/LT/FLGOFF, LEUT/CAPT/FLTLT, LCDR/MAJ/SQNLDR

JTA – Joint Transition Authority

JSSC – Joint Services Staff College

K

KPI – Key Performance Indicator

L

LAC/W – Leading Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman

LCDR – Lieutenant Commander

LCPL – Lance Corporal

LEUT – Lieutenant

LI – ‘Living In’ – in a barracks, mess or similar accommodation

LIA – Living In Accommodation

LOG – Logistics

LS – Leading Seaman

LTCOL – Lieutenant Colonel

LTGEN – Lieutenant General

M

MA – Meal allowance

MAJ – Major

MAJGEN – Major General

MCA – Member Choice Accommodation

MCR – Military Compensation Review

MIDN – Midshipman

MIER – Management Initiated Early Retirement

MINDP – Minister for Defence Personnel

MOU – Memorandum of Understanding

MPLS – Ministerial and Parliamentary Liaison Services

MRU – Members Required in Uniform

MSBS – Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme

MSO – Military Support Officer

MWD – Member with Dependants (now referred to as ARF)

MWD(U) – Member with Dependants (Unaccompanied) (now referred to as URF)

MWOD – Member without Dependants

N

NCO – Non-Commissioned Officer

NOK – Next Of Kin

NRF – Non-Resident Family

NWCC – National Welfare Coordination Centre

O

OAT – Overseas Administration Team

OH&S – Occupational Health and Safety

OIC / OC – Officer in Charge; 2IC Second in Charge

OLT – Overseas Lateral Transfer

OPSEC – Operational Security

OR/JNCO – Other Ranks/Junior Non-Commissioned Officer – includes SMN/PTE/AC/W, AB/PTE(P)/LAC/W, LCPL, LS/CPL

OTS – Officers’ Training School

P

PACMAN – ADF Pay and Conditions Manual

PEAP – Partner Employment Assistance Program

PEC – Primary Emergency Contact

PEEP  – Partner Education and Employment Program (superceded)

PERS – Personnel

PLTOFF – Pilot Officer

PM&C – Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

PO – Petty Officer

POC – Point of Contact

PPEC – Personnel Policy and Employment Conditions

PSG – Policy and Strategic Guidance

PSYCH-AF – RAAF Psychology Service

PSYCH-N – Directorate of Psychology (Navy)

PTE – Private

PVI – Pre-Vacation Inspection

R

R2T – Defence Retention and Recruitment Team

RA – Rental Allowance

RAAF – Royal Australian Air Force

RADM – Rear Admiral

RAEME – Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

RAN – Royal Australian Navy

RAR – Royal Australian Regiment

RDFWA – Regular Defence Force Welfare Association

RDO – Regional Development Office/Rostered Day Off

REDLO – Regional Education District Liaison Officer

RLLT – Remote Location Leave Travel

ROP – Recognised Other Person

ROSO – Return of Service Obligation

RSL – Returned Servicemans League

RSM – Regimental Sergeant Major

RSM-A – Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army

S

SASR – Special Air Service Regiment

SASRA – Special Air Service Regiment Auxiliary

SBLT – Sub Lieutenant

SEAC – Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Defence Force

SEC – Secretary

SERCAT – Service Category

SERCAT 2 -5 (Service Categories for Reserves)

SERCAT 6 (Permanent Forces – flexible service)

SERCAT 7 (Permanent Forces – full-time service)

SES – Senior Executive Service (Public Service)

SGADF – Surgeon General Australian Defence Force

SGT – Sergeant

SMN – Seaman

SNCO/WO – Senior Non-Commissioned Officer/Warrant Officer – includes PO/SGT/SSGT, CPO/WO2/FSGT, WO/WO1/WOFF

SNR OFFR – Senior Officer – includes CMDR/LTCOL/WGCDR, CAPT/COL/GPCAPT, CDRE/BRIG/AIRCDRE and above.

SPP – Strategic Policy and Plans

SQNLDR – Squadron Leader

SR – Service Residence

SSGT – Staff Sergeant

T

TAA – Temporary Accommodation Allowance

TRA – Temporary Rental Assistance

U

URF – Unaccompanied Resident Family (formerly MWD(U))

V

VADM – Vice Admiral

VCDF – Vice Chief of the Defence Force

V/r – Very respectfully (used as an email sign-off)

W

WGCDR – Wing Commander

WO – Warrant Officer

WO – N – Warrant Officer of the Navy

WO2 – Warrant Officer Class 2

WOFF – Warrant Officer

WOFF-AF – Warrant Officer of the Air Force

X

XO – Executive Officer

From defence.gov.au