Acronyms
Defence life is full of acronyms. Here’s a few that might be helpful.
2LT – Second Lieutenant
A
AB – Able Seaman
AC/W – Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman
ACM – Air Chief Marshall
ADF – Australian Defence Force
ADF(P) – ADF Permanent Force (SERCAT 7 and 6)
ADF(R) – ADF Reserve Force (SERCAT 5, 4 and 3)
ADFA – Australian Defence Force Academy
ADFDA – ADF District Allowance
ADFFSCC – ADF Financial Services Consumer Council
ADFHS – Australian Defence Force Health Services

ADML – Admiral
ADO – Australian Defence Organisation
AFR – Application for Relocation
AIRCDRE – Air Commodore
AIRMSHL – Air Marshal
ANZAC – Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
APS – Australian Public Service
ARA – Australian Regular Army
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
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
CPL – Corporal
CPO – Chief Petty Officer
CSIG – Corporate Support and Infrastructure Group
D
DCAC – Defence Common Access Card
DE – Directorate of Entitlements
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
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
DSTO – Defence Science and Technology Organisation
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
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
MWD(U) – Member with Dependants (Unaccompanied)
MWOD – Member without Dependants
N
NCO – Non-Commissioned Officer
NWCC – National Welfare Coordination Centre
O
OH&S – Occupational Health and Safety
OIC / OC – Officer in Charge; 2IC Second in Charge
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
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
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
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
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
V
VADM – Vice Admiral
VCDF – Vice Chief of the Defence Force
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
From defence.gov.au