Marine Corps Acronyms/Abbreviations

This page is a starting point for recruit families to learn the thousands of acronyms for the Marine Corps.

A great reference, taken directly from an official USMC publication, can be viewed in a PDF file from our website: Acronyms & Abbreviations

Here is a list of Marine Corps acronyms separated by category:

Vehicles

  • ABV: Assault Breacher Vehicle
  • AFV: Armored Fighting Vehicle
  • BV: Base Vehicle
  • CBV: Combat Breacher Vehicle
  • CMV: Combat Mobility Vehicle
  • EFV: Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle
  • FAV: Fast Attack Vehicle
  • FOV: Family of Vehicles
  • HEMTT: Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
  • HMMWV: High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
  • H-HMMWV: Heavy Variant High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
  • IFAV: Interim Fast Attack Vehicle
  • IRV: Improved Recovery Vehicle
  • ITV: Internally Transportable Vehicle
  • LAV: Light Armored Vehicle
  • LAV-AD: Light Armored Vehicle- Air Defense
  • LAV-M: Light Armored Vehicle- Mortar
  • LTVR: Light Tactical Vehicle Replacement
  • LVSR: Logistics Vehicle System Replacement
  • MTVR: Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement
  • TRAM: Tractor Rubber-tired Articulated Steering Multipurpose
  • TUGV: Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicles
  • TUV-M: Tactical Unmanned Vehicle- Medium
  • UGV: Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Communications

  • ADCP: Air Defense Communications Platform
  • CECM: Communications Electronic Countermeasures
  • COMINT: Communications Intelligence
  • COMNAV: Communication Navigation
  • COMSEC: Communications Security
  • DACT: Data Automated Communications Terminal
  • DSCS:Defense Satellite Communications System
  • EHF:Extremely High Frequency
  • HF: High Frequency
  • FH:Frequency Hopping
  • JTRS:Joint Tactical Radio System
  • LMR:Land Mobile Radio
  • LMST: Lightweight Multi-band Satellite Terminals
  • MECCES: Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School
  • Mhz: Megahertz
  • NIPRNET: Non Secure Internet Protocol Router Network/li>
  • NOS: Network Operating System
  • RF: Radio Frequency
  • SATCOM: Satellite Communications
  • SHF: Super High Frequency
  • SINCGARS: Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System
  • SIPRNET: Secret Internet Protocol Router Network
  • SLOC: Sea Lines of Communication
  • SMART-T: Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical Terminal
  • SONET: Synchronization Optical Network
  • STAR-T: SHF Tri-Band Advanced Range Extension Terminal
  • TACO: Tactical Communications
  • TCC: Tactical Communications Center
  • TCIM: Tactical Communications Interface Module
  • TDCP: Tactical Data Communications Processor
  • TDN: Tactical Data Network
  • TDS: Tactical Data System
  • UHF: Ultra High Frequency
  • VHF: Very High Frequency
  • WNW: Wideband Networking Waveform

Aviation

  • AAW: Anti-Air Warfare
  • AC2S: Airborne Command and Control System
  • ACE: Aviation Combat Element
  • ACM: Air Contingency MAGTF
  • AMC: Air Mobility Command
  • AMCM: Airborne Mine Countermeasures
  • APN: Aircraft Procurement Navy
  • ASPARCS: Air Surveillance and Precision Approach Radar Control System
  • ATACC: Advanced Tactical Air Command Central
  • ATC: Air Traffic Control
  • ATO: Air Tasking Order
  • DASC: Direct Air Support Center
  • FAC: Forward Air Controller
  • HERCULES: Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility LIft and Evacuation System
  • HMH: Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
  • HMLA: Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron
  • HMM: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron
  • IDASC: Improved Direct Air Support Center
  • JSEAD: Joint Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
  • LAAD: Low Altitude Air Defense
  • MACG: Marine Air Control Group
  • MACP: Marine Aviation Campaign Plan
  • MACS: Marine Air Control Squadron
  • MAG: Marine Aircraft Group
  • MAGIS: Marine Air- Ground Intelligence System
  • MALS: Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron
  • MARS: Marine Aviation Requirements Study
  • MATCALS: Marine Air Traffic Control and Landing System
  • MCATCD: Marine Corps Air Traffic Control Detachment
  • MAW: Marine Aircraft Wing
  • NAS: Naval Air Station
  • PAA: Primary Aircraft Authorization
  • TacAir: Tactical Aviation
  • UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
  • V/STOL: Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing

Amphibious

  • AAAV: Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle
  • AAV: Amphibious Assault Vehicle
  • ARG: Amphibious Ready Group
  • ASW: Anti Submarine Warfare
  • HSV: High Speed Vessel
  • HWM: High Water Mark
  • LSD: Landing Ship Dock
  • MOB: Mobile Offshore Base
  • UMCM: Undersea Mine Countermeasures
  • UUV: Unmanned Underwater Vehicle
  • VSW: Very Shallow Water

Weapon Systems, Ammunition, and Equipment

  • AAWS-H: Anti-Armor Weapon System- Heavy
  • AAWS-M: Advanced Anti Tank Weapon System- Medium
  • AGS: Advanced Gun System
  • ALAM: Advanced Land Attack Missile
  • ATL: Advanced Tactical Laser
  • AVDTV: Armored Vehicle Driver's Thermal Viewer
  • AVDVE: Armored Vehicle Driver's Vision Enhancer
  • BFT: Blue Force Tracker
  • ERGM: Extended Range Guided Munitions
  • FATS: Firearms Training Systems
  • FOTS: Follow-on-to-Shoulder Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon
  • HARM: High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile
  • HAW: Heavy Anti-armor Weapon
  • HE: High Explosive
  • HIMARS: High Mobility Artillery Rocket System
  • HWTS: Heavy Weapons Thermal Sight
  • IR: Infrared
  • ISMT-E Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer- Enhanced
  • LTA: Launch Tube Assembly
  • LW155: Lightweight 155m Howitzer
  • MAW: Medium Anti-Armor Weapon
  • MBC: Mortar Ballistic Computer
  • MLRS: Multiple Launch Rocket System
  • MWS: Modular Weapon System
  • MWTS: Medium Weapon Thermal Sight
  • NLW: Non-Lethal Weapons
  • NTIS: Night Thermal Imagery System
  • NVG: Night Vision Goggles
  • PGM: Precision Guided Munitions
  • SMAW: Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon
  • SRAW: Short Range Anti Tank Weapon
  • TLAM: Tomahawk Land-Attack Missile
  • TOW: Tube-Launched Optically-Tracked Wire-Guided Missile
  • TSS: Target Sight System
  • TWS: Thermal Weapons Sight
  • WTI: Weapons and Tactics Instructor

Commands

  • CENTCOM: Central Command
  • CFC: Combined Forces Command
  • EUCOM: European Command
  • MARCENT: Marine Forces Central Command
  • MARCORMATCOM: Marine Corps Material Command
  • MARCORSYSCOM: Marine Corps Systems Command
  • MARDIV: Marine Division
  • MARFOR: Marine Forces
  • MARFOREUR: Marine Forces Europe
  • MARFORLANT: Marine Forces Atlantic
  • MARFORPAC: Marine Forces Pacific
  • MARFORRES: Marine Forces Reserve
  • MARFORSOUTH: Marine Forces South
  • MCCDC: Marine Corps Combat Development Command
  • MCRC: Marine Corps Recruiting Command
  • MCSF: Marine Corps Security Forces
  • MCSSC2: Marine Combat Service Support Command and Control
  • MEB: Marine Expeditionary Brigade
  • MEF: Marine Expeditionary Force
  • MEU: Marine Expeditionary Unit
  • PACOM: Pacific Command
  • SOUTHCOM: Southern Command
  • STRATCOM: Strategic Command
  • TECOM: Training and Education Command
  • TRANSCOM: Transportation Command
  • TSOC: Theater Special Operations Command
  • USCENTCOM: United States Central Command
  • USEUCOM: United States European Command
  • USJFC: United States Joint Forces Command
  • USMARCENT: US Marine Corps Forces, Central Command
  • USMARFORK: US Marine Corps Forces, Korea
  • USMC: United States Marine Corps
  • USPACOM: United States Pacific Command
  • USSOCOM: US Special Operations Command
  • USSOUTHCOM: United States Southern Command

Personnel and Position Titles

  • ACMC: Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
  • ASD/C31: Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence
  • CATF: Commander Amphibious Task Force
  • CG: Commanding General
  • CINC: Commander-In-Chief
  • CCENT: Commander, Central Command
  • CEUR: Commander, European Command
  • CJFCOM: Commander, Joint Forces Command
  • CLANTFLT: Commander, Atlantic Fleet
  • CPAC: Commander, Pacific Command
  • CPACFLT: Commander, Pacific Fleet
  • CSOUTH: Commander, Southern Command
  • CIO: Chief Information Officer
  • CJCS: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • CJF: Commander Joint Force
  • CJTF: Commander Joint Task Force
  • CMC: Commandant of the Marine Corps
  • COMMARFOREUR: Commander, US Marine Forces, Europe
  • COMMARFORLANT: Commander, US Marine Forces, Atlantic
  • COMMARFORPAC: Commander, US Marine Forces, Pacific
  • COMMARFORRES: Commander, US Marine Forces, Reserve
  • COMUSNAVCENT: Commander US Navy Central Command
  • COMUSNAVEUR: Commander US Navy Europe
  • COMUSNAVPAC: Commander US Navy Pacific
  • DCI&L: Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics
  • JCS: Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • JFACC: Joint Force Air Component Commander
  • JFC: Joint Force Commander
  • JFMCC: Joint Force Maritime Component Commander
  • NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer
  • OPNAV: Chief of Naval Operations
  • SMMC: Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
  • SNCO: Staff Non-Commissioned Officer

Miscellaneous

  • AT: Antiterrorism
  • BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing
  • CAX: Combined Arms Exercise
  • CID: Combat Identification
  • CONUS: Continental United States
  • CP: Command Post
  • CT: Counterterrorism
  • CY: Calendar Year
  • DEP: Delayed Entry Program
  • DoD: Department of Defense
  • DoN: Department of the Navy
  • DoS: Department of State
  • EAS: End of Active Service
  • FEX: Field Exercise
  • FMF: Fleet Marine Force
  • FOB: Forward Operating Base
  • FY: Fiscal Year
  • GWOT: Global War on Terrorism
  • IED: Improvised Explosive Device
  • ITB: Infantry Training Battalion
  • INTEL: Intelligence
  • LAR: Light Armored Reconnaissance
  • LRC: Learning Resource Center
  • MCMAP: Marine Corps Martial Arts Program
  • MCT: Marine Combat Training
  • MOS: Military Occupational Specialty
  • MOUT: Military Operations in Urban Terrain
  • OEF: Operation Enduring Freedom
  • OIF: Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • OPSEC: Operational Security
  • PERSEC: Personal Security
  • PME: Professional Military Education
  • POW: Prisoner of War
  • RBE: Remain Behind Equipment
  • TAD: Temporary Additional Duty
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