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