Glossary
Military Acronyms Pertaining
to The War In Afghanistan
Acronym
(number)IN
(number)US
(number)V
(Time)L
(Time)Z
42 CDO RM
508 STB
81
9-liner
A/C
AAF
ABP
AC-130
ACK
ACM
AFG
AH-1W
AIHRC
AK-47
ANA
ANAP
ANBP
ANP
ANSF
AO
AQ
ARSIC
ASG
ASV
ATT
ATTK
AUP
B-HUTS
BAF
BCT
BDA
BDE
Beaten zone
BFT
BG
Blue forces
Meaning
Infantry group
Number of US personnel
Vehicles
Local time
Zulu time - GMT
42 Commando Royal Marines
508th special troops battalion
81mm mortar round
9 Line MEDEVAC Request
aircraft
anti-afghan forces
Afghan Border Police
Gunship adapted from Hercules
Acknowledge
Anti-Coalition Militia
Afghans
Attack helicopter 1W - US Marines Super Cobra gunship
Afghan Independent Human Right Commission
Assault rifle
Afghan National Army
Afghan National Auxiliary Police
Afghan National Border Police
Afghan National Police
Afghan National Security Forces
Area of operation
Al Qaida
Afghan regional security integrated command
Area Support Group
armoured security vehicle
At this time
Attack
Afghan uniform police
Semi-permanent wooden structures used in place of tents
Bagram Air Field
Brigade combat team (US)
Battle damage assessment
Brigade
Area where spread of rounds fired
Blue Force Tracking: identifying friendly forces in area
Brigadier General
Nato/ISAF forces
Page 1 of 8
Military Acronyms Pertaining
to The War In Afghanistan
Acronym
Blue on Blue
BN
BP
BPT
BRF
BSN
BSSM
BTG
BTIF
BTL
buzz saw
C//NF
C/S
CAS
CAT C
CCA
CCIR
CD
CDN
CDR
CF
CG
CGBG
cgbg 1 coy
CHOPS
CIV
CIVCAS
CJ2
CJ3
CJSOTF
CJTF
CJTF-82
CLP
CO
CoP
COP
Coy
CP
cpt
Csh
CTC
CWIED
DBC
DC
DF
DOI
Meaning
Friendly fire
Battalion
Blood Pressure
Be [ing] prepared to
Brigade Reconnaissance Force
(Camp) Bastion
Border Security Subcommittee Meeting
Basic target graphic
Bagram theatre internment facility
Battalion
Signalling method by waving light stick in circle
Confidential, no foreign nationals
Call sign
Close air support
Category C patient - priority
carrier-controlled approach
commander's critical information requirements
Command
Canadian
Commander
Coalition Forces
Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards Battle Group
1 company, Coldstream Guards battle group
Chief of Operations
Civilian
Civilian casualties
US intelligence and security command, afghanistan
Joint special ops
combined joint special operations task force
Combined Joint Task Force
Combined Joint Task Force-82: HQ of US Forces in ISAF and Regional Command East, March
2007-April 2008
Combat logistics patrol [supply convoy]
Commanding officer
Chief of Police
Combat outpost
Company
Check point
Captain
combat support hospital
? counterterrorist center
Command Wire Improvised Explosive Device
database code
District Centre
Direct fire
Date of incident
Page 2 of 8
Military Acronyms Pertaining
to The War In Afghanistan
Acronym
DoS
DSHKA
ECP
EKIA
Element
ENG BDE
EOC
EOD
eof
ETT
evac
EVACD
F-15
FB
FF
FFIR
FIR
FO
FOB
FP
fps
FRA BG
FSB
GBU
GBU-12
GBU-31
GBU-38
GCTF
GEN
GHZ
GIRoA
GMLRS
Green on green
GSW
GT R2RR
helos
HHB
HIMARS
HLZ
HMG
HMLA-169
HRT
HVI
HWY
IAW
IAW EOF SOP
ICOM
Meaning
Department of State
Soviet-origin heavy machine gun
entry control point
Enemy killed in action
Part of a task force e.g. "Puma element" = part of Task Force Puma
Engineer Brigade
Emergency Operation Centre
Explosive Ordnance Disposal [bomb defuser]
Escalation of Force [also 'exchange of fire']
embedded training team
Evacuation
Evacuated
Fighter /bomber
Forward Base (context -"Do China FB")
Friendly Forces
Friendly Forces Information Requirement
First Impressions Report
Forward observer
Forward Operating Base
Firing point
Facility protection service
French battle group
Forward Support Base
Guided Bomb Unit
500lb laser-guided "smart bomb"
2,000lb "smart bomb'
GPS/laser guided 500lb 'smart' bomb
Global Counter Terrorism Forces
General
Ghazni
Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Multiple rocket launcher
Fighting between Afghan forces
Gunshot wound
Canadian troops: tactical group:2nd bn 22nd royal regiment
Helicopters
Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion
latest GPS-guided multiple rocket system, mounted on v. mobile truck [carries GMLRS qv]
helicopter landing zone
UK government (HM Government)
US Marines light attack helicopter sqadron
hostage rescue team
High-value Individual
Highway
In accordance with
in accordance with escalation of force standard operating procedure
Radio
Page 3 of 8
Military Acronyms Pertaining
to The War In Afghanistan
Acronym
IDF
IED
Illum
INFIL
INS
INTSUM
IO
IOT
IR
ir
IR STROBE
IRoA
IRT
ISAF
ISN
ISO
ISR
IVO
J COY 42 CDO
JAF
JAG
JBAD
JDAM
JDCC
JDOC
JEL
Jingle trucks
JOC
JPEL
JTAC
JUGROOM
KAF
KAIA
KDZ
KIA
KJI
KMTC
KPRT
L:
LEP
Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
Litter
LKG
LN
Meaning
indirect fire
Improvised explosive device
Illumination mortar, fired to provide light
Infiltrate
Insurgents
Intelligence summary
Information operations
In order to
Incident Report
infrared
Infrared Strobe
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Incident Response Team?
International Security Assistance Force
Internment [or Insurgent] serial Number
In support of
Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
In vicinity of
J company 42 Commando Royal Marines
Jalalabad Air Field
Judge Advocate General (Army legal team)
Jalalabad
Joint Direct Attack Munition
Joint District Coordination Center
Joint Defense Operations Center
Joint Effects List [hit list]
Brightly decorated trucks covered in bells common across central Asia
joint ops centre
Joint Prioritised Effects List [hit list]
Joint terminal air controller
Fort, Garmsir, Afghanistan
Kandahar Air Field
Kabul international airport
Kunduz
Killed in action
Kajaki
Kabul military training cetnre
Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team
Location (in relation to S, A, L, T)
Law Enforcement Professionals
Location of the pick-up site.
Radio frequency, call sign, and suffix.
Number of patients by precedence: A to E with A being most urgent
Special equipment required
Stretcher used by medics
Lashkar Ghar
Local national
Page 4 of 8
Military Acronyms Pertaining
to The War In Afghanistan
Acronym
LNO
LTC
Luna
LZ
m240b
M249
M4/M-4
MAJ
MAR
MED OPS
MED TM
medevac
MEY PRT
MG
MHL
MM
MOD
MOI
MP
MS
MSN
Msr
MTF
MTT
N/I C
NAI
NC
NCO
NDS
NFI
NFTR
NMC
NOFORN
NSTR
OBJ
OC
OCC- P
OCCD
ODA
OGA
OIC
OMF
Op
OP
OP grid
OPSUM
ORSA
Meaning
Liaison Officer
Lieutenant Colonel
German drone
Landing Zone
Type of machine gun
light machine gun
Type of gun
Major
Marine
Medical Operations
Medical Team
Medical evacuation
Meymaneh provincial reconstruction team
Machine Gun
Mehtar Lam
Military Message
Ministry of Defence
Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior
Military Police
Military support
Nurse (with a masters)
main supply route
More to follow
military training team
Nato/ISAF Confidential
Named areas of interest
non-combatant
Non-commissioned officer
Afghan intelligence [national directorate of security]
Not Further Identified
Nothing further to report
non mission-capable
no foreigners [secrecy classification]
Nothing significant to report
Objective
Outcome
operational command centre - provincial
Operational Coordination Center District
Operational Detachment (Alpha) - special forces
Other Government Agency (usually CIA)
Officer in charge
Opposing Militant Forces
Operation
Observation Post
Operation/Observation post map coordinates
Operations Summary
operations research and systems analysis
Page 5 of 8
Military Acronyms Pertaining
to The War In Afghanistan
Acronym
PA
PAK
PAKMIL
PAO
PAX
PB
PBG
PEF
PEN
PHQ
PID
PKM
PL
PLT
PLT SJT
PMT
PoA
poc
POI
POO
PRED
PRO COY
PRT
PRT CDR
PSO
PT
PTS
QRF
RB
RC (N)
RC CENTRAL
RC(E) / RC East
RC(W)
RC=S / RC(S)
RCAG
RCC / RC(C)
RCP
rds/RDS
rfs
RG
RGR
ROE
Role 3
RPG
RPK
RPT
RTB
Meaning
Physician Assistant
Pakistan
Pakistan military
Public Affairs Officer
Passengers/People
Patrol Base
Polish battle group
poppy eradication force [afghan police]
Penich (outpost)
Police headquarters (in reference to ANP)
positive i.d.
Russian-made machine gun
Platoon
Platoon
Platoon Seargant
Police Mentor Team
President of Afghanistan
point of contact
point of impact
Point of origin
Predator drone
protection company
Provincial Reconstruction Team
Provincial Reconstruction Team Commander
Post Security Officer
Patient
Peace Through Strength (PTS) reconciliation process
Quick Response Force
Road block
Regional Command North
Regional Command Central
Regional Command East
Regional Command West
Regional Command South
Regional Corps Assistance Group
Regional Command Capital
Route clearance Patrol
Rounds
Resident Field Squadron
US armoured vehicle
Royal Gurkha rifles
Rules of engagement
Surgical facility
Rocket propelled grenade
Light machine gun, Kalashnikov (Ruchnoi Pulemyot Kalashnikova)
Report
Return to base
Page 6 of 8
Military Acronyms Pertaining
to The War In Afghanistan
Acronym
RTE
RTF
S-2
S-5
S, A, L, T
S, A, L, T, U, R
S:
S//REL
SAF/Safire
SAW
SC-26
SCIDA
SEWOC
SFG
Shura
SIED
SIGACT
SIR
sof
SOG
Solatia
SOP
SOTF
SOTG
SPC
SQD
sqn
Squirter
SSE
SVBIED
SWO
SWT
T:
TB
TBC
TBD
TCP
TERP
TF
TF373
TFK
TG
TG AREs
Thready
TIC
Toc
TTPs
Meaning
Route
Reconstruction Task Force [Australian at TF Uruzgan]
Intelligence staff officer
Staff member responsible for civil-military operations
Size, Activity, Location, Time (military report)
Size, Activity, Location, Time, Unit, Result (military report)
Size (in relation to S, A, L, T)
Secret or Selective release? (context - "S//REL TO USA, AFG, GCTF, ISAF, NATO")
Small ams fire/Surface to air fire
Squad Automatic Weapon [ machine gun]
Scorpion 26 - US special forces unit in Helmand
Site Configuration and Installation Design Authority?
Sigint Electronic Warfare Operational Centre
special forces group
Meeting of tribal elders and Afghan leaders
Suicide IED
Significant activity
Serious Incident Report
Special ops force
Special ops group
Payments to civilian victims of US attacks (or their families)
Standard Operating Procedure
Special Operations Task Force
Special ops taskgroup
Specialist
Squadron
Squadron
Someone running for cover
Sensitive site exploitation
suicide vehicle-borne IED
Surface warfare officer
Scout weapons team
Time (in relation to S, A, L, T)
Taliban
To be confirmed
To be decided
Traffic control point
Interpreter
Task force
task force 373 [special ops]
Task Force Kandahar
Tactical Group
Tactical group Ares
Pulse that is very fine and scarcely perceptible.
Troops in contact
tactical op center
tactics, techniques, and procedures
Page 7 of 8
Military Acronyms Pertaining
to The War In Afghanistan
Acronym
UAH
UAV
UH-1N
UH-60
UNAMA
UNK
usfor-a
UXO
VBIED
VCP
vic
VIC
vitals
VP
VPB
VSA
w/d
w/u
White Eagle
WIA
Meaning
Up-armoured Humvee
Unmanned aerial vehicle [drone]
US Twin Huey transport/communications helicopter
Black Hawk helicopter
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
Unknown
United States Forces Afghanistan
unexploded ordnance [or unfired]
VBIED vehicle-borne improvised explosive device
Vehicle Check Point
vicinity
Vehicle? (context - "ANP officer hit ANA officer with door of VIC...7 to 8 rounds struck ANP
VIC")
Vital signs (for example blood pressure)
Vulnerable point
Vehicle patrol base
vital signs absent [i.e. dead]
wheels down
wheels up
Polish task force
Wounded in action
Page 8 of 8