This is a list of initials,
acronyms, expressions,
euphemisms,
jargon,
military slang, and sayings in common or formerly common use in the
United States Air Force. Many of the words or phrases have varying levels of acceptance among different units or communities, and some also have varying levels of
appropriateness (usually dependent on how senior the user is in rank). Many terms also have equivalents among other service branches that are comparable in meaning. Many acronyms and terms have come into common use from
voice procedure use over communication channels, translated into the
NATO phonetic alphabet, or both. Acronyms and abbreviations are common in Officer and
Enlisted Performance Reports, but can differ between major commands.
AFSC – Air Force Sustainment Center The mission of the Air Force Sustainment Center is to Sustain Weapon System Readiness to generate Air power for America. The center provides war-winning expeditionary capabilities to the war fighter through world-class depot maintenance, supply chain management and installation support.
Charlie Bravo – Cut-back, or being released early from duty
Charlie Foxtrot – Cluster Fuck
Chief – Proper term of address for Chief Master Sergeant. Also frequently used by pilots to informally refer to maintenance personnel, specifically "Crew Chiefs."
CMO – Chief Medical Officer (term for senior medical officer at each MEPS – Military Entrance Processing Station)
CMSAF –
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force; senior active duty enlisted member of the Air Force and a direct advisor to CSAF (holds enlisted pay grade E-9)
Crew Chief – Generally used as an informal slang term for Aerospace Maintenance Personnel, AFSC 2A5. More formally used to refer to an individual in charge of an aircraft maintenance related task requiring multiple people.
CRC – Control & Reporting Center
CRO – Combat Rescue Officer; commissioned officer equivalent of an enlisted PJ
CRO – COMSEC Responsible Officer
CRS – Corneal Refractive Surgery
CS – Communications Squadron
CSAF –
Chief of Staff of the Air Force; senior ranking active duty General in USAF unless the CJCS or VCJCS post is held by a USAF General (holds officer pay grade O-10)
CSAR – Combat Search and Rescue
CSC – Central Security Control
CSS – Commander's Support Staff (orderly room)
CSO –
Combat Systems Officer; a commissioned officer aeronautical rating known as Navigator until 1992
CV – Vice Commander
CUI – Combined Unit Inspection
CWO – Chief Warrant Officer; commissioned officer pay grades W-2 through W-5, currently discontinued in USAF
D
D-Day – The unnamed day on which an operation begins or is to begin
DBA – Dirtbag Airman (An Airman who does not represent the Air Force Core Values)
DCO – Defensive Cyber Operations
DEAD – Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses
DEERS – Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System
DEROS – Date Estimated Return from OverSeas
Dependent – Non-Military family member of a service member, typically a non-military spouse and/or children, entitled to a DD 1173 Military Dependent ID Card
Dickbeaters – term referring to one's hands. Often yelled by MTIs in the form of "pin those Dickbeaters to your side!"
DINSTAAR – Danger Is No Stranger To An AGE Ranger (See AGE)
Disgruntled Airman - In basic training, when things aren't up to par during dorm inspections, any and all write-ups can be blamed on this fictional spectre
Dollar Ride – A pilot's first flight in an airframe
Doolie – nickname for a first year Air Force Academy cadet
DOR – Date of Rank
Double Dip – Term used for certain full-time Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard personnel when in a dual status and receiving income from two sources (e.g., Air Reserve Technician on civilian military leave as a Department of the Air Force civil servant and on concurrent active duty USAF orders)
DV – Distinguished Visitor; visiting enlisted personnel in pay grade E-9, visiting officer personnel in pay grades O-6 through O-10, or visiting civilian equivalents such as GS-15, SES or politically appointed or elected government officials
Embrace The Suck – Slang used among junior enlisted referencing they have little say in undesirable decisions, effectively advice that one should not worry themselves over things they cannot control
Farts and darts –
clouds and darts embroidery found on field grade and general officers' service cap visors
Fat Albert – Nickname used for the C-5A Galaxy until revoked by USAF as “derogatory”. Name came from Bill Cosby's recording of “Revenge” in 1968, with the story of “Buck Buck” and Fat Albert shaking the ground as he ran.
FGO – Field Grade Officer (majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels)
FIGMO – Fuck it I Got My Orders
Fini Flight – A pilot's last flight in the aircraft before he/she leaves a squadron, a wing, or retires from the Air Force
Hangar "[#]" – A nonexistent hangar (e.g., if there are 4 hangars, then it would be Hangar 5); heard most often over radios as slang code for latrine/bathroom/Porta John. Example: "Get me to Hangar 5!"
Nonner – "Non-sortie generating." Derogatory term used by aircraft maintenance personnel when referring to enlisted and officers who are not directly involved in aircraft maintenance or manning aircraft
Non-rated Officer – USAF commissioned officer not holding an aeronautical rating
NUB – New Useless Bitch (reference for new person on station; contraction from newbie (which was originally new boy), and then
backronymed)
O
OA – Occupational Analysis
OA – Outstanding Airman
OAPT – Officer Awaiting Pilot Training.
OAPTer – An officer in OAPT status. While other 2nd Lt's begin their flight training, non-flying technical training and/or initial leadership roles, OAPTers complete menial tasks in support of the mission while they wait for their assigned training date (this is known as "casual status"). It is important for all operational bases, as OAPTers are most often supplemental to the assigned commissioned officer workforce.
Pocket Rocket – Term for the missile badge on the uniforms of current and former ICBM and cruise missile launch operations and missile maintenance personnel
POL – Petroleum, Oils, & Lubricants, the traditional name for the Fuels Management Flight
Pop Tart – Airman whose technical career schools are 6 weeks or less
Queep – A task or duty that is completely useless and ultimately unrelated to your primary job.[3] It is often assigned by superiors not of your career field as they assume that you have time to constantly work these tasks. Example: "I have a lot of queep to do before I go home." "I need to finish all of this queep before I can go fly."
Snacko – A highly underestimated, mission critical position held most often by newly reported Lieutenants in a flying squadron. Doing well at the Snacko position will prompt one for a laudable career. Failing at such a job will often entail severe ridicule and, if necessary, replacement and retraining by the flying squadron.
Snuffy – Generic term given to any Airmen of lower rank. "And here came Airman Snuffy late to the party as usual."
Spark Chaser – Nickname for aircraft maintenance personnel dealing with electronic, non-mechanical systems
Spirit Mission – A good-natured act, commonly in the form of a prank, banner, or...re-acquisition...of a person/thing, to show pride for a group of individuals. Usually harmless.
Tracking – Reference to offensive avionics on combat aircraft. Following and understanding the subject at hand. (IE: "I need this done yesterday, Airman. Are you tracking?")
This is a list of initials,
acronyms, expressions,
euphemisms,
jargon,
military slang, and sayings in common or formerly common use in the
United States Air Force. Many of the words or phrases have varying levels of acceptance among different units or communities, and some also have varying levels of
appropriateness (usually dependent on how senior the user is in rank). Many terms also have equivalents among other service branches that are comparable in meaning. Many acronyms and terms have come into common use from
voice procedure use over communication channels, translated into the
NATO phonetic alphabet, or both. Acronyms and abbreviations are common in Officer and
Enlisted Performance Reports, but can differ between major commands.
AFSC – Air Force Sustainment Center The mission of the Air Force Sustainment Center is to Sustain Weapon System Readiness to generate Air power for America. The center provides war-winning expeditionary capabilities to the war fighter through world-class depot maintenance, supply chain management and installation support.
Charlie Bravo – Cut-back, or being released early from duty
Charlie Foxtrot – Cluster Fuck
Chief – Proper term of address for Chief Master Sergeant. Also frequently used by pilots to informally refer to maintenance personnel, specifically "Crew Chiefs."
CMO – Chief Medical Officer (term for senior medical officer at each MEPS – Military Entrance Processing Station)
CMSAF –
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force; senior active duty enlisted member of the Air Force and a direct advisor to CSAF (holds enlisted pay grade E-9)
Crew Chief – Generally used as an informal slang term for Aerospace Maintenance Personnel, AFSC 2A5. More formally used to refer to an individual in charge of an aircraft maintenance related task requiring multiple people.
CRC – Control & Reporting Center
CRO – Combat Rescue Officer; commissioned officer equivalent of an enlisted PJ
CRO – COMSEC Responsible Officer
CRS – Corneal Refractive Surgery
CS – Communications Squadron
CSAF –
Chief of Staff of the Air Force; senior ranking active duty General in USAF unless the CJCS or VCJCS post is held by a USAF General (holds officer pay grade O-10)
CSAR – Combat Search and Rescue
CSC – Central Security Control
CSS – Commander's Support Staff (orderly room)
CSO –
Combat Systems Officer; a commissioned officer aeronautical rating known as Navigator until 1992
CV – Vice Commander
CUI – Combined Unit Inspection
CWO – Chief Warrant Officer; commissioned officer pay grades W-2 through W-5, currently discontinued in USAF
D
D-Day – The unnamed day on which an operation begins or is to begin
DBA – Dirtbag Airman (An Airman who does not represent the Air Force Core Values)
DCO – Defensive Cyber Operations
DEAD – Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses
DEERS – Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System
DEROS – Date Estimated Return from OverSeas
Dependent – Non-Military family member of a service member, typically a non-military spouse and/or children, entitled to a DD 1173 Military Dependent ID Card
Dickbeaters – term referring to one's hands. Often yelled by MTIs in the form of "pin those Dickbeaters to your side!"
DINSTAAR – Danger Is No Stranger To An AGE Ranger (See AGE)
Disgruntled Airman - In basic training, when things aren't up to par during dorm inspections, any and all write-ups can be blamed on this fictional spectre
Dollar Ride – A pilot's first flight in an airframe
Doolie – nickname for a first year Air Force Academy cadet
DOR – Date of Rank
Double Dip – Term used for certain full-time Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard personnel when in a dual status and receiving income from two sources (e.g., Air Reserve Technician on civilian military leave as a Department of the Air Force civil servant and on concurrent active duty USAF orders)
DV – Distinguished Visitor; visiting enlisted personnel in pay grade E-9, visiting officer personnel in pay grades O-6 through O-10, or visiting civilian equivalents such as GS-15, SES or politically appointed or elected government officials
Embrace The Suck – Slang used among junior enlisted referencing they have little say in undesirable decisions, effectively advice that one should not worry themselves over things they cannot control
Farts and darts –
clouds and darts embroidery found on field grade and general officers' service cap visors
Fat Albert – Nickname used for the C-5A Galaxy until revoked by USAF as “derogatory”. Name came from Bill Cosby's recording of “Revenge” in 1968, with the story of “Buck Buck” and Fat Albert shaking the ground as he ran.
FGO – Field Grade Officer (majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels)
FIGMO – Fuck it I Got My Orders
Fini Flight – A pilot's last flight in the aircraft before he/she leaves a squadron, a wing, or retires from the Air Force
Hangar "[#]" – A nonexistent hangar (e.g., if there are 4 hangars, then it would be Hangar 5); heard most often over radios as slang code for latrine/bathroom/Porta John. Example: "Get me to Hangar 5!"
Nonner – "Non-sortie generating." Derogatory term used by aircraft maintenance personnel when referring to enlisted and officers who are not directly involved in aircraft maintenance or manning aircraft
Non-rated Officer – USAF commissioned officer not holding an aeronautical rating
NUB – New Useless Bitch (reference for new person on station; contraction from newbie (which was originally new boy), and then
backronymed)
O
OA – Occupational Analysis
OA – Outstanding Airman
OAPT – Officer Awaiting Pilot Training.
OAPTer – An officer in OAPT status. While other 2nd Lt's begin their flight training, non-flying technical training and/or initial leadership roles, OAPTers complete menial tasks in support of the mission while they wait for their assigned training date (this is known as "casual status"). It is important for all operational bases, as OAPTers are most often supplemental to the assigned commissioned officer workforce.
Pocket Rocket – Term for the missile badge on the uniforms of current and former ICBM and cruise missile launch operations and missile maintenance personnel
POL – Petroleum, Oils, & Lubricants, the traditional name for the Fuels Management Flight
Pop Tart – Airman whose technical career schools are 6 weeks or less
Queep – A task or duty that is completely useless and ultimately unrelated to your primary job.[3] It is often assigned by superiors not of your career field as they assume that you have time to constantly work these tasks. Example: "I have a lot of queep to do before I go home." "I need to finish all of this queep before I can go fly."
Snacko – A highly underestimated, mission critical position held most often by newly reported Lieutenants in a flying squadron. Doing well at the Snacko position will prompt one for a laudable career. Failing at such a job will often entail severe ridicule and, if necessary, replacement and retraining by the flying squadron.
Snuffy – Generic term given to any Airmen of lower rank. "And here came Airman Snuffy late to the party as usual."
Spark Chaser – Nickname for aircraft maintenance personnel dealing with electronic, non-mechanical systems
Spirit Mission – A good-natured act, commonly in the form of a prank, banner, or...re-acquisition...of a person/thing, to show pride for a group of individuals. Usually harmless.
Tracking – Reference to offensive avionics on combat aircraft. Following and understanding the subject at hand. (IE: "I need this done yesterday, Airman. Are you tracking?")