In the Australian Defence Force we use a lot of acronyms to shorten technical military terms and title names for things like universities and training schools. Once you’re in the Defence Force you’ll come to know these well, for now use this glossary to help you.
2 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
Second Lieutenant
Air-to-Air
Anti Aircraft Artillery
Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle
Australian Army Cadets
Australian Air Force Cadets
Air-to-Air Missile
Amphibious Assault Vehicle
Able Seaman Electronics Technician
Anti-Ballistic Missile
Air Combat Manoeuvring
Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation
Air Combat Manoeuvring Range
Air Defence Anti-Tank System
Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force Pilot Selection Agency
Australian Defence Force Academy
Air Defence Identification Zone
Alternative Education Equivalency
Australian Education International
Aeronautical
Armoured Engineer Vehicle
Air Early Warning
Air Early Warning & Control
Air Force
Australian Hydrographic Service
Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Air Launched Ballistic Missile
Air Launched Cruise Missile
Academy Military Education and Training
Australian Navy Cadets
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
Armour Piercing
Armoured Personnel Carrier
Auxilliary Power Unit
Army Reserve
Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle
Army Reserve Traineeship and Apprenticeship Program
Armoured Recovery Vehicle
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Australian Light Armoured Vehicle
Air-to-Surface Missile
Airborne Self-Protection Jammer
Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile
Advanced Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing
Anti-Surface Warfare
Anti-Surface Vessel
Anti-Submarine Warfare
Anti-Tank
Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missile
Air Traffic Control Officer
Anti-Tank Guided Weapon
Applied Skills and Technology Course
Australian Clearance Diving Team Four
All Up Weight
Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge
Aviation Regiment
Acoustic Warfare Analyst
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Engineering
Basic Fitness Assessment
Body Mass Index
Brigadier
Bachelor of Science (Bsc)
Bachelor of Technology
Command and Control
Command, Control and Communications
Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence
Chief of Air Force
Career Counsellor
Clearance Divers Acceptance Test
Chief of the Defence Force
Clearance Diving Team
Combat Engineer Vehicle
Communications and Information Systems Controller
Chief Medical Officer
Chief of Navy
Commanding Officer
Counter Intelligence
Colonel
Colour Perception
Corporal
Chief Petty Officer Electronics Technician
Captain
Commando Regiment
Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle
Customer Relationship Management Centre
Close-Support Bridge
Cryptologic
Commando Training Course
Cryptologic Linguist
Cryptologic Systems
Cryptologic Systems Submariner
Combat Vehicle
Direct Entry Officer
Distinguished Flying Cross: Air Force Decoration
Defence Force Discipline Act
Defence Force Recruiting
Defence Force Recruitment Centre
Differential GPS
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Defence Library Service
Department of Defence
Defence Service Centre
Drop Zone
Enlisted
Equipment Application Course
Electronic Counter CounterMeasures
Electronic CounterMeasures
Electronic Flight Instrument System
Electronic INTelligence
Length of time an aircraft's fuel load will permit it to stay airborne
Ear Nose and Throat
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Explosive Reactive Armour
Electronic Support Measures
Employer Support Scheme
Enhanced Selection Process
Electronics Technician
Electronic Warfare
Forward Air Control / Forward Air Controller
First Appointment Course
Fuel Air Explosives
Fly-by-Wire
Fremantle Class Patrol Boat
Future Infantry Fighting Vehicle
AAM or ASM with electric signalling abilities
Forward Looking Infrared
Flight control systems with electronic signalling
Funded Reserve Commitment
Flight Screening Program
Flying Vehicle
Ground-Controlled Intercept
General Entry
Global Positioning System
General Service Officer
Group Training Company
High Explosive
High Explosive Anti-Tank
Higher Education Contribution Scheme
Hands On Throttle and Stick
HorsePower
Headquarter(s)
Helicopter Tactics Course
Harbour Watchkeeping Certificate
Integrated Air Defence System
Indicated Airspeed Shown
Initial Collins Class Course
Initial Fitness Assessment
Identification Friend or Foe
Infantry Fighting Vehicle
In Ground Effect
Interim Infantry Mobility Vehicle
Initial Operation Capability
Initial Minimum Period of Service
Independent Observer
Initial Officer Training
InfraRed
Inspect and Repair as Necessary
Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile
InfraRed CounterMeasure
Inertial Reference System
InfraRed Search and Track
Information Technology
Initial Technical Training
Junior Non-Commissioned Officer
Job Options Evaluation Session
Kilograms
Kilometre
Kilometre per Hour
KiloNewton measure of force (1,000 Newtons: 1 Newton = 0.2238 lbs of force)
Aviation and maritime unit of velocity
Kiloton (equivalent explosive force of 1,000 tons of TNT)
Knot(s)
True AirSpeed in Knots
KiloWatt
Low Altitude Bombing System
Leading Aircraftman
Leading Aircraftwoman
Laser Airborne Depth Sounder
Light Airborne MultiPurpose System
Local Area Networks
Light Altitude Targeting InfraRed for Night
Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System
Light Assault Vehicle
Liquid Crystal Display
Light Cavalry Patrol Vehicle
Low Frequency (30 to 300 kHz)
Laser-Guided Bomb
Low Observables
Low Profile Turret
Landing Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Leading Seaman Electronics Technician
Lieutenant
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant General
Landing Vehicle Tracked Personnel
Landing Zone
Measure of Airspeed (Mach 1 = 1,223 kph/760 mph at sea level
Magnetic Anomaly Detector
Major
Military Assistance Program
Main Battle Tank
Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer
Mine Countermeasures
Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) Officer
Multi-Function Display
Machine Gun
Maritime Geospace (Hydrographic Survey or Meteorology and Oceanography Officer)
Maritime Geospace Officer - Hydrography
Medical History Questionnaire
Minute(s)
Multiple Launch Rocket System
Millimetre
Mobile METOC Team
Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Multi-Purpose Carrier
Maritime Reconnaissance
Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle
Medium Range Ballistic Missile
Multi-Stage Improvement Program
Maritime Technician
Maximum Take-Off Weight
Naval Air Station
National Aeronautics & Space Administration
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Measurement of distance
Nuclear, Biological and Chemical
Non-Commissioned Officer
New Entry Officer Course
Nautical Mile
Naval Reserve
Naval Training Command
One Day Model
Out of Ground Effect
Operations Officer
Officer Selection Board
Officer Training School, Duntroon
Operational Type Transition Course
Permanent Air Force
Physical Fitness Assessment
Private First Class
Precision-Guided Munition
Passive Identification
Permanent Naval
Physical Training Instructor
Private
Principal Warfare Officer
Qualified Assessor
Qualified Entry Sailor
Qualified Flying Instructor
Research and Development
Royal Australian Artillery
Royal Australian Armoured Corps
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force Active Reserve
Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps
Radar Altimeter and Altitude Warning System
Radar Absorbing Material
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Naval College
RAN School of Sea Safety and Survivability
Recovery Assist, Secure and Traverse system
Rocket-Assisted Take-Off
Recognition of Current Competencies
Radar Cross-Section
Reconnaissance
Reliability Improved Selected Equipment
Royal Military College
Royal Military College of Australia
Royal Military College - Duntroon
Royal Navy (UK)
Royal Navy Air Service
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Recognition Officer
Record of Attainment
Rules of Engagement
Return of Service Obligation
Rocket Propelled Grenade
Recognition of Prior Learning
Revolutions Per Minute (or Rounds Per Minute if dealing with small arms)
Remotely-Piloted Vehicle
Registered Training Organisation
Recruit Training School
Radar Warning Receiver
Surface-to-Air
School of Army Aviation
Surface-to-Air Missile
Search And Rescue
Special Air Service
SAS Selection Course
Sailor Early Enlistment Scheme
SENSor Operator
Systems Enhanced Package
Special Forces Panelling Board
Sergeant
SIGnals INTelligence
Side-Looking Airborne Radar
Service Life Extension Program
Submarines
Surface Movement Controller
Subject Matter Expert
SubMachine Gun
Seaman Electronics Technician
Submarine Sea Qualification
Senior Non-Commissioned Officer
Special Operations COMmand
Specialist (when referred in a soldiers rank)
Self-Propelled
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun
Self-Propelled Gun
Surface-to-Surface Missile
Special Service Officer
Special Service Officer First Appointment Course
Single Service Training
Short Take-Off
Short Take-Off and Landing
Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing
Training Advisor
Tactical Air Navigation System
Time Between Overhauls
Tank Bridge Transporter
Terrain Following Radar
Target Identification Airborne Laser Designation
Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wired-Guided
Tri-Service Stand-off Attack Missile
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Ultra-High Frequency (300MHz to 3 GHz)
United Nations
University of NSW
Vertical or Short Take-Off and Landing
Very High Frequency (3 to 300MHz)
Voice, Throttle and Stick
Vertical Take-Off and Landing
Wide Area Networks
Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer Class 2
Warrant Officer Electronics Technician
Weapons System Operator (or Weapon System Officer)
