This page has all kinds of different abbreviations, acronyms, and euphemisms that are commonly found in the Army.  Enjoy the humor and knowledge provided!  Updates regularly!

Acronyms

• ACU
• The new Army Combat Uniform; in the process of replacing the BDU. 
• AIT
• Advanced Individual Training (specialty training post-BCT for your MOS). 
• ASAP
• As Soon As Possible (pronounced “Ay-Sap”; sometimes as initials). Meaning: “Now, dangit!” 
• AWOL
• Absent Without Official Leave. More commonly known today as UA ( Unauthorized Absence )
• BDU
• Battle Dress Uniform; standard, camouflage, everyday uniform.
• BCT
• Basic Combat Training (familiarly: Basic Training or Basic)
• CO
• Commanding Officer
• CQ
• Charge of Quarters, an overnight desk duty (at basic training, your platoon will have CQ duty if your DS has CQ duty).
• DA
• Department of the Army
• DCU
• Desert Camouflage Uniform (not official)
• DD or DoD
• Department of Defense
• DFAC
• Dining Facility (Mess Hall or Cafeteria)
• DS
• Drill Sergeant; an NCO that teaches new recruits in Basic Combat Training; only the most qualified NCOs are chosen to attend Drill Sergeant School.
• FTX
• Field Training Exercise.
• IBA
• Individual Body Armor; Kevlar vest
• LBE or LCE
• Load Bearing or Carrying Equipment; refers to the harness-like belt system used to carry ammo pouches, canteen, etc.
• MOS
• Military Occupational Specialty—formal job classification, usually expressed as a number or number/letter combination—e.g., 11B Infantryman.
• MP
• Military Police.
• MRE
• Meal Ready to Eat; portable meals in a plastic bag, made to last for years without going bad; consist of about 1500-3000 calories; some are better than others.
• NCO
• Non-Commissioned Officer: an enlisted person with command responsibility over soldiers of lesser rank; a corporal (grade E4) or any grade of sergeant (grades E5 – E9);
• NBC
• Nuclear, Biological, Chemical
• OBC
• Officer Basic Course
• OCS
• Officer Candidate School
• OSUT
• One Station Unit Training; refers to a combined basic training and advance individual training at one training post (i.e., infantry (MOS 11B) does a 14-week OSUT at Ft. Benning that combines both).
• POV
• Privately-Owned Vehicle, a soldier’s personal automobile.
• PT
• Physical Training. Although in the plural (PT’s), it means the PT Uniform.
• PX
• Post eXchange. A multipurpose store which usually includes a barber shop and a convenience store.
• UA
• Unauthorized Absence
• WOFT
• Warrant Officer Flight Training
• XO
• Executive Officer (officer second to CO)