Be they a squaddie or an officer, military personnel use a whole range of abbreviations and slang in their everyday work.

Whether they are concerned about an IED (improvised explosive device) or looking forward to a wet (a cup of tea or coffee) they never turn down a chance to use a acronym.

During my time in Afghanistan I will try to add as many terms (and their explanations) as possible from Kent troops living and working out in theatre.

For now here’s some of the official terms.

Commonly Used Army
Abbreviations And Slang Phrases

2IC -Second In Command

7p’s - Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents a Pretty Poor Performance

AFV - Armoured Fighting Vehicle

APO - Army Post Office

ARV - Armoured Recovery Vehicle

AWOL - Absent Without Leave

Blag - To acquire something

Cam - Camouflaged

Cas - Casualty

Crabs - The slang name for the RAF

ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival

FOB - Forward Operating Base

GDP- General Defence Plan

GOC- General Officer Commanding

GPMG - General Purpose Machine Gun

GPS - Global Positioning System

Greenfly - The nickname of the British Army Intelligence Corps

Grunt - Slang Word For An Infantryman

Hack It - To endure or to do something

HE - High Explosive

HEAT - High Explosive Anti Tank

Hurry Up And Wait - The phrase used to describe the long waits in army life.

Jack - To Be Selfish

Jacked - To Give Up

Jankers - Be on a charge or in the camp jail

JFHQ - Joint Forces Headquarters

JHQ - Joint Headquarters

L of C - Lines of Communications

MOD - Ministry of Defence

NOK - Next of Kin

NTR - Nothing To Report

Nugget - A polite way of calling someone an idiot.

POETS Day - Push Off Early Tomorrow’s Saturday

POW - Prisoner of War

Scran or Scoff - Food

SLR - Self Loading Rifle

TOT - Time On Target

VCP - Vehicle Check Point

Medal And Award Abbreviations

ARRC - Associate Royal Red Cross

DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medal

DSO - Distinguished Service Order

MC - Military Cross

MM - Military Medal

OStJ - Officer of the Order of St John

QHNS - Queen’s Honorary Nursing Sister Nurse

QHN - Queen’s Honorary Nurse (Usually applied to male nurses)

QVJI - Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Institute

RRC - Royal Red Cross

VC - Victoria Cross

Rank Abbreviations

OR - Other Rank

Pte - Private

LCpl - Lance Corporal

Cpl - Corporal

Sgt - Sergeant

WO - Warrant Officer

CSM - Company Sergeant Major

CQMS - Company Quartermaster Master Sergeant

QMG - Quartermaster General

QMS - Quartermaster Sergeant

RSM - Regimental Sergeant Major

OC - Officer Commanding or Officer Cadet

LT - Lieutenant

Col - Colonel

GOC - General Officer Commanding

NCO - Non Commissioned Officer