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Terms You May See
A-Z: Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acronyms and abbreviations used in the Coast Guard, CG Auxiliary, as well as other common military and government terms. Not an exhaustive list.
A more complete list of acronyms can be found in Appendix M of the Auxiliary Manual.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
-A-
- ABYC
- American Boat and Yacht Council
- A/C
- Aircraft
- ACFT
- Aircraft
- AC&I
- Acquisition, Construction and Improvement
- ACN
- Advanced Coastal Navigation
- ACO
- Authorized Certifying Officer
- ACP
- Area Contingency Plan
- ACR
- Allowance Change Request
- ACT
- Active Duty
- ACTSUS
- Active Suspension
- ADF
- Automatic Direction Finder
- ADM
- Admiral (USCG, USN, USPHS)
- ADSO
- Assistant District Staff Officer
- AIDE
- Aide to National Commodore/District Commodore
- AIRS
- Auxiliary Internet Resources System
- AIM
- Academy Introduction Mission
- AMIO
- Alien/Migrant Interdiction Operation
- AMOS
- Auxiliary Mission Objectives System
- AMVER
- Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue
- ANB
- Aids to Navigation Boat
- ANSC
- Auxiliary National Supply Center
- ANT
- Aids to Navigation Team>
- ARC
- American Red Cross
- AO
- Area of Operations
- AOPS
- Abstract of Operations or Assistant Operations Officer
- AOR
- Area of Responsibility
- APC
- Administrative Procedures Course
- APR
- April or Aid Positioning Report
- ASST
- Assistant
- AT/FP
- Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection
- ATAC
- Anti-Terrorism Alert Center
- ATON
- Aids to Navigation
- AUXACN
- Auxiliary Advanced Coastal Navigation
- AUXCEN
- Auxiliary Center
- AUXCOM
- Auxiliary Communication Specialty Course
- AUXDATA
- Auxiliary Database (replaced AUXMIS in 2002)>
- AUXFAC
- Auxiliary Facility
- AUXLAM
- Auxiliary Leadership & Management Course>
- AUXLEA
- Auxiliary Leadership Course
- AUXMAN
- Auxiliary Manual
- AUXMIN
- Auxiliary Administration Specialty Course
- AUXMIS
- Auxiliary Management Information System
- AUXNAV
- Auxiliary Navigation Specialty Course
- AUXOP
- Operational Auxiliarist Status (Passed 7 Specialty Courses)
- AUXPAT
- Auxiliary Patrols Specialty Course
- AUXSAR
- Auxiliary Search & Rescue Specialty Course
- AUXSEA
- Auxiliary Seamanship Specialty Course
- AUXWEA
- Auxiliary Weather Specialty Course
- AV
- Aid Verifier
-B-
- BA
- Branch Assistant, National Staff or Bridge Administration
- BAS
- Basic Allowance for Subsistence
- BC
- Branch Chief, National Staff
- BCM
- Boat Crewmember
- BCN
- Basic Coastal Navigation
- BC-NCA
- Conference Assistant, NACO Staff
- BC-NCO
- Conference Organization, NACO Staff
- BC-NCP
- Conference Planning, NACO Staff
- BC-NCR
- Conference Registration, NACO Staff
- BC-NCS
- Conference Support, NACO Staff
- BCQ
- Boat Crew Qualification
- BED
- Base Enrollment Date
- BEQ
- Bachelor Enlisted Quarters
- BGEN
- BG Brigadier General
- BIA
- Boating Industry Association
- BIC
- Basic Instructor Course (USCG)
- BLA
- Boating Law Administrator
- BM
- Boatswains Mate
- BMOW
- Boatswain's Mate of the Watch
- BOAT/US
- Boat Owners Association of the U. S.
- BOCA
- Boat Owners Council of America
- BOSAF
- Boating Safety Correspondence Course
- BO
- Boarding Officer
- BOQ
- Bachelor Officer Quarters
- BOW
- Best if the Web (annual Auxiliary Website competition)
- BQ
- Basically Qualified (old term for entry level member)
- BS&S
- Boating Skills and Seamanship
- BSAC
- Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC)
- BSC
- Boating Safety Circular
- BTM
- Boarding Team Member
- BYBB
- Backyard Boat Builders
- C2
- Command and Control
- CAC
- Crisis Action Center
- CAP
- Civil Air Patrol
- CAPT
- Captain (USCG, USN, USPHS)
- CASCOR
- Casualty Correct
- CBR
- Chemical, Biological or Radiological
- CDR
- Commander (USCG, USN, USPHS)
- CEU
- Continuing Education Unit
- CFR
- Code of Federal Regulations
- CFVE
- Commercial Fishing Vessel Examination
- CG
- Coast Guard (United States Coast Guard)
- CGAP
- Coast Guard Acquisition Procedures
- CGAUX-CRC
- Civil Rights Coordinator (Auxiliary)
- CGAuxA, Inc.
- Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Incorporated
- CGDP
- Coast Guard Dinning Facility
- CGDN+
- Coast Guard Data Network Plus
- CGES
- Coast Guard Exchange System
- CGHRMS
- Coast Guard Human Resources Management System
- CGI
- Coast Guard Institute, Oklahoma City, OK
- CGMA
- Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
- CGPC<
- Coast Guard Personnel Command
- CHDIRAUX
- Chief Director, Auxiliary (Headquarters)
- CM
- Communications
- CMC
- Merchant Marine Safety Counsel
- CME
- Courtesy Marine Examination (now called Vessel Safety Exam, VSE)
- CMS
- Communications Security Material System (now known as EKMS)
- CO
- Commanding Officer
- COL
- Colonel
- COMDTINST
- Commandant Instruction
- COMDTNOTE
- Commandant Notice
- COMDTPUB
- Commandant Publication
- COMO
- Commodore
- COMSEC
- Communications Security
- COS
- Chief of Staff
- CPO
- Chief Petty Officer (USCG, USN)
- CPT
- Captain (US Army, USAF)
- CRC
- Civil Rights Counselor
- CWO
- Chief Warrant Officer (USCG, USN, US Army)
- CS
- Communications Services (i.e. DSO-CS, FSO-CS)
-D-
- D-AA
- Administrative Assistant to DCO
- D-AD
- Aide to the DCO
- DC
- National Department Chief
- DCS
- District Chief of Staff
- DCO
- District Commodore
- DCP
- Division Captain
- DEP
- Deputy
- DIRAUX
- Director of Auxiliary (District or Region)
- DIST
- District
- DIV
- Division
- DOD
- Department of Defense
- DOJ
- Department of Justice
- DOL
- Department of Labor
- DOT
- Department of Transportation
- (dpa)
- District Preparedness Auxiliary (the office code for your District DIRAUX)
- DPG
- District Planning Group
- DSO
- District Staff Officer
- DVC
- Division Chief
- DVC-NC
- Conference Coordination, NACO staff
-E-
- EKMS
- Electronic Key Material System
- ENS
- Ensign (USCG, USN)
- ESU
- Electronic Support Unit
- EXCOM
- District Executive Committee
-F-
- FC
- Flotilla Commander
- FED
- Flotilla Enrollment Date
- FN
- Finance Staff Officer - Auxiliary
- FN
- Fireman (Enlisted USCG, USN)
- FMV
- Fair Market Value
- FSO
- Flotilla Staff Officer
- FWPCA
- Federal Water Pollution Control Act
-G-
- G-
- Staff Symbol which identifies the Coast Guard and offices within the Department of Homeland Security
- G-C
- Commandant of the Coast Guard
- G-CCS
- Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard
- G-CV
- Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
- G-P
- Assistant Commandant for Preparedness
- G-PCX
- Chief, Office of Auxiliary/Chief Director, Auxiliary
- GEN
- General Officer Rank
- GMT
- Greenwich Mean Time (See ZULU)
- GPO
- Government Printing Office
- GS
- General Service Federal Employee designation
- GSA
- General Services Administration
-H-
- HARPAT
- Harbor Patrol
- HIN
- Hull Identification Number
-I-
- ICOMIA
- International Council of Marine Industry Associations
- IP
- Immediate Past Office (except National Commodore)
- IS
- Information Services
- ISC
- Integrated Support Command
- IT
- Instructor Trainer
- IT
- Auxiliary Department of Information Technology
-J-
- JOOD
- Junior Officer of the Deck/Day
-K-
- none
-L-
- L
- Legal Affairs
- LCDR
- Lieutenant Commander (USCG, USN, USPHS)
- LM
- Life Member (also for medal-Legion of Merit)
- LT
- Lieutenant (USCG, USN, USPHS)
- LTCOL, LTC
- Lieutenant Colonel
- LTGEN, LTG
- Lieutenant General
- LTJG
- Lieutenant (Junior Grade) (USCG, USN)
- 1LT, 1stLT
- First Lieutenant
- 2LT, 2ndLT
- Second Lieutenant
-M-
- MA
- Materials
- MGEN, MG
- Major General
- MAJ
- Major
- MARS
- Military Affiliate Radio System
- MCPO
- Master Chief Petty Officer
- MDV
- Marine Dealer Visitor
- MLC
- Maintenance and Logistics Command
- MI
- Master Instructor (an old designation, now IT)
- MR
- Member Resources (old name for Personnel Services)
- MT
- Member Training
- MSC
- Marine Safety Council
- MSD
- Marine Sanitation Device or Marine Safety Detachment
- MSO
- Marine Safety Office
-N-
- N-A
- Administrative Officer, NACO staff
- NACO
- National Commodore
- NACON
- National Auxiliary Conference
- NEXCOM
- National Executive Committee
- NAPDIC
- National Association of Past District Commodores
- N-AS
- NACO Secretary
- NASBLA
- National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
- NATL
- National
- NAVCO
- National Vice Commodore
- NBF
- National Boating Federation
- NBSAC
- National Boating Safety Advisory Council
- NBSS
- National Boating Safety School
- NCIABLA
- North Central International Association of State Boating Law Administrators
- N-D
- NACO Aide
- NESBAC
- North Eastern States Boat Administrator's Conference
- NFPA
- National Fire Protection Association
- NM
- New Member (Replaces the old BQ designation)
- NIPCO
- Immediate Past National Commodore
- NOAA
- National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
- N-S
- Special Assignment, NACO staff
- N-P
- Special Projects Officer, NACO staff
- NOK
- Next of Kin
- NOS
- National Ocean Survey (NOAA-Dept. of Commerce)
- NSBC
- National Safe Boating Council
- NSBW
- National Safe Boating Week
- NSC
- National Safety Council
- N-TRAIN
- National Training Conference
- NTSB
- National Transportation Safety Board
- NWS
- National Weather Service (NOAA -Dept. Of Commerce)
-0-
- OBC
- Outboard Boating Club
- OCMI
- Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection
- OCS
- Officer Candidate School
- OINC
- Officer-in-Charge
- OOD
- Officer of the Deck/Day
- OP
- Operations
- OPS
- Operations, Operations Officer
-P-
- P
- (before officer title acronym) Past Officer
- PA
- Public Affairs
- PAO
- Public Affairs Officer
- PATCOM
- Patrol Commander
- PB
- Publications
- PC
- Paddle Craft, personal computer
- PE
- Public Education
- PERSRU
- Personnel Reporting Unit
- PFD
- Personal Flotation Device
- PO
- Petty Officer (USCG, USN)
- PS
- Personnel Services (Also Reserve Port Security Rate)
- PV
- Program Visitor (also known as the RBSVP)
- PWC
- Personal Water Craft
-Q-
- QE
- Qualification Examiner
- QM
- Quartermaster
- QMOW
- Quartermaster of the Watch
-R-
- R&D
- Research and Development
- RADM
- Rear Admiral
- RBS
- Recreational Boating Safety
- RCO
- District Rear Commodore
- REP
- Representative
- RET
- Retired
-S-
- SAR
- Search and Rescue
- SBLA
- State Boating Law Administrator
- SC
- Specialty Course (One of Seven)
- SCPO
- Senior Chief Petty Officer (USCG, USN)
- SECTOR
- A larger CG command (Many CG Groups became Sectors upon the command reorganization in 2005)
- SK
- Storekeeper
- SN
- Seaman (USCG, USN)
- SO
- Division Staff Officer
- SR
- Secretary/Records (also Seaman Recruit)
- SSBLAA
- Southern States Boating Law Admin. Assoc.
-T-
- TONO
- Travel Order Number
-U-
- USA
- United States Army
- USAF
- United States Air Force
- USAFR
- United States Air Force Reserve
- USA-NG
- United States Army -National Guard
- USAR
- United States Army Reserve
- USC
- United States Code
- USCA
- United States Code Annotated
- USCG
- United States Coast Guard (also CG)
- USCGA
- United States Coast Guard Academy
- USCGAUX
- United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
- USCGR
- United States Coast Guard Reserve
- USMC
- United States Marine Corps
- USMCR
- United States Marine Corps Reserve
- USN
- United States Navy
- USNR
- United States Navy Reserve
- USPHS
- United States Public Health Service
- USPS
- United States Power Squadrons, US Postal Service
-V-
- VADM
- Vice Admiral (USCG, USN)
- VCO
- District Vice Commodore
- VCP
- Division Vice Captain
- VE
- Vessel Examiner, Vessel Examination
- VFR/IFR
- Visual Flight Rules/Instrument Flight Rules
-W-
- WEB
- World Wide Web on the Internet
- WESBAA
- Western States Boat Administrator's Assoc.
- WPB
- Coast Guard Patrol Boat Class
-X-
- XO
- Executive Officer
- XPO
- Executive Petty Officer
-Y-
- YN
- Yeoman
-Z-
- ZULU
- Date-Time Group on Messages (GMT)
Glossary
A more complete list of glossary terms can be found in Appendix L of the Auxiliary Manual.
- ACTIVITY
- CG administrative unit responsible for a designated geographic area.
- ASSIST
- The act of giving aid or attempting to give aid to any person or property, or both, in distress.
- ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
- Military member assigned to the Director to assist Auxiliary administration within a district or region.
- AUXILIARY COXSWAIN
- Highest qualification level in Boat Crew Program.
- AUXMIS
- Acronym for Auxiliary Management Information System.
- BASE ENROLLMENT DATE (BED)
- The actual date an applicant is accepted for membership by the DIRAUX as reflected on the application. In cases where the membership has not been continuous, the BED must be amended to reflect the total break in membership. An amended BED is determined by calculating total membership time, and subtracting that total from the current date.
- AUXILIARY CREWMEMBER
- First qualification step in Boat Crew Program.
- BOAT CREW QUALIFICATION & CERTIFICATION
- Stratified levels of expertise required to be attained before receiving Auxiliary operational orders.
- BRANCH
- A component of a division within the Auxiliary national staff.
- CHAIN OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
- The organizational concept where current elected members are responsible to elected members on a higher level and responsible for all members whom they represent by virtue of their elected office. It neither violates nor should be confused with either the parallel (or vertical) staffing concept which guides appointed staff members or military "chain of command" where authority is derived from earned rank.
- CHIEF DIRECTOR
- The person at CG Headquarters who is responsible to the Commandant for the administration of the Auxiliary (CG-3PCX).
- COMMANDANT
- The Commandant of the CG. (CG-C)
- DEPARTMENT
- one of the basic organizational components of the Auxiliary national staff.
- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
- The Cabinet-level department of the federal government in which the CG operates in peace time.
- DIRECTOR
- The person assigned to the District Commander's staff for Auxiliary administration within a district or Auxiliary region.
- DISTRESS
- The state of being in peril, to any degree, of a person or property, or both.
- DISTRICT
- A CG District defined by statute.
- DISTRICT COMMANDER
- The Senior CG Flag officer in command of a CG District.
- DISTRICT COMMODORE
- The highest elected Auxiliary officer within a district or region.
- DISTRICT VICE COMMODORE
- The second highest elected Auxiliary officer who assists the District Commodore.
- DISTRICT REAR COMMODORE(S)
- The elected Auxiliary officer on a district level who may represent a given area of the district or region, ranking immediately after the Vice Commodore.
- DIVISION
- A geographical and administrative Auxiliary subdivision in a district or region. Also an Auxiliary national department staff component. When used in terms of CG organization, division means a basic organizational component of a CG district office or, at a USCG, a component of one of the primary Offices of the Commandant's Headquarters organization.
- EXAMINER
- A currently qualified vessel examiner or fishing vessel examiner.
- FACILITY
- A privately-owned motorboat, yacht, aircraft, fixed-Land, or land-mobile radio station, at least 25% of which is owned by an Auxiliary member, and which has been accepted by the Director.
- FLAG OFFICER
- CG or Navy officer above the rank of Captain (06 paygrade).
- FLOTILLA
- The basic component Auxiliary unit.
- FLOTILLA ENROLLMENT DATE (FED)
- The actual date a member joined the present flotilla.
- GENERAL OFFICERS
- USA, USAF, USMC officers above rank of Colonel.
- GROUP
- An organizational CG unit within a district, usually with a specific geographic responsibility for operational purposes.
- GUIDE
- A semi-permanent publication containing practical application of procedures.
- HEADQUARTERS
- United States CG Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
- IMMEDIATE PAST
- Indicates an elected office held by an Auxiliarist who was the last to hold that office for a full term. Elected officers must have been succeeded in office as a result of a regular election, and must not have been removed from office. An immediate past officer shall retain designation until another immediate past officer is generated by a regular election. If an immediate past officer leaves the office for any reason, the immediate past office remains vacant until the next regular scheduled election.
- INSTRUCTOR
- A currently qualified public education (PE)/member training (MT) instructor.
- MANUAL
- a permanent publication containing basic organization, policy, and procedures. (i.e., the AUXMAN)
- MARS
- Military Affiliated Radio System
- MOTORBOAT
- Any documented or numbered vessel propelled by machinery, not more than 65 feet in length. (Must be at least 14 feet in length for facility purposes.)
- NAPDIC
- National Association of Past District Commodores
- NATIONAL COMMODORE (NACO)
- The highest elected Auxiliary Officer who represents the Auxiliary at the national level.
- NATIONAL DIRECTORATE CHIEF(S) (NADCO)
- As of 1 Jan 1999, appointed Directorate Chiefs replacing elected NAVCOs.
- NATIONAL VICE COMMODORE(S)
- The members of the Auxiliary elected on a national level, who represent(s) a specific duty, area or Directorate, including chief of staff.
- NATIONAL STAFF
- Collectively the organization of national staff officers appointed by the national Commodore to assist nationally in Auxiliary administration.
- PARALLEL STAFFING
- (also called VERTICAL STAFFING) - the organizational/concept where appointed staff members at all levels, in conducting their activities, report (upward to senior staffing levels) or monitor (downward to junior staffing levels) the activities of other appointed staff members. It neither violates nor should be confused with a chain of command concept. It could be considered the appointed staff "chain of leadership and management."
- PAST
- A designation indicating an Auxiliarist who has previously held an elected office, at any level, for at least one-half of the normal term of office. An member removed from office is not eligible for the past designation. Past office holder designation entitles the wearing of the past officer device. Holding of an immediate past (voting) designation is not a requirement for holding the past designation.
- PAST OFFICER DEVICE
- A device worn to indicate the member's insignia (elected or appointed) being worn no longer represents that individual's current Auxiliary office.
- PERIL
- Danger, or likelihood of danger, or inconvenience so as to result in threats to life and/or property.
- QE
- Qualification Examiner in Boat Crew Qualification Program.
- RADIO STATION
- Any fixed land or land mobile radio station equipped as the Commandant may prescribe and which is maintained in a well ordered condition.
- REGION
- A sub-division of a CG district but structured for Auxiliary administration as an Auxiliary district with a Director, Commodores, and staff.
- REGIONAL DIRECTOR
- The person assigned to the District Commander's staff for Auxiliary administration within a region; also called DIRECTOR.
- SORTIE
- The individual movement of a resource in giving assistance from the time it moves underway for assistance until it returns for replenishment, or terminates to begin another case. Each individual movement comprises one sortie.
- STAFF OFFICER
- An appointed Auxiliary member of the national, district, division, or flotilla staff.
- TERM OF OFFICE
- The time period an appointed or regularly elected office holder is expected to serve; either one or two years, depending upon the level of the office. A REGULAR term of office is served when the member is elected at a regular election and serves the full term of office.
- UNIT
- A unit is any CG Command, Auxiliary flotilla, division, or district.
- VERTICAL STAFFING
- See Parallel Staffing.