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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

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-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

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-C-

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)

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-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

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-E-

EKMS
Electronic Key Material System
ENS
Ensign (USCG, USN)
ESU
Electronic Support Unit
EXCOM
District Executive Committee

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-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

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-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

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-H-

HARPAT
Harbor Patrol
HIN
Hull Identification Number

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-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

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-J-

JOOD
Junior Officer of the Deck/Day

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-K-

none
 

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-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

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-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

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-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)

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-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

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-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

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-Q-

QE
Qualification Examiner
QM
Quartermaster
QMOW
Quartermaster of the Watch

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-R-

R&D
Research and Development
RADM
Rear Admiral
RBS
Recreational Boating Safety
RCO
District Rear Commodore
REP
Representative
RET
Retired

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-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.

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-T-

TONO
Travel Order Number

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-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

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-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

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-W-

WEB
World Wide Web on the Internet
WESBAA
Western States Boat Administrator's Assoc.
WPB
Coast Guard Patrol Boat Class

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-X-

XO
Executive Officer
XPO
Executive Petty Officer

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-Y-

YN
Yeoman

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-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.

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