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USCG & USCG Auxiliary Acronyms

Downloadable PDF Acronym List (click link)

A

 

AAM: Auxiliary Achievement Medal

ABS: About Boating Safely

ACLOC: Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation

ACM: Auxiliary Commendation Medal

ADIZ: Air Defense Identification Zone

ADMS: Auxiliary Distinguished Service Medal

AIRSTA: Air Station

ALOM: Auxiliary Legion of Merit

AMSM: Auxiliary Meritorious Service Medal

AOI: Area of Interest

AOO: Area of Operations

AOP: Area of Probability

AOR: Area of Responsibility

AOU: Area of Uncertainty

ASC: Auxiliary Sector Coordinator

ATC: Air Traffic Control

ATON: Aids to Navigation

ATONIS: Aids to Navigation Information System

AUP: Auxiliary University Program

AUXACN: Auxiliary Advanced Coastal Navigation Specialty

AUXCOM: Auxiliary Communications Specialty

AUXMIS: Auxiliary management Information System

AUXNAV: Auxiliary Navigation Specialty

AUXOP: Operational Auxiliarist Qualification

AUXPAT: Auxiliary Patrols Specialty

AUXSAR: Auxiliary Search and Rescue Specialty

AUXSARDET: Auxiliary Search & Rescue Detachment

AUX SC&E: Auxiliary Search Coordination & Execution

AUXSEA: Auxiliary Seamanship Specialty

AUXWEA: Auxiliary Weather Specialist

AWACS: Airborne Early Warning and Command System

 

B

 

BA: Bridge Administration

BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing

BAQ: Basic Allowance for Quarters

BARD: Boat Accident Reporting Data

BIC: Basic Introductory Course

BM: Boatswain's Mate

BMR: Boat Mission Report

BNTM: Broadcast Notice to Mariners

BWI: Boating While Intoxicated

BY: Budget Year

BZ: Bravo Zulu (well done)

B-0: Bravo-Zero status (underway in 30min from SAR alert)

 

C

 

CAA: Commander, Atlantic Area

CAP: Civil Air Patrol

CAPT: Captain (USCG O-6)

CBP: Customs and Border Patrol

CDR: Commander (USCG O-5)

CERCLA: Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act

CFR: Code of Federal Regulations

CFVE: Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner

CFVSE: Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Exam

CG: Coast Guard (USCG)

CGA: Coast Guard Academy (USCGA)

CGAUX: Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGAUX)

CGC: Coast Guard Cutter

CGHQ: Coast Guard Headquarters

CGI: Coast Guard Institute

CGMA: Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

CGYD: Coast Guard Yard

CIM: Commandant Instruction Manual

CINC: Commander-In-Chief

CIP: Container Inspection Program

CMC: Command Master Chief

CME: Courtesy marine Examination

CNO: Chief of Naval Operations

CO: Commanding Officer

COC: Chain of Command

COCO: Command and Control

COL: Chain of Leadership

COMDT: Commandant, US Coast Guard

COMDTINST: Commandant Instruction

COMMS: Communications

CONUS: Continental United States

COPT: Captain of the Port

COW: Change of Watch

CPA: Commander, Pacific Area

CPA: Closest Point of Approach

CPO: Chief Petty Officer (USCG E-7)

CVS: Commercial Vessel Safety

CWA: Clean Water Act

CWO: Chief Warrant Officer (USCG CWO2 – CWO4)

CZ: Coastal Zone

 

D

 

DC: Damage Control/Direct Current

DHS: Department of Homeland Security

DIRAUX: Director of Auxiliary

DIST: District Commander

DIW: Dead in the Water

DMB: Datum Marker Buoy

DO: Direct Operational Auxiliarist

DOD: Department of Defense

DOT: Department of Transportation

DR: Dead Reckoning

DRM: Direction of Relative Movement

DSO: Designated Senior Official

DDB: Dinner Dress Blue Uniform (SDB)

DDW: Dinner Dress White Uniform (SDW)

 

E

 

EAD: Extended Active Duty

EBA: Emergency Breathing Apparatus

EEZ: Exclusive Economic Zone

ELF: Extremely Low Frequency

EN: Ensign (USCG O-1)

EO: Engineering Officer/Executive Order

EOQ: End of Quarter

EOW: Engineer Officer of the Watch

EP: Estimated Position

EPA: US Environmental Protection Agency

EPAC: Eastern Pacific Ocean Area

EPIRB: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon

EPOY: Enlisted Person of the Year

EPPP: Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Prevention Guide

ESA: Endangered Species Act

ETD: Estimated Time of Departure

EWS: Early Warning System

 

F

 

FAA: Federal Aviation Administration

FAQ: Frequently Asked Question

FC: Flotilla Commander

FCS: Fire Control System

FCZ: Fisheries Conservation Zone

FINCEN: Finance Center

FLAR: Forward Looking Airborne Radar

FLETC: Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

FMLA: Family and Medical Leave Act

FNP: Federal Navigation Plan

FO: Fuel oil

FOSC: Federal On-Scene Coordinator

FOUO: For Official Use Only

FSO: Flotilla Staff Officer

FSO-CM: Communications

FSO-CS: Communications Services

FSO-DV: Diversity Officer

FSO-FN: Finance

FSO-HR: Human Resources

FSO-IS: Information Services

FSO-MA: Materials

FSO-MS: Marine Safety and Environmental Protection

FSO-MT: Member Training

FSO-NS: Navigation Systems

FSO-OP: Operations

FSO-PA: Public Affairs

FSO-PB: Publications

FSO-PE: Public Education

FSO-PV: Recreational Boating Safety Program Visitor

FSO-SR: Secretary/Records

FSO-VE: Vessel Examinations

FVS: Fishing Vessel Safety

FWPCA: Federal Water Pollution Control Act

FWC: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

FY: Fiscal Year

 

G

 

GAR: Green, Amber, Red Scale

GHA: Greenwich Hour Angle

GIS: Geographic Information System

GMDSS: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

GOMEX: Gulf of Mexico

GPS: Global Positioning System

GQ: General Quarters

 

H

 

HAZMAT: Hazardous Material

HDC: Harbor Defense Commander

HF: High Frequency

HIN: Hull Identification Number

HR: Human Relations

HWU: Hot Weather Uniform

 

I

 

IADT: Initial Active Duty for Training (basic training)

IAP: Incident Action Plan

IC: Internal Combustion

ICS: Incident Command System

IFQ: Individual Fishing Quota

IFR: Instrument Flight Rules

IHP: Indicated Horsepower

IIP: International Ice Patrol

IMO: International Maritime Organization

INMARSAT: International Maritime Satellite

INS: Immigration and Naturalization Service

INTEL: Intelligence

IPFC: Immediate Past Flotilla Commander

IR: Infrared

IS: Information Systems

ISO: International Standards Organization

IT: Information Technology/Instructor Training

 

J

 

JCET: Joint/Combined Exercises for Training

JOOD: Junior Officer of the Deck

JTF: Joint Task Force

 

K

 

L

 

LAT: Latitude/Local Apparent Time

LCDR: Lieutenant Commander (USCG O-4)

LE: Law Enforcement

LF: Low Frequency

LLNR: Light List Number

LMT: Local Mean Time

LNB: Large Navigational Buoy

LNM: Local Notice to Mariners

LOA: Length Over All

LOB: Line of Bearing

LONG: Longitude

LOP: Line of Position

LORAN: Long-Range Aid to Navigation

LOS: law of the Sea/Line of Sight

LPO: Leading Petty Officer

LPOC: last Port of Call

LPOP: Listening Post/Observation Post

LPV: low Profile Vessel

LRA: long Range Aircraft

LRS: Long Range Surveillance/Search

LT: Lieutenant (USCG O-3)

LTJG: Lieutenant Junior Grade (USCG O-2)

LWOP: Leave Without Pay

 

M

 

MA: Mission Analysis/Materials

MAR: Mission Analysis Report

MARAD: Maritime Administration

MARB: Marine Assistance Request Broadcast

MARIS: Maritime Information System

MARPOL: The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

MBL: Maritime Boundary Line

MCT: Meritorious Team Commendation

MDSU: Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit

MDZ: Maritime Defense Zone

MEC: Medium Endurance Cutter

MEDEVAC: Medical Evacuation

MEP: Marine Environmental Protection

MER: Marine Environmental Response

MF: Medium Frequency

MFCMA: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

MHA: Military Housing Area

MHT: Mean High Tide

MI: Maritime Inspection and Investigation

MIL-STD: Military Standard

MILSPEC: Military Specifications

MIO: Marine Inspection Office

MIS: Management Information System

MISLE: Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement

MLB: Motor Life Boat

MLE: Maritime Law Enforcement

MLT: Mean Low Tide

MMD: Merchant Mariner’s Document

MMPA: Marine Mammal Protection Act

MOB: Man Overboard

MOM: Maritime Observation Mission/Medal of Operational Merit

MPA: Maritime Patrol Aircraft

MPAR: Mission Performance Assessment Report

MRB: Medium Response Boat

MRS: Medium Range Surveillance/Search

MS: Marine Safety

MSDS: Materials Safety Data Sheet

MSEP: Marine Safety & Environmental Protection

MSU: Marine Safety Unit

MUC: Meritorious Unit Commendation

MWR: Moral, Welfare and Recreation

 

N

 

NASBLA: National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

NACO: National Commodore

NAS: Naval Air Station

NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NAVAID: Navigation Aid

NAVCEN: Navigation Center

NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer (USCG E4 - E-9)

NDBC: National Data Buoy Center

NDRS: National Distress and Response System

NDS: National Distress System

NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act

NF: Non-Factorable

NIS: Navigations Information Service

NISA: National Invasive Species Act of 1996

NIST: national Institute of Standards and Technology

NJP: Non-Judicial Punishment

NM: Nautical Mile

NMC: national Maritime Center

NMDMP: National Marine Debris Monitoring Program

NMFS: National Marine Fisheries Service

NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

NOV: Notice of Violation

NPOC: Next Port of Call

NRC: National Response Center

NTM: Notice to Mariners

NVDC: National Vessel Documentation Center

 

O

 

OCONUS: Outside Continental US

OCS: Officer Candidate School

OD: Officer of the Day

ODU: Operational Dress Uniform

OIA: Order Issuing Authority

OIC: Officer-in-Charge

O&M: Operations and Maintenance

OMB: Office of Management and Budget

OOD: Officer of the Deck/Day

OPA 90: Oil Pollution Act of 1990

OPAREA: Operational Area

OPCEN: Operations Center

OPFAC: Operational Facility

OPM: Office of Personnel management

OPNAV: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

OPREP: Operations Report

OPSEC: Operational Security

OPSUM: Operational Summary

OR: Operational Readiness

OSC: On-Scene Commander

OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OT&E: Operational Test & Evaluation

OVBD: Overboard

 

P

 

PA: Public Affairs

PACAREA: Pacific Area

PATCOM: Patrol Commander

PB: Patrol Boat

PCS: Permanent Change of Station

PDS: Permanent Duty Station

PFD: Personal Flotation Device

PHS: Public Health Service (USPHS)

PIW: Person in the Water

PO: Petty Officer (USCG E4 – E6)

POB: Persons on Board

POC: Point of Contact

POD: Probability of Detection

POE: Point of Embarkation

POE: Port of Entry

POE: Projected Operational Environment

POV: Privately Owned Vehicles

PPE: Personal Protective Equipment

PQS: Personnel Qualification Standard

PSC: Port State Control

PSS: Port Safety and Security

PSTFS: Pollution Spill Trajectory Forecast Service

PSU: Port Security Unit

PTSA: Port and Tanker Safety Act

PUC: Presidential Unit Citation

PVA: Passenger Vessel Association

PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride

PWC: Personal Watercraft

PWSA: Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972

 

Q

 

QM: Quartermaster

QPR: Qualified Personnel Required

QSS: Qualification Standards System

QTR: Quarterly Training Report

 

R

 

RA: Radio navigation Aids

RACON: Radar Beacon

RADHAZ: Radiation Hazard

RADM: Rear Admiral (USCG O-7 Lower Half – O-8 Upper Half)

RBS: Recreational Boating Safety

RCC: Rescue Coordination Center

RCRA: Resource Conservation and Recover Act of 1986

REYR: REquired YeaRly Qualifications Not Met

RF: Radio Frequency

RFD: Request for Deviation

RFW: Request for Waiver

RHIB: Rugged Hull Inflatable Boat

RIG SAAFEARM: Recognition ID Guide to Ship Associated Flags, Ensigns, and Aircraft Rondel Markings

RML: Relative Movement Line

RMP: Risk Management Plan

RN: Radio navigation

ROD: Report of Discrepancy

ROE: Rules of Engagement

ROTC: Reserve Officers Training Corps

ROTHR: Relocatable Over the Horizon Radar

RP: Reference Point

RP: Responsible Party

RPM: Revolutions Per Minute

RQ: Reportable Quantities

RRI: Response Resources Inventory

RTC: Reserve Training Center

RW: Relative Wind

 

S

 

SADT: Special Active Duty for Training

SAR: Search and Rescue

SARSAT: Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking

SATCOM: Satellite Communications

SBD: Silent But Deadly

SBU: Sensitive but Unclassified

SC: Search and Rescue Coordinator

SCBA: Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

SDB: Service Dress Blue Uniform (DDB)

SDW: Service Dress White (DDW)

SEH: Safety and Environmental Health

Semper Paratus: “Always Ready”

SF: Shore Facilities

SHF: Super High Frequency

SHP: Sexual harassment Prevention

SIGINT: Signals Intelligence

SITREP: Situation Report

SIV: Special Interest Vessel

SLOC: Sea Lines of Communication

SLTG: Shoulder Line Throwing Gun

SMT: Senior Management Team

SMTJ: Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction

SN: Serial Number

SNAFU: Situation Normal, All Fouled Up

SOA: Summary of Action

SOLAS: Safety of Life at Sea

SONS: Spills of national Significance

SOP: Standard Operating Procedure

SOPA: Senior Officer Present Afloat

SOPEP: Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plans

SOS: Source of Supply/International Morse Code Distress Signal

SOV: Special Operations Vessel

SPBO: Spare Parts Breakout

SPEARS: Spill Planning, Exercise, and Response System

SPOE: Sea Port of Embarkation

SRA: Short Range Aircraft/Short Range Aids to Navigation

SRM: Speed of Relative Movement

SROE: Standing Rules of Engagement

SRU: Surface Resource Unit

SRV: Short Range Vessel

SSB: Single Side Band

STA: Station

STANTEAM: Standardization Team

STAR: Standard Automated Requisitioning

STBD: Starboard

SWOT: Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats

 

T

 

TAD: Temporary Assigned Duty

TANB: Trailer Aids to navigation Boat

TBD: To Be Determined

TCM: Telecommunications Manual

TDS: Target Designation System

TGL: Task Group Leader

TIS: Time in Service

TL: Task Leader

TOI: Targets of Interest

TONO: Travel Order Number

TRACEN: Training Center/Detachment

TSD: Time, Speed, and Distance

TSP: Thrift Savings Plan

TSS: Traffic Separation Scheme

 

U

 

UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

UCMJ: Uniform Code of Military justice

UCN: Unique Control Number

UD: Unit Designation

UDC: Uniform Distribution Center

UHF: Ultra high Frequency

UI: Unit of Issue

UMIB: Urgent Marine Information Broadcast

UN: United Nations

UNCLAS: Unclassified

UNCLOS: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

UOFP: Use of Force Policy

UPV: un-Inspected Passenger Vessel

US: United States of America

USA: United States Army

USACE: US Army Corps of Engineers

USAF: US Air Force

USBP: US Border Patrol

USCG: US Coast Guard

USCGAUX: US Coast Guard Auxiliary

USCGA: US Coast Guard Academy (CGA)

USCS: United States Customs Service

USF: US Forces

USG: US Government

USMC: US Marine Corps

USMS: US Marshals Service

USN: US Navy

USO: United Services Organization

USPHS: US Public Health Service (PHS)

USPS: US Postal Service

USVI: US Virgin Islands

UTB: Utility Boat

 

V

 

VAC: Volts Alternating Service

VADM: Vice Admiral (USCG O-9)

VDC: Volts Direct Current

VDS: Visual Distress Signal

VFC: Flotilla Vice Commander

VHF: Very High Frequency

VLF: Very Low Frequency

VMS: Vessel Monitoring System

VRP: Vessel Response Plan

VSC: Vessel Safety Check

VTM: Vessel Traffic Management

 

W

 

WG: Wage Grade (civilian)

WHEC: Coast Guard High-Endurance Cutter

WILCO: Will Comply

WLB/WLI/WLM: Coast Guard Buoy Tender Seagoing/Inland/Coastal

WMD: Weapons of Mass Destruction

WMEC: Coast Guard Medium-Endurance Cutter

WO: Warrant Officer (USCG WO-1)

WPB: Coast Guard Patrol Boat

WQSB: Watch, Quarter, and Station Bill

WTD/WTH: Watertight Door/Hatch

WTGB: Coast Guard Icebreaking Tug

WX: Weather

WWM: Waterways Management

 

XO: Executive Officer

YD: Yard

YN: Yeoman

YR: Year

YTD: Year To Date

ZT: Zero Tolerance