Military Acronyms & Terminology
ABP – Afghan Border Patrol
ANA – Afghanistan National Army
ASG – Afghan Security Guard
Battlespace – A geographically defined area controlled by a specific military base. Also called an AO (Area of Operation).
BAF – Bagram Airfield.
CERP – Commander’s Emergency Response Program – A money fund for military commanders to use for conducting rebuilding and reconstruction during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.
Conex – Also called Conex box – A large metal cargo container used primarily for shipping supplies.
COP – Combat Outpost. A small base which can contain between 40 and 150 service members and is usually placed in hostile locations.
DFAC – Dining Facility.
DoD – U.S. Department of Defense
FOB – Forward Operating Base. A base that is larger than a COP (command outpost), but smaller than a super-base
Green on Blue Attack – An attack on a member of one coalition military by a member of an Afghan military or police unit
Guardian Angel – A soldier placed in a high position in urban warfare to watch over friendly units and/or civilians.
HLZ – Helicopter Landing Zone – A specified ground area for landing both military and civilian helicopters.
IED – Improvised Explosive Device. A home-made bomb.
ISAF – International Security Assistance Force.
JBAD – Jalalabad Airfield/ Fob Fenty.
KAF – Kandahar Airfield.
Latrine – Bathroom, Potty
M4 – The M4 carbine is a military grade assault rifle that replaced the M16 rifle in most Army and Marine Corps combat units as the primary infantry weapon.
MRAP – Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected – a United States military term for vehicles that are designed to withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes.
MRE – Meal Ready to Eat. A 3,600-calorie meal packaged in a wrapper.
OP – Observation Post – A very small base, usually on top of a mountain, giving oversight for nearby bases.
Outside the Wire – Refers to the area outside the perimeter walls of a military base.
PRT – Provincial Reconstruction Team. Made up of military and civilian
personnel to win the hearts and minds of the people in Iraq and Afghanistan.
PX – Post Exchange – A store on a military base offering groceries, sundries,
etc.
RCC – Regional Contracting Centers – the U.S. military relies on Regional Contracting Centers to work with Afghan businesses and contractors to provide goods and services for military installations and construction projects throughout the country.
RPG – Rocket-Propelled Grenade, a shoulder-fired, anti-tank weapon system that fires rockets equipped with an explosive warhead.
SFAT – Security Force Assistance Team.
TOC – Tactical Operations Center – A small command center for military operations.
USACE – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USAID – United States Agency for International Development