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