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Glossary of terms
When you join the Australian Defence Force you'll become familiar with the specialist terms we use to shorten military names and titles. This is a guide to some of the key ones.
Aviation Candidate Management Centre
ADF
Australian Defence Force
ADF PSA
Australian Defence Force Pilot Selection Agency
ADFA
Australian Defence Force Academy
AEI
Australian Education International
AEO
Aeronautical Engineer Officer
Aero
Aeronautical
AHS
Australian Hydrographic Service
AMET
Academy Military Education and Training
ANC
Australian Navy Cadets
ANZAC
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
ASIO
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Anti-Surface Warfare
ASV
Anti-Surface Vessel
ASP
Aviation Screening Program
ASTC
Applied Skills and Technology Course
ASW
Anti-Submarine Warfare
ATA
Aviation Technician Aircraft
ATV
Aviation Technician Avionics
AUSCDTFOUR
Australian Clearance Diving Team Four
AUW
All Up Weight
AVN
Aviation Support
AvWO
Aviation Warfare Officer
AWA
Acoustic Warfare Analyst
AWA-SM
Acoustic Warfare Analyst Submariner
Bachelor of Arts
Bbus
Bachelor of Business
BE
Bachelor of Engineering
BFA
Basic Fitness Assessment
Body Mass Index
Bsc
Bachelor of Science (Bsc)
Btech
Bachelor of Technology
Command and Control
C3
Command, Control and Communications
C3I
Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence
CAF
Chief of Air Force
CAPT
Captain
CBRND
Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Defence
CC
Careers Coach
CDAT
Clearance Divers Acceptance Test
CDF
Chief of the Defence Force
CDT
Clearance Diving Team
CIS
Communications and Information Systems
CIS-SM
Communications and Information Systems Submariner
CMA
Career Management Agency
Chief Medical Officer
CN
Chief of Navy
CO
Commanding Officer
COIN
Counter Intelligence
CP
Colour Perception
CPEng
Certified Practicing Engineer
CPL
Corporal
CPO
Chief Petty Officer
CRMC
Customer Relationship Management Centre
CSO
Combat Systems Operator
CSOMW
Combat Systems Operator - Mine Warfare
CT
Cryptologic
CTL
Cryptologic Linguist
CTS
Cryptologic Systems
Dental Officer (Dentist)
Dental Assistant
DEO
Direct Entry Officer
DFDA
Defence Force Discipline Act
DFR
ADF Careers
DFRC
Defence Force Recruitment Centre
DGPS
Differential GPS
DI
Defence Interviewer
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
DIMA
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
DLS
Defence Library Service
DoD
Department of Defence
DSC
Defence Service Centre
DZ
Drop Zone
Enlisted
EAC
Equipment Application Course
ECCM
Electronic Counter CounterMeasures
ECM
Electronic CounterMeasures
EFIS
Electronic Flight Instrument System
ELINT
Electronic Intelligence
Endurance
Length of time an aircraft's fuel load will permit it to stay airborne
Ear Nose and Throat
EOD
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
ESM
Electronic Support Measures
ESP
Enhanced Selection Process
ESPS
Employer Support Payment Scheme
ET
Electronics Technician
EW
Electronic Warfare
Fuel Air Explosives
FBE
Fleet Base East
FBW
Fleet Base West
Fire and Forget Missile
AAM or ASM with electric signalling abilities
Forward Looking Infrared
Fly-by-Wire
Flight control systems with electronic signalling
FRC
Funded Reserve Commitment
FSP
Flight Screening Program
General Entry
Global Positioning System
High Explosive
HECS
Higher Education Contribution Scheme
HOTAS
Hands On Throttle and Stick
HorsePower
HQ
Headquarter(s)
HWC
Harbour Watchkeeping Certificate
Integrated Air Defence System
IAS
Indicated Airspeed Shown
ICCC
Initial Collins Class Course
IET
Initial Employment Training
IFF
Identification Friend or Foe
ILS
Integrated Logistics Support
IMPS
Initial Minimum Period of Service
IO
Independent Observer
IR
InfraRed
Inspect and Repair as Necessary
IRBM
Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile
IRCM
InfraRed CounterMeasure
IRS
Inertial Reference System
IRST
InfraRed Search and Track
IT
Information Technology
ITS
Integrated Travel Solutions
ITT
Initial Technical Training
Job Opportunities Report
Kilograms
KM
Kilometre
KM/H
Kilometre per Hour
kN
KiloNewton measure of force (1,000 Newtons: 1 Newton = 0.2238 lbs of force)
Knot
Aviation and maritime unit of velocity
Kiloton (equivalent explosive force of 1,000 tons of TNT)
Kt/Kts
Knot(s)
KTAS
True AirSpeed in Knots
kW
KiloWatt
Local Area Networks
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display
LEUT
Lieutenant
Low Frequency (30 to 300 kHz)
LS
Leading Seaman
LZ
Landing Zone
Measure of Airspeed (Mach 1 = 1,223 kph/760 mph at sea level)
MAD
Magnetic Anomaly Detector
MAvWO
Maritime Aviation Warfare Officer
MAWO-SM
Maritime Warfare Officer Submariner
MCDO
Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer
MCM
Mine Countermeasures
Medic
Medical Sailor
Medic SM
Medic Submariner
MEO
Marine Engineer Officer
MEO-SM
Marine Engineer Officer Submariner
METOC
Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) Officer
MFD
Multi-Function Display
MG
Maritime Geospace (Hydrographic Survey or Meteorology and Oceanography Officer)
Medical History Questionnaire
MIN
Minute(s)
MLO
Maritime Logistics Officer
ML-SO
Maritime Logistics Support Operations
MLSO-SM
Maritime Logistics Support Operations Submariner
MM
Millimetre
MMT
Mobile METOC Team
MO
Medical Officer
MR
Maritime Reconnaissance
MT
Marine Technician
MT-SM
Marine Technician Submariner
MUSN
Musician
MWO
Maritime Warfare Officer
Naval Air Station
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Nautical Mile
Measurement of distance
NCHRC
National Criminal History Record Check
NCO
Non-Commissioned Officer
NEOC
New Entry Officer Course
Nautical Mile
NOK
Next of Kin
NOYO
Naval Officer Year One (ADFA)
NR
Navy Reserve
NTC
Navy Training Course
One Day Model
OOD
Officer of the Day
Officer Selection Board
OTTC
Operational Type Transition Course
Pre-entry Fitness Assessment
PID
Passive Identification
PN
Permanent Navy
Petty Officer
PTI
Physical Training Instructor
Qualified Assessor
QES
Qualified Entry Sailor
Qualified Flying Instructor
Research and Development
RAN
Royal Australian Navy
RAN RS
Royal Australian Navy Recruit School
RANC
Royal Australian Naval College
RANSSSS
RAN School of Sea Safety and Survivability
RAST
Recovery Assist, Secure and Traverse system
RCC
Recognition of Current Competencies
RCS
Radar Cross-Section
Recce
Reconnaissance
RN
Royal Navy (UK)
Royal Navy Air Service
ROA
Record of Attainment
ROE
Rules of Engagement
ROSO
Return of Service Obligation
RPL
Recognition of Prior Learning
RPM
Revolutions Per Minute (or Rounds Per Minute if dealing with small arms)
RTO
Registered Training Organisation
RWR
Radar Warning Receiver
Surface-to-Air
SAM
Surface-to-Air Missile
SAR
Search And Rescue
SENSO
Sensor Operator
SFPB
Special Forces Panelling Board
SigInt
Signals Intelligence
SLEP
Service Life Extension Program
SM
Submarines
SMC
Surface Movement Controller
SME
Subject Matter Expert
SMG
SubMachine Gun
Senior Military Recruiting Officer
SMSQ
Submarine Sea Qualification
SNCO
Senior Non-Commissioned Officer
SP
Self-Propelled
SSM
Surface-to-Surface Missile
SSO
Special Service Officer
SST
Single Service Training
STO
Short Take-Off
STOL
Short Take-Off and Landing
STOVL
Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing
Training Systems Officer
Unmanned Aerial Systems
UHF
Ultra-High Frequency (300MHz to 3 GHz)
United Nations
UNSW
University of NSW
Very High Frequency (3 to 300MHz)
Voice, Throttle and Stick
Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer (Electronics Engineer)
Warrant Officer
Year One Familiarisation Training (ADFA)
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