Military jargon
The military has a language all its own. Here are some of the common abbreviations, acronyms and phrases you're likely to hear around Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base.
ACAP: Army Career and Alumni Program, which is designed to meet the needs of soldiers and their families as they prepare to leave the military.
ABU: Airman Battle Uniform, the Air Force's distinctive battle dress uniform.
ACUs: Army Combat Uniforms. The green and sandy brown digital uniform designed for worldwide deployment. ACUs replaced the woodland green and desert tan uniforms.
AAFES: Army and Air Force Exchange Service. Military stores have retail goods, food and concessions.
ASOM: The Airborne & Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville.
BCT: Brigade combat team. The Army's primary fighting force, usually 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers. A division has four BCTs.
BOSS: Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers. A program to give soldiers recreation alternatives and a chance to get involved in the community.
CAB: Combat aviation brigade. A division has one.
CG: Commanding general. He who must be obeyed.
DEERS: Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. The automated system maintains information on members of the armed services and their dependents who are eligible for military benefits and entitlements.
ETS: Expiration of term of service. This is when a person leaves the military.
FOB: Forward operations base. A small military location, sometimes with an airfield, away from the main base.
FOD: Foreign object damage. Small items found on a flightline, such as screws and bolts, that could harm aircraft if sucked in or people if blasted out.
Forscom: Army Forces Command, the Atlanta-based four-star headquarters that is moving to Fort Bragg in 2011.
Hollywood jump: A parachute jump made under nontactical conditions, usually in daylight and without combat gear.
LES: Leave and earnings statement. This is a monthly report of pay for military duty and vacation time.
MWR: Morale, Welfare and Recreation. These programs allow military personnel and their families to bowl, swim, ride horses and go to clubs without having to leave the installation.
PCS: Permanent change of station is when a soldier or airman moves for his or her next duty assignment. Instead of saying, "I'm moving," they say "I'm PCSing."
PIR: Parachute infantry regiment.
SF: Special Forces.
WAMC: Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg.
WO: Warrant officer, the Army's technical experts in areas from food service to aviation.
Zulu time: Greenwich mean time. Used to synchronize military operations across time zones.