Acronyms and Abbreviations

The following are acronyms and abbreviations used in the Coast Guard, CG Auxiliary, as well as other common military and government terms. This list is certainly not exhaustive, and if you know of additional acronyms/abbreviations that should be on this list, please send them to the D13 DSC-CS.

A more complete list of acronyms can be found in Appendix M of the Auxiliary Manual
(Commandant Instruction M16790.1F)

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| Glossary |

-A-

ABYC

American Boat and Yacht Council

A/C

Aircraft

ACFT

Aircraft

AC&I

Acquisition, Construction and Improvement

ACN

Advanced Coastal Navigation

ACO

Authorized Certifying Officer

ACP

Area Contingency Plan

ACR

Allowance Change Request

ACT

Active Duty

ACTSUS

Active Suspension

ADF

Automatic Direction Finder

ADM

Admiral (USCG, USN, USPHS)

ADSO

Assistant District Staff Officer

AIDE

Aide to National Commodore/District Commodore

AIRS

Auxiliary Internet Resources System

AIM

Academy Introduction Mission

AMIO

Alien/Migrant Interdiction Operation

AMOS

Auxiliary Mission Objectives System

AMVER

Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue

ANB

Aids to Navigation Boat

ANSC

Auxiliary National Supply Center

ANT

Aids to Navigation Team>

ARC

American Red Cross

AO

Area of Operations

AOPS

Abstract of Operations or Assistant Operations Officer

AOR

Area of Responsibility

APC

Administrative Procedures Course

APR

April or Aid Positioning Report

ASST

Assistant

AT/FP

Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection

ATAC

Anti-Terrorism Alert Center

ATON

Aids to Navigation

AUXACN

Auxiliary Advanced Coastal Navigation

AUXCEN

Auxiliary Center

AUXCOM

Auxiliary Communication Specialty Course

AUXDATA

Auxiliary Database (replaced AUXMIS in 2002)>

AUXFAC

Auxiliary Facility

AUXLAM

Auxiliary Leadership & Management Course>

AUXLEA

Auxiliary Leadership Course

AUXMAN

Auxiliary Manual

AUXMIN

Auxiliary Administration Specialty Course

AUXMIS

Auxiliary Management Information System

AUXNAV

Auxiliary Navigation Specialty Course

AUXOP

Operational Auxiliarist Status (Passed 7 Specialty Courses)

AUXPAT

Auxiliary Patrols Specialty Course

AUXSAR

Auxiliary Search & Rescue Specialty Course

AUXSEA

Auxiliary Seamanship Specialty Course

AUXWEA

Auxiliary Weather Specialty Course

AV

Aid Verifier

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-B-

BA

Branch Assistant, National Staff or Bridge Administration

BAS

Basic Allowance for Subsistence

BC

Branch Chief, National Staff

BCM

Boat Crewmember

BCN

Basic Coastal Navigation

BC-NCA

Conference Assistant, NACO Staff

BC-NCO

Conference Organization, NACO Staff

BC-NCP

Conference Planning, NACO Staff

BC-NCR

Conference Registration, NACO Staff

BC-NCS

Conference Support, NACO Staff

BCQ

Boat Crew Qualification

BED

Base Enrollment Date

BEQ

Bachelor Enlisted Quarters

BGEN

BG Brigadier General

BIA

Boating Industry Association

BIC

Basic Instructor Course (USCG)

BLA

Boating Law Administrator

BM

Boatswains Mate

BMOW

Boatswain's Mate of the Watch

BOAT/US

Boat Owners Association of the U. S.

BOCA

Boat Owners Council of America

BOSAF

Boating Safety Correspondence Course

BO

Boarding Officer

BOQ

Bachelor Officer Quarters

BOW

Best if the Web (annual Auxiliary Website competition)

BQ

Basically Qualified (old term for entry level member)

BS&S

Boating Skills and Seamanship

BSAC

Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC)

BSC

Boating Safety Circular

BTM

Boarding Team Member

BYBB

Backyard Boat Builders

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-C-

C2

Command and Control

CAC

Crisis Action Center

CAP

Civil Air Patrol

CAPT

Captain (USCG, USN, USPHS)

CASCOR

Casualty Correct

CBR

Chemical, Biological or Radiological

CDR

Commander (USCG, USN, USPHS)

CEU

Continuing Education Unit

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

CFVE

Commercial Fishing Vessel Examination

CG

Coast Guard (United States Coast Guard)

CGAP

Coast Guard Acquisition Procedures

CGAUX-CRC

Civil Rights Coordinator (Auxiliary)

CGAuxA, Inc.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Incorporated

CGDP

Coast Guard Dinning Facility

CGDN+

Coast Guard Data Network Plus

CGES

Coast Guard Exchange System

CGHRMS

Coast Guard Human Resources Management System

CGI

Coast Guard Institute, Oklahoma City, OK

CGMA

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

CGPC<

Coast Guard Personnel Command

CHDIRAUX

Chief Director, Auxiliary (Headquarters)

CM

Communications

CMC

Merchant Marine Safety Counsel

CME

Courtesy Marine Examination (now called Vessel Safety Exam, VSE)

CMS

Communications Security Material System (now known as EKMS)

CO

Commanding Officer

COL

Colonel

COMDTINST

Commandant Instruction

COMDTNOTE

Commandant Notice

COMDTPUB

Commandant Publication

COMO

Commodore

COMSEC

Communications Security

COS

Chief of Staff

CPO

Chief Petty Officer (USCG, USN)

CPT

Captain (US Army, USAF)

CRC

Civil Rights Counselor

CWO

Chief Warrant Officer (USCG, USN, US Army)

CS

Communications Services (i.e. DSO-CS, FSO-CS)

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-D-

D-AA

Administrative Assistant to DCO

D-AD

Aide to the DCO

DC

National Department Chief

DCS

District Chief of Staff

DCO

District Commodore

DCP

Division Captain

DEP

Deputy

DIRAUX

Director of Auxiliary (District or Region)

DIST

District

DIV

Division

DOD

Department of Defense

DOJ

Department of Justice

DOL

Department of Labor

DOT

Department of Transportation

(dpa)

District Preparedness Auxiliary (the office code for your District DIRAUX)

DPG

District Planning Group

DSO

District Staff Officer

DVC

Division Chief

DVC-NC

Conference Coordination, NACO staff

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-E-

EKMS

Electronic Key Material System

ENS

Ensign (USCG, USN)

ESU

Electronic Support Unit

EXCOM

District Executive Committee

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-F-

FC

Flotilla Commander

FED

Flotilla Enrollment Date

FN

Finance Staff Officer - Auxiliary

FN

Fireman (Enlisted USCG, USN)

FMV

Fair Market Value

FSO

Flotilla Staff Officer

FWPCA

Federal Water Pollution Control Act

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-G-

G-

Staff Symbol which identifies the Coast Guard and offices within the Department of Homeland Security

G-C

Commandant of the Coast Guard

G-CCS

Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard

G-CV

Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard

G-P

Assistant Commandant for Preparedness

G-PCX

Chief, Office of Auxiliary/Chief Director, Auxiliary

GEN

General Officer Rank

GMT

Greenwich Mean Time (See ZULU)

GPO

Government Printing Office

GS

General Service Federal Employee designation

GSA

General Services Administration

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-H-

HARPAT

Harbor Patrol

HIN

Hull Identification Number

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-I-

ICOMIA

International Council of Marine Industry Associations

IP

Immediate Past Office (except National Commodore)

IS

Information Services

ISC

Integrated Support Command

IT

Instructor Trainer

IT

Auxiliary Department of Information Technology

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-J-

JOOD

Junior Officer of the Deck/Day

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-K-

none

 

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-L-

L

Legal Affairs

LCDR

Lieutenant Commander (USCG, USN, USPHS)

LM

Life Member (also for medal-Legion of Merit)

LT

Lieutenant (USCG, USN, USPHS)

LTCOL, LTC

Lieutenant Colonel

LTGEN, LTG

Lieutenant General

LTJG

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) (USCG, USN)

1LT, 1stLT

First Lieutenant

2LT,  2ndLT

Second Lieutenant

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-M-

MA

Materials

MGEN, MG

Major General

MAJ

Major

MARS

Military Affiliate Radio System

MCPO

Master Chief Petty Officer

MDV

Marine Dealer Visitor

MLC

Maintenance and Logistics Command

MI

Master Instructor (an old designation, now IT)

MR

Member Resources (old name for Personnel Services)

MT

Member Training

MSC

Marine Safety Council

MSD

Marine Sanitation Device or Marine Safety Detachment

MSO

Marine Safety Office

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-N-

N-A

Administrative Officer, NACO staff

NACO

National Commodore

NACON

National Auxiliary Conference

NEXCOM

National Executive Committee

NAPDIC

National Association of Past District Commodores

N-AS

NACO Secretary

NASBLA

National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

NATL

National

NAVCO

National Vice Commodore

NBF

National Boating Federation

NBSAC

National Boating Safety Advisory Council

NBSS

National Boating Safety School

NCIABLA

North Central International Association of State Boating Law Administrators

N-D

NACO Aide

NESBAC

North Eastern States Boat Administrator's Conference

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association

NM

New Member (Replaces the old BQ designation)

NIPCO

Immediate Past National Commodore

NOAA

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

N-S

Special Assignment, NACO staff

N-P

Special Projects Officer, NACO staff

NOK

Next of Kin

NOS

National Ocean Survey (NOAA-Dept. of Commerce)

NSBC

National Safe Boating Council

NSBW

National Safe Boating Week

NSC

National Safety Council

N-TRAIN

National Training Conference

NTSB

National Transportation Safety Board

NWS

National Weather Service (NOAA -Dept. Of Commerce)

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-0-

OBC

Outboard Boating Club

OCMI

Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection

OCS

Officer Candidate School

OINC

Officer-in-Charge

OOD

Officer of the Deck/Day

OP

Operations

OPS

Operations, Operations Officer

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-P-

P

(before officer title acronym) Past Officer

PA

Public Affairs

PAO

Public Affairs Officer

PATCOM

Patrol Commander

PB

Publications

PC

Paddle Craft, personal computer

PE

Public Education

PERSRU

Personnel Reporting Unit

PFD

Personal Flotation Device

PO

Petty Officer (USCG, USN)

PS

Personnel Services (Also Reserve Port Security Rate)

PV

Program Visitor (also known as the RBSVP)

PWC

Personal Water Craft

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-Q-

QE

Qualification Examiner

QM

Quartermaster

QMOW

Quartermaster of the Watch

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-R-

R&D

Research and Development

RADM

Rear Admiral

RBS

Recreational Boating Safety

RCO

District Rear Commodore

REP

Representative

RET

Retired

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-S-

SAR

Search and Rescue

SBLA

State Boating Law Administrator

SC

Specialty Course (One of Seven)

SCPO

Senior Chief Petty Officer (USCG, USN)

SECTOR

A larger CG command (Many CG Groups became Sectors upon the command reorganization in 2005)

SK

Storekeeper

SN

Seaman (USCG, USN)

SO

Division Staff Officer

SR

Secretary/Records (also Seaman Recruit)

SSBLAA

Southern States Boating Law Admin. Assoc.

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-T-

TONO

Travel Order Number

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-U-

USA

United States Army

USAF

United States Air Force

USAFR

United States Air Force Reserve

USA-NG

United States Army -National Guard

USAR

United States Army Reserve

USC

United States Code

USCA

United States Code Annotated

USCG

United States Coast Guard (also CG)

USCGA

United States Coast Guard Academy

USCGAUX

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

USCGR

United States Coast Guard Reserve

USMC

United States Marine Corps

USMCR

United States Marine Corps Reserve

USN

United States Navy

USNR

United States Navy Reserve

USPHS

United States Public Health Service

USPS

United States Power Squadrons, US Postal Service

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-V-

VADM

Vice Admiral (USCG, USN)

VCO

District Vice Commodore

VCP

Division Vice Captain

VE

Vessel Examiner, Vessel Examination

VFR/IFR

Visual Flight Rules/Instrument Flight Rules

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-W-

WEB

World Wide Web on the Internet

WESBAA

Western States Boat Administrator's Assoc.

WPB

Coast Guard Patrol Boat Class

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-X-

XO

Executive Officer

XPO

Executive Petty Officer

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-Y-

YN

Yeoman

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-Z-

ZULU

Date-Time Group on Messages (GMT)

ACTIVITY

CG administrative unit responsible for a designated geographic area.

ASSIST

The act of giving aid or attempting to give aid to any person or property, or both, in distress.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Military member assigned to the Director to assist Auxiliary administration within a district or region.

AUXILIARY COXSWAIN

Highest qualification level in Boat Crew Program.

AUXMIS

Acronym for Auxiliary Management Information System.

BASE ENROLLMENT DATE (BED)

The actual date an applicant is accepted for membership by the DIRAUX as reflected on the application.  In cases where the membership has not been continuous, the BED must be amended to reflect the total break in membership.  An amended BED is determined by calculating total membership time, and subtracting that total from the current date.

AUXILIARY CREWMEMBER

First qualification step in Boat Crew Program.

BOAT CREW QUALIFICATION & CERTIFICATION

Stratified levels of expertise required to be attained before receiving Auxiliary operational orders.

BRANCH

A component of a division within the Auxiliary national staff.

CHAIN OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

The organizational concept where current elected members are responsible to elected members on a higher level and responsible for all members whom they represent by virtue of their elected office. It neither violates nor should be confused with either the parallel (or vertical) staffing concept which guides appointed staff members or military "chain of command" where authority is derived from earned rank.

CHIEF DIRECTOR

The person at CG Headquarters who is responsible to the Commandant for the administration of the Auxiliary (CG-3PCX).

COMMANDANT

The Commandant of the CG. (CG-C)

DEPARTMENT

one of the basic organizational components of the Auxiliary national staff.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The Cabinet-level department of the federal government in which the CG operates in peace time.

DIRECTOR

The person assigned to the District Commander's staff for Auxiliary administration within a district or Auxiliary region.

DISTRESS

The state of being in peril, to any degree, of a person or property, or both.

DISTRICT

A CG District defined by statute.

DISTRICT COMMANDER

The Senior CG Flag officer in command of a CG District.

DISTRICT COMMODORE

The highest elected Auxiliary officer within a district or region.

DISTRICT VICE COMMODORE

The second highest elected Auxiliary officer who assists the District Commodore.

DISTRICT REAR COMMODORE(S)

The elected Auxiliary officer on a district level who may represent a given area of the district or region, ranking immediately after the Vice Commodore.

DIVISION

A geographical and administrative Auxiliary subdivision in a district or region. Also an Auxiliary national department staff component. When used in terms of CG organization, division means a basic organizational component of a CG district office or, at a USCG, a component of one of the primary Offices of the Commandant's Headquarters organization.

EXAMINER

A currently qualified vessel examiner or fishing vessel examiner.

FACILITY

A privately-owned motorboat, yacht, aircraft, fixed-Land, or land-mobile radio station, at least 25% of which is owned by an Auxiliary member, and which has been accepted by the Director.

FLAG OFFICER

CG or Navy officer above the rank of Captain (06 paygrade).

FLOTILLA

The basic component Auxiliary unit.

FLOTILLA ENROLLMENT DATE (FED)

The actual date a member joined the present flotilla.

GENERAL OFFICERS

USA, USAF, USMC officers above rank of Colonel.

GROUP

An organizational CG unit within a district, usually with a specific geographic responsibility for operational purposes.

GUIDE

A semi-permanent publication containing practical application of procedures.

HEADQUARTERS

United States CG Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

IMMEDIATE PAST

Indicates an elected office held by an Auxiliarist who was the last to hold that office for a full term. Elected officers must have been succeeded in office as a result of a regular election, and must not have been removed from office. An immediate past officer shall retain designation until another immediate past officer is generated by a regular election. If an immediate past officer leaves the office for any reason, the immediate past office remains vacant until the next regular scheduled election.

INSTRUCTOR

A currently qualified public education (PE)/member training (MT) instructor.

MANUAL

a permanent publication containing basic organization, policy, and procedures. (i.e., the AUXMAN)

MARS

Military Affiliated Radio System

MOTORBOAT

Any documented or numbered vessel propelled by machinery, not more than 65 feet in length. (Must be at least 14 feet in length for facility purposes.)

NAPDIC

National Association of Past District Commodores

NATIONAL COMMODORE (NACO)

The highest elected Auxiliary Officer who represents the Auxiliary at the national level.

NATIONAL DIRECTORATE CHIEF(S) (NADCO)

As of 1 Jan 1999, appointed Directorate Chiefs replacing elected NAVCOs.

NATIONAL VICE COMMODORE(S)

The members of the Auxiliary elected on a national level, who represent(s) a specific duty, area or Directorate, including chief of staff.

NATIONAL STAFF

Collectively the organization of national staff officers appointed by the national Commodore to assist nationally in Auxiliary administration.

PARALLEL STAFFING

(also called VERTICAL STAFFING) - the organizational/concept where appointed staff members at all levels, in conducting their activities, report (upward to senior staffing levels) or monitor (downward to junior staffing levels) the activities of other appointed staff members. It neither violates nor should be confused with a chain of command concept. It could be considered the appointed staff "chain of leadership and management."

PAST

A designation indicating an Auxiliarist who has previously held an elected office, at any level, for at least one-half of the normal term of office. An member removed from office is not eligible for the past designation. Past office holder designation entitles the wearing of the past officer device. Holding of an immediate past (voting) designation is not a requirement for holding the past designation.

PAST OFFICER DEVICE

A device worn to indicate the member's insignia (elected or appointed) being worn no longer represents that individual's current Auxiliary office.

PERIL

Danger, or likelihood of danger, or inconvenience so as to result in threats to life and/or property.

QE

Qualification Examiner in Boat Crew Qualification Program.

RADIO STATION

Any fixed land or land mobile radio station equipped as the Commandant may prescribe and which is maintained in a well ordered condition.

REGION

A sub-division of a CG district but structured for Auxiliary administration as an Auxiliary district with a Director, Commodores, and staff.

REGIONAL DIRECTOR

The person assigned to the District Commander's staff for Auxiliary administration within a region; also called DIRECTOR.

SORTIE

The individual movement of a resource in giving assistance from the time it moves underway for assistance until it returns for replenishment, or terminates to begin another case. Each individual movement comprises one sortie.

STAFF OFFICER

An appointed Auxiliary member of the national, district, division, or flotilla staff.

TERM OF OFFICE

The time period an appointed or regularly elected office holder is expected to serve; either one or two years, depending upon the level of the office. A REGULAR term of office is served when the member is elected at a regular election and serves the full term of office.

UNIT

A unit is any CG Command, Auxiliary flotilla, division, or district.

VERTICAL STAFFING

See Parallel Staffing.

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