Below is a general list of acronyms Army FAOs and their families will run into during their time as a FAO:
A
A/ARMA: Assistant Army Attaché
ARMA: Army Attaché. Represents the U.S. Army at an embassy.
AAIRA: Assistant Air Attaché (typically in larger U.S. Embassy Defense Attaché Offices)
AAD: Advanced Academic Degree
AAR: After Action Review. A structured review process to analyze past events and improve future performance.
ACS: American Citizen Services
ACS: Advanced Civil Schooling
ACSS: Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Part of the National Defense University.
ADCON: Administrative Control. Distinguish from Operational Control (OPCON).
AFPC:Air Force Personnel Center. Manages personnel actions for the Air Force.
AFR: Air Force Reserve. A component of the USAF.
AFRICOM: U.S. Africa Command. A Geographic Combatant Command responsible for U.S. military operations and security cooperation in Africa.
AFSC: Air Force Specialty Code. A code identifying a specific Air Force job or career field.
A/AIRA: Assistant Air Attaché
A/ALUSNA : Assistant Naval Attaché
ALUSNA: American Legation United States Naval Attaché. A historical term, now generally referred to as the Naval Attaché.
AMB/AMBO/COM: Ambassador/Chief of Mission (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary). The highest-ranking diplomatic representative of the U.S. to a foreign nation.
ANG: Air National Guard. State-controlled military force that can be federalized.
APACS:Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance System. Used for coordinating diplomatic clearances.
ARC: Air Reserve Component. Comprises the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard.
ATT: Attaché. A specialist assigned to a diplomatic mission.
ASTP: Attaché Staff Training Program
ATP: Attaché Training Program
AU: Air University. The center for professional military education in the Air Force.
AVIP: Aviation Incentive Pay. Financial incentive for aircrew.
B
BAO: Bilateral Affairs Officer. Manages U.S state relationships with a specific country or region.
Bs & Cs: Briefings and Consultations
C
CAC: Common Access Card. Standard identification card for U.S. Department of Defense personnel.
CAO: This has two meanings: Current As Of (indicating the timeliness of information) and Chief of Attaché Operations (a leadership role within a Defense Attaché Office).
CATM: Combat Arms Training and Maintenance. Focuses on weapons proficiency.
CBRN:Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear. Relates to weapons of mass destruction and defense against them.
CC/CCDR: Commander/Combatant Commander. Clarify that CCDR refers specifically to the commander of a Combatant Command.
CCMD: Combatant Command. A unified command with a broad continuing mission.
CCW: Constructive Credit Waiver. Relates to academic credit for prior experience or learning.
CDA: Chargé d’affaires (ad interim; acting Ambassador). Temporarily heads a diplomatic mission.
CDS: Candidate Data Sheet. Used in personnel selection processes.
CENTCOM: U.S. Central Command. A Geographic Combatant Command.
CFA: Career FieldAuthority. Responsible for managing a specific career field.
CFETP: Career Field Education and Training Plan. Outlines the training and education requirements for a specific career field.
CFM: Career Field Manager. Oversees a specific career field.
CHOD: Chief of Defense. The senior military officer in a nation’s armed forces.
Chargé/CDA: Chargé d’Affaires; acting Chief of Mission
CJCS: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The highest-ranking military officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, advising the President and Secretary of Defense.
CLO: Community Liaison Office. Provides support and resources to embassy personnel and their families.
CMR: Chief of Mission’s Residence (the ambassador’s house)
COCOM: Combatant Command Authority.
CODEL: Congressional Delegation
COGATT: Coast Guard Attaché
COLA: Cost of Living Allowance. Supplemental pay for personnel stationed in high-cost areas.
CoM: Chief of Mission (Ambassador)
CONUS: Continental United States. The 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.
CONGEN: Consul General; head of Consulate
CONS: Consular Section, U.S. Embassy
COLA: Cost of Living Allowance
COT: Consecutive Overseas Tour. Serving multiple tours overseas back-to-back.
CSAF:Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Air Force.
CTIS: Commissioned Time In Service. Total time served as a commissioned officer.
CUI: Controlled Unclassified Information. Sensitive information that requires safeguarding but is not classified.
CY: Calendar Year. January 1st to December 31st.
D
D&CP: Diplomatic and Consular Program. Funds and supports U.S. diplomatic activities.
DAO/USDAO: Defense Attaché Office/United States Defense Attaché Office. Represents the U.S. military at an embassy.
DAS: Date Arrive Station. The date a service member arrives at a permanent duty station.
DASD: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. A senior civilian official in the Department of Defense.
DATT/SDO/DATT: Defense Attaché/Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché. Senior militaryadvisor at an embassy. Clarify differences in responsibilities and usage: DATT is generally used when the officer is also the SDO.
DCM: Deputy Chief of Mission. Second in command at an embassy.
DEROS: Date Estimated Return from Overseas. Projected date of return from an overseas assignment.
DHS: Department of Homeland Security
DIA: Defense Intelligence Agency. Collects and analyzes military intelligence.
DIAD: Defense Intelligence Agency Directive. Guidance issued by the DIA.
DIAM: Defense Intelligence Agency Manual
DIFT: Database for IAS FAO/PAS Officer Tracking. Used for tracking personnel in International Affairs Specialist and related career fields.
DL: Distance Learning. Education and training conducted remotely.
DLAB: Defense Language Aptitude Battery. A test to assess language learning potential.
DLI: Defense Language Institute. Encompasses DLIFLC and DLIELC.
DLIFLC: Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Teaches foreign languages to military personnel.
DLI-W: Defense Language Institute – Washington D.C. A specific location of the DLI.
DLNSEO: Defense Language and National Security Education Office. Manages language and culture programs for the Department of Defense.
DLPT: Defense Language Proficiency Test. Measures proficiency in a foreign language.
DLSC: Defense Language Steering Committee. Advises on language policy and requirements.
DNI: Director of National Intelligence. Oversees the U.S. Intelligence Community.
DO:Director of Operations. Oversees operational activities within an organization.
DoD/DOD: Department of Defense. The U.S. federal department responsible for national security.
DoDI/DODI: Department of Defense Instruction. Policy and guidance issued by the DoD.
DODEA: Department of Defense Education Activities
DOR: Date of Rank. The date an individual attained their current rank.
DOS/DoS: Department of State. Conducts U.S. foreign policy.
DSAMS: Defense Security Assistance Management System. Manages security assistance programs and cases.
DSCA: Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Executes security cooperation programs.
DSCU: Defense Security Cooperation University. Provides education and training for security cooperation professionals.
DT: Developmental Team. A group focused on development or improvement projects.
DTNA: Dependent Travel Not Authorized. Indicates dependents are not allowed to accompany a service member to a specific location.
DTRA: Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Works to counter weapons of mass destruction.
DV/VIP: Distinguished Visitor/Very Important Person
E
EAC: Emergency Action Committee. Handles emergency situations at an embassy.
ECON: Economic Section of Embassy
E&E: Emergency & Extraordinary Expenses
EFMP: Exceptional Family Member Program. Provides support for family members with special needs.
EFM: Eligible Family Members. Family members entitled to certain benefits and services.
EMB: Embassy. The official diplomatic representation of one country in another.
EST: Eastern Standard Time. A time zone in North America.
EUCOM: U.S. European Command. A Geographic Combatant Command.
F
FAA: Federal Aviation Administration
FACT: Foreign Affairs Counter Threat (course). Security training for personnel working abroad.
FAO: Foreign Area Officer. A commissioned officer specializing in a specific region and its culture, language, and political-military affairs.
FAOSS: Foreign Area Officer Screening and Selection. The process for selecting FAOs.
FAMER: Family Member Employment Report; State Dept annual summary
FCG: Foreign Clearance Guide. Provides information on travel and security regulations for specific countries.
FEML: Funded Environmental and Morale Leave. Leave granted due to challenging environmental conditions at a duty station.
FET: Foreign Area Officer Enabled Tour. An assignment specifically leveraging FAO skills and expertise.
FF: FAO Fellowship. Funding opportunities for FAO professional development.
FLPB: Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus. Financial incentive for maintaining foreign language proficiency.
FLO: Foreign Liaison Office, the office responsible for coordination of international attachés working with the host government.
FLO: Family Liaison Office (Old name for the State Department’ Global CLO, parent to CLO)
FMF: Foreign Military Financing. Grant assistance to foreign partners to purchase U.S. defense equipment and services.
FMS: Foreign Military Sales. Government-to-government sales of U.S. defense articles, services, and training.
FM: Facilities Management Office of an Embassy
FMO: Financial Management Office of an Embassy
FO: Flag Officer. A general officer in the U.S. military (O-7 and above).
FSI: Foreign Service Institute. The U.S. Department of State’s primary training institution for diplomats.
FSN: Foreign Service National (formerly “LES,” locally employed staff)
FSO: Foreign Service Officer. A commissioned member of the U.S. Foreign Service.
FSS:Force Support Squadron. Provides morale, welfare, and recreation services to Air Force personnel.
FY: Fiscal Year. The government’s accounting period, October 1st to September 30th.
G
GCC: Geographic Combatant Command. A unified command responsible for a specific geographic area.
GCLO: Global Community Liaison Office
GO: General Officer. A high-ranking commissioned officer (O-7 and above).
GOCO: Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated. A facility owned by the government but operated by a contractor.
GSO: General Services Office. Provides administrative and logistical support at an embassy.
H
HADR: Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. Support provided to countries affected by natural disasters or other crises.
HAF: Headquarters Air Force. The headquarters of the U.S. Air Force.
HARM: Host Aviation Resource Management. Management of aviation resources in a host nation.
HCN: Host Country National
HHE: House Hold Effects (State department term for House Hold Goods (HHG))
I
IA: International Affairs. Relating to relations between nations.
IAAFA: Inter-American Air Forces Academy. Provides professional military education to air force personnel from the Americas.
IAPA: International Airmen Division. More context needed – likely related to personnel management.
IAS: International Affairs Specialist. An Air Force officer specializing in international relations.
IAW: In Accordance With. Indicates compliance with a specific regulation or directive.
IC:Intelligence Community. The collective of U.S. government agencies responsible for intelligence gathering and analysis.
ICASS: International Cooperative Administrative Support Services. A cost-sharing program for administrative services at embassies.
IDE: Intermediate Developmental Education. Mid-career professional military education.
IHS: International Health Specialist. A specialist in global health issues.
ILR: Interagency Language Roundtable. A scale for measuring language proficiency.
INDOPACOM: U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. A Geographic Combatant Command.
IPCOT: In-Place Consecutive Overseas Tour. Serving consecutive tours at the same overseas location.
IPZ: In Promotion Zone. Eligible for promotion to the next higher rank.
IR: International Relations. The study and practice of relationships between countries.
IRT: In-Region Training. Training conducted within a specific geographic region.
ITO: Invitational Travel Orders
J
JCET: Joint Combined Exchange Training. Military training conducted with partner nations.
JDA: Joint Duty Assignment. An assignment within a joint military environment.
JFAOC: Joint Foreign Area Officer Course. Training for Foreign Area Officers.
JFTR: Joint Federal Travel Regulations. Regulations governing official travel.
JMAS: Joint Military Attaché School. Trains military personnel for attaché duties.
JPME:Joint Professional Military Education. Professional military education focused on joint operations.
JS: Joint Staff. The staff of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
JTF: Joint Task Force. A combined force organized for a specific mission.
JTR: Joint Travel Regulation
JUSMAG: Joint United States Military Advisory Group. Provides military advice and assistance to partner nations.
K
KLE: Key Leader Engagement. Interaction with influential individuals in a foreign country.
L
L/C: Language and Culture. The combined study and understanding of language and culture.
LASI: Language and Area Studies Immersion. Intensive language and cultural training.
LEADER: Language Enabled Airman Development Resource. A program to develop language and cultural skills in Airmen.
LEAP: Language Enabled Airman Program. Another program to develop language and cultural skills (distinguish from LEADER if possible).
LES: Locally Employed Staff. Foreign nationals employed at a U.S. embassy.
LITE: Language Intensive Training Event. A short-term, intensive language training program.
LOA: Letter of Acceptance. A formal document accepting an offer or proposal.
LOR: Letter of Request. A formal request for assistance or support.
LREC: Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture. The combined knowledge and skills related to a specific region.
M
MARA: Marine Attaché
MAJCOM: Major Command. A major subdivision of the U.S. Air Force.
MARA: Marine Attaché. Represents the U.S. Marine Corps at an embassy.
MGT:Management Office. Handles administrative functions at an embassy.
ML: Management Level. A specific level of responsibility within an organization.
MLO:Military Liaison Office. Facilitates communication and coordination between militaries.
MOA: Memorandum of Agreement. A formal agreement between two or more parties. Specify the level of formality and enforcement compared to an MOU.
MOU: Memorandum of Understanding. A less formal agreement than an MOA, expressing a shared understanding or intent. Specify the level of formality and enforcement compared to an MOA.
MPEP: Military Personnel Exchange Program. A program for exchanging military personnel between countries.
MOH: Member of Household; State Department term for someone living in the home who is not eligible to receive services
MPF: Military Personnel Flight. Handles personnel actions for a military unit.
MSG: Marine Security Guard at an Embassy
MTT: Mobile Training Team. A team that travels to provide training.
MWS: Major Weapons System. A complex and costly weapons platform.
N
NAF: Numbered Air Force. A subordinate unit within a Major Command.
NDS: National Defense Strategy. Outlines the U.S. approach to national defense.
NDSP:Non-DoD Schools Program. Educational support for military dependents in locations without DoD school.
NFATC: National Foreign Affairs Training Center
NMFA: National Military Family Association
NPS: Naval Postgraduate School. Offers graduate education to military officers.
NSDD:National Security Decision Directive. A historical term for presidential directives on national security issues (now generally replaced by National Security Presidential Directives or NSPDs).
O
OBC: Overseas Briefing Center of the State Department
OCONUS: Outside the Continental United States. Locations outside the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
OCMR: Out of Country Medical Referral
ODC: Office of Defense Cooperation. Manages security cooperation activities at an embassy.Often synonymous with OSC (Office of Security Cooperation).
ODE: Overseas Developmental Education. Professional military education opportunities conducted overseas.
ODP: Officer Development Plan. A plan for an officer’s professional development.
OHA: Overseas Housing Allowance. Financial assistance for housing overseas.
OI&RSD: OfficerInstructor and Recruiting Special Duty. Special duty assignments related to instruction or recruiting.
OMS: Office Management Specialist at an Embassy
OPI: Oral Proficiency Interview. A test to assess spoken language proficiency.
OPR: Office of Primary Responsibility. The office responsible for a specific function or program.
OPSCO: Operations Coordinator. Coordinates operational activities within a Defense Attaché Office.
OPS ASST/NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer or Petty Officer assigned to a DAO
ORG: Organization. A structured group of people working together.
OSC: Office of Security Cooperation. (See ODC)
OSD: Office of the Secretary of Defense. The civilian leadership of the Department of Defense.
P
PAO: Public Affairs Office
P&A: Price and Availability. Information on the cost and availability of goods or services.
PAS: Personnel Accounting Symbol. A code used for personnel accounting and classification.Also used as an abbreviation for Political-Military Affairs Strategist/Officer (often a specific type of FAO).
PCA: Permanent Change of Assignment. A permanent change of duty station.
PCS: Permanent Change of Station. (See PCA)
PD: Public Diplomacy Section of an Embassy
PEP: Personnel Exchange Program
PII: Personally Identifiable Information. Sensitive information that can be used to identify an individual.
PNG: Persona Non Grata. An unwelcome person in a foreign country.
POLAD: Political Advisor. Provides advice on political matters.
POL/MIL: Political-Military Affairs. Relating to the intersection of politics and military affairs.
POM: Program Objective Memorandum. A document outlining program objectives and resource requirements.
R
RAS: Regional Affairs Strategist (formerly Regional Affairs Specialist). An obsolete term,now largely replaced by Foreign Area Officer (FAO), though some legacy usage may remain.Emphasize the connection/transition to FAO.
RDTM: Rated Distribution and Training Management. Manages the distribution and training of rated officers (pilots, navigators, etc.).
RMO: Regional Medical Office(r)
RMOP: Regional Medical Officer Psychiatrist
RNLTD: Report No Later Than Date. A deadline for submitting a report.
ROE: Rate of Exchange. The rate at which one currency can be exchanged for another. Specify if this refers to official or unofficial rates.
RSO: Regional Security Officer. Responsible for security at a U.S. embassy or diplomatic mission.
S
S VISIT: Secretary of State Visit. An official visit by the U.S. Secretary of State.
S/E:Strategic Engagement. Interaction with foreign countries to advance U.S. interests.
SAF: Secretary of the Air Force. The senior civilian leader of the U.S. Air Force.
SAF/IA: Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. The office within the Secretariat responsible for international affairs.
SC: Security Cooperation. Activities to build partner nation capacity and improveinteroperability.
SCO: Security Cooperation Organization: also known by other initials such as ODC, MILGRP, SAO, etc., depending on your country
SDE: Senior Developmental Education. Professional military education for senior officers.
SDO: Senior Defense Official. The senior Department of Defense representative at an embassy.
SEI: Special Experience Identifier. A code indicating specialized experience or training.
SFAB: Security Force Assistance Brigade. U.S. Army units specializing in training and advising foreign security forces.
SL: School Liaison is a Service K-12 military point of contact on all installations
SLL: Strategic Language List. Languages deemed critical for national security.
SLMO: SeniorLeader Management Officer. Manages the careers of senior officers.
SOFA Status of Forces Agreement, the bilateral international agreement governing
SOLO: Special Operations Liaison Officer. Coordinates special operations activities.
SOU: Statement of Understanding. A document outlining a shared understanding between parties.
SOUTHCOM: U.S. Southern Command. A Geographic Combatant Command.
SPEED:Special Experience Exchange Duty. An assignment providing unique or specialized experience.
SPP: State Partnership Program. Pairs U.S. National Guard units with partner countries.
SR: Senior Rater. An individual responsible for performance evaluations.
SRF: Senior Regional Foreign Area Officer. A senior FAO specializing in a particular region.
SRID: Senior Rater Identifier. A code identifying a senior rater.
STP: Spouse Training Program at JMAS
SURF: Single Unit Retrieval Format. More context needed – likely relates to data management or retrieval.
T
TBD: To Be Determined. Indicates that something has not yet been decided.
TCO: Test Control Officer. Oversees testing and evaluation activities.
TDY: Temporary Duty. A temporary assignment away from a permanent duty station.
TIS: Time in Service. Total time served in the military.
TLA: Temporary Lodging Allowance
TM: Talent Marketplace. A platform for managing talent and assignments.
TOS: Time on Station. Time spent at a particular duty station.
TP: Training Plan. A plan for training and development activities.
TS: Top Secret. A classification level for highly sensitive information.
U
USAF: United States Air Force. One of the U.S. military services.
USD(I&S): Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. A senior civilian official in the DoD.
USD(P&R): Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. A senior civilian official in the DoD.
USD(P): Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. A senior civilian official in the DoD.
USEMB: U.S. Embassy. The official representation of the U.S. in a foreign country.
U.S. Res: United States citizen residing in your host country
USSF: United States Space Force. One of the U.S. military services.
V
VML: Vulnerable Move List. A list of individuals or positions considered vulnerable to attack or other threats.
VPN: Virtual Private Network. A secure network connection.