Coast Guard Acronyms and Abbreviations Definitions
This crazy world we live in is full of acronyms. It seems that everyone nowadays has an Acronym for everything, especially in the military. Sometimes it is really hard to follow a conversation if you do not know what is being said.
We have compiled a list of the most used acronyms in the Coast Guard. We hope this list helps you as much as it has helped us. Download your copy HERE.
"A" School: School where enlisted member goes to receive basic technical training for their rate
"C" School: School member attends to receive advanced technical training
BAH: Basic Allowance for Housing
BAS: Basic Allowance for Subsistence (food)
Bow: The front of the ship
Bridge: Ship location to drive ship
Bulkheads: Walls
CAPTAIN'S MAST: Non-judicial punishment used as an alternative to a court-martial
CG PORTAL: Coast Guard intranet site accessible by the military member
Chit: A document requesting leave etc., needing to be approved
CO: Commanding Officer
COLA: Cost of Living Allowance
Colors: Observe the raising and lowering of flag at sunrise and sunset
Commandant: Head of the United States Coast Guard
CONUS: Continental United States
Crews quarters/ Berthing: Enlisted living area
Decks: floors
DEERS: Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
DLA: Dislocation Allowance
Duty: Standing
Forecastle/"F'oc'sle": upper deck of ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters
FSA: Family Separation Allowance
GEO, "geo-bach": Geographic bachelor, When active member who moves to duty station unaccompanied by choice
Head: Bathroom Leave: Time off, similar to vacation
LES: Leave and Earnings Statement
Liberty: Time off from the work day
Messdeck: cafeteria
Moor: Secure ship to the pier
OCONUS: Outside Continental United States
Ombudsman: Volunteer/Liaison between Command and Coast Guard Families
OOD: Officer of the Deck/ Officer on Duty/ Officer of the Day
OPS: Operations Officer
PCS: Permanent Change of Station
Pier: Location where ship is moored
Pipe: Announcing over intercom
Port: The left side of the ship
Quarterdeck: Location where members stand watch, location to request to embark or disembark the vessel
Rack: Bed
Rank: Grade or official standing of a military member
Rate: Job classification with the Coast Guard such as Damage Controlman (DC)
Scuttlebutt: water fountain
SGLI: Service Memebr's Group Life Insurance
Starboard: The right side of ship
Staterooms: Officers Quarters
Stern: The back of the ship
TAD: Temporary Assigned Duty
TDY: Temporary Duty
The cabin: The Captains Quarters
TLA: Temporary Living Allowance
TLE: Temporary Living Expense
TSP: Thrift Savings Plan
UCMJ: Uniform Code of Military Justice: The penal code of the military which applies to all service members regardless of rank or branch of service
Wardroom : Officer room for eating
XO: Executive Officer
