---
title: "23 ridiculously long military acronyms (and what they mean)"
description: "The military is notorious for using hard to remember acronyms and abbreviations, and here are 23 of them that approach YGTBSM status."
date: "2022-02-19"
modified: "2022-02-19"
authors:
  - name: "Mike Dowling"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/mikedowling/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/lists/23-ridiculously-long-military-acronyms-and-abbreviations-and-what-they-mean/"
categories:
  - "Join the Military"
  - "Military Culture"
---

# 23 ridiculously long military acronyms (and what they mean)

![A group of soldiers in military uniforms and helmets are working together to lift and assemble a large metal frame structure on a gravel surface. In the foreground, there is a tan container with "USAF LANS007" written on it. The background shows more metal poles and a concrete wall. The sky is overcast or hazy.](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/origin.jpg>)

The military is notorious for using acronyms and abbreviations, and here are 23 of them that approach YGTBSM status:

---

![acronyms meme](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286674/origin.jpg>)

**1. AARDACONUS** - Army Air Reconnaissance for Damage Assessment in the Continental United States

**2. ADCOMSUBORDCOMPHIBSPAC** - Administrative Command, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet Subordinate Command (US Navy)

**3. ARCCbtWMD** - Army Council for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction

**4. ASTAMIDS** - Airborne Standoff Minefield Detection System

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286675/origin.jpg>)
*Airborne Standoff Minefield Detection System (Photo: L-3)*

**5. CASTFOREM** - Combined Arms and Support Task Force Evaluation Model

**6. COMNAVAIRSYSCOM** - Commander, [Naval Air Systems Command](<https://www.navair.navy.mil>)

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286676/origin.jpg>)
*Vice Adm. David Dunaway, Commander, Naval Air Systems Command and member of USNA's great Class of '82.*

**7. DEFREMANEDCEN** - Defense Resources Management Education Center

**8. FLEASWTRACENPAC** - Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center - Pacific

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286677/origin.jpg>)

**9. HERCULES** - Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (pictured below being loaded on to a C-17)

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286678/origin.jpg>)
*HERCULES being loaded onto a C-17 (Photo: Jason Minto/USAF)*

**10. HELANTISUBRON5** - Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Five

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286679/origin.jpg>)

**11. HRCCIOSPB** - Human Resources Command Chief Information Office Strategic Planning Branch

**12. INCONMOVREP** - Intra‐Continental United States Movement Report

**13. MARCORSYSCOM** - Marine Corps Systems Command

**14. MILPERSIMS** - Military Personnel Information System

**15. MOBAALOCO** - Mobilization Active Army locator

**16. NAVCOMTELSTA ASCOMM DET WHIDBEY** - Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station, Antisubmarine Warfare Communications Center Detachment Whidbey Island

**17. NAVEODTECHDIV** - Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division

**18. POPNAMRAD** - Policies, Organizations, and Procedures in Non‐atomic Military Research and Development

**19. Prime BEEF** - Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force. Pictured below, members of the U.S. Air Force 577th Expeditionary Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force Squadron constructs a dome shelter on Camp Marmal, Afghanistan.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286682/origin.jpg>)
*Photo: Senior Airman Sandra Welch/USAF*

**20. RED HORSE** - Rapid Engineers Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron, Engineers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCHH-Nqb50Q

**21. SINCGARS -** Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286683/origin.jpg>)
*Photo: Wikipedia*

**22. SLAMRAAM** - Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17286684/origin.jpg>)
*Photo: Wikipedia*

**23. USAADACENFB** - United States Army Air Defense Artillery Center, Fort Bliss

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17246712/origin.jpg>)

### NOW: [11 things First Sergeants say that make troops lose their minds ](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/lists/first-sergeants-army-marines/>)

### OR: [The 12 most iconic military recruiting spots of all time ](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/iconic-military-recruiting-spots/>)

## Author
Mike is a Marine veteran turned author, producer, and actor. He joined WATM after being a contributor to TakePart.com’s Return the Service campaign and a producer for Pivot TV’s Take Part Live where he created awareness around veteran’s issues. Mike has consulted on a wide range of productions for studios, networks, and independent projects. He also co-founded the nonprofit Veterans in Film & Television, the premiere organization connecting Hollywood with the veteran community.