23 ridiculously long military acronyms (and what they mean)

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

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


acronyms meme

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

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

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

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

HERCULES being loaded onto a C-17 (Photo: Jason Minto/USAF)

10. HELANTISUBRON5 – Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Five

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.

Photo: Senior Airman Sandra Welch/USAF

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

Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) Squadrons thumbnail
Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) Squadrons

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

Photo: Wikipedia

22. SLAMRAAM – Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile.

Photo: Wikipedia

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

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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.


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