TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND ACRONYMS

Term

Meaning

ACAV

Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle

AFV

Armored Fighting Vehicle

AO

Area of Operations

APC

Armored Personnel Carrier

Arc Light

B-52 Strikes

ARVN

Army, Republic of Vietnam

AWACS

Radar-Carrying Aircraft

AWOL

Absent Without Leave

Bde

Brigade

C&C

Command and Control

CO

Commanding Officer

CRIP

Combined Reconnaissance and Intelligence Platoon

DENTCAP

Dental Civic Action Program

DEROS

Date Estimated to Return from Overseas

DMZ

Demilitarized Zone

DRV

Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North)

FAC

Forward Air Controller

FAO

Forward Air Observer

FDAC

Computer-Controlled Artillery

FNG

Fucking New Guy

FO

Forward Observer

Front

Nation Liberation Front

FSB

Fire Support Base

GVN

Government of Vietnam (South)

H&I

Harassment and Interdiction

HE

High Explosive

HQ

Headquarters

ICU

Intensive Care Unit

KIA

Killed In Action

LAW

Light Antitank Weapon

LCLC

Lightning Combat Leadership Course

LO

Liaison Officer

LRRP

Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol

LZ

Landing Zone

MACV

Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

MASH

Mobile Army Surgical Hospital

MAT

Mobile Advisory Team

MEDCAP

Medical Civil Action Program

MIA

Missing In Action

MP

Military Police

NATO

Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization

NCO

Noncommissioned Officer

NVA

North Vietnamese Army

OCS

Officers Candidate School

PFC

Private First Class

POW

Prisoner Of War

PRU

Provincial Reconnaissance Unit

PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PX

Post Exchange

R&R

Rest and Relaxation

RVN

Republic of Vietnam

RF/PF

Revolutionary Forces/Popular Forces

RPG

USO

United Service Organization

VA

Veterans Administration

VC

Viet Cong

WIA

Wounded In Action