| AA | assembly area, avenue of approach (in figures only) |
| ACA | airspace coordination area |
| ACE | armored combat earthmover |
| AD | air defense |
| ADA | air defense artillery |
| admin/log | administrative/logistics |
| AGS | automatic grenade launcher (Soviet) |
| AH | attack helicopter |
| AHB | attack helicopter battalion alt alternate |
| AMC | air mission commander |
| ammo | ammunition |
| ANGLICO | air and naval gunfire liaison company |
| AO | area of operations |
| APC | armored personnel carrier |
| APDS | armor-piercing discarding sabot |
| APERS | antipersonnel |
| ATGM | antitank guided missile |
| atk | attack |
| BAR | Browning automatic rifle |
| BAS | battalion aid station |
| bde | brigade |
| BDU | battle dress uniform |
| BFV | Bradley fighting vehicle |
| BHO | battle handover |
| BLPS | ballistics/laser eye protection system |
| BMNT | beginning morning nautical twilight |
| BMP | Soviet fighting vehicle |
| bn | battalion |
| BP | battle position |
| BSA | brigade support area |
| BTR | Soviet personnel carrier (wheeled) |
| C2 | command and control |
| CAS | close air support |
| CB | chemical biological |
| CBU | cluster bomb units |
| cdr | commander |
| CFL | coordinated fire line |
| cGy | centrigray |
| CL | chalk leader |
| CINC | commander in chief |
| co | company |
| CO | commanding officer (used to designate company commander in this book) |
| COLT | combat observation and laser team |
| commo | communications |
| COMSEC | communications security |
| CONOP | continuous operations |
| CP | command post |
| CRP | combat reconnaissance patrol (Soviet) |
| CS | combat support |
| CSS | combat service support |
| decon | decontamination |
| DEWS | directed energy weapon system |
| DF | direction finding |
| div | division |
| DLIC | detachment left in contact |
| DOA | direction of attack |
| DPICM | dual-purpose improved conventional munition |
| DS | direct support |
| DZ | drop zone |
| EA | engagement area |
| ECCM | electronic counter-countermeasures |
| EENT | end of evening nautical twilight |
| EM | enlisted men |
| EMP | electromagnetic pulse |
| EPW | enemy prisoner of war |
| EW | electronic warfare |
| FA | field artillery |
| FAC | forward air controller |
| FASCAM | family of scatterable mines |
| FCL | final coordination line |
| FDC | fire direction center |
| FEBA | forward edge of battle area |
| FIST | fire support team |
| FM | field manual, frequency modulation |
| FO | forward observer |
| FPF | final protective fires |
| FPL | final protective line |
| FSCOORD | fire support coordinator |
| FSE | fire support element |
| FSO | fire support officer |
| GHz | gigahertz |
| GL | grenade launcher |
| GS | general support |
| GSR | ground surveillance radar |
| GT | gun-target |
| GTA | graphic training aid |
| HC | hexachloroethane (smoke) |
| HE | high explosive |
| HEAT | high-explosive antitank |
| HEDP | high-explosive dual-purpose |
| HEI-T | high-explosive incendiary-tracer |
| HEP | high-explosive plastic |
| HHC | headquarters and headquarters company |
| HMMWV | high-mobility, multipurpose, wheeled vehicle |
| HPM | high power microwave |
| hqs | headquarters |
| HUMINT | human intelligence |
| hwy | highway |
| IAW | in accordance with |
| IFV | infantry fighting vehicle |
| illum | illuminate |
| IN | infantry |
| IP | initial point |
| IR | information requirements |
| KIA | killed in action |
| kmph | kilometers per hour |
| LAW | light antitank weapon |
| LBE | load bearing equipment |
| lbs | pounds |
| LD | line of departure |
| LIC | low intensity conflict |
| LOA | limit of advance |
| LOGPAC | logistics package |
| LP | listening post |
| LRP | logistics release point |
| LWCM | lightweight company mortar |
| LZ | landing zone |
| M-OC2 | mission-oriented command and control |
| mag | magnetic |
| MANPAD | man-portable air defense |
| MBA | main battle area |
| MBC | mortar ballistics computer |
| METR-T | mission, enemy, terrain, troops, and time available |
| MG | machine gun |
| MHz | megahertz |
| MI | military intelligence |
| MIJI | meaconing, intrusion, jamming, and interference |
| mm | millimeter |
| MOPMS | modular-packed mine system |
| MOPP | mission-oriented protection posture |
| MORT | mortar |
| MRB | motorized rifle battalion (Soviet) |
| MRC | motorized rifle company (Soviet) |
| MRE | meal ready-to-eat |
| MSL | mean sea level |
| NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| NBC | nuclear, biological, and chemical |
| NCO | noncommissioned officer |
| NCOIC | noncommissioned officer in charge |
| NCS | net control station |
| NLT | not later than |
| Nov | November |
| NVD | night vision device |
| NW | northwest |
| obj | objective |
| Oct | October |
| OFF | officers |
| OH | observation helicopter |
| OIC | officer in charge |
| OP | observation post |
| OPCON | operational control |
| OPORD | operational order |
| OPSEC | operational security |
| ORP | objective rally point |
| PAC | personnel and administration center |
| PB | patrol base |
| PCO | peacetime contingency operation |
| PDF | principal direction of fire, Panamanian Defense Forces |
| PEWS | platoon early warning system |
| PIR | priority intelligence requirement |
| PKO | peacekeeping operation |
| PL | phase line |
| PLD | probable line of deployment |
| plt | platoon |
| PMCS | preventive maintenance checks and services |
| POL | petroleum, oils, and lubricants |
| POW | prisoner of war |
| PP | passage point |
| prep | preparation |
| pri | primary |
| PZ | pickup zone |
| QSTAG | Quadripartite Standardization Agreement |
| R&S | reconnaissance and security |
| RATELO | radiotelephone operator |
| rd | road |
| recon | reconnaissance |
| REDCON | readiness condition |
| REMS | remotely employed sensor |
| res | reserve |
| RFL | restrictive fire line |
| RIJA | rolled homogeneous armor |
| ROC | rules of confrontation |
| ROE | rules of engagement |
| RP | release point |
| RSTA | reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition |
| rte | route |
| SEAD | suppression of enemy air defenses |
| sec | second |
| SEC | section |
| SEE | small emplacement excavator |
| SFCP | shore fire control party |
| sgt | sergeant |
| SITREP | situation report |
| SL | squadleader |
| SOI | signal operation instructions |
| SOP | standing operating procedure |
| SP | start point, strongpoint |
| sqd ldr | squad leader |
| STANAG | standardization agreement |
| SW | southwest |
| TBMED | technical bulletin medical |
| TCP | traffic control point |
| tgt | target |
| tk | tank |
| TLP | troop-leading procedure |
| tm | team |
| TOC | tactical operations center |
| TOE | table of organization and equipment |
| TOW | tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missile |
| TP-T | target practice-tracer |
| TRP | target reference point |
| TFP | tactics, techniques, and procedures |
| UCMJ | Uniform Code of Military Justice |
| UN | United Nations |
| US | United States |
| vic | vicinity |
| vpk | vehicles per kilometer |
| vpm | vehicles per mile |
| VS | visual signal |
| VT | variable time |
| XO | executive officer |
| WIA | wounded in action |
| WP | white phosphorous |
| ISG | First sergeant |
| 2IC | second in charge |
