Military abbreviations: A

A glossary of military-based abbreviations, acronyms and initials used throughout the First World War, the Second World War and through to present day. The abbreviations are associated with various different nations, primarily the United Kingdom but also including, India, South Africa, USA, New Zealand and Australia. Abbreviations also have a strong focus on various armed forces such as the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Use the browse prefix below to navigate to glossaries beginning with a specific letter.

Contents:  A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z
Abbreviation	Definition 1	Definition 2 (if applicable)
A	Admiral (RN)	Acting
AA	Anti Aircraft
AAC	Army Air Corps
A/ADJ	Acting Adjutant
AAF	Auxiliary Air Force (RAF)
AAFRO	Auxiliary Air Force Reserve of Officers (RAF)
AAMC	Australian Army Medical Corps
AANS	Australian Army Nursing Service
AAOC	Australian Army Ordnance Corps
AA & QMG	Assistant Adjutant and Quarter Master General
AASC	Australian Army Service Corps
AASF	Advanced Air Striking Force (RAF)
AB	Able Seaman (RN)	Army Book
AC	Armourers Crew (RN)	Air Commodore (RAF)
AC1	Aircraftman 1st Class
AC2	Aircraftman 2nd Class
ACAS	Assistant Chief of Air Staff (RAF)
ACC	Army Cyclist Corps	Army Catering Corps
ACD	Army Chaplain’s Department
A/CDR	Air Commodore (RAF)
ACI	Army Council Instruction	Air Council Instruction
ACM	Air Chief Marshal (RAF)
ACW1	Aircraftwoman 1st Class (RAF)
ACW2	Aircraftwoman 2nd Class (RAF)
A CYC CORPS	Army Cyclist Corps
AD	Air Defence
ADGB	Air Defence of Great Britain
ADGMS	Assistant Director General of Medical Services
ADJ	Adjutant
ADM	Admiralty
ADS	Advanced Dressing Station
AE	Air Efficiency Award (RAF)
AF	Admiral of the Fleet (RN)	Army Form
AFC	Air Force Cross	Australian Flying Corps
AFM	Air Force Medal
AG	Air Gunner (RAF)
AGB	Adjutant Generals Base
AGC	Adjutant Generals Corps
AGRA	Army Group Royal Artillery
A GYM ST	Army Gymnastic Staff
AHB	Air Historical Branch (RAF)
AHC	Army Hospital Corps
AIF	Australian Imperial Force
AIR CDRE	Air Commodore (RAF)
AIRLINE COY	Airline Company (RE Unit specialising in overhead cables)
A/L	Air Landing
A L/CPL	Acting Lance Corporal
ALFSEA	Allied Land Forces South East Asia
ALG	Advanced Landing Ground (RAF)
A L STO	Acting Leading Stoker (RN)
AM	Air Ministry	Air Marshal (RAF) Air Mechanic (RAF)
AMB	Ambulance
AMC	Army Medical Corps
AMG	Allied Military Government
AMMN PARK	Ammunition Park
AMO	Administrative Medical Officer
AMPC	Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps
A MULE DEPOT	Army Mule Depot
ANZAC	Australia and New Zealand Army Corps
AOC	Air Officer Commanding (RAF)	Army Ordnance Corps
AOD	Army Ordnance Department
AP	Air Publication (RAF)
APC	Army Pay Corps
APD	Army Pay Department
APO	Army Post Office
APSS	Army Printing and Stationary Services
APTC	Army Physical Training Corps
AR CR	Armourers Crew (RN)
ARMR	Armourer (RN)
ARO	Army Routine Order
ARP	Air Raid Precautions
ARRC	Associate of the Order of the Royal Red Cross
ART ENG	Artificer Engineer (RN)
ARTY	Artillery
A & SH	Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
A SGT	Acting Sergeant
ASL	Acting Sub-Lieutenant (RN)
ASC	Army Service Corps
ASR	Air Sea Rescue
ASST PAYR	Assistant Paymaster
AT	Army Troops	Anti Tank
ATA	Air Transport Auxiliary
ATC	Air Training Corps
ATS	Auxiliary Territorial Service
AUX	Auxiliary
AVC	Army Veterinary Corps
AVM	Air Vice Marshal (RAF)
AWAS	Australian Women’s Army Service
A WO CL1	Acting Warrant Officer Class I
AWOL	Absent With Out Leave
AYR. YEO.	Ayrshire Yeomanry