The military has a unique culture and language, with acronyms being a significant part of it. These abbreviations are essential for communicating complex information quickly and effectively. For those outside the military, this can seem confusing. Here’s a brief look at why acronyms are so important in the military and some of the most common and humorous ones used.
Why Are Acronyms Important?
Acronyms are crucial in the military for efficient communication, especially in high-pressure situations where speed and clarity are vital. They condense lengthy terms into shorter, memorable forms, reducing the chance of miscommunication. For example, “High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle” is simply “HMMWV” or “Humvee.” Acronyms also help create a shared language and identity among service members, reinforcing unity and camaraderie.
Common Military Acronyms
Here are some frequently used military acronyms:
AWOL (Absent Without Leave): Refers to someone missing from their duty without permission.
MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat): A self-contained meal for service members in the field.
PCS (Permanent Change of Station): Relocation of a service member to a new duty station.
IED (Improvised Explosive Device): A homemade bomb used by insurgents.
ROE (Rules of Engagement): Guidelines for when and how forces can engage in combat.
These acronyms are just a few examples, with each branch having its own set related to its specific operations.
Humorous Military Acronyms
Military life can be stressful, so service members often create funny acronyms to lighten the mood. These humorous terms reflect the everyday realities and frustrations of military life.
For example, SNAFU means “Situation Normal, All Fucked Up,” a humorous nod to chaotic situations. BOHICA stands for “Bend Over, Here It Comes Again,” indicating a repeated, unwelcome occurrence. FIGMO (“Finally, I Got My Orders”) expresses relief at a new assignment, often moving away from a less desirable post.
Conclusion
Military acronyms serve practical and cultural purposes. They simplify communication, reduce errors, and create a sense of identity and unity among service members. Whether serious or humorous, these acronyms are an integral part of military life, offering a glimpse into the unique experiences and camaraderie of the armed forces. Understanding them provides valuable insights into the complexities and culture of military life.
I have told you this for years as I’ve covered several cases ABC is focusing on in this piece. Glad people are finally catching up. I covered the Kentucky case in November of 2015 (also an ABC story).
Several dozen suspected terrorist bombmakers, including some believed to have targeted American troops, may have mistakenly been allowed to move to the United States as war refugees, according to FBI agents investigating the remnants of roadside bombs recovered from Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We are currently supporting dozens of current counter-terrorism investigations like that,” FBI Agent Gregory Carl, director of the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC), said in an ABC News interview to be broadcast tonight on ABC News’ “World News with Diane Sawyer” and “Nightline”.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were many more than that,” said House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul. “And these are trained terrorists in the art of bombmaking that are inside the United States; and quite frankly, from a homeland security perspective, that really concerns me.”
As a result of the Kentucky case, the State Department stopped processing Iraq refugees for six months in 2011, federal officials told ABC News – even for many who had heroically helped U.S. forces as interpreters and intelligence assets. One Iraqi who had aided American troops was assassinated before his refugee application could be processed, because of the immigration delays, two U.S. officials said. In 2011, fewer than 10,000 Iraqis were resettled as refugees in the U.S., half the number from the year before, State Department statistics show.
UPDATE: After neglecting this post for a couple of years, I finally updated it with a few links to new WMD confirmation in January 2017. Scroll down to the bottom for more updates.
This is a post I used to have on my show’s old website. It’s a compilation of several posts of I’ve done in the past, and is only a small amount of the information about WMDs out there. It is, however, more than enough to prove they existed, and were found after the invasion. Some listeners have been requesting it.
Why is it that every time we learn Iraq did have WMDs the press plays the ‘shocked’ card? Just how many times can you pretend to be shocked over the same story as if you’ve never heard it before?
Wikileaks released more documents this last week, and among them yet more evidence that Iraq did have WMDs at the time of the invasion, and we found them.
You’d have to be the intellectual equivalent of an amoeba to not get this by now. Then again, we are talking about the press along with their anti-war cocktail buddies.
So what new information did we learn, and what info has been right under your nose the whole time? You’ll find out after the jump.
