The Air Force EPR

Acronyms and Abbreviations Approved for Use on the AF Form 910


The goal of the EPR is to convey accurate information as simply as possible. To accomplish this, familiar, everyday words should be used and words and phrases that are not universally understood should be avoided. In addition, acronyms and abbreviations that are not widely known should not be used. EPRs will be read by people from a wide variety of career fields so it must be written using words that are understandable to everyone.


When using acronyms, there is a rule that requires all acronyms and abbreviations to be defined before using them. By defined, they mean spelling the word or phrase out completely along with the abbreviation or acronym after it in parenthesis --like this:   Window Washer (WW). After "defining" the acronym, the acronym (WW) may then be used alone throughout the rest of the document with the assumption that it is now understandable. In order to not waste space in the body of the EPR, the most efficient way to define acronyms you plan to use is in the admin blocks of the EPR (Organization, Job Description, Duty Title). That way you don't waste space in the body of the EPR where space is more critical. Note that when you define a term, you don't simply list the word and its abbreviation or acronym. It must be used appropriately in a sentence. So it's not always possible to define the acronym or abbreviation in the admin blocks.

Minimize the use of acronyms that aren’t commonly understood across the Air Force. If the rater decides that it’s worth the space to introduce a new acronym to the EPR reader, it must be spelled out the first time it is used (as noted above) on each side of the EPR. Writers should critically question whether using the uncommon acronym or abbreviation contributes to the readability of the EPR and make every effort to use ordinary English keeping in mind that promotion boards are drawn from all Air Force career fields. If the acronym or abbreviation is used only once or twice, consider whether defining the term is actually conserving space. It may be more efficient to spell out the word every time and avoid using the acronym or abbreviation.

Most commands or Wings have their own standards concerning what is acceptable on an EPR. If your organization has a documented standard listing approved abbreviations and acronyms, you should use it. If not, this guide serves as a general reference. Note that some words are never abbreviated. Never use abbreviations or acronyms in the Duty Title. It must be spelled out in all capital letters.

But, some abbreviations and acronyms are so common that everyone understands what they stand for and to define them would be a waste of time and valuable EPR real estate. Below are some commonly accepted acronyms that do not have to be defined before using them.


Acronyms and Abbreviations that do not have to be defined before using on the EPR





A

A1C  Airman First Class

AB  Airman Basic

ACC  Air Combat Command

ACSC  Air Command and Staff College

AD  Active Duty

ADT  Active Duty Training

AEF  Air Expeditionary Force

AETC  Air Education and Training Command

AF  Air Force

AFA  Air Force Association

AFAM  Air Force Achievement Medal

AFB  Air Force Base

AFCM  Air Force Commendation Medal

AFI  Air Force Instruction

AFIC  Air Force Intelligence Command

AFIT  Air Force Institute of Technology

AFMAN  Air Force Manual

AFMC  Air Force Materiel Command

AFOSH  Air Force Office of Safety and Health

AFOSI  Air Force Office of Special Investigations

AFPC  Air Force Personnel Center

AFR  Air Force Reserve

AFRC  Air Force Reserve Command

AFRES  Air Force Reserve

AFROTC  Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps

AFS  Air Force Station

AFSC  Air Force Specialty Code

AFSOC  Air Force Special Operations Command

AFSO21  Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century

AFSPACECOM  Air Force Space Command

AFSPC  Air Force Space Command

AGR  Active Guard and Reserve

ALS  Airman Leadership School

AMC  Air Mobility Command

Amn  Airman

ANG  Air National Guard

AOC  Air Operations Center

AOO  Area of Operation

AOR  Area of Responsibility

ART  Air Reserve Technician

ARC  Air Reserve Component

ARPC  Air Reserve Personnel Center

ASAP  As Soon As Possible

ATO  Air Tasking Order

ATSO  Ability To Survive and Operate

AU  Air University

AWACS  Airborne Warning and Control System

AWC  Air War College

B

BAS  Basic Allowance for Subsistence

BDE  Basic Developmental Education

BPZ  Below Promotion Zone

BRAC  Base Realignment and Closure

BPZ  Below Promotion Zone

BTZ  Below the Zone

C

C2  Command and Control

C3I  Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence

C4  Command, Control, Communications and Computers

C4I  Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence

C4ISR  C4, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

CAOC  Combined Air Operations Center

Capt  Captain

CC  Commander

CC, ACC  Commander, Air Combat Command

CCAF  Community College of the Air Force

CDC  Career Development Course

CD-ROM  Compact Disc Read-only Memory

CE  Civil Engineer

CENTCOM  Central Command

CFC  Combined Federal Campaign

CGO  Company Grade Officer

CHAMPUS 

CIA  Central Intelligence Agency

CINC  Commander in Chief

CJCS  Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

CMSgt  Chief Master Sergeant

CMSAF  Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

Comm  Communications

COMSEC  Communications Security

CONOP  Concept of Operations

CONUS  Continental United States

CPR  Cardio-Pulmonary Resusatation

CSAF  Chief of Staff, US Air Force

CSAR  Combat Search and Rescue

CY  Calendar Year

D

DAV  Deployment Assistance Visit

DE  Developmental Education

DEERS  Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System

DIMHRS  Defense Integrated Military Human Resources System

DoD  Department of Defense

DRU  Direct Reporting Unit

DSN  Defense Switched Network

DUI  Driving Under the Influence

E

EET  Exercise Evaluation Team

EPR  Enlisted Performance Report

EUCOM  European Command

EPA  Environmental Protection Agency

F

FAA  Federal Aviation Administration

FAV  Functional Assistance Visit

FCC  Federal Communications Commission

FDA  Food and Drug Administration

FMC  Fully Mission Capable

FOA  Field Operating Agency

FOD  Foreign Object Damage

FOIA  Freedom of Information Act

FOUO  For Official Use Only

FY  Fiscal Year

G

GPA  Grade Point Average

GPS  Geographic Positioning System

GSA  General Services Administration

GSU  Geographically Separated Unit

GWOT  Global War on Terrorism

H

HHQ  Higher Headquarters

HQ  Headquarters

HSI  Health Services Inspection

I

IADT  Initial Active Duty Training

IAW  In Accordance With

IDT  Inactive Duty Training

IG  Inspector General

IMA  Individual Mobilization Augmentee

IMPAC  International Merchant Purchase Authorization Card

IP  Instructor Pilot

IR  Individual Reservist

J

JAG  Judge Advocate General

JCS  Joint Chiefs of Staff

JFC  Joint Forces Commander

JFCOM  Joint Forces Command

JTF  Joint Task Force

K

K  Thousand (as in dollars)

L

LAN  Local Area Network

LIMFAC  Limiting Factor

M

M  Million (as in dollars)

MAJCOM  Major Command

MPA  Military Personnel Appropriation

MPE  Military Personnel Element

MPF  Military Personnel Flight

MSgt  Master Sergeant

MSM  Meritorious Service Medal

N

NAF  Numbered Air Force

NASA  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NATO  North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NBC  Nuclear Biological and Chemical

NCO  Non-commissioned officer

NCOA  Non-commissioned Officer Academy

NCOIC  Non-commissioned Officer in Charge

NET  Not Earlier Than

NLT  Not Later Than

NVG  Night Vision Goggles

O

O&M  Operating and Maintenance

OCONUS  Outside Continental United States

OEF  Operation ENDURING FREEDOM

OI  Operational Instruction

OIC  Officer in Charge

OIF  Operation IRAQI FREEDOM

OJT  On-the-Job Training

OPlan  Operations Plan

OPR  Office of Primary Responsibility

OPR  Officer Performance Report

OPSEC  Operations Security

ORE  Operational Readiness Exercise

ORI  Operational Readiness Inspection

OSD  Office of the Secretary of Defense

OSHA  Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSI  Office of Special Investigations

OTS  Officer Training School

P

PACAF  Pacific Air Forces

PACOM  Pacific Air Command

PCA  Permanent Change of Assignment

PCS  Permanent Change of Station

PIRR  Participating Individual Reservist

PM  Program Manager

PME  Professional Military Education

POC  Professional Officer Course

POC  Point of Contact

POTUS  President of the United States

PRP  Personnel Reliability Program

PT  Physical Training

R

R&D  Research and Development

RAV  Readiness Assistance Visit

RC  Reserve Component

RED HORSE  Rapid Engineering Deployable Heavy Operation Repair Squadron

RMG  Readiness Management Group

RNLTD  Report Not Later Than Date

ROTC  Reserve Officer Training Corps

RPA  Reserve Personnel Appropriation

S

SAF  Air Force Secretariat

SAV  Staff Assistance Visit

SDE  Senior Developmental Education

SEAD  Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses

SECAF  Secretary of the Air Force

SECDEF  Secretary of Defense

SIOP  Single Integrated Operational Plan

SIPRNET  Secret Internet Protocol Router Network

SITREP  Situation Report

SJA  Staff Judge Advocate

SME  Subject Matter Expert

SNCO  Senior Noncommissioned Officer

SNCOA  Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy

SOP  Standard Operating Procedure

SORTS  Status of Resources and Training System

SOUTHAF  Southern Air Forces

SOS  Squadron Officers School

SQ CC  Squadron Commander

SQ  Squadron

SrA  Senior Airman

SSgt  Staff Sergeant

SSS  Senior Service School

STANDEVAL  Standardization and Evaluation

STEP  Stripes for Exceptional Performers

STRATCOM  US Strategic Command

SWA  Southwest Asia

T

TDY  Temporary Duty

TMO  Traffic Management Office

TR  Traditional Reservist

TRICARE  TRICARE

TSgt  Technical Sergeant

U

UAC  Unit Advisory Council

UAV  Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

UCI  Unit Compliance Inspection

UCMJ  Uniform Code of Military Justice

UE  Unit Equipped

UHF  Ultra High Frequency

UIF  Unfavorable Information File

UMD  unit manning document

UN  United Nations

US  United States

USA  United States Army

USACOM  United States Atlantic Command

USAF  United States Air Force

USAFA  United States Air Force Academy

USAFCENT  United States Air Forces Central

USAFE  United States Air Forces in Europe

USAFRES  United States Air Force Reserve

USAFRICOM  United States Africa Command

USCENTAF  United States Central Command Air Force

USCENTCOM  United States Central Command

USEUCOM  United States European Command

USJFCOM  United States Joint Forces Command

USMC  United States Marine Corps

USN  United States Navy

USSOCOM  United States Special Operations Command

USSOUTHAF  United States Southern Command Air Forces

USSOUTHCOM  United States Southern Command

USSPACECOM  United States Space Command

USSTRATCOM  United States Strategic Command

USTRANSCOM  United States Transportation Command

UTA  Unit Training Assembly

UTC  Unit Type Code

V

VA  Veterans Administration

VHF  Very High Frequency

VIP  Very Important Person

W

WAPS  Weighted Airman Promotion System

Wing CC  Wing Commander

WMD  Weapons of Mass Destruction

WRM  War Reserve Materiel