Glossary of Jargon and Acronyms
1MC — ships public address system
5MC — flight deck loudspeaker system
20mm — Twenty millimeter cannon round, the size of an FA-18 and CIWS bullet, also known as “twenty mike-mike”
AAA — Anti-Aircraft-Artillery; Pronounced “Triple-A”
Afterburner — FA-18 engine setting that provides extra power by igniting raw fuel creating a controlled overpressure. Also known as “burner,” “blower,” “max,” or “light the cans.”
Air Boss — Officer in Primary Flight Control (ship’s control tower) responsible for aircraft operations on deck out to five miles from ship.
AMRAAM — Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AIM-120)
Angels — altitude in thousands of feet. “Angels six” = 6,000 feet
AOM — All Officers Meeting
AOR — Area of Responsibility
APM — All Pilots Meeting
ARG — Amphibious Ready Group
ATFLIR — Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infra-Red. IR targeting sensor placed on fuselage mounted missile station.
Bandit — confirmed enemy airborne contact; also known as ‘“hostile.”
Bingo — emergency fuel state divert from ship to shore base
Bogey unknown airborne contact
Bolter — tailhook flies past or skips over arresting wires, requiring a go-around for another attempt.
BRA — Bearing, Range, Altitude
CAG — Carrier Air Wing Commander; formerly Commander, Air Group
CAOC — Combined Air Operations Center
CAP — Combat Air Patrol
CAS — Close Air Support
Cat — catapult
CATM — Captive Air Training Missile
CATCC — Carrier Air Traffic Control Center
CENTCOM — U.S. Central Command
Charlie — come down and land now. “Signal Charlie”
Cherubs — altitude in hundreds of feet. “Cherubs three” = 300 feet
CIWS — Close-in Weapons System; surface ship 20mm gun primarily for terminal airborne threats
CO — Commanding Officer; in aviation squadrons known as “skipper;” on ships, “Captain.”
COD — Carrier On-Board Delivery. The C-2 Greyhound logistics aircraft is known as “the COD.”
Commodore — functional wing commander, shore based; supplies aircraft, pilots and maintenance personnel to air wings as required.
CPA — Closest Point of Approach
CVIC — Aircraft Carrier Intelligence Center
CVW — Carrier Air Wing
DCAG — Deputy Carrier Air Wing Commander
Delta — hold, delay. “Delta six” means delay 6 minutes
Dhow — small boat typical of southwest Asia region
Flag officer — admirals or generals… but typically a navy term for admiral
FLIR — Forward Looking Infra-Red. Targeting pod that detects heat contrasts. Aka ATFLIR.
Fox — radio call associated with firing of air-to-air missile with type. “Fox-2” = Sidewinder.
Fragged — as planned or previously assigned. “Proceed as fragged.”
g — the force of gravity. “4 g’s” is four times the force of gravity.
GCC — Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates)
GOO — Gulf of Oman
GPS — Global Positioning System
Gunner — squadron ordnance officer; typically a Chief Warrant Officer specially trained in weapons handling and loading.
HARM — High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (AGM-88) used to home in on radar energy
Hawkeye — popular name for E-2C Early Warning aircraft, also known as the Hummer
Helo — helicopter
Hornet — popular name for FA-18C Strike Fighter
HS — Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron
HUD — Head-Up Display. Glass display in front of FA-18 pilot that depicts aircraft and weapons delivery information.
IED — Improvised Explosive Device
IP — Initial Point
IRGC — Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
IRIAF — Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
JDAM — Joint Direct Attack Munition — GPS guidance kit placed on a general purpose bomb body. Also known as GBU (Guided Bomb Unit).
JO — Junior Officer — lieutenant (O-3) and below
JTAC — Joint Tactical Air Controller (formerly FAC — Forward Air Controller)
Knot — nautical mile per hour. One nautical mile is 2,000 yards or 6,000 feet.
LEX — Leading Edge Extension. Narrow part of FA-18 wing leading to the nose of the aircraft.
LGB — Laser Guided Bomb — laser guidance kit placed on a general purpose bomb body. Also known as GBU (Guided Bomb Unit).
