The acronyms covered in this part of the website are among those most commonly found in Department of State communications, as well as in daily conversation. The list draws heavily from more detailed information on the websites listed to the left.
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A: Bureau of Administration, Department of State
A-100: Orientation training program for new Foreign Service Officers
AAFSW: Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (formerly American Association of Foreign Service Wives)
AC: Bureau of Arms Control, Department of State
ACDA : Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (integrated into the State Department in 1999)
ACS: American Citizen Services
ADMIN: Administrative Section (typically includes HRO, FMO, GSO, IMO, IPC, MED)
ADST: Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training
AF : Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State
AFGE: American Federation of Government Employees
AFM: American family member
AFSA: American Foreign Service Association
AFSPA: American Foreign Service Protective Association; health plan
AGR: Agricultural Section (USDA/FAS)
AID: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
AIT: American Institute in Taiwan
ALDAC: All Diplomatic and Consular Posts
ALMA: A Logical Modernization Approach State Department IT standards
AMADS: Automated Message Distribution System
AMB: Ambassador
AMB E&P: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
AMCIT: American citizen
A/OS: Office of Overseas Schools
APHIS: Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service; part of the Department of Agriculture
APO: Army Post Office; mail system managed by the Department of Defense
ARSO: Assistant Regional Security Officer
ATF: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Department of State
ATO: Agricultural Trade Office (USDA/FAS)
AWAL: Around the World in a Lifetime Foreign Service teen organization
BBG: Broadcasting Board of Governors
BCC: Beltsville Communications Center
B&F: Budget and Fiscal section (now called Financial Management Office, FMO)
BIMC: Beltsville Information Management Center
BOA: Board of Auditors
BPP: Bureau Performance Plan
BUREC: Bureau of Reclamation
CA: Consular Agent
CA: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State
CAO: Cultural Affairs Officer
CDA/CDO: Career Development and Assignments/Career Development Officer
CDC : Centers for Disease Control.
CEB: Chief Executives Board
CFMS: Central Financial Management System primary Department accounting system
CG: Consul General; principal officer of a consulate general
CHG: Chargé d'Affaires; acting head of a mission when Ambassador is out of the country
CIA: Central Intelligence Agency
CINCEUR: Commander in Chief U.S. European Command
CINCPAC: Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Command
CIO: Chief Information Officer
CLO : Community Liaison Office; overseas field office of the Family Liaison Office
CM : Chief of Mission
CME : Crisis Management Exercise
CNBR: Chemical, nuclear, biological, and radiation weapons of mass destruction
CODEL : Congressional delegation
COM: Commercial Section (FCS)
COMPUSEC : Computer security
COMSEC : Communications security
CON : Consular section overseas
CONGEN : Consulate-General
CONOFF : Consular Officer
CONUS : Continental United States
COSPO : Community Open Source Project Office; intelligence community system manager
COUNS : Counselor (diplomatic title)
CPO : Commications Program Officer
CS: Civil Service
CTC : Career Transition Center, Foreign Service Institute
CTED : Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate
D : Deputy Secretary of State
DAC : Development Assistance Committee
DACOR : Diplomatic and Consular Officers Retired
DAO : Office of the Defense Attache
DAS : Deputy Assistant Secretary (of State, Defense, etc.)
DATT : Defense Attache
DCM : Deputy Cheif of Mission
D&CP : Diplomatic and Consular Programs; Congressional funding designation
DEA: Drug Enforcement Administration
DEL : Delegation
DEP : Deputy
DEP DIR : Deputy Director
DG : Director General of the Foreign Service
DIA : Defense Intelligence Agency
DIR : Director
DISA : Defense Information Systems Agency
DMS : DOD messaging system
DO : Desk officer; duty officer
DOC : Department of Commerce
DOD : Department of Defense
DODDS : Department of Defense Dependents Schools
DOJ : Department of Justice
DOS : Department of State
DOSFAN : Department of State Foreign Affairs Network. Department website
DOSNET : Department of State Network. Department e-mail network
DPAO : Deputy Public Affairs Officer
DPM : Diplomatic pouch and mail
DPO : Deputy Principal Officer
DRL : Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department of State
DS : Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Department of State
DSA : Defense Supply Advisor
DSTC : Diplomatic Security Training Center
E : Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs, Department of State
EAP : Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State
EB : Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Department of State
EBRD : Economic Board for Reconstruction and Development
ECA : Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Deparment of State
ECON : Economic Section
ECOCOM : Economic/Commercial section
ECS : Employee Consultation Service
EDO : Export Development Officer
E&E : Escape and Evacuation
EFM: Eligible family member
ENV : Environment
EPA : Environmental Protection Agency
ERDA : Energy Research and Development Administration
ERS : Electronic Receipt System; part of the Diplomatic pouch and mail system
EST : Environment, Science and Technology
ETA: Estimated time of arrival
ETD : Estimated time of departure
EUR : Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, Department of State
EVT : Emergency visitation travel
EX : Executive Office
EXEC : Executive
EX-IM : Export-Import
FAA : Federal Aviation Administration
FAA/CASLO : Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aviation Security Liasion Officer.
FAA/FSIDO : Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards International District Office
FAC: Foreign affairs community
FAH: Foreign Affairs Handbook
FAM: Foreign Affairs Manual
FARA : Foreign Affairs Recreation Association
FAS : Foreign Agricultural Service, Department of Agriculture
FASA : Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act
FBI : Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBO : Foreign Buildings Office (now called Overseas Building Operations, or OBO)
FCC : Federal Communications Commission
FCS : Foreign Commercial Service, Department of Commerce
FEHB : Federal Employees Health Benefits program
FERS : Federal Employee Retirement System
FIC/JSC : Financial Committee and Joint Support Committee
FIN : Financial Attache (Treasury)
FLO: Family Liaison Office, Department of State
FM : Facilities Maintenance
FMA : Family Member Appointment. Department of State hiring mechanism
FMC : Financial Management Center
FMLA : Family and Medical Leave Act
FMO : Financial Management Office
FMP : Bureau of Finance and Management Policy, Department of State
FOIA : Freedom of Information Act
FPO : Fleet (Navy) Post Office; mail system managed by Department of Defense similar to APO
FS : Foreign Service
FSC : Financial Service Center
FSI : Foreign Service Institute, Department of State
FSN : Foreign Service National; non-American employed by an overseas post
FSO : Foreign Service Officer
FSPS : Foreign Service Pension System
FSRDS : Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System
FSYF : Foreign Service Youth Foundation
FTE : Full-time equivalent
FY : Fiscal year
G : Under Secretary for Global Affairs, Department of State
GAO : General Accounting Office
GBL: Government bill of lading
GCOS : Global Climate Observing System
GLS : Geographic Learning Site; State Department website for public outreach
GPO : Government Printing Office
GS: General Schedule
GSA : General Services Administration
GSO : General Services Officer
GTR : Government travel request
GWACs : Government-wide agency contracts
H : Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State
HCN : Host-country national
HHE : Household effects
HL: home leave
HR : Bureau of Human Resources, Department of State
HRO : Human Resources Officer; formerly called Personnel Officer
HST : Harry S Truman building; “Main State."
HSTA : Home Service Transfer Allowance
IBB : International Broadcasting Bureau
IC : Intelligence community
ICASS : International Cooperative Administrative Support Services
IDP : Internally displaced persons
IEC : Incident and Emergency Center
IG : Inspector General
IGC : Intergovernmental Committee
IGWG: Intergovernmental working group
IIC : Independent Inquiry Committee
IM : Information Management
IMO/IPO : Information Management/Programs Office
IMS : Information Management Specialist
IMTS : Information Management Technical Specialist
INL : Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Department of State
INR : Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Department of State
INRISS : INR Intelligence Support System
INS: Immigration and Naturalization Service
INTELINK : Intelligence Community Network; classified data network
IO : Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of State
IPC : Information Program Center
IPO: Information Program Officer
IRM : Bureau of Information Resource Management, Department of State
IRS : Internal Revenue Service
ISAF : International Security Assistance Force
ISDR : International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
ISM : Information Systems Manager
ISO : Information Systems Officer
ISPS : International ship and port facility security code
ISSO : Information Systems Security Officer
JCS : Joint Chiefs of Staff
JUS/CIV : Department of Justice, Civil Division
JUSMAG : Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group
JUST : Justice Department
KSA : Knowledge, skills and abilities
L : Office of the Legal Advisor, Department of State
LAB : Labor Officer
LEGATT : Legal Attache
LGF : Local Guard Force
LMR : Land mobile radio
LMS : School of Leadership and Management, Foreign Service Institute
LWOP : Leave without pay
M : Office of the Undersecretary for Management, Department of State
MAAG : Military Assistance Advisory Group
MAP : Military Assistance Program
MED : Office of Medical Services
MEMCON : Memorandum of Conversation
MFA/MOFA : Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MGT: Management Officer
MIG AFF : Migration Affairs.
MIL: Military
MILGP : Military group
MIN: Minister
MLO : Military Liaison Officer
MNF : Multinational force
MNL : Minerals Officer
MOH : Member of household
MPP : Mission Performance Plan
MRTD : Machine-readable travel documents
MSC : Military Staff Committee
MSG : Marine Security Guard
NARC: Narcotics Officer
NAS : Narcotics Affairs Section
NASA : National Air and Space Administration
NEA : Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State
NFATC : George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center; home of FSI
NGO : Non-governmental organization
NIV : Non-immigrant visa
NLO : Naval Liaison Officer
NP : Bureau of Nonproliferation, Department of State
NPT : Non-Proliferation Treaty
NSA : Negative Security Assurances
NSA : National Security Agency
NSC : National Security Council
OBC : Overseas Briefing Center, Foreign Service Institute
OBO: Overseas Buildings Operations (formerly FBO)
OCS : Overseas Citizen Services
ODC : Office of Defense Cooperation
OES : Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State
OIC : Officer in charge
OIG : Office of the Inspector General, Department of State
OIOS : Office of Internal Oversight Service
OMB : Office of Management and Budget
OMC : Office of Military Cooperation
OMS : Office Management Specialist; formerly Foreign Service Secretary
ORA: Office of Regional Affairs
ORE : Official residence expense
OSAC : Overseas Schools Advisory Council
OSPB : Overseas Security Policy Board
P : Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Department of State
PA : Bureau of Public Affairs, Department of State
PA/PC : Office of Public Communications; office within PA
PAA : Public Affairs Advisor
PAO: Public Affairs Officer
PC : Peace Corps; PCV Peace Corps Volunteer
PCB : Program Coordinating Board
PDD : Presidential Decision Directive
PER : Personnel
PERMREP : Permanent Representative
PIT : Part-time/intermittent/temporary employee; formerly used overseas employment category
PL 480 : Public Law 480; overseas sale of surplus agricultural products
PM : Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of State
PNG : Persona non grata.
PO : Principle Officer
POL : Political Section
POLCONS : Political Counselor
POL/ECO : Political and Economic Section
POL/LAB : Political and Labor Section
POTUS : President of the United States
POV: Privately owned vehicle
POW : Program of work
PRM : Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Department of State
PRT : Provincial Reconstruction Team
PSC: Personal services contract
PSO : Post Security Officer
R : Under Secretary for Public Affairs & Public Diplomacy, Department of State
RCON : Regional Consular Affairs Officer
RCSO : Regional Computer Security Officer
REDSO : Regional Economic Development Services Office
REF : Refugee Coordinator
REFTEL : Reference telegram
RELO : Regional English Language Officer
REP: Representative
RFE/RL: Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty
RFSC : Regional Financial Service Center
RHUDO : Regional Housing and Urban Development Office
RMO : Regional Medical Officer
ROCAP : Regional Officer For Central American Programs
RPSO : Regional Procurement Service Office
RSO : Regional Security Officer
S : Office of the Secretary, Department of State
SA : Bureau of South Asian Affairs, Department of State
S/P : Policy Planning Staff, Department of State
SAIT : School of Applied Information Technology, Foreign Service Institute
SAO : Security Assistance Office
SC : Shultz Center; George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center
SCI : Scientific Attache
S&E : Salary and expenses
SEC : Secretary
SEP: Special embassy program
SEPTEL : Separate telegram
SFOR : Stabilization force
SFS : Senior Foreign Service
SLG : State and local government
SLS : School of Language Studies, Foreign Service Institute
SMA : Separate maintenance allowance
SOFA : Status of Forces Agreement
SPA : Special Assistant
SPAS : School of Professional and Area Studies, Foreign Service Institute
SPM : Special Political Mission
S/S : Executive Secretariat
SPSH : Special self help
SR : Standardized regulations
STAFFDEL : Congresssional staff delegation
STC : Security Trade Control
T : Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Department of State
TAGS : Traffic analysis by group and subject
TAT: Tactical Analysis Team
TC : Transition Center, Foreign Service Institute
TCC : Temporary continuation of coverage
TC/T : Training Division, Transition Center, Foreign Service Institute
TDY : Temporary duty
TM : Travel message
TQSA : Temporary quarters subsistence allowance
TREAS : Treasury Department
TSP : Thrift Savings Plan
TSZ : Temporary Security Zone
UAB : Unaccompanied air baggage
UNVIE : United States Missions to International Organizations in Vienna
USA : United States Army
USAID : United States Agency for International Development
USAF : United States Air Force
USCG : United States Coast Guard
USDA : United States Department of Agriculture
USEO : United States Embassy Office
USEU : United States Mission to the European Union
USG : United States Government
USGS : United States Geological Survey
USIA : United States Information Agency (integrated into the State Department in 1999)
USINT : United States Interests Section
USLO : United States Liaison Office
USMC : United States Marine Corps
USMTM : United States Military Training Mission
USN : United States Navy
USNATO : United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
USO : Unit Security Officer
USOAS : United States Mission to the Organization of American States
USOECD : U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
USTR : United States Trade Representative's office
USTTA : United States Travel and Tourism Agency
USUN : United States Mission to the United Nations
VC : Vice Consul
VCP : Voluntary Cooperation Program
VIP : Very important person
VOA : Voice of America
WHA : Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of State (formerly ARA)
WAE : When actually employed; retiree work category
WMD : Weapons of mass destruction
PAS: Public Affairs Section