The Army uses acronyms like it's going out of style. I'll keep a list here of the ones I use and any other terminology that's unfamiliar to civilian language.
09S- (Zero-Nine Sierra) the MOS for soldiers enlisting to get on the fast track to OCS for a chance to be an officer.
A
ACU- Army Combat Uniform
AGR- Ability Group Run
AIT- Advanced Individual Training, MOS specific training for enlisted soldiers conducted immediately after BCT
AKO- Army Knowledge Online, online portal for email, calendar, and other important information
APFT- Army Physical Fitness Test
ASU- Army Service Uniform- Dress Blue uniform
ASVAB- Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
B
BCG- Birth Control Glasses, indestructible eyewear for those who are visually impaired. Once you see them you'll understand the name.
BCT- Basic Combat Training, AKA: Basic Training, Boot Camp
BOLC- Basic Officer Leader's Course (MOS specific training)
BRM- Basic Rifle Marksmanship
Butter bar- slang for 2nd Lieutenant rank. The rank insignia is a vertical golden bar.
C
Cadre- Instructors, usually sergeants.
CS Gas- Tear Gas. Used for riot control.
D
D&C- Drill and Ceremony. Marching, formation, looking pretty.
DFAC- Dining Facility
DS- Drill Sergeant. Like camp counselors. Only they make your life miserable.
F
FOB- Forward Operating Base
FRG- Family Readiness Group. Community of families that help one another while spouses are called away from home.
FTX- Field Training Exercise
H
Hooah- Army caveman-speak for yes, okay, general excitement, and the question "do you understand?". Usually shouted with bravado.
I
IED- Improvised Explosive Device. Used by insurgents and have caused the majority of coalition casualties in the form of roadside bombs and suicide bombers.
K
Kevlar- composite material that is used in body armor to stop ballistic threats.
L
LCE- Load Carrying Equipment
LT- Lieutenant
M
MedEvac- Medical evacuation helicopter
MEPS- Military Entrance Processing Station
Military Time- Based on a 24 hour clock, times in the afternoon starting at 1:00 PM are written as 1300 to 2359. Midnight is 0000.
MOS- Military Occupational Specialty, each job in the Army has a code (i.e. Infantry = 11B)
MOUT- Military Operations in Urban Terrain. Kickin' doors and clearing rooms.
MRE- Meal Ready to Eat- Tasty, self-contained meals for soldier's in the field.
N
NBC Gear- Nuclear, biological, and chemical-resistant protective clothing
NCO- Non-Commissioned Officer (Sergeants)
NOD- Night Observation Device (See also, NVG)
NVG- Night Vision Goggles. Optics that allow you to see in the dark via infra-red technology.
O
OC- Officer Candidate
OCS- Officer Candidate School
OML- Order of Merit List
OPSEC- Operational Security. Loose lips sink ships.
P
PG-Platoon Guide
PGA- Platoon Guide Assistant
Platoon- 26-55 soldiers
PL- Platoon Leader
PT- Physical Training
PX- Post Exchange. Military Wal-Mart.
R
ROTC- Reserve Officer Training Corps. Earn your commission while going to college.
RSP- Recruit Sustainment Program
S
Squad- Two or three fireteams comprised of four to five soldiers each.
SL- Squad Leader
Smoking- Extra curricular physical development. Generally not a favorite among soldiers.
SOP- Standard Operating Procedures
T
TAC- Teach, Assess, Counsel. Cadre in charge of OCS consisting of both officers and non-commissioned officers.
U
UCMJ- Uniform Code of Military Justice, the military legal code
