1. Department of Defense
   Darn Old Dining facility
2. Daily Order Documentation

The DOD, or Department of Defense, is one of the biggest employers in the world. Its many employees plan and operate the U.S. military.

1. Armored Personnel Carrier
   Asinine Parachutist Carrier
2. American Punching Corps

The APC, or Armored Personnel Carrier, is a way to transport men and women through hostile zones. Sometimes the armor is effective against IEDs … sometimes it's not.

1. Petroleum-Operated Weapons
   Prisoner of War
2. Privates-Only Weapons

Battles invariably end with troops being captured by opposing forces. These troops are now POWs, Prisoners of War.

1. Antiaircraft Artillery
   Automobile Assistance Association
2. Arf Arf Arf

Pilots never like to hear that "AAA" or Antiaircraft Artillery, is expected during a mission. AAA can fill the sky with shrapnel that destroys aircraft.

1. Kissed in Albania
   Killed in Action
2. Kitchen is Awful

KIA stands for Killed in Action. Bloody battles find KIAs strewn all over the war zone.

1. Missing in Action
   Morons in Action
2. Marines in Afghanistan

After a major operation, there are always soldiers listed as "MIA." It means they are missing in action, perhaps wounded or captured.

1. Intelligent Escape Door
   Integrated Electronic Device
2. Improvised Explosive Device

IEDs are Improvised Explosive Devices, bombs cobbled together from commonly available products. They've become notorious in recent Middle East conflicts, wounding many American troops.

1. Casualty Operations
   Commanding Officer
2. Camp Orderly

The CO is the Commanding Officer of a unit. It's not a rank, it's a sign that you recognize an officer's superior rank.

1. Nuclear Code Officer
   Nincompoop Officer
2. Non-Commissioned Officer

NCOs are the guys and gals who haven't yet received a commission. They typically emerge from the enlisted ranks.

1. Estimated Time of Arrival
   Egregious Training Activity
2. Early Troop Acclimation

In the military, you'd better be on time. That means you always have to know your ETA -- Estimated Time of Arrival.

1. Surface-to-Air Missile
   Situational Mess
2. Strike Team

A SAM is a Surface-to-Air Missile. Pilots loathe SAMs, which are more powerful and more accurate by the year.

1. Physical Training
   Planning Troops
2. Pacifist Training

It's a lowlight of many troops' days -- PT, or physical training. Run three miles out, and three miles back. Over and over again.

1. Overcome Communist Special forces
   Officer Candidate School
2. Out Crushing Skulls

OCS is Officer Candidate School. All up-and-coming officers must complete OCS in order to to be effective leaders.

1. Restricted Grounds
   Radio-Programmed Gun
2. Rocket-Propelled Grenade

An RPG is one of the funnest weapons to fire -- it's a rocket-propelled grenade. And it makes a very large boom.

1. Basic Combat Training
   Border Control Troops
2. Buffet-Crushing Troops

Your military adventure begins here … with BCT. Basic Combat Training is required for all new military personnel, equipping them with essential battlefield skills.

1. Father of all Bombs
   Flying Over Baghdad
2. Forward Operating Base

The FOB is the Forward Operating Base, which is very close to the front lines. When you serve at the FOB, you have to be ready for anything.

1. Laotian Zone
   Landing Zone
2. Lippy Zebra

The LZ is the Landing Zone. It's often the place where missions truly begin.

1. Captain Commander
   Combat Communications
2. Central Command

U.S. CENTCOM is Central Command. During a major fight, CENTCOM plays a huge role in coordinating and planning combat operations.

1. Military Inspection
   Mapping Specifications
2. Military Specifications (United States Military Standard)

The United States Military Standard, or MILSPEC, is shorthand for the specifications and standards used to insure interoperability of equipment and systems throughout the military.

1. Overhead Power lines
   Observation Post
2. Officer Procedures

It's where you keep an eye on the enemy. The OP is the Observation Post.

1. Dead on Arrival
   Dreadnought Attack
2. Defense Organization Association

Some wounded troops become DOA -- Dead on Arrival. It means there's no point in continuing emergency medical procedures.

1. Defense Mobilization
   Demilitarized Zone
2. Drop-off Zone

The DMZ between North and South Korea is a famously dangerous area. It's the Demilitarized Zone, a no-man's land of sorts.

1. Restricted Operating Area
   Raid On Enemies
2. Rules Of Engagement

Before every armed mission, the CO lays out the ROE, the Rules of Engagement. Troops understand how and when they're allowed to engage the enemy.

1. Defense Radio Tower
   Defense Readiness Condition
2. Defense Radioactivity Control

DEFCON stands for Defense Readiness Condition, and it is followed by a number, such as "2." DEFCON 1 is the most serious, and could mean that war is imminent, or that the alien saucer has parked over the White House.

1. Border Dispute Unit
   Battle Dress Uniform
2. Brigade Discharge Utility

When a fight is nigh, you'd best dress for the occasion. Grab your BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) and your weapon, it's time to do some shooting.

1. United States Corporate Guns
   United States Counter-terrorism General
2. United States Coast Guard

The USCG is the United States Coast Guard, the often-underappreciated branch of the military that's taken part in all of America's major conflicts.

1. Captain
   Combat Patrol
2. Chief Petty Trainee

"CPT" is a common acronym for Captain. Captains are highly respected (usually) and highly paid officers.

1. Meal Ready to Eat
   Modified Reconnaissance Operations
2. Military Readiness Exceptions

MRE is Meal Ready to Eat. They are basic rations that sustain troops in places where perishable foods aren't an option.

1. Mobile Operations Suite
   Military Occupation Specialty
2. Miffed Officer's Spouse

After generalized training, many troops select an MOS, a Military Occupation Specialty. There they can choose to learn a skill that best suits their individual talents.

1. Containerized Housing Unit
   Combat Holding Pattern
2. Camp Helicopter Utility

Soldiers call it home. A CHU is a Containerized Housing Unit, basically a cramped box where troops sleep. They're common on overseas bases.