Family Readiness Center (FRC)
Refers to Army Community Services, Navy and Marine Corps Family Service Centers, Air Force Family Support Office and Coast Guard Work Life Office; these are the respective names for the "official" DoD/USCG units that provide information, services, and Quality of Life programs for military family members. For the sake of simplicity, "Family Readiness Center" or "FRC" will be used to refer to all service equivalents, unless referencing a specific program or service that is only provided by one.
Army Emergency Relief (AER)
Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
These are private, nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to military members and their families, including some tuition scholarship/loan programs for military spouses. NOTE: These organizations are supported entirely by service member contributions. They receive no taxpayer revenue, and are not a part of the Department of Defense... remember them with a Charity Allotment!
Family Member Employment Assistance Program (FMEAP)
Spouse Employment Assistance Program (SEAP)
Career Focus Program (CFP - Air Force)
Army Career & Alumni Program (ACAP)
Defense Outplacement Referral System (DORS)
Programs administered by DoD and/or the Family Readiness Centers that provide assistance in finding employment.
National Military Family Association (NMFA)
A nonprofit organization providing information and advocacy for family members of those in the U.S. uniformed services (see below).
Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
A transfer to a new duty station, usually for a period of 180 days or more, and for which relocation allowances are generally paid.
Temporary Duty (TAD/TDY)
Official travel, usually unaccompanied, and generally for a period of less than 180 days.
Department of Defense (DoD)
includes the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. (The Coast Guard is a component of the U.S. Department of Transportation, except in time of war, when it operates as a component of the Department of the Navy.)
U.S. Armed Forces:
includes the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The U.S. Uniformed Services includes the armed forces, as well as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS).
Found an acronym or military term at this site that's not defined above? Please let the webmaster know.
A great place for finding the definitions of other acronyms is the WWW Acronym and Abbreviation Server
