Glossary
In our collection you will encounter military terminology and acronyms. Here you can find out what they mean.
Secretariat (United Nations Organisation - UNO)
Somalia clasp to Australian Service Medal (ASM)
Senior or Staff
Supply and Secretariat Branch (Naval)
Supply and Transport (Army)
School of Artillery
Station Administrative Officer (Air Force)
South America
South Australia
Senior Commissioned Communication Officer (Naval)
Superintendent of Design
School of Military Intelligence
Secretary of State (US)
Section Officer (WAAAF)
Staff Serjeant
South Staffordshire Regiment
Senior Superintendent
Staff Nurse
Staff Sergeant (a senior sergeant)
Shoeing Smith
Small arms
South Africa
South Australia
Small Arms Ammunition
Scientific Advisor to the Air Board
South African Air Force
Special Allied Airborne Reconnaissance Force
Siege Battery Ammunition Column
School of Army Cooperation (RAAF)
Service Aircrew Camp (RAAF)
Strategic Air Command (USA)
Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
Supporting Arms Coordination Centre
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - NATO)
Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - NATO)
School Army/Air Cooperation
Sino American Cooperative Organisation (USA)
Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia
South African Defence Forces
Senior Administrative Staff Officer
Service Assisted Evacuation
Small Arms Factory
Singapore Armed Forces (Peacekeeping)
Safety equipment Officer
Small Independent Action Force
Salvage
Salvation Army
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty/Talks
Salvage Officer, Australian Corps [First World War AIF Salvage Unit]
Surface to air missile(s)
Scientific Adviser to the Military
Sanitation
School of Air Navigation (RAAF)
Sanitation Section
Beacon guiding system, RAAF (Second World War)
South African Naval Service
Scientific Advisor's Office
Senior Administrative Officer
A covered trench or tunnel dug to a point near or within an enemy position
Secure Australia Project
Search and Rescue
Semi?automatic rifle (USA)
Search and Rescue Officer
Small Arms School
Special Air Service
Special Army Service
Senior Air Staff Officer
Special Air Service Regiment
Superintendent Army Scientific Services
Siege Battery
Stretcher bearer
Switchboard (USA)
Sick Bay Attendant
Scout Bomber Douglas
Small Box Girder
Sub Lieutenant
Senior British Medical Officer
Senior British Naval Officer
Small Box Respirator (First World War)
Special Boat Squadron
Special Boat School (Second World War)
Special Broadcasting Unit
Special Boat Section
Security Council (United Nations Organisation - UNO)
Staff Captain
Staff College
Star of Courage
Submarine Chaser
Support Command Australia (Navy)
Supreme Command Allied Forces in Japan
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers
South Pacific Combat Air Transport (USA)
Strategic Command Division (East Timor)
Special Courts martial (USA)
Senior Canadian Naval Officer
Stock Control Officer
Statistical Control Unit
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
Special Duty (USA)
Staff Duties
Store/Supply Depot
Service Dress
Special Duties Branch (Air Force)
Seventh Day Adventist
Seaward Defence Boat
Signal Distribution Centre
Standard Deviation
Strategic Defence Initiative
Select Documents on International Affairs
Special Duties List
Senior Dental Officer (First World War)
Supply Dropping Point
Special Despatch Rider
Signals Despatch Service
Strategic and Defence Studies Centre
Services and Defence Science Liaison Officer
Standard Distribution and Supply System
Survey and design Unit (RAAF)
Safety Equipment
South East Asia
Construction Battalions, United States Navy
South East Asia Command
The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross?shore Buffs, the Duke of Albany's)
Sea Air and Land (team United States Navy)
SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Military Intelligence and Logistic Forms
SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Publications
South East Asia Signal School
SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Standardisation Agreement
South East Asia Treaty Organisation
Section
Secretary
Secretariat
Second
Secondary
Secretary to the Department of the Army
Security Department of Air
Secretary Department of Defence
Study and Evaluation of Counter Mine Activities
Secretary Department of the Navy
South Eastern Command in England
Section
Section Officer (WRAAF - Women's Royal Australian Air Force)
Single entitlement Document (unit equipment list)
Senior Chaplain (Church of England), Headquarters AIF, London [First World War AIF Chaplains Unit]
Senior Chaplain (Methodist), Headquarters AIF, London [First World War AIF Chaplains Unit]
Senior Chaplain (Other Protestant Denominations), Headquarters AIF, London [First World War AIF Chaplains Unit]
Senior Chaplain, ANZAC Mounted Division [First World War AIF Chaplains Unit]
Senior Chaplain (Presbyterian), Headquarters AIF, London [First World War AIF Chaplains Unit]
Senior Sister (Air Force)
Senior Engineering Staff Officer
A Petty Officer or Chief Petty Officer
Senior Executive Officer (Senior Engineering Staff Officer/Senior Maintenance Staff Officer)
Senior Executive Officer (Legal)
Senior Executive Officer (Legislation)
Serial
Service number
Surface effect ship(s)
Senior Equipment Officer
Safety Equipment Worker
Special End of War Leave for regular Officers and men
Special Forces
Steam gunboat
Survey Flight (RAAF)
SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Force
Shore Fire Control Party
Shore Fire Control Spotting
Sydney Fixed Defence Battalion
SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Field Forces
SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Field Force
Special Flying Instruction
Seventh Fleet Intelligence Centre
Sergeant Farrier Major
Service Flying Training School (RAAF)
Scots Guards
Surgeon Captain (Naval)
Services General Certificate of Education
Southern Group of Forces (Soviet)
Second Generation Peace Operations (Peacekeeping)
Sergeant
Security Guards Unit (RAAF)
Security Guard
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Stores Hand
Shore Defence
Shelling Report
Super High Frequency
Super High Frequency Direction Finding
Shipwright/carpenter (Royal Australian Navy)
Station Headquarters
Shipwright Lieutenant (Naval)
Senior Instructor
Seriously Ill
Small Independent Action Forces
Special Investigation Branch
Selective Identification Feature
Signaler (after rank)
Signalman
Signalman
Signal Corps (USA)
Signal Corps/Company
Signal Company
Signal Section, Australian Engineer Training Depot (First World War)
Signal Section, Australian Engineer Training Depot [First World War AIF Signals Unit]
Signal Squadron
Signal Training Unit [First World War AIF Signals Unit]
Signals Troop
Signal Troop, New Zealand Engineers (also known as Signal Troop, New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade) [First World War New Zearland Unit]
Signal Troop Engineers
Signal Wire used in laying communication signal lines
Signal(s)
Signal Centre
Signals Intelligence
Signals intelligence
Signals Operator
Simulate
Sinai clasp to Australian Service Medal (ASM)
Staff In Confidence
Senior Intelligence Officer
Supervising Intelligence Officer
Senior Inspecting Ordinance Officer
Situate
Situation Report
Situation Summary
Self inflicted wound (First World War)
Sergeant
Searchlight
Squadron Leader
School of Languages
Start Line
Support Line (USA)
Supply Loading Airfield
Side looking airborne radar
Submarine launched ballistic missile(s)
Sea launched cruise missile(s)
Service life extension program
Signal Man
UH-1 utility helicopter used primarily for carrying troops, equipment or supplies. This term is used to distinguish these aircraft from UH-1 gun ships.
Senior Liaison Officer
Sea Lines of Communication
Supply Landing Point
Special Liaison Unit
Sea Level
Secret Message
Sergeant Major
Soldier's Medal (USA)
Survey Motor Launch
Senior Maintenance Staff Officer
Staff Message Control
School of Military Engineering
Special Mobile Force
Submachine gun (USA)
Short Magazine Lee Enfield
Seaman
Senior Medical Officer (First World War)
Senior Medical Officer, Australian Base Depots, France [First World War AIF Medical Unit]
Senior Medical Officer, Moascar (also known as SMO, Australian & New Zealand Training Cadre & Details Camp) [First World War AIF Medical Unit]
Senior Medical Officer, No 1 Command Depot [First World War AIF Medical Unit]
Senior Medical Officer, No 4 Command Depot [First World War AIF Medical Unit]
Senior Medical Officer, Overseas Training Brigade [First World War AIF Medical Unit]
SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Military Planning Office
Seiner Majestat Schiff (eg SMS "Emden")
SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Military Security Publications
Senior Mechanical Transport Officer (First World War)
Senior Movements and Transport Officer
Senior Mechanical Transport Officer, 1st ANZAC Corps (Senior Mechanical Transport Officer, Australian Corps) [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport AASC Unit]
Senior Mechanical Transport Officer, 2nd ANZAC Corps [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport AASC Unit]
Senior Mechanical Transport Officer, Australian Corps [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport, Australian Army Services Corps Unit]
Stores Naval
An operation rapidly planned and executed to exploit information obtained from a prisoner of war, Hoi Chanh, or detainee concerning the location of Viet Cong or Viet Cong Infrastructure. Enemy personnel apprehended as a result of information obtained from
Senior Non Commissioned Officer
Senior Naval Instructor
Services no longer required
Senior Naval Officer (Transport)
Senior National Officer
Senior Naval Officers Embarked in Merchant Ships
Senior Naval Officer Landing
Superintendig Naval Stores Officer
Senior Officer
Signals Officer
Special Orders (USA)
Staff Officer
Standing Orders
Senior Officer (Naval Control Service)
Senior Officer (Operations)
Staff Officer, Australian Dental Services, AIF Depots in United Kingdom [First World War AIF Medical Unit]
Staff Officer, Australian Dental Services, Egypt [First World War AIF Medical Unit]
Staff Officer, Australian Dental Services, France [First World War AIF Medical Unit]
Signal Officer in Chief
Staff Officer Signals
Special Operations Australia
Speed of Advance
Staff Officer Air Plans
Spectrometric Oil Analysis Programme
Staff Officer Accountant
Staff Officer Air Defence
Staff Officer Administrative Services
Staff Officer, Australian Dental Service (First World War)
Senior Officer Assault Group
Spectrometric Oil Analysis Laboratory
Staff Officer to AOC
Staff Officer Armament
Spectrometric Oil Analysis System
Staff Officer Air Training
Scout Observation Curtis
Struck Off Strength (RAAF)
Staff Officer Catering
Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff
Staff Officer to the deputy chief of the air staff
Staff Officer Dental Service
Special Operations Executive (Special Forces) (British forces, Second World War)
Staff Officer Education Services
Staff Officer Engineering
Staff Officer Engineering Services
Staff Officer Fire Service
Small Operational Group
Staff Officer Ground Defence
Staff Officer Ground Training
Signal Operation Instructions (USA)
Staff Officer Invalided and Returned Soldiers
Staff Officer Intelligence
Supply authorised (USA)
Standards Operational and Logistical
Staff Officer Legal Service
Senior Official Meetings
The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)
Staff Officer Maintenance Service
Senior Ordnance Mechanical Engineer
Staff Officer Maintenance Planning
Staff Officer Medical Services
Staff Officer Operations
Staff Officer Organisation
Standing Operating Procedure (USA)
Standard Operating Procedure
Senior Officer Present Alfoat
South Pacific Area
Staff Officer Psychological Services
Staff Officer Royal Artillery
Staff Officer Radio Air
Staff Officer Royal Engineers
Staff Officer Recruiting
Staff Officer repair and overhaul
Staff Officer Strike and Reconnaissance
The flight of one aircraft from takeoff to touchdown
Struck off strength
A wireless code signal indicative of distress
Service of Supplies
Staff Officer Supplies
Staff Officer Telecommunications Engineering
Staff Officer Training Policy
Staff Officer Technical Spares Assessing
A Communications system which operates independently of an external power source
Soviet
Status of Women (United Nations Organisation - UNO)
Staff Officer Weapons Engineering
Staff Officer Works
Selection of personnel
Self?propelled
Senior Psychologist (Admiralty)
Service Police
Starting Point
Spain
Service Police
Special Branch (Naval)
Special Duties Officer (RAF)
Support Battalion Airborne Brigade (USA)
Support Company (Vietnam)
Special Agent Report
Women's Reserve of the United States Coast Guard (name taken from motto)
Service Protected Evacuation
Specify
Special Service
Projecting gun platform (RAAF Second World War)
Singapore
Sapper
support
Sea Plane Training Flight
Sea Plane Training Squadron
Service Police Unit (RAAF)
Shipwright/carpenter (Royal Australian Navy)
Staff Quartermaster?Sergeant
Squadron
Squadron Leader
Squadron Officer (WRAAF - Women's Royal Australian Air Force)
Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant
Sound Ranging (USA)
Supplementary Reserve
Surgeon Rear Admiral
Short range attack missile(s)
Short range ballistic missile(s)
Scientific Research Committee
Services Reconnaissance Department. Cover name for Special Operations Australia. Allied Intelligence Bureau Second World War Supply Reserve Depot.
Strike Reconnaissance
Sound Ranging
Supply Railhead
Supply Refilling Point
Short Range Transport
Shoeing Smith Corporal
Saddler Sergeant
Submarine(s) (coastal/inshore)
Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen Home Association
Ballistic missile submarine(s)
Single Side Band
Costal Submarine
Short Service Commission
Nuclear fuelled ballistic missile submarine(s)
Shape the Strategic Environment
Standing Sea Fire Brigade
Guided Missile Submarine
SSN (nuclear fuelled submarines) with dedicated non ballistic missile launchers
Standing Signals Instructions
Anti Submarine Submarine
Squadron Sergeant Major
Staff Sergeant Major
Surface to surface missile(s)
Nuclear fuelled submarine(s)
Senior Supply Officer (First World War)
Special Service Officer (RAF)
Staff Signals Officer (Naval)
Ships Standing Orders
Senior Supply Officer, 2nd Australian Division [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport AASC Unit]
Senior Supply Officer, 5th Australian Division [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport AASC Unit]
Senior Supply Officer, Australian Mounted Division [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport AASC Unit]
Senior Supply Officer, New Zealand and Australian Division [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport AASC Unit]
Station Sick Quarters
Radar Picquet Submarine
Submarine Sound Signaling Apparatus
hipping and Stores Unit (RAAF)
Specified Strike Zone. Specific unpopulated areas of heavy jungle or swampland which could be cleared for firing for a certain period if US military ground clearance had been obtained.
Supplies and transport
Septic traumatic abrasions (First World War)
Station
Stammlager (German) - Prisoner of war camp for other ranks
Standardisation Agreement NATO
Specialised Training and Reassignment (USA)
Specialised Training and Reassignment (USA)
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks
Steward (after rank)
Standard
Special Transport Flight (RAAF)
Staff (USA)
Special Technical Instruction
Storeman
Statute Mile
Storeman, Technician, Orderly (Peacekeeping)
Station
Sea Transport Officer
short take off and landing
Short take off, vertical landing
Strategic Transport (Aircraft)
Strength
Strategical Reconnaissance
Strategic
Sea Transport Staff
School of Technical Training (RAAF)
School of technical training (RAAF)
A form of Asdic, a particular kind of hydrophone
Ships taken up from trade
Storm troops, brown shirts
Steward
Signals Unit (RAAF)
Stores Unit (RAAF)
Sub Lieutenant (Naval)
Submarine
Sub lieutenant (dental)
Subject
Submarine (USA)
Subordinate
Subscribe
Substitute
Substantive
The Suffolk Regiment
Surface to underwater guided weapon(s)
Surface to Underwater Missile
Supply/Supplies
Supply Officer
Supply Platoon (Vietnam War)
Department of Supply
Supply Department
CH-54 cargo helicopter. Also known as Skycrane.
Supplementary Intelligence Report
Supply Point
Superintendent
Sydney University Regiment
Surface Finisher
The East Surrey Regiment
Survey (USA)
Survival
Surveillance
Stores Vittling
Service Command (USA)
Services Vocational and Educational Training Scheme
South Vietnam
South Vietnam Detachment
Service
Survey
Secretary of War (USA)
Shrapnel Wound
Sweden
The South Wales Borderers
Short Wheelbase
Switchboard
Switzerland
South West Pacific
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area
Senior WRAN (Women's Royal Australian Navy)
Shipwright
Shore Wireless Service, RAN
School of Water Transport (Second World War)
Security (after rank)
Singals Yeoman. The senior visual communications sailor on board.
Synchronize
System