"A" School School where member goes to receive basic technical training for their rate.

Allotment A portion of military pay that is sent directly to a person, financial institution

or other place set up by the military member.

AWOL Absent without leave: away from the military without proper authorization.

The military member can be punished for this offense.

BAH Basic Allowance for Housing: allowance given when quarters are not provided

BAS Basic Allowance for Subsistence: allowance for food given at some units

"C" School School member attends to receive advanced technical training.

CACO Casualty Assistance Calls Officer: The person assigned to help families in

the death or fatal injury of a military member found, at the servicing ISC.

CDA Career Development Advisor: Provides members with information regarding

advancement opportunities, educational programs and enlisted work force

management issues. May assist spouses with education questions.

CFS Command Financial Specialist: An individual selected by the command to receive

additional training that provides them with tools to work with members and their

CO Commanding Officer: The boss, the person responsible for everything that occurs

at the unit or on the ship.

COLA Cost of Living Allowance: An allowance given in high cost areas to help offset

expenses like food, gas, etc.

CONUS Continental United States

COSE Career Options & Skills Evaluation: A mid-career seminar designed for Active

Duty Coast Guard members that provides information on self assessments,

financial planning, Coast Guard programs and civilian employment tools & trends.

Set up through the Work Life office.

CPO Chief Petty Officer

CWO Chief Warrant Officer

DEERS Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System: System used to track all

dependents who are authorized medical care or to use TRICARE. You must be

in the DEERS system to utilize TRICARE services.

Delta Dental Optional retiree dental insurance that is available by enrolling and paying

monthly premiums.

Dependent A legal term used for a person receiving all or a portion of their necessary

financial support from the active duty member.

Direct Access The Coast Guard computerized Human Resources System. The military member

can access this system for a variety of issues including pay changes and PCS

information.

DHS Department of Homeland Security: Parent agency of the Coast Guard

DLA Dislocation Allowance is an allowance to help offset the costs included

During a PCS move.

DOD Department of Defense: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines

DVA Department of Veteran’s Affairs: The agency that administers benefits for

Veterans. These services include the Montgomery GI Bill for education,

the home loan guarantee program and medical care and compensation.

EAP Employee Assistance Program: Professional counseling and referral service

designed to assist active duty members, reservists and their families.

EAPC Work Life employee responsible for the coordination of the EAP

EFMP DOD Exceptional Family Member Program referred to in the Coast Guard as

the "Special Needs" program.

ESO Educational Services Officer: Individual at a unit responsible for end of course

testing and service wide testing for Coast Guard members.

FAS Family Advocacy Specialist: Member of the Work-Life Staff who assists when

issues of family violence, child abuse and neglect are present.

FOT Force Optimization and Training. The division of the Coast Guard tasked with

the tracking and utilization of the reserve members of the Coast Guard. 

FRS Family Resource Specialist: Member of the Work-Life Staff who assists

with child care issues, and provides case management for those enrolled in the

FSA Family Separation Allowance: An allowance paid when a married member is

TAD, on a ship, or at a restricted station for longer than 30 consecutive days. The

allowance is not payable if the member is on permissive orders.

FSGLI Family Servicemembers Group Life Insurance: If the active duty member has

SGLI his/her children are automatically covered by a life insurance policy.

GEO Refers to a member who moves to a new duty station unaccompanied, by choice, so

HBA Health Benefits Advisor: An individual who has received additional training on

TRICARE who is available to answer questions and assist with TRICARE

problems. There is also an 800 hotline at 1-800-942-2422.

HHG Household Goods: Your furniture and personal belongings

HPM Health Promotions Manager: Member of the Work-Life Staff who

helps members of Team Coast Guard make voluntary behavior changes that

reduce health risks and improve qualify of life.

ISC Integrated Support Command: Located in each District to provide support

services to the District Units. Work-Life is located at the ISC.

LES Leave and Earning Statement: Monthly report of pay received for military

duty. Also shows a record of leave (vacation time) and deductions from pay.

The military member can view this online via Direct Access.

Mast Non-judicial punishment used as an alternative to a court martial. Sometimes

referred to as a Captain’s Mast.

MTF Military Treatment Facility: A military base where members and dependents

receive medical care. MTFs are not available in many areas.

MWR Morale, Welfare & Recreation

OER Officer Evaluation Report: The written report of an officer’s performance of

duty, similar to "enlisted marks".

OINC Officer In Charge: Enlisted member who is in charge of a unit or ship. Similar

OCONUS Outside of the Continental United States (Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, etc)

OCS Officer Candidate School: An opportunity for enlisted personnel to go to school

to become a commissioned officer.

Ombudsman Someone, usually a spouse, appointed by the Command to act as the official

liaison between the Command and the families and to serve as an information and

referral person. The Ombudsman is not the unit social director.

PCS Permanent Change of Station: Relocation from one permanent unit, ship or

station to another.

PSC The Personnel Support Center in Topeka, Kansas. This is the division of the

Coast Guard that deals with pay, personnel issues and travel advances.

POC Point of Contact: The "go to" person for that program or service.

PSU Port Security Unit. A unit comprised of mostly reserve members who

are tasked with safeguarding critical or vital ports of commerce worldwide.

Rank Grade or official standing of a military member.

RAS Retiree Annuitant Section is a division at PSC Topeka that deals with

all aspects of Coast Guard retirees pay.

Rate Job classification with the Coast Guard such as Damage Controlman (DC).

SBP Survivor’s Benefit Program. An optional program that a retiring member can

SEAP Spouse Employment Assistance Program. A program administered by Work

Life to assist Coast Guard spouses with resumes, job search skills, etc.

SGLI Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance: Life insurance coverage that can be

SPM Self Procured Move: (DITY move.) When a member elects

to move all or a portion of their household goods when PCSing.

SPO Servicing Personnel Office: Yeoman who deal with pay and personnel

issues, usually found at the Sector, Group or Air Station.

Sponsor This term can be used in two ways. One type of sponsor is the Active Duty

TAD Temporary Additional Duty: A period of time spent away from the permanent

duty station, generally for school or other training.

TAP Transition Assistance Program. A program offered through Work Life for

military members who are separating or retiring that covers resumes, job search

benefits, etc.

TLE Temporary Lodging Expense is an allowance to help offset the cost of meals

and lodging in connection with a PCS move.

TO Transportation Office: The office that an active duty member works with to

arrange movement of HHG or to report damages to HHG during a PCS.

TRICARE The medical insurance provided to military members and their families. There

may be several levels of TRICARE available based on the unit location.

TRM Transition & Relocation Manager: Member of the Work-Life staff who

assists with relocation issues and/or issues for members leaving the service. The

TRM also administers the Spouse Employment Assistance Program.

TSC TRICARE Service Center: Customer service office for Tricare.

TSP Thrift Saving Plan: A retirement plan that members may elect to participate in.

UCCI United Concordia Companies, Inc. The contractor who currently provides

optional dental insurance for military family members.

UCMJ Uniform Code of Military Justice: The penal code of the military which applies

to all service members regardless of rank or branch of service.

VA Department of Veteran’s Affairs. A federal agency that is offers various benefits

to honorably separated/retired military personnel. Some of the benefits include

a home loan guarantee, disability compensation and medical care.

VGLI Veteran’s Group Life Insurance. A renewable 5 year term policy that is offered to

separating and retiring members to replace the SGLI benefits they lose.

XO Executive Officer: An officer who is second in command of a ship or unit.

XPO Executive Petty Officer: An enlisted member who is second in command of a ship or unit.