Joining
- ASVAB Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
The aptitude test that decides whether you can enlist and which jobs you qualify for. See the ASVAB guide.
- AFQT Armed Forces Qualification Test
The composite score pulled from four ASVAB sections, reported as a percentile from 1 to 99. This is the number that decides if you can enlist.
- MEPS Military Entrance Processing Station
Where you complete the physical, the paperwork, your job selection, and the Oath of Enlistment. Plan for a long day.
- RSP Recruit Sustainment Program
The SC Guard drill weekends between signing and shipping to Basic. It keeps you ready and connected.
- DEP Delayed Entry Program
The gap between enlisting and shipping. On the Guard side, RSP fills that role.
- DEERS Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
The database behind your military ID card, health coverage, and benefits.
- USERRA Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
The federal law that protects your civilian job and benefits while you serve.
Training
- BCT Basic Combat Training
The initial roughly ten-week Army training. Many South Carolina Soldiers attend at Fort Jackson.
- AIT Advanced Individual Training
Job-specific training that follows Basic. Length depends on your MOS.
- OSUT One Station Unit Training
Basic and AIT run back to back at one location, used for some jobs.
- AT Annual Training
About two weeks of full-time training each year with your unit, usually in summer.
- IDT Inactive Duty Training
The drill weekend. It is called inactive only because you are not on active-duty orders. You are still paid.
- MUTA Multiple Unit Training Assembly
A drill period. A standard drill weekend is four MUTAs.
- BLC Basic Leader Course
The first NCO leadership school. Required to be promoted to Sergeant.
- OCS / WOCS Officer / Warrant Officer Candidate School
The schools that commission you as an officer, or appoint you as a warrant officer.
Jobs & rank
- MOS Military Occupational Specialty
Your job, named by a code such as 11B (infantry) or 25B (information technology).
- NCO Noncommissioned Officer
A Sergeant, E-5 and above. The Army calls them the backbone. See the ranks.
- NCOIC / OIC NCO / Officer In Charge
The senior enlisted leader, or the officer, responsible for a task or area.
- CSM Command Sergeant Major
The senior enlisted leader of a unit at battalion level and above.
- TAG The Adjutant General
The two-star officer who runs a state's National Guard. See the chain of command.
Health & fitness
- MEDPROS Medical Protection System
The database that tracks your medical readiness as green, amber, or red. See the MEDPROS note.
- PULHES Physical profile
Six factors set at your entry physical: Physical capacity, Upper extremities, Lower extremities, Hearing, Eyes, and Psychiatric.
- AFT Army Fitness Test
The five-event physical fitness test of record. See the fitness lesson.
- H2F Holistic Health and Fitness
The Army's whole system for readiness, performance, injury prevention, and recovery. The fitness test is one piece of it.
- TRS TRICARE Reserve Select
The military health plan available to Guard and Reserve members.
Day to day
- OPSEC Operations Security
Not sharing details, online or off, that could put people or missions at risk.
- SOP Standard Operating Procedure
The written, agreed way a unit performs a task, so everyone does it the same.
- PCS Permanent Change of Station
A move to a new duty station. Rare for most drilling Guard Soldiers.
- TDY Temporary Duty
A short assignment away from your home unit.
- ETS Expiration Term of Service
The date your current enlistment contract ends.
- POC Point of Contact
The person to go to about a specific thing.
Pay
- LES Leave and Earnings Statement
Your military pay stub. It shows what you earned, what was withheld, and your leave balance.
- BAH Basic Allowance for Housing
A housing allowance paid in some statuses. The amount depends on rank, location, and dependents.
- BAS Basic Allowance for Subsistence
A food allowance paid in some statuses.
SOURCES: DEFINITIONS DRAWN FROM OFFICIAL ARMY AND NATIONAL GUARD USAGE (ARMY.MIL, NATIONALGUARD.COM, TRICARE.MIL) · MEANINGS CAN CARRY LOCAL NUANCE; YOUR UNIT AND RECRUITER ARE THE FINAL WORD · CURRENT AS OF PULSE CHECK DATE