Marines have lots of acronyms

  If you are a Yuma-based Marine, you may know what a VMFA is. You know the meaning of SAR, WTI or STOVL.

  If you aren't now or never were in the Marines, you may be scratching your head right about now.

  Every occupation, every career field has its own set of jargon and acronyms, and the military in general - and Marine Corp in particular - are no exception.

  Here are some common acronyms heard at the Marine Corps Air Staition in Yuma:

  MCAS - Marine Corps Air Station

  MAG - Marine Aircraft Group

  VMA - Marine Attack Squadron (The V means it's a fixed-wing squadron.) (Flies AV-8B Harrier)

  MALS - Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron

  MACS - Marine Air Control Squadron

  MWSS - Marine Wing Support Squadron

  MAWTS - Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron

  VMFT - Marine Fighter Training Squadron

  CLC - Combat Logistics Company

  HMLA - Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (The H mean it's a rotary-wing squadron.) (flies AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 Huey)

  HMM - Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (flies CM-46 Sea Stallions)

  HMH - Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (flies CH-53 Super Stallions)

  VMFA - Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron (flies F/A-18 Hornets)

  VMGR - Marine Aerial Refuel and Transport Squadron (flies KC-130 Hercules)

  VMM - Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (flies MV-22 Osprey)

  WTI - Weapons and Tactics Instructors course

  STOVL - Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (AV-8B Harriers do this)

  FARP - Forward Arming Refueling Point

  CAX - Combined Arms Exercise (i.e. exercise combining ground direct (machine guns), indirect (artillery) and aviation weapons.)

  JDAM - Joint Direct Attack Munition

  JSF - Joint Strike Fighter

  UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

  GWOT - Global War on Terrorism

  OEF - Operation Enduring Freedom

  OIF - Operation Iraqi Freedom

  MAGTF - Marine Air-Ground Task Force

  JTF - Joint Task Force

  HQMC - Headquarters Marine Corps

  MEF - Marine Expeditionary Force

  MEB - Marine Expeditionary Brigade

  MEU - Marine Expeditionary Unit

  MAW - Marine Aircraft Wing

  ATC - Air Traffic Control

  ARFF - Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting

  SAR - Search and Rescue

  PMO - Provost Marshal's Office (i.e. military police)

  EOD - Explosive Ordnance Disposal

  IED - Improvise Explosive Device

Here are some other common Marine terms and acronyms:

  Field Day - general clean up of an area. Usually used as a verb, i.e. "I need to field day my barracks room."

  PT - physical training (i.e. exercise). Also used as a noun ("We have PT in the morning.), a verb ("I am going to go PT.") and an adjective ("I am going to change into PT gear.")

  TAD - Temporary Additional Duty. Think "business trip."

  POV - Privately Owned Vehicle (i.e. personal vehicle)

  DNCO - Duty Noncommissioned Officer