When you gain the title of being a “Military Spouse,” there’s a lot more that comes with it than a wedding ring and dependent ID. Turns out, there’s a whole vocabulary that one needs to learn to keep up with the lingo bouncing off the buildings on base. To help you get caught up, here are some of the essential new words you’ll want to add to your newfound habitat.
20 ESSENTIAL VOCAB WORDS FOR THE MILITARY SPOUSE
BAH – Basic Allowance for Housing
BAS – Basic Allowance for Subsistence
Chit – A request or voucher
CO – Commanding Officer (keep it in mind whenever your SO talks about their CO)
COLA – Cost of Living Allowance
Commissary – It’s the food place! Families and military members can buy food here.
Post Exchange/Base Exchange – A mix of Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Lowes all in one.
Commission – Officers are given rank and authority through written orders, also known as commissions.
CONUS – Continental United States
DEERS – Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (a system that determines eligibility for TRICARE)
DFAS – Defense Financing & Accounting Service (your paycheck processors)
DOD – Department of Defense
EM – Enlisted Member
FCP – Family Care Program
FSSA – Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance
HHG – Household Goods
Leave – Service members earn 2.5 days of paid vacation days per month
OCONUS – Outside the Continental United States
PCS – Permanent Change of Station (moving)
TSP – Thrift Savings Plan
VA – Department of Veteran Affairs
Feel prepared? Let us know if this helps and for those military spouse veterans, let us know if there is other lingo that newbies need to know about!
*List courtesy of Samantha Reeves, www.veteransunited.com