Military definitions

I am sure many of you wonder what a certain acronym you hear on the news means. Guys like me who have been in or around the military for 16 years take our language for granted. We sometimes forget that the normal citizen back home doesn't understand us. Below are a few I have put together. I try to include these in my initial letter to people who have written me. If someone comes across one elsewhere that they aren't sure about, ask me. I love talking about the Army.

AIF=against Iraqi forces (aka insurgents, terrorists, etc)
AUTOMEDICS=the 2nd battalion 8th Field Artillery Regiment medics. A play on words actually, comes from our battalion motto, Automatic. Comes from the Korean War when captured North Korean prisoners asked to see the new "automatic" artillery that had been relentlessly shooting at them.
BAS=Battalion Aid Station
BDE=Brigade
BN=Battalion
BTRY=Battery (field artillery units are called batteries, infantry units are called companies)
CO=Company
CPT=Captain
FA=Field Artillery
FOB=Forward Operating Base
IA=Iraqi Army (once called ING)
ING=Iraqi National Guard (recently changed to IA)
KBR=Kellogg Brown and Root (civilian contractor from the states)
LDR-Leader
LSA=Logistical Support Area
MEV=Medical Evacuation Vehicle (Medical variant of the Stryker)
MEDCAP=Medical Civil Action Program
MUKTAR=Clan or Family leader
PA=PhysicianÂ’s Assistant
PFC=Private First Class E-3
PL=Platoon Leader, an officerÂ’s job, usually a lieutenant
PLT=Platoon
PSG=Platoon Sergeant, an enlisted job, usually a Sergeant First Class (SFC)
R&R=Rest and Recuperation (leave or pass)
SF=Special Forces
SGT=Sergeant E-5
SPC=Specialist E-4
SSG=Staff Sergeant E-6
TOC=Tactical Operating Center; command and control center while in the field
VBIED=Vehicle borne improvised explosive device.