GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THE XO
The officer and enlisted ranks parallel each other from lowest to highest marking the career progression of a soldier. There are 9 levels for enlisted, and 10 for officers. This list shows the ones pertinent to the story from highest to lowest. | |
Enlisted Rank Structure |
Officer Rank Structure |
CSM - Command Sergeant Major | GEN - General |
1SG - First Sergeant | *See Note Below |
SFC - Sergeant First Class | * See Note Below |
SSG - Staff Sergeant | COL - Colonel |
SGT - Sergeant | LTC - Lieutenant Colonel |
SP4 - Specialist Fourth Class | MAJ - Major |
PFC - Private First Class | CPT - Captain |
PV2 - Private | 1LT - First Lieutenant |
PVT - Private | 2LT - Second Lieutenant |
*I did not break down the rank of General because it isn't pertinent to the story.
For you military types, I purposely left out Corporal, Master Sergeant, and Sergeant Major because they are not used in the story, and I did not want to address the dual rank structure.
NICKNAMES
Butter Bar - 2LT
Old Man - Battalion Commander
Smadge -Command Sergeant Major.
Top - First Sergeant
XO- Executive Officer
OTHER COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS
Article 15 - the Army's form of nonjudicial punishment. Used for punishment of
offenses, not considered serious enough to merit a court martial.
BOQ - Bachelor Officer Quarters
Commo - Communications Section
Fraternization - Personal interaction between soldiers of differing ranks is not
authorized. For instance, officer and enlisted may not enter into a personal relationship.
Senior NCO's and lower enlisted relationships are also forbidden.
NBC - Nuclear, Biological, Chemical - For purposes of the story, the Section that
handles protective gear for soldiers, and trains them to use it.
NCO - Noncommissioned Officer - refers to all those in the rank of Sergeant and
above.
NCOIC - Noncommissioned Officer In Charge - Refers to a NCO in charge of a Section.
POV - Privately owned vehicle
PT - Physical Training
Senior NCO - Refers to all Sergeants of the rank SFC or above.