Translating military terms
Learn how to describe your military experiences in terms that civilian employers can understand.
One of the easiest ways to help employers understand your military experience is to substitute civilian equivalents for military terms, titles, ranks and acronyms as you write your cover letters and resumes, as well as in conversations. Here are some examples and ideas for accomplishing this.
Terms and acronyms
| Military |
Possible civilian terms |
|
TDY/TAD
|
business travel
|
|
PCS
|
relocation
|
|
OER/NCOER
|
performance appraisal
|
|
MOS/MOC
|
career field
|
|
Commanded
|
supervised, directed
|
|
Battalion, Unit, Platoon
|
organization, agency, department
|
|
Mission
|
responsibility, task, objective, job
|
|
Combat/War
|
hazardous conditions, conflict
|
|
Headquarters
|
headquarters, corporate office
|
|
Subordinates
|
employees, co-workers
|
|
Service members
|
employees, co-workers, colleagues, personnel, individuals
|
|
Military Personnel Office (MILPO)
Personnel Action Center (PAC)
|
personnel office
|
|
Regulations
|
guidance, policy, instructions
|
|
Reconnaissance
|
data collection, survey, analysis
|
|
TDA/MTOE
|
organizational structure, material resources, manpower
|
|
Job titles
Do not get caught up in military titles (Captain, Major, Sergeant). Focus more on communicating the functional area of the job title (Communications Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, and Nurse). Here are some common translations that may be helpful:
| Military |
Possible civilian titles |
|
NCOIC, Watch Captain, Petty Officer of the Watch
|
Supervisor, Manager, Coordinator
|
|
Commander, Chief
|
Division Head, Director, Senior Manager
|
|
Executive Officer (XO)
|
Deputy Director, Assistant Manager
|
|
Action Officer (AO)
|
Analyst (or Senior Analyst if applicable)
|
|
Senior Field Grade Officer (O5-O7)
|
Chief Executing Officer (CEO), Director, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Deputy Chief Administrator
|
|
Field Grade Officer (O4)
|
Executive Officer, Deputy Director, Assistant to the Director, Operations Manager
|
|
Company Grade Officer (O1-O3)
|
Operations Officer, Program Administrator Supervisor
|
|
Warrant Officer
|
Technical Manager/Specialist/Department Manager
|
|
Senior NCOs
|
First-Line Supervisor
|
|
Sergeant Major
|
Senior Advisor
|
|
First Sergeant
|
Personnel Supervisor
|
|
Squad Leader
|
Team Leader/Team Chief
|
|
Supply Sergeant
|
Supply Manager/Logistics Manager
|
|
Operations NCO
|
Operations Supervisor
|
|
Platoon Sergeant
|
Supervisor/ Instructor/Trainer
|
|
Military schools
Make your classroom achievements easy to understand. Feel free to edit course titles for clarity’s sake. Here are some common examples:
| Military |
Classroom achievements |
|
Basic Training
|
Basic Skills Course
|
|
Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
|
Advanced Skills Course (note career field)
|
|
Warrior Leader Course (WLC)
|
Basic Leadership Development Course
|
|
Advanced Leader Course (ALC)
|
Advanced Leadership and Management Development Course
|
|
Senior Leader Course (SLC)
|
Senior-level Leadership, Technical and Management Development Course
|
|
Officer Career Course
|
Junior Officer Training Course
|
|
Combined Arms Staff College
|
Senior Managerial Leadership School
|
|
Command and Staff College
|
Senior Leaders Program
|
|
War College
|
Executive Leadership School
|
|
Remember, it is not necessary to list all the training completed, just the most recent and relevant courses.
Awards
For a civilian resume, include only those awards relevant to outstanding job performance, and those related to the position you are applying for. Briefly explain the reason for the award, for example: "Received Navy Achievement Medal for Train the Trainer course creation and presentation provided to over 60 executive level employees to support Department of Defense system migration."