Terms / Acronyms:

Terms/Acronyms

ALS:  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

AMAP V:  Army Medical Action Plan; study released by the Army in October 2007 that details the mental health of the Army.

CBOCs: Community Based Outpatient Clinics, smaller health clinics run by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

CHAMPVA:  Civilian Health and Medical Program of VA

Claim:  A formal disability request routed through the DVA.

COE:  Certificate of Eligibility

C&P:  Compensation and Pension

CRDP:  Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments

CRSC:  Combat-Related Special Compensation

CWT:  Compensated Work Therapy

CZTE:  Combat Zone Tax Exclusion

DIC:  Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

DOD:  Department of Defense

FHA:  Federal Housing Administration

FSGLI:  Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

HUD:  Department of Housing and Urban Development

IRR:   Individual Ready Reserve

MGIB:  Montgomery GI Bill

MHAT:  Military Health Advisory Team.  The fifth study was completed in the spring of 2008 and recommended an increase in mental health professionals on the ground during combat, and further follow-up care made available and without stigma to soldiers after they return from war.

MIA:  Missing in Action

MTBI:  Mild Traumatic Brain Injury; caused from a relatively mild blow to the brain that causes just enough physical injury that normal brain functions of memory, attention, mental organization, and logical thinking may be compromised.

NPRC:  National Personnel Records Center

NSLI:   National Service Life Insurance

OEF:  Operation Enduring Freedom; refers to the military operation in Afghanistan. 

OIF:  Operation Iraqi Freedom; refers to the military operation in Iraq. 

OPM:  Office of Personnel Management

POW:  Prisoner of War

PTSD:  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event.

Psychiatric Status:  A review of past and current psychological symptoms, and of traumatic experiences during military service.

RIF:  Reduction in Force

SAH:  Specially Adapted Housing

SBA:  Small Business Administration

SGLI:  Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

Social History:  A review of family, work, and educational experiences before, during, and after military service.

SSI:  Supplemental Security Income

SSB:  Special Separation Benefits

S-DVI:  Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance

TAP:  Transition Assistance Program

TBI:  Traumatic Brain Injury; sudden trauma causes damage to the brain.

TSGLI:  Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance

USCIS:  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USDA:  U.S. Department of Agriculture

VA:  Department of Veterans Affairs

VEAP:  Veterans Educational Assistance Program

VEOA:  Veterans’ Employment Opportunities Act

VGLI:  Veterans’ Group Life Insurance

VHA:  Veterans Health Administration

VMET:  Verification of Military Experience and Training

VMLI:  Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance

VR&E:  Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

VSI:  Voluntary Separation Incentive

VSO:  Veterans Service Organization (VFW, American Legion, AmVets).  They can provide service officers at no cost to the veteran to help with paperwork involved with filing a claim. 

WAAC:  Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps

WASPs:  Women Air Force Service Pilots

WTU:  Warrior Transition Unit.  Thirty-two facilities around the world designed to aid wounded soldiers and streamline the healing process (Army specific).