a. Abbreviations, brevity codes, and acronyms in this regulation may be used when preparing military records, publications, correspondence, messages, operation plans, orders, and reports within DA, except as qualified in h below.
b. Abbreviations, brevity codes, and acronyms that conflict with this regulation will not be used in official correspondence or Army publications.
c. Do not use an abbreviation, brevity code, or acronym unless--
(1) Usage saves time.
(2) The lack of space in a table or form makes it necessary.
(3) It is readily understood and can be identified by the recipient.
d. Except as indicated below, abbreviations, brevity codes, and acronyms used in correspondence with the other DOD Services, Armies of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia-will be spelled out the first time used, followed by the abbreviation, brevity code, or acronym in parentheses.
(1) Customary or assigned short titles of official publications.
(2) Abbreviations for points of the compass.
(3) Model designations and symbols assigned to aircraft, missiles, vessels, and vehicles.
(4) Abbreviations for titles, ranks, and grades.
(5) Standard abbreviations for geographical locations.
(6) Standard dictionary abbreviations.
(7) Abbreviations for types of weather phenomena used by aerologists and meteorologists.
(8) Flight plan abbreviations set by the Federal Aviation Administration or the International Civil Aviation Organization.
(9) Abbreviations used by specialists and technicians when communicating with colleagues only.
e. Under the terms of Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 2066 (AR 340-10), abbreviations, brevity codes, and acronyms normally are not used in military correspondence between Allied Forces. When used, they will be spelled out and followed by the authorized abbreviation, brevity code, or acronym in parentheses. Commonly used international metric terms are authorized.
f. As governed by Quadripartite Standardization Agreement (QSTAG) 163, the following abbreviations may be used in military communications among United States, United Kingdom, Canadian, and Australia Armies:
(1) Those printed in italics in chapters 2 and 3, and those listed in chapter 4.
(2) Those common to technical areas are used among similar offices.
g. The short form for abbreviating the grade of rank titles of colonel and below may be used when abbreviation is desire for official correspondence, literature, personal correspondence. automatic data processing (ADP) applications, and the areas where space is limited. The full grade of rank title will be used when corresponding with the general public and non-DOD agencies. The full general officer title will be used on official correspondence. The short form of abbreviating general officer grade of rank (LTG, MG, BG), may be used on informal correspondence and personal correspondence as desired. Short form abbreviations for military grade of rank are shown in chapters 2 and 3.
h. Abbreviations, brevity codes, and acronyms not contained in this regulation may be used within DA under the following conditions:
(1) When needed to meet electric accounting machine requirements.
(2) When published as part of a DOD or DA standard data element. Questions on the suitability of abbreviations in the standard data elements are resolved by the Commander, U.S. Army Information Systems Software Support Command, ATTN ASB-TE, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5456.
(3) In correspondence between office and activities in the same scientific or technical field where specialized abbreviations have been developed.
(4) To process supply requisitions as prescribed in DA directives.
(5) When commonly used and listed in standard dictionaries and are not in conflict with this regulation.