Abbreviations are of three basic kinds:
Clippings, in which a shortened form of a word occurs. Common clippings in Singapore are: air-con (from "air-conditioner"), condo (from "condominium"), sabo (from "sabotage"), and cert (from "certificate").
Acronyms, in which the initial letters are formed into a single word, such as scuba, which is derived from "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus". Creation of acronyms such as this is rare in Singapore English, though TIBS (/ˈtɪbz/, "Trans-Island Bus Service") and CISCO (/ˈsɪskoʊ/, "Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation") are found.
Initialisms, in which the individual letters are spelled out. This is by far the most common category in Singapore, including PAP ("People's Action Party") and PIE ("Pan-Island Expressway"), which are pronounced /ˌpiː ˌeɪ ˈpiː/ and /ˌpiː ˌaɪ ˈiː/ respectively and never */ˈpæp/ and */ˈpaɪ/. Some analysts regard initialisms such as these as one kind of acronym, but others prefer to distinguish between the two categories.
Initialisms are extremely common in Singapore, and many have become better known and more widely used than the full form of the words they represent. One example is the Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital, which is more commonly referred to as KK.
The most important category of Singapore initialisms are those for government departments and public institutions. Among the earliest examples are PUB ("Public Utilities Board") and HDB ("Housing Development Board"). Abbreviations such as these were especially important in the past when most Singaporeans were not educated in English, and their use facilitated communication in the public services where the main administrative language is English. Government departments have therefore promoted the use of these initialisms, so they occur even in non-English publications. Although the younger generation of Singaporeans are now all educated in English, abbreviations remain a major characteristic of Singapore English.
There are efforts to maintain some consistency among the initialisms. Three letters are used for government institutions (PUB, HDB, CPF, MOH, CWO) and for expressways (AYE, PIE, KJE), while two letters are used for polytechnics (SP, RP). To maintain this consistency, some abbreviations are not direct initials; for example CTE is used for "Central Expressway" instead of *CE, and NP is used for "Ngee Ann Polytechnic" instead of *NAP. When the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was established in 1991, the name was chosen instead of the alternative "Nanyang University of Technology" because the latter would have resulted in the unsuitable NUT. While Anderson Secondary School has shortened its name to ANDSS instead of ASS.
Recently, there have emerged a number of unconventional abbreviations, such as A*Star for Agency for Science, Technology and Research.) When SAFTI (Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute) was reorganised in 1995, it acquired the name SAFTI Military Institute, further abbreviated as SAFTI MI, which when fully expanded would form a rather awkward title Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute Military Institute.
4D - 4-Digits, a Singapore lottery
5 C's - 5 C's of Singapore: Cash, Car, Credit card, Condominium, Country club
6 C's - 6 C's of Singapore: Career, Cash, Car, Credit card, Condominium, Country club
A*Star - Agency for Science, Technology and Research
AA - Asian Aerospace
ACS (J) - Anglo-Chinese Junior School
ACM - Asian Civilisations Museum
ACPS - Anglo-Chinese Primary School
ACRES - Animal Concerns Research And Research Society
ACS - Anglo-Chinese School
ACS(I) - Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
ACSS - Anglo-Chinese Secondary School
ACJC - Anglo-Chinese Junior College
A & G - Allen & Gledhill, a law firm
AG - Attorney-General
AGC - Attorney-General's Chambers
AHS - Anglican High School
AISS - Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School, Australian International School Singapore
AJ - (Pig Latin slang) Gay (typically male)
AJC - Anderson Junior College
ALL - Animal Lovers League
AMK - Ang Mo Kio
AMP - Association of Muslim Professionals
APP - Assistant Public Prosecutor (see also "DPP" and "PP")
APPLES - Application for Passport On-line Electronic System
AR - Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore
AWARE - Association of Women for Action and Research
AYE - Ayer Rajah Expressway
BCA - Building and Construction Authority
BBDC - Bukit Batok Driving Centre
BGR - (slang) boy-girl relationship
BKE - Bukit Timah Expressway
BMT - Basic Military Training
BPGHS - Bukit Panjang Government High School
BPLRT - Bukit Panjang LRT Line
BPP - Bukit Panjang Plaza
BPT - Basic Police Training
BPJ - Bukit Panjang
BRT - Basic Rescue Training
BSEP - Bus Service Enhancement Programme
BTO - Build To Order (HDB)
BTS - Baptist Theological Seminary
BTT - Basic Theory Test
CAAS - Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
CBD - Central Business District
CBP - Changi Business Park
CBPU - Central Building Plan Unit
CCA - Co-curricular activity
CCC - Chinese Chamber of Commerce; Citizen's Consultative Committee
CCHS - Chung Cheng High School
CCK - Choa Chu Kang
CCL or CC - Circle MRT Line
CCR - Core Central Region
CCSS - Changkat Changi Secondary School
CDAC - Chinese Development Assistance Council
CDC - Community Development Council
CEPAS - Contactless e-Purse Application System
CHC - City Harvest Church
CHIJ - Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
CHS - Catholic High School, Singapore
CNB - Central Narcotics Bureau
CID - Criminal Investigation Department
CIL or CI - Cross Island MRT Line
CIP - Community Involvement Project
CIQ - Custom & Immigration Quarantine
CJ - Chief Justice
CJC - Catholic Junior College
COE - Certificate of Entitlement
CPF - Central Provident Fund
CPIB - Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
CSC - Community Sports Club
CTE - Central Expressway
CWO - Corrective Work Order
CWP - Causeway Point
CWS - Cat Welfare Society
D & D - Dinner & Dance, a function usually organised annually by companies
D & N - Drew & Napier LLC, a law firm
DART - Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team
DBS - Development Bank of Singapore (now known as DBS Bank)
DBSS - Design, Build and Sell Scheme
DHS - Dunman High School
DJ - District Judge
DPP - Deputy Public Prosecutor (see also "APP" and "PP") or Direct Entry Scheme to Polytechnic Programme (via ITE)
DR - Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court or the Subordinate Courts of Singapore
DSO - Defence Science Organisation
DSTA - Defence Science and Technology Agency /ˈdɛstə/
DTL or DT - Downtown MRT Line
EC - Executive Condominium
ECP - East Coast Park
EDB - Economic Development Board
EDP - Endeavour Primary School
eGAP - eGovernment Action Plan
EP - Employment Pass
ERP - Electronic Road Pricing
EWL or EW - East West MRT Line
FAS - Financial Assistance Scheme
FAS - Football Association of Singapore
FCBC - Faith Community Baptist Church
FMSS - Oh, It's Fairfield Fairfield Methodist Secondary School
FMPS - FairField Primary (FFP)
FTT - Final Theory Test
FT - Foreign Talent
GAD - Go and Die
GAS - Go-Ahead Singapore
GBTB - Gardens by the Bay
GCE - General Certificate of Education
GCM - Government Contracting Model
GCT - Goh Chok Tong
GEP - Gifted Education Programme
GIS - Global Indian School
GRC - Group representation constituency
GSS - Great Singapore Sale
GST - Goods and Services Tax
GV - Golden Village
GYSS - Guang Yang Secondary School
HCI - Hwa Chong Institution
HCJC - Hwa Chong Junior College, now merged with The Chinese High School as Hwa Chong Institution.
HDB - Housing Development Board
HEB - Hindu Endowments Board
HG - Hougang
HOGC - Heart of God Church
HIP - Home Improvement Programme
HPB - Health Promotion Board
HPPS - Henry Park Primary School
HS - Hougang Secondary School
HSA - Health Sciences Authority
HYSS-Hua Yi Secondary School
IC - Identity health, or In charge
ICBC - Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
ICS - International Community School of Singapore
IDA - Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
IP - Integrated Programme
IPPT - Individual Physical Proficiency Test
IR - Integrated Resort
IRO - Inter-Religious Organisation of Singapore
ISA - Internal Security Act
ISD - Internal Security Department
ITE - Institute of Technical Education
IUP - Interim Upgrading Programme
J - Judge (plural: JJ)
J8 - Junction 8 Shopping Centre
JA - Judge of Appeal (plural: JJA)
JB - Johor Bahru
JC - Judicial Commissioner or Junior College
JBJ - Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam
JEM - Jurong East Mall
JEMP - Jurong East Modification Project
JJC - Jurong Junior College
JP - Jurong Point Shopping Mall
JRL or JR - Jurong Region MRT Line
JTC - Jurong Town Corporation (now known as JTC Corporation)
KIV - Keep In View; refers to items, documents or papers that should be kept around for later consideration
KJE - Kranji Expressway
KK - Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital
KL - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
KPE - Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway
KTPH - Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
LCK - Lim Chu Kang
LHL - Lee Hsien Loong
LKCMedicine - Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University
LKY - Lee Kuan Yew
LRT - Light Rapid Transit
LTA - Land Transport Authority
LUP - Lift Upgrading Programme
MAS - Monetary Authority of Singapore
MBFC - Marina Bay Financial Centre
MBLM - Marina Bay Link Mall
MBS - Marina Bay Sands
MC - Medical Certificate
MCD - Ministry of Community Development (now MCYS)
MCE - Marina Coastal Expressway
MCS - Methodist Church in Singapore
MCYS - Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (Singapore)
MDA - Media Development Authority
MDIS - Management Development Institute of Singapore
MENDAKI - Yayasan MENDAKI (formerly the Council for the Education of Muslim Children, now the Council for the Development of Singapore Muslim Community)
MGS - Methodist Girls' School
MI - Millennia Institute
MJC - Meridian Junior College
MJR - Manjusri Secondary School
MICA - Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Singapore)
MITA - Ministry of Information and the Arts (now MICA)
MINDEF - Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
MOE - Ministry of Education (Singapore)
MOF - Ministry of Finance (Singapore)
MOH - Ministry of Health (Singapore)
MOM - Ministry of Manpower (Singapore)
MRT - Mass Rapid Transit
MSL - Marsiling Secondary School
MUIS - Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore)
NAFA - Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
NAS - National Archives of Singapore
NCC - National Cadet Corps (Singapore) or New Creation Church
NCDCC - National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (Singapore)
NCMP - Non-constituency Member of Parliament
NCS - National Computer Systems
NCSS - National Council of Social Service
NDP - National Day Parade
NE - National Education
NEA - National Environment Agency
NEL or NE- North East MRT Line
NETS - Network for Electronic Transfers
NIE - National Institute of Education
NJC - National Junior College
NKF - National Kidney Foundation Singapore
NLB - National Library Board
NMP - Nominated Member of Parliament
NMS - National Museum of Singapore
NP - Ngee Ann Polytechnic
NPARKS - National Parks Board
NPCC - National Police Cadet Corps
NRIC - National Registration Identity Card
NRP - Neighbourhood Renewal Programme
NS - National Service in Singapore
NSE - North–South Expressway (Singapore)
NSF - Full-time National Service
NSL or NS- North South MRT Line
NSTB - National Science and Technology Board
NTC - National Technical Certificate
NTFGH - Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
NTPS - New Town Primary School
NTU - Nanyang Technological University
NTUC - National Trade Union Congress
NUH - National University Hospital
NUS - National University of Singapore
NUSH or NUSHS - National University of Singapore High School of Mathematics and Science
NWC - National Wages Council
NYGH - Nanyang Girls' High School
NYK - Nanyang Kindergarten
NYP - Nanyang Polytechnic
NYPS - Nanyang Primary School
NYJC - Nanyang Junior College
OB - Out of Bounds (see OB marker)
OBS - Outward Bound School
OCBC - Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
OCR - Outside of Central Region
OCS - Officer Cadet School (Singapore)
OFS - Overseas Family School
OPSS - Orchid Park Secondary School
ORD - Operationally Ready Date, refers to the date on which a National Serviceman completes his 2-year term of service.
OSS - Outram Secondary School
OUB - Overseas Union Bank
O$P$ - owe money, pay money – used in loan sharks' harassing graffiti.
PA - People's Association
PAP - People's Action Party
PCK - Phua Chu Kang, a popular TV sitcom
PDI - Private Driving Instructor
PE - Physical Education
PFP - Polytechnic Foundation Programme
PG - Punggol
PHS - Presbyterian High School
PIE - Pan Island Expressway
PJC - Pioneer Junior College
PLU - People Like Us, a gay equality lobby group
POSB - Post Office Savings Bank (now POSBank)
PP - Public Prosecutor (see also "APP" and "DPP") or Parkway Parade
PROGRESS - Providing Opportunities through Growth, Remaking Singapore for Success
PSA - Port of Singapore Authority (now PSA International)
PSC - Public Service Commission
PSLE - Primary School Leaving Examination
PUB - Public Utilities Board
PWD - Public Works Department
PR - Permanent resident
PT - Practical Test; Physical Training
PDL - Provisional Driving Licence
QDL - Qualified Driving Licence
R & T - Rajah & Tann, a law firm
RC - Residents' Committee
RCR - Rest of Central Region
RCS - Radio Corporation of Singapore
REP - Renaissance Engineering Programme
RGPS - Raffles Girls' Primary School
RGS - Raffles Girls' School
RI - Raffles Institution
RJ or RJC - Raffles Junior College
RMPS - Radin Mas Primary School
ROM - Registry of Marriages
RP - Republic Polytechnic
RSAF - Republic of Singapore Air Force
RSN - Republic of Singapore Navy
RWS - Resorts World Sentosa
RVHS - River Valley High School, Singapore
SAF - Singapore Armed Forces
SAFRA - SAFRA National Service Association
SAIL - Strategies for Active and Independent Learning
SAJC - St Andrew's Junior College
SAL - Singapore Academy of Law
SAM - Singapore Art Museum
SANA - Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association
SAP - Special Assistance Plan
SAR - Senior Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore
SAS - Singapore American School
SAWL - Singapore Association of Women Lawyers
SBI - State Bank of India
SBS/SBST - SBS Transit
SBW - Sembawang
SC - Senior Counsel
SCDF - Singapore Civil Defence Force
SCGS - Singapore Chinese Girls' School
SCS - Science Centre, Singapore
SCS - Singapore Computer Systems
SDA - Singapore Democratic Alliance
SDJ - Senior District Judge
SDP - Singapore Democratic Party
SDU - Social Development Unit
SERS - Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme
SFI - Singapore Food Industries
SG - Solicitor-General
SGH - Singapore General Hospital
SGSS - Saint Gabriel's Secondary School
SGX - Singapore Exchange
SIA - Singapore Airlines
SICC - Singapore Island Country Club
SILS - Singapore Institute of Labour Studies
SIM - Singapore Institute of Management
SINDA - Singapore Indian Development Association
SIT - Singapore Institute of Technology
SJAB - St. John Ambulance Brigade
SJI - St. Joseph's Institution
SJII - St. Joseph's Institution International
SJIJ - St. Joseph's Institution Junior
SK - Sengkang
SKGH - Sengkang General Hospital
SLA - Singapore Land Authority
SLC - Student Leaders' Council
SLF - Singapore Labour Foundation
SLO - Singapore Lyric Opera
SLS - Sim Lim Square
SMa - Singapore Manufacturers' Federation
SMC - Single Member Constituency
SMRT - SMRT Corporation
SMSS - St. Margaret's Secondary School
SMU - Singapore Management University
SNO - Special needs officer
SNOC - Singapore National Olympic Council
SNPC - Singapore National Paralympic Council
SOS - Samaritans of Singapore; (slang) struggling in silence
SP - Singapore Polytechnic
SPA - School-based Practical Assessment
SPCA - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
SPF - Singapore Police Force
SPH - Singapore Press Holdings
SPG - (slang) sarong party girl
SPS - Saint Patrick's School
SRJC - Serangoon Junior College
SRP - Skills Redevelopment Programme
SQ - Singapore Airlines
SS - Social Studies
SSC - Singapore Sports Council; Singapore Swimming Club
SSDC - Singapore Safety Driving Centre
SSO - Singapore Symphony Orchestra
SST - School of Science and Technology, Singapore
SST - Singapore Standard Time
ST - Singapore Technologies
STAR - Special Tactics and Rescue
STARIS - SMRT Active Route Map Information System
SUTD - Singapore University of Technology and Design
SVPS - South View Primary School
SYAS - San Yu Adventist School
SYFC - Singapore Youth Flying Club
SYOGOC - Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee
SYT - Sweet Young Thing
TA - Temasek Academy
TCHS - The Chinese High School, now merged with Hwa Chong Junior College as Hwa Chong Institution.
TCS - Television Corporation of Singapore
TEL or TE- Thomson-East Coast MRT Line or telephone number.
TH - Temasek Hall, NUS
TIBS - Trans-Island Bus Services
TJC - Temasek Junior College
TKGS - Tanjong Katong Girls' School
TKSS - Tanjong Katong Secondary School
TNS - Tao Nan School
TOP - Temporary Occupancy Permit
TP - Temasek Polytechnic
TPY - Toa Payoh
TP - Traffic Police
TPG - Tanjong Pagar
TPJC - Tampines Junior College
TPS - Tampines Primary School
TPSS - Tampines Secondary School
TTC - Trinity Theological College, Singapore
TTS - Tanglin Trust School
TTS - Tower Transit Singapore
TTSH - Tan Tock Seng Hospital
TSS - Tanglin Secondary School
UOB - United Overseas Bank
URA - Urban Redevelopment Authority
UP - Usual Price
USS - Universal Studios Singapore
UWC or (UWCSEA) - United World College of South East Asia
VJC - Victoria Junior College
VS - Victoria School
VSS - Vegetarian Society (Singapore)
VWO - Voluntary Welfare Organisation
WDL - Woodlands, Singapore
WP - Workers' Party of Singapore
XMM - Xiao Mei Mei
XHH - Xiao Hun Hun
XMS - Xinmin Secondary School
YJC - Yishun Junior College
YSS - Yishun Secondary School
YTSS - Yishun Town Secondary School
YIS - Yishun
This is a list of abbreviations commonly used in the Singapore Armed Forces, including slang terms. They are often used in place of the expanded form of the words. Some abbreviations are similar to those used in other militaries.
These ranks are arranged in descending order of seniority
Officers
COL - Colonel
SLTC - Senior Lieutenant Colonel
LTC - Lieutenant Colonel
MAJ - Major
CPT - Captain
LTA - Lieutenant
2LT - Second Lieutenant
OCT - Officer Cadet
Warrant officers
CWO - Chief Warrant Officer (Unfortunately having the same abbreviation as Corrective Work Order)
SWO - Senior Warrant Officer
MWO - Master Warrant Officer
1WO - First Warrant Officer (formerly "WO1" or "WOI")
2WO - Second Warrant Officer (formerly "WO2" or "WOII")
3WO - Third Warrant Officer
Specialists
MSG - Master Sergeant
SSG - Staff Sergeant
1SG - First Sergeant
2SG - Second Sergeant
3SG - Third Sergeant
SGT - Sergeant (defunct – replaced by "1SG", "2SG" and "3SG")
SCT - Specialist Cadet
Enlistees
CFC - Corporal First Class
CPL - Corporal
LCP - Lance Corporal
PFC - Private First Class
PTE - Private
REC - Recruit
Appointments and offices
2IC - Second-in-charge (see "IC")
ASM - Army Sergeant Major
BC - Battery commander
BOS - Battalion Orderly Sergeant
BOS - Brigade Orderly Sergeant
BSM - Battery Sergeant Major
BSO - Battalion Signal Officer
CAO - Chief Armour Officer
CAF - Chief of Air Force
CCO - Camp Commandant's Office
CDF - Chief of Defence Force
CDO - Company Duty Officer
CDS - Company Duty Sergeant
CMC - Chief of Medical Corps
CNV - Chief of Navy
CO - Commanding Officer
COA - Chief of Army
COS - Company Orderly Sergeant
CQMS - or "CQ" - Company Quartermaster Sergeant
CSM - Company Sergeant Major (unlike many other countries, sergeant majors are appointments, not ranks)
DDO - Divisional Duty Officer
DO - Duty Officer
DOS - Duty Orderly Sergeant
DSM - Division Sergeant Major
Dy S1 - Deputy Manpower Officer
Dy S2 - Deputy Intelligence Officer
Dy S3 - Deputy Training and Operation Officer
Dy S4 - Deputy Logistic Officer
FDO - Field Duty Officer
FS - Fitness Specialist
FSM - Formation Sergeant Major
IC - (person) in command or in charge (see also "2IC")
IO - Intelligence Officer or Investigating Officer
MO - Medical Officer
MTO - Military Transport Officer
NO - Nursing Officer
NCO - Non-Commissioned Officer (defunct – replaced by "Specialist")
OC - Officer Commanding (Company Commander in other militaries)
PC - Platoon Commander
PS - Platoon Sergeant
PSO - Principal Staff Officer
PTI - Physical Training Instructor
QM - Quartermaster - usually a commissioned officer or a senior warrant officer
RQMS - Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant - usually a warrant officer in the SAF
RSM - Regimental Sergeant Major
S1 - Manpower Officer
S2 - Intelligence Officer
S3 - Training and Operation Officer
S4 - Logistic Officer
SDO - School Duty Officer (use is limited to training schools)
SM - Sergeant Major
WOSA - Warrant officers, specialists and airmen
WOSE - Warrant officers, specialists and enlistees
WOSPEC - Warrant officers and specialists
Units and organizations
AFTC - Air Force Training Centre
AMB - Army Maintenance Base
BMTC - Basic Military Training Centre
CAD - Combined Arms Division
CDO - Singapore Commandos
CMPB - Central Manpower Base
CSSCOM - Combat Service Support Command
DISCOM - Division Support Command
DSMB - Direct Support Maintenance Battalion (defunct, now renamed as "AMB" or Army Maintenance Base)
DS Med Bn - Direct Support Medical Battalion
DSSB - Direct Support Supply Battalion
DSTA - Defence Science Technology Agency
FCC - Fitness Conditioning Centre
FDS - Field Defence Squadron
GDS - Singapore Guards
JID - Joint Intelligence Directorate
JOPD - Joint Operations and Planning Directorate
MES - Maintenance and Engineering Support
MP - Military Police
MMI - Military Medicine Institute
NCC - National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
NDU - Naval Diving Unit (Singapore)
OCS - Officer Cadet School
OETI - Ordnance Engineering Training Institute
PDF - People's Defence Force
RSAF - Republic of Singapore Air Force
RSN - Republic of Singapore Navy
SA - Singapore Artillery
SAF - Singapore Armed Forces
SAFAC - Singapore Armed Forces Ammunition Command
SAFPU - Singapore Armed Forces Provost Unit (defunct, reorganised into the Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command)
SAFMPC - Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command
SAFRA - Singapore Armed Forces Reservists' Association (the term "reservist" has generally been replaced by "Operationally Ready NSmen")
SAFSA - Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association
SAR - Singapore Armoured Regiment
SCC - SAF Counselling Centre
SCE - Singapore Combat Engineers
SI - Signal Institute
SIB - Singapore Infantry Brigade
SIB - Special Investigation Branch
SIR - Singapore Infantry Regiment
SISPEC - School of Infantry Specialist
SMI - School of Military Intelligence
SMM - School of Military Medicine (reorganised as SMTI in 2006)
SMTI - SAF Medical Training Institute
SOC - School of Commandos
SOF - Special Operations Force
SPT - School of Physical Training
265 - formerly a hill in Marsiling with an elevation of 265 feet which was used for training; it has been levelled for urban development.
ATEC - Army Training and Evaluation Center
BCTC - Basic Combat Training Center
SAFTI - Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (term now defunct)
SAFTI MI - SAFTI Military Institute
Weapons, vehicles and equipment
A-veh - a heavy vehicle, such as an armoured vehicle
APC - Armoured Personnel Carrier
AVLB - Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge
B-veh - non-"A-veh" vehicles, such as rovers and trucks
FAD - first aid dressing
FBO - full battle order (compare "SBO")
FFR - (with reference to a land rover) fitted for radio
FH - 2000 - Field Howitzer 2000
GPMG - General Purpose Machine Gun – refers in particular to the FN MAG used in the Singapore Armed Forces
HMG - Heavy machine gun
IBA - Integrated body armour
IFV - Infantry Fighting Vehicle
LAW - Light Anti-tank Weapon
LBV - Load Bearing Vest
LST - Landing Ship Tank
MOP - Medic Operational Pouch (previously Medical Orderly Pouch)
RCK - rifle cleaning kit
SAW - Section Assault Weapon (usually refers to the Ultimax 100)
SBO - Standard (formerly Skeletal) Battle Order (compare "FBO")
SSPH 1 - Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 Primus
FO - fall out; fuck off
LOBO - left out of battle order (refers to a soldier who has not been assigned a fixed vocation)
NATO - no action, talk only
Pikachu - from the hokkien expression "bai kah bai chew", meaning crippled
SBC - simply boh chup – indifferent, not caring (from the abbreviation of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation)
WALI - walk around, look important
ROC - relax one corner
SOC - siam one corner, that is, to hide somewhere in order to avoid meeting one's superiors, doing work, etc. (from the abbreviation of "Standard Obstacle Course")
11B - SAF 11B, the military identity card.
1206 - SAF 1206, a form signed to acknowledge deductions made to a soldier's payroll for damaging or losing equipment, etc. (pronounced "twelve-O-six")
1211 - SAF 1211, an issue and receipt voucher for proof of receiving and issuing of goods.
302 - SAF 302, a form signed to declare own homosexual orientation (pronounced "three-O-two")
ACCT - Advanced Close Combat Training
AI - Armoured Infantry troopers
AOC - Advanced Obstacle Course
ATP - Advanced Trainfire Package
Attend B - medical status that allows soldier to perform only light duties
Attend C - medical status that exempts soldier from all duties
AWOL - Absent Without Official Leave
BAC - Battle Assault Course
BCCT - Basic Close Combat Training
BER - beyond economic repair
BIC - Battle Inoculation Course
BMT - Basic Military Training
BRO - Battalion Routine Order
BTP - Basic Trainfire Package
BUA - Built-up area (see also "FIBUA")
C3 - command, control and communication (pronounced "C-three" or "C-cube")
CBRE - Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group
CIS - Chartered Industries of Singapore
CMTL - Centralised Motor Transport Line
COC - Change of Command Parade
CP - command post
CRO - Company Routine Orders
CST - Combat Survival Training
DB - detention barracks
DIV - division
DOD - date of disruption
EVAC - evacuation
FFF - Fit For Firing certification
FFI - Fitness For Instructions
FIBUA - fighting in built-up area (see also "BUA")
FO - Forward Observer, soldier who corrects artillery fire
FOFO - fighting on Fortified objectives
GLS - Ground Logistics Support
HCC - High Confidence Course
IA - Immediate Action, a pre-trained drill for responding to a certain situation
ICCT - Intermediate Close Combat Training
ICT - In Camp Training (also simply known as in-camp)
IFC - Individual Field Craft
IMT - Individual Marksmanship Trainer
IPPT - Individual Physical Proficiency Test
L/F - live firing
LOA - letter of authorisation
OOC - Out of Course
OOT - Out of Training
ORD - Operationally Ready Date (formerly "ROD")
RO - Routine Orders
ROD - Run Out Date (now "ORD")
PES - Physical Employment Status
SOC - Standard Obstacle Course
SOL - stoppage of leave
TH - Technical Handling
UFF - unfit for firing
WH - White Horse marking in medical docket indicative of special treatment required
As in most other major cities, abbreviations are commonly used in transport-related matters. The most prominent are the three-letter abbreviations of the expressways in Singapore; all, except one, end with the letter "E":
AYE - Ayer Rajah Expressway
BKE - Bukit Timah Expressway
CTE - Central Expressway
ECP - East Coast Parkway
KJE - Kranji Expressway
KPE - Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway
MCE - Marina Coastal Expressway
NSE - North-South Expressway
PIE - Pan Island Expressway
SLE - Seletar Expressway
TPE - Tampines Expressway
With the introduction of the Electronic Monitoring and Advisory System (EMAS) in 1998, LED signboards were installed along the expressways to display warning and other informational messages to road users. This led to the increased use of abbreviations, some of which are less common and not easily understood. The following are examples of abbreviations used in the EMAS:
BEDOK NTH - Bedok North Road
BEDOK STH - Bedok South Road
CCK DR - Choa Chu Kang Drive
TOWN HALL - Jurong Town Hall Road
TP AVE 10 - Tampines Avenue 10
LT - left
RT - right
AFT - after
BEF - before
LN - lane
SH - shoulder
