Humanities › History & Culture Military Abbreviations Found on US Grave Markers Share Flipboard Email Print Rick Hyman / E+ / Getty Images History & Culture Genealogy Vital Records Around the World Basics Surnames Genealogy Fun American History African American History African History Ancient History and Culture Asian History European History Inventions Latin American History Medieval & Renaissance History Military History The 20th Century Women's History View More By Kimberly Powell Kimberly Powell Genealogy Expert Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University B.A., Carnegie Mellon University Kimberly Powell is a professional genealogist and the author of The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy. She teaches at the Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on July 21, 2019 Many military graves are inscribed with abbreviations that denote the unit of service, ranks, medals, or other information on the military veteran. Others may also be marked with bronze or stone plaques provided by the U.S. Veterans Administration. This list includes some of the most common military abbreviations that may be seen on headstones and grave markers in American cemeteries, both in the United States and overseas. Military Rank BBG - Brevet Brigadier GeneralBGEN - Brigadier GeneralBMG - Brevet Major GeneralCOL - ColonelCPL - CorporalCPT - CaptainCSGT - Commissary SergeantGEN - GeneralLGEN - Lieutenant GeneralLT - Lieutenant1 LT - First Lieutenant (2 LT = 2nd Lieutenant, and so on)LTC - Lieutenant ColonelMAJ - MajorMGEN - Major GeneralNCO - Noncommissioned OfficerOSGT - Ordinance SergeantPVT - PrivatePVT 1CL - Private First ClassQM - QuartermasterQMSGT - Quartermaster SergeantSGM - Sergeant MajorSGT - SergeantWO - Warrant Officer Military Unit & Branch of Service ART - Artillery AC or USA - Army Corps; United States Army BRIG - Brigade BTRY - Battery CAV - Cavalry CSA - Confederate States of America CT - Colored Troops; may precede the branch such as CTART for Colored Troops Artillery CO or COM - Company ENG or E&M - Engineer; Engineers / Miners FA - Field Artillery HA or HART - Heavy Artillery INF - Infantry LA or LART - Light Artillery MC - Medical Corps MAR or USMC - Marines; United States Marine Corps MIL - Militia NAVY or USN - Navy; United States Navy REG - Regiment SS - Sharpshooters (or sometimes Silver Star, see below) SC- Signal Corps TR - Troop USAF - United States Air Force VOL or USV - Volunteers; United States Volunteers VRC - Veteran Reserve Military Service Medals & Awards AAM - Army Achievement MedalACM - Army Commendation MedalAFAM - Air Force Achievement MedalAFC - Air Force CrossAM - Air MedalAMNM - Airman's MedalARCOM - Army Commendation MedalBM - Brevet MedalBS or BSM - Bronze Star or Bronze Star MedalCGAM - Coast Guard Achievement MedalCGCM - Coast Guard Commendation MedalCGM - Coast Guard MedalCR - Commendation RibbonCSC - Conspicuous Service Cross (New York)DDSM - Defense Distinguished Service MedalDFC - Distinguished Flying CrossDMSM - Defense Meritorious Service MedalDSC - Distinguished Service CrossDSM - Distinguished Service MedalDSSM - Defense Superior Service MedalGS - Gold Star (generally appears in conjunction with another award)JSCM - Joint Service Commendation MedalLM or LOM - Legion of MeritMH or MOH - Medal of HonorMMDSM - Merchant Marine Distinguished Service MedalMMMM - Merchant Marine Mariner's MedalMMMSM - Merchant Marine Meritorious Service MedalMSM - Meritorious Service MedalN&MCM - Navy & Marine Corps MedalNAM - Navy Achievement MedalNC - Navy CrossNCM - Navy Commendation MedalOLC - Oak Leaf Cluster (generally appears in conjunction with another award)PH - Purple HeartPOWM - Prisoner of War MedalSM - Soldiers MedalSS or SSM - Silver Star or Silver Star Medal These abbreviations generally follow another award to indicate superior achievement or multiple awards: A - AchievementV - ValorOLC - Oak Leaf Cluster (generally follows another award to indicate multiple awards) Military Groups & Veterans Organizations DAR - Daughters of the American RevolutionGAR - Grand Army of the RepublicSAR - Sons of the American RevolutionSCV - Sons of Confederate VeteransSSAWV - Sons of Spanish American War VeteransUDC - United Daughters of the ConfederacyUSD 1812 - Daughters of the War of 1812USWV - United Spanish War VeteransVFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Powell, Kimberly. "Military Abbreviations Found on US Grave Markers." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/military-abbreviations-on-us-grave-markers-1422177. Powell, Kimberly. (2021, February 16). Military Abbreviations Found on US Grave Markers. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/military-abbreviations-on-us-grave-markers-1422177 Powell, Kimberly. "Military Abbreviations Found on US Grave Markers." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/military-abbreviations-on-us-grave-markers-1422177 (accessed June 8, 2023). copy citation Featured Video