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 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. our editorial process Kimberly Powell Updated 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 General BGEN - Brigadier General BMG - Brevet Major General COL - Colonel CPL - Corporal CPT - Captain CSGT - Commissary Sergeant GEN - General LGEN - Lieutenant General LT - Lieutenant 1 LT - First Lieutenant (2 LT = 2nd Lieutenant, and so on) LTC - Lieutenant Colonel MAJ - Major MGEN - Major General NCO - Noncommissioned Officer OSGT - Ordinance Sergeant PVT - Private PVT 1CL - Private First Class QM - Quartermaster QMSGT - Quartermaster Sergeant SGM - Sergeant Major SGT - Sergeant WO - 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 Medal ACM - Army Commendation Medal AFAM - Air Force Achievement Medal AFC - Air Force Cross AM - Air Medal AMNM - Airman's Medal ARCOM - Army Commendation Medal BM - Brevet Medal BS or BSM - Bronze Star or Bronze Star Medal CGAM - Coast Guard Achievement Medal CGCM - Coast Guard Commendation Medal CGM - Coast Guard Medal CR - Commendation Ribbon CSC - Conspicuous Service Cross (New York) DDSM - Defense Distinguished Service Medal DFC - Distinguished Flying Cross DMSM - Defense Meritorious Service Medal DSC - Distinguished Service Cross DSM - Distinguished Service Medal DSSM - Defense Superior Service Medal GS - Gold Star (generally appears in conjunction with another award) JSCM - Joint Service Commendation Medal LM or LOM - Legion of Merit MH or MOH - Medal of Honor MMDSM - Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal MMMM - Merchant Marine Mariner's Medal MMMSM - Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal MSM - Meritorious Service Medal N&MCM - Navy & Marine Corps Medal NAM - Navy Achievement Medal NC - Navy Cross NCM - Navy Commendation Medal OLC - Oak Leaf Cluster (generally appears in conjunction with another award) PH - Purple Heart POWM - Prisoner of War Medal SM - Soldiers Medal SS or SSM - Silver Star or Silver Star Medal These abbreviations generally follow another award to indicate superior achievement or multiple awards: A - Achievement V - Valor OLC - Oak Leaf Cluster (generally follows another award to indicate multiple awards) Military Groups & Veterans Organizations DAR - Daughters of the American Revolution GAR - Grand Army of the Republic SAR - Sons of the American Revolution SCV - Sons of Confederate Veterans SSAWV - Sons of Spanish American War Veterans UDC - United Daughters of the Confederacy USD 1812 - Daughters of the War of 1812 USWV - United Spanish War Veterans VFW - 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 April 18, 2021). copy citation