| ADA | Air Defense Artillery |
| AF | Air Force |
| A/B | Airborne |
| AWS | Air-Craft Warning Service |
| AA | Anti-Aircraft |
| AAA | Anti-Aircraft Artillery |
| AT | Anti-Tank |
| ACR | Armored Cavalry Regiment |
| AAC | Army Air Corps |
| AAF | Army Air Forces |
| AAS | Army Air Service |
| ARVN | Army Republic Vietnam |
| ARTY | Artillery |
| BN | Battalion |
| BNS | Battalions |
| BI | Bi-Metal |
| BL | Blue |
| BR | Brass |
| BDE | Brigade |
| BZ | Bronze |
| BLDG | Building |
| BU | Bullion |
| CAN | Canadian |
| CSD | Cased |
| CAV | Cavalry |
| CNTR | Center |
| CPO | Chief Petty Officer |
| CWO | Chief Warrant Officer |
| CL | Class |
| CB | Clutch Back |
| COAST | Coastal |
| CMD | Command |
| COMM | Communication |
| CO | Company |
| CONST | Construction |
| CPL | Corporal |
| CP | Cotter Pin |
| CH | Cross Hatched |
| DK | Dark |
| DEF | Defensive |
| DEPT | Department |
| DEPTL | Departmental |
| DDR | Deutscher Democratic Republic |
| DIA | Diameter |
| DISP | Disposal |
| DI | Distinctive Insignia |
| DIV | Division |
| DJ | Dust Jacket |
| ED | Edition |
| E | Embroidered |
| EN | Enameled |
| ENG | Engineer |
| ENGS | Engineers |
| EM | Enlisted Man |
| ENT | Enterprises |
| ETO | European Theatre of Operations |
| EXC | Excellent |
| F | Felt |
| FA | Field Artillery |
| FM | Field Manual |
| FTR | Fighter |
| FE | Flat Edged |
| FT | Fort |
| G | Gilt |
| GOVT | Government |
| GPO | Government Printing Office |
| GM | Gram |
| GMS | Grams |
| GRN | Green |
| GRY | Grey |
| GP | Group |
| HE | Hand Embroidered |
| HB | Hard Bound |
| HQ | Headquarters |
| HP | Helmet Plate |
| HS | Hollow Stamping |
| ID | Identification |
| ILL | Illustrated |
| IN | Inch |
| INF | Infantry |
| INSIG | Insignia |
| INSTR | Instructor |
| KC | King's Crown |
| LRG | Large |
| LE | Leatherette |
| L | Left |
| LT | Lieutenant |
| LT COL | Lieutenant Colonel |
| LTBL | Light Blue |
| LOG | Logistical |
| LL | Loose Leaf |
| MAINT | Maintenance |
| MFG | Manufacturer |
| MKD | Marked |
| MED | Medical |
| M | Medium |
| ME | Merrowed Edge |
| MIM | Mimeo |
| MIN | Miniature |
| MOD | Model |
| NA | National Army |
| NG | National Guard |
| NVA | NATIONALE VOLKS ARMEE |
| N | Navy |
| NOS | New Old Stock |
| NY | New York |
| NP | Newspaper |
| NOK | Next Of Kin |
| NI | Nickle |
| NCO | Non-Commissioned Officer |
| NO | Number |
| OBV | Obverse |
| OFF | Officer |
| OCS | Officer Candidate School |
| OD | Olive Drab |
| OR | Other Ranks |
| PAD | Padded |
| PGS | Pages |
| PR | Pair |
| PE | Pebbled |
| PO | Petty Officer |
| PHOTO | Photographic |
| PC | Piece |
| P | Pin |
| PB | Pin Back |
| PP | Pocket Patch |
| PRNTD | Printed |
| PVT | Private |
| PFC | Private 1st Class |
| PN | Prong Back |
| QM | Quartermaster |
| QC | Queen's Crown |
| REGT | Regiment |
| REGTL | Regimental |
| RCT | Regimental Combat Team |
| RVN | Republic of Vietna, |
| REV | Reverse |
| RIB | Ribbon |
| RT | Right |
| RAF | Royal Air Force |
| RAAF | Royal Australian Air Force |
| RCAF | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| RFC | Royal Flying Corps |
| SCOT | Scottish |
| S | Screw Back |
| SECT | Sector |
| SGT | Sergeant |
| SHLD | Shield |
| SA | Shoulder Arc |
| SSI | Shoulder Sleeve Insignia |
| SIG | Signal |
| SZ | Size |
| SM | Small |
| SB | Soft Bound |
| SP | Specialist |
| SQN | Squadron |
| S-B | Stay-Brite |
| ST | Sterling |
| SD | Subdued |
| SUB | Submarine |
| SPT | Support |
| TAC | Tactical |
| TECH | Technical |
| TRNG | Training |
| TM | Training Manual |
| TRANS | Transportation |
| US | United States |
| USAF | United States Air Force |
| USAAF | United States Army Air Forces |
| USCG | United States Coast Guard |
| USMC | United States Marine Corps |
| USMA | United States Military Academy |
| USNA | United States Naval Academy |
| USN | United States Navy |
| VG | Very Good |
| VAF | Vietnam Air Force |
| WO | Warrant Officer |
| WASH | Washington |
| WHT | White |
| WM | White Metal |
| W/ | With |
| WO/ | Without |
| WWI | World War I |
| WWII | World War II |
