| C |
| C | Cargo |
| C | Confidential |
| C&C | Command and Control |
| C&CP | Collection and Classification Point |
| C&CSC | Command and Command Staff College (RVN) |
| C&D | Cover and Deception |
| C&GSC | Command and General Staff Course (RVNAF) |
| C&L | Collection and Liaison |
| C&P | Care and Preservation |
| C&SC | Command and Staff College |
| C-E | Communications - Electronics |
| C/NF | Confidential/No Foreign Dissemination |
| C/S | Crew-Served Weapon |
| CA | Civil Action |
| CA | Civil Affairs |
| CA | Constitutent Assembly (RVN) |
| CA | Heavy Cruiser |
| CA/RI | Custodian Authorization/Receipt Listing |
| CAB | Combat Aviation Battalion |
| CABOTS | Currency and Black Market Control System |
| CAC | Combined Action Company |
| CAC | Counterintelligence Advisory Committee |
| CAC | Current Affairs Committee |
| CAD | Corps Advisory Detachment |
| CAF | China Air Force |
| CAG | Civic Action Group |
| CAG | Civic Action Group |
| CAG | Combat Aviation Group |
| Cal | Caliber |
| CALTEX | California Texas Oil Company |
| CAMB | Cambodia |
| Cao Dai | Organized religious sect involved in the political movement (struggle) in South Vietnam, armed by French to resist Viet Minh. |
| CAP | Care and Preservation |
| CAP | Combat Air Patrol - an aircraft patrol provided over an objective area, over the force protected, over the critical area of a combat zone, or over an air defense area, for the purpose of intercepting and destroying hostile aircraft before they reach the |
| CAP | Combined Action Platoon |
| CAP | Country Assistance Program |
| CAPT | Captain (Navy O-6) |
| CARE | Cooperation for American Relief Everywhere, Inc |
| CARS | CEIMP Automated Reporting System |
| CAS | Calibrated Air Speed (knots) |
| CAS | Casualty(ies) |
| CAS | Combined Area Studies |
| CAS | Continental Air Service |
| CAS | Controlled Agent Source |
| CAS | Controlled American Source (CIA Field) |
| CASS | Country Assistance Strategy Statement |
| CAT | Civil Affairs Team |
| Cav/CAV | Cavalry |
| CB | Construction Battalion |
| CBD | Crash Battle Damage |
| CBMU | Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit |
| CBS | Columbia Broadcasting System |
| Cbt | Combat |
| CBU | Cluster Bomb Unit |
| CBU-24 | Canister dispensed air-to-ground bomblet type munition. The canister is carried externally on the aircraft and opens after release at a preset altitude. |
| CC 1 | Basic Aidman Course (RVNAF) |
| CCB | Command Communications Boat |
| CCF | Corps Contingency Force |
| CCP | Combined Campaign Plan |
| CCP | Command Communication Post |
| CCRSFF | Central Region SEATO Field Force |
| CCRSFF | Commander, Central Region SEATO Field Forces |
| CCRSFF (D) | Commander, Central Region SEATO Field Forces, (Designate) |
| CCT | Combat Control Team |
| CCTS | Combat Crew Training School |
| CD | Combat Development |
| CD&LD | Community Development & Local Development |
| CDEC | Captured Documents Exploitation Center |
| CDEC | Combined Documentation Exploitation Center |
| CDIC | Committee for the Development of the Industry of Construction |
| CDLD | Community Defense and Local Development |
| Cdr/CDR | Commander (USN) |
| Cdr, 7AF | Commander, Seventh US Air Force |
| CDS | Container Delivery System |
| CDTC-V | Combat Development Test Center, Vietnam |
| CE | Civil Engineer/Engineering |
| CE | Communications Electronics |
| CEC | Central Election Council |
| CEI | Communications - Electronics Instructions |
| CEIMP | Communications - Electronics Improvement and Modernization Plan |
| CEM | Captured Enemy Material |
| CEM | Communications Electronic Meteorological Equipment |
| CEMIS | Communications - Electronics Management Information System |
| CEMT | Command Equipment Management Team |
| CEN | Center |
| CENCOM | Central Highways and Waterways Committee |
| Census Grievance | The use of Vietnamese teams to solicit grievances from the local population, primarily at village level, using open-end question techniques. Grievances are then collated and presented to the lowest administrative level. |
| Centerline tank | Fuel tank carried externally on centerline of aircraft. |
| CENTREGSEATOFF | Central Region SEATO Field Forces |
| CEP | Circular Error Probable |
| CERO | Corps Epidemiological Reference Office |
| CETS | Contractor Engineering & Technical Service |
| CF | Correlation Factor |
| CFST | Contract Field Service Term |
| CG | Civil Guard |
| CG | Coastal Group |
| CG | Commanding General |
| CG | Cruiser Guided Missile |
| CG USARYIS | Commanding General, US Army Ryukyus Islands |
| CGFMFPAC | Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific |
| CGLD | Commissariat General for Land Development |
| CGSC | Command and General Staff College |
| CGT | Census Grievance Team |
| CH | Chief |
| CH-47 | Cargo Helicopter |
| CHAAG | Chief, Army Advisory Group |
| CHAFAG | Chief, Air Force Advisory Group |
| Chaff | Type of confusion reflector, which consist of thin, narrow metallic strips of various lengths to provide different responses, used to create false signals on radarscope. |
| Chandelle | Maximum performance climbing turn in which speed is converted to altitude while reversing direction. |
| Channel 97 | TACAN station located during the period of the study at 20°27'N/103°43'E used for navigational aids. |
| CHD | Cablehead |
| CHD | Chieu Hoi Division |
| CHECO | Contemporary History/Historical Evaluations of Combat Operations |
| CHICOM | Chinese Communist |
| Chieu Hoi | Open Arms Program |
| CHINAT | Chinese Nationalist |
| CHJUSMACGPHIL | Chief, Joint United States Military Assistance Command Group, Philippines |
| CHJUSMAGPHIL | Chief, Joint United States Military Advisory Group, Philippines |
| CHJUSMAGTHAI | Chief, Joint United States Military Advisory Group, Thailand |
| CHKMAG | Chief, Korea Military Advisory Group |
| CHMAAG | Chief, Military Assistance Advisory Group |
| CHMEDTC | Chief Military Equipment Delivery Team, Cambodia |
| CHNAG | Chief, Naval Advisory Group |
| CHNAVADGP | Chief, Naval Advisory Group |
| CHNAVADGRP | Chief, Naval Advisory Group. |
| CHNAVGP | Chief, Naval Advisory Group |
| CHP | Chieu Hoi Program |
| CI | Counterintelligence |
| CI | Criminal Investigation |
| CIA | Central Intelligence Agency |
| CIC | Combat Information Center |
| CIC | Combined Interrogation Center |
| CIC | Corps Interrogation Center |
| CICC | Combined Interdiction Coordinating Committee |
| CICV | Combined Intelligence Center, Vietnam |
| CID | Command Information Division |
| CID | Criminal Investigation Department (Malaya) |
| CID | Criminal Investigation Division |
| CIDG | Civilian Irregular Defense Group |
| CIDIV | Command Information Division |
| CIIC | Current Intelligence and Indications Center |
| CINCPAC | Commander in Chief, Pacific |
| CINCPACAF | Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Force |
| CINCPACFLT | Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet |
| CINCPACINST | Commander in Chief, Pacific Instruction |
| CINCPACREP | Commander in Chief, Pacific Representative |
| CINCPACREPPHIL | Commander in Chief, Pacific Representative Philippine |
| CINCREPPHIL | Commander-in-Chief Representative, Philippines |
| CINCRVNAF | Commander in Chief Vietnamese Armed Forces |
| CINCSAC | Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command |
| CINCSTRIKE | Commander is Chief Strike Command |
| CINCTAC | Commander in Chief, Tactical Air Command |
| CINCUSAREUR | Commander in Chief, US Army, Europe |
| CINCUSARPAC | Commander in Chief, United States Army, Pacific |
| CINCVAF | Commander in Chief, Vietnamese Armed Forces |
| CINCVNAF | Commander in Chief, Vietnamese Air Force |
| CINCVNN | Commander in Chief, Vietnamese Navy |
| CINFO | Chief of Information |
| CIO | Central Intelligence Organisation |
| CIOCC | City Intelligence and Operation Coordination Center |
| CIP | Commercial Imports Program |
| CIP | Commodities Import Program |
| CIR | Carrier Intensity Recorder |
| Civ/CIV | Civilian |
| CJATF | Commander, Joint Amphibious Task Force |
| CJCS | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| CJGS | Chief of the Joint General Staff (RVNAF) |
| CL | Commo-Liaison |
| CLA | Central Logistics Agency |
| CLASS I | Rations |
| CLASS II | Clothing and Equipment |
| CLASS III | Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants |
| CLASS IV | Organisational Equipment and Fortifications Material |
| CLASS V | Ammunitions |
| CLASS VI | Liquor |
| CLASSES OF SUPPLY - Class I | Rations |
| CLASSES OF SUPPLY - Class II | Clothing and Equipment |
| CLASSES OF SUPPLY - Class III | POL |
| CLASSES OF SUPPLY - Class IV | Organizational Equipment and Fortification Material |
| CLASSES OF SUPPLY - Class V | Ammunition |
| CLC | Central Logistics Command |
| CLD | Central Logistics Detachment |
| CLG | Guided Missile Cruiser, Light |
| CLIP | Country Logistics Improvement Plan |
| CLOP | Country Logistics Offensive Plan |
| Clr | Clearing |
| CLVTC | Cat Lai Vocational Training Center |
| CM | Court-Martial |
| CMA | Communications Management Agency |
| CMA/DCA-RVN | Communications Management Agency/Defense Communications Agency-Republic of Vietnam |
| CMAC | Capital Military Assistance Command |
| CMAG | Cambodian Military Assistance Group |
| CMAT | Capital Military Assistance Team |
| CMD | Capital Military District |
| CMD | Command |
| CMDR | Commander |
| CMEC | Combined Materiel Exploitation Center |
| CMEC | Combined Military Exploitation Center |
| CMIC | Combined Military Interrogation Center |
| CMIT | Combined Mobile Improvement Team |
| CMLS | Capt Mui Lay Sector |
| CMMI | Command Maintenance Management Inspection Program |
| CMR | Capital Military Region |
| CMR-312 (Little Ears) | Aural radar warning receiver. |
| CMTT | Combined Mobile Training Team |
| CMU | COMSEC Management Unit |
| CN | Riot Control Agent |
| CNC | Cuc Nghien Cuu (North Vietnamese Central Research Agency) |
| CND | Chief, Navy Division |
| CNO | Chief of Naval Operations |
| CO | Commanding Officer |
| Co(s) | Company (ies) |
| Co/CO | Company |
| COA | Confirmed Operating Area |
| COB | Combat Operating Base |
| COC | Combat Operations Center |
| COC | Combined Operations Center |
| COCIOP | Coordination of Clandestine Intelligence Operational Proposals |
| CODEL | Congressional Delegation(s) |
| COFAT | Former French Factory Building used as a Post Exchange (Compagnie de Fabrication du Tabac) |
| COFRAM | Controlled Fragmentation Munitions |
| CofS | Chief of Staff |
| CofS/JGS | Chief of Staff/Joint General Staff |
| CofSA | Chief of Staff, US Army |
| COGARDACTV | Coast Guard Activity, Vietnam |
| COIN | Counterinsurgency |
| COL | Colonel |
| COLA | Cost of Living Allowance |
| COM | Communications |
| COMAAFV | Commander, Australian Army Forces, Vietnam |
| COMAFV | Commander, Australian Force, Vietnam |
| COMASE | Commander, Air Support Element |
| Combat Youth | Volunteer hamlet militiamen under the Strategic and New Life Hamlet campaigns. |
| COMCARDIV | Commander Carrier Division |
| COMCRUDESGP | Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group |
| COMD | Command |
| COMDESDIV | Commander Destroyer Division |
| COMDESRON | Commander Destroyer Squadron |
| COMDT | Commandant |
| COMINT | Communications Intelligence |
| COMM | Command |
| COMM | Communications |
| COMM-ELECT | Communications-Electronics |
| COMMAGROCV | Commander, Military Assistance Group, Republic of China, Vietnam |
| COMMANDO VAULT | Operational Name for 15,000 pound space clearing USAF conventional bomb. |
| COMNAVFORUREP | Commander, Naval Forces, Europe |
| COMNAVFORV | Commander, Naval Forces, Vietnam |
| COMNAVSUPPACT | Commander, Naval Support Activity/Activities |
| COMNEWZEDV | Commander, New Zealand Assistance Detachment, Vietnam |
| COMNZAFFE | Commander, New Zealand Army Forces, Far East |
| COMNZVF | Commander, New Zealand Vietnam Force |
| COMPHIBPAC | Commander Amphibious Force Pacific Fleet |
| COMPHILCONV | Commander Philippine Contingent, Vietnam |
| COMPHILMAGV | Commander, Philippine Military Assistance Group Vietnam |
| COMRIVFLOTONE | Commander, River Flotilla One |
| COMROCMAGV | Commander, Republic of China, Military Assistance Group, Vietnam |
| COMROKFV | Commander, Republic of Korea Forces, Vietnam |
| COMROKMAGV | Commander, Republic of Korea Military Assistance Group, Vietnam |
| COMRTFV | Commander Royal Thai Forces, Vietnam |
| COMSAT | Communications Satellite Corporation |
| COMSEC | Communications Security |
| COMSERVPAC | Commander Service Force Pacific |
| COMSEVENTHFLT | Commander, Seventh Fleet |
| COMSTSFE | Commander, Military Sea Transportation Service, Far East |
| COMUSAFV | Commander, United States Armed Forces, Vietnam |
| COMUSAMAAGSUPCOM | Commander, US Army Military Assistance Advisory Group Support Command |
| COMUSJAPAN | Commander, US Japan |
| COMUSKOREA | Commander, United States Forces, Korea |
| COMUSMACTHAI | Commander, United States Military Assistance Command, Thailand |
| COMUSMACV | Commander, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam |
| COMUSSAG | Commander, US Support Activities Group |
| COMUSSEASIA | Commander, US Forces, Southeast Asia |
| Condition I CAP (Standby) | Aircraft ready for immediate (maximum delay of two (2) minutes) takeoff. Aircraft with engine not running (starter batteries plugged in) will be positioned for take-off. Pilots in cockpit and deck crew on alert. |
| CONEX | Container Express |
| CONGEN | Consul General |
| CONPLAN | Contingency Plan |
| CONST | Construction |
| CONUS | Continental United States |
| COPARS | Contractor Operated Parts System |
| COPROR | Interagency Committee for Province Rehabilitation |
| COR | Contracting Officer's Representative |
| CORDS | Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development |
| CORDS | Civil Operations and Rural (formerly Revolutionary) Development Support |
| COSAL | Consolidated Allowance List |
| COSDIV | Coastal Division |
| COSFLOT | Coastal Flotilla |
| COSURVFOR | Coastal Surveillance Force |
| COSVN | Central Office for South Vietnam (VC) |
| Counterinsurgency | Those military, paramilitary, political, economic, psychological and civic actions taken by a government to defeat subversive insurgency. |
| CP | Command Post |
| CPA | Central Purchasing Authority |
| CPAF | Cost Plus Award Fee |
| CPDC | Central Pacification and Development Council |
| CPFF | Cost Plus Fixed Fee |
| CPR | Chinese Peoples Republic |
| CPSA | Central Procurement and Supply Authority |
| CPT | Captain (Army, Air Force, Marine Corps 0-3) |
| CPTR | Capture |
| Cptrd | Captured |
| CPWC | Central Prisoner of War Camp |
| CPX | Command Post Exercise |
| CQY | Cuc Quan Y (RVNAF Surgeon General's Office) |
| CRB | Cam Ranh Bay |
| CRC | Central Recovery Committee |
| CRC | Combat Reporting Central |
| CRC | Control and Reporting Center |
| CRDC | Central Revolutionary Development Council |
| CRID | Capital ROK Infantry Division |
| CRIMP | Consolidated RVNAF Improvement and Modernization Plan |
| CRIP | Coastal Radar Improvement Plan |
| CROC | Combat Required Operational Capability |
| CROWN | Call-sign for rescue force commander |
| CRRC | Central Rural Reconstruction Council |
| CRRID | Capital ROK Infantry Division |
| CRS | Coastal Recovery Service |
| CRS | Course |
| CRSFF | Central Region SEATO Field Force |
| CRT | Combat Rated Thrust - maximum augmented thrust condition of engine |
| CS | A Riot Control Agent Type of Tear Gas |
| CSA | Chief of Staff, US Army |
| CSAF | Chief of Staff, US Air Force |
| CSAF/LG | Chief of Staff, Air Force Logistics |
| CSAM | Chief of Staff Action Memorandum |
| CSAS | Common Services Airlift System |
| CSB | Coastal Surveillance Boat |
| CSC | Coastal Surveillance Center |
| CSC | Communications Satellite Corporation |
| CSC | Computer Sciences Corporation |
| CSC | Computer System Corporation |
| CSDC | Central Security and Development Council |
| CSF | Camp Strike Force |
| CSF | Casualty Staging Flight |
| CSFF | Commander, SEATO Field Force |
| CSI | Crash Site Inspection |
| CSOP | Combined Strategic Objectives Plan |
| CSR | Camp Sentinel Radar |
| CSS | Combat Sky Spot |
| CSU | Casualty Staging Unit |
| CSW | Crew-served Weapon |
| CT | Calendar Year |
| CTA | Central Training Agency (RVNAF) |
| CTC | Central Training Command |
| CTC | Control Training Command |
| CTD | Central Telecommunications Directorate |
| CTEA | Combined Telecommunications Engineering Agency |
| CTF | Carrier Task Force |
| CTF | Commander Task Force |
| CTF-77 | Commander Task Force 77 |
| CTG | Commander, Task Group |
| CTOC | Corps Tactical Operations Center |
| CTS | China Travel Service |
| CTU | Commander, Task Unit |
| CTX | Contacts |
| CTZ | Corps Tactical Zone |
| CU-LD | Common User-Long Distance |
| CUPP | Combined Unit Pacification Program |
| CVA | Aircraft Carrier, Large Attack |
| CVAN | Attack Aircraft Carrier (Nuclear Propulsion) |
| CVS | Anti-Submarine Aircraft Carrier |
| CW | Continuous Wave |
| CWC | Civilian War Casualty |
| CWCH | Civilian War Casualty Hospitals |
| CWCP | Civilian War Casualty Program |
| CWE | Construction Work Estimate |
| CWT | Combined Mobile Improvement Team |
| CY | Calendar Year |