| 1 RCR | 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment |
| 2-4 | 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment (United States) |
| 2-87 | 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment (United States) |
| 2IC | second-in-command |
| 3 PARA | 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment |
| AB | able seaman |
| ADZ | Afghan Development Zone |
| AFF | Afghan Freedom Fighters |
| AH | attack helicopter |
| AMA | artillery manoeuvre area |
| ANDS | Afghanistan National Development Strategy |
| ARRC | Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (NATO) |
| CAF | Canadian Armed Forces |
| CAS | combat air support or close air support |
| CCP | casualty collection point |
| CEFCOM | Canadian Expeditionary Force Command |
| CER | Combat Engineer Regiment |
| CHOPS | chief of operations |
| CIDA | Canadian International Development Agency |
| CIMIC | civilian military cooperation |
| CJTF-76 | Combined Joint Task Force 76 |
| COMISAF | Commander International Security Assistance Force |
| CONOP | concept of operations |
| COY | company |
| CPL | corporal |
| CPO | chief petty officer |
| CQ | company quartermaster |
| CSM | company sergeant major |
| CTF | combined task force |
| CWO | chief warrant officer |
| DFAIT | Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade |
| EOD | explosive ordnance disposal |
| F2T2EA | Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage & Assess |
| F3EA | Find, Fix, Finish, Exploit & Analyze |
| FAC | forward air controller |
| FDU | fleet diving unit |
| FOB | forward operating base |
| FOM | freedom of movement |
| FOO | forward observation officer |
| FSM | formation sergeant major |
| GOA | Government of Afghanistan |
| G-WAGEN | Geländewagen, a cross-country vehicle |
| HQ | headquarters |
| HUMINT | human intelligence |
| IAW | in accordance with |
| IED | improvised explosive device |
| IOT | in order to |
| ISAF | International Security Assistance Force |
| ISTAR | intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance |
| IVO | in the vicinity of |
| JSOTF | Joint Special Operations Task Force |
| JSTARS | joint surveillance target attack radar system |
| JTF 2 | Joint Task Force 2 |
| KAF | Kandahar Airfield |
| KIA | killed in action |
| KLE | key leader engagement |
| LAV | light armoured vehicle |
| LCDR | lieutenant commander |
| LGEN | lieutenant general |
| LN | local nationals |
| LT | lieutenant |
| MAJ | major |
| MEDEVAC | medical evacuation |
| MEWT | mobile electronic warfare team |
| MGEN | major general |
| MS | master seaman |
| MWO | master warrant officer |
| NAI | named area of interest |
| NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| NCE | national contingent element |
| NCO | non-commissioned officer |
| NDHQ | National Defence Headquarters (Canada) |
| NDS | National Directorate of Security (Afghanistan) |
| NORAD | North American Aerospace Defense Command |
| NORTHCOM | United States Northern Command |
| ODA | Operational Detachment Alpha |
| ODB | Operational Detachment Bravo |
| OEF | Operation Enduring Freedom |
| OS | ordinary seaman |
| PAO | public affairs officer |
| PED | processing, exploitation and dissemination |
| PO | petty officer |
| PPCLI | Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry |
| PRT | provincial reconstruction team |
| PSYOPS | psychological operations |
| PTE | private |
| RC EAST | Regional Command East |
| RCMI | Royal Canadian Military Institute |
| RCR | The Royal Canadian Regiment |
| RC SOUTH | Regional Command South |
| RIP | relief in place |
| RPG | rocket-propelled grenade |
| RSM | regimental sergeant major |
| RTE | route |
| SA | situational awareness |
| SACEUR | Supreme Allied Commander Europe |
| SIED | suicide improvised explosive device |
| SIGACTS | significant activities |
| SIGINT | signals intelligence |
| SGT | sergeant |
| SLT | sub-lieutenant |
| SOF | special operations forces |
| TAC | tactical team |
| TB | Taliban |
| TCCC | tactical combat casualty care |
| TF | task force |
| TIC | troops in contact |
| TOC | tactical operations centre |
| TOCA | transfer of command authority |
| TTP | tactics, techniques and procedures |
| TUAV | tactical unmanned aerial vehicle |
| VSA | vital signs absent |
| UAV | unmanned aerial vehicle |
| UN | United Nations |
| USAID | United States Agency for International Development |
| WO | warrant officer |