AVF

American  

abbreviation

1. all-volunteer force: referring to an armed force made up solely of volunteers during a period when there is no military draft, as the U.S. armed forces since the Vietnam War.

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Etymology

Origin of AVF

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

The likelihood is that the AVF can overcome its current problems with some tweaks such as a new Army program for pre-basic training to condition out-of-shape recruits.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2023

The AVF went on to win the 1991 Gulf War and perform capably in a long series of conflicts that followed.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2023

That bias reinforces the assumption that the AVF is a poor man's draft.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2020

I suspect 90% will also favor the Total Volunteer Force over the AVF — even the generals and admirals.

From Time • Jan. 21, 2013

But in private they claim that the AVF is failing because it has had to lower standards to meet recruiting goals.

From Time Magazine Archive