EAS

Abbreviation with 3 meanings

EAS
Stands forEmergency Alert System
Meanings3
CategoriesGovernment & Politics, Military, Business & Finance

EAS has three meanings. The most common are Emergency Alert System (emergency services) and End of active service (military term); it can also stand for Electronic article surveillance.

Meanings of EAS at a glance

#EAS stands forContext
1Emergency Alert SystemGovernment & Politics › Emergency Services
2End of active serviceMilitary › Military Term
3Electronic article surveillanceBusiness & Finance › E-commerce & Retail

1. Emergency Alert System

Government & Politics · Emergency Services Abbreviations

US national warning system that lets authorities interrupt TV and radio broadcasts, cable and satellite services with emergency messages, such as severe weather warnings, AMBER Alerts and national emergencies. It uses distinctive tones followed by a message.

Example: The EAS tone interrupted the game with a tornado warning for three counties.

The EAS replaced the Emergency Broadcast System in 1997. The first nationwide test was held on November 9, 2011. Broadcasters are legally barred from using EAS tones in ads or entertainment except in public service announcements, and the FCC has fined networks for violations.

2. End of active service

Military · Military Term Abbreviations

Marine Corps and Navy term for the date a member's active-duty contract ends, equivalent to the Army's ETS. Marines speak of "EAS-ing" when they leave the service.

Example: My EAS is in October, so I'm not going on the next MEU.

The Navy also uses EAOS, end of active obligated service. Marines nearing EAS attend transition readiness seminars and decide whether to reenlist. Many depart into the Individual Ready Reserve to finish their eight-year obligation.

3. Electronic article surveillance

Business & Finance · E-commerce & Retail Abbreviations

Anti-theft system using tags or labels on merchandise that trigger an alarm at store exits unless deactivated or removed at checkout.

Example: The EAS gates went off because the cashier missed a tag.

The two main technologies are acousto-magnetic systems operating at 58 kHz and radio-frequency systems at 8.2 MHz, which are not compatible with each other.

More emergency services abbreviations

  • CBRN – Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear
  • CERT – Community Emergency Response Team
  • DMAT – Disaster Medical Assistance Team
  • E911 – Enhanced 911
  • ECC – Emergency communications center
  • EMA – Emergency management agency
  • EMAC – Emergency Management Assistance Compact
  • EMD – Emergency medical dispatch

See all 72 emergency services abbreviations →

More military term abbreviations

  • DS – Drill sergeant
  • DTG – Date-time group
  • DUSTWUN – Duty status whereabouts unknown
  • DZ – Drop zone
  • ECP – Entry control point
  • EFMP – Exceptional Family Member Program
  • ELINT – Electronic intelligence
  • ELS – Entry-level separation

See all 248 military term abbreviations →