Common Abbreviations

[Zombie Axe]

M

M or m: Meter
M1 Garand: The U.S. Army's primary battle rifle of WWII and the Korean conflict. It is semi-automatic, chambered in .30-06, and uses a top-loading 8 round en bloc clip that ejects after the last round is fired. This rifle is commonly called the Garand. (After the name of its inventor.) Not to be confused with the U.S. M1 Carbine, another semi-auto of the same era, which shoots a far less powerful pistol-class cartridge.
M1A1 Abrahms: The United State’s current main battle tank, with a 120mm cannon.
M1 Carbine: The U.S. Army semi-auto carbine issued during WWII and the Korean conflict. Mainly issued to officers and second echelon troops such as artillerymen, for self-defense. Shoots .30 U.S. Carbine, an intermediate (pistol class) .30 caliber cartridge. More than six million were manufactured, and several hundred thousand were released as surplus by the DCM in the 1960s. See also: M2 Carbine.
M1A: The civilian (semi-auto only) version of the U.S. Army M14 7.62mm NATO rifle. See my FAQ on this subject.
M14: U.S. Army issue 7.62mm NATO selective fire battle rifle. These rifles are still issued is small numbers, primarily to US Army designated marksmen and as US Navy deck rifles. The civilian semi-auto only equivalent is the M1A. See also: M21.
M16: U.S. Army issue 5.56mm NATO selective fire battle rifle. The current standard variant is the M16A2 that has improved sight and three shot burst control. The civilian semi-auto only equivalent is the AR-15.
M1911: The Model 1911 Colt semi-auto pistol (and clones thereof), usually chambered in .45 ACP. See my FAQ on this subject.
M2 Bradley: The U.S. Army's current tracked APC.
M2 Carbine: The selective fire variant of the U.S. M1 Carbine.
M21: The match grade sniper version of the U.S. Army M14 7.62mm NATO rifle
M203: The current U.S. Army issue 40mm grenade launcher. These single-shot launchers are mounted beneath the barrels of some M16 rifles and M4 carbines.
M240B: The current U.S. Army issue 7.62 mm NATO belt fed light machinegun.
M4: U.S. Army issue 5.56mm NATO selective fire carbine. (A shorter version of the M16 rifle, with a 14.5" barrel and collapsing stock.) Earlier issue M16 carbine variants had designations such as XM177E2 and CAR-15.)
M4gery: (Spoken "Em Forgery") Civilian (semi-auto only) version of the U.S. Army issue 5.56mm NATO carbine. (Typically with a 16" barrel instead of the military issue 14.5" barrel--to meet the U.S. 16" minimum rifle barrel length requirement--and a collapsing stock.)
M60: The semi-obsolete U.S. Army issue 7.62 mm NATO belt fed light machinegun. It utilized some design elements of the German MG-42 LMG.
M9: The U.S. Army issue version of the Beretta M92 semi-auto 9mm pistol.
M&A: Mergers and Acquisitions
MAC: Depending on context, Military Airlift Command or Military Armament Corporation. (The latter was the original manufacturer of the Ingram M-10 submachinegun--commonly called a "MAC-10", although that nomenclature was never used by the company.)
Mag: Depending on context, short for magazine, magnum, or magnesium.
Mag Dump: Expending an entire magazine of ammunition rapidly--in either semi - or full-automatic fire. Not a recommended tactic!
MAG-LITE: A popular American brand of sturdy flashlights with an aluminum casing.
maH: Mil-Amp Hours (Battery capacity rating.)
Mall Ninja: Someone that values style over substance. See also: Arm Chair Commando
MAM: Military Age Male
MAP: Minimum Advertised Price
MARC: Meal, Alternative Regionally Customized. An MRE-equivalent originally developed for WOT prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
MARPAT: MARine PATtern. The U.S.M.C's new "digital" pattern camouflage uniform, replacing the BDU.
MARS: Military Affiliate Radio System
MAST: Modernized Appropriate Sustainable Technology. Describes rebuilt, restored, updated, and modernized old technology from times past that frequently still closely resembles the original from the past but also incorporates modern knowledge, craftsmanship, technology, and/or materials to make it more functional and efficient -- technology that can still be repaired, rebuilt, and/or totally manufactured new by one or more of the various highly skilled and specialized cottage industries within your community or region This may include cottage industries and highly skilled craftsmen and technicians in nearby communities that are within your commuting distance. The MAST acronym was coined by Paul Olson.
MAT: Depending on context, Motion Activated Transmitter or Military Air Transport.
MBITR: Multi-Band Inter/Intra Team Radio (AN/PRC-148)
MBR: Main Battle Rifle
MBS: Mortgage Backed Security/Securities. See also: CMBS and RMBS
M-C-C-Ls: Murdering Commie Cannibal Looters (Coined by JWR)
MacGyver or MacGyvered: To improvise, using reading available household materials. (Term derived from the television series MacGyver.)
McMansion: The derogatory term used for a large, outwardly ostentatious house built on a small lot. See also: Contrapreneur and Flipping.
MCW/LRP: Meal, Cold Weather/Long Range Patrol (MCW/LRP)
M.D. or MD: In most contexts, Medical Doctor
MDR-TB: Moderately Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. See also: XDR-TB
ME: Muzzle Energy (Ballistics.)
MEDCAP: Medical Civic Action Programs .
Medevac: Medical Evacuation. (Typically via helicopter.)
Meds: Medications
MEK: Methyl ethyl ketone
MELIOS: Mini Eye-Safe Laser Infrared Observation Set (AN/PVS-6)
Meprolight: A maker of Tritium-lit sights and scopes
Meth: A contraction for methamphetamine.
METT-T: Mission,+Enemy,+Terrain,+Troops+Time Available
MEW: Mortgage Equity Withdrawal.
MFC: Military Fuel Container. The standard 20 liter plastic fuel can that replaced the traditional five gallon steel "Jerry" or "Blitz" can, for US military organizations. These new containers are commonly called "Scepter" cans, after the name of their main manufacturer.
mg: Milligram
MG: Depending on context, megagram or machinegun.
MGTEOTWAWKI: Multi-Generational The End of the World as we Know It. (A derivation of the TEOTWAWKI acronym coined by Mike Medintz) (Spoken “Tee-ought-walk-ee”).
MHSA: Mine Safety and Health Administration
MI or M.I.: In most contexts: Military Intelligence. In the context of Robert A. Heinlein's fictional writings: Mobile Infantry.
MIA: Missing In Action.
MICH: Modular/Integrated Communications Helmet
MIG Metal Inert Gas (welding.) Also called Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
MILES: Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System. Laser tag for grunts.
Military Crest: A position on a hill or mountain that is near the summit but low enough to avoid be seen "skylined" when standing.
Mil-Dot: A type of telescopic rifle sight scope reticle with precisely sized and positioned black dots spaced along the center of both the horizontal and vertical crosshairs. These dots allow accurate range estimation.
MIL-SPEC: Military specification. (A product made to the demanding standards of military organizations.)
Milsurp: Slang acronym for military surplus.
MIM: Metal Injection Molding
Mini-14: A 5.56mm NATO semi-auto carbine made by Ruger.
MIRV: Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicle. See also: RV.
misc.survivalism: The Usenet newsgroup dedicated to survivalist topics (It has now sadly degenerated into endless flame wars.)
MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
ML: Milliliters
MLM: Multi-Level Marketing
MLR: Main Line of Resistance
MLS: Multiple Listing Service (Real estate.)
MMG: Medium Machinegun.(Such as the M240.)
mmHg: Millimeters of Mercury (Measure of barometric pressure.)
MOA: Minute of Angle (1.047" at 100 yards-a measurement of rifle accuracy)
MOAB: Mother of All Bailouts (Acronym coined by JWR in March, 2008.)
MOBEX: Mobilization Exercise.
Mods: Modifications
MOLLE: Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment
Molon Labe: Greek for "Come and Take [It]" --the rallying cry of the modern Second Amendment Movement. Also the title of a novel by Boston T. Party.
Money Pit: The Memsahib's beloved saddle horse.
Monoculture: A local or regional agricultural economy that is dependent on a single crop. (Such as corn in some parts of the Midwest.)
MOPP: Mission Oriented Protective Posture
MOS: Depending on context, Military Occupational Specialty or Metal Oxide Semiconductor (microcircuits).
Mouse Gun: Derisive term for a rifle chambered in 5.56mm NATO/.223 Remington. (JWR prefers .308 Winchesters.) See my FAQ on this subject.
MOUT: Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain
MPG or m.p.g.: Miles per gallon.
MPH or m.p.h.: Miles per hour.
MPS or Mps: Meters Per Second. See also: FPS.
MRE: Meal, Ready to Eat (U.S. Army field rations) a.k.a.: "Meals Rejected by Ethiopians", "Meals Rarely Eaten" and “Three lies for the price of one”—viz., “It isn’t a meal, it’s not ready, and you can’t eat it.”) See also: CM.
MREA: Midwest Renewable Energy Association
MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MROD: Manual Reverse Osmosis Desalinator
MRSA: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
MS: Mint State (Coin Grade.) See also: AU.
MSA: Depending on context Mine Safety Administration or Metropolitan Statistical Area
MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet(s). Used in US industry to identify toxic or otherwise dangerous materials.
MSG: Monosodium Glutamate
MSSA: Military Style Semiautomatic. The term used in New Zealand to designate paramilitary-looking rifles or shotguns.
MSM: Mainstream Media
MSR: Main Supply Route
MSRA: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (bacteria)
MSRP: Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price
MST: Mountain Standard Time.
MT or Mt: Megaton. Most commonly used in describing the yield of nuclear weapons.
MTBE: Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether. A toxic chemical used to oxygenate gasoline. MTBE now contaminates the groundwater in most of California.
MTBF: Mean Time Between Failures. See also: UMTBF.
MTOE: Modified Table of Organization & Equipment
MTTR: Mean Time to Repair
MTV: Medium Tactical Vehicle (Steyr 5 Ton 6x6)
MURS: Multi Use Radio Service. This a VHF 2-way radio service that does not require a license. See also: FRS and GMRS.
MV: Muzzle Velocity (Ballistics.)
MVPA: Military Vehicle Preservation Association
MWP: Medieval Warm Period
MWR: Morale, Welfare and Recreation
MZB: Mutant Zombie Biker

[Zombie Axe]

N
N/A: Not Applicable
N.A.: North America
NACL or NaCl: Sodium Chloride--table salt (In some contexts, a saline IV solution.)
NAEP: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Periodic public school tests in reading, mathematics, science, writing, U.S. history, civics, geography, and the arts.
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement.
NAIS: National Animal Identification System. This scheme will use RFID biochips. See The Memsahib's article on the subject. See also: RFID.
Nanny State: The collective weight of legally-mandated actions and conditions on the conduct of average citizens. JWR cites California and New Jersey as typifying the Nanny State mentality, with regulations on everything from haircut specifications to compulsory attendance for Kindergartners
NAR: National Association of Realtors.
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers
NASDAQ: National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation(s)
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Natural Gasoline: See Drip Oil.
Nav: Slang for navigation.
NAV: Net Asset Value (Investing.)
NBC: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical warfare. See also: CBR.
NBCE: Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, and Explosive
NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer
NCOIC: Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge
NCUSIF: National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. See also: FDIC and FSLIC.
ND: Negligent Discharge
NDA: Non-disclosure agreement
NEO: Near-Earth Object
NFA: National Firearms Act. See also: AOW, BATFE, Class 3, SBR, and SBS.
NFORBRES: Net Free or Borrowed Reserves (NFORBRES a key Federal Reserve statistic on available bank reserves.
NFPA: National Fire Protection Association
NG: Natural Gas
NGC: Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. An independent professional numismatic coin grading service. See also: PCGS and Slab.
NGIC: National Ground Intelligence Center
NGO: Non-Government Organization. (Such as a private charity.)
NiCd: Nickel Cadmium (rechargeable batteries)
NICS: National Instant Check System. (The US firearms purchasing database for FFL holders.) See also: FFL.
Night vision: See Starlight.
NIJ: National Institute of Justice (Sets technical standards for body armor.)
NiMH: Nickel Metal Hydride (rechargeable batteries)
NIMS: National Incident Management System
NIMSS: Not in My Solar System
NINJA: No Income, No Job or Assets
NIPP: National Infrastructure Protection Plan. (See also: DHS.)
NKJV: New King James Version of The Bible
NLOS: Non-Line of Sight
NLP: Neuro-Linguistic Programming
NMCI: Navy and Marine Corps Internet
nmi: Nautical Miles
NNEMPW: Non Nuclear Electro Magnetic Pulse Weapon
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (A U.S. Federal government agency, best known for supplying weather data)
NOD: Depending on context, Notice of Default or Night Observation Device (See: Starlight.)
NOLA: New Orleans, Louisiana
NOLS: National Outdoor Leadership School
Nomagram: A scale for measuring nuclear weapons effects and radiation dissipation
Nomex: A trade name for Dupont's Aramid Nylon fiber fabric that is resistant to burning. Because of its properties, Nomex material is often used in aviation flight suits
NONEL: Non-Electric Blasting Cap (Traditional fuse type cap)
NORAD: North Aerospace Defense Command
NOS: Depending on context: Network Operating System (packet radio), New Old Stock (merchandise), or Nitrous Oxide(engine modification)
NPR: National Public Radio. (or "National Pravda Radio", as it is called by some of its detractors.)
NRA: National Rifle Association
NRA-ILA: National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action
NRC: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NRCS: National Resources Conservation Service (formerly called the Soil Conservation Service. Part of the USDA.) See also: CRP and USDA.
NRO: National Reconnaissance Office
NRP: National Response Plan
NRR: Noise Reduction Rating (Used for ear plugs and ear muffs.)
NSA: National Security Agency
NSAID: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflamatory Drug
NSF: Depending on context, National Sanitation Foundation or National Science Federation.
NSN: National Stock Number
NSPD: National Security Presidential Directive
NSSF: National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSTDC: Nano Silver-Titanium Dioxide Coating (NSTDC)
NTC: National Training Center (Fort Irwin, California.)
NVA: North Vietnamese Army
NVD: Night Vision Device
NVG: Night Vision Goggles
NWO: New World Order
NWR: National Weather Radio. See also: WX and SAME.
NYBOT: New York Board of Trade
NYC: New York City
NYMEX: New York Mercantile Exchange. See also: CBOT.
NYPD: New York Police Department
NYSE: New York Stock Exchange

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O
O2: Oxygen
O2 SAT: Oxygen Saturation
OAL or O.A.L.: Overall Length
OBC: Officer Basic Course
OBE: Overcome by Events (In the context of SurvivalBlog, OBE means something that is out of date, no longer existent, or no longer relevant.)
OB-GYN: Obstetrician-Gynecologist
OBL: Osama Bin-Laden. See also: AQ, WTC and 9-11.
OBTW: Oh, By The Way
OCOKA: Observation and fields of fire, Cover and Concealment, Obstacles, Key terrain, Avenues of approach
OCONUS: Outside the Continental United States
OC: Depending on context Oleoresin Capsicum. ("Pepper Spray") or Observer-Controller (military training exercises.)
OCS: Officer Candidate School
OD, O.D.: Depending on Context: Olive Drab, Overdose, or Outside Diameter
ODA: Operational Detachment Alpha--a Special Forces team, formerly known as an A-Team
ODAC: Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (in England.)
OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OEF: Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer
Off Grid: A home that is not connected to the power grid. Typically powered by PVs, wind power, or micro-hydro generators, or gas/diesel/propane gensets.
OIC: Officer In Charge
OIF: Operation Iraqi Freedom
OISM: Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine
OJT: On the Job Training
O-Level: Operator Level
One Percenter: 99% of bikers are not criminals. It is that remaining one percent that is a threat, even before TSHTF. They have no compunctions about killing, and with motorcycles they are a highly mobile threat, capable of covering long distances with just a few gallons of gasoline.
One Trip Bugout. In the event of a major disaster, you may have the opportunity to make one trip to your retreat location before roads become impassible. (Due to road blocks, road closures by law enforcement, or stalled traffic jams)
OOB: Order of Battle
OODA: Observation, Orientation, Decision, Action (term coined and concept developed by Col. John Boyd, USAF (Ret.), usually called an OODA Loop). An explanation can be found at http://www.mindsim.com/MindSim/Corporate/OODA.html
OP: Observation Post:
OPD: Overfill Protection Device. OPD valves are used on many propane tanks.
OPEC: Oil Producing and Exporting Countries trading cartel.
Op-Ed: Opinion/Editorial
Open Market Operations: The Open Market Desk of the New York Federal Reserve Bank has the task of controlling the reserves in the banking system as required to hold the Fed funds rate on target. It does so mainly through repurchase agreements with authorized dealers. The Fed buys or sells Treasury securities with a promise to reverse the transaction at a later date. Commonly known as repos, these are basically short-term collateralized loans at a negotiated interest rate. (Definition courtesy of W.F. Hummel.)
OPFOR: Opposing Forces. The "bad guys" in U.S. military training exercises. Also called the Red Force. See also: BLUFOR.
OPORD: Operations Order
Ops, OPS: Operations
OPSEC: Operational Security
OPTEMPO: Operational Tempo
Option: An agreement that grants the options buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset or commodity at a specified “strike” price on or before a certain date. A call option grants the right to buy at the specified strike price, and so it pays off if the market price for the underlying item rises above that mark. A put option grants the right to sell as the strike price and pays off when the market price falls below the strike price. On the other hand, an option seller or “options writer” has the obligation to pay when the options buyer exercises their right. Options are traded on both exchanges and OTC markets. For example, party A buys a call that grants them the right to buy 1 million Euros at $0.9400 in September. (Definition courtesy of The Derivatives Primer)
OR: Operating Room
ORS: Oral Rehydration Solution. Sold under brands names like Pedialyte.
OS: Operating System.
OSB: Oriented Strand Board (a type of plywood-like sheathing.)
OSOM: Out of Sight, Out of Mind
OSS: Office of Strategic Services. The WWII progenitor of both the CIA and the U.S. Army Special Forces. See also: SOE
OTC: Over The Counter (Drugs, Stocks)
OTT: Over The Top
OW: Off-World. (In outer space.)
oz: Ounce
Oz: Slang for Australia
Ozzie: Slang for Australian. See also: Aussie

[Zombie Axe]

P
+P: The designation used by many manufacturers for extra velocity ("hot") pistol ammunition. Note that not all handguns can handle +P loads. (Check your owner's manual first!)
P2P: Depending on context: Point to Point, Person to Person, or Peer to Peer.
P38: Depending on context: A compact military can opener that can be carried on a key ring, or a Walther 9mm pistol, or WWII fighter plane manufactured by Lockheed.
P7: (Numeric acronym coined by JWR) See: PPPPPPP (P7 is also the designation of a highly regarded HK pistol. I recommend the P7-M13 for someone with lavish budget.
PA: Depending on context Physician's Assistant or Public Address (system amplifier)
PAO2: Arterial partial pressure of oxygen
PAC: Political Action Committee.
PACE: Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency. (Survival gear redundancy.)
Packet: Amateur radio AX.25 data communications, a structured group of binary digits in a prearranged sequence containing synchronization, address, control an error-checking data. A packet is a block of many characters (or bytes) which are sent together along with a few extra characters (overhear/checksum) used to guarantee that the data is completely error free. The packet includes addressing information so that the receiving station knows the source and destination of the Packet.
PACO2: Arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide.
PADI: Professional Association of Diving Instructors.
PAMP: Produits Artistiques de Métaux Précieux. PAMP is a gold, silver and platinum group metals refinery based at Castel San Pietro, in Switzerland near the Italian border
Panic Azimuth: A compass bearing used to get folks to a rally point.
Para: Short for paratrooper. Refers both to the soldiers themselves, and the type of rifles that they often carry. (Typically with a folding stock.)
Paracord: Slang for parachute cord--a heavy duty nylon twine that has thousands of uses and can be disassembled for uses as sturdy thread. Also called 550 cord.
Parts Kit: A set of parts for a firearm, usually minus the receiver. Parts kits are typically derived from military surplus weapons that would not otherwise be importable because they were originally capable of fully automatic fire. Since in the U.S. only receivers are subject to Federal controls, a parts kit can transferred without any FFL paperwork. Parts kits are typically used by hobbyists to assemble a complete semi-auto only firearm, or are kept as spare parts for a complete rifle of the same model.
“Patriots”: JWR's first novel--”Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse” (Now out of print and quite scarce)
PASGT: Personal Armor System for Ground Troops (Often misspelled PAGST, because that is how it is typically spoken.)
PAH: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. A carcinogenic compound found in used motor crankcase oil.
Passive Solar: A building that uses a room or part of the build ing as a solar collector, as opposed to active solar, such as PV.
PAWS: The Protection of Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS-designated S. 1139 / H.R.2669 would make hunting dog breeders and sellers subject to USDA licensing.
PB: Prussian Blue.
PBGC: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
PBS: Public Broadcasting Service
PC: Politically Correct. In other contexts: Personal Computer.
PCGS: Professional Coin Grading Service. An independent professional numismatic coin grading service. See also: NGC and Slab.
PCI: Pre-combat inspection(s)
PCP: Depending on context: Pre-Charged Pneumatic (air rifles), Primary Care Physician, or 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) piperidine (or more commonly Phencyclidine). The latter is an animal tranquilizer that is sometimes misused by drug addicts, because of its hallucinogenic effects.
PCS: Permanent Change of Station. (Military transfer.) See also: TDY and ETS.
PCM: Powertrain Control Module
PD or P.D.: Police Department
PDR: Physician's Desk Reference. (The standard reference on prescription drugs.)
PDA: Personal Digital Assistant
PDF: Portable Document Format. A common file format used for viewing text and graphics files, developed by Adobe software.
PDW: Depending on context: Personal Defense Weapon (HK MP-5 variant) or Pulse Descriptor Word (ELINT.)
PE or P.E.: Physical Education
P/E: Price to Earnings ratio.(A measure of stock valuation.)
Peak Load: The maximum load, or usage, of electrical power occurring in a given period of time, typically a day.
Peaknik: An adherent of Peak Oil Theory.
Peak Oil: See: Hubbert’s Peak.
Pectin: A natural jellying agent that is found in some fruits.
Percolation (or “Perk”) Test: A test of the soil to determine if it will absorb and drain water adequately to use a septic leach field system for sewage disposal.
Perp: Slang for perpetrator.
PERSCOM: The U.S. Army's personnel command. (The folks that make the duty assignments.)
PET: Polyethylene (plastic)
PETN: Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate. A stable, flexible high-order explosive. The filler used in primacord (detonating cord.)
PEWS: Platoon Early Warning System
PF: Protection Factor. (Usually in the context of fallout protection)
PFD: Personal Flotation Device. (Typically, a life vest.)
PGP: Pretty Good Privacy (Encryption freeware.)
pH (scale): The pH scale is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration. The scale runs from 0 to 14 with the middle point (pH 7) being neutral (neither acidic or basic).Any pH number greater than 7 is considered a base and any pH number less than 7 is considered an acid. 0 is the strongest acid and 14 is the strongest base.
Phantom Load: A device that consumes energy even when switched off, such as the digital clock on a VCR.
PHTLS: Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support
PID: Positive IDentification (typically, of an enemy combatant). See also: ROE.
PIK: Payment in Kind
PIR: Depending on context, Passive Infrared or Priority Intelligence Requirement.
PL: See: CTCSS
PLC: Platoon Leader's Course (USMC).
PLL: Depending on context Prescribed Load List (military unit mobilization) or Phase Lock Loop (circuitry used in radio transmitters & receivers to reduce the number of crystals needed to generate accurate and stable transmit & receive frequencies.)
PM: Depending on context, Preventative Maintenance, Preventive Medicine, Post Meridian, Precious Metals, or Prime Minister
PMI: Private Mortgage Insurance
PMO: Postal Money Order.
PMS: Depending on context, Pre-Menstrual Syndrome or Professor of Military Science (ROTC unit commanders).
PO or P.O.: Post Office.
POA: Program of Action
POC: Point of Contact
POF: Pakistan Ordnance Factory, makers of HK clones (made under license on HK tooling.) Some of their products are marketed in the US by POF-USA.
POI: Point of Impact
POL: Petroleum, Oils, and Lubricants
Pollyanna: Someone that is in denial that TEOTWAWKI could occur and remains cheerfully optimistic, even confronted with evidence to the contrary. The "Pollyanna" label was popularized in the two years preceding Y2K. It is sometimes rendered as "Polly", for short. (Pollyanna was a 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter that is a classic of children's literature.)
POO: Point of Origin
POP: Depending on context Point of Purchase (credit card transaction processing) or Point of Presence (computer networks.)
POS: Piece of Schumer. (See also: Schumer.)
POTUS: President Of The United States
POV: Depending on context: Privately Owned Vehicle (US military term for a private conveyance) or Point of View (film-making). See also: BOV
POW: Depending on context: Prisoner of War or Personally Owned Weapon.
PPM or ppm: Parts per million
PPP: Point to Point Protocol (Internet networking.)
PPPP: The Pioche Professional Polymer Pistolero. (One of SurvivalBlog's correspondents--an instructor at a well-known firearms training academy.
PPPPPPP: Poor Prior Planning Produces Pitifully Poor Performance. Also called: P7 in JWR's lexicon.
PPT: Plunge Protection Team. Also known as the President’s Working Group on Markets (PWG).
PR: Depending on context: Public Relations or Puerto Rico.
Pre-1899: Guns made before 1899--not classified as "firearms" under Federal law. See my FAQ on this subject.
Pre-1965, Pre-'65: See Junk Silver.
Prep: Slang for prepare.
Prepper: Slang for prepared individual. (A Survivalist.)
Preps: Slang for preparations.
PRI-D: A commercial fuel additive that extends the storage life of diesel fuel and biodiesel. It includes an anti-bacterial.
PRI-G: A commercial fuel additive that extends the storage life of gasoline. See also: STA-BIL.
Primacord: See: Det Cord.
Primary Targets: These are mostly missile silos, bomber bases, submarine bases, and command and control (C2) centers. The enemy must neutralize these assets immediately to prevent or minimize retaliation.
PRK: Depending on context, People's Republic of Kalifornia or photorefractive keratectomy (vision corrective eye surgery.)
PRN: "Take, as needed" (Pharmacy term.)
Projo: Shooter's slang for projectile. (A bullet.)
ProMED: Program for Monitoring Infectious Disease. Part of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
PSD: Personal Security Detail
PSI or p.s.i.: [Pounds] per square inch.
PSIG or p.s.i.g.: [Pounds] per square inch gauge.
PSK: Phase Shift Keying. See also: FSK.
PSP: Depending on context Pointed Soft Point (bullet design) or Pierced Steel Planking (runway mat material.)
PST: Pacific Standard Time.
PSYOPs: Psychological Operations
Pt.: Patient (medical)
PT: Depending on context: Physical (Fitness) Training, or Physical Therapy (Medical)
PTA: Parent-Teacher Association
PTB: Powers That Be
PTO: Power Takeoff. A physical mounting for running auxiliary equipment, turned by an engine. PTOs are found on most farm tractors and some trucks. They are used to power accessories like post hole diggers, manure spreaders, and snow blowers.
PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
“Pulling Through”: JWR’s first "spec" screenplay--available for free download. Also the title of an excellent nuke survival science fiction novel by Dean Ing.
PV: Photovoltaic . Photovoltaic power panels that converts energy from sunshine to DC electricity.
PVC: Poly-Vinyl Chloride (that ubiquitous white plastic water pipe used in the U.S. and Canada)
PWG: President’s Working Group on Markets (PWG). Commonly called the Plunge Protection Team (PPT).
PX: Post Exchange. See also BX.

[Zombie Axe]

Q
QD: Quick Detachable
QDR: Quadrennial Defense Review
QRF: Quick Reaction Force
QRM: Man-made interference on a radio frequency, intentional or not.
QRN: Natural interference on a radio frequency. Lightning, solar noise (very week signal work) are examples of natural interference.
QRP: Low power amateur radio operation, usually 5 watts output or 10 watts input power.
QSL: To acknowledge receipt. Commonly used to indicate "I understand", "I copied your transmission (or report) all Okay". Also used as a term for sending cards by mail to confirm a two way contact with a station. (A "QSL Card")
QSO: Two way conversation. (Ham radio.)
Quad: slang for a four-wheel All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). See also ATV and UATV

[Zombie Axe]

R
R4: See: AK.
R: Depending on context: Rads (a.k.a. Roentgens), or R (Value-the insulating value of building materials.
RA: Depending on context: Room Air (medical term) or Resident Adviser.
RAAF: Royal Australian Air Force
RACES: Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
Rad or RAD: Radiation Absorbed Dose. See also: Gray
RAF: Royal Air Force (UK)
RBC: Depending on context Retroactive Birth Control or Red Blood Cells
R&D: Research and Development
RDD: Radiological Dispersion Device. A "dirty bomb" is a variety of RDD.
RDF: Radio Direction Finding
RDS. or rds.: Contraction for "Rounds" (Cartridges.)
Rebar or Re-bar: Reinforcing Bar. (Steel, for concrete.)
Red Force: See: OPFOR.
Re-fi: Slang contraction for loan re-financing.
Refugee Lines of Drift: See: Channelized Areas.
Reg: Slang for regulation.
REI: Recreational Equipment, Incorporated. A membership store that sells outdoor gear.
REIT: Real Estate Investment Trust
REM: Roentgen equivalent, man. A measurement used to quantify the amount of radiation that will produce biological effects. See also: Gray and Rad.
REMM: Radiation Event Medical Management.
Remote Retreat: See: Isolated Retreat.
REO: Real Estate Owned. Usually refers to properties that are owned by an institution or a government agency.
Retreat: In the context of SurvivalBlog, a place of refuge that is prepared in advance. Usually in lightly-populated rural regions. Also sometimes called a Bug=Out Location. (See also: BOL.)
RF: Depending on context, Radio Frequency (waves) or Rimfire.
RFID: Radio Frequency Identification. An identification tag that can be read from a distance. One variety of RFID is an implantable biochip.
RFT: Run-flat tire
R.I.G.: Rust Inhibitive Grease.(The brand name of one of the best brands of grease on the market.) See also: Silica Gel and VCI.
RKBA: The right to keep and bear arms.
RMBS: Residential Mortgage Backed Security/Securities. See also: MBS and CMB.
RMS: Root Mean Square
RN: Registered Nurse
ROE: Rules of Engagement. See also: PID.
Roentgen. See: Gray
Rock-'n-roll: Slang term for full automatic fire. See also: Group Therapy.
ROI: Return on Investment. See also: EROEI
RON: Remain Over Night (location)
RoRR: “Rawles on Retreats and Relocation” a nonfiction book by JWR
ROTC: Reserve Officer Training Corps. See also: USMA.
ROTFL: Rolling on the floor laughing.
ROTFLMAO: Rolling on the floor laughing my a** off.
Round: A commonly used term for a rifle of pistol cartridge "round of ammunition."
Rover Packs: Organized gangs of looters. See also: Killer Caravans
RP: Rally Point
RPG: Depending on context Rocket Propelled Grenade or Role Playing Game
RPK: The light machinegun variant of the AK family that features a longer barrel and a bipod. The original RPK shoots the intermediate 7.62 x 39mm cartridge,while the more recent RPK-74 shoots the 5.45 x 39mm cartridge. See also: AK , AK-47, and AK-74.
RPM: Revolutions Per Minute
RSS: Real Simple Syndication, or in some contexts: Received Signal Strength
RSTA: Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition
RTC: Resolution Trust Corporation.
RTV: Room Temperature Vulcanizing.
Ruger: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. An American firearms manufacturer.
Rule 157: See FAS 157.
Rule 303 / Rule 308: Civilian Law Enforcement, post TEOTWAWKI ("Rule 303" in Canada and Oz, and "Rule 308" in the Americas)
RUM: Remington Ultra Magnum.
RV: In the context of nuclear weapons, a re-entry vehicle—a method of delivering a nuclear weapon. In the context of survival retreats, a recreational vehicle. In the context of the film Dr. Strangelove, both!
RVN: Republic of Vietnam.
RWR: Depending on context: Radar Warning Receiver or Ronald Wilson Reagan.
RWVA: Revolutionary War Veterans Association (www.rwva.org)
Rx or RX: Prescribed or prescription medicine.

[Zombie Axe]

S
S1: Personnel (Military staff function. Called G1 at higher echelons.)
S2: Intelligence (Military staff function. Called G2 at higher echelons.)
S3: Operations and Training (Military staff function. Called G3 at higher echelons.)
S4: Logistics (Military staff function. Called G4 at higher echelons.)
S5: Civil-Military Operations (Military staff function. Called G5 at higher echelons.)
S6: Signal Operations (Military staff function. Called G6 at higher echelons.)
SA or S.A.: Depending on context: Single Action, Springfield Armory, South Africa, South America, or Finnish ("Suomi") Army
SAAMI: Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute, Inc.
SA-80: The UK military's 5.56mm "bullpup" infantry carbine. Their magazines are interchangeable with M16/AR-15 magazines.
SAC: Strategic Air Command. See also: USAF.
SAFN-49: See: FN-49.
SALUTE: The standard S2 report format
SAME: Specific Area Message Encoding . (See also: NWR.)
SAMPLE: (Medical patient history.) Signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, pertinent past medical history, last oral intake and events leading up to the medical intervention event.
Sam's Club: An American membership "warehouse" type grocery store chain that sells every thing from canned hams to home computers. A sister company of Wal-Mart. Most items are sold in case lots. See also: COSTCO.
SAPI: Small Arms Protective Insert (The ceramic insert used in some body armor.)
SAR: Search and Rescue
SAR-8: Springfield Armory's clone of the HK91 rifle.
SAR: Search and Rescue or Suspicious Activity Report. In the US, a SAR is a secret filing, triggered by any financial activity the government deems unusual. Specifically, any group of transactions totaling $5,000 or more that "is not the sort in which the particular customer would normally be expected to engage."
SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
SAS: Special Air Service (British Special Forces.)
SASE: Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope
SASS: Single Action Shooter's Society
SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test. In other contexts: Satellite
SAW: Squad Automatic Weapon (The M249, a.k.a. the FN "Minimi." See also: LMG.)
SBCT: Stryker Brigade Combat Team
SBI: Special Background Investigation
SBR: Short-Barreled Rifle (BATFE classification.)
SBS: Depending on context, Special Boat Service (British Special Forces) or Short-Barreled Shotgun (BATFE classification.)
SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. The software that is typically used to control power and water utility switching and valve hardware.
SCAR: Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle
SCC: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. (A planned television series that already has its own Yahoo Discussion Groups Page)
Schumer: JWR's euphemism for the stuff that the septic tank pumper truck hauls away. (Full offense intended to Senator Charles Schumer, a scum-sucking hopolophobe.)
Schumeresque: Living under intolerably bad (post-TEOTWAWKI) circumstances (i.e. the Schumer has been widely distributed.) See also: WTSHTF.
SCOTUS: Supreme Court of the United States
SCI: Sensitive Compartmented Information
Sci-fi: Science Fictions
SCS: See: NRCS.
SCUBA: Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
SEAL: Sea, Air Land--the U.S. Navy's elite commando force. See also: DEVGRU.
SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission.
Secondary (Nuclear) Targets: Major military, industrial, governmental, and transportation centers. Also included are seaports, locks and dams. These may be hit at once by the first missiles or struck by the bombers that will follow.
SERE: Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape.
SF or S.F.: Depending on context, Special Forces or San Francisco.
SFOD-D: US Army Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta. Commonly called "Delta Team". See also: DEVGRU.
S&G.: Sargent & Greenleaf. (A lock manufacturer.)
Shank's Mare: Scottish slang dating from the eighteenth century. There was a verb, to shank or to shank it, meaning to go on foot. This is from standard English shank for the part of the leg from the knee to the ankle, which comes from Old English sceanca, the leg bone. This verb developed into shank’s naig or shank’s naigie (where the second words are local forms of nag, a horse) and later into shank’s mare. It was a wry joke: "I haven’t got a horse of my own for the journey, so I’ll use Shank’s mare to get there." (Meaning, I’ll go on my own two feet.) This supposed link with a person called Shank explains why the first word is often capitalised. Another form, now more common in Britain, is shank’s pony.(Definition courtesy of Michael Quinion's World Wide Words web site)
Sheeple: ("Sheep People") Those who parrot the MSM and who are in denial of potential TEOTWAWKI. (Coined by the late Bill Cooper)
Shelf Life: The useful life of of product in home storage. In the context of foods: The period of time that a processed food can be stored before changes in color, flavor, texture or the number of micro-organisms make it unacceptable. In the contexts of nonreversible consumer batteries: The period of time that a battery can be stored and still have at least 85% of its original charge.
SHTF: Schumer Hits the Fan. (See also: HTF, WTSHTF and ESHTF.)
SIG: Schweizer Industrie Gesellschaft. The superb Swiss gun maker.
SIGINT: Signals Intelligence
SIGINT/EW: Signals Intelligence & Electronic Warfare
Silencer: See: Suppressor
Silica Gel: A granular desiccant, used to protect, guns, tools and other metal objects from rust. See also: R.I.G. and VCI.
SINCGARS: Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System. The U.S. military's current issue frequency-hopping VHF radio transceiver.
SIP: Depending on context, either Shelter in Place or Structurally Insulated Panel.
SIPC: Securities Investor Protection Corporation
SIPRNET: Secret IP Router Network (A DoD network carried via classified channels.)
SITREP: Situation Report.
SIV: Structured Investment Vehicle. See also: CDO and Structured.
Slab or Slabbed: Professionally graded and encapsulated numismatic coins. See also: PCGS and NGC.
SKI: Spending Kid's Inheritance
SKS: Samozariadnyia Karabin Simonova, the semi-automatic carbine in 7.62x39 issued by the Soviet Army before and coincidentally with the AK-47. As originally issued, the SKS had a 10 round top-fed fixed magazine.
S&L: Savings and Loan
S&P: Standard & Poor's. Refers to both the stock price index and also the credit rating agency.
SLLS: Stop, look, listen, and smell.
SLR: Self-Loading Rifle. See also: L1A1
SMG: Submachinegun
SMLE: Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (The British Commonwealth bolt action .303 service rifle in WWI, WWII, and Malaya.) See also: Enfield.
Snow Belt: Areas where prevailing onshore winds and/or elevation are responsible for heavy snowfall.
SOB: Small of Back (holster design.)
SOCOM: Special Operations Command
SOE: Special Operations Executive. The British counterpart to the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS). See also: OSS
SOF: Special Operations Forces
SOI: Depending on context, Signal of Interest or Signal Operating Instructions. See also: CEOI
SO: Significant Other
SOL: "Schumer" Out of Luck, or, Simply Out of Luck
SOP or S.O.P.: Standard Operating Procedure(s)
SOPMOD: Special Operations Peculiar Modification
SP: Soft Point (bullet design)
SPCA: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Spec: Depending on context, Specification(s) or Speculation. The latter is often used to describe investment houses or land bought in a rising market.
SPF: Solar Protection Factor. (For sunscreen)
SpO2: Blood oxygen saturation.
Spray 'n Pray: Un-aimed full automatic fire.See also: Group Therapy.
SPST: Single Pole, Single Throw (electrical switch.)
Squib (load): A cartridge with an inadequate or entirely missing powder charge. A squib load typically lodges a bullet only halfway down the barrel. This is a rare but dangerous occurrence.
SSA: Social Security Administration.
SSB: Single Sideband (an operating mode for CB and amateur radio gear.) See also: LSB and USB.
SS&S: "Shoot, Shovel, & Shut Up" - A common philosophy on feral dogs and other predators (Acronym coined by JWR)
SSTV: Slow Scan Television (an Amateur Radio transmission type)
STA-BIL: A commercial fuel additive that extends the storage life of gasoline. See also: PRI-G.
STANAG: Standardization Agreement
STANO: Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Night Observation. See also: Starlight
Starlight: An electronic light amplification technology that was first developed during the Vietnam War. A Starlight device literally amplifies low ambient light by up to 100,000 times, turning nighttime darkness into daylight--albeit a green and fuzzy view. Starlight scopes are critical tools for retreat security, especially in a “grid-down” situation. Note: Starlight is also the name brand of a manufacturer of heavy-duty Mil-Spec gun cases. (So named because the design of the cases resembles that of cases used for Starlight scopes and goggles.) See also: Mil-Spec.
Starlight in Vermont: JWR’s second "spec" screenplay.
State Line (Jumping) Game, The: Living near a state line to take advantage of a lower tax or other advantages in one or more adjoining states.
STG-58: The Austrian Army's version of the FN/FAL rifle. STG-58 parts kits have been used in recent years for building semi-auto only FALs in the U.S.
Sten or STEN: Sterling-Enfield, A very inexpensive 9mm submachinegun produced in England, during World War II.
Steyr: An Austrian gun manufacturer. Their Steyr Daimler-Puch division also makes military off-road vehicles.
Steyr AUG: The Austrian army's 5.56mm "bullpup" infantry carbine. Also issued by The Australian Army, as their replacement for the L1A1.
STRAC: See Strack.
Strack: U.S. military slang for a "squared away" soldier. Also sometimes applied to a field gear locker box -- a "Strack Box." The origin of this word is debated. Some say that it is an acronym for "Strictly Regular Army Commission" (STRAC), while others attribute it to the family name of Army Air Corps (later USAF) Brigadier General Harold Arthur Strack.
Structured (Note): A hybrid instrument that combines a bond or loan with a derivative. A traditional structured note is a call bond. See also: SIV.
Structuring: Any multiple cash transactions designed to circumvent the US IRS requirement to file Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs).
Sub-cu: Short for subcutaneous (drug injection).
SUIT: Sight Unit Infantry, Trilux, the optical sight using by the Brits on their L1A1s. See also: SUSAT.
Sulfation: The formation of lead-sulfate crystals on the plates of a lead-acid battery, which decreases battery capacity by impeding the opportunity for chemical reaction within a cell. It can be caused by leaving the battery in a discharged state for long periods of time.
Suppressor: A device for muffling the sound of a firearms discharge. They are often incorrectly called "silencers" by the mass media, but that is a misnomer since they do not completely silence any firearm. There is a $200 Federal transfer tax for firearms sound suppressors here in the U.S. There are also additional state-enacted restrictions on suppressors in many states, such as California and Washington. Readers are strongly advised not to purchase or construct an unregistered suppressor. The risk of doing so is the loss of you gun ownership and voting rights for life, and many year behind bars. Don't take that risk! Keep in mind that purchasing a registered suppressor will raise your profile, both locally (since it will be your local sheriff or chief of police that will sign off on your license) and at the Federal level. So you need to carefully weigh the risks versus benefits of doing so. Proceed down that path only after considerable thought and prayer.
Sure-Fire: A popular American brand of sturdy flashlights and electro-optics, often with weapons mounts.
SURV: Sport Utility Recreational Vehicle. Commonly called "Toy Haulers" these RVs and Fifth Wheel trailers have a cargo area (typically in the rear) with a loading ramp. This allows them to carry ATVs and motorcycles.
Survivalist: One who prepares for potential bad times. (Coined by Kurt Saxon)
SUSAT: Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux. See also: SUIT.
SUV: Sport/Utility Vehicle
SVO: Straight Vegetable Oil. See also: WVO and Biodiesel.
S&W: Smith & Wesson--An American gun maker.
Swap: An agreement to swap the net value of two series of obligations or payments in which one payment is usually based on a fixed interest rate and the other is based on a variable interest rate. (Or, for example, an interest rate in another currency, the total rate of return of a security or index, or a commodity price.)
SWAT: Special Weapons and Tactics. (SWAT originally stood for Special Weapons Assault Team until that was deemed politically incorrect.)
Sweet Feed: See C-O-B.
SWR: Standing Wave Ratio (a radio transmitter term related to tuning an antenna for best performance)
Synthetic CDO: A collateralized debt obligation (CDO) that is based on credit default swaps (CDSs) rather physical debt securities.

[Zombie Axe]

T
TA-1 / TA-312: Older generation U.S. Military hard wire field telephones. They have been superceded by DNVTs. See also: DNVT.
TA-50: The standard issue U.S. Army field gear (backpack, web gear, tentage, boots, and fatigue uniforms) for active duty and reserve forces soldiers in Troop Program Units.
TAB and Tabbing: Tactical Advance to Battle. (British army term.) "Tabbing" is slang for moving stealthily.
Take The Gap: Emigration under duress. (A term coined in Rhodesia, based on the British Commonwealth football term.)
Tango Sierra: U.S. Navy lingo for "Tough Schumer!"
TANSTAAFL: There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch (Coined by Robert Heinlein)
Tape Switch: A slim, pressure sensitive DC electrical switch, typically mounted on firearms grips or forends, often used to actuate tactical lights or lasers.
TARP: Troubled Asset Relief Program. The bank bailout portion of the Mother of All Bailouts. See also: EESA and MOAB.
TB: Tuberculosis
TBD: To Be Determined.
TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
T-Bills: U.S. Treasury Bills. (Short-term debt obligations of the U.S. Treasury.)
TBO: Time Between Overhauls
TBSP: Tablespoon.
T-Case: Transfer case.
TCF: See: Claire Files.
TCP: Traffic Control Point
TD: Time Dilation or Temporal Displacement. See also: WOT.
TDC: Top Dead Center
T&E: Traverse and elevation. The T&E mechanism is used for aiming some types of belt-fed machineguns in deliberate fire. See also: Free Gun.
TDP: Thermodepolymerization. A process for manufacturing oil from organic waste.
TDY: Temporary Duty. See also: PCS.|
TEL: Depending on context Tetra-ethyl lead (fuel) or Transporter, erector, launcher (mobile missile launchers)
TELCO, Telco: Telephone Company. See: also: CO.
TEOTWAWKI: The End of the World as we Know It (Acronym coined by Mike Medintz) (Spoken “Tee-ought-walk-ee”).
Tertiary (Nuclear) Targets: These are population and industrial centers that probably wouldn't be hit in the first strikes but would be high on the lists for later destruction to further cripple our ability to fight a prolonged war and/or recover and function as a nation. Threats against these targets could also be used following the initial attacks to force our leadership to capitulate.
The Crunch.: See: WTSHTF.
The Gray Nineties: Title of the draft edition of JWR's first novel. It was shareware with 80,000+ downloads. No longer available on-line.
Thermal Mass: A material that has the ability to absorb, store, and release heat energy. Typically water tanks, concrete, bricks, or tiles.
Thermite: A mixture of aluminum powder and iron rust, that when ignited causes a vigorous exothermic reaction. Used primarily for welding. Also used by military units as an incendiary for destroying equipment.
TIA: Depending on context, Thanks in Advance, or Total Information Awareness, or Transient Ischemic Attack. (Commonly called a "mini-stroke" or "warning stroke".)
TIC: Troops in Contact. See also: ROE
TIG Tungsten Inert Gas (welding.) Also called Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
TIM: Toxic Industrial Materials, See also: NBC.
Timber Cruise: The process of surveying forest stands to predict how many board feet of lumber a stand will yield, as well as its health/maturity.
TIPS: Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities
TM: Technical Manual
TMM: The Mental Militia--The Internet discussion forums formerly hosted by libertarian writer Claire Wolfe and called The Claire Files or TCF.
TNC: Terminal Node Controller. (An interface device used between a ham radio and a computer for Packet data transmission and reception)
TNFa: Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFa)(Reference) A cytokine.
TNT: Trinitrotoluene. A yellow crystalline compound. Used as a high explosive
TO&E or TOE: Table of Organization & Equipment
Tommy Tactical: See: Arm Chair Commando and Mall Ninja.
Topo: Slang contraction for topographic (map).
Tor: The onion router
TOT: Time on target. A carefully coordinated artillery, mortar, missile, and/or rocket strike, where projectiles from several firing batteries arrive simultaneously.
TP: Toilet Paper
T-Pack: Tray-packaged U.S. military rations, sized to feed an entire squad.
TPM: Temporary Paralysis of the Mind
TPN: Total Parenteral Nutrition. With TPN, the patient's nutrients, liquids, etc, are all administered via a tube in a major vein. In Partial Parenteral Nutrition, the patient's normal food intake is supplemented by a tube in a vein.
TPTB: The Powers That Be
Tracker: A rack for a PV array that follows the path of the sun to maximize the solar radiation incident on the panel’s surface. Typically, a single axis tracker will give you 15% to 25% more power per day, and dual axis tracking will add about 5% to that. Depending on the latitude and season.
Tranny: Slang for transmission.
TREE: Transient radiation effects on electronics. See also: EMP.
Tri-Chlor: Slang for the solvent 1,1,1 trichloroethane
Trickle Charge: A charge at a low rate, balancing through self-discharge losses, to maintain a cell or battery in a fully charged condition.
Trijicon: A maker of Tritium-lit sights and rifle scopes.
Tritium: A glowing radioactive gas (a hydrogen isotope) with an 11.2 year half-life.
Truck Farming/Truck Crops: Farming crops that are not processed before selling and that are directly used or sold fresh such as: lettuce, celery, and flowers.
TS: Top Secret
TSA: Transportation Security Administration (Acronym also defined as: "Thousands Standing Around.")
TSCC: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
TSE:Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE). See also: BSE and CWD.
TSHTF: The Schumer Hits the Fan. (See: WTSHTF.)
TSLF: Term Securities Lending Facility. The Federal Reserve's panic move to shore up banking liquidity with huge cash loans.The TSLF loans are designed to circumvent the Fed's mandate to only take top-grade collateral in exchange for loans.
TSP: Depending on context teaspoon (measure) or Tri-Sodium Phosphate (cleaner)
TTB: Tax and Trade Bureau
TTBOMK: To the Best of My Knowledge
TTP: Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures
TTS: Target Tracker System©
TTSLE: Target Tracker System - Law Enforcement©
TULIP: Acronym for the the Five Points of Calvinism:

Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)

Unconditional Election

Limited Atonement (also known as Atonement for the Elect)

Irresistible Grace

Perseverance of the Saints ("Once Saved Always Saved")
TV: Television. See also: HDTV.
TVP: Textured Vegetable Protein.
Two Meter: See: 2 Meter.
Tzedakah: Hebrew for Charity and Tithing Law.
TWS: Thermal Weapon Sight. An electronic sight that uses thermal imaging technology. Unlike starlight or infrared, a TWS literally "sees" heat.

[Zombie Axe]

U
UATV: Utility All Terrain Vehicle. An ATV with extra cargo capacity. UATVs are typified by the John Deere Gator and Buck models.
UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
UAVIED: UAV Borne Improvised Explosive Device. (Acronym coined by JWR, in December, 2006)
UB: Underground Burial. The rating for data or power cable that is designed to withstand being buried for extended periods.
UCC: Unincorporated Church Coalition. (In other contexts: Uniform Commercial Code)
UCMJ: Uniform Code of Military Justice
UFC: Uniform Fire Code
UGR: Unitized Group Ration
UHF: Ultra High Frequency. (Radio and television frequencies in the range 300-3000 MHz)
UHT: Ultra High Temperature milk pasteurization. Used for retort packaged milk.
UK: United Kingdom
UL: Underwriter's Laboratory.
ULSD: Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (fuel).
UMTBF: Unacceptable Mean Time Between Failures. See also: MTBF.
UN: United Nations
UNE: Urban Northeast
Unhardened (electronics): See: EMP.
U.P.: Depending on context: Upper Peninsula of Michigan or Union Pacific Railroad. Residents of the U.P. are often called Yoopers.
UPS: Depending on context: Uninterruptible Power Source or United Parcel Service
URL: Uniform Resource Locator. The actual written “address” of a given Internet site.
USAID: United States Agency for International Development
USAR: U.S. Army Reserve
USB: Depending on context, Universal Serial Bus or Upper Sideband (an operating mode for CB and amateur radio gear.) See also “LSB” and “SSB”.
USBP: U.S. Border Patrol
USCG: U.S. Coast Guard
USD: United States Dollar
USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
USDX: United States Dollar Index
USFS: United States Forest Service
USFWS: United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
USG: United States Government.
USGS: United States Geological Survey. http://www.usgs.gov/ See also GNIS (Geographic Names Information System)
USGPO: U.S. Government Printing Office.
U.S.G.I.: United States Government Issue (equipment specifications)
USMA: United States Military Academy (at West Point, New York.) See also: ROTC.
USP: United States Pharmacopoeia.
USPS: United States Postal Service. Sometimes jokingly called the "Unbearably Slow Postal Sloths".
USPSA: United States Practical Shooting Association
USWS: United States Weather Service. See also: WX.
UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
UTMA: Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
UV: Ultraviolet (commonly called "Black Light")
UXO: Unexploded Ordnance
Uzi: The compact 9mm submachinegun designed by Uziel Gal of Israel.

[Zombie Axe]

V
VAC: Volts, Alternating Current
Valmet: See: AK.
Vauban Star: See: Cooper Corners.
VaR: Value at Risk
VBAC: Vaginal Birth After Caesarean
VBIED: Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device
VBT: Very Bad Thing
VC: Depending on context Viet Cong or Venture Capital
VCI: Vapor Phase Corrosion Inhibitive. (A rust preventative desiccant.) VCI products are often produced as a coated paper, for metal parts storage. See also: RIG and Silica Gel.
vCJD: See: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
VDC: Volts, Direct Current
Vet: Depending on context, short for veteran or veterinarian.
VFD: Volunteer Fire Department
VHF: Very High Frequency. (Radio and television frequencies in the range 30-300 MHz)
VLF: Very Low Frequency. (Radio frequencies in the range 3-30 kHz)
VOIP: Voice Over Internet Protocol (Internet telephone service.)
Vortex: Trade name of a flash hider that uses spirally-milled slots to break up a rifle’s muzzle flash.
VOX: Voice Operated (Switch). or “Voice Operated Transmit”, a 2-way radio feature.
VW: Volkswagen. (Literally: People’s Wagon)
VX: A variety of nerve gas.

[Zombie Axe]

W
WAFA: Wilderness Advanced First Aid
W.A.L.L.S.: Water, Access, Location, Light, and Security. (Acronym coined by Todd Savage.)
WAP: Wireless Access Point
WAPI: Water Pasteurization Indicator
WD-1: U.S. military issue two conductor insulated field telephone wire.
WD-40: A commercial spray cleaner/lubricant. Not recommended for most firearms cleaning tasks. Deadens ammunition primers.
WDNNSB Mode: “We Don't Need No Stinkin' Badges”
WEP: Wired Equivalent Privacy
Weaver Grip, Weaver Stance: The handgun shooting techniques developed by Jack Weaver in the 1950s and 1960s and widely adopted by law enforcement and the military in the 1980s. The shooter uses a system of hand counter pressure and body alignment to steady a handgun during firing. The shooter uses both hands to hold the gun, the firing hand pushing slightly forward and the other hand placed over the firing hand pulling slightly back. The gun is aimed at an oblique angle to the body almost to the side opposite the "strong" hand, using the "strong" arm bone structure to serve as a form of "stock" for the gun. (Definition courtesy of www.SavvySurvivor.com)
Web Gear: Generic term for tactical load bearing equipment such as pistol belts, Y-harnesses, magazine pouches, vests, and so forth.
WECSOG: Wylie E. Coyote School of Gunsmithing (amateur gunsmithing) Coined at The FALFiles.
WEMSI: Wilderness Emergency Medicine Services Institute
WEMT or W-EMT: Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician
Wet Gas: See: Casinghead Gas.
WFA: Wilderness First Aid
WFR: Wilderness First Responder
WGA: Writer's Guild of America
WGS-84: World Geodetic Survey of 1984.
WHO: World Health Organization
Wi-Fi: Wireless Fidelity. Used generically when referring of any type of 802.11 network, whether 802.11b, 802.11a, dual-band, etc.
Wipe: The final baffling stage of some firearms sound suppressors. The "wipe" is sometimes a perforated sheet of high melting point rubber.
WMA: Wilderness Medical Associates
WMD: Weapons of Mass Destruction
WMS: Wilderness Medical Society
WFA: Wilderness First Aid
WOT: Depending on context: War on Terror or Wide Open Throttle. See also: TD.
WPA: Works Project Administration. (A make-work program in the US during the Great Depression.)
WRT: With Regard To
WSM: Winchester Short Magnum.
WSSM: Winchester Super Short Magnum.
WTC:World Trade Center. One of the sites of the 9/11/01 radical Islamic terrorist attacks. See Also: AQ and OBL.
WTO:World Trade Organization.
WTS: Depending on context Want to Sell or Williams Trigger Specialties
WTSHTF: When the Shit Hits the Fan. Synonymously use the terms TEOTWAWKI, The Crunch, worst case, and the old military saying “when the balloon goes up.
WVO: Waste Vegetable Oil. See also: SVO.
WWCR: World Wide Christian Radio.
WWI: World War I
WWII: World War II
WWWF: Weapon, Web gear, Water, and Food. (Acronym coined by FDG.)
WX: Weather. The designated U.S. Weather Service frequencies are often called WX channels. These are between 162.400 MHz and 162.550 MHz. See also: USWS.

[Zombie Axe]

X
X, The: In the tactical realm, "The X" means the danger area, the line of attack, the place where the grenades are landing, the bullets are zipping through, and the bombs are going off. Small unit soldiers often say "get out of the X" or "Get off the x" The only place you want to be on the X involves a treasure map, otherwise you are in grave danger. (Definition courtesy of http://getoffthex.com.)
XD: Extreme Duty.
XDR-TB: Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. See also: MDR-TB.
XM: Experimental Model
XM177E2: See: M4

[Zombie Axe]

Y
Y2K: Year 2000 (Coined by David Eddy). The scare associated with the millennial (“Year 2000”) date change that took place at 0001/01/01/2000.
Y2Y: Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.
YBIC: Your Brother In Christ
YHWH: Yahweh (Jehovah.)
YMCA: Young Men's Christian Association
YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary. Commonly used to describe procedures with variable results. This also means "Try this at your own risk."
Yob: An aggressive, rowdy, and/or violent young man. (UK slang.) Possibly derived from "boy" spelled backwards. See also: ASBO.
Yooper: See: U.P.
YOPI: The acronym used by healthcare providers to summarize those at greatest risk of great harm or death because of disease: Younger than 5 years old, Older than 65 years old, Pregnant, and Immune-compromised.
YOYO: You're On Your Own. (When government ceases to provide essential services such as fire department and police department protection, and when utilities no longer provide water, sanitation, electricity and phone service.) Acronym coined by David Weed.

[Zombie Axe]

Z
Zener Diodes: See: EMP.
Zeroing, Zeroed: The process of adjusting a weapon's elevation and windage to an individual user so that a firearm, when fired, will hit the point of aim. A rifle is said to be “zeroed” when this is done. (Definition courtesy of The FALFiles.)
Zero Time: A complete restoration of a vehicle (bringing it back to like-new condition, i.e. "Zero time on the meter.")
ZIRP: Zero Interest Rate Policy.
Zombie Axe: a crazy dude that has been doing S&P training for many years:cool: currently resides @ www.xcolony.com and has a blog @ www.zombieaxe.blogspot.com

[Zombie Axe]

#'s
10/.22: A semi-automatic .22 rimfire rifle made by Ruger
10 Meter: The 28.000-to-29.700 MHz Amateur radio band is approximately 10 meters in wavelength so it is called the 10 Meter band. The 10 meter band is adjacent to the Citizen's Band (27 MHz, or 11 meters), so it has been common practice to modify older 23 channel CB radio to operate in the 10 meter band. See also: CB and Free Band.
100LL: See Avgas.
11B or "Eleven Bravo": The U.S. Army's MOS for Infantryman.
1911: See M1911.
24x7: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
24x7x360: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 360 degrees
2A: The Second Amendment
2 Meter: The 144-to-148 MHz Amateur radio band is approximately 2 meters in wavelength so it is called the 2 Meter band.
2WD: Two Wheel Drive
4GW: Fourth Generation War(fare)
4H: 4H is a youth club administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The four "H"s stand for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.
4WD: Four Wheel Drive
401(k):One form of retirement savings account used in the US. See also: IRA
5 Series: U.S. Army Engineer manuals start with a 5 prefix, and 5 is also the prefix for US Army Engineer branch MOSes.
550 Cord: See Paracord.
6 Meter: A VHF amateur radio band from 50 to 54 MHz--approximately 6 meters in wavelength, so it is called the 6 Meter band.
90% Silver: See: Junk Silver.
9/11/01: See 9-11.
9-11: The radical Islamic terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 that took 3,000+ American lives. See also: OBL and WTC
911: The standard US telephone emergency number that connects to police and fire department dispatching.