|
The military and
government are famous for using - or overusing - abbreviations and acronyms for designating equipment, programs,
and agencies. These eight pages are chock full of nearly every commonly used abbreviations and acronyms used by
the U.S. military (at least up through around the year 2000).
P Peacetime P2E2I Pre-Planned Essential Elements of Information P-3H Land-Based
Anti-Submarine Warfare Patrol Aircraft (re-engined) P3I Pre-Planned Product Improvement
PA (1) Pulse Amplitude; (2) Probability of Arrival; (3) Public Affairs; (4) Preliminary Assessment; (5)
Proper Authority PAA (1) Primary Aircraft Authorized; (2) Peer Access Approval
PA ANG Pennsylvania Air National Guard PAATS Precision Approach Area Tracking System
PABX Private Access Branch Exchange PAC Pacific PACAF Pacific Air Forces
PACCAAT USPACOM Command and Control AUTODIN Access Terminal PACCS Post-Attack Command and Control
System PACE Portable Acoustic Collection Equipment PACFAST Pacific Forward Area Support Team
PACFLT Pacific Fleet PACOM U.S. Pacific Command PACOPS
Pacific Air Force Operations PACTAIS Pacific Theater Air Intelligence System PACTIDS
PACOM Theater Intelligence Data System PACVTCN Pacific Video Teleconferencing Network
PAD Program Action Directive PADAR Passive Airborne Detection & Ranging
PA&E Program Analysis and Evaluation PAE Peer Access Enforcement PAF Production Analysis and
Fusion PAI Project Assignment Instruction PAIDS PACOM Area Imagery Distribution System PAIS
(1) Personnel Authentication Identification System; (2) Prototype Advanced Indicator System; (3) Pacific Air
Intelligence System PAL Permissive Action Link PALAPA Indonesian Satellite PALS Photo
Area & Location System PAM
(1) Payload Assist Module; (2) Penetration Augmented Munition PAMIS Psychological Operations Automated
Management Information System PANAMSAT PAN American Satellite (Communications System)
PANMAN Panama Metropolitan Area Network PAO (1) Product Activity/Operational Code; (2) Public Affairs
Officer PAOC PACAF Air Operations Center PAR (1) Precision Approach Radar; (2) Perimeter
Acquisition Radar; (3) Phased-Array Radar; (4) Population at Risk; (5) Program
Assessment Review PARCS (1) Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack; (2) Perimeter Acquisition
Characterization System PARINT Partial Intercept PARIS Pacific Army Intelligence System PARMIS
Peacetime Airborne Reconnaissance Management Information System PARPRO
(1) Peacetime Aerial Reconnaissance Program; (2) Preplanned Application of Reconnaissance Programs
PAS (1) Plans and analysis Staff; (2) Pan American Satellite PASEP Passed Separately
PASS (1) Photo Interpretation Analyst Support System; (2) PACOM IPAC Intelligence Computer System Analyst
Support System; (3) PACOM ADP Server Site PASS-E USPACOM ADP Server Site-EASTPAC
PASSEX Passing Exercise (Naval) PASS-H USPACOM ADP Server Site, Hawaii PASS-J
USPACOM ADP Server Site, Japan PASS-K USPACOM ADP Server Site, Korea PAT (1) Payload Associated
Transporter; (2) Planning Assistance Team; (3) Process Action Team PATREP
Patrol Report PATRIOT Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target PATRIOT PAC III Phased Array
Tracking to Intercept of Target Advanced Capability III PATRON
Patrol Squadron (Navy) PATWING Patrol Wing PAVE USAF Programs Connected (Night) Avionics, Target
Designators, Vision PAWS (1) Portable Analyst Work Station; (2) Prototype Analytical Workstation; (3)
Portable ASAS Workstation PAX Passengers PB
(1) Particle Beam; (2) Patrol Boat PB(A)(H) Patrol Boat (Air Cushion) (Hydrofoil)
PBAC Program Budget Activity Committee PBC Program and Budget Committee PBD
(1) Program Budget Decision; (2) Patrol Boat Drone PBEIST Planning Board for European Inland Surface
Transport PBL Patrol Boat, Light PBN Public Broadcasting Network
PBOS Planning Board for Ocean Shipping PBR (1) River/Roadstead Patrol Boat (Navy); (2) Precision
Bombing Range PBTN Panama Backbone Transport Network PBV Post-Boost Vehicle PBW Particle
Beam Weapon PBX Private Branch Exchanges PC (1) Patrol Craft; (2) Positive Control; (3) Production
Control; (4) Personal Computer; (5) Project Coordinator; (6) Parallel Computing; (7) Provide Comfort; (8) Patrol
Coastal PCA Point of Closest Approach
PCAC Primary Collection and Analysis Center PCC (1) POADS Computer Center; (2) Program Coordinating
Committee PCD (1) Program Change Decision; (2) Positive Control Document
PCE Patrol Escort PCF(A)(H) Fast Patrol Craft (Air Cushion) (Hydrofoil) PCFS
Fire Support Patrol Craft PCH Patrol Craft (Hydrofoil) PC II PROVIDE COMFORT II PCL
Parallel Communications Link PCM Pulse Code Modulation PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association PCN (1) Production Control Number; (2) Packet Switching Node; (3) Personal
Communications Networking PCP (1) Project Concept Proposal; (2) Program Change Proposal PCR (1)
Performance and Cost Report; (2) Program Change Request
PCS (1) Publication Control Sheet; (2) Permanent Change of Station; (3) Submarine Chaser; (4) Personal
Communications System; (5) Primary Control Station PCS/UPT Personal Communications Services/Universal
Personal Telecommunications PCSF Fire Support Patrol Craft PCT
Training Patrol Craft PCTN Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network PCTCS
Pentagon Center Telecommunications System PCZ Protected Communications Zone PD
(1) Probability of Damage; (2) Presidential Directive; (3) Pulse Duration; (4) Passive Detection; (5) Point
Detonation (Fuse) PDA Personal Digital Assistant PDB PSYOP Dissemination Battalion PDC
Propaganda Development Center PDD Presidential Decision Directive
PDI Principal Deputy for Intelligence PDF Panamanian Defense Force PDL Program Design
Language PDM (1) Program Decision Memorandum; (2) Pulse Duration Modulation PDMS
Point Defense Missile Systems PDMT Pursuit Deterrent Munition Trainer PDOP Position Dilution of
Precision PDP (1) Program Decision Paper; (2) Programmable Data Processor
PDR Preliminary Design Review PDS (1) Passive Detection System; (2) Power Distribution System; (3)
Production Deconfliction System; (4) Protected Distribution System PDSC PACOM Data Systems Center PDSS
Post-Deployment Software Support PDU Protocol Data Unit
PDUSD(A&T) Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition & Technology)
PE (1) Probable Error; (2) Personnel Equipment; (3) Program Element; (4) Preliminary Exploitation; (5) Peace
Enforcement PEAD Presidential Emergency Affairs Documents PEAS (1) Psychological Operations
Effectiveness Analysis Subsystem; (2) PSYOP Effects Analysis System PEC (1) Pacific Command Electronic
Intelligence Center; (2) Program Element Code PEG (1) Photo Exploitation Group; (2) Priority Exploitation
Group; (3) Priorities for ELINT Guidance; (4) Program Element Group
PEH Probable Error in Height PEI Production Enhancement Initiative PEILS
PACOM Executive Intelligence Summary PEM (1) Purchased Equipment Maintenance; (2) Program Element Monitor
PEO Peace Enforcement Operation PEOC4I Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications,
Computers, and Intelligence PEP Photographic Exploitation Products PER Personnel PERIGEE
Perspective Image Generation and Exploitation System
PERINTREP Periodic Intelligence Report PERINTSUM Periodic Intelligence Summary
PERM Processless Electron Recording Media PERMCERT Permanent Certification PERSCON
Personal Contact PEO Program Executive Officer PEO-CCS PEO Command and Control Systems
PERSEC Personnel Security PERT Program Evaluation and Review Technique
PES Positive Enable System PESM Passive Electronic Support Measures PF Protection Factor
PFADS Psychological Operations Foreign Area Data Subsystem PFD Power Flux Density PFIAB
President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board PFLP Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
PFM Production Functional Manager PFOD Presumptive Finding of Death PG (1) Patrol Combatant;
(2) Persian Gulf; (3) Precision Guidance PGDR
Portable Data Reduction System PGF Patrol Ship PGG Guided-Missile Patrol Combatant
PGH Patrol Gunboat (Hydrofoil) PGIP Postgraduate Intelligence Program PGM
Precision-Guided Munitions PGR Reconnaissance Patrol Combatant PGW Precision Guided Weapon
PGSS Publications and Graphics Subsystem PHD Phase History Data
PHIBGRU Amphibious Group PHIBRON Amphibious Squadron PHIGS Programmer’s Hierarchical
Interactive Graphics PHM Patrol Combatant Missile (Hydrofoil) PHOTOINT
Photographic Intelligence PHOTORECON Photographic Reconnaissance PHS Public Health Service
PHYSEC Physical Security PI (1) Photographic Interpretation/Interpreter; (2) Principal Investigator
PIAC PACOM Intelligence Architecture Committee PIB (1) PACOM Intelligence Board; (2) Photo
Interpretation Brief PIC (1) Pacific Imagery Processing and Interpretation Center; (2) Parent Indicator
Code; (3) Processing and Interpretation Center
PICON Portable ICON PIF (1) Processing and Interpretation Facility; (2) Project Investment Fund
PIGS Passive Infrared Guidance System PIICS PACOM - Intelligence Computer System PILOT Phased
Integrated Laser Optics Technology PIM Path of Intended Movement PIN (1) Preliminary Imagery
Nomination File; (2) Photographic Intelligence
Note; (3) Personal Increment Number; (4) Plan Identification Number; (5) Personal Identification Number; (6)
PACOM Intelligence Net PINES PACAF Interim National Exploitation Segment/System
PIP (1) Project Implementation Plan; (2) Product Improvement Package PIR (1) Photo Interpretation
Report; (2) Priority Intelligence Requirement PIRATE Portable Imagery Receive and Transmission Equipment
PIREP Pilot Report Pixel Picture Element PJ Pararescue Jumper PK (1) Probability of
Kill; (2) Soviet (FSU) Light Machinegun; (3) Peacekeeping
PKA Public Key Algorithm PKC Public Key Cryptography PKK Kurdistan Worker’s Party PKO
Peace-Keeping Operation PKSD Programmable Key Storage Device PL
(1) Phase Line; (2) Plans and Operations Division; (3) Public Law PLA (1) Plain Language Address; (2)
People’s Liberation Army (China) PLARS Position Locating and Reporting System
PLGR Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver PLL Prescribed Load List PLNG Planning
PLRS Position Location Reporting System PLO Palestinian Liberation Organization
PLP PSYOP Leaflet Payload PLS Pre-Launch Survivability PLSDU Physical Layer Service Data
Unit PLSS U.S. Precision Location Strike System PLT/Plt Platoon
PM (1) Preventive Maintenance; (2) Post Meridian (after noon); (3) Prime Mover; (4) Preventive Medicine; (5)
Program Manager; (6) Prime Minister; (7) Provost Marshall; Project Manager; (8) Production Manager; (9)
Peacemaking PMATS Program Management Automated Tool Set PMB Program Management Board PME
Professional Military Education PMF Project Management File
PMGM Program Manager’s Guidance Memorandum PMIS (1) Personnel Management Information System; (2)
PSYOP Management Information Subsystem PMO (1) Program Management Office; (2) Project Management Office
P Model Preproduction Model PMP Program Management Plan
PMPTS Program Management Performance Tracking System PMR Primary Mission Readiness
PMRP Program Manager’s Recommended Program PMS (1) Project Management System; (2) Preventive
Maintenance System; (3) Precision Mensuration Software PMSP Preliminary Message Security Protocol PMTC
Pacific Missile Test Center (Navy) PN Packet Network
PNAF Prime Nuclear Airlift Force PNCC PASS Network Control Center PNEK Post-Nuclear-Event Key
PNE(T) Peaceful Nuclear Explosion (Treaty) PNG Persona Non Grata PNL
Prescribed Nuclear Load PNUTS Possible Nuclear Underground Test Site PNVS Pilot Night Vision
System PO (1) Petty Officer; (2) Peace Operations POA&M (1) Plan of Action and Milestones; (2)
Plan of Attack and Milestones POADS Psychological Operations Automated Data System POAS
Psychological Operations Automation System POB (1) Place of Birth; (2) Psychological Operations Battalion
POC (1) Point of Contact; (2) Program of Cooperation; (3) Psychological Operations Company POC/ET
Proof of Concept/Experimental Testbed
POCS Portable Oxygen Charging System POD Port of Debarkation POE (1) Plan of Execution; (2)
Point of Entry; (3) Port of Embarkation POES Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite POG
Psychological Operations Group POI Program of Instruction POL
(1) Petroleum, Oils, and Lubricants; (2) Political POL-MIL Political-Military POLAD
Political Advisor POM (1) Program Objective Memorandum; (2) Preparation for Overseas Movement POMCUS
Prepositioned Organizational Materiel Configured in Unit Sets POOS
Parachute Offset Oxygen System POP Point of Presence POR Preparation for Oversees Replacement
PORTS (JOPES) (1) Portable Remote Telecommunications System; (2) Seaports Files; (3) Portable Receive and
Transmit System PORTS-1N Portable Receive and Transmit System - 1N PORTSREP Ports Report File
(JCS/J-3) Pos Position POSIX Preliminary Open System Interface Standard Pos-Nav
Positioning and Navigation POST Prototype Ocean Surveillance Terminal POTBI Places, Organizations,
Things, Biographics, Intangibles
POTF Psychological Operations Task Force POV Privately Owned Vehicle POW Prisoner of War
POWERR Prototype Workstation for Electronic Warfare and Radio PP Preprogramed
PPO Pilot and Payload Operator PPBES Planning, Programming, and Budgeting Execution System PPBS
Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System PPC Printing and Publications Center PPDB Point
Positioning Data Base PPF Photographic Processing Facility
PPGM Planning and Programming Guidance Memorandum PPI Pulse Position Indicator PPIF
Photographic Processing and Interpretation Facility PPL Preferred Products List
PPM (1) Parts Per Million; (2) Pulse Position Modulation PPMS Power Pattern Measurement System PPS
Precision and Positioning Service PR (1) Production Requirement; (2) Personnel Recover PRA (1)
Permanent Restricted Area; (2) Population Reception Area (NATO)
PRAM Allied Mine PRB Program Review Board PRBAC Partition Rule Base Access Control PRC
(1) Policy Review Committee; (2) People’s Republic of China PRC(I)
Policy Review Committee (Intelligence) (now SIG(I)) PRCSO Peacetime Reconnaissance and Certain Sensitive
Operations PRD (1) Production Responsibilities Document; (2) Presidential Review Directive PRDA
Photo Reconnaissance Damage Assessment PREMSS Photo Reconnaissance and Exploitation Management Support
System PREP/RAMP Pre-Edit Processor/Report and Message Processor PRF Pulse Repetition Frequency
PRG Program Review Group PRGB Point Reference Guild Book PRI (1) Pulse Repetition Interval;
(2) Primary Rate Interface PRIMAC
Production and Inventory Management and Control System PRM Presidential Review Memorandum
PROC Processing/Process PROCOMM Terminal Emulation Software for DOS Workstations
PROD Production PROG Program PROM Programmable Read-Only Memory PROPIN
Caution — Proprietary Information Involved PRP Portable Radio Program PRPG
Preliminary Reference Point Graphic PRS PACOM Remote System PRSCO Peacetime Reconnaissance and
Sensitive Collection Operations PRT Personal Rapid Transit PRTB Soviet (FSU) Mobile Rocket
Technical Base PRU Photographic Reconnaissance Unit PS (1) Processing Station; (2) Processing
Segmext; (3) Policy Support Ps Permanent snowfields PSAA
Pacific Special Activities Area PSAC President’s Scientific Advisory Committee PSB
Harbor Patrol Boat PSC Principal Subordinate Command (NATO) PSDU Physical Layer Service Data
Unit PSI (1) Pounds Per Square Inch; (2) Personnel Security Investigation
PSK Phase Shift Keying PSL Protected Services List PSN (1) Packet Switching Node; (2) Public
Switched Network; (3) Packet Switched Network Psns Positions PSO
(1) Protective Structure Only; (2) Personnel Security Office; (3) Post Security Officer
PSP (1) Pierced Steel Planking; (2) Planning Support Package PSPS PSYOP Studies Program Subsystem
PSR (1) Post-Attack Status Report; (2) Periodic Status Report PSRC Presidential Selected Reserve
Call-Up PSS Packet Switched Service PST Pacific Standard Time
PSTN Public Switched Telecommunications Network PSYOP Psychological Operations
PSYOPGP Psychological Operations Group PSYWAR Psychological Warfare PT (1) Torpedo Boat; (2)
Part Time; (3) Physical Training Pt Peat PTADB Planning Terrain Analysis Data Base PTG
Missile Attack Boat PTGP Part-Time Graduate Program PTIAP
PACOM Theater Intelligence Architecture Program PTL Small Torpedo Boat Ptl Patrol
PTN Pacific Tributary Network PTP (1) Probability to Penetrate; (2) Point-to-Point
PTR/P Paper Tape Reader/Punch PTS Predicasts Terminal System PTSR Postmobilization Training
Support Requirement PTSS Passive Thermal Suppression Suit PTT (1) Training Torpedo Boat; (2)
Postal, Telephone, and Telegraph; (3) Push to talk PTTP USPACOM Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures
PTTDS Projected Target Trends Data Sheet (FTL) PTTP USPACOM Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures
Pub Publication PUG Partially Underground
PUP (1) Performance Upgrade Program; (2) Pop-Up Point PV Physical Vulnerability
PVDS Physical Vulnerability Data Sheets PVITS Portable Video Imagery Transmission System PVST
Port Visit PVO (1) Air Defense (FSU); (2) Private Voluntary Organization
PVTM Physical Vulnerability Technical Memorandum PW (1) Prisoner(s) of War; (2) Pulse Width PWDS
Protected Wireline Distribution System PWHQ Primary War Headquarters
PWI PACOM Warning Intelligence PWIPS Pre-Launch Warning Intelligence Processing System PWRS
Prepositioned War Reserve Stock PZ Pick-Up Zone |