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).
N: North N2: (1) Director of Intelligence (Naval Component); (2) Navy Staff Intelligence Officer N/A:
Not Applicable NA: Navy NAA: North Atlantic Alliance NAADM: North American Air Defense Modernization
NAASW: Nonacoustic Antisubmarine Warfare NAAWS: NATO Antiair Warfare System NAB: (1) NATO Air Base
Satellite (System); (2) Naval Amphibious Base; (3) Naval Air Base
NAC: (1) North Atlantic Council (NATO); (2) No Apparent Change; (3) National Agency Check; (4) Network Access
Controller NACA: National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics NACAA: National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics and Astronautics NACAM: National COMSEC Advisory Memorandum
NACC: Net Assessment Coordinating Committee NACDF: National Area Coverage Data File
NACIC: National CI Center NACIPB: National CI Policy Board NACOB: National CI Operations Board NACSI:
National COMSEC Instruction NACSIM: National COMSEC Information Memorandum
NADGE: NATO Air Defense Ground Environment NADS: North Atlantic Defense System NAEW: NATO Airborne Early
Warning (System) NAF: (1) Numbered Air Force; (2) Naval Air Facility
NAFI: Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality NAFIS: Naval Forces Intelligence Study NAI: Named Areas of
Interest NAIC: National Aerospace Intelligence Center NAK: Negative Acknowledge
NALE: Naval Liaison Element NAM: (1) Non-Aligned Movement; (2) Naval Armaments Model
NAMSO: NATO Maintenance and Supply Organization nano: one billionth (prefix) NAOB: Naval Air Order of
Battle NAOC: National Airborne Operations Center NAOS: North Atlantic Ocean Station NARA: National
Archives and Records Administration NARRS: NORTHAG Reconnaissance Reporting System NAS: (1) Naval Air
Station; (2) Network Access System; (3) National Academy of Science NASA: National Aeronautics and Space
Administration NASACOM: NASA Communications Network NASF: NIC Analyst Support Facility NASIC North
American Air Sovereignty Intelligence Capability NASP National Aerospace Plane NAT Not
Air-Transportable NAT’L
National NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO ASWCS Anti-Surface Warfare Combat System
NAV (1) Navigation; (2) Navy NAVAIR Naval Air Systems Command
NAVAL AIRSHIP Naval AIRSHIP Radar Surveillance System NAVASTROGRU Naval Astronautics Group NAVATAC
Navy Antiterrorist Alert Center NAVCAMS Naval Communications Area Master Station NAVCENT U.S.
Naval Forces Central Command NAVCOMDET Naval Communications Detachment NAVCOMPARS Naval
Communications Processing and Routing System NAVCOMTELCOM
Naval Computer and Telecommunications Command NAVCOMSTA Naval Communication Station
NAVDAC Naval Data Automation Command NAVELEX
Naval Electronic Systems Command NAVEUR U.S. Naval Forces, Europe NAVFAC (1) Naval Facility; (2)
Naval Shore Facilities NAVFOR Naval Forces NAVFORK Naval Forces Korea
NAVIDS/SIS Navigational Aids/Selective Identification System NAVINTCOM Naval Intelligence Command
NAVLGRU Naval Liaison Group NAVMACS Navy Modular Automated Communications System NAVMIC Naval
Maritime Intelligence Command NAVMAP Navy Missile Analysis Program
NAVMARINTCEN Naval Maritime Intelligence Center NAVMAT Naval Material Command
NAVNET Navy Data Network NAVOCEANCOMDET Naval Oceanography Command Detachment
NAVOCEANO Naval Oceanographic Office NAVOCFORMED Naval On-Call Force for the Mediterranean (NATO)
NAVOPINTCEN Naval Operations Intelligence Center NAVPGSCHOOL Naval Postgraduate School NAVRADSTA
Naval Radio Station NAVRES Naval Reserve NAVS Navigators
NAVSAT Navigation Satellite NAVSATCOMFAC Naval Satellite Communications Facility
NAVSEA Naval Sea Systems Command NAVSEC Naval Ship Engineering Center NAVSECGRU
Naval Security Group NAVSECGRUACT Naval Security Group Activity NAVSECGRUCOM
Naval Security Group Command NAVSECSTA Naval Security Station NAVSO Naval Forces, South NAVSOC
Naval Special Operations Command NAVSOF Naval Special Operations Forces
NAVSOUTH Naval Forces, Southern Command NAVSPACECOM Naval Space Command NAVSPASUR
Naval Space Surveillance Activity NAVSPAWAR Naval Space and Warfare Systems Command
NAVSPECWARCEN Navy Special Warfare Center NAVSPECBOATRON Navy Special Boat Squadron
NAVSPECWARCOM Naval Special Warfare Command NAVSPECWARDEVGRU Naval Special Warfare Development Group
NAVSPECWARGRU Naval Special Warfare Group NAVSPECWARUNIT Naval Special Warfare Unit NAVSPOC
Naval Space Operations Center NAVSTA Naval Station
NAVSTAR Navigation and Satellite Timing and Ranging NAVSTAR USER EQUIP NAVSTAR User Equipment
NAVSUPACT Naval Support Activity NAVTECHINTCEN Naval Technical Intelligence Center NAVTELCOM
Naval Telecommunications Command NAVWARCOL Naval War College
NAWAS National Attack Warning System NAWC-AD Naval Air Warfare Center-Aircraft Division
NAWS NORAD Attack Warning System NB Naval Base NBC (1) Nuclear/Biological/Chemical; (2)
National Broadcasting Corporation NBCE Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Element NBCWRS
NORAD - Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warning Reporting NBK Non-Battle Killed
NBRG National Basic Reference Graphic NBS National Bureau of Standards NC
(1) No Change; (2) Node Center; (3) Narrow Coverage NCA National Command Authority(ies)
NCAPS Naval Controls and Protection of Shipping NCB Nuclear Contingency Branch
NCC (1) Naval Component Command; (2) Navy Command Center; (3) Net Control Center NCCD
Nuclear Command and Control Document NCCOSC Naval Command, Control, and Ocean Surveillance Center
NCCS Naval Command and Control System NCDU Naval Combat Demolition Unit
NCEUR NSA/CSS Europe NCIC National Crime Information Center NCIS (1) Non-Communications
Intercept System; (2) National Counterintelligence Strategy; (3) Naval Criminal Investigative Service
NCIS-E NCIS-Europe NCISFO NCIS Field Office NCISRA NCIS Resident Agent
NCISRU NCIS Resident Unit NCMA National Command and Military Authority NCMC
National Collection Management Cell NCMP Navy Capabilities and Mobilization Plan
NCO Non-Commissioned Officer NCOA (1) Non-Commissioned Officers’ Academy; (2) Non-Commissioned
Officers’ Association NCOC NORAD Combat Operations Center NCOES Non-Commissioned Officers’
Educational System NCOIC Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge NCOS Naval Control of Shipping NCP
Nuclear Contingency Plan NCPS Nuclear Contingency Planning System NCR (1) National Capital Region;
(2) NSA/Cryptologic Support Service Representative; (3) National Cryptologic Representative; (4)
NSA/Central Security Service Representative NCS
(1) National Communications System; (2) NMIC Control Subsystem; (3) Naval Control of Shipping; (4) Network
Control Station; (5) Node Center Switch; (6) National Cryptologic School; (7) Net Control Station NCSC (1)
Navy Command Support Center; (2) National Computer Security Center
NCSE NIST Communications Support Element NCSO Naval Control of Shipping Office NCSRT
Non-Communications Signal Recognition Trainer NCTAMS Navy Computer and Telecommunications Area Master
Station NCTC Naval Computer and Telecommunications Center NCTR Non-Cooperative Target Recognition
NCTS Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station NCWA NATO Civil Wartime Agency NCWG
National Correlation Working Group NCWR Non-Codeword Reporting
ND Deputy CINCNORAD NDA Nondisclosure Agreement NDAA Non-Developmental Airlift Aircraft
N-Day Days Before D-Day NDB Non-Direction Beacon NDCDB National Digital Cartographic Database
NDCP Navy Decision Coordinating Paper NDD Nuclear Detection Device NDDS Nuclear Detonation
Detection System NDGZ National Desired Ground Zero NDHQ National Defense Headquarters (Canada)
NDI Non-Developmental Item
NDIC National Drug Intelligence Center NDL (1) Network Data Language; (2) National DGZ List NDOC
National Defense Operations Center NDP (1) National Disclosure Policy; (2) Naval Doctrine Publication
NDPC National Disclosure Policy Committee NDPO National Disclosure Policy Office(r) NDRF
National Defense Reserve Fleet NDS (1) Nuclear Detection Satellite; (2) NPIC Data System; (3) Nuclear
Detection System NDU National Defense University NEA (1) Northeast Asia; (2) National Education
Association NEACP National Emergency Airborne Command Post NEADS Northeast Air Defense Sector
NEANMCC Navy Element Alternate National Military Command Center NEC (1) Naval Enlisted Code; (2)
Northern European Countries; (3) Navy Enlisted Classification NEIC USAFE NATO Equipment Interpretation
Course NEMVAC/NISH Non-combatant Emergency Evacuation/NEO Intelligence Support Handbook
NEL National Exploitation Laboratory NEO Noncombatant Evacuation Operation NEOPACK
NEO Package NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NEREP Nuclear Execution and Reporting Plan
NES Network Encryption System NESDIS National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service
NESEA Naval Electronic Systems Engineering Activity NESN
NATO English-Speaking Nations NESP Navy EHF SATCOM Program NET (1) Not Earlier Than; (2) New
Equipment Training NETS Nationwide Emergency Telecommunications Service
NETT New Equipment Training Team NEXIS Meade Data Center News Service NF
No Foreign Dissemination, NOFORN NFA (1) New Fighter Aircraft; (2) No Forwarding Address; (3) No-Fire Area
NFAC National Foreign Assessment Center NFCS Nuclear Forces Communications Satellite NFD No
Foreign Dissemination NFDP National Foreign Disclosure Policy
NFE Network Front End NFI (1) Not Further Identified; (2) No Further Information
NFIB National Foreign Intelligence Board (formerly USIB) NFIC National Foreign Intelligence Council
NFIP National Foreign Intelligence Program NFL New Foreign Launch NFM
Near-Full-Motion NFS Network File System NFSN NATO French-Speaking Nations
NFWS Navy Fighter Weapons School NFZ Nuclear Free Zone NG National Guard
NGA NATO Guidelines Area NGAZ NATO Gazetteer NGB National Guard Bureau
NGF Northern Group of Forces (Soviet Forces in Poland) NGFS Naval Gunfire Support
NGIC National Ground Intelligence Center NGL Natural Gas Liquids NGO Non-Governmental
Organization(s) NGS National Ground Site NHCD National HUMINT Collection Directive(s)
NHCP National HUMINT Collection Plan NHO Naval Hydrographic Office NHRTC
National HUMINT Requirements Tasking Center NIA National Imagery Agency NIAC (1) National
Information & Analysis Center; (2) Naval Intelligence Automation Command NIAG
NATO Industrial Advisory Group NIC (1) Naval Intelligence Command; (2) National Intelligence Council;
(4) Naval Intelligence Cell; (5) National Intelligence Cell/Community NICCIA
National CI Coordinating Authority NICKA Nickname and Exercise Term System NICOLS
NIC On-Line System NICS NATO Integrated Communications System NICSCOA NATO Integrated
Communications System Central Operating Authority NID National Intelligence Daily
NIDS NMCC Information Display System NIE National Intelligence Estimate NIEO
New International Economic Order NIETB National Imagery Exploitation Target Base
NIETS National Imagery Exploitation Tasking Study NIEX No-notice Interoperability Exercise
NIG National Input Group NIHS NAVEUR Intelligence Highlights Summary NII
National Information Infrastructure NIIC NORAD Intelligence Indications Center NIIDTS
Naval Intelligence Imagery Data Transmission System NIIRS National Imagery Interpretability Rating Scale
NILS Naval Intelligence Locating Summary NIM NORAD Intelligence Memorandum
NIMA National Imagery and Mapping Agency NIO National Intelligence Officer NIP
(1) Notice of Intelligence Potential; (2) National Intelligence Priorities; (3) NATO Interoperability Plan
NIPIR Nuclear Immediate Photo Interpretation Report NIPRNET Unclassified-but Sensitive (N) Internet
Protocol Router Network NIPS (1) NMCC Information Processing System; (2) Naval Intelligence Processing
System NIPSSA Naval Intelligence Processing Systems Support Activity NIPSTRAFAC Naval Intelligence
Processing Systems Training Facility NIS
(1) National Intelligence Summary; (2) National Intelligence Survey; (3) Naval Investigative Service; (4) NATO
Identification System; (5) NPIC Information System (former NDS); (6) Newly Independent
States; (7) National Imagery Segment; (8) National Input Segment; (9) NIPCImagery System; (10) Network
Information System NISAC National Industrial Security Advisory Committee
NISAM Naval Intelligence Systems Architecture Manual NISC Naval Intelligence Support Center (U.S.
Navy) (now NIC) NISCOM Naval Investigative Service Command NISHQ Naval Investigative Service
Headquarters NISO Naval Investigative Service Office NISP
Nuclear Weapons Intelligence Support Plan NISR National Intelligence Situation Report
NIST (1) National Intelligence Support Team; (2) National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIT National Intelligence Topic NITF National Imagery Transmission Format NITFS
NITF Standard NIU Network Interface Unit NKIL North Korea Installation List
NKSR Nonkernel Security Related Software NLC National Logistical Command NLI
Natural Language Interface NLM Netware Loadable Module NLP Natural Language Processing NLOS
Non-Line-of-Sight Weapon System NLS Non-Lethal Submunitions
NLT Not Later Than NLZ No-Loan Zone NM Nautical Mile NMC (1) Naval Materiel Command;
(2) NATO Military Council NMCC National Military Command Center NMCC(A)
National Military Command Center (Alternate) NMCS National Military Command System NMCSSC
National Military Command Systems Support Center NMD National Military Defense NMI
No Middle Initial NMIC (1) National Military Intelligence Center (archaic, now NMJIC); (2) National
Maritime Intelligence Center NMICC NATO Maritime Intelligence Coordination Center NMICSS NMIC
Support System NMIS National Military Intelligence Support
NMIST National Military Intelligence Support Team NMITC (1) Navy-Marine Corps Intelligence Training
Center; (2) National Military Intelligence Training Center NMJCC National Military Joint Command Center
NMJIC National Military Joint Intelligence Center NMN No Middle Name NMOSS NATO Maritime
Operational Support System NMRL National MASINT Requirements List NMS National Military Strategy
NMSD National Military Strategy Document
NMIC National Military Intelligence Center NMICC National Military Intelligence Collection Center
NMJIC National Military Joint Intelligence Center NN Neural Network NNA
Neutral and Non-Aligned NNAG NATO Naval Armaments Group NNBIS National Narcotics Border
Interdiction System NNICP National Nuclear Intelligence Collection Plan NNWS
Non-Nuclear Weapons States NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOB (1) Naval Order of Battle; (2) Nuclear Order of Battle NOBS Naval Operations Bases
NOBTS Naval Order of Battle Textual Summary NOC (1) Naval Operations Center; (2) Network Operations
Center NOCONTRACT Not Releasable to Contractors or Contractor Consultants
NOD Night Observation Device NOE Nap-of-the-Earth NOFORN Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals
NOIAN National Operations and Intelligence Analysts Net NOIC
Naval Operational Intelligence Center NOIWON National Operations and Intelligence Watch Officers Network
NOK Next Of Kin NOMS Nuclear Operations Monitoring System NOPF
Naval Ocean Processing Facility NOR Norway NORAD North American Aerospace Defense Command
NORD Nordic NORIP NORAD Intelligence For Planning Document NORLANT
North Atlantic NORMIB NORAD Missile Intelligence Bulletin NORSAR Norwegian Seismic Array
NORSIB NORAD Weekly Space Intelligence Bulletin NORTHAG Northern Army Group
NORTIC NORAD Tactical Intelligence Cell NOSC Naval Ocean Systems Center NOSG
Naval Operations Support Group NOSIC Naval Ocean Surveillance Information Center
NOTAL Not To All (message distribution restriction) NPA New People’s Army NPB
Neutral Particle Beam NPE Nuclear Planning and Execution NPES Nuclear Planning and Execution
System NPGS Naval Postgraduate School NPHR National Foreign Intelligence Plan for Human Resources
NPIC National Photographic Interpretation Center NPR Nuclear Posture Review NPS Nuclear
Planning System NPT Non-Proliferation (of Nuclear Weapons) Treaty NR (1) Research Submarine
(Nuclear); (2) Naval Reserve; (3) Non-Recurring; (4) Number
NRAD NCCOSC Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Division NRC National Research Council
NRCC NORAD Region Combat Center NRDL Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory
NRF Naval Reserve Force NRFI Non-Recurring Finished Intelligence NRI Net Radio Interference
NRIP Naval Reserve Intelligence Program NRIS National Radar Interpretability Scale NR JOIC
Northwestern Region Joint Operational Intelligence Cell NRL (1) Naval Research Laboratory; (2) NUWEP
Reconnaissance List; (3) National Receive Location NRO National Reconnaissance Office NROSS Navy
Remote Ocean Surveillance Satellite NRP (1) National Reconnaissance Program; (2) Net Radio Protocol
NRT (1) Near Real Time; (2) Net Registered Tonnage NRTEM Near-Real-Time Exploitation Module NRTI
Near-Real-Time Information
NRTS Naval Reconnaissance and Technical Support NSA (1) National Security Agency; (2) National
Shipping Authority; (3) National Standards Association; (4) Naval Support Activity
NSAD Network Security Architecture and Design NSA/CSS National Security Agency/Central Security
Service NSAM National Security Action Memorandum NSARC Navy Systems Acquisition Review Council
NSC (1) National Security Council; (2) Naval Supply Center NSC/DC
Deputies Committee of the NSC NSCID National Security Council Intelligence Directive
NSCIG National Security Council Interdepartmental Group NSD National Security Directive
NSDD National Security Decision Directive NSDM National Security Decision Memorandum
NSE (1) Naval Support Element; (2) National Support Element nsec Nanosecond
NSEP National Security Emergency Preparedness NSF National Science Foundation NSFS
National Surface Fire Support NSG Naval Security Group NSGA Naval Security Group Activity
NSGC Naval Security Group Command NSGD Naval Security Group Detachment
NSI National Security Information NSIC Naval Security and Investigative Command
NSN National Stock Number NSNF Non-Strategic Nuclear Forces NSO (1) Non-SlOP Option; (2)
Network Security Officer NSOC (1) National Security Operations Center (formerly National SIGINT Operations
Center); (2) Naval Special Operations Command NSOF Naval Status of Forces NSP NORAD/USSPACECOM
NISPC National In-Service Production Centers
NSPG National Security Planning Group NSRB National Security Resources Board NSRDB
National SIGINT Requirements Data Base NSRDC Naval Ship Research and Development Center
NSRL National SIGINT Requirements List NSRS National SIGINT Requirements System
NSS (1) NMIC Support System; (2) National Seismic Station; (3) National Security Strategy; (4) Network
Support Server NSSD National Security Study Directive NSSM (1) Navy Spread Spectrum Modem; (2)
National Security Study Memorandum NSST (1) Navy Space Command Space Support Team; (2) National Special
Support Teams NSTAC National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee NSTD (1) National
Strategic Target Database; (2) Non-System Training Device NSTG Nuclear Strike Target Graphic NSTGFE
Naval Scientific and Technical Group, Far East NSTISSAM National Security Telecommunications and
Information Systems
Security Advisory/information Memorandum NSTISSC/D/I/P National Security Telecommunications and
Information Systems Security Committee/Directive/Instruction/Policy NSTL National Strategic Target
List NSTS NSA/CSS Secure Telephone System NSV Netted Secure Voice
NSVN NATO Secure Voice Network NSW Naval Special Warfare NSWC (1) Navy Surface Weapons
Center; (2) Navy Special Warfare Command NSWDG Naval Special Warfare Development Group NSWG Naval
Special Warfare Group NSWP Non-Soviet Warsaw Pact NSWTG
Naval Special Warfare Task Group NSWTG/U Naval Special Warfare Task Group/Unit or (Unconventional)
NSWTU Naval Special Warfare Task Unit NSWU Naval Special Warfare Unit NTA
National Tasking Authority NTB (1) National Targeting Base; (2) Nuclear Test Ban
NTBS National Target Base Server NTC (1) National Territorial Command; (2) National Tasking Center;
(3) Naval Training Center; (4) Network Terminal Concentrator; (5) National Training Center NTCB Network
Trusted Computing Base NTCC Naval Telecommunications Center
NTCS-A Naval Tactical Communications System-Afloat NTDI NATO Target Data Inventory
NTDS Naval Tactical Data System NTF National Test Facility NTI (1) National Tactical
Interface; (2) Near-Term Initiative NTIA National Telecommunications & Information Administration/
Agency NTIB NATO Tactical Intelligence Broadcast NTIC Naval Technical Intelligence Center NTIS
National Technical Information Service NTISSAM
National Telecommunications and Information Systems Security Advisory/information Memorandum
NTISSC/D/I/P National Telecommunications and Information Systems Security
Committee/Directive/Instruction/Policy
NTM National Technical Means NTMWG Nuclear Test Monitoring Working Group NTP
National Tasking Plan NTPC National Telemetry Processing Center NTPR Nuclear Targeting Policy
Review NTPS Near-Term Maritime Pre-Positioning Ships NTS (1) Nuclear Test Site; (2) Naval
Telecommunications System NTSC National Television Standard Code/Committee
NTSDS National Target/Threat Signatures Data System NTSS National Time-Sensitive System NTU
New Threat Upgrade NTZ No Transgression Zone NUAC Nicaragua Analysis Cell NUCAP Nuclear
Capabilities Data Base NUCDEF Nuclear Defense NUCDETS
Nuclear Detonation Detection & Reporting System NUCINT Nuclear Intelligence NUCREP
Nuclear Damage Report NUCWPN Nuclear Weapon(s) NUICCS NORAD/USSPACECOM Integrated Command and
Control System NUDET (1) Nuclear Detection; (2) Nuclear Detonation NUIS
NORAD/USSPACECOM Intelligence Systems NURAD Nuclear Radiation Detection NUREP
Nuclear Weapons Report NUSC Naval Underwater Systems Center NUT Naval Upper Tier NUTEX
Nuclear Tactical Exercise NUWEAMP Nuclear Weapons Employment and Acquisition Master Plan NUWEP
Nuclear Weapons Employment Policy/Plan (NCA) NVDEP Network Virtual Data Entry Protocol NVDET
Network Virtual Data Entry Terminal NVG Night Vision Goggles
NVIS (1) Near-Vertical Incidence Skywave; (2) Night Vision Imaging System NVS Night Vision System
NW (1) Nuclear Warfare; (2) Northwest (region) NWB Nuclear Weapons Branch NWC (1) National War
College; (2) Naval War College; (3) Naval Weapons Center; (4) NORAD Weather Center NWFZ Nuclear Weapons
Free Zone NWIP Naval Warfare Information Publication NWIS Naval Weaponeering Information Sheet
NWL Naval Weapons Laboratory
NWP Naval Warfare Publication NWR Northwest Region NWRS Nuclear Weapons Requirement Study
NWS (1) Nuclear Weapons State; (2) North Warning System; (3) National Weather Service NWSS Nuclear
Weapons Storage Site NWWCSS Naval Worldwide Command Support System NX Non-Expendable |