M60: The semi-obsolete U.S. Army-issue 7.62mm NATO belt-fed light machine gun that utilized some design elements of the German MG-42.
MAC: Depending on context, Military airlift command or Military Armament Corporation.
Maglite: A popular American brand of sturdy flashlights with an aluminum casing.
MICH: Modular/integrated communications helmet.
Mini-14: A 5.56mm NATO semiauto carbine made by Ruger.
MNI: Ham radio shorthand for “many.”
MOLLE: Modular lightweight load-carrying equipment.
Molotov cocktail: A hand-thrown firebomb made from a glass container filled with gasoline or thickened gasoline (napalm).
MRE: Meal, ready to eat.
MSG: Mission support group (U.S.Air Force).
MSS: Modular sleep system.
MURS: Multi-use radio service. AVHF two-way radio service that does not require a license. See also FRS and GMRS.
MVPA: Military Vehicle Preservation Association.
MXG: Maintenance group (U.S. Air Force).
Napalm: Thickened gasoline, used in some flame weapons.
NAPI: Navajo Agricultural Products Industry.
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
NBC: Nuclear, biological, and chemical.
NCO: Noncommissioned officer.
NFA: The National Firearms Act of 1934. The law that first imposed a transfer tax on machine guns, suppressors (commonly called “silencers”), and short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
NiCd: Nickel cadmium (rechargeable battery).
NiMH: Nickel metal hydride (rechargeable battery) improvement of NiCad.
NM: Ham radio shorthand for “Name.”
NWO: New World Order.
OCP: Operation Enduring Freedom camouflage pattern, commonly called “MutiCam.”
OG: Operational group (U.S. Air Force).
OM: Ham radio shorthand for “old man.” All men are OMs in the ham world.
OP: Observation post. See also LP/OP.
PBO: Property book officer.
PCS: Permanent change of station.
PERSCOM: U.S. Army Personnel Command.
Pre-1899: Guns made before 1899—not classified as “firearms” under federal law.
Pre-1965: U.S. silver coins with 1964 or earlier mint dates with little or no numismatic value that are sold for the bullion content. These coins have 90 percent silver content. Well-worn pre-1965 coins are sometimes derisively called “junk” silver by rare coin dealers.
ProvGov: Provisional Government.
PSE: Ham radio shorthand for “please.”
PT: Physical training.
PV: Photovoltaic (solar power conversion array). Used to convert solar power to DC electricity, typically for battery charging.
PVC: Polyvinyl chloride (white plastic water pipe).
QRF: Quick-reaction force.
QRM: Ham radio shorthand for “interference from another station.”
QRN: Ham radio shorthand for “static.”
QRP: Ham radio shorthand for “low-power (less than 5-watt) transmitters.”
QRZ: Ham radio shorthand for “Who is calling me?” If used at the end of the contact, if QRZ is sent instead of SK, it means “I’m listening for more calls.”
QSB: Ham radio shorthand for a “fading signal.”
QSO: Ham radio shorthand for a “contact (conversation).”
QSY: Ham radio shorthand for “Change frequency.”
QTH: Ham radio shorthand for “location.”
R: Ham radio shorthand for “I heard everything you said and don’t need you to repeat anything.”
ROTC: Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
RPG: Rocket-propelled grenade.
SADF: South African Defense Force.
SBI: Special background investigation.
SCI: Sensitive compartmented information.
SIG: Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft. The Swiss gun maker.
SK: Ham radio shorthand for “silent key.”
SOCOM: Special Operations Command.
SOP: Standard operating procedure(s).
SSB: Single sideband (an operating mode for CB and amateur radio gear).
SSPARS: Solid-state phased-array radar system.
Steyr AUG: The Austrian army’s 5.56-mm “bullpup” infantry carbine. Also issued by the Australian Army as their replacement for the L1A1.
S&W: Smith and Wesson.
SWAT: Special weapons and tactics. (SWAT originally stood for “special weapons assault team” until that was deemed politically incorrect.)
TA-1 and TA-312: U.S. military hardwire field telephones.
TAD: Temporary assigned duty.
TARPS: Tactical aerial reconnaissance pod system.
TDY: Temporary duty.
Thermite: A mixture of aluminum powder and iron rust powder that, when ignited, causes a vigorous exothermic reaction. Used primarily for welding. Also used by military units as an incendiary for destroying equipment.
TK: Tom Kennedy.
TNX: Ham radio shorthand for “Thanks.”
TS: Top secret.
TU: Ham radio shorthand for “Thank You.”
UAV: Unmanned aerial vehicle.
UR: Ham radio shorthand for “your” or “you’re,” depending on context.
USAEUR: U.S. Army, Europe. Spoken “Use-ah-Urr.”
USAFE: U.S. Air Force, Europe. Spoken “You-Safe-ee.”
VAC: Volts, alternating current.
Valmet: The Finnish conglomerate that formerly made several types of firearms.
VDC: Volts, direct current.
Viper: The popular nickname for the F-16 fighter. (Its official moniker is the “Fighting Falcon,” which most F-16 pilots detest.)
VW: Volkswagen.
VY: Ham radio shorthand for “very.”
WD-1: U.S. military-issue two-conductor insulated field telephone wire.
YL: Ham radio shorthand for “young lady.” All females regardless of age are designated
