P

 

p                                                                             partly trained (ARTEP 7‑20-MTP); phosphorus (FM 3‑21.8); persistent chemical agent (abbreviation on overlays, FM 3‑90.1)

P&A                                                                       personnel and administration

P&E                                                                        propellants and explosives

P&P                                                                        procurement and production

P&RC                                                                     population and resources control (FM 7‑98)

P1                                                                           Pershing 1)

P1a                                                                        Pershing 1a

PA                                                                          physician's assistant, (FMs 3‑21.20 and 3‑90.2); public address (system), (FMs 3‑23.30 and 90‑26); public affairs (FM 1‑02); pending availability, per annum, performance analysis, procurement appropriations, public affairs, proponent agency, Privacy Act

PAA                                                                       procurement of ammunition, Army; position area for artillery (FM 1‑02)

PAC                                                                       Personnel and Administration Center, pursuant to authority contained in; plastic ammunition container (FM 3‑06.11)

PACAS                                                                 Patient Care System

PACDA                                                                 Personnel and Administration, Combat Development Activity

package                                     Geographically isolated collection of groups)

packaged petroleum product          (DOD) A petroleum product (generally a lubricant, oil, grease, or specialty item) normally packaged by a manufacturer and procured, stored, transported, and issued in containers having a fill capacity of 55 United States gallons (or 45 Imperial gallons, or 205 liters) or less, FM 10‑67)

Pacman                                      [NATO] Informative call that the fighters have found the end of the threat formation and are converting; given in range and bearing from the bullseye, for example, "Blue 4 is Pacman 290/5")

PACOM                                                                Pacific Command

PAD                                                                       preferred arrival date; public affairs department (FM 1‑02)

PADAR                                                                  program approval disposal and redistribution

padlocked                                   Informative call indicating aircrew cannot take eyes off an aircraft, ground target, or surface position without risk of losing TALLY/ VISUAL)

PADMIS                                                               Patient Administration Information System

PADO                                                                    proposed advanced development objective

PADOC                                                                 pay adjustment document

PADS                                                                    position and azimuth determining system (FM 3‑21.20, 3‑25.26, FM 3‑90.2)

PAECT                                                                  pollution abatement and environmental control technology

PAG                                                                       public affairs group (FM 1‑02); project advisory group

PAGE                                                                     piston arrestment gas entrapment system (Sprint Launch Cell)

PAHO                                                                    Pan American Health Organization

PAI                                            personnel asset inventory (FM 3‑21.20)

PAILS                                                                   Publication Automated Information Locator System

PAINT(S)                                    An interrogated group/radar contact that is responding with any of the specified IFF/SIF modes and correct codes established for the ID criteria)

PAL                                                                        permissive action link

palletized unit load                       (DOD, NATO) Quantity of any item, packaged or unpackaged, which is arranged on a pallet in a specified manner and securely strapped or fastened thereto so that the whole is handled as a unit, FM 10‑1)

PALR                                                                     permissive action link report

PALSG                                                                  Personnel and Logistics Systems Group

pam                                                                       pamphlet (use abbreviations only in graphics); Department of the Army Partial Mobilization Expansion Plan; priorities and allocations manual

PAMUSA                                                              Post Attack Mobilization of the United States Army

pancake                                     [NATO] Land or I wish to land (reason may be specified, for example, PANCAKE AMMO, PANCAKE FUEL)

PAO                                                                       Public Affairs Office(r); primary action office

PAOC                                         public affairs operations center (FM 1‑02)

PAP                                                                        personnel assistance point; product assurance plan

PAR                                                                        perimeter acquisition radar; precision approach radar

para                                                                      paragraph (use abbreviations only in graphics)

parallel planning                           (Army) Two or more echelons planning for an operation nearly simultaneously (FM 5-0; Marine Corps) Planning by parallel chains of command refers to the planning procedures resulting from the close and continuous coordination necessary between corresponding naval and troop echelons (FM 1‑02)

paramilitary forces                        (DOD) Forces or groups distinct from the regular armed forces of any country, but resembling them in organization, equipment, training, or mission, (FM 3‑07)

PARB                                                                     Perimeter Acquisition Radar Building

PARC                                                                     principal assistant for contracting

PARD                                                                     Personnel Actions and Records Directorate, MILPERCEN

PARDP                                                                  perimeter acquisition radar data processor

paren                                                                    parenthesis (use abbreviations only in graphics)

PARR                                                                     Program Assessment Review Report

PARROT                                      IFF/SIF transponder)

parsq                                                                    pararescue

partial mobilization                        (DOD) Expansion of the active Armed Forces resulting from action by Congress (up to full mobilization) or by the President (not more than 1,000,000 for more than 24 consecutive months) to mobilize Ready Reserve Component units, individual reservists, and the resources needed for their support to meet the requirements of a war or other national emergency involving an external threat to the national security, also mobilization (FM 100‑17)

participle                                    A participle is used with the verb 'to be' to indicate an action that was or is ongoing, past, present, or future:

     past participle            I was reading
     present participle        I am reading
     future participle          I will be reading

                                                Present participles can also be used as adjectives:

     an interesting story
     a fascinating woman

 

PAS                                                                       personnel automation section (ARTEP 71‑2‑MTP)

PASGT                                                                 personnel armor system for ground troops (FM 21‑18); personnel armor system, ground troops (FM 3‑21.220)

PASS                                                                    Procurement Aging and Staging System

pass time                                   (DOD) In road transport, the time that elapses between the moment when the leading vehicle of a column passes a given point and the moment when the last vehicle passes the same point (FM 55‑1)

passage lane                               A lane through an enemy or friendly obstacle that provides a safe passage for a passing force (FM 3‑90)

passage of lines                           (DOD, NATO) An operation in which a force moves forward or rearward through another force's combat positions with the intention of moving into or out of contact with the enemy. A passage may be designated as a forward or rearward passage of lines. [Note: the NATO definition does not include the last sentence.] (Army) A tactical enabling operation in which one unit moves through another unit's positions with the intent of moving into or out of enemy contact (FM 3‑90; see Table A‑1 for symbols.)

passage point                              A specifically designated place where the passing units will pass through the stationary unit. Also called PP (FM 3‑90; see Table 7‑13 for symbols.)

passing**                                   Descriptive term for when two groups, initially separated in range, decrease range separation and pass each other)

passive air defense                       (DOD) All measures, other than active air defense, taken to minimize the effectiveness of hostile air and missile threats against friendly forces and assets. These measures include camouflage, concealment, deception, dispersion, reconstitution, redundancy, detection and warning systems, and the use of protective construction (NATO) All measures, other than active air defense, taken to minimize the effectiveness of hostile air action. These measures include deception, dispersion, and the use of protective construction, also active air defense; air defense; concealment; deception; dispersion, FM 44‑100)

passive defense                           (DOD) Measures taken to reduce the probability of and to minimize the effects of damage caused by hostile action without the intention of taking the initiative (Army) One of the four operational elements of theater missile defense. Operations that provide essential individual and collective protection for friendly forces, population centers, and critical assets. The principal measures used to accomplish passive defense are tactical warning, reducing target effectiveness, reducing vulnerability, and recovery and reconstitution, also active defense; attack operations; theater missile defense (FM 100‑12)

passive defense measures             Measures taken to reduce the possibilities or effects of nuclear, biological, and chemical attack (FM 3‑3)

passive mine                               (DOD) 1. A mine whose anticountermining device has been operated preventing the firing mechanism from being actuated. The mine will usually remain passive for a comparatively short time. 2. A mine which does not emit a signal to detect the presence of a target, FM 20‑32)

passive voice                              See active voice

password                                    (noun, MW9; (DOD, NATO) A secret word or distinctive sound used to reply to a challenge, also challenge, FM 11‑43)

paster                                        a [round piece] of paper with a gummed back designed to be pasted [over a hole in a target so that the target may be reused]

PASTRAM                                                           Passenger Traffic Management System

PAT                                                                       Pattern Analysis Test; priority air travel; production acceptance test

PATCENT                                                            patching central

path                                                                      (computers) The list of directories and folders where files are stored

pathfinder                                   (noun, MW9; DOD) 1. An experienced aircraft crew who leads a formation to the drop zone, release point, or target, FM 90‑26. 2. A team dropped or air landed at an objective to establish and operate navigational aids for the purpose of guiding aircraft to drop and landing zones, FM 90‑26. 3. A radar device used for navigating or homing to an objective when visibility precludes accurate visual navigation. 4. A team air delivered into enemy territory for the purpose of determining the best approach and withdrawal lanes, landing zones, and sites for helicopterborne forces, FM 90‑26, also, landing zone control party (FM 1‑02)

patient decontamination                The process of decontaminating patients using nonmedical personnel as patient decontamination teams working under the supervision of medical personnel. The patient decontamination process is performed at a location adjacent to the supporting medical treatment facility, also patient decontamination team (FM 4‑02.7)

patient decontamination team        A team composed of nonmedical personnel designated by the supported unit commander to perform patient decontamination under medical supervision, also patient decontamination (FM 4‑02.7)

PATR                                         populated area targeting record (FM 1‑02)

patrol                                        (DOD, NATO) A detachment of ground, sea, or air forces sent out for the purpose of gathering information or carrying out a destructive, harassing, mopping‑up, or security mission, FM 7‑7)

patrol base                                 The point of origin of a patrol where all equipment not required for the patrol is left. All supplies necessary for resupplying the patrol and additional medical supplies and assistance are staged at this location (FM 7‑7)

pattern laying                              (DOD, NATO) In land mine warfare, the laying of mines in a fixed relationship to each other, FM 20‑32)

PAV                                           personnel asset visibility (FM 1‑02); personnel allotment voucher

Pave Penny                                 passive laser tracker whose current range is too short for the rounds it must track

pax                                                                        passenger(s, FM 90‑26; personnel (use abbreviations only in graphics)

payload                                      (DOD, NATO) 1. The sum of the weight of passengers and cargo that an aircraft can carry, FM 55‑17. 2. The warhead, its container, and activating devices in a military missile, FM 44‑100. 3. The satellite or research vehicle of a space probe or research missile. 4. The load (expressed in tons of cargo or equipment, gallons of liquid, or number of passengers) which the vehicle is designed to transport under specified conditions of operation, in addition to its unladen weight, FM 55‑17)

payoff                                                                  (noun, adj, MW9)

PB                                             panel bridge (FM 1‑02); property book; patrol base (FM 3‑21.8, FM 3‑21.20)

PBA                                                                        Pine Bluff Arsenal

PBAC                                                                     Program Budget Advisory Committee

PB‑AESRS                                                          property book‑Army Equipment Status Reporting System

PBD                                                                        program/budget decision

PBEIST                                                                Planning Board European Inland Surface Transport

PBG                                                                        Program Budget Guidance

PBI                                                                         partial background investigation

PBO                                                                       property book officer

PBOS                                                                    Planning Board for Ocean Shipping

PBR                                                                        precision bombing range

PBS                                                                        production base support

PBUSE                                        property book unit supply, enhanced (FM 3‑90.61)

PBX                                                                        private branch exchange (telephone)

PC                                             personal computer; personnel carrier

PCA                                           psychological consolidation activities (FM 1‑02); permanent change of assignment

PCB                                                                        printed circuit board

PCC                                                                       postal concentration center; precombat check (FM 3‑90.1)

PCCB                                                                     Project Configuration Control Board

PCCN                                                                    port call control number

PCCU                                                                    Punched card control unit

PCD                                                                       program change decision

PCF                                                                        personnel control facility

PCHT                                                                    packaging, crating, handling, and transportation

PCI                                                                         precombat inspection (FM 3‑90.1)

PCL                                                                        prescribed chemical load (ARTEP 7‑30‑MTP, ARTEP 71‑2‑MTP)

PCM                                                                       planning and control memorandum; pulse code modulation; punched card machine

PCMS                                                                    punched card machine systems

PCN                                                                       project control number

PCO                                                                       procuring contracting officer; publications control officer; peacetime contingency operation (FM 3‑21.20, FM 7‑98)

PCP                                                                        passenger control point

PCR                                                                        Program Change Request

PCS                                                                       permanent change of station; post, camp, or station; physically controlled space

PCU                                                                       printed control unit

PCV                                                                       passenger carrying vehicle

PCW                                                                      previously complied with

PD                                                                          point of departure (FM 1‑02); point‑detonating (fuze setting, FM 3‑22.90, FM 3‑22.31 (ARTEP 7‑90-MTP); photo distance (FM 3‑25.26); professional development (ARTEP 7‑91‑Drill); proximity device (FM 3‑22.1); procurement directive; priority designator

PDA                                           present duty assignment option; property disposal agent; personal digital assistant; public display of affection; personal digital assistant (FM 3‑22.91); power distribution assembly (FM 3‑22.91)

P‑Day                                                                   Production Day

PDB                                           psychological (operations) dissemination battalion (FM 1‑02)

PDC                                           psychological (operations) development center (FM 1‑02)

PDCO                                                                    property disposal contracting officer

PDD                                                                       priority delivery date

PDDA                                                                    power‑driven decontaminating apparatus (FM 3‑90.2, FM 3‑06.11, ARTEP 7‑90‑MTP)

PDDE                                                                     power‑driven decontamination equipment (ARTEP 7‑94‑MTP, ARTEP 7‑94‑MTP (FM 3‑90.1)

PDDLS                                                                  Post D‑Day Logistic Support

PDE                                                                        prospective data element

PDF                                                                        principal direction of fire (FM 1‑02); portable document format; point‑detonating fuze; Panamanian Defense Force (FM 3‑21.20, FM 90‑26)

PDIP                                                                      Program Development Increment Package

PDM                                                                       pursuit‑deterrent munitions (FM 3‑21.20); Program Decision Memorandum

PDO                                                                       property disposal officer

PDP                                                                        procurement data package; program definition phase

PDR                                                                        Philippine Defense Ribbon

PDS                                                                       personnel daily summary; program data sheets; protected distribution system

PDT‑1                                                                  Picatinny Arsenal Detonation Trap Number 1)

PDY                                                                       principal duty; present for duty (FM 3‑21.20); present‑for‑duty (FM 7‑92)

PE                                             peace enforcement (FM 1‑02); post engineer; probable error (FM 3‑06.11); program element; priority equipment (FM 90‑26)

PEA                                           primary expense account (FM 3‑22.91)

peace building                             (DOD) Post‑conflict actions, predominantly diplomatic and economic, that strengthen and rebuild governmental infrastructure and institutions in order to avoid a relapse into conflict, also peace enforcement; peacekeeping; peacemaking; peace operations, FM 3‑07)

peace enforcement                      (DOD) Application of military force, or the threat of its use, normally pursuant to international authorization, to compel compliance with resolutions or sanctions designed to maintain or restore peace and order. Also called PE, also peace building; peacekeeping; peacemaking; peace operations, FM 3‑07)

peace operations                         (DOD) A broad term that encompasses peacekeeping operations and peace enforcement operations conducted in support of diplomatic efforts to establish and maintain peace. Also called PO, also peace building; peace enforcement; peacekeeping; peacemaking, FM 3‑07)

peace support psychological activities  Planned psychological activities conducted as an integral part of peace support operations, designed to create a supportive atmosphere and a willingness to cooperate among the parties in conflict and civilian population in the area of operations, to protect the force and assist in the achievement of mission objectives. Also called PSPA (FM 3‑05.20)

peacekeeping                              (DOD) Military operations undertaken with the consent of all major parties to a dispute, designed to monitor and facilitate implementation of an agreement (ceasefire, truce, or other such agreement) and support diplomatic efforts to reach a long‑term political settlement, also peace building; peace enforcement; peacemaking; peace operations, FM 3‑07)

peacemaking                               (DOD) The process of diplomacy, mediation, negotiation, or other forms of peaceful settlements that arranges an end to a dispute and resolves issues that led to it, also peace building; peace enforcement; peacekeeping; peace operations, FM 3‑07)

peacetime military engagement       All military activities that involve other nations and are intended to shape the security environment in peacetime. It includes programs and exercises that the US military conducts with other nations to shape the international environment, improve mutual understanding with other countries, and improve interoperability with treaty partners or potential coalition partners. Peacetime military engagement activities are designed to support a combatant commander's objectives as articulated in the theater engagement plan. Also called PME (