NFA: The National Firearms Act of 1934. The law that first imposed a two-hundred-dollar 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 NiCd.

NIMTC: Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center.

NIPRnet: Nonclassified Internet Protocol Router Network. This network replaced MILNET. It is now known as the Unclassified but Sensitive Internet Protocol Router Network, but still commonly called “Nipper Net.”

NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology.

NLR:Nous sommes la résistance. (Translated: “We are the resistance.”)

NOC: Nonofficial cover. (Clandestine agent.)

Nondiscussion Area: A clearly defined area within a SCIF where classified discussions are not authorized due to inadequate sound attenuation. See also Secure Working Area.

Norinco: The China North Industries Corporation. A weapons and military vehicle maker.

NRO: National Reconnaissance Office.

NSA: National Security Agency.

NSA-Net: The National Security Agency’s secure intranet. Commonly called “the high side.”

NSA-W: NSA Washington.

NSTS: National Secure Telephone System.

NSWC: Naval Special Warfare Center.

NWO: New World Order.

OB: Order of Battle.

OCONUS: Outside the Continental United States.

OCP: Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern, commonly called by its civilian trade name, MultiCam.

One-Time Pad: A manual one-time cryptosystem produced in pad form.

OP: Observation Post. See also LP/OP.

Open Storage: The storage of SCI material within an accredited SCIF in any configuration other than within GSA-approved security containers. Open storage is approved while the facility is unoccupied by authorized personnel. See also Closed Storage.

OPORD: Operations Order.

OPSEC: Operational Security. The systematic and proven process by which potential adversaries can be denied information about capabilities and intentions by identifying, controlling, and protecting generally unclassified evidence of the planning and execution of sensitive activities. The process involves five steps: identification of critical information, analysis of threats, analysis of vulnerabilities, assessment of risks, and application of appropriate countermeasures.

OSINT: Open Source Intelligence. Gathering intelligence from public, unclassified sources, such as periodicals. OSINT sources are unclassified, but once analyzed, they become classified, usually at low level.

P90: A bullpup 5.7x28 caliber personal defense weapon, manufactured by FN.

PAL: Possession and Acquisition License. (For firearms, in Canada.)

Paracord: A contraction for Parachute cord.

PCS: Permanent Change of Station.

PDD: Presidential Decision Document.

PEDs: Personal Electronic Devices.

PETN: Pentaerythritol tetranitrate.

PF-89: The Chinese 80mm equivalent of a LAW rocket.

P.I.: Philippine Islands.

Pindad SS2: The Pindad Senapan Serbu 2 Indonesian variant of the FN FNC 5.56mm battle rifle.

PLA: People’s Liberation Army (China).

PM: Prime Minister.

P-MAG: Polymer magazine.

POL: Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants.

POV: Privately Owned Vehicle.

PPCLI: Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. A Canadian army unit, headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Pre-1965: U.S. silver coins with 1964 or earlier mint dates, usually with little or no numismatic value. They 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.

Project Tall Oak: A fictitious DIA working group, later renamed DCS Task Group Tall Oak.

ProvGov: Provisional Government (in the United States).

PSYOPS: Psychological Operations.

PV: Photovoltaic (solar power conversion cell or array). Used to convert solar power to DC electricity, typically for battery charging.

PVC: Depending on context, Poly-Vinyl Chloride (white plastic water pipe) or Progressive Voice of Canada.

PVCL: People’s Voice of Canadian Liberation.

QBZ-95: Bullpup-style assault rifle manufactured by Arsenal 266, part of Norinco and Arsenal 296, under Jianshe Corp., China South for the People’s Liberation Army. These bullpups shoot the Chinese 5.8x42mm cartridge, which was rarely exported, and only for military contracts.

QRF: Quick Reaction Force.

QSZ-92: A semiautomatic pistol designed by Norinco that shoots the 5.8x21mm cartridge.

RAC: Radio Amateurs of Canada.

RBC: Royal Bank of Canada.

RCG: Restoration of Constitution Government.

RCIED: Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device.

RCMP: Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

RDX: Research Department Explosive.

READOUT (Multi-Net): A classified acronym.

Red: Designation applied to an Information System(s), and associated areas, circuits, components, and equipment in which unencrypted national security information is being processed. See also DRSN.

Red/Black (Switch): Red commonly refers to clear text-sensitive information, while Black refers to either encrypted or unclassified signals. The Red/Black switching security requirements and their criteria were declassified in 1995.

Reg: Slang for regulation.

RFI: Request(s) for Intelligence.

RINT: Radiations Intelligence.

RORO: Roll-On-Roll-Off. A type of cargo ship designed for transporting vehicles.

RPG: Rocket-Propelled Grenade.

RPV: Remotely Piloted Vehicle. See also UAV.

RRSP: Registered Retirement Saving Plan.

RSOC: Regional Security Operations Center. (Formerly Regional SIGINT Operations Center.)

RTA: Radio Traffic Analyst. See also TA.

RTB: Return to Base.

RTV: Room Temperature Vulcanizing (silicone sealant).

RVCA: Resistance Veterans of Canada Association.

SAD: Special Activities Division.

SADCOM:See CENTCOM.

SAEDA: Subversion and Espionage Directed Against the U.S. Army.

SALT: Size, Activity, Location, Time. An intelligence report format. See also SALUTE.

SALUTE: Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time & Duration, Equipment. An intelligence report format. See also SALT.

SAM: Depending on context, Surface-to-Air Missile or Sources and Methods.

SAP: Special Access Program. Any approved program that imposes need-to-know or access controls beyond those normally required for access to CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, or TOP SECRET information. Commonly (and erroneously) called “above top secret,” SAP compartmented information is actually considered collateral to the TOP SECRET security level.

SBI: Special Background Investigation.

SCI: Sensitive Compartmented Information. This is classified information concerning or derived from intelligence sources, methods, or analytical processes, which is required to be handled exclusively within formal control systems established by the director of Central Intelligence. See also SAP and SCIF.

SCIF: Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility. An accredited area, room, group of rooms, building, or installation where SCI may be stored, used, discussed, and/or electronically processed. Also commonly called a vault.