How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It - James Wesley Rawles [112]
HEPA: High-efficiency particulate air (filter)
HF: High frequency
HK: Heckler und Koch, the German gunmaker
HMMWV: High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, commonly called a Humvee
IBA: Interceptor body armor, the current U.S. military-issue Kevlar body armor. The base vest weighs six pounds. The front and rear trauma plates are an additional six pounds each. Additional shoulder armor and groin protectors add even more weight.
In-town retreat: A retreat inside or adjoining town limits that depends on some local infrastructure. See also: Isolated retreat.
Inverter: A device that converts DC electricity (anywhere from twelve to six hundred VDC) to AC electricity (typically 120/240 VAC)
IR: Infrared
Isolated retreat: A privately owned stronghold designed to be almost entirely self-sufficient and self-contained. Also often called a remote retreat. See also: In-town retreat.
JWR: James Wesley, Rawles
KW or kW: Kilowatt
L1A1: The British and Australian “inch”-measurements versions of the metric FAL rifle. Also known as the SLR (self-loading rifle).
LDPE: Low-density polyethylene, used in grocery shopping bags and trash bags. Not all LDPE is food grade. See also: HDPE.
LDS: The Latter Day Saints, commonly called the Mormons
LED: Light-emitting diode
Lines of drift: See Channelized areas
LP/OP: Listening post/observation post, usually the same position, used for observation in daylight hours and for listening and use of starlight devices at night. See also: Starlight
LR: Long rifle
LSD: Low self-discharge
M14: U.S. Army-issue 7.62mm NATO selective-fire battle rifle. These rifles are still issued in small numbers, primarily to U.S. Army-designated marksmen and as U.S. Navy deck rifles. The civilian semiauto-only equivalent is the M1A.
M16: U.S. Army-issue 5.56mm NATO selective-fire battle rifle. The current standard variant is the M16A2, which has improved sights and three-shot burst control. The civilian semiauto-only equivalent is the AR-15.
M1911: The U.S. military’s standard-issue semiauto pistol, chambered in .45 ACP, that was issued for more than seventy years. It was replaced by the Beretta M9, 9mm Parabellum.
M4: U.S. Army-issue 5.56mm NATO selective-fire carbine. It is essentially a shortened and lightened M16, with a collapsing stock.
M4gery: (pronounced “em forgery”) Civilian semiauto-only version of the U.S. Army-issue 5.56mm NATO carbine. Typically with a 16-inch barrel instead of the military-issue 14.5-inch barrel (to meet the U.S. 16-inch minimum-rifle-barrel-length requirement) and a collapsing stock.
Mag: Depending on context, short for magazine or Magnum
MIL-SPEC or mil-spec: Military specification. A product made to the demanding standards of military organizations.
MRE: Meal, Ready to Eat (U.S. Army field rations), aka “Meals Rarely Eaten” and “Three lies for the price of one”—viz., “It isn’t a meal, it’s not ready, and you can’t eat it.”
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Night vision: See Starlight
NiMH: Nickel-metal hydride, a type of rechargeable battery
NRCS: National Resources Conservation Service (formerly called the Soil Conservation Service), part of the USDA. See also: USDA.
Off grid: Not connected to the power grid (as in a home that is typically powered by phovoltaics, wind power, micro-hydro generators, or gas/diesel/propane gensets)
OPSEC: Operational security
POTS: Plain old telephone service
PV: Photovoltaic. PV power panels convert energy from sunshine to DC electricity.
PVC: Polyvinyl chloride (white plastic water pipe)
Rawles Ranch: The full-time home/retreat for the Rawles family, in an unnamed western state
Refugee lines of drift: See Channelized areas
Remote retreat: See Isolated retreat
RF: Depending on context, radio frequency (radio waves) or rimfire
Rule 303/Rule 308: Civilian law enforcement, post-TEOTWAWKI (Rule 303 in Canada