People sure do love acronyms and the prepper community is no exception with so many prepper acronyms. We have so many acronyms that they’re even difficult for me to keep up with!
As someone who’s been prepping for over 10 years, I tend to forget that not everyone knows what every acronym means. I often have people ask me, “what does SHTF mean?” I hope that this article is going to help all of those people, and maybe that’s you.
Just about anything can be turned into an acronym, there are thousands of acronyms depending on context and industry. In the below list I’m going to explain some of the most common prepper acronyms that you’ll most likely be exposed to. If you’re ever confused about a particular acronym, I hope you’re able to refer to this list and be sure to share it with friends and family.
Are we missing anything? Let us know in the comments section and we’ll add it!
Here’s a Complete List of Prepper Acronyms
Numerical
2A – The Second Amendment
4 x 4 – True
5 x 5 – Loud and Clear
550 Cord – Paracord
A
ABC – Airway Breathing Circulation
ALICE – All Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment
ARES – Amateur Radio Emergency Service
B
BOB – Bug Out Bag
BOL – Bug Out Location
C
C-Ration – Combat Ration
CCW – Concealed Carry Weapon
CERT – Community Emergency Response Team
CME – Coronal Mass Ejection
D
DIY – Do It Yourself
E
E&E – Escape and Evasion
EDC – Everyday Carry
EMP – Electro Magnetic Pulse
EOD – End of Days
F
FRS – Family Radio Service
G
GHB – Get Home Bag
GMRS – General Mobile Radio Service
GOOD – Get Out of Dodge
H
Ham – Not really an acronym, but a term to refer to Amateur Radio Operators
I
IFAK – Individual First Aid Kit (or just FAK – First Aid Kit)
INCH – I’m Never Coming Home
J
JIC – Just In Case
K
KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid
L
LEO – Law Enforcement Officer
LOS – Line of Sight
M
MAG – Mutual Assistance Group
MIA – Missing in Action
MIL-SPEC – Military Specification
MOA – Minute of Angle
MOLLE – Modular Lightweight Load carrying Equipment
MRE – Meal Ready-to-Eat
MSM – Main Stream Media
MURS – Multi Use Radio Service
N
N95 – N95 means the mask blocks about 95 percent of particles that are 0.3 microns or larger
NAV – Navigation
NRA – National Rifle Association
NRP – National Response Plan
NWO – New World Order
O
OBE – Overcome By Events
OPSEC – Operational Security
OTC – Over The Counter
P
PACE – Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency
PDW – Personal Defense Weapon
POC – Point of Contact
PPE – Personal Protection Equipment
PSK – Personal Survival Kit
PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
R
RACES – Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
S
SAR – Search and Rescue
SERE – Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape
SHTF – S**t Hits The Fan
SOL – S**t Out of Luck
T
TEOTWAWKI – The End Of The World As We Know It
TOPO – Topographical Map
TP – Toilet Paper
W
WROL – Without Rule of Law
WTSHTF – When The S**t Hits The Fan
What are some other acronyms that you’d add to this list?
4 comments
5 x 5 = Loud and clear
4 x 4 = Four square = True
Will add ’em
BOHICA, FUBAR, SNAFU
Thanks. I hear those often, but not sure they are unique to prepping circles.