text: Chapter 1
  patient decontamination — The removal and/or the neutralization of hazardous levels of chemical, biological,
  radiological, and nuclear contamination from patients before admission into a medical treatment facility under
  the supervision of medical personnel to prevent further injury to the patient during the decontamination
  process. (ATP 4-02.7)
  patient estimates — Estimates derived from the casualty estimate prepared by the personnel staff
  officer/assistant chief of staff, personnel. The patient medical workload is determined by the Army Health
  System support planner. Patient estimate only encompasses medical casualty. (ATP 4-02.55)
  patient movement — The act of moving a sick, injured, wounded, or other person to obtain medical and/or
  dental care or treatment. (ATP 4-02.2)
  patrol — A detachment sent out by a larger unit to conduct a specific mission that operates semi-independently
  and return to the main body upon completion of mission. (ATP 3-21.8)
  peace building — (DOD) Stability actions that strengthen and rebuild a society’s institutions, infrastructure, and
  civic life to avoid a relapse into conflict. (JP 3-07.3) Also called PB.
  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. (JP 3-07.3)
  peace operations — (DOD) Multiagency and multinational crisis response and limited contingency operations
  involving all instruments of national power with military missions to contain conflict, redress the peace, and
  shape the environment to support reconciliation and rebuilding and facilitate the transition to legitimate
  governance. (JP 3-07.3) Also called PO.
  peacekeeping — (DOD) Military operations undertaken, with the consent of all major parties to a dispute,
  designed to monitor and facilitate implementation of an agreement (cease fire, truce, or other such agreement)
  and support diplomatic efforts to reach a long-term political settlement. (JP 3-07.3)
  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. (JP 3-07.3) Also called PM.
  penetration — A form of maneuver in which a force attacks on a narrow front. (FM 3-90)
  permissive environment — (DOD) Operational environment in which host nation military and law enforcement
  agencies have control, as well as the intent and capability to assist operations that a unit intends to conduct.
  (JP 3-0)
  persistent agent — (DOD) A chemical agent that, when released, remains able to cause casualties for more
  than 24 hours to several days or weeks. (JP 3-11)
  personal locator beacon — (DOD) An emergency device carried by individuals, to assist locating during
  personnel recovery. (JP 3-50) Also called PLB.
  personal protective equipment — (DOD) Mission-specific protective clothing and equipment provided to shield
  or isolate selected personnel from a particular chemical, biological, radiological, and some nuclear hazards.
  (JP 3-11) Also called PPE.
  personnel recovery — (DOD) The sum of military, diplomatic, and civil efforts to prepare for and execute the
  recovery and reintegration of isolated personnel. (JP 3-50) Also called PR.
  personnel recovery coordination cell — (DOD) The primary joint force component organization responsible for
  coordinating and controlling component personnel recovery missions. (JP 3-50) Also called PRCC.
  personnel services — Sustainment functions that man and fund the force, maintain Soldier and family
  readiness, promote the moral and ethical values of the nation, and enable the fighting qualities of the Army.
  (ADP 4-0)
  phase — (DOD) In planning, a definitive stage of a campaign or operation during which a large portion of the
  forces and capabilities are involved in similar or mutually supporting activities for a common purpose. (JP 5-0)
  (Army) A planning and execution tool used to divide an operation in duration or activity. (ADP 3-0)
  phase line — (DOD) An easily identified feature in the operational area utilized for control and coordination of
  military operations. (JP 3-09) Also called PL.
  P-hour — The specific hour on D-day at which a parachute assault commences with the exit of the first Soldier
  from an aircraft over a designated drop zone. P-hour may or may not coincide with H-hour. (FM 5-0)
  physical damage assessment — (DOD) The estimate of the quantitative extent of physical damage to a target
  resulting from the application of military force. (JP 3-60) See also battle damage assessment.
  physical dimension — The material characteristics and capabilities, both natural and manufactured, within an
  operational environment. (FM 3-0)