LINGUAPEACE EUROPE
GLOSSARY OF TERMS WITH EXAMPLES
TERM
/ Abbn / MEANINGabsent without leave / AWOL / Away, without permission, from your station or place of duty.
Example: As a result of his personal difficulties, the young
soldier went AWOL.
absolute emergency / A type of call to the MEDEVAC helicopter, indicating mortal wounds
or ailments. Compare priority, tactical emergency.
Example: Because of the degree of devastation, the battalion
commander declared an 'absolute emergency'.
access point / A point on a buffer zone (BZ) boundary, where the police stop
vehicles to check the drivers' and passengers' passes.
access to classified information / The ability, permission, and opportunity to obtain knowledge
of classified information. Some people are prevented by security measures from having access to classified information.
Example: The clerk was considered a security risk and was therefore denied access to classified information.
accidental attack / An unintended attack which occurs without being commanded at a national level. It can be a direct result of a random event, such as a mechanical failure, a simple human error, or an unauthorized action by a subordinate.
accountability / The obligation on an officer or other person to keep accurate records
of property, documents, or funds. The person having this obligation may
or may not have actual possession of the property, documents, or funds.
accounts officer / One of the civilian administrators in a PKO's finance section - may also
be Finance Officer.
accuracy of fire / A measure expressing the closeness of a grouping of shots
around the centre of a target.
Example: The circumstances and terrain posed extreme
difficulty for all concerned, as a result the accuracy
of fire was degraded and the attack ineffectual.
acoustic intelligence / ACINT / Information derived from the collection and processing
of acoustic phenomena.
acoustic mine / A mine with an acoustic circuit which responds to the
acoustic field of a ship or sweep.
acoustical surveillance / The employment of electronic devices, including sound-recording, receiving, or-transmitting equipment, for the collection of information.
Example: Acoustical surveillance was deployed and the submarine was quickly tracked down.
active air defence / Direct defensive action taken to destroy, nullify, or reduce
the effectiveness of hostile air and missile threats against friendly
forces and assets. It includes the use of aircraft, air defence
weapons, and electronic warfare.
Example: Once the troops and installation were in position
on the island an active air defence was quickly established.
active aircraft / Aircraft currently engaged in flying missions. These aircraft
may be directly assigned to operational units or be involved
in the logistic processes of supply, maintenance, or modification.
Example: As a result of the mission, the number of active aircraft the enemy was able to deploy was significantly reduced.
active defence / The employment of limited offensive action and counterattacks
to deny a contested area or position to the enemy.
active duty / AD / Full-time operational duty in the military service.
Example: When the war was over, he was retired from
active duty and took up a post at the MODD.
active mine / A mine actuated by the reflection from a target of a signal
emitted by the mine.
actual time of arrival / ATA / The time at which units supplies etc really arrive, in contrast
to the estimated time of arrival, which is a projection.
Example: The ETA was 1800; however, with favourable conditions the ATA was fortunately 1743.
actual time of departure / ATD / The time at which units supply, etc are really departing, in contrast
to the estimated time of departure.
adjustment of fire / The process used in artillery and naval gunfire to obtain the correct bearing, range, and height of a burst (if time fuses are used)
when a target is being engaged by direct observation.
Example: The gunnery officer made an adjustment of fire, which was immediately more effective and produced impressive results.
Administration & Personnel / A & P / Office where all paperwork for personnel is handled.
Example: On arrival he reported to Administration & Personnel,
where he received instructions to report immediately for duty.
Administration Unit - Established Missions / AU-EM / A generic term covering any of the following PKO departments
dealing with established missions: Personnel Management &
Support Service, Field Administration & Logistics Division,
Office of Planning & Support.
Example: Following his injuries he was assigned AU-EM duties
at the Field Administration & Logistics Division.
Administration Unit - Special Missions / AU-SM / A generic term covering any of the following PKO departments
dealing with special missions: Personnel Management &
Support Service, Field Administration & Logistics Division,
Office of Planning & Support.
administrative officer / AO / A civilian responsible for administrative tasks.
Administrative Support Unit / ASU / A generic term covering any of the following PKO departments: Logistics & Communications Service, Field Administration &
Logistics Division, Office of Planning & Support.
advance force / A temporary grouping within an amphibious task force which precedes
the main body to the objective area. Its function is to participate in
preparing the objective for the main assault by conducting such
operations as reconnaissance, seizure of supporting positions,
minesweeping, preliminary bombardment, underwater demolitions,
and air support.
advance guard / A detachment sent ahead of the main force to ensure its
uninterrupted advance. Its duties are to:
a. Protect the main body against surprise attack.
b. Facilitate the advance by removing obstacles and repairing
roads and bridges.
c. Provide cover for the deployment of the main
force if it is committed to action.
Example: An advance guard was quickly mobilized
to deter the enemy from advancing that evening.
advance party; advance team / A team whose duties are (a) to make a reconnaissance of an area in order to assess the availability of accommodation and logistic resources and establish a list of essential items and facilities which cannot be obtained in that area, and (b) to prepare for the changeover or rotation between national contingents.
advanced base / A base located in or near an operational area whose primary
mission is to support military operations.
Example: The advanced base was soon overcome and the mission progressed to the main target area.
advanced landing field / An airfield, usually having minimum facilities, in or near
an objective area.
advanced operations base / AOB / A small temporary base established near or within a
joint special operations area. Its function is to command, control,
and/or support training or tactical operations.
aeromedical evacuation / AE / The use of air transportation for the movement of patients under
medical supervision to and between medical treatment facilities.
Example: The injured were AE'd to the support area for treatment.
aide-de-camp / ADC / A member of a force commander's personal staff who helps
the FC with his or her duties.
Example: The ADC had made effective arrangements and the
admiral's visit went very smoothly.
air alert / A state of readiness or precautionary measures in expectation
of an enemy attack from the air.
Example: The raid was conducted during an air alert, which
hampered progress and limited manoeuvrability.
air attack / See 'coordinated air attack'.
air cargo / Stores, equipment, or vehicles which do not form part of the
aircraft, but which are included in its payload.
Example: As a result of the manoeuvre, the air cargo quickly
detached and was lost.
air controller / Another term for 'air traffic controller'.
air corridor / A restricted air route specified for use by friendly aircraft
and established for the purpose of preventing friendly
aircraft from being fired on by friendly forces.
air defence / AD / All defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy
aircraft or missiles in the earth's atmosphere, or to nullify
or reduce the effectiveness of such attacks.
Example: AD assets were sufficient for the task; nevertheless, the opportunity was wasted and the enemy scored successes.
air defence area / 1. A specifically defined airspace in overseas missions for
which air defence must be planned and provided.
2. An airspace of defined dimensions designated by
the appropriate agency, within which the ready control
of aircraft is required in the interests of national security
during an air defence emergency.
Example: An air defence area was quickly established
to protect the corridorand the deployment commenced.
air defence artillery / ADA / Weapons and equipment for actively combating air targets
from the ground.
Example: Following the attack, ADA assets were depleted
and the effectiveness of the operation significantly impaired.
Air Defence Control Centre; Air Defence Operations Centre / ADCC;
ADOC / The principal information, communications, and operations
centre for the supervision and coordination of all aircraft,
anti-aircraft operations, air defence artillery, guided missiles,
and air warning functions over a specific area of air defence responsibility.
Example: The ADOC was quickly neutralized and
confusion reigned.
air delivery / The air transport and landing of personnel and equipment.
Example: There would be an air delivery to replenish supplies
and ammunition.
.
air liaison officer / ALO / An officer with flying expertise attached to a ground unit,
who functions as the primary advisor to the ground commander
on air operation matters.
air logistic support / Support for an operation by means of air transport, including
air supply, the movement of personnel, the evacuation of
casualties, and the recovery of equipment and vehicles.
Example: The unit would be deployed to provide air logistic support.
air point of disembarkation / APOD / The destination airport.
Example: The APOD was located close to the theatre of operations and the facility proved ideal.
air point of embarkation / APOE / The departure airport.
air reconnaissance / The acquisition of information by means of visual observation
from aircraft, and/or the use of sensors in aircraft.
Example: Effective air reconnaissance on the part of the
enemy resulted in the unit's quick detection.
air route / The navigable airspace between two points, identified
in accordance with flight rules.
air sentry / A guard who watches for incoming hostile aircraft or missiles.
Example: The facility would serve as an air sentry and buy time for
the retreating forces.
air strike / An airborne attack against any tactical or strategic target
(but not including support for friendly troops on the ground).
air supply /
The delivery of cargo by aircraft, either by airdrop or landing.
air support / All forms of protection and assistance given by air forcesto operations on land or sea.
Example: Air support would be provided by 1 Sqn Harrier
aircraft deployed nearby.
air surveillance / The systematic observation of all aircraft and missiles in an
airspace by electronic, visual or other means, primarily
for the purpose of identifying and determining their movements.
Example: As a result of effective air surveillance within theatre
the enemy's activities were closely monitored.
air surveillance officer / ASO / An individual responsible for coordinating and maintaining
an accurate, current picture of the air situation within
an assigned airspace area.
air traffic control / ATC / The regulation of movements of aircraft in an airspace.
Example: ATC procedures were not followed and the
accident was the result.
air traffic control service / ATCS / A service provided for the purpose of:
a. Preventing collisions between aircraft, or collisions between aircraft and obstacles on the ground.
b. Regulating the movements of aircraft to maintain an orderly flow.
Example: The facility would provide an ATCS for the exercise and
prove extremely effective.
air traffic controller / A person especially trained for and assigned to the duty
of air traffic control.
air transport liaison officer / ATLO / An officer attached to a headquarters or unit who has the
duty of communicating with other units on matters
regarding the movement of personnel or equipment by air.
airborne / abn / Describes personnel, troops, or ground units whose
special training or primary mission is to make assault landings
from the air, either by parachuting or touchdown.
airborne force / A force composed primarily of ground and air units organized,
equipped, and trained for airborne operations.
airborne operation / The organized movement, by air, of combat forces and
their logistic support into an objective area for the purpose
of executing a particular mission.
Example: The mission then became an airborne operation and
was quickly concluded.
airborne warning & control system / AWACS / A military surveillance system, carried by aircraft, that is
capable of tracking a large number of other aircraft
from a great distance.
Example: The AWACS aircraft was quickly deployed to
monitor the situation and report on progress.
aircraft carrier / CV / A warship designed to support and act as a base for aircraft.
An aircraft carrier can also engage in attacks on targets
afloat or ashore, and in sustained operations in support of other forces.
aircraft commander / AC / The aircrew member officially designated as being in
command of an aircraft and responsible for its safe
operation and accomplishment of the assigned mission.
airdrop / A parachute jump or a supply delivery by parachute from
an aircraft in flight. In logistics, the term vertical
replenishment is sometimes used instead.
Example: An airdrop was arranged and the supplies
were eventually received by that means.
airfield traffic / All traffic on the manoeuvring area of an airfield and
all aircraft flying in the vicinity of an airfield.
Example: Fortunately, airfield traffic was light at the time
and theclearance process rapid..
airlift / An operation to carry troops and equipment over long distances by air
in order to bring them into crisis areas rapidly.
airlifters / Personnel and planes involved in carrying out airlifts
Example: Fighters were deployed to protect the airlifters
and the mission was a success.
airmobile troops / Airborne troops which can be delivered into a battle zone by helicopter.
air-sea rescue / ASR / The use of aircraft, including helicopters, and boats to try
to save people in danger at sea.
Example: The ASR helicopter was deployed immediately and
the survivors rescued without delay.
airspace control system / ACS / The organizations and personnel, together with their policies, procedures, and facilities, involved in ensuring the safe, efficient, and flexible use of airspace.
Example: ACS staff were called upon to investigate the matter to determine the cause of the incident.
airspace restrictions / Special restrictive measures applied to segments of airspace of
defined dimensions.
Example: Because of local airspace restrictions, the aircraft
had to climband maintain height for the remainder of their passage.
air-to-air guided missile / A guided missile launched from an aircraft, for use
against airborne targets.
air-to-surface guided missile / A guided missile launched from an aircraft, for use against
targets on land or sea.
Allied Command Europe / ACE / One of the two major military commands of NATO, covering
an area from the northern tip of Norway to the eastern
border of Turkey. Its primary role is to guarantee the
security and territorial integrity of NATO member states.
allocation / The distribution of limited resources among competing requirements.
Example: The unit's allocation of ammunition was insufficient for the task.
Allowance & Payment Officer / APO / One of the civilian administrators in a PKO's finance section.
ALPHA / The letter A in the phonetic alphabet.
Example: Alpha Two Zero was deployed in support of
his colleague and proved extremely effective.
alternate airfield / An airfield specified in the flight plan to which a flight may
proceed when it becomes inadvisable to land where
originally intended. The airfield of departure may be an alternate airfield.
alternate command post / Any location designated by a commander to assume
command post functions in the event that a command post becomes inoperative. This may be the command post of a subordinate unit. It may be lacking in the normal levels of equipment and manning.
ambulance / A special vehicle used for taking ill or injured people to hospital.
ambulance post / AP / An ambulance with a driver and a medic.
ambush / If someone is lying or waiting in ambush, they are hiding
and waiting for someone in order to attack them.
Example: Sadly, the party was then ambushed in the open and all
were lost.
ambush patrol / A military patrol that is hiding and waiting in ambush.
ammunition / ammo / Infantry bullets/projectiles for use with small arms, cannons,
and mortars, plus combat grenades and pyrotechnics.
Example: The troops were low on ammo and, as a result, had
to limittheir response.
ammunition dump / A place where ammunition is stored.
amphibious / Used for describing military operations or forces that are
launched or landed from the sea in order to carry out actions
on land.
Example: Amphibious forces were deployed and their
capability proved decisive.
amphibious assault / The principal type of amphibious operation that involves
establishing a force on a hostile or potentially hostile shore.
Example: The amphibious assault was a success and the
mission quickly concluded.
amphibious force / AF / An amphibious task force and a landing force together with
other forces that are trained, organized, and equipped
for amphibious operations.
Example: The AF came under attack subsequently and
many craft were lost.
amphibious operation / A military operation launched from the sea by an amphibious force.
The force is embarked in ships or other craft with the primary
purpose of introducing a landing force ashore to accomplish the assigned mission.
anti-aircraft / AA / Intended to destroy or defend against enemy aircraft.
Example: The force then came under AA fire and had to re-route.
anti-aircraft artillery / AAA / Artillery intended to destroy or defend against enemy aircraft.
Example: Bravo Four Four then turned its attention on the
AAA facilityand destroyed it.
anti-aircraft machine gun / AAMG / A machine gun mounted on a special carriage and used for air defence.
anti-ambush drill / Military actions to be taken when caught in an ambush.
anti-armour helicopter / Another term for an anti-tank helicopter.