Oscar Mike to the glossary. Copy that.
Short for intelligence — information about the enemy or a situation. Not to be confused with the chip manufacturer, although both involve a lot of processing and occasionally overheat. The quality varies wildly from 'game-changing' to 'my cousin's friend heard something.'
Improvised Explosive Device — a homemade bomb built from whatever is lying around. It is the most dangerous DIY project in existence and the reason the military wishes Pinterest had better content moderation. Zero stars, would not recommend crafting.
Shooting at enemies you can't actually see by lobbing projectiles over obstacles using math and hope, unlike direct fire where you at least get to aim at your target. Artillery, mortars, and your drunk uncle tossing horseshoes all use indirect fire.
To secretly sneak into an organization, territory, or group where you're definitely not welcome—basically the tactical version of party-crashing. In military and intelligence contexts, it means penetrating enemy lines or organizations covertly, while in medicine it refers to unwanted substances sneaking into body tissues. The goal is always the same: get in undetected, whether you're a spy, a soldier, or a rogue cell.
The art of sneaking into places or organizations where you definitely weren't invited, whether that's a spy entering enemy territory or water seeping into your basement. In military and intelligence work, it's covert entry with purpose; in construction, it's why you need a sump pump.
In the business world, it's the fancy term for analyzed information that helps you make smart decisions rather than just winging it. In the military and espionage realms, it's secret information about enemies or threats, usually gathered by people who've watched too many spy movies. Both definitions boil down to: knowledge that gives you an edge, assuming you actually use it.
A counterinsurgency approach where forces secure small areas and gradually expand control outward like ink spreading on paper. Focuses on population centers rather than terrain.
A fancy military or legal term for stopping something before it reaches its destination, whether that's enemy supplies, contraband, or that shipment you really needed. It's the strategic act of interrupting, prohibiting, or destroying something in transit. The official word for 'we intercepted it' that makes blockades sound sophisticated.
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance—the military's obsessive need to know everything about everyone before doing anything.
Military or organizational status meaning temporarily or permanently out of service—whether that's a weapon system that's broken down, a soldier on leave, or that motivational poster collecting dust in the break room.