Oscar Mike to the glossary. Copy that.
Practicing trigger pull and aiming without live ammunition, usually as training or to prevent the embarrassing situation of shooting something you didn't intend to shoot. Click-click goes the expensive training.
Family members of a service member who died in military service, entitled to display a gold star and navigate a grief complicated by bureaucracy and ceremonial honors. The price no military paycheck can compensate.
Minimum altitude below which aircraft are not permitted to fly during training exercises, established to prevent pilots from discovering exactly how hard the ground really is. Violate at your court-martial.
Bureaucratic euphemism for combat operations involving actual shooting, as opposed to 'non-kinetic' operations like psychological warfare. When policy wonks need to say 'violence' without saying 'violence.'
Physical Training Failed Other—official designation for someone who didn't pass fitness standards but the command doesn't want to process out. Bureaucratic purgatory in acronym form.
Readiness Condition—numerical scale (typically 1-4) indicating unit preparedness to execute mission, where REDCON 1 means 'ready to roll now' and REDCON 4 means 'we're basically civilians at this point.'
Coordinating military operations to prevent friendly forces from interfering with or accidentally attacking each other—essentially scheduling who gets to shoot what and when. Air traffic control meets extreme violence.
A tight formation of soldiers lined up single-file against a wall, preparing to breach a room or building. It's basically tactical spooning with body armor and loaded weapons.
Affectionate (or not-so-affectionate) term for ground combat troops, particularly infantry or armor soldiers, as viewed by more technical military occupational specialties. Implies they're less evolved, ape-like.
Numerical location reference using the military grid reference system (MGRS) to pinpoint positions on a map to within meters. The difference between artillery hitting the target and hitting you.
No Foreign Nationals—a classification marking indicating information cannot be shared with non-U.S. personnel, even allies. Because friendship has limits, especially when secrets are involved.
An offensive operation designed to gain or regain contact with the enemy, accepting engagement under uncertain conditions. Deliberately walking around looking for a fight, which sounds less professional than the doctrinal definition.
The analytical process of assigning specific units to accomplish specific tasks within an operation. Matching capability to requirement, assuming you have enough of both.
Strategic Air Command, the Cold War-era US Air Force division that controlled America's nuclear bomber fleet and made sure everyone knew the apocalypse was just one phone call away. From 1946 to 1992, SAC maintained 24/7 readiness with bombers circling the globe, making it the world's most expensive insurance policy against Soviet aggression. Its motto 'Peace Is Our Profession' was deliciously ironic for an organization whose job was preparing for nuclear Armageddon.
Military-approved vacation time, because apparently 'vacation' sounds too leisurely for people trained to jump out of airplanes. Earned through service and granted at command's discretion, it's the carrot that keeps soldiers from going AWOL. Comes in various flavors including emergency leave, convalescent leave, and the mythical 'approved leave' that somehow never gets approved before holidays.
Anti-aircraft fire or weaponry, derived from the phonetic alphabet pronunciation of 'A.A.' Now charmingly antiquated, like calling your phone a 'wireless telegram apparatus.'
Communications Security—the art and science of keeping your radio chatter from being intercepted, decoded, and used to ruin your whole day. Loose lips sink ships, encrypted lips just confuse everyone.
The grim but necessary practice of ensuring enemy combatants are actually deceased and not playing possum with a grenade. A final insurance policy against surprise encores.
Artillery command indicating adjustment rounds have found their mark and it's time to unleash the full fury of available guns on target. Translation: 'We've aimed, now let's delete that grid square.'
U.S. Army's all-purpose exclamation meaning anything from 'yes' to 'I understand' to 'I'm awake' to 'please stop talking'—the Swiss Army knife of military utterances. Maximum enthusiasm, minimum syllables.
The point or line where attacking forces cross from planning into execution, leaving behind safety and entering the danger zone. Once you cross LD, there's no pretending this is still just an exercise.
An officer who previously served as enlisted personnel, theoretically possessing both leadership credentials and actual knowledge of how things work. Often viewed with suspicion by traditional officers and grudging respect by enlisted troops.
Sergeant Major—the senior enlisted advisor who theoretically guides commanders but practically rules the unit through sheer force of experience and controlled rage. The enlisted mafia's don.
The involuntary clenching of your sphincter when you narrowly escape death—typically while piloting a helicopter under enemy fire. It's basically nature's way of saying 'that was too close' with your butt.