Oscar Mike to the glossary. Copy that.
Grab something before it reaches its destination—be it a missile, a secret message, or a 40-yard touchdown pass. In mathematics, it's that awkward point where a line crashes into an axis like an embarrassing collision.
Armed conflict or military actions between opposing forces—basically when nations stop using their words and start using their weapons. The fancy term for 'we're shooting at each other now.'
Friendly fire incidents where your own side shoots at you—military's most tragic form of workplace accident.
The strategic and tactical practice of armed conflict conducted through military operations. Different styles exist—guerrilla, cyber, psychological—each designed to maximize chaos while minimizing fair play.
Tactical Training Exercise—a simulated military operation designed to train personnel and test procedures without actual combat. It's a dress rehearsal where everyone uses their inside voice and nobody dies.
Removing personnel from a hostile area, usually under fire. Basically grabbing your people and getting out before the enemy kills you.
Covert military or intelligence operations denied by the government. Deniable operations where the government claims no official involvement whatsoever.
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses—using missiles and aircraft to neutralize or degrade enemy air defense systems so other aircraft can operate safely. Basically clearing the airspace.
Communications Intelligence—gathering intelligence by intercepting and analyzing enemy radio, telephone, and data communications. High-tech eavesdropping with government authorization.
An intense military training facility where recruits are systematically broken down and rebuilt as soldiers, complete with screaming drill instructors and an unhealthy amount of yelling before breakfast.
Deploying troops or personnel into a hostile or contested area, typically via helicopter, aircraft, or boat. The opposite of extraction, and equally dangerous.
Military phonetic for 'CM,' which stands for 'Continue Mission.' When you're taking casualties but the mission must proceed—cheerfully abbreviated into phonetic form.
Employing lighter forces to observe and report enemy movement while avoiding engagement. It's 'send the junior soldiers out front to see what we're dealing with,' expressed as legitimate military doctrine.
Engaging targets from a distance safe enough that your forces aren't vulnerable to direct return fire. Also called 'standoff distance' or 'standoff range.'
A broad geographic area where military operations occur—referred to as 'theater of operations' or 'theater of war.' It's a war zone, but with a fancy strategic term.
Stationing international armed forces between hostile parties to maintain a cease-fire through military presence rather than combat. It's conflict management based on the theory that nobody wants to be responsible for shooting at a blue helmet.
Weapons and support that are inherent to a military unit rather than attached from higher command. It's 'stuff we bring with us' as opposed to 'stuff we have to call for and wait for.'
Battle Damage Assessment—the evaluation of damage caused to enemy targets during strikes. It's the post-attack scorekeeping system, often optimistic about what was actually destroyed.
A longitudinal timber brace running along a ship's ribs like a terrifyingly specific orthopedic corset; the structural reinforcement preventing a vessel from deciding mid-voyage to reorganize itself into something more geometrically creative.
Military defensive structures or defensive systems—basically architecture's answer to paranoia and sieges. Also applied to food when nutrients are added, because humans unified in their impulse to make things defensible against any threat, external or internal.
Wounded in Action—a service member injured as a result of enemy action during combat. Less final than KIA, but often life-altering nonetheless.
Killed in Action—a service member who dies as a direct result of enemy action. The military's clinical abbreviation for profound loss.
Forward Arming and Refueling Point—a temporary resupply base closer to combat allowing helicopters and aircraft to refuel and rearm without returning to main base. It's essentially a gas station in a war zone.
Attacking the side of an enemy force rather than the defended front. It's the military principle that 'head-on fighting is stupid, so let's attack from where they're not looking.'