Oscar Mike to the glossary. Copy that.
Directing military forces toward a specific objective through radio navigation—basically playing air traffic control for armed units.
Departure order for aircraft, literally when landing gear leaves the ground. Metaphorically, the moment commitment becomes irrevocable and you'd better have brought everything you need.
Cargo or goods in transit through supply chains, often under security protocols in military contexts to ensure safe delivery of sensitive materials. Sometimes the freight is more valuable than the vehicle carrying it.
Military strategy of grinding down enemy forces through sustained casualties over time—basically 'we have more bodies than you do, so let's count.'
Render an enemy position, weapon, or force ineffective without necessarily destroying it. It's the military's polite way of saying 'make them unable to kill us without using the word kill.'
A deliberate message, gesture, or encoded transmission designed to convey information to someone watching for it. From smoke signals to digital broadcasts, it's humanity's way of saying 'psst, pay attention.'
A specialized vessel, aircraft, or entity tasked with transporting valuable cargo, personnel, or biological agents from point A to point B—essentially the logistics backbone of any operation. In military contexts, this could be anything from a naval carrier to a humble mail carrier.
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.'
Wounded in Action—a service member injured as a result of enemy action during combat. Less final than KIA, but often life-altering nonetheless.
An alternative defensive location occupied if the primary position is compromised. A military way of saying 'Plan B for when Plan A gets overrun.'
Remotely Operated Vehicle. Unmanned drone or robot controlled from a safe distance—like a video game but with real explosions and international incidents.
A tactical maneuver where friendly forces attack the enemy's flanks and rear while maintaining front-line pressure. It's the military equivalent of 'attacking you from all sides while you're facing one direction.'
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.'
A short, curved Turkish or Middle Eastern sword with a single sharp edge, traditionally without a crossguard, often used as a weapon or cutting tool.
The prescribed range at which enlisted personnel must render salutes to officers, theoretically six paces but practically 'close enough that ignoring them would be obvious.' The geometry of military courtesy.
A person injured or killed by accident or violence—the human cost of disaster. In military terminology, it's the grim accounting of who didn't make it home.
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.
Helicopter pilot or crew member. Usually said affectionately by those who fly them and dismissively by jet pilots who consider rotary-wing undignified.
Guidelines for safely breaking contact with enemy forces—how to run away in an organized, military fashion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.