Oscar Mike to the glossary. Copy that.
Someone who deliberately underperforms or withholds effort, or in military training contexts, one who feigns injury or exhaustion to avoid difficult tasks. The art of strategic laziness elevated to tactical doctrine.
Military jargon for keeping troops fed, armed, and operational in the field—basically the logistics of not letting your army fall apart. It encompasses everything from ammunition resupply to field hospitals to making sure soldiers have boots. The unglamorous but absolutely critical business of keeping the war machine running.
The practice of having all personnel at their defensive positions during dawn and dusk—the most likely times for attack. Military tradition based on the proven principle that enemies love to ruin your breakfast and dinner.
A temporary stop during movement where units establish security and assess the situation before continuing. Military time-out, but with more weapons and fewer juice boxes.
Range safety command sequence preparing personnel to commence firing, ensuring everyone's pointed in approximately the same direction before lead starts flying. The polite precursor to controlled chaos.
The simultaneous firing of multiple weapons, creating that impressive wall of destruction you see in war movies. It's quality through quantity, delivered all at once.
Creating false signals or communications to deceive enemy sensors, basically catfishing your opponent's entire military infrastructure.
Information that has been stripped of identifying details so classified sources can't be traced, also applies to military reports that need to look good for Congress.
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.
A military strategy emphasizing overwhelming force and psychological dominance to break enemy will before sustained combat—basically, 'make them regret starting' in one explosive gesture.
An individual skilled in moving undetected through hostile or monitored environments, whether for reconnaissance, theft, or espionage. Essentially a professional ghost with dubious ethics.
To position military or security personnel at a specific location for operational readiness, surveillance, or duty assignment. It's a fancy way of saying 'planted here until further notice.'
An order to cease operations and stand by, often issued right after everyone has positioned themselves for the thing they were told to do.
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.
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 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.'
Military systems allowing engagement of targets from a safe distance, minimizing exposure to enemy fire—basically 'hitting them before they can hit you back'.
Operations designed to neutralize enemy air defense systems—taking out the AA before they take out your planes.
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.
A bulge in a defensive front line where friendly forces extend forward into enemy territory. It's a term that makes military planners nervous because it means 'three exposed sides of enemy opportunity.'
A secret, often unauthorized military or defense project operating outside normal bureaucratic channels. Half-affectionate, half-ominous in implication.
Military technology designed to avoid detection by radar, infrared, or acoustic sensors. Making expensive multibillion-dollar military hardware invisible to the naked eye.
Coordinated military aircraft and support units designed for a specific bombing or attack mission. A delicately balanced collection of ordnance, pilots, and support that's surprisingly fragile once airborne.
Techniques to minimize a vehicle's radar, thermal, visual, or acoustic detection signatures. Making military equipment harder to spot like a ninja in camo.