Oscar Mike to the glossary. Copy that.
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.
Small, temporary military installation supporting field operations—basically a fortified gas station in hostile territory.
Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and support available, Time available, Civil considerations—the six factors commanders analyze during tactical planning. A mental checklist ensuring nothing critical gets forgotten.
An improvised ambush set up quickly with minimal planning when opportunity presents itself, because sometimes the enemy walks into your lap and you'd be rude not to shoot them. Opportunistic violence at its finest.
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.
A deliberate halt in offensive operations to consolidate gains, resupply, or reassess strategy. When you need to admit that even armies need a breather sometimes.
An order to cease operations and stand by, often issued right after everyone has positioned themselves for the thing they were told to do.
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.
A rapid-response medical transport vehicle equipped to stabilize casualties in transit, originally adapted from mobile field hospital concepts during wartime. Modern variants blur the line between emergency response and tactical evacuation.
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.'
Secured airfield in enemy territory enabling continued air operations—basically your refueling station behind enemy lines.
Military phonetic for 'CM,' which stands for 'Continue Mission.' When you're taking casualties but the mission must proceed—cheerfully abbreviated into phonetic form.
Military operations where information sharing across interconnected forces creates overwhelming advantage. When your communications network becomes your most powerful weapon.
A fortified medical facility designed for large-scale patient management, ranging from battlefield field hospitals to permanent installations. In military contexts, these double as strategic assets.
Friendly fire incidents where your own side shoots at you—military's most tragic form of workplace accident.
The fancy section of a naval ship's upper deck where officers stand looking authoritative while regular sailors are explicitly forbidden to tread. Historically the exclusive domain of commissioned officers, it's the part of the ship where rank mattered more than actually knowing how to tie knots.
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.
Either a tall support structure for sails (the nautical kind) or military-speak for non-judicial punishment where a commanding officer decides your fate without a courtroom. Both are equally terrifying.
Reinforcing facilities, vehicles, or systems against attack—basically wrapping military assets in protective layers like an onion made of steel.
Directing military forces toward a specific objective through radio navigation—basically playing air traffic control for armed units.
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.'
Remotely Operated Vehicle. Unmanned drone or robot controlled from a safe distance—like a video game but with real explosions and international incidents.
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.
Engaging targets from a distance safe enough that your forces aren't vulnerable to direct return fire. Also called 'standoff distance' or 'standoff range.'