desk officer
|
Those military officers and civilians within each division of
DPKO and responsible for the administration of a peacekeeping operation are assigned to a 'desk'. A 'desk' comprises one or more political affairs' officers who are supported by one or more military officers. A 'desk' can also have responsibility for a
specific geographical region.
Example: He was instructed to report to his desk officer on
arrival.
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destination
|
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The place where a container movement ceases. The destination may
be the ultimate user or consumer of container contents, a retail
supply point, or a consolidation and distribution point.
Example: The destination for the cargo had been somewhere
on the island.
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destruction of supply routes
|
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The act of destroying routes over which supplies can be delivered.
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destructive power
|
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The ability/force of a weapon to cause destruction or damage.
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detachment
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DET
(det)
|
A part of a unit separated from its main organization for
duty elsewhere. Also the situation of being 'detached'.
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detainee
|
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Term used to refer to any person captured or otherwise detained
by an armed force.
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detainee collecting point
|
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Facility or other location where detainees are assembled for
subsequent movement to a detainee processing station.
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detainee processing station
|
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Facility or other location where detainees are administratively
processed and provided custodial care pending disposition and
subsequent release, transfer, or movement to a prisoner-of-war
or civilian internee camp.
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detecting belligerent electromagnetic radiation
|
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The act of discovering or determining the existence or presence
of belligerent electromagnetic radiation.
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deterrent;
deterrence
|
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The prevention from action by fear of the consequences. Deterrence
is a state of mind brought about by the existence of a
credible threat of unacceptable counteraction. A deterrent is
the means by which deterrence is achieved.
Example: The nuclear deterrent would be deterrence enough;
there was no requirement for a bacterial capability at that stage.
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detonating cord
|
|
A waterproof and flexible fabric tube containing a high explosive
designed to transmit the detonation wave.
Example: Once the explosive was in position, he attached the
detonating chord and retreated.
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detonator
|
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A device containing a sensitive explosive intended to
produce a detonation wave.
Example: At the signal, he was to join the leads
attached to the detonator and, which would detonate
the remote explosive charge.
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died of battle wound
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DOW
|
Medical support; patient reporting; NATO uses 'died of wounds
received in action.
Example: The message simply stated: Private Smith, DOW.
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died of non-battle wound
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DNBW
|
Medical support; patient reporting.
Example: Near the bottom of the page, he found the evidence:
Corporal Jones, DNBW.
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died of wounds received in action
|
DWRIA
|
Casualty category applicable to a hostile casualty, other than the
victim of a terrorist activity, who dies of wounds or other injuries
received in action after having reached a medical treatment facility.
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digging tool
|
|
A tool used by soldiers when making preparations, such
as digging trenches, to protect themselves from an
attack by the enemy.
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direct support
|
DS
|
1. A mission requiring one force to support another and authorizing
that force to respond directly to the other's request for assistance.
2. The logistical support given by a member state to its own
contingent deployed on a UN operation.
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direct supporting fire
|
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Fire delivered in support of part of a force, as opposed to general
supporting fire delivered in support of the force as a whole.
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direct-fire zone
|
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An area where fire is directed at a target which is visible to the aimer.
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directive
|
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Military communications in which policy is established or a
specific action is ordered governing conduct or procedure;
normally issued and signed by the highest military authority
in the operation.
Example: He had been directed to engage the enemy at the
earliest opportunity; he would be wise to obey the directive.
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director, civil affairs
|
DCA
|
A civilian responsible for civil affairs.
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director of operations
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DO
|
A police officer assigned to UNCIVPOL and appointed
director of specified operations.
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disarmament
|
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The reduction of a military establishment to some level
set by international agreement.
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disarmed mine
|
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A mine for which the arming procedure has been reversed,
rendering the mine inoperative. The mine would then be safe to
handle and transport; however, it could be rearmed by simple action.
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disaster control
|
|
Measures taken before, during, or after hostile action, natural
disasters or manmade disasters to reduce the probability of
damage, minimize its effects and initiate recovery.
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discharge papers
|
|
Dismissal papers freeing someone from their obligations or duties.
Example: He was handed his discharge papers and told that
he was free to go.
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disciplinary offence
|
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Offence of disciplinary rules.
Example: During the process, a disciplinary offence had been
committed. An investigation would therefore be inevitable.
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disguise
|
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Any attire that modifies the appearance in order to conceal the
wearer's identity.
Example: He would have to go in under cover and in disguise.
The disguise he chose would, however, need to be simple
and not cumbersome.
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dispatch route
|
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In road traffic, a roadway over which full control, both as to priorities
of use and the regulation of movement of traffic in time and space,
is exercised. Movement authorization is required for use of a
dispatch route, even by a single vehicle.
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displaced person
|
DP
|
A civilian who is involuntarily outside the national boundaries
of his or her country.
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disposition
|
|
The distribution of the elements of a command within an area,
eg the exact location of each unit headquarters and the deployment
of the forces subordinate to it.
Example: Its disposition did not suit the commander; he
therefore requested relocation and some degree of close support
in the process.
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distribution point
|
|
Logistical point of issue of materiel to units.
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distribution system
|
|
A system of facilities, installations, methods and procedures designed
to receive, store, maintain, distribute and control the flow of
materiel between the point of reception into mission area
and the point of issue to using units.
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diversionary attack
|
|
An attack wherein a force attacks, or threatens to attack, a target
other than the main target for the purpose of drawing enemy
defence away from the main effort.
Example: Diversionary tactics would therefore be necessary
and, should all else fail, he would authorise a
diversionary attack.
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divided air attack
|
|
A method of delivering a coordinated air attack, which consists of
holding the aircraft in close tactical concentration up to a point,
prior to splitting them to attack an objective from different directions.
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division
|
|
A major administrative and tactical unit within which is combined
the necessary arms and services required to operate independently
and for a sustained period of combat. A division is larger than a regiment or brigade, but smaller than a corps. Moreover, a
division, commanded by a major (2 star) general, might have 3 regiments, plus supporting units.
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double agent
|
|
An agent in contact with 2 opposing intelligence services, only one
of which is aware of the double contact or quasi-intelligence services.
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draft plan
|
|
A plan for which a draft has been coordinated and agreed with
other military headquarters and which is ready for coordination
with and ratification by those nations involved.
Example: Provisional steps had been approved; nevertheless,
the draft plan would need formal ratification prior to
any action being taken.
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dragon's teeth
|
|
Wedge-shaped concrete anti-tank obstacles laid in multiple rows.
Example: As the convoy of tanks approached the line of
dragon's teeth, it slowed slightly while the commander
considered his options.
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drill mine
|
|
An inert filled mine or mine-like body, used in loading, laying
and discharge practices and trials.
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driver's accident report
|
|
A document detailing the date, place and circumstances of an accident,
and details of the vehicle(s), persons and circumstances involved.
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drone
|
|
A land, sea, or air vehicle that can be controlled either
remotely or automatically.
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drop zone;
dropping zone
|
DZ
|
An area designated for the insertion of airborne
forces or stores by means of parachute.
Example: As the formation approached the DZ, those in the lead
aircraft prepared to deploy.
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drop-off point
|
DOP
|
Coordinates on a map or the place where troops are dropped
by vehicle, aircraft or helicopter, possibly behind enemy lines.
Example: The DOP was close to the front line, but in a
location concealed from the enemy.
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dual agent
|
|
One who is simultaneously and independently employed by 2
or more intelligence agencies, covering targets for both.
|
dud
|
|
An item of explosive munitions, which has not been armed as
intended or which has failed to explode after being armed.
Example: The torpedo was a dud and it failed to explode.
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dump
|
|
Temporary storage area for logistics; fuel or ammunition.
Example: The ammunition dump was close to the headquarters
and could be utilised to destroy a major part of the complex.
|
Duty Room;
Joint Operations Centre
|
JOC
|
A part of the Situation Centre, which serves as the UNHQ
point of contact for field missions. A Duty Room/JOC can also be
operated by Member States during permanent missions; the
facility prepares daily Situation Centre reports.
|
early warning
|
EW
|
An early notification of the launch or approach of unknown
weapons or weapons carriers.
Example: The vessel had an EW capability, however, and
the aircraft's approach was quickly detected.
|
ECHO
|
|
The letter E in the phonetic alphabet.
|
economic potential
|
|
The total capacity of a nation to produce goods and services.
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Electoral Assistance Division
|
|
Office of Operations, DPKO.
|
electoral division
|
|
One of the divisions within a PKO mission; headed by a Director.
|
electoral observer
|
|
Within a PKO's electoral division: visits polling stations, observes the
transport of ballot boxes and the counting process and prepares
a post-referendum evaluation.
|
electromagnetic radiation
|
|
Radiation made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields
and propagated with the speed of light. Includes gamma radiation,
X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation, and radar
and radio waves.
|
electronic countermeasures
|
ECM
|
Actions taken to prevent or reduce an enemy's effective use of the
electromagnetic spectrum, such as jamming and
electromagnetic deception.
Example: The vehicle had an ECM capability.
|
electronic warfare
|
EW
|
Any military action involving the use of electromagnetic and
directed energy to control the electromagnetic spectrum or to
attack the enemy. The 3 major subdivisions within electronic
warfare are: electronic attack, electronic protection,
and electronic warfare support.
|
embankment
|
|
An artificial slope made of earth and/or stones.
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embarkation
|
|
The loading of troops with their supplies and equipment on to
ships or aircraft.
Example: Prior to embarkation, the unit attended a briefing.
|
embrasure; firing port
|
|
An opening (in a wall or ship or armoured vehicle) for firing through.
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Emergency Response Team
|
|
In the context of humanitarian and civic relief, an Emergency
Response Team would be deployed in the event of humanitarian emergencies, such as refugee crises, sometimes in conjunction
with a peacekeeping operation.
|
enemy capabilities
|
|
Those courses of action of which the enemy is physically capable and that, if adopted, will affect accomplishment of the friendly mission.
|
engineering vehicle
|
|
A vehicle used in engineering.
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