UN Emergency Force
UNEF
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An international force established to supervise the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East.
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UN High Commissioner for Refugees
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UNHCR
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The UN refugee agency.
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UN High-Readiness Brigade
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A brigade on standby to intervene immediately when a peacekeeping operation is established by the Security Council until the PKO is actually deployed. The full name for this brigade is the Multinational UN Stand-by Forces High-Readiness Brigade.
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UN military observer
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UNMO; MILOB
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The main tasks of a UNMO is to supervise, monitor, verify and
report on cease-fire agreements, separations and withdrawals, and
any cessation of outside assistance. In addition, UNMOs monitor checkpoints, ingress/egress points and sea/airports; monitor regrouping, containment and disarmament or demobilisation
processes; locate and confiscate caches of weapons; assist NGOs,
UN agencies et al in humanitarian activities; and in some cases,
as MILOBs, serve in Military Observer Groups, commanded
Chief Military Observers. In other circumstances UNMOs
serve in peacekeeping forces.
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UN naval observer
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UNNO
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A naval observer serving under the UN.
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UN Operational Support Manual
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OSM
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A manual containing logistics procedures for UN field missions.
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UN Preventive Deployment
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UNPRE-
DEP
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Independent mission, reporting directly to United Nations Headquarters in New York with its major tasks of monitoring and reporting on the situation in specific areas which could undermine confidence and stability.
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UN Protection Force
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UN-
PROFOR
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The UN peacekeeping operation in the formerYugoslavia.
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UN Rapid Deployment Brigade
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UNRDP
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A standing international
all-volunteer light-infantry brigade of up to 5000 men, distinct from the stand-by forces and made up of individually recruited soldiers.
The UNRDP would be under the direct control of the Security
Council and would be used for preventive deployment or be sent in advance of, and in preparation for, the deployment of stand-by
units or of an international peacekeeping force.
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UN Security Council
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UNSC
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The UN council for maintaining international peace and security
in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN.
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UN Transition Force
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Temporarily deployed forces of the UN.
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UN Truce Supervisory Organization
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UNTSO
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UN military observers' mission to monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating
and to assist other UN peacekeeping operations in a region.
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Universal Time; Greenwich Mean Time
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ZULU time;
GMT
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A measure of time based on the Greenwich Meridian, London,
that conforms, within a close approximation, to the mean diurnal rotation of the Earth and serves as the basis
of civil timekeeping.
Example: The operation would commence at 0600Z,
ie 0600GMT.
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unmanned aerial vehicle;
drone
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UAV
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An airborne vehicle used for the purposes of surveillance,
targeting, bomb-damage assessment etc. A UAV is pre-
programmed for a mission and can execute it without
further intervention. The UAV is distinct from a remotely-
piloted vehicle (RPV) because the latter is controlled and
directed from afar during its mission.
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urgent mining
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The laying of mines with correct spacing, but not in the
ordered or planned positions.
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urgent priority
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A category of immediate request, say, by signal message, that is
lower than that of 'emergency priority', but which takes precedence over a request of 'ordinary priority'.
Example: URGENT PRIORITY: Reinforcements needed. Enemy
units moving up in such force as to threaten a breakthrough.
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utility helicopter
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A multi-purpose helicopter that is capable of lifting troops, but
that can be used in other roles such as command and control,
logistics, casualty evacuation, ground support etc.
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utility vehicle
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Vehicles that can be utilised for carrying cargo, water, fuel, and also for the purpose of recovery.
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validation
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1. A process normally associated with the collection of intelligence that provides official status to an identified requirement.
Validation is the act of confirming that a particular requirement
is appropriate for a given collector and that the requirement
has not been previously satisfied.
2. The process of determining the degree to which a particular
computer model or simulation accurate reflects the real situation
it is designed to represent.
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valuable cargo
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Cargo that may be of value during a later stage of a war.
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vanguard
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The leading contingent of an army, fleet or squadron in the
process of advancing or progressing.
Example: The flotilla would form the vanguard of the fleet.
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vantage point
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A place, often on high that provides a clear view of an area
or activity.
Example: The unit found a good vantage point high in the sierras.
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vehicle check-point
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VCP
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A point for checking vehicles.
Example: As the convoy approached the VCP, the troops in the
leading vehicle prepared for combat.
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vehicle distance
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The clearance between vehicles in a column that is measured from
the rear of one vehicle to the front of another.
Example: The convoy would mobilize at a vehicle distance
of 10 metres.
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verification
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1. An arms-control process that includes such tasks as inspection, detection, identification etc, to ascertain compliance with
agreed arms-control measures.
2. The process of determining the degree to which a particular
computer model or simulation accurately represents the developer's conceptual description and specifications.
Example: There was a need to verify the specification and
verification was needed prior to commencement of the task.
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vertical replenishment
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An airdrop of supplies or equipment for the purpose of re-
supplying a unit.
Example: Because of the difficulties with the terrain, the only
means of supply would be vertical replensishment.
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'very' light
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A coloured flare fired from a 'very' pistol that explodes at height.
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'very' pistol
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A pistol for firing 'very'-light flares.
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very seriously ill or injured
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VSII
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The casualty status of a person whose illness or injury is classified
by medical authorities to be of such severity that life is
imminently endangered.
Example: Following examination, the 2 were classed as VSII.
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VICTOR
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The letter V in the phonetic alphabet.
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visibility
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The clarity with which objects can be seen at a distance in the open.
Visibility is influenced by the prevailing weather conditions,
smoke haze etc.
Example: Once the weather front cleared, there was increased
visibility.
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visibility range
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The horizontal distance, in either miles or kilometres, at which a
large dark object can be seen against the horizon in daylight.
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visor
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1. A movable part of a helmet that can be lowered to protect
the face.
2. A curved piece of stiff material worn above the eyes to
provide shade from the sun.
Example: In the strong light, he lowered his visor.
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visual meteorological conditions
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VMC
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The prevailing weather conditions for flight in which Visual Flight Rules (VFR) apply for aircraft. VMC are expressed in
terms of visibility, ceiling height, and aircraft clearance
from clouds along a path of flight. Should the meteorological
conditions not meet the requirements for VMC, in inclement
weather, pilots are required to fly on their instruments, ie to
comply with Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
Example: At the time he was VMC.
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vital ground
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Ground of such importance that it must be retained or controlled to
ensure the success of a mission.
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voice call sign
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A call sign provided primarily for voice communication.
Example: BRAVO 21, this is 'PREDATOR'.
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volley
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A large number of bullets fired simultaneously. In the case of
larger weapons, the term is 'salvo'.
Example: While coping with volleys of shots from the opposing
forces in the hills, the defenders also faced a barrage of salvos
from the fleet off shore.
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vulnerability study
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An analysis of the capabilities and limitations of a force in a specific situation so as to determine any vulnerabilities that an opposing
force might exploit.
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vulnerable area
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A designated area or installation of great importance that must
be defended by air-defence units.
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vulnerable point
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A point of vital importance that must be retained or controlled
to ensure the success of a mission.
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walking patient
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A patient whose injuries/illness is relatively minor, permitting
thus enabling that patient to walk and not require a litter.
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war reserve stock(s)
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WRS
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That portion of total materiel assets designated to satisfy the war reserve materiel requirement.
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war reserves
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Stocks of materiel amassed in peacetime to meet the increase in military requirements in the event of war. War reserves are
intended to provide the interim support essential to sustain
operations until re-supply can be effected.
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wardroom
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Military quarters for the accommodation, dining and recreation of naval officers. Air force and army officers are accommodated
in the Officers' Mess.
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warfare
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The act of fighting a war.
Example: The parties were now engaged in serious warfare.
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war-game
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A simulation, by whatever means, of a military operation involving
2 or more opposing forces, using those rules, data, and procedures designed to depict an actual or assumed real life situation.
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warning
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A communication and acknowledgment of danger.
Example: The commander had warned personnel that the
operation could result in injury or death if operating procedures
were not carefully followed. They would be foolish not to heed
that warning.
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warning message
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1. A message informing of danger.
2. Preliminary notice of an action or order to follow.
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warning of attack
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A warning to national policymakers that an adversary is not
only preparing its armed forces for war, but also intends to launch
an attack in the near future.
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warning of war
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A warning to national policymakers that a foreign state or alliance intends war, or is following a course that substantially increases
the risks of war, by preparing accordingly.
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warning order
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Wng O
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A preliminary notice of an order or action that is to follow.
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weapon exclusion zone;
exclusion zone
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EZ
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A zone of defined dimensions where weapons are prohibited.
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weapons system
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A combination of one or more weapons with all related equipment, materials, services, personnel, and means of delivery and
deployment.
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weapons collection point
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WCP
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A place or facility for collecting weapons.
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weapons of mass destruction
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WMD
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Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction, more so
that in the case of conventional weapons.
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weapons-storage site
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WSS
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A place or facility for depositing weapons.
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weapons-limitation zone
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Restricted weapons zone.
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Western European Armaments Group
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WEAG
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Western European Union (WEU) armaments cooperation forum.
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Western European Union
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WEU
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A security and defence alliance involving states throughout Europe.
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WHISKEY
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The letter W in the phonetic alphabet.
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white flag
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A flag symbolizing the acceptance of defeat or a lack of intention
to attack.
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'white helmets'
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International volunteer rapid-response teams deployed for the
purposes of humanitarian relief. These personnel are so called
because they wear white helmets in the field.
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wind velocity
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The horizontal direction and speed of air motion.
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withdrawal operation
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A planned retrograde operation in which a force disengages from
action with an enemy force and retreats from that enemy.
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World Geodetic System 84
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WGS 84
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DMA's modelling of the Earth from a geometric, geodetic and gravitational standpoint.
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wounded in action
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WIA
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A battle casualty who has incurred an injury inflicted by an
external agent or cause; ie an injury incurred in action.
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X-RAY
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The letter X in the phonetic alphabet.
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YANKEE
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The letter Y in the phonetic alphabet.
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zodiac
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A type of high-speed rubber boat.
Example: The team quickly boarded the zodiac and departed
the scene.
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zone of action
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A tactical subdivision of a larger area, the responsibility for which
is assigned to a tactical unit during offensive action.
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zone of fire
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An area into which a designated ground unit or fire-support ship delivers, or is prepared to deliver, fire support.
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zone of separation
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ZOS;
ZS
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A buffer zone, possibly under the control of a PKO, located between the forward lines of the parties in a conflict. It is an area into
which those parties have agreed not to deploy military forces.
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ZULU
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1. The letter Z in the phonetic alphabet.
2. Zulu time. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Universal time.
A measure of time based on the Greenwich Meridian, London,
that conforms, within a close approximation, to the mean diurnal rotation of the Earth and serves as the basis
of civil timekeeping.
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