area of separation
AOS
|
Another term for a 'buffer zone'.
Example: The AOS designated proved to be ideally
suited to the operation and was an effective buffer zone
within the theatre of operations.
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armistice
|
|
A suspension or temporary cessation of hostilities by agreement
between belligerent powers.
Example: Accordingly, an armistice came into force at
midnight and hostilities ceased temporarily.
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armistice demarcation line
|
ADL
|
A dividing line between territories to which the parties have
agreed in an armistice agreement. An ADL is more formal
than a ceasefire line and usually becomes a de-facto border.
Example: The armistice demarcation line was breeched and it
was not long before the temporary ceasefire ended.
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armour-piercing
|
|
Used for describing weapons that are able to penetrate armour.
Example: When the unit switched to firing armour-piercing
shells, the effect was dramatic.
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armour vest
|
|
A vest made from special protective material which
offers a high protection level. An armour vest is part of
the personal equipment of each soldier.
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armoured ambulance
|
|
A special armoured vehicle used for taking ill or injured
people to hospital.
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armoured car
|
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A lightly armoured vehicle, usually mounted with a turret,
that is used for military reconnaissance, combat support,
and security.
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armoured engineer vehicle
|
AEV
|
Another term for a combat engineer vehicle.
Example: The AEV proved to be an effective combat engineer
vehicle and was further deployed for this purpose.
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armoured fighting vehicle
|
|
A category of vehicle including tanks, armoured cars,
infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers,
and combat engineer vehicles.
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armoured infantry combat vehicle
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AICV
|
A vehicle similar to an armoured personnel carrier, with the
addition of firing ports through which the infantry can fire
their weapons from inside the vehicle.
Example: He was injured when the AICV came under fire
and there was little anyone could do to save him.
|
armoured personnel carrier
|
APC
|
A lightly armoured, highly mobile vehicle, often with tracks, that
is used primarily for transporting personnel and their
individual equipment during tactical operations.
Example: It was decided to deploy APCs that were better
equipped to handle the terrain.
|
armoured reconnaissance vehicle
|
|
A vehicle equipped with high-frequency radios and special
optical equipment, such as a thermal imager, for use
in reconnaissance patrols.
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armoured recovery vehicle
|
|
An armoured vehicle, with tracks, designed for rescue
and recovery operations under battlefield conditions.
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armourer
|
|
An enlisted man responsible for the maintenance of small
arms and machine guns.
Example: The needed the skills of an armourer; however,
none were available at the time and contingency measures
had to be taken.
|
armoury
|
|
1. All the weapons and military equipment that a
country or group possesses. (The term is also used in relation
to types of weapons; for example, one can speak of a
country's nuclear armoury).
2. A place where weapons and other military equipment
are stored.
Example: The armoury was destroyed with a single hit and
all hostilities ceased forthwith.
|
arms control
|
|
1. Any plan, arrangement, or process, based on explicit
or implicit international agreement, governing any
aspect of the following:
a. The numbers, types, and performance characteristics
of weapon systems.
b. The numerical strength, organization, equipment,
deployment, or employment of the armed forces of the
parties to the agreement. Arms control also
encompasses disarmament.
2. Measures taken to reduce instability in a
military environment.
Example: Arms control measures were quickly introduced.
The resulting arms control treaty was introduced and
arms control became the order of the day.
A comfortable peace quickly followed.
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arms control agreement
|
|
The written or unwritten acceptance of one or more arms
control measures by 2 or more nations.
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arms control measure
|
|
Any specific action taken in pursuit of arms control.
Example: That particular arms control measure
proved ineffectual; however, the Agreement overall proved decisive.
|
arms limitation agreement
|
|
An agreement between parties to a ceasefire, on either side
of a buffer zone, regarding the numbers or types of weapons
that they hold.
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army corps
|
|
A tactical unit larger than a division and smaller than an
army. A corps usually consists of 2 or more divisions,
together with auxiliary arms and services (such as
reconnaissance, artillery, anti-tank, anti-aircraft
and maintenance supports).
Example: The army corps was brought in to lend support
and the move
was decisive in the outcome of the campaign.
|
army group
|
|
The largest formation of military land forces, normally
comprising 2 or more 'numbered' armies or army corps
under a designated commander.
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assault echelon
|
|
The element of a force that is scheduled for initial assault on the objective area.
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assault helicopter
|
|
Any helicopter which supports ground forces in their operations,
by delivering troops or equipment, by assisting anti-tank
defence measures etc. Examples of assault helicopters are
the Apache and the Blackhawk.
|
assembly area
|
|
An area near the port of embarkation, where troops are
gathered before embarking for a mission, or before withdrawing
from a theatre.
Example: The assault echelon were earmarked for early
deployment by the army group commander and were positioned
within the assembly area awaiting orders..
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asset
|
|
(In intelligence use) any instrument, person, or other resource
at the disposition of an intelligence organization
for use in an operational or support role. The word is often used
with a qualifying term, eg 'agent asset' or 'propaganda asset'.
Example: He proved a valuable asset who complemented the
whole and developed into an effective propaganda asset
in the long term.
|
assistant chief military observer
|
ACMO
|
Deputy of team of military observers tasked with monitoring
specific areas.
Example: He was tasked with reporting to the ACMO and
with resolving the situation with due haste.
|
assistant chief of personnel and logistics
|
ACPL
|
Deputy of section responsible for HR and supply.
|
assistant chief of staff
|
ACOS G1, G2 G3, G4 G5
|
Any of several military officers, each in charge of a
different department, eg Administration & Personnel, liaison,
or operations. These departments are classified as: G1
(personnel), G2(intelligence), G3(operations & training),
G4 (logistics) and G5 (civil affairs).
Example: Because of the shortfall in senior officers at that
time, he was appointed ACOS with responsibility for the
G1 and G5 departments.
|
Assistant Chief of Staff
(Logistics)
|
ACOS
/LOG
|
Second-in-command at an HQ responsible for Supply & Logistics.
Example: The ACOS (Logistics) at the time was an effective
commander who ran a tight ship.
|
attachment
|
|
The placement of units or personnel in an organization in order
to carry out temporary or secondary functions.
Example: He was sent on attachment to a unit overseas.
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attack group
|
|
A subordinate task organization of the naval forces of
an amphibious task force. It is composed of assault shipping and supporting naval units designated to transport, protect,
land, and initially support a landing force.
Example: With the attack group in support the operation
was both efficient and effective.
|
attack helicopter
|
|
A helicopter specifically designed to accommodate various
weapons for attacking and destroying enemy targets.
Example: With attack helicopters bringing up the rear the
mission progressed smoothly, despite the attack-helicopter
force being quite modest in size.
|
attack origin
|
|
1. The location or source from which an attack was initiated.
2. The nation initiating an attack.
Example: The attack origin was as yet unknown; however,
there were severalpossibilities among the surrounding countries.
|
attack position
|
|
The last position occupied by the assault echelon before crossing
the line of departure.
Example: When the assault echelon left its attack position, the
unit came under prolonged attack.
|
authenticate'
|
|
A challenge given by voice or electrical means to verify the
authenticity of a message or transmission.
|
authentication
|
|
1. A security measure designed to protect a communications
system against acceptance of a fraudulent transmission by
establishing the validity of the transmission or its originator.
2. A means of identifying individuals and verifying their
eligibility to receive specific categories of information.
3. Evidence that a document is genuine and official, provided
by a proper signature or seal.
4. The process, during escape and evasion, whereby the
identity of an escaped or recovered person is confirmed.
Example: Authentication would be required and the authorizing
officer located without delay. Should all else fail, the
senior officer present should authorize the action and notify his superiors accordingly.
|
automatic rifle
|
|
A rifle that can fire repeatedly without the need to pull
the trigger more than once.
Example: A burst of automatic fire was heard from the enemy
location, which immediately caused concern. The unit
had not been aware that the enemy possessed automatic weapons,
albeit an old automatic rifle had been discovered during
an earlier mission .
|
automatic weapon
|
|
A weapon that can fire repeatedly without the need to pull
the trigger more than once.
|
avenue of approach
|
AoA
|
An air or ground route taken by an attacking force on the way
to its objective, or to key terrain in its path.
Example: A suitable avenue of approach would need to be
decided prior to the action commencing.
|
backfill
|
|
Reserve units and individuals that are recalled to replace
deploying active units or individuals.
|
background radiation
|
|
Nuclear (or ionising) radiations to which individuals are
always exposed, arising from within the body and
the general environment.
Example: The level of background radiation was acceptable;
however,caution would still be necessary during the advance.
|
backstopping function
|
|
The overall direction, assistance, and guidance given to
peacekeeping operations by various Headquarters, departments
and offices, including administrative, personnel and logistic
support, purchasing and accounting services etc.
Example: Peacekeeping personnel were briefed accordingly
with regard to their backstopping function, so that all were prepared.
|
back-up supply
|
|
A further supply to last for the duration of the mission, as
a shipment to be sent later.
Example: Back up supplies were issued, nevertheless, and proved invaluable during the mission.
|
ballistic bomb
|
|
A bomb dropped by a plane.
Example: The enemy deployed ballistic weapons during the
raid and these proved effective with ballistic bombs falling
like rain on the land forces trapped below, who were
also under ballistic-missile attack at the time.
|
ballistic missile
|
|
Any missile which does not rely upon aerodynamic surfaces
to produce lift and consequently follows a ballistic trajectory
when thrust is terminated.
|
ballistic protection
|
|
Techniques for the protection of personnel (and materiel)
against projectiles of all kinds, such as protective blankets
for vehicles or personal protective gear (jackets, helmets, trousers etc).
Example: The degree of ballistic protection available within
the vehicle was insufficient for the task in hand.
|
ballistic trajectory
|
|
The trajectory of a missile etc., after the propulsive force
is terminated and the missile is acted upon only by gravity
and aerodynamic drag.
Example: The ballistic trajectory of the projectile took
it low over mountainous terrain.
|
bar mine
|
|
An anti-tank mine.
|
barbed wire
|
|
A type of strong wire with sharp points on it, used for
preventing people or animals from entering or
leaving a place, especially a field
Example: Barbed wire was used to secure the boundary.
|
barrage fire
|
|
Weapons fire designed to fill a volume of space or a whole
area rather than aimed specifically at a precise target.
Example: A barrage of fire was the enemy response; moreover,
because of its effectiveness the enemy utilised the tactic of
barrage fire again and again to deplete the enemy.
|
barrier
|
|
Any object used for stopping the movement of vehicles.
|
barrier forces
|
|
Air, surface, and submarine units, together with their supporting
systems, that are positioned across the likely courses of
expected enemy transit. Their function is to provide early detection and rapid warning, blocking, and destruction of the enemy.
Example: The enemy's barrier forces proved decisive in the
action and were effective in stopping the advance.
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