barrier pole
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A pole used at permanent vehicle checkpoints to stop traffic.
Example: The barrier pole was raised as the vehicle approached.
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base commander
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(In base defence operations) the officer assigned to command a base.
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base defence
|
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Military measures, required to nullify or reduce the effectiveness
of enemy attacks or sabotage on a base, thus ensuring that
the maximum capacity of its facilities is available to the
forces it is supporting.
Example: Base-defence measures were immediately taken
to protect the new facility from enemy attack.
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basic intelligence
|
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Essential or background information concerning the
general situation, resources, capabilities, and vulnerabilities
of foreign countries or areas.
Example: Reliable sources provided basic intelligence
throughout and this assisted the task greatly.
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basic stocks
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The supplies and equipment provided to support the
execution of approved operational plans for an initial
predetermined period.
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basic training
|
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Initial training for recruits.
Example: Following a period of basic training, recruits are
given leave to preparefor the more advanced training to follow.
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baton round
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A plastic or rubber bullet intended to hurt
but not kill people.
Example: The police had no alternative but to use baton
rounds to quell the riot.
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battalion
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BATT BAT
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A military unit consisting of 3 or more companies and comprising approximately 600 men .
Example: When his forces came under sustained attack, the area commander had no alternative but to deploy the reserve BATT
and hope the increase in fire power would make the difference .
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Battalion Aid Post
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BAP
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A medical facility with at least one doctor and other medical
staff that provides medical support to the battalion and
carry out evacuations.
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battalion commanding officer
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Battalion CO
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An officer in command of a battalion, ie approximately 600 men.
Example: The Battalion's commanding officer had no alternative
and he reflected on the difficulties that battalion COs
face in such situations.
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battery
|
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A tactical and administrative artillery unit/sub-unit (corresponds to a Company, or similar unit, in other branches of the Army.
Example: The battery was ordered to respond without delay.
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battle fatigue
|
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Another term for battle stress reaction.
Example: Suffering from battle fatigue, the soldier made haste
to relocate his unit.
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battle map
|
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Map showing ground features in sufficient detail for tactical
use by all forces, usually on a scale of 1:25000.
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battle reserves
|
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Reserve supplies accumulated by an army, detached corps, or
detached division in the vicinity of the battlefield, in addition to
unit and individual reserves.
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battle stress reaction; battle shock reaction
|
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Nervous or psychological reactions, stress symptoms etc,
experienced by soldiers as a reaction to situations that place extraordinary pressure upon them.
Example: The officer put the soldier's response down to
battle-stress reaction and considered the matter closed.
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battlefield surveillance
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Systematic observation of the battle area for the purposes of
providing timely information and combat intelligence.
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battleship
|
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A very large military ship with significant fire power.
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bazooka
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A long tube-shaped gun, fired from the shoulder, which is used
for firing missiles, mainly at military vehicles.
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biographical intelligence
|
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That component of intelligence that deals with knowledge of
particular individuals, specifically foreign individuals of
actual or potential importance in a conflict.
Example: He was eventually traced following the receipt
of effective biographical intelligence, which led to his capture.
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biological agent
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A micro-organism that causes disease in personnel, plants,
or animals or causes the deterioration of materiel. The term
refers mainly to micro-organisms that have been deliberately
released or propagated.
Example: He was killed by an unknown biological agent
that had been secretly deployed by the enemy.
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biological ammunition
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Ammunition whose primary active component is a biological agent.
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biological & chemical warfare
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BCW
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A warfare using bacteria or viruses of toxins to destroy men
and animals or food, as well as chemical agents to kill or
injure or incapacitate the enemy.
Example: The unit was equipped to deal with biological and
chemical warfare; however, a nuclear threat would be cause for concern.
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biological defence
|
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The methods, plans, and procedures involved in establishing
and executing defensive measures against attacks using
biological agents.
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biological environment
|
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Conditions found in an area resulting from direct or persisting
effects of biological weapons.
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biological threat
|
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A credible possibility of a plan to deploy biological agents
with the aim of producing casualties in personnel or animals,
or damage to plants.
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biological weapon
|
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An item of materiel which projects, disperses, or disseminates
a biological agent, including small animals infected with
a biological agent.
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bivouac
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bivvy
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A temporary shelter (not a tent) for sleeping outside in.
Example: The patrol therefore decided to bivvy down for the
night and prepare for the task to come.
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bivouac (tent)
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bivvy
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A small light tent just big enough for one or two people to lie in,
known as a 'bivvy'.
Example: Despite being designed for just one person, the
bivvy was adequate emergency accommodation for the pair.
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blast
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The brief and rapid movement of air, vapour, or fluid away
from a centre of outward pressure, as in an explosion
or in the combustion of rocket fuel. Also used to refer to the
pressure accompanying this movement, and, in
common use, to the explosion itself.
Example: Although the vehicle survived the blast, its camouflage
was destroyed and it was now extremely vulnerable.
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blast wave
|
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A sharply defined wave of increased pressure that originates
at the centre of a detonation, explosion, etc., and is rapidly
propagated through the surrounding medium.
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blind spot
|
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An area that you are not able to see or where you are not
able to receive radio signals.
Example: The vehicle now entered a blind spot and he temporarily
lost sight of the pursuers.
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blockade
|
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A procedure whereby a belligerent nation prevents the access
of vital shipping to its enemy's coast, so that the supply of foodstuffs
and war materials is disrupted.
Example: The blockade was effective and led to a quick surrender.
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blocking position
|
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A defensive position sited in such a way as to deny the enemy access
to a given area or to prevent the enemy's advance in a
given direction.
Example: Having moved into an effective blocking position
the unit gained the initiative.
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blue berets
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UN soldiers.
Example: A platoon of blue berets appeared and quickly quelled
the disorder.
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blue-water operations
|
|
Naval operations in the open sea or ocean. Compare 'brown-
water operations', 'green-water operations'.
Example: The craft was equipped for brown-water operations; however,
the blue-water environment would prove a different matter.
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body armour
|
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Another term for a bullet-proof vest.
Example: The blue berets were equipped with body armour, which
had limited the number of casualties.
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bombardment
|
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An attack involving the continuous use of bombs, shells, or missiles.
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bona fides
|
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(In evasion and recovery operations) good faith established
between individuals who are unknown to one another, by
means of verbal or visual communication to confirm
identity or sincerity.
Example: The bona fides were sound, nevertheless, and the
'plant' was able to operate effectively in relative security.
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booby trap
|
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A device intended to kill or maim an unsuspecting person
who disturbs it. It is normally disguised as or hidden by
an apparently harmless object.
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border control
|
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A capability of denying passage across a border and enforcing
a closed border. Compare 'border monitoring'.
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border crosser
|
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An individual, living close to a frontier, who normally has to
cross the frontier frequently for legitimate purposes.
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border crossing point
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BCP
|
A place to go across from one side of a border to the other.
Example: As he approached the BCP he could make out the blue berets and immediately felt secure in his actions.
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border monitoring
|
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The capacity to observe and report movements across a border,
without full border control. Border monitors are not in a
position to check the nature of goods crossing the border.
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boundary
|
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A line that delineates different geographical areas for the
purpose of facilitating operational coordination and
avoiding operational conflicts between adjacent units,
formations, or areas.
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bouncing betty
|
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Another term for an anti-personnel mine.
Example: Sadly, he then stepped on a bouncing betty and was killed.
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BRAVO
|
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The letter B in the phonetic alphabet.
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bridging water barriers
|
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The act of crossing over water barriers.
Example: The company was bridging water barriers at the time,
which left it vulnerable to attack.
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brief back; briefing
|
|
A process prior to an operation, whereby the units involved are
informed about operation goals, the situation, special orders, etc.
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brigade
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BDE
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A unit, usually smaller than a division, to which 3 or 4 battalions, plus other groups or smaller units may be attached, as dictated
by anticipated requirements.
Example: The BDE was positioned close to the front line for the
purposes of operational readiness.
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Brigade Commander
|
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The commanding officer of the proposed United Nations
High-Readiness Brigade. He or she would be appointed for 2 years.
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brown-water operations
|
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Patrol operations in rivers or the mouths of rivers, for
example to monitor a border.
Example: Once the unit was in theatre, brown-water operations
commenced to great effect.
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budget officer
|
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One of the civilian administrators within a PKO finance section.
Example: He reported the matter to the PKO, specifically to
the budget officer, who would be required to take appropriate action..
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buffer zone
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BZ
UNBZ
|
A neutral space created by the withdrawal of both hostile
parties, in which the parties agree not to deploy military forces.
The ceasefire lines on either side of the buffer zone, often
marked with fences or wire, indicate the agreed
forward limits of the contending forces. The ceasefire lines are
observed and patrolled by the peacekeeping force, and
the buffer zone itself may be placed under the control of a PKO. A buffer zone is sometimes known as an 'area of separation'.
Example: It would be necessary to create a BZ. Accordingly, a UN BZ was established that would be the responsibility of the PKO.
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bug (1)
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A concealed microphone, listening device, or other
audio-surveillance device.
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bug (2)
|
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To install a concealed microphone, listening device, etc
in a suitable location.
Example: It was agreed that the unit's office would be bugged.
Accordingly, a bug would be installed by the team at the
earliest opportunity.
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bullet-proof vest
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A garment worn on the upper body that is capable of resisting
the impact of a bullet. The term 'body armour' is also used.
Example: Suitable body armour would be necessary to protect the individuals involved and the team was promptly issued
with bullet-proof vests.
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bunker
|
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A shelter, usually underground, that has strong walls to protect the people inside it from bullets and bombs.
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bypass
|
|
A manoeuvre which involves moving around an obstacle, position,
or troops so as to maintain the momentum of an advance.
Example: The commander instructed the advancing forces to
bypass the village as it was not a strategic obstacle.
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call for fire
|
|
A request for weapons fire containing the data necessary for the
fire to be on target.
Example: To assess the situation prior to the attack, the fire-control officer called for fire from the armoured division in support
of the operation..
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call sign
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CS
|
Any combination of characters or pronounceable words that
identifies a communications facility, a unit, an action etc. Call signs
are used primarily for establishing and maintaining communications.
Example: X-Ray 14 was instructed to descend and report level at
3000 feet, then change to operational CS 'predator' and acknowledge.
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