US Army Dictionary of Military Terms

provided is designed to supplement or complement the efforts of the host nation civil authorities or agencies that may have the primary responsibility for providing FHA. FHA operations are those conducted outside the United States, its territories, and possessions. Also called FHA. See also foreign assistance. (JP 3-07.6)

foreign instrumentation signals intelligence

— Technical information and intelligence derived from the intercept of foreign electromagnetic emissions associated with the testing and operational deployment of non-US aerospace, surface, and subsurface systems. Foreign instrumentation signals intelligence is a subcategory of signals intelligence. Foreign instrumentation signals include but are not limited to telemetry, beaconry, electronic interrogators, and video data links. Also called FISINT. See also signals intelligence. (JP 2-01)

foreign intelligence — Intelligence relating to capabilities, intentions, and activities of foreign powers, organizations, or persons (not including counterintelligence), except for information on international terrorist activities. See also intelligence. (JP 2-0)

foreign internal defense — Participation by civilian and military agencies of a government in any of the action programs taken by another government to free and protect its society from subversion, lawlessness, and insurgency. Also called

FID.

foreign military sales — That portion of United States security assistance authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, as amended. This assistance differs from the Military Assistance Program and the International Military Education and Training Program in that the recipient

provides reimbursement for defense articles and services transferred. Also called FMS.

foreign military sales trainees — Foreign nationals receiving training conducted by the Department of Defense on a reimbursable basis, at the country’s request.

foreign national — Any person other than a US citizen, US permanent or temporary legal resident alien, or person in US custody.

foreign object damage — Rags, pieces of paper, line, articles of clothing, nuts, bolts, or tools that, when misplaced or caught by air currents normally found around aircraft operations (jet blast, rotor or prop wash, engine intake), cause damage to aircraft systems or weapons or injury to personnel. Also called FOD. (JP 3-04.1)

foreshore — That portion of a beach extending from the low water (datum) shoreline to the limit of normal high water wave wash. (JP 4-01.6)

format — (*) 1. In photography, the size and/or shape of a negative or of the print therefrom. 2. In cartography, the shape and size of a map or chart.

formation — (*) 1. An ordered arrangement of troops and/or vehicles for a specific purpose. 2. An ordered arrangement of two or more ships, units, or aircraft proceeding together under a commander.

formatted message text — (*) A message text composed of several sets ordered in a specified sequence, each set characterized by an identifier and containing information of a specified type, coded and arranged in an ordered sequence of character fields in accordance with the NATO message text formatting rules. It is designed to permit both manual and automated handling and processing. See also free form message text; structured message text.

formerly restricted data — Information removed from the restricted data category upon a joint determination by the Department of Energy (or antecedent agencies) and Department of Defense that such information relates primarily to the military utilization of atomic weapons and that such information can be adequately safeguarded as classified defense information. (Section 142d,Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.) See also restricted data.

form lines — (*) Lines resembling contours, but representing no actual elevations, which have been sketched from visual observation or from inadequate or unreliable map sources, to show collectively the configuration of the terrain.

forward aeromedical evacuation — (*)

That phase of evacuation which provides airlift for patients between points within the battlefield, from the battlefield to the initial point of treatment, and to subsequent points of treatment within the combat zone.

forward air controller — An officer (aviator/ pilot) member of the tactical air control party who, from a forward ground or airborne position, controls aircraft in close air support of ground troops. Also called

FAC. See also close air support. (JP3-09.1)

forward air controller (airborne) — A specifically trained and qualified aviation officer who exercises control from the air of aircraft engaged in close air support of ground troops. The forward air controller (airborne) is normally an airborne extension of the tactical air control party. Also called FAC(A). (JP 3-09.3)

forward area — An area in proximity to combat.

forward arming and refueling point — A temporary facility — organized, equipped,

and deployed by an aviation commander, and normally located in the main battle area closer to the area where operations are being conducted than the aviation unit’s combat service area — to provide fuel and ammunition necessary for the employment of aviation maneuver units in combat. The forward arming and refueling point permits combat aircraft to rapidly refuel and rearm simultaneously. Also called FARP.

forward aviation combat engineering — A mobility operation in which engineers perform tasks in support of forward aviation ground facilities. Tasks include reconnaissance; construction of low altitude parachute extraction zones, landing strips, and airstrips; and providing berms, revetments, and trenches for forward arming and refueling points. See also combat engineering; reconnaissance. (JP 3-34)

forward edge of the battle area — (*) The foremost limits of a series of areas in which ground combat units are deployed, excluding the areas in which the covering or screening forces are operating, designated to coordinate fire support, the positioning of forces, or the maneuver of units. Also called FEBA.

forward line of own troops — A line that indicates the most forward positions of friendly forces in any kind of military operation at a specific time. The forward line of own troops (FLOT) normally identifies the forward location of covering and screening forces. The FLOT may be at, beyond, or short of the forward edge of the battle area. An enemy FLOT indicates the forward-most position of hostile forces. Also called FLOT.

forward-looking infrared — An airborne, electro-optical thermal imaging device that detects far-infrared energy, converts the energy into an electronic signal, and

provides a visible image for day or night viewing. Also called FLIR. (JP 3-09.3)

forward oblique air photograph — Oblique photography of the terrain ahead of the aircraft.

forward observer — An observer operating with front line troops and trained to adjust ground or naval gunfire and pass back battlefield information. In the absence of a forward air controller, the observer may control close air support strikes. Also called

FO. See also forward air controller; spotter. (JP 3-09.1)

forward operating base — An airfield used to support tactical operations without establishing full support facilities. The base may be used for an extended time period. Support by a main operating base will be required to provide backup support for a forward operating base. Also called FOB. (JP 3-09.3)

forward operating location — Primarily used for counterdrug operations. Similar to a forward operating base (FOB) but without the in-place infrastructure associated with a FOB. Also called FOL.

forward operations base — In special operations, a base usually located in friendly territory or afloat that is established to extend command and control or communications or to provide support for training and tactical operations. Facilities may be established for temporary or longer duration operations and may include an airfield or an unimproved airstrip, an anchorage, or a pier. A forward operations base may be the location of special operations component headquarters or a smaller unit that is controlled and/or supported by a main operations base. Also called FOB. See also advanced operations base; main operations base.

(JP 3-05.3)

forward recovery mission profile — A mission profile that involves the recovery of an aircraft at a neutral or friendly forward area airfield or landing site.

forward resuscitative surgery — The urgent initial surgery required to render patients transportable for further evacuation to medical treatment facilities staffed and equipped to provide for their care. Forward resuscitative surgery is performed on patients with signs and symptoms of initial airway compromise, difficult breathing, and circulatory shock and who do not respond to initial emergency medical treatment and advanced trauma management procedures. See also essential care; evacuation; medical treatment facility; patient.

(JP 4-02)

forward slope — (*) Any slope which descends towards the enemy.

forward tell — (*) The transfer of information to a higher level of command. See also track telling.

four-round illumination diamond — (*) A method of distributing the fire of illumination shells which, by a combination of lateral spread and range spread, provides illumination of a large area.

463L system — Aircraft pallets, nets, tie down, and coupling devices, facilities, handling equipment, procedures, and other components designed to interface with military and civilian aircraft cargo restraint systems. Though designed for airlift, system components may have to move intermodally via surface to support geographic combatant commander objectives. (JP 4-01.7)

fragmentary order — An abbreviated form of an operation order (verbal, written or digital) usually issued on a day-to-day basis

that eliminates the need for restating

information contained in a basic operation order. It may be issued in sections. It is issued after an operation order to change or modify that order or to execute a branch or sequel to that order. Also called FRAG order.

frame — (*) In photography, any single exposure contained within a continuous sequence of photographs.

free air anomaly — The difference between observed gravity and theoretical gravity that has been computed for latitude and corrected for elevation of the station above or below the geoid, by application of the normal rate of change of gravity for change of elevation, as in free air.

free air overpressure — (*) The unreflected pressure, in excess of the ambient atmospheric pressure, created in the air by the blast wave from an explosion. See also overpressure.

freedom of navigation operations —

Operations conducted to demonstrate US or international rights to navigate air or sea routes. (JP 3-07)

free drop — (*) The dropping of equipment or supplies from an aircraft without the use of parachutes. See also airdrop; air movement; free fall; high velocity drop; low velocity drop.

free fall — A parachute maneuver in which the parachute is manually activated at the discretion of the jumper or automatically at a preset altitude. See also airdrop; air movement; free drop; high velocity drop; low velocity drop.

free field overpressure — See free air overpressure.

free-fire area — A specific area into which any weapon system may fire without

additional coordination with the establishing headquarters. Also called FFA. See also fire. (JP 3-09)

free form message text — (*) A message text without prescribed format arrangements. It is intended for fast drafting as well as manual handling and processing. See also formatted message text; structured message text.

free issue — Materiel provided for use or consumption without charge to the fund or fund subdivision that finances the activity to which it is issued.

free mail — Correspondence of a personal nature that weighs less than 11 ounces, to include audio and video recording tapes, from a member of the Armed Forces or designated civilian, mailed postage free from a Secretary of Defense approved free mail zone. (JP 1-0)

free mine — (*) In naval mine warfare, a moored mine whose mooring has parted or been cut.

free play exercise — (*) An exercise to test the capabilities of forces under simulated contingency and/or wartime conditions, limited only by those artificialities or restrictions required by peacetime safety regulations. See also controlled exercise.

free rocket — (*) A rocket not subject to guidance or control in flight.

freight consolidating activity — A transportation activity that receives less than caror truckload shipments of materiel for the purpose of assembling them into caror truckload lots for onward movement to the ultimate consignee or to a freight distributing activity or other break bulk point. See also freight distributing activity.

freight distributing activity — A transportation activity that receives and unloads consolidated caror truckloads of less than caror truckload shipments of material and forwards the individual shipments to the ultimate consignee. See also freight consolidating activity.

frequency deconfliction — A systematic management procedure to coordinate the use of the electromagnetic spectrum for operations, communications, and intelligence functions. Frequency deconfliction is one element of electromagnetic spectrum management. See also electromagnetic spectrum; electronic warfare; spectrum management. (JP 3-51)

friendly — A contact positively identified as friendly. See also hostile.

friendly fire — In casualty reporting, a casualty circumstance applicable to persons killed in action or wounded in action mistakenly or accidentally by friendly forces actively engaged with the enemy, who are directing fire at a hostile force or what is thought to be a hostile force. See also casualty.

front — (*) 1. The lateral space occupied by an element measured from the extremity of one flank to the extremity of the other flank. 2. The direction of the enemy. 3. The line of contact of two opposing forces. 4. When a combat situation does not exist or is not assumed, the direction toward which the command is faced.

frontal attack — (*) 1. An offensive maneuver in which the main action is directed against the front of the enemy forces. 2. (DOD only) In air intercept, an attack by an interceptor aircraft that terminates with a heading crossing angle greater than 135 degrees.

frustrated cargo — Any shipment of supplies and/or equipment which, while en route to destination, is stopped prior to receipt and for which further disposition instructions must be obtained.

full charge — The larger of the two propelling charges available for naval guns.

full mission-capable — Material condition of any piece of military equipment, aircraft, or training device indicating that it can perform all of its missions. Also called

FMC. See also deadline; missioncapable; partial mission-capable; partial mission-capable, maintenance; partial mission-capable, supply.

full mobilization — See mobilization.

functional component command — A command normally, but not necessarily, composed of forces of two or more Military Departments which may be established across the range of military operations to perform particular operational missions that may be of short duration or may extend over a period of time. See also component; Service component command. (JP 0-2)

functional damage assessment — The estimate of the effect of military force to degrade or destroy the functional or operational capability of the target to perform its intended mission and on the level of success in achieving operational objectives established against the target. This assessment is based upon all-source information, and includes an estimation of the time required for recuperation or replacement of the target function. See also damage assessment; target. (JP 3-60)

functional kill — To render a targeted installation, facility, or target system unable to fulfill its primary function.

functional plans — Plans involving the conduct of military operations in a peacetime or permissive environment developed by combatant commanders to address requirements such as disaster relief, nation assistance, logistics, communications, surveillance, protection of US citizens, nuclear weapon recovery and evacuation, and continuity of operations or similar discrete tasks. They may be developed in response to the requirements of the Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan, at the initiative of the combatant commander (CINC), or as tasked by the supported combatant commander, Joint Staff, Service, or Defense agency. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff review of CINC-initiated plans is not normally required. (JP 5-0)

functions — The appropriate or assigned duties, responsibilities, missions, or tasks

of an individual, office, or organization. As defined in the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, the term “function” includes functions, powers, and duties (5 United States Code 171n (a)).

fusion — In intelligence usage, the process of examining all sources of intelligence and information to derive a complete assessment of activity. (JP 2-0)

fusion center — In intelligence usage, a physical location to accomplish fusion. It normally has sufficient intelligence automated data processing capability to assist in the process. (JP 2-0)

fuze cavity — (*) A recess in a charge for receiving a fuze.

gadget — Radar equipment (type of equipment may be indicated by a letter as listed in operation orders). May be followed by a color to indicate state of jamming. Colors will be used as follows: a. green — Clear of jamming. b. amber — Sector partially jammed. c. red — Sector completely jammed. d. blue — Completely jammed.

gap — An area within a minefield or obstacle belt, free of live mines or obstacles, whose width and direction will allow a friendly force to pass through in tactical formation. See also phoney minefield.

gap filler radar — (*) A radar used to supplement the coverage of the principal radar in areas where coverage is inadequate.

gap (imagery) — Any space where imagery fails to meet minimum coverage requirements. This might be a space not covered by imagery or a space where the minimum specified overlap was not obtained.

gap marker — (*) In landmine warfare, markers used to indicate a minefield gap. Gap markers at the entrance to, and exit from, the gap will be referenced to a landmark or intermediate marker. See also marker.

garble — An error in transmission, reception, encryption, or decryption that changes the text of a message or any portion thereof in such a manner that it is incorrect or undecryptable.

garnishing — (*) In surveillance, natural or artificial material applied to an object to achieve or assist camouflage.

garrison force — (*) All units assigned to a base or area for defense, development,

operation, and maintenance of facilities. See also force(s).

gear — A general term for a collection of spars, ropes, blocks, and equipment used for lifting and stowing cargo and ships stores. (JP 4-01.6)

general agency agreement — A contract between the Maritime Administration and a steamship company which, as general agent, exercises administrative control over a government-owned ship for employment by the Military Sealift Command. Also called GAA. See also Military Sealift Command. (JP 3-02.2)

general air cargo — (*) Cargo without hazardous or dangerous properties and not requiring extra precautions for air transport.

general and complete disarmament —

Reductions of armed forces and armaments by all states to levels required for internal security and for an international peace force. Connotation is “total disarmament” by all states.

general cargo — Cargo that is susceptible for loading in general, nonspecialized stowage areas or standard shipping containers; e.g., boxes, barrels, bales, crates, packages, bundles, and pallets.

general engineering — Encompasses the construction and repair of lines of communications, main supply routes, airfields, and logistic facilities to support joint military operations and may be performed in direct support of combat operations, such as battle damage repair. These operations include both horizontal and vertical construction, and may include use of both expedient repair methods and more deliberate construction methods characterized by the application of design

criteria, advanced planning, and preparation, depending on the mission requirements. Also called GE. (JP 3-34)

general map — A map of small scale used for general planning purposes. See also map.

general military intelligence — Intelligence concerning the (1) military capabilities of foreign countries or organizations or (2) topics affecting potential US or multinational military operations, relating to the following subjects: armed forces capabilities, including order of battle, organization, training, tactics, doctrine, strategy, and other factors bearing on military strength and effectiveness; area and terrain intelligence, including urban areas, coasts and landing beaches, and meteorological, oceanographic, and geological intelligence; transportation in all modes; military materiel production and support industries; military and civilian command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence systems; military economics, including foreign military assistance; insurgency and terrorism; military-political-sociological intelligence; location, identification, and description of military-related installations; government control; escape and evasion; and threats and forecasts. (Excludes scientific and technical intelligence.) Also called GMI. See also intelligence; military intelligence. (JP 2-0)

general orders — 1. Permanent instructions, issued in order form, that apply to all members of a command, as compared with special orders, which affect only individuals or small groups. General orders are usually concerned with matters of policy or administration. 2. A series of permanent guard orders that govern the duties of a sentry on post.

general purchasing agents — Agents who have been appointed in the principal overseas areas to supervise, control, coordinate, negotiate, and develop the local procurement of supplies, services, and facilities by Armed Forces of the United States, in order that the most effective utilization may be made of local resources and production.

general quarters — A condition of readiness when naval action is imminent. All battle stations are fully manned and alert; ammunition is ready for instant loading; guns and guided missile launchers may be loaded.

general staff — A group of officers in the headquarters of Army or Marine divisions, Marine brigades, and aircraft wings, or similar or larger units that assist their commanders in planning, coordinating, and supervising operations. Ageneral staff may consist of four or more principal functional sections: personnel (G-1), military intelligence (G-2), operations and training (G-3), logistics (G-4), and (in Army organizations) civil affairs and military government (G-5). (A particular section may be added or eliminated by the commander, dependent upon the need that has been demonstrated.) The comparable Air Force staff is found in the wing and larger units, with sections designated personnel, operations, etc. G-2 Air and G-3 Air are Army officers assigned to G-2 or G-3 at division, corps, and Army headquarters level who assist in planning and coordinating joint operations of ground and air units. Naval staffs ordinarily are not organized on these lines, but when they are, they are designated N-1, N-2, etc. Similarly, a joint staff may be designated J-1, J-2, etc. In Army brigades and smaller units and in Marine Corps units smaller than a brigade or aircraft wing, staff sections are

designated S-1, S-2, etc., with corresponding duties; referred to as a unit staff in the Army and as an executive staff in the Marine Corps. See also staff.

general stopping power — (*) The percentage of a group of vehicles in battle formation likely to be stopped by mines when attempting to cross a minefield.

general support — (*) 1. That support which is given to the supported force as a whole and not to any particular subdivision thereof. See also close support; direct support; mutual support; support.

2. (DOD only) A tactical artillery mission. Also called GS. See also direct support; general support-reinforcing; reinforcing.

general support artillery — (*) Artillery which executes the fire directed by the commander of the unit to which it organically belongs or is attached. It fires in support of the operation as a whole rather than in support of a specific subordinate unit. Also called GSA. See also direct support artillery; general supportreinforcing; reinforcing.

general support-reinforcing — General support-reinforcing artillery has the mission of supporting the force as a whole and of providing reinforcing fires for other artillery units. Also called GSR. See also direct support artillery; reinforcing.

general unloading period — (*) In amphibious operations, that part of the ship-to-shore movement in which unloading is primarily logistic in character, and emphasizes speed and volume of unloading operations. It encompasses the unloading of units and cargo from the ships as rapidly as facilities on the beach permit. It proceeds without regard to class, type, or priority of cargo, as permitted by cargo handling facilities ashore. See also initial unloading period.

general war — Armed conflict between major powers in which the total resources of the belligerents are employed, and the national survival of a major belligerent is in jeopardy.

generation (photography) — The preparation of successive positive and/or negative reproductions from an original negative and/or positive (first-generation). For example, the first positive produced from an original negative is a second-generation product; the negative made from this positive is a third-generation product; and the next positive or print from that negative is a fourth-generation product.

geographic coordinates — (*) The quantities of latitude and longitude which define the position of a point on the surface of the Earth with respect to the reference spheroid. See also coordinates.

geographic reference points — A means of indicating position, usually expressed either as double letters or as code words that are established in operation orders or by other means.

georef — (*) A worldwide position reference system that may be applied to any map or chart graduated in latitude and longitude regardless of projection. It is a method of expressing latitude and longitude in a form suitable for rapid reporting and plotting. (This term is derived from the words “The World Geographic Reference System.”)

geospatial information and services — The concept for collection, information extraction, storage, dissemination, and exploitation of geodetic, geomagnetic, imagery (both commercial and national source), gravimetric, aeronautical, topographic, hydrographic, littoral, cultural, and toponymic data accurately referenced to a precise location on the earth’s surface. These data are used for military planning,