US Army Dictionary of Military Terms

synthetic aperture radar wherein images of objects are reproduced optically or electronically on film, electronic display devices, or other media. Also called

IMINT. See also intelligence; photographic intelligence. (JP 2-0)

imagery interpretation — (*) 1. The process of location, recognition, identification, and description of objects, activities, and terrain represented on imagery. 2. The extraction of information from photographs or other recorded images. Also called photographic interpretation.

imagery interpretation key — (*) Any diagram, chart, table, list, or set of examples, etc., which is used to aid imagery interpreters in the rapid identification of objects visible on imagery.

imagery pack — (*) An assembly of the records from different imagery sensors covering a common target area.

imitative communications deception —

That division of deception involving the introduction of false or misleading but plausible communications into target systems that mimics or imitates the targeted communications. See also deception; target system. (JP 3-51)

imitative electromagnetic deception — See electromagnetic deception.

immediate airlift requests — Requests generated that, due to their time-critical nature, cannot be filled by a planned mission. (JP 3-17)

immediate air support — (*) Air support to meet specific requests which arise during the course of a battle and which by their nature cannot be planned in advance. See also air support.

immediate decontamination —

Decontamination carried out by individuals immediately upon becoming contaminated. It is performed in an effort to minimize casualties, save lives, and limit the spread of contamination. Also called emergency decontamination. See also contamination; decontamination. (JP3-11)

immediate destination — (*) The next destination of a ship or convoy, irrespective of whether or not onward routing instructions have been issued to it.

immediately vital cargo — (*) A cargo already loaded which the consignee country regards as immediately vital for the prosecution of the war or for national survival, notwithstanding the risk to the ship. If the cargo is carried in a ship of another nation, then that nation must agree to the delivery of the cargo. The use of this term is limited to the period of implementation of the shipping movement policy.

immediate message — A category of precedence reserved for messages relating to situations that gravely affect the security of national and multinational forces or populace and that require immediate delivery to the addressee(s). See also precedence.

immediate mission request — A request for an air strike on a target that, by its nature, could not be identified sufficiently in advance to permit detailed mission coordination and planning. See also preplanned mission request.

immediate nuclear support — Nuclear support to meet specific requests that arise during the course of a battle, and that by their nature, cannot be planned in advance. See also nuclear support; preplanned nuclear support.

immediate operational readiness — Those operations directly related to the assumption of an alert or quick-reaction posture. Typical operations include strip alert, airborne alert and/or indoctrination, no-notice launch of an alert force, and the maintenance of missiles in an alert configuration. See also nuclear weapon exercise; nuclear weapon maneuver.

immediate targets — Targets that have been identified too late, or not selected for action in time to be included in the normal targeting process, and therefore have not been scheduled. Immediate targets have two subcategories: unplanned and unanticipated. See also target. (JP 3-60)

impact action fuze — (*) A fuze that is set in action by the striking of a projectile or bomb against an object, e.g., percussion fuze, contact fuze. Also called direct action fuze.

impact area — An area having designated boundaries within the limits of which all ordnance will detonate or impact.

impact pressure — (*) The difference between pitot pressure and static pressure.

implementation — Procedures governing the mobilization of the force and the deployment, employment, and sustainment of military operations in response to execution orders issued by the National Command Authorities. Also called IMP.

implementation planning — Operational planning associated with the conduct of a continuing operation, campaign, or war to attain defined objectives. At the national level, it includes the development of strategy and the assignment of strategic tasks to the combatant commanders. At the theater level, it includes the development of campaign plans to attain assigned objectives and the preparation of operation

plans and operation orders to prosecute the campaign. At lower levels, implementation planning prepares for the execution of assigned tasks or logistic missions. See also joint operation planning.

implosion weapon — A weapon in which a quantity of fissionable material, less than a critical mass at ordinary pressure, has its volume suddenly reduced by compression (a step accomplished by using chemical explosives) so that it becomes supercritical, producing a nuclear explosion.

imprest fund — A cash fund of a fixed amount established through an advance of funds, without appropriation change, to an authorized imprest fund cashier to effect immediate cash payments of relatively small amounts for authorized purchases of supplies and nonpersonal services.

imprint — (*) Brief note in the margin of a map giving all or some of the following: date of publication, printing, name of publisher, printer, place of publication, number of copies printed, and related information.

improved conventional munitions —

Munitions characterized by the delivery of two or more antipersonnel or antimateriel and/or antiarmor submunitions by a warhead or projectile.

improvised early resupply — (*) The onward movement of commodities which are available on land and which can be readily loaded into ships.

improvised explosive device — (*) Adevice placed or fabricated in an improvised manner incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or incendiary chemicals and designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract. It may incorporate military stores, but is normally

devised from nonmilitary components. Also called IED. (JP 3-07.2)

improvised mine — A mine fabricated from available materials at or near its point of use.

improvised nuclear device — A device incorporating radioactive materials designed to result in the dispersal of radioactive material or in the formation of nuclear-yield reaction. Such devices may be fabricated in a completely improvised manner or may be an improvised modification to a US or foreign nuclear weapon. Also called IND.

inactive aircraft inventory — Aircraft in storage or bailment and/or governmentfurnished equipment on loan or lease outside of the Defense establishment or otherwise not available to the Military Services.

inactive duty training — Authorized training performed by a member of a Reserve Component not on active duty or active duty for training and consisting of regularly scheduled unit training assemblies, additional training assemblies, periods of appropriate duty or equivalent training, and any special additional duties authorized for Reserve Component personnel by the Secretary concerned, and performed by them in connection with the prescribed activities of the organization in which they are assigned with or without pay. Does not include work or study associated with correspondence courses. Also called IDT.

See also active duty for training.

Inactive National Guard — Army National Guard personnel in an inactive status not in the Selected Reserve who are attached to a specific National Guard unit but do not participate in training activities. Upon mobilization, they will mobilize with their units. In order for these personnel to remain

members of the Inactive National Guard, they must muster once a year with their assigned unit. Like the Individual Ready Reserve, all members of the Inactive National Guard have legal, contractual obligations. Members of the Inactive National Guard may not train for retirement credit or pay and are not eligible for promotion. Also called ING. See also

Individual Ready Reserve; Selected Reserve. (JP 4-05)

inactive status — Status of reserve members on an inactive status list of a Reserve Component or assigned to the Inactive Army National Guard. Those in an inactive status may not train for points or pay, and may not be considered for promotion.

inbound traffic — Traffic originating in an area outside the continental United States destined for or moving in the general direction of the continental United States.

incapacitating agent — An agent that produces temporary physiological or mental effects, or both, which will render individuals incapable of concerted effort in the performance of their assigned duties.

incapacitating illness or injury — The casualty status of a person (a) whose illness or injury requires hospitalization but medical authority does not classify as very seriously ill or injured; or (b) seriously ill or injured and the illness or injury makes the person physically or mentally unable to communicate with the next of kin. Also called III. See also casualty status.

incentive type contract — A contract that may be of either a fixed price or cost reimbursement nature, with a special provision for adjustment of the fixed price or fee. It provides for a tentative target price and a maximum price or maximum fee, with price or fee adjustment after completion of the contract for the purpose of establishing

a final price or fee based on the contractor’s actual costs plus a sliding scale of profit or fee that varies inversely with the cost but which in no event shall permit the final price or fee to exceed the maximum price or fee stated in the contract. See also cost contract; fixed price type contract.

incident — In information operations, an assessed event of attempted entry, unauthorized entry, or an information attack on an automated information system. It includes unauthorized probing and browsing; disruption or denial of service; altered or destroyed input, processing, storage, or output of information; or changes to information system hardware, firmware, or software characteristics with or without the users’ knowledge, instruction, or intent. See also information operations. (JP 3-13)

incident classification — See search and rescue incident classification.

incident control point — A designated point close to an incident where crisis management forces will rendezvous and establish control capability before initiating a tactical reaction. Also called ICP. See also antiterrorism. (JP 3-07.2)

incidents — Brief clashes or other military disturbances generally of a transitory nature and not involving protracted hostilities.

in-company — Two or more units proceeding together under the command of a designated senior.

inclination angle — See pitch angle.

incremental costs — Costs which are additional costs to the Service appropriations that would not have been incurred absent support of the contingency operation. See also financial management. (JP 1-06)

indefinite call sign — (*) A call sign which does not represent a specific facility, command, authority, activity, or unit, but which may represent any one or any group of these. See also call sign.

indefinite delivery type contract — A type of contract used for procurements where the exact time of delivery is not known at time of contracting.

independent — (*) A merchant ship under naval control sailed singly and unescorted by a warship. See also military independent.

independent ejection system — See ejection systems.

independent mine — (*) A mine which is not controlled by the user after laying. See also mine.

independent review — In computer modeling and simulation, a review performed by competent, objective reviewers who are independent of the model developer. Independent review includes either (a) a detailed verification and/or validation of the model or simulation; or

(b) an examination of the verification and/ or validation performed by the model or simulation developer. See also configuration management; validation; verification.

indicated airspeed — See airspeed.

indications and warning — Those intelligence activities intended to detect and report time-sensitive intelligence information on foreign developments that could involve a threat to the United States or allied and/or coalition military, political, or economic interests or to US citizens abroad. It includes forewarning of enemy actions or intentions; the imminence of hostilities; insurgency; nuclear or non-

nuclear attack on the United States, its overseas forces, or allied and/or coalition nations; hostile reactions to US reconnaissance activities; terrorists’ attacks; and other similar events. Also called I&W.

See also information; intelligence.

(JP 3-13)

indications (intelligence) — Information in various degrees of evaluation, all of which bear on the intention of a potential enemy to adopt or reject a course of action.

indicator — (*) In intelligence usage, an item of information which reflects the intention or capability of a potential enemy to adopt or reject a course of action.

indirect fire — Fire delivered on a target that is not itself used as a point of aim for the weapons or the director.

indirect laying — (*) Aiming a gun either by sighting at a fixed object, called the aiming point, instead of the target or by using a means of pointing other than a sight, such as a gun director, when the target cannot be seen from the gun position.

individual equipment — Referring to method of use: signifies personal clothing and equipment, for the personal use of the individual. See also equipment.

individual mobilization augmentee — An individual reservist attending drills who receives training and is preassigned to an Active Component organization, a Selective Service System, or a Federal Emergency Management Agency billet that must be filled on, or shortly after, mobilization. Individual mobilization augmentees train on a part-time basis with these organizations to prepare for mobilization. Inactive duty training for individual mobilization augmentees is decided by component policy and can vary from 0 to 48 drills a year. Also called IMA.

individual mobilization augmentee detachment — An administrative unit organized to train and manage individual mobilization augmentees.

individual protection — Actions taken by individuals to survive and continue the mission under nuclear, biological, and chemical conditions. See also protection. (JP 3-11)

individual protective equipment — (*) In nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare, the personal clothing and equipment required to protect an individual from biological and chemical hazards and some nuclear effects.

Individual Ready Reserve — A manpower pool consisting of individuals who have had some training, who have served previously in the Active Component or in the Selected Reserve, and have some period of their military service obligation remaining. Members may voluntarily participate in training for retirement points and promotion with or without pay. Also called IRR. See also Selected Reserve. (JP 4-05)

individual reserves — The supplies carried on a soldier, animal, or vehicle for individual use in an emergency. See also reserve supplies.

individual self-defense — The individual’s inherent right of self-defense is an element of unit self-defense. It is critical that individuals are aware of and train to the principle that they have the authority to use all available means and to take all appropriate action to defend themselves and other US personnel in their vicinity. In the implementation of these standing and other rules of engagement (ROE), commanders have the obligation to ensure that the individuals within that commander’s unit understand when and how they may use force in self-defense. While individuals

assigned to a unit respond to a hostile act or hostile intent in the exercise of selfdefense, their use of force must remain consistent with lawful orders of their superiors, the rules contained in joint doctrine, and other applicable ROE promulgated for the mission or area of responsibility.

individual sponsored dependent — A dependent not entitled to travel to the overseas command at Government expense or who enters the command without endorsement of the appropriate overseas commander.

induced environment — Any manmade or equipment-made environment that directly or indirectly affects the performance of man or materiel.

induced radiation — (*) Radiation produced as a result of exposure to radioactive materials, particularly the capture of neutrons. See also contamination; initial radiation; residual radiation; residual radioactivity.

induction circuit — (*) In naval mine warfare, a circuit actuated by the rate of change in a magnetic field due to the movement of the ship or the changing current in the sweep.

industrial chemicals — Chemicals developed or manufactured for use in industrial operations or research by industry, government, or academia. These chemicals are not primarily manufactured for the specific purpose of producing human casualties or rendering equipment, facilities, or areas dangerous for human use. Hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, phosgene, and chloropicrin are industrial chemicals that also can be military chemical agents. See also chemical warfare.

(JP 3-11)

industrial mobilization — The transformation of industry from its peacetime activity to the industrial program necessary to support the national military objectives. It includes the mobilization of materials, labor, capital, production facilities, and contributory items and services essential to the industrial program. See also mobilization.

industrial preparedness — The state of preparedness of industry to produce essential materiel to support the national military objectives.

industrial preparedness program — Plans, actions, or measures for the transformation of the industrial base, both governmentowned and civilian-owned, from its peacetime activity to the emergency program necessary to support the national military objectives. It includes industrial preparedness measures such as modernization, expansion, and preservation of the production facilities and contributory items and services for planning with industry. Also called IPP.

industrial property — As distinguished from military property, any contractor-acquired or government-furnished property, including materials, special tooling, and industrial facilities, furnished or acquired in the performance of a contract or subcontract.

industrial readiness — See industrial preparedness.

inert filling — (*) A prepared non-explosive filling of the same weight as the explosive filling.

inertial guidance — A guidance system designed to project a missile over a predetermined path, wherein the path of the missile is adjusted after launching by

devices wholly within the missile and independent of outside information. The system measures and converts accelerations experienced to distance traveled in a certain direction.

inertial navigation system — (*) A selfcontained navigation system using inertial detectors, which automatically provides vehicle position, heading, and velocity. Also called INS.

inert mine — (*) A mine or replica of a mine incapable of producing an explosion.

in extremis — A situation of such exceptional urgency that immediate action must be taken to minimize imminent loss of life or catastrophic degradation of the political or military situation. (JP 3-05)

infiltration — 1. The movement through or into an area or territory occupied by either friendly or enemy troops or organizations. The movement is made, either by small groups or by individuals, at extended or irregular intervals. When used in connection with the enemy, it infers that contact is avoided. 2. In intelligence usage, placing an agent or other person in a target area in hostile territory. Usually involves crossing a frontier or other guarded line. Methods of infiltration are: black (clandestine); grey (through legal crossing point but under false documentation); and white (legal).

inflammable cargo — Cargo such as drummed gasoline and oils.

inflight phase — The flight of a missile or space vehicle from launch to detonation or impact.

inflight report — The transmission from the airborne system of information obtained both at the target and en route.

influence field — (*) The distribution in space of the influence of a ship or minesweeping equipment.

influence mine — (*) A mine actuated by the effect of a target on some physical condition in the vicinity of the mine or on radiations emanating from the mine. See also mine.

influence release sinker — A sinker which holds a moored or rising mine at the sea-bed and releases it when actuated by a suitable ship influence.

influence sweep — A sweep designed to produce an influence similar to that produced by a ship and thus actuate mines.

information — 1. Facts, data, or instructions in any medium or form. 2. The meaning that a human assigns to data by means of the known conventions used in their representation. (JP 3-13.1)

information assurance — Information operations that protect and defend information and information systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and nonrepudiation. This includes providing for restoration of information systems by incorporating protection, detection, and reaction capabilities. Also called IA. See also information; information operations; information system. (JP 3-13)

information-based processes — Processes that collect, analyze, and disseminate information using any medium or form. These processes may be stand-alone processes or sub-processes that, taken together, comprise a larger system or systems of processes. See also information system. (JP 3-13)

information box — (*) A space on an annotated overlay, mosaic, map, etc., which is used for identification, reference, and scale information.

information environment — The aggregate of individuals, organizations, or systems that collect, process, or disseminate information; also included is the information itself. See also information system. (JP 3-13)

information operations — Actions taken to affect adversary information and information systems while defending one’s own information and information systems. Also called IO. See also defensive information operations; information; information system; offensive information operations; operation.

(JP 3-13)

information report — Report used to forward raw information collected to fulfill intelligence requirements.

information requirements — (*) Those items of information regarding the enemy and his environment which need to be collected and processed in order to meet the intelligence requirements of a commander. See also priority intelligence requirements.

information resources — Information and related resources, such as personnel, equipment, and information technology. See also information. (JP 4-01.8)

information security — The protection of information and information systems against unauthorized access or modification of information, whether in storage, processing, or transit, and against denial of service to authorized users. Information security includes those measures necessary to detect, document, and counter such threats. Information security is composed

of computer security and communications security. Also called INFOSEC. See also communications security; computer security; information security; information system. (JP 3-13)

information superiority — That degree of dominance in the information domain which permits the conduct of operations without effective opposition. See also information operations. (JP 2-01.3)

information system — The entire infrastructure, organization, personnel, and components that collect, process, store, transmit, display, disseminate, and act on information. See also information; information warfare. (JP 3-13)

information warfare — Information operations conducted during time of crisis or conflict to achieve or promote specific objectives over a specific adversary or adversaries. Also called IW. See also crisis; information; information operations; operation. (JP 3-13)

infrared film — Film carrying an emulsion especially sensitive to “near-infrared.” Used to photograph through haze because of the penetrating power of infrared light and in camouflage detection to distinguish between living vegetation and dead vegetation or artificial green pigment.

infrared imagery — That imagery produced as a result of sensing electromagnetic radiations emitted or reflected from a given target surface in the infrared position of the electromagnetic spectrum (approximately 0.72 to 1,000 microns).

infrared linescan system — (*) A passive airborne infrared recording system which scans across the ground beneath the flight path, adding successive lines to the record as the vehicle advances along the flight path.

infrared photography — Photography employing an optical system and direct image recording on film sensitive to near-infrared wavelength (infrared film). (Note: Not to be confused with “infrared imagery.”)

infrared pointer — Alow power laser device operating in the near infrared light spectrum that is visible with light amplifying night vision devices. Also called IR pointer. (JP 3-09.3)

infrared radiation — Radiation emitted or reflected in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

infrastructure — All building and permanent installations necessary for the support, redeployment, and military forces operations (e.g., barracks, headquarters, airfields, communications, facilities, stores, port installations, and maintenance stations). See also bilateral infrastructure; common infrastructure; national infrastructure. (JP 4-01.8)

initial active duty for training — Basic military training and technical skill training required for all accessions. For nonprior service male enlistees between the ages of 18 1/2 and 26, initial active duty for training shall be not less than 12 weeks and start insofar as practical within 270 days after enlistment. Initial active duty for training for all other enlistees and inductees shall be prescribed by the Secretary concerned and start insofar as practical within 360 days of entry into the Service, except in time of war or national emergency declared by Congress or the President when basic training shall be not less than 12 weeks or its equivalent. Reservists may not be assigned to active duty on land outside the United States or its territories and possessions until basic training has been completed.

initial approach — (*) a. That part of an instrument approach procedure in which the aircraft has departed an initial approach fix or point and is maneuvering to enter the intermediate or final approach. It ends at the intermediate fix or point or, where no intermediate segment is established, at the final approach fix or point. b. That part of a visual approach of an aircraft immediately prior to arrival over the airfield of destination, or over the reporting point from which the final approach to the airfield is commenced.

initial approach area — (*) An area of defined width lying between the last preceding navigational fix or dead reckoning position and either the facility to be used for making an instrument approach or a point associated with such a facility that is used for demarcating the termination of initial approach.

initial assessment — An assessment that provides a basic determination of the viability of the infiltration and exfiltration portion of a proposed special operations forces mission. Also called IA. (JP 3-05.5)

initial contact report — See contact report.

initial draft plan — (*) A plan which has been drafted and coordinated by the originating headquarters, and is ready for external coordination with other military headquarters. It cannot be directly implemented by the issuing commander, but it may form the basis for an operation order issued by the commander in the event of an emergency. See also coordinated draft plan; draft plan; final plan; operation plan.

initial early resupply — The onward movement of ships which are already loaded with cargoes which will serve the requirements after D-day. This includes

such shipping deployed from major ports/ major water terminals and subsequently dispersed to secondary ports/alternate water terminals and anchorages.

initial entry into Military Service — Entry for the first time into military status (active duty or reserve) by induction, enlistment, or appointment in any Service of the Armed Forces of the United States. Appointment may be as a commissioned or warrant officer; as a cadet or midshipman at the Service academy of one of the armed forces; or as a midshipman, US Naval Reserve, for US Naval Reserve Officers’Training Corps training at a civilian institution.

initial issues — The issue of materiel not previously furnished to an individual or organization, including new inductees and newly activated organizations, and the issue of newly authorized items of materiel.

initial operational capability — The first attainment of the capability to employ effectively a weapon, item of equipment, or system of approved specific characteristics that is manned or operated by an adequately trained, equipped, and supported military unit or force. Also called

IOC.

initial path sweeping — (*) In naval mine warfare, initial sweeping to clear a path through a mined area dangerous to the following mine sweepers. See also precursor sweeping.

initial photo interpretation report — A first-phase interpretation report, subsequent to the Joint Tactical Air Reconnaissance/ Surveillance Mission Report, presenting the results of the initial readout of new imagery to answer the specific requirements for which the mission was requested.

initial point — 1. The first point at which a moving target is located on a plotting

board. 2. A well-defined point, easily distinguishable visually and/or electronically, used as a starting point for the bomb run to the target. 3. airborne — A point close to the landing area where serials (troop carrier air formations) make final alterations in course to pass over individual drop or landing zones. 4. helicopter — An air control point in the vicinity of the landing zone from which individual flights of helicopters are directed to their prescribed landing sites. 5. Any designated place at which a column or element thereof is formed by the successive arrival of its various subdivisions, and comes under the control of the commander ordering the move. Also called IP. See also target approach point. (JP 3-09.1)

initial programmed interpretation report

— (*) A standardized imagery interpretation report providing information on programmed mission objectives or other vital intelligence information which can be readily identified near these objectives, and which has not been reported elsewhere. Also called IPIR.

initial provisioning — The process of determining the range and quantity of items (i.e., spares and repair parts, special tools, test equipment, and support equipment) required to support and maintain an item for an initial period of service. Its phases include the identification of items of supply, the establishment of data for catalog, technical manual, and allowance list preparation, and the preparation of instructions to assure delivery of necessary support items with related end articles.

initial radiation — (*) The radiation, essentially neutrons and gamma rays, resulting from a nuclear burst and emitted from the fireball within one minute after burst. See also induced radiation; residual radiation.