US Army Dictionary of Military Terms

or battle, destroy a target set). It includes four major components: force structure, modernization, readiness, and sustainability. a. force structure — Numbers, size, and composition of the units that comprise US defense forces; e.g., divisions, ships, air wings. b. modernization — Technical sophistication of forces, units, weapon systems, and equipments. c. unit readiness — The ability to provide capabilities required by the combatant commanders to execute their assigned missions. This is derived from the ability of each unit to deliver the outputs for which it was designed. d. sustainability — The ability to maintain the necessary level and duration of operational activity to achieve military objectives. Sustainability is a function of providing for and maintaining those levels of ready forces, materiel, and consumables necessary to support military effort. See also readiness.

military characteristics — Those characteristics of equipment upon which depends its ability to perform desired military functions. Military characteristics include physical and operational characteristics but not technical characteristics.

military civic action — The use of preponderantly indigenous military forces on projects useful to the local population at all levels in such fields as education, training, public works, agriculture, transportation, communications, health, sanitation, and others contributing to economic and social development, which would also serve to improve the standing of the military forces with the population. (US forces may at times advise or engage in military civic actions in overseas areas.)

military construction — Any construction, alteration, development, conversion, or extension of any kind carried out with

respect to a military installation. Also called MILCON. (JP 4-04)

military container moved via ocean —

Commercial or Government owned (or leased) shipping containers that are moved via ocean transportation without bogey wheels attached, i.e., lifted on and off the ship. Also called SEAVAN.

military convoy — (*) A land or maritime convoy that is controlled and reported as a military unit. A maritime convoy can consist of any combination of merchant ships, auxiliaries, or other military units.

military currency — (*) Currency prepared by a power and declared by its military commander to be legal tender for use by civilian and/or military personnel as prescribed in the areas occupied by its forces. It should be of distinctive design to distinguish it from the official currency of the countries concerned, but may be denominated in the monetary unit of either.

military damage assessment — An appraisal of the effects of an attack on a nation’s military forces to determine residual military capability and to support planning for recovery and reconstitution. See also damage assessment.

military deception — Actions executed to deliberately mislead adversary military decision makers as to friendly military capabilities, intentions, and operations, thereby causing the adversary to take specific actions (or inactions) that will contribute to the accomplishment of the friendly mission. The five categories of military deception are as follows. a. strategic military deception — Military deception planned and executed by and in support of senior military commanders to result in adversary military policies and actions that support the originator’s strategic military objectives, policies, and

operations. b. operational military deception — Military deception planned and executed by and in support of operational-level commanders to result in adversary actions that are favorable to the originator’s objectives and operations. Operational military deception is planned and conducted in a theater to support campaigns and major operations. c. tactical military deception — Military deception planned and executed by and in support of tactical commanders to result in adversary actions that are favorable to the originator’s objectives and operations. Tactical military deception is planned and conducted to support battles and engagements. d. Service military deception — Military deception planned and executed by the Services that pertain to Service support to joint operations. Service military deception is designed to protect and enhance the combat capabilities of Service forces and systems. e. military deception in support of operations security (OPSEC) — Military deception planned and executed by and in support of all levels of command to support the prevention of the inadvertent compromise of sensitive or classified activities, capabilities, or intentions. Deceptive OPSEC measures are designed to distract foreign intelligence away from, or provide cover for, military operations and activities. See also deception. (JP 3-58)

Military Department — One of the departments within the Department of Defense created by the National Security Act of 1947, as amended. Also called

MILDEP. See also Department of the

Air Force; Department of the Army; Department of the Navy.

military designed vehicle — A vehicle having military characteristics resulting from military research and development processes, designed primarily for use by

forces in the field in direct connection with, or support of, combat or tactical operations.

military education — The systematic instruction of individuals in subjects that will enhance their knowledge of the science and art of war. See also military training.

military geographic documentation —

Military geographic information that has been evaluated, processed, summarized, and published.

military geographic information —

Information concerning physical aspects, resources, and artificial features of the terrain that is necessary for planning and operations.

military geography — The specialized field of geography dealing with natural and manmade physical features that may affect the planning and conduct of military operations.

military government — See civil affairs.

military government ordinance — An enactment on the authority of a military governor promulgating laws or rules regulating the occupied territory under such control.

military governor — (*) The military commander or other designated person who, in an occupied territory, exercises supreme authority over the civil population subject to the laws and usages of war and to any directive received from the commander’s government or superior.

military grid — (*) Two sets of parallel lines intersecting at right angles and forming squares; the grid is superimposed on maps, charts, and other similar representations of the surface of the Earth in an accurate and consistent manner to permit identification

of ground locations with respect to other locations and the computation of direction and distance to other points. See also military grid reference system.

military grid reference system — (*) A system which uses a standard-scaled grid square, based on a point of origin on a map projection of the surface of the Earth in an accurate and consistent manner to permit either position referencing or the computation of direction and distance between grid positions. Also called

MGRS. See also military grid.

military independent — (*) A merchant ship or auxiliary sailed singly but controlled and reported as a military unit. See also independent.

military installation — A base, camp, post, station, yard, center, or other activity under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a Military Department or, in the case of an activity in a foreign country, under the operational control of the Secretary of a Military Department or the Secretary of Defense. See also base; station. (JP 4-04)

military intelligence — Intelligence on any foreign military or military-related situation or activity which is significant to military policymaking or the planning and conduct of military operations and activities. Also called MI.

Military Intelligence Board — A decisionmaking forum which formulates Defense intelligence policy and programming priorities. The Military Intelligence Board, chaired by the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, who is dualhatted as Director of Military Intelligence, consists of senior military and civilian intelligence officials of each Service, US Coast Guard, each Combat Support Agency, the Joint Staff/J-2/J-6, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense

(Intelligence), Intelligence Program Support Group, DIA’s Directorates for Intelligence Production, Intelligence Operations, and Information and Services, and the combatant command J-2s. Also called MIB. See also intelligence; military intelligence. (JP 2-0)

Military Intelligence Integrated Data System/Integrated Database — An architecture for improving the manner in which military intelligence is analyzed, stored, and disseminated. The Integrated Database (IDB) forms the core automated database for the Military Intelligence Integrated Data System (MIIDS) program and integrates the data in the installation, order of battle, equipment, and selected electronic warfare and command, control, and communications files. The IDB is the national-level repository for the general military intelligence information available to the entire Department of Defense Intelligence Information System community and maintained by DIA and the commands. The IDB is kept synchronized by system transactions to disseminate updates. Also called MIIDS/IDB. See also architecture; military intelligence.

(JP 2-01)

military intervention — The deliberate act of a nation or a group of nations to introduce its military forces into the course of an existing controversy.

military journalist — A US Service member or Department of Defense civilian employee providing photographic, print, radio, or television command information for military internal audiences. See also command information. (JP 3-61)

military land transportation resources —

All military-owned transportation resources, designated for common-user, over the ground, point-to-point use.

military load classification — (*) A standard system in which a route, bridge, or raft is assigned class number(s) representing the load it can carry. Vehicles are also assigned number(s) indicating the minimum class of route, bridge, or raft they are authorized to use. See also route classification.

military necessity — (*) The principle whereby a belligerent has the right to apply any measures which are required to bring about the successful conclusion of a military operation and which are not forbidden by the laws of war.

military nuclear power — (*) A nation which has nuclear weapons and the capability for their employment.

military objective — A derived set of military actions to be taken to implement National Command Authorities guidance in support of national objectives. A military objective defines the results to be achieved by the military and assign tasks to commanders. See also national objectives.

military occupation — A condition in which territory is under the effective control of a foreign armed force. See also occupied territory; phases of military government.

military operations other than war —

Operations that encompass the use of military capabilities across the range of military operations short of war. These military actions can be applied to complement any combination of the other instruments of national power and occur before, during, and after war. Also called MOOTW. (JP 3-07)

military options — A range of military force responses that can be projected to accomplish assigned tasks. Options include one or a combination of the following: civic action, humanitarian assistance, civil affairs, and other military activities to develop

positive relationships with other countries; confidence building and other measures to reduce military tensions; military presence; activities to convey threats to adversaries as well as truth projections; military deceptions and psychological operations; quarantines, blockades, and harassment operations; raids; intervention operations; armed conflict involving air, land, maritime, and strategic warfare operations; support for law enforcement authorities to counter international criminal activities (terrorism, narcotics trafficking, slavery, and piracy); support for law enforcement authorities to suppress domestic rebellion; and support for insurgency, counterinsurgency, and civil war in foreign countries. See also civil affairs; foreign humanitarian assistance; military civic action. (JP 5-01.3)

military ordinary mail — A special military airlift service for ordinary official mail being sent to, from, or between overseas areas. Also called MOM.

military payment certificate — An instrument (scrip) denominated in US dollars that is used as the official medium of exchange in US military operations designated as military payment certificate areas. Also called MPC. (JP 1-06)

military performance specification container — A container that meets specific written standards. Aviation and Troop Command, US Army, procures military performance specification containers for the Army and will perform like services for other Department of Defense components on request. Also called MILSPEC container. (JP 4-01.7)

military post office — A branch of a designated US-based post office such as New York, San Francisco, Miami, or Seattle established by US Postal Service authority and operated by one of the Military Services. The term includes Army,

Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and established Coast Guard post offices Also called MPO.

military postal clerk — A person of the US Armed Forces officially designated to perform postal duties.

Military Postal Service — The command, organization, personnel, and facilities established to provide, through military post offices, a means for the transmission of mail to and from the Department of Defense, members of the US Armed Forces, and other authorized agencies and individuals. Also called MPS.

Military Postal Service Agency — The single manager operating agency established to manage the Military Postal Service. Also called MPSA.

military posture — The military disposition, strength, and condition of readiness as it affects capabilities.

military requirement — (*) An established need justifying the timely allocation of resources to achieve a capability to accomplish approved military objectives, missions, or tasks. Also called operational requirement. See also objective force level.

military resources — Military and civilian personnel, facilities, equipment, and supplies under the control of a Department of Defense component.

Military Sealift Command — A major command of the US Navy, and the US Transportation Command’s component command responsible for designated common-user sealift transportation services to deploy, employ, sustain, and redeploy US forces on a global basis. Also called MSC.

See also transportation component command.

Military Sealift Command-controlled ships

— Those ships assigned by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) for a specific operation. They may be MSC nucleus fleet ships, contract-operated MSC ships, MSCcontrolled time or voyage-chartered commercial ships, or MSC-controlled ships allocated by the Maritime Administration to MSC to carry out Department of Defense objectives. (JP 3-02)

Military Sealift Command force — The Military Sealift Command (MSC) force common-user sealift consists of three subsets: the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, common-user ocean transportation, and the special mission support force. These ship classes include government-owned ships (normally civilian manned) and ships acquired by MSC charter or allocated from other government agencies. See also common-user sealift; Military Sealift Command. (JP 4-01.6)

Military Service — A branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, established by act of Congress, in which persons are appointed, enlisted, or inducted for military service, and which operates and is administered within a military or executive department. The Military Services are: the United StatesArmy, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Coast Guard.

military standard requisitioning and issue procedure — A uniform procedure established by the Department of Defense for use within the Department of Defense to govern requisition and issue of materiel within standardized priorities. Also called

MILSTRIP.

military standard transportation and movement procedures — Uniform and standard transportation data, documentation, and control procedures

applicable to all cargo movements in the Department of Defense transportation system. Also called MILSTAMP.

military strategy — The art and science of employing the armed forces of a nation to secure the objectives of national policy by the application of force or the threat of force. See also strategy.

military symbol — (*) A graphic sign used, usually on map, display or diagram, to represent a particular military unit, installation, activity, or other item of military interest.

military technician — A Federal civilian employee providing full-time support to a National Guard, Reserve, or Active Component organization for administration, training, and maintenance of the Selected Reserve. Also called MILTECH. (JP 1-03.17)

military traffic — Department of Defense personnel, mail, and cargo to be, or being, transported.

Military Traffic Management Command

— A major command of the US Army, and the US Transportation Command’s component command responsible for designated continental United States land transportation as well as common-user water terminal and traffic management service to deploy, employ, sustain, and redeploy US forces on a global basis. Also called MTMC. See also transportation component command.

military training — 1. The instruction of personnel to enhance their capacity to perform specific military functions and tasks. 2. The exercise of one or more military units conducted to enhance their combat readiness. See also military education.

military van (container) — Military-owned, demountable container, conforming to US and international standards, operated in a centrally controlled fleet for movement of military cargo. Also called MILVAN.

MILSPEC container — See military performance specification containers.

(JP 4-01.7)

MILVAN — See military van (container).

MILVAN chassis — The compatible chassis to which the military van (container) is attached by coupling the lower four standard corner fittings of the container to compatible mounting blocks in the chassis to permit road movement.

mine — (*) 1. In land mine warfare, an explosive or material, normally encased, designed to destroy or damage ground vehicles, boats, or aircraft, or designed to wound, kill, or otherwise incapacitate personnel. It may be detonated by the action of its victim, by the passage of time, or by controlled means. 2. In naval mine warfare, an explosive device laid in the water with the intention of damaging or sinking ships or of deterring shipping from entering an area. The term does not include devices attached to the bottoms of ships or to harbor installations by personnel operating underwater, nor does it include devices which explode immediately on expiration of a predetermined time after laying. See also land mine warfare; mine warfare.

(JP 3-15)

mineable waters — (*) Waters where naval mines of any given type may be effective against any given target.

mine clearance — (*) The process of removing all mines from a route or area.

mine-cluster — A number of mines (not to exceed five) laid within a two-meter semicircle of the central mine.

mine countermeasures — All methods for preventing or reducing damage or danger from mines. Also called MCM. (JP 3-15)

mined area — (*) An area declared dangerous due to the presence or suspected presence of mines.

mine defense — (*) The defense of a position, area, etc., by land or underwater mines. A mine defense system includes the personnel and equipment needed to plant, operate, maintain, and protect the minefields that are laid.

mine disposal — The operation by suitably qualified personnel designed to render safe, neutralize, recover, remove, or destroy mines.

minefield — 1. In land warfare, an area of ground containing mines emplaced with or without a pattern. 2. In naval warfare, an area of water containing mines laid with or without a pattern. See also land mine warfare; mine; mine warfare. (JP 3-15)

minefield breaching — (*) In land mine warfare, the process of clearing a lane through a minefield under tactical conditions. See also minefield lane.

minefield density — In land mine warfare, the average number of mines per meter of minefield front, or the average number of mines per square meter of minefield. In naval warfare, the average number of mines per nautical mile.

minefield lane — A marked lane, unmined, or cleared of mines, leading through a minefield.

minefield marking — Visible marking of all points required in laying a minefield and indicating the extent of such minefields.

minefield record — (*) A complete written record of all pertinent information concerning a minefield, submitted on a standard form by the officer in charge of the laying operations.

minefield report — An oral, electronic, or written communication concerning mining activities (friendly or enemy) submitted in a standard format by the fastest secure means available. (JP 3-15)

minehunting — Employment of sensor and neutralization systems, whether air, surface, or subsurface, to locate and dispose of individual mines. Minehunting is conducted to eliminate mines in a known field when sweeping is not feasible or desirable, or to verify the presence or absence of mines in a given area. See also minesweeping. (JP 3-15)

mine row — (*) A single row of mines or clusters of mines. See also mine strip.

mine spotting — (*) In naval mine warfare, the process of visually observing a mine or minefield.

mine strip — (*) In land mine warfare, two parallel mine rows laid simultaneously six meters or six paces apart. See also mine row.

minesweeping — The technique of clearing mines using either mechanical, explosive, or influence sweep equipment. Mechanical sweeping removes, disturbs, or otherwise neutralizes the mine; explosive sweeping causes sympathetic detonations in, damages, or displaces the mine; and influence sweeping produces either the

acoustic and/or magnetic influence required to detonate the mine. See also minehunting. (JP 3-15)

mine warfare — The strategic, operational, and tactical use of mines and mine countermeasures. Mine warfare is divided into two basic subdivisions: the laying of mines to degrade the enemy’s capabilities to wage land, air, and maritime warfare; and the countering of enemy-laid mines to permit friendly maneuver or use of selected land or sea areas. Also called MIW. (JP3-15)

mine warfare chart — (*) A special naval chart, at a scale of 1:50,000 or larger (preferably 1:25,000 or larger) designed for planning and executing mine warfare operations, either based on an existing standard nautical chart, or produced to special specifications.

mine warfare forces (naval) — Navy forces charged with the strategic, operational, and tactical use of naval mines and their countermeasures. Such forces are capable of offensive and defensive measures in connection with laying and clearing mines.

mine warfare group — (*) A task organization of mine warfare units for the conduct of minelaying and/or mine countermeasures in maritime operations.

minewatching — (*) In naval mine warfare, the mine countermeasures procedure to detect, record and, if possible, track potential minelayers and to detect, find the position of, and/or identify mines during the actual minelaying.

mine weapons — (*) The collective term for all weapons which may be used in mine warfare.

minimize — A condition wherein normal message and telephone traffic is drastically reduced in order that messages connected

with an actual or simulated emergency shall not be delayed.

minimum aircraft operating surface — (*)

The minimum surface on an airfield which is essential for the movement of aircraft. It includes the aircraft dispersal areas, the minimum operating strip, and the taxiways between them. See also minimum operating strip.

minimum attack altitude — The lowest altitude determined by the tactical use of weapons, terrain consideration, and weapons effects that permits the safe conduct of an air attack and/or minimizes effective enemy counteraction.

minimum crossing altitude — The lowest altitude at certain radio fixes at which an aircraft must cross when proceeding in the direction of a higher minimum en route instrument flight rules altitude.

minimum essential equipment — That part of authorized allowances of Army equipment, clothing, and supplies needed to preserve the integrity of a unit during movement without regard to the performance of its combat or service mission. Items common within this category will normally be carried by or accompany troops to the port and will be placed aboard the same ships with the troops. As used in movement directives, minimum essential equipment refers to specific items of both organizational and individual clothing and equipment.

minimum force — Those minimum actions, including the use of armed force, sufficient to bring a situation under control or to defend against hostile act or hostile intent. All actions must cease as soon as the target complies with instructions or ceases hostile action. The firing of weapons is to be considered as a means of last resort.

minimum nuclear safe distance — (*) The sum of the radius of safety and the buffer distance.

minimum nuclear warning time — (*) The sum of system reaction time and personnel reaction time.

minimum obstruction clearance altitude —

The specified altitude in effect between radio fixes on very high frequency omnirange airways, off-airway routes, or route segments, which meets obstruction clearance requirements for the entire route segment, and that assures acceptable navigational signal coverage only within 22 miles of a very high frequency omnirange.

minimum operating strip — (*) A runway which meets the minimum requirements for operating assigned and/or allocated aircraft types on a particular airfield at maximum or combat gross weight. See also minimum aircraft operating surface.

minimum range — 1. Least range setting of a gun at which the projectile will clear an obstacle or friendly troops between the gun and the target. 2. Shortest distance to which a gun can fire from a given position. 3. The range at which a projectile or fuse will be armed.

minimum reception altitude — The lowest altitude required to receive adequate signals to determine specific very high frequency omnirange and tactical air navigation fixes.

minimum residual radioactivity weapon —

(*) A nuclear weapon designed to have optimum reduction of unwanted effects from fallout, rainout, and burst site radioactivity. See also salted weapon.

minimum-risk level — A specific altitude or altitude block that allows homebound aircraft to return in a homebound direction

without lateral restrictions. Also called MRL. (JP 3-52)

minimum-risk route — A temporary corridor of defined dimensions recommended for use by high-speed, fixed-wing aircraft that presents the minimum known hazards to low-flying aircraft transiting the combat zone. Also called MRR. (JP 3-52)

minimum safe altitude — (*) The altitude below which it is hazardous to fly owing to presence of high ground or other obstacles.

minor control — See photogrammetric control.

minor installation — In the Air Force, a facility operated by an Active, Reserve, or Guard unit of at least squadron size that does not otherwise satisfy all the criteria for a major installation. This category includes Air Force stations; air stations; Air Reserve stations; and Air Guard stations. Examples of minor installations are Active, Reserve, or Guard flying operations that are located at civilian-owned airports. See also installation complex.

minor port — (*) A port having facilities for the discharge of cargo from coasters or lighters only.

misfire — (*) 1. Failure to fire or explode properly. 2. Failure of a primer or the propelling charge of a round or projectile to function wholly or in part.

missed approach — (*) An approach which is not completed by landing.

missile assembly-checkout facility — A building, van, or other type structure located near the operational missile launching location and designed for the final assembly and checkout of the missile system.

missile control system — (*) A system that serves to maintain attitude stability and to correct deflections. See also missile guidance system.

missile destruct — (*) Intentional destruction of a missile or similar vehicle for safety or other reasons.

missile destruct system — (*) A system which, when operated by external command or preset internal means, destroys the missile or similar vehicle.

missile guidance system — (*) A system which evaluates flight information, correlates it with target data, determines the desired flight path of a missile, and communicates the necessary commands to the missile flight control system. See also missile control system.

missile release line — The line at which an attacking aircraft could launch an air-to-surface missile against a specific target.

missing — A casualty status for which the United States Code provides statutory guidance concerning missing members of the Military Services. Excluded are personnel who are in an absent without leave, deserter, or dropped-from-rolls status. A person declared missing is categorized as follows. a. beleaguered — The casualty is a member of an organized element that has been surrounded by a hostile force to prevent escape of its members. b. besieged — The casualty is a member of an organized element that has been surrounded by a hostile force, compelling it to surrender. c. captured — The casualty has been seized as the result of action of an unfriendly military or paramilitary force in a foreign country. d. detained — The casualty is prevented from proceeding or is restrained in custody for alleged violation of international law or

other reason claimed by the government or group under which the person is being held. e. interned — The casualty is definitely known to have been taken into custody of a nonbelligerent foreign power as the result of and for reasons arising out of any armed conflict in which the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged. f. missing — The casualty is not present at his or her duty location due to apparent involuntary reasons and whose location is unknown. g. missing in action — The casualty is a hostile casualty, other than the victim of a terrorist activity, who is not present at his or her duty location due to apparent involuntary reasons and whose location is unknown. Also called MIA. See also casualty category; casualty status.

missing in action — See missing.

mission — 1. The task, together with the purpose, that clearly indicates the action to be taken and the reason therefore. 2. In common usage, especially when applied to lower military units, a duty assigned to an individual or unit; a task. 3. The dispatching of one or more aircraft to accomplish one particular task.

mission-capable — Material condition of an aircraft indicating it can perform at least one and potentially all of its designated missions. Mission-capable is further defined as the sum of full mission-capable and partial mission-capable. Also called

MC. See also full mission-capable; partial mission-capable; partial missioncapable, maintenance; partial missioncapable, supply.

mission cycle — The mission cycle, as it pertains to targeting, is a decisionmaking process used by commanders to employ forces. Within the cycle there are six general mission steps: detection, location, identification, decision, execution, and assessment. (JP 3-55)