US Army Dictionary of Military Terms

limitations. See also implementation; ratification; subscription.

reserve — 1. Portion of a body of troops that is kept to the rear, or withheld from action at the beginning of an engagement, in order to be available for a decisive movement. 2. Members of the Military Services who are not in active service but who are subject to call to active duty. 3. Portion of an appropriation or contract authorization held or set aside for future operations or contingencies and, in respect to which, administrative authorization to incur commitments or obligations has been withheld. See also operational reserve; reserve supplies.

reserve aircraft — Those aircraft that have been accumulated in excess of immediate needs for active aircraft and are retained in the inventory against possible future needs. See also aircraft.

reserve component category — The category that identifies an individual’s status in a reserve component. The three reserve component categories are Ready Reserve, Standby Reserve, and Retired Reserve. Each reservist is identified by a specific reserve component category designation.

Reserve Components — Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States are: a. the Army National Guard of the United States; b. the Army Reserve; c. the Naval Reserve; d. the Marine Corps Reserve; e. the Air National Guard of the United States; f. the Air Force Reserve; and g. the Coast Guard Reserve. Also called RC. See also component; reserve. (JP 4-05.1)

reserved demolition target — A target for demolition, the destruction of which must be controlled at a specific level of command because it plays a vital part in the tactical,

operational, or strategic plan, or because of the importance of the structure itself, or because the demolition may be executed in the face of the enemy. See also demolition target.

reserved obstacles — Those demolition obstacles that are deemed critical to the plan for which the authority to detonate is reserved by the designating commander. See also obstacle. (JP 3-15)

reserved route — (*) In road traffic, a specific route allocated exclusively to an authority or formation. See also route.

reserve supplies — Supplies accumulated in excess of immediate needs for the purpose of ensuring continuity of an adequate supply. Also called reserves. See also battle reserves; beach reserves; contingency retention stock; economic retention stock; individual reserves; initial reserves; unit reserves.

residual capabilities assessment — Provides an automated or manual crisis action capability to assess the effects of weapons of mass destruction events for operations planning. Residual capabilities assessment tasks include, but are not limited to, assessment of infrastructure and facility damage, fallout prediction, weapons effect analysis, population impact assessment, and tracking strategic assets.

residual contamination — (*)

Contamination which remains after steps have been taken to remove it. These steps may consist of nothing more than allowing the contamination to decay normally.

residual forces — Unexpended portions of the remaining United States forces that have an immediate combat potential for continued military operations, and that have been deliberately withheld from utilization.

residual radiation — (*) Nuclear radiation caused by fallout, artificial dispersion of radioactive material, or irradiation which results from a nuclear explosion and persists longer than one minute after burst. See also contamination; induced radiation; initial radiation.

residual radioactivity — Nuclear radiation that results from radioactive sources and persists for longer than one minute. Sources of residual radioactivity created by nuclear explosions include fission fragments and radioactive matter created primarily by neutron activation, but may also be created by gamma and other radiation activation. Other possible sources of residual radioactivity include radioactive material created and dispersed by means other than nuclear explosion. See also contamination; induced radiation; initial radiation.

resistance movement — An organized effort by some portion of the civil population of a country to resist the legally established government or an occupying power and to disrupt civil order and stability.

resolution — 1. A measurement of the smallest detail that can be distinguished by a sensor system under specific conditions. 2. A formal expression of an official body such as Congress, the United Nations Security Council, or North Atlantic Treaty Organization North Atlantic Committee that may provide the basis for or set limits on a military operation.

resource management operations — The execution of the resource management mission that includes providing advice and guidance to the commander, developing command resource requirements, identifying sources of funding, determining cost, acquiring funds, distributing and controlling funds, tracking costs and obligations, cost capturing and

reimbursement procedures, and establishing a management control process. See also financial management. (JP 1-06)

resources — The forces, materiel, and other assets or capabilities apportioned or allocated to the commander of a unified or specified command.

response force — A mobile force with appropriate fire support designated, usually by the area commander, to deal with Level II threats in the rear area. Also called RF. (JP 3-10.1)

responsibility — 1. The obligation to carry forward an assigned task to a successful conclusion. With responsibility goes authority to direct and take the necessary action to ensure success. 2. The obligation for the proper custody, care, and safekeeping of property or funds entrusted to the possession or supervision of an individual. See also accountability.

responsor — (*) An electronic device used to receive an electronic challenge and display a reply thereto.

rest and recuperation — The withdrawal of individuals from combat or duty in a combat area for short periods of rest and recuperation. Also called R&R. See also rehabilitation.

restitution — (*) The process of determining the true planimetric position of objects whose images appear on photographs.

restitution factor — See correlation factor.

restorative and rehabilitative care — A period of minimal care and increasing physical activity necessary to restore patients to functional health and allow their return to duty or useful and productive life. Restorative and rehabilitative treatment may be available in theater on a limited

basis due to the theater evacuation policy. This treatment is normally provided in the continental United States. See also evacuation policy; patient; theater.

(JP 4-02)

restraint of loads — The process of binding, lashing, and wedging items into one unit or into its transporter in a manner that will ensure immobility during transit.

restricted area — 1. An area (land, sea, or air) in which there are special restrictive measures employed to prevent or minimize interference between friendly forces. 2. An area under military jurisdiction in which special security measures are employed to prevent unauthorized entry. See also air surface zone; controlled firing area; restricted areas (air).

restricted areas (air) — Designated areas established by appropriate authority over which flight of aircraft is restricted. They are shown on aeronautical charts, published in notices to airmen, and provided in publications of aids to air navigation. See also restricted area.

restricted dangerous air cargo — (*) Cargo which does not belong to the highly dangerous category but which is hazardous and requires, for transport by cargo or passenger aircraft, extra precautions in packing and handling.

restricted data — All data (information) concerning: a. design, manufacture, or use of atomic weapons; b. the production of special nuclear material; or c. the use of special nuclear material in the production of energy, but shall not include data declassified or removed from the restricted data category pursuant to Section 142 of the Atomic Energy Act. (Section 11w, Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.) See also formerly restricted data.

restricted operations area — (*) Airspace of defined dimensions, designated by the airspace control authority, in response to specific operational situations/requirements within which the operation of one or more airspace users is restricted. Also called

ROA.

restricted target — A target that has specific restrictions imposed upon it. Actions that exceed specified restrictions are prohibited until coordinated and approved by the establishing headquarters. See also target. (JP 3-60)

restricted target list — A list of restricted targets nominated by elements of the joint force and approved by the joint force commander. This list also includes restricted targets directed by higher authorities. Also called RTL. See also restricted target; target. (JP 3-60)

restrictive fire area — An area in which specific restrictions are imposed and into which fires that exceed those restrictions will not be delivered without coordination with the establishing headquarters. Also called RFA. See also fires. (JP 3-09)

restrictive fire line — A line established between converging friendly surface forces that prohibits fires or their effects across that line. Also called RFL. See also fires. (JP 3-09)

restrictive fire plan — (*) A safety measure for friendly aircraft which establishes airspace that is reasonably safe from friendly surface delivered non-nuclear fires.

resupply — (*) The act of replenishing stocks in order to maintain required levels of supply.

resuscitative care — The aggressive management of lifeand limb-threatening

injuries. Interventions include emergency medical treatment, advanced trauma management, and lifesaving surgery to enable the patient to tolerate evacuation to the next level of care. See also evacuation; patient. (JP 4-02)

retain — 1. When used in the context of deliberate planning, the directed command will keep the referenced operation plan or operation plan in concept format, and any associated joint operation planning system or Joint Operation Planning and Execution System automated data processing files in an inactive library or status. The plan and its associated files will not be maintained unless directed by follow-on guidance. See also archive; maintain. 2. A tactical task to occupy and hold a terrain feature to ensure that it is free of enemy occupation or use.

retained personnel — Enemy personnel who come within any of the categories below are eligible to be certified as retained personnel. a. Medical personnel exclusively engaged in the: (1) Search for collection, transport, or treatment of the wounded or sick; (2) Prevention of disease; and/or (3) Staff administration of medical units and establishments exclusively. b. Chaplains attached to enemy armed forces. c. Staff of national Red Cross societies and other voluntary aid societies duly recognized and authorized by their governments. The staffs of such societies must be subject to military laws and regulations. Also called RP. See also personnel. (JP 1-0)

reticle — (*) A mark such as a cross or a system of lines lying in the image plane of a viewing apparatus. It may be used singly as a reference mark on certain types of monocular instruments or as one of a pair to form a floating mark as in certain types of stereoscopes. See also graticule.

Retired Reserve — All Reserve members who receive retirement pay on the basis of their active duty and/or Reserve service; those members who are otherwise eligible for retirement pay but have not reached age 60 and who have not elected discharge and are not voluntary members of the Ready or Standby Reserve. See also active duty; ReadyReserve;StandbyReserve. (JP4-05)

retirement — (*) An operation in which a force out of contact moves away from the enemy.

retrofit action — Action taken to modify inservice equipment.

retrograde cargo — Cargo evacuated from a theater.

retrograde movement — Any movement of a command to the rear, or away from the enemy. It may be forced by the enemy or may be made voluntarily. Such movements may be classified as withdrawal, retirement, or delaying action.

retrograde operation — See retrograde movement.

retrograde personnel — Personnel evacuated from a theater who may include medical patients, noncombatants, and civilians.

returned to military control — The status of a person whose casualty status of “duty status - whereabouts unknown” or “missing” has been changed due to the person’s return or recovery by US military authority. Also called RMC. See also casualty status; duty status - whereabouts unknown; missing.

return load — (*) Personnel and/or cargo to be transported by a returning carrier.

return to base — An order to proceed to the point indicated by the displayed information or by verbal communication. This point is being used to return the aircraft to a place at which the aircraft can land. Command heading, speed, and altitude may be used, if desired. Also called RTB.

revolutionary — An individual attempting to effect a social or political change through the use of extreme measures. See also antiterrorism. (JP 3-07.2)

revolving fund — A fund established to finance a cycle of operations to which reimbursements and collections are returned for reuse in a manner such as will maintain the principal of the fund, e.g., working capital funds, industrial funds, and loan funds.

riding off — Maneuvering one’s unit in order to cause an opposing force to turn away. Also known as blocking; defensive blocking.

right (left) bank — See left (right) bank.

right (or left) — See left (or right).

riot control agent — Any chemical, that is not listed in the Chemical Weapons Convention, which can produce rapidly in humans sensory irritate or disabling physical effects which disappear within a short time following termination of exposure. See also chemical warfare. (JP 3-11)

riot control operations — The employment of riot control agents and/or special tactics, formations, and equipment in the control of violent disorders.

rising mine — (*) In naval mine warfare, a mine having positive buoyancy which is released from a sinker by a ship influence or by a timing device. The mine may fire

by contact, hydrostatic pressure, or other means.

risk — 1. Probability and severity of loss linked to hazards. 2. See degree of risk. See also hazard; risk management.

(JP 5-00.2)

risk assessment — The identification and assessment of hazards (first two steps of risk management process).

risk management — The process of identifying, assessing, and controlling risks arising from operational factors and making decisions that balance risk cost with mission benefits. Also called RM. See also risk. (JP 3-0)

riverine area — An inland or coastal area comprising both land and water, characterized by limited land lines of communication, with extensive water surface and/or inland waterways that provide natural routes for surface transportation and communications.

riverine operations — Operations conducted by forces organized to cope with and exploit the unique characteristics of a riverine area, to locate and destroy hostile forces, and/or to achieve or maintain control of the riverine area. Joint riverine operations combine land, naval, and air operations, as appropriate, and are suited to the nature of the specific riverine area in which operations are to be conducted.

road block — (*) A barrier or obstacle (usually covered by fire) used to block or limit the movement of hostile vehicles along a route.

road capacity — The maximum traffic flow obtainable on a given roadway using all available lanes; usually expressed in vehicles per hour or vehicles per day.

road clearance time — (*) The total time a column requires to travel over and clear a section of the road.

road hazard sign — (*) A sign used to indicate traffic hazards. Military hazard signs should be used in a communications zone area only in accordance with existing agreements with national authorities.

road net — The system of roads available within a particular locality or area.

road space — (*) The length of roadway allocated to and/or actually occupied by a column on a route, expressed in miles or kilometers.

rocket propulsion — Reaction propulsion wherein both the fuel and the oxidizer, generating the hot gases expended through a nozzle, are carried as part of the rocket engine. Specifically, rocket propulsion differs from jet propulsion in that jet propulsion utilizes atmospheric air as an oxidizer, whereas rocket propulsion utilizes nitric acid or a similar compound as an oxidizer. See also jet propulsion.

roentgen — (*) A unit of exposure dose of gamma (or X-) radiation. In field dosimetry, one roentgen is essentially equal to one rad.

roentgen equivalent mammal — One roentgen equivalent mammal is the quantity of ionizing radiation of any type which, when absorbed by man or other mammal, produces a physiological effect equivalent to that produced by the absorption of 1 roentgen of X-ray or gamma radiation. Also called REM.

role number — (*) In the medical field, the classification of treatment facilities according to their different capabilities.

roll back — The process of progressive destruction and/or neutralization of the

opposing defenses, starting at the periphery and working inward, to permit deeper penetration of succeeding defense positions.

roll-in-point — The point at which aircraft enter the final leg of the attack, e.g., dive, glide.

roll-on/roll-off discharge facility —

Provides a means of disembarking vehicles from a roll-on and roll-off ship to lighterage. The roll-on/roll-off discharge facility consists of six causeway sections, nonpowered assembled into a platform that is two sections long and three sections wide. When use of landing craft, utility, as lighters is being considered, a seventh “sea end” causeway section, on-powered, fitted with a rhino horn is required. The roll-on/roll-off discharge facility assembly includes fendering, lighting, and a ramp for vehicle movement from ship to the platform. Also called RRDF. See also facility; lighterage.

(JP 4-01.6)

roll-up — The process for orderly dismantling of facilities no longer required in support of operations and available for transfer to other areas.

romper — (*) A ship which has moved more than 10 nautical miles ahead of its convoy, and is unable to rejoin it. See also straggler.

rope — (*) An element of chaff consisting of a long roll of metallic foil or wire which is designed for broad, low-frequency responses. See also chaff.

rough terrain container handler — A piece of materials handling equipment used to pick up and move containers. Also called

RTCH. See also materials handling equipment. (JP 4-01.6)

route — (*) The prescribed course to be traveled from a specific point of origin to a specific destination. See also axial route;

controlled route; dispatch route; lateral route; reserved route; signed route; supervised route.

route capacity — (*) 1. The maximum traffic flow of vehicles in one direction at the most restricted point on the route. 2. The maximum number of metric tons which can be moved in one direction over a particular route in one hour. It is the product of the maximum traffic flow and the average payload of the vehicles using the route. See also railway line capacity.

route classification — (*) Classification assigned to a route using factors of minimum width, worst route type, least bridge, raft, or culvert military load classification, and obstructions to traffic flow. See also military load classification.

route lanes — (*) A series of parallel tracks for the routing of independently sailed ships.

routine message — A category of precedence to be used for all types of messages that justify transmission by rapid means unless of sufficient urgency to require a higher precedence. See also precedence.

routine supplies — Those items delivered as a result of normal requisitioning procedures to replace expended supplies or to build up reserve stocks. See also follow-up supplies; supplies. (JP 3-17)

routing indicator — A group of letters assigned to indicate: a. the geographic location of a station; b. a fixed headquarters of a command, activity, or unit at a geographic location; and c. the general location of a tape relay or tributary station to facilitate the routing of traffic over the tape relay networks.

row marker — (*) In land mine warfare, a natural, artificial, or specially installed marker, located at the start or finish of a mine row where mines are laid by individual rows. See also marker.

rules of engagement — Directives issued by competent military authority that delineate the circumstances and limitations under which United States forces will initiate and/ or continue combat engagement with other forces encountered. Also called ROE. See also law of war.

run — 1. That part of a flight of one photographic reconnaissance aircraft during which photographs are taken. 2. The transit of a sweeper-sweep combination or of a mine-hunter operating its equipment through a lap. This term may also be applied to a transit of any formation of sweepers.

runway visual range — (*) The maximum distance in the direction of takeoff or landing at which the runway, or specified lights or markers delineating it, can be seen from a position above a specified point on its center line at a height corresponding to the average eye level of pilots at touch-down.

rupture zone — (*) The region immediately adjacent to the crater boundary in which the stresses produced by the explosion have exceeded the ultimate strength of the medium. It is characterized by the appearance of numerous radial cracks of various sizes. See also plastic zone.

ruse — In military deception, a trick of war designed to deceive the adversary, usually involving the deliberate exposure of false information to the adversary’s intelligence collection system. (JP 3-58)

sabotage — An act or acts with intent to injure, interfere with, or obstruct the national defense of a country by willfully injuring or destroying, or attempting to injure or destroy, any national defense or war materiel, premises, or utilities, to include human and natural resources.

sabotage alert team — See security alert team.

saboteur — One who commits sabotage. See also antiterrorism; countersabotage; sabotage. (JP 3-07.2)

safe anchorage — (*) An anchorage considered safe from enemy attack to which merchant ships may be ordered to proceed when the shipping movement policy is implemented. See also refuge area.

safe area — A designated area in hostile territory that offers the evader or escapee a reasonable chance of avoiding capture and of surviving until he or she can be evacuated.

safe burst height — (*) The height of burst at or above which the level of fallout or damage to ground installations is at a predetermined level acceptable to the military commander. See also types of burst.

safe current — (*) In naval mine warfare, the maximum current that can be supplied to a sweep in a given waveform and pulse cycle which does not produce a danger area with respect to the mines being swept for.

safe depth — (*) In naval mine warfare, the shallowest depth of water in which a ship will not actuate a bottom mine of the type under consideration. Safe depth is usually quoted for conditions of ship upright, calm sea, and a given speed.

safe distance — (*) In naval mine warfare, the horizontal range from the edge of the explosion damage area to the center of the sweeper.

safe haven — 1. Designated area(s) to which noncombatants of the United States Government’s responsibility and commercial vehicles and materiel may be evacuated during a domestic or other valid emergency. 2. Temporary storage provided to Department of Energy classified shipment transporters at Department of Defense facilities in order to assure safety and security of nuclear material and/or nonnuclear classified material. Also includes parking for commercial vehicles containing Class A or Class B explosives. 3. A protected body of water or the well deck of an amphibious ship used by small craft operating offshore for refuge from storms or heavy seas. (JP 4-01.6)

safe house — An innocent-appearing house or premises established by an organization for the purpose of conducting clandestine or covert activity in relative security.

safe separation distance — (*) The minimum distance between the delivery system and the weapon beyond which the hazards associated with functioning (detonation) are acceptable.

safety and arming mechanism — (*) A dual function device which prevents the unintended activation of a main charge or propulsion unit prior to arming, but allows activation thereafter upon receipt of the appropriate stimuli.

safety device — (*) A device which prevents unintentional functioning.

safety distance — (*) In road transport, the distance between vehicles traveling in

column specified by the command in light of safety requirements.

safety fuze — A pyrotechnic contained in a flexible and weather-proof sheath burning at a timed and constant rate; used to transmit a flame to the detonator.

safety height — See altitude; minimum safe altitude.

safety lane — (*) Specified sea lane designated for use in transit by submarine and surface ships to prevent attack by friendly forces.

safety level of supply — The quantity of materiel, in addition to the operating level of supply, required to be on hand to permit continuous operations in the event of minor interruption of normal replenishment or unpredictable fluctuations in demand. See also level of supply.

safety line — (*) In land mine warfare, demarcation line for trip wire or wireactuated mines in a minefield. It serves to protect the laying personnel. After the minefield is laid, this line is neither marked on the ground nor plotted on the minefield record.

safety wire — (*) A cable, wire, or lanyard attached to the aircraft and routed to an expendable aircraft store to prevent arming initiation prior to store release. See also arming wire.

safety zone — (*) An area (land, sea, or air) reserved for noncombat operations of friendly aircraft, surface ships, submarines, or ground forces. (Note: DOD does not use the word “submarines”.)

safing — As applied to weapons and ammunition, the changing from a state of readiness for initiation to a safe condition. Also called de-arming.

safing and arming mechanism — A mechanism whose primary purpose is to prevent an unintended functioning of the main charge of the ammunition prior to completion of the arming delay and, in turn, allow the explosive train of the ammunition to function after arming.

salted weapon — (*) A nuclear weapon which has, in addition to its normal components, certain elements or isotopes which capture neutrons at the time of the explosion and produce radioactive products over and above the usual radioactive weapon debris. See also minimum residual radioactivity weapon.

salvage — 1. Property that has some value in excess of its basic material content but is in such condition that it has no reasonable prospect of use for any purpose as a unit and its repair or rehabilitation for use as a unit is clearly impractical. 2. The saving or rescuing of condemned, discarded, or abandoned property, and of materials contained therein for reuse, refabrication, or scrapping.

salvage group — In an amphibious operation, a naval task organization designated and equipped to rescue personnel and to salvage equipment and material.

salvage operation — 1. The recovery, evacuation, and reclamation of damaged, discarded, condemned, or abandoned allied or enemy materiel, ships, craft, and floating equipment for reuse, repair, refabrication, or scrapping. 2. Naval salvage operations include harbor and channel clearance, diving, hazardous towing and rescue tug services, and the recovery of materiel, ships, craft, and floating equipment sunk offshore or elsewhere stranded.

salvo — 1. In naval gunfire support, a method of fire in which a number of weapons are fired at the same target simultaneously.

2. In close air support or air interdiction operations, a method of delivery in which the release mechanisms are operated to release or fire all ordnance of a specific type simultaneously.

sanction enforcement and maritime intercept operations — Operations that employ coercive measures to interdict the movement of certain types of designated items into or out of a nation or specified area. (JP 3-07)

sanctuary — A nation or area near or contiguous to the combat area that, by tacit agreement between the warring powers, is exempt from attack and therefore serves as a refuge for staging, logistic, or other activities of the combatant powers.

sanitize — To revise a report or other document in such a fashion as to prevent identification of sources, or of the actual persons and places with which it is concerned, or of the means by which it was acquired. Usually involves deletion or substitution of names and other key details.

satellite and missile surveillance — The systematic observation of aerospace for the purpose of detecting, tracking, and characterizing objects, events, and phenomena associated with satellites and inflight missiles, friendly and enemy. See also surveillance.

S-bend distortion — See S-curve distortion.

scale — (*) The ratio or fraction between the distance on a map, chart, or photograph and the corresponding distance on the surface of the Earth. See also conversion scale; graphic scale; photographic scale; principal scale.

scale (photographic) — See photographic scale.

scaling law — (*) A mathematical relationship which permits the effects of a nuclear explosion of given energy yield to be determined as a function of distance from the explosion (or from ground zero) provided the corresponding effect is known as a function of distance for a reference explosion, e.g., of 1-kiloton energy yield.

scan — 1. The path periodically followed by a radiation beam. 2. In electronic intelligence, the motion of an electronic beam through space looking for a target. Scanning is produced by the motion of the antenna or by lobe switching. See also electronic intelligence.

scan line — (*) The line produced on a recording medium frame by a single sweep of a scanner.

scan period — The period taken by a radar, sonar, etc., to complete a scan pattern and return to a starting point.

scan rate — (*) The rate at which individual scans are recorded.

scan type — The path made in space by a point on the radar beam; for example, circular, helical, conical, spiral, or sector.

scatterable mine — (*) In land mine warfare, a mine laid without regard to classical pattern and which is designed to be delivered by aircraft, artillery, missile, ground dispenser, or by hand. Once laid, it normally has a limited life. See also mine.

scene of action commander — In antisubmarine warfare, the commander at the scene of contact. The commander is usually in a ship, or may be in a fixed-wing aircraft, helicopter, or submarine.

scheduled arrival date — The projected arrival date of a specified movement requirement at a specified location.