US Army Dictionary of Military Terms

scheduled fire — (*) A type of prearranged fire executed at a predetermined time.

scheduled maintenance — Periodic prescribed inspection and/or servicing of equipment accomplished on a calendar, mileage, or hours of operation basis. See also organizational maintenance.

scheduled service (air transport) — A routine air transport service operated in accordance with a timetable.

scheduled speed — (*) The planned sustained speed of a convoy through the water which determines the speed classification of that convoy. See also convoy speed; critical speed; declared speed.

scheduled targets — Planned targets upon which fires will be delivered at a specific time. See also planned targets; target.

(JP 3-60)

scheduled target (nuclear) — A planned target on which a nuclear weapon is to be delivered at a specific time during the operation of the supported force. The time is specified in terms of minutes before or after a designated time or in terms of the accomplishment of a predetermined movement or task. Coordination and warning of friendly troops and aircraft are mandatory.

scheduled wave — See wave.

schedule of fire — Groups of fires or series of fires fired in a definite sequence according to a definite program. The time of starting the schedule may be ON CALL. For identification purposes, schedules may be referred to by a code name or other designation.

schedule of targets — In artillery, mortar, and naval gunfire support, individual targets,

groups, or series of targets to be fired on, in a definite sequence according to a definite program.

scheduling and movement — Joint Operation Planning and Execution System application software providing the capability to create, update, allocate, manifest, and review organic carrier information before and during deployment. It provides the ability to review, analyze, and generate several predefined reports on an extensive variety of scheduling and movement information. Also called S&M.

scheduling and movement capability —

The capability required by Joint Operation Planning and Execution System planners and operators to allow for review and update of scheduling and movement data before and during implementation of a deployment operation.

scheme of maneuver — Description of how arrayed forces will accomplish the commander’s intent. It is the central expression of the commander’s concept for operations and governs the design of supporting plans or annexes.

scientific and technical intelligence — The product resulting from the collection, evaluation, analysis, and interpretation of foreign scientific and technical information that covers: a. foreign developments in basic and applied research and in applied engineering techniques; and b. scientific and technical characteristics, capabilities, and limitations of all foreign military systems, weapons, weapon systems, and materiel; the research and development related thereto; and the production methods employed for their manufacture. Also called S&TI. See also intelligence; research; scientific intelligence; technical intelligence. (JP 2-02)

scientific intelligence — See scientific and technical intelligence.

screen — (*) 1. An arrangement of ships, aircraft and/or submarines to protect a main body or convoy. 2. In cartography, a sheet of transparent film, glass, or plastic carrying a “ruling” or other regularly repeated pattern which may be used in conjunction with a mask, either photographically or photomechanically, to produce areas of the pattern. 3. In surveillance, camouflage and concealment, any natural or artificial material, opaque to surveillance sensor(s), interposed between the sensor(s) and the object to be camouflaged or concealed. See also concealment. 4. A security element whose primary task is to observe, identify, and report information, and which only fights in self-protection. See also flank guard; guard. 5. (DOD only) A task to maintain surveillance; provide early warning to the main body; or impede, destroy, and harass enemy reconnaissance within its capability without becoming decisively engaged. See also security operations.

screening group — In amphibious operations, a task organization of ships that furnishes protection to the task force en route to the objective area and during operations in the objective area. (JP 3-02)

scribing — (*) In cartography, a method of preparing a map or chart by cutting the lines into a prepared coating.

S-curve distortion — (*) The distortion in the image produced by a scanning sensor which results from the forward displacement of the sensor during the time of lateral scan.

S-Day — See times.

sea-air-land team — A naval force specially organized, trained, and equipped to conduct

special operations in maritime, littoral, and riverine environments. Also called SEAL team. (JP 3-05.3)

sea areas — Areas in the amphibious objective area designated for the stationing of amphibious task force ships. Sea areas include inner transport area, sea echelon area, fire support area, etc. See also amphibious objective area; fire support area; inner transport area; sea echelon area. (JP 3-02)

sea barge — A type of barge-ship that can carry up to 38 loaded barges. It may also carry tugs, stacked causeway sections, various watercraft, or heavy lift equipment to better support joint logistics over-the- shore operations.

seabasing — In amphibious operations, a technique of basing certain landing force support functions aboard ship which decreases shore-based presence. See also amphibious operation. (JP 3-02)

seaborne forces — US or foreign combatants or auxiliary ships, including aircraft and ground forces assigned to or emanating from such vessels and other military forces operating in support of such forces and operating in, on, or over the sea.

sea control operations — The employment of naval forces, supported by land and air forces as appropriate, in order to achieve military objectives in vital sea areas. Such operations include destruction of enemy naval forces, suppression of enemy sea commerce, protection of vital sea lanes, and establishment of local military superiority in areas of naval operations. See also land control operations.

sea echelon — (*) A portion of the assault shipping which withdraws from or remains out of the transport area during an amphibious landing and operates in

designated areas to seaward in an on-call or unscheduled status.

sea echelon area — In amphibious operations, an area to seaward of a transport area from which assault shipping is phased into the transport area, and to which assault shipping withdraws from the transport area. (JP 3-02)

sea echelon plan — In amphibious operations, the distribution plan for amphibious shipping in the transport area to minimize losses due to enemy attack by weapons of mass destruction and to reduce the area to be swept of mines. See also amphibious operation. (JP 3-02)

sea frontier — The naval command of a coastal frontier, including the coastal zone in addition to the land area of the coastal frontier and the adjacent sea areas.

sealed cabin — (*) The occupied space of an aircraft characterized by walls which do not allow any gaseous exchange between the ambient atmosphere and the inside atmosphere and containing its own ways of regenerating the inside atmosphere.

sealift enhancement program — Special equipment and modifications that adapt merchant-type dry cargo ships and tankers to specific military missions. They are typically installed on Ready Reserve Force ships or ships under Military Sealift Command control. Sealift enhancements fall into three categories: productivity, survivability, and operational enhancements. Also called SEP. See also

Military Sealift Command; Ready Reserve; Ready Reserve Force. (JP4-01.7)

Sealift Readiness Program — A standby contractual agreement between Military Sealift Command and US ship operators for voluntary provision of private ships for defense use. Call-up of ships may be

authorized by joint approval of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation. Also called SRP. See also

Military Sealift Command.

sea port — A land facility designated for reception of personnel or materiel moved by sea, and that serves as an authorized port of entrance into or departure from the country in which located. See also port of debarkation; port of embarkation.

search — 1. An operation to locate an enemy force known or believed to be at sea. 2. A systematic reconnaissance of a defined area, so that all parts of the area have passed within visibility. 3. To distribute gunfire over an area in depth by successive changes in gun elevation.

search and rescue — The use of aircraft, surface craft (land or water), submarines, specialized rescue teams, and equipment to search for and rescue personnel in distress on land or at sea. Also called SAR. See also combat search and rescue; combat search and rescue mission coordinator; component search and rescue controller; isolated personnel; joint combat search and rescue operation; joint search and rescue center; joint search and rescue center director; rescue coordination center; search and rescue mission coordinator. (JP 3-50.2)

search and rescue alert notice — An alerting message used for United States domestic flights. It corresponds to the declaration of the alert phase. Also called ALNOT. See also search and rescue incident classification, subpart b.

search and rescue incident classification —

Three emergency phases into which an incident may be classified or progress, according to the seriousness of the incident and its requirement for rescue service. a. uncertainty phase — Doubt exists as

to the safety of a craft or person because of knowledge of possible difficulties or because of lack of information concerning progress or position. b. alert phase — Apprehension exists for the safety of a craft or person because of definite information that serious difficulties exist that do not amount to a distress or because of a continued lack of information concerning progress or position. c. distress phase — Immediate assistance is required by a craft or person because of being threatened by grave or imminent danger or because of continued lack of information concerning progress or position after procedures for the alert phase have been executed.

search and rescue mission coordinator —

The designated person or organization selected to direct and coordinate support for a specific search and rescue mission. Also called SAR mission coordinator. See also combat search and rescue; combat search and rescue mission coordinator; component search and rescue controller; search and rescue. (JP 3-50.2)

search and rescue region — See inland search and rescue region; maritime search and rescue region; overseas search and rescue region.

search attack unit — The designation given to one or more ships and/or aircraft separately organized or detached from a formation as a tactical unit to search for and destroy submarines. Also called SAU.

searched channel — (*) In naval mine warfare, the whole or part of a route or a path which has been searched, swept, or hunted, the width of the channel being specified.

searching fire — (*) Fire distributed in depth by successive changes in the elevation of a gun. See also fire.

search jammer — See automatic search jammer.

search mission — (*) In air operations, an air reconnaissance by one or more aircraft dispatched to locate an object or objects known or suspected to be in a specific area.

search radius — In search and rescue operations, a radius centered on a datum point having a length equal to the total probable error plus an additional safety length to ensure a greater than 50 percent probability that the target is in the search area.

search sweeping — (*) In naval mine warfare, the operation of sweeping a sample of route or area to determine whether poised mines are present.

SEASHED — A temporary deck in container ships for transport of large military vehicles and outsized breakbulk cargo that will not fit into containers. See also outsized cargo. (JP 4-01.6)

sea state — A scale that categorizes the force of progressively higher seas by wave height. This scale is mathematically co-related to the Pierson-Moskowitz scale and the relationship of wind to waves. See also

Pierson-Moskowitz scale. (JP 4-01.6)

sea surveillance — (*) The systematic observation of surface and subsurface sea areas by all available and practicable means primarily for the purpose of locating, identifying and determining the movements of ships, submarines, and other vehicles, friendly and enemy, proceeding on or under the surface of the world’s seas and oceans. See also surveillance.

sea surveillance system — (*) A system for collecting, reporting, correlating, and presenting information supporting and derived from the task of sea surveillance.

seaward launch point — A designated point off the coast from which special operations forces will launch to proceed to the beach to conduct operations. Also called SLP.

See also seawardrecoverypoint. (JP3-05.5)

seaward recovery point — A designated point off the coast to which special operations forces will proceed for recovery by submarine or other means of recovery. Also called SRP. See also seaward launch point. (JP 3-05.5)

secondary censorship — Armed forces censorship performed on the personal communications of officers, civilian employees, and accompanying civilians of the Armed Forces of the United States, and on those personal communications of enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces not subject to Armed Forces primary censorship or those requiring reexamination. See also censorship.

secondary imagery dissemination — See electronic imagery dissemination.

secondary imagery dissemination system

— See electronic imagery dissemination.

secondary loads — Unit equipment, supplies, and major end items that are transported in the beds of organic vehicles.

secondary port — (*) A port with one or more berths, normally at quays, which can accommodate ocean-going ships for discharge.

secondary rescue facilities — Local airbaseready aircraft, crash boats, and other air, surface, subsurface, and ground elements suitable for rescue missions, including government and privately operated units and facilities.

secondary road — A road supplementing a main road, usually wide enough and

suitable for two-way, all-weather traffic at moderate or slow speeds.

secondary targets — Alternative targets of lower publicity value that are attacked when the primary target is unattainable. See also antiterrorism; primary target. (JP3-07.2)

secondary wave breaker system — A series of waves superimposed on another series and differing in height, period, or angle of approach to the beach. (JP 4-01.6)

second strike — The first counterblow of a war. (Generally associated with nuclear operations.)

secret — See security classification.

Secretary of a Military Department — The Secretary of the Air Force, Army, or Navy.

SECRET Internet Protocol Router Network — Worldwide SECRET level packet switch network that uses high-speed internet protocol routers and high-capacity Defense Information Systems Network circuitry. Also called SIPRNET. See also

Defense Information Systems Network.

(JP 2-01)

section — 1. As applied to ships or naval aircraft, a tactical subdivision of a division. It is normally one-half of a division in the case of ships, and two aircraft in the case of aircraft. 2. A subdivision of an office, installation, territory, works, or organization; especially a major subdivision of a staff. 3. A tactical unit of the Army and Marine Corps. A section is smaller than a platoon and larger than a squad. In some organizations the section, rather than the squad, is the basic tactical unit. 4. An area in a warehouse extending from one wall to the next; usually the largest subdivision of one floor.

sector — (*) 1. An area designated by boundaries within which a unit operates, and for which it is responsible. 2. One of the subdivisions of a coastal frontier. See also area of influence; zone of action.

sector of fire — (*) A defined area which is required to be covered by the fire of individual or crew served weapons or the weapons of a unit.

sector scan — (*) Scan in which the antenna oscillates through a selected angle.

secure — (*) In an operational context, to gain possession of a position or terrain feature, with or without force, and to make such disposition as will prevent, as far as possible, its destruction or loss by enemy action. See also denial measure.

security — 1. Measures taken by a military unit, activity, or installation to protect itself against all acts designed to, or which may, impair its effectiveness. 2. A condition that results from the establishment and maintenance of protective measures that ensure a state of inviolability from hostile acts or influences. 3. With respect to classified matter, the condition that prevents unauthorized persons from having access to official information that is safeguarded in the interests of national security. See also national security.

security alert team — Two or more security force members who form the initial reinforcing element responding to security alarms, emergencies, or irregularities. Also called SAT.

security assistance — Group of programs authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, as amended, or other related statutes by which the United States provides defense articles, military training, and other defense-related services by grant,

loan, credit, or cash sales in furtherance of national policies and objectives. Also called

SA.

security assistance organization — All Department of Defense elements located in a foreign country with assigned responsibilities for carrying out security assistance management functions. It includes military assistance advisory groups, military missions and groups, offices of defense and military cooperation, liaison groups, and defense attaché personnel designated to perform security assistance functions. Also called SAO. See also security assistance. (JP 3-07.1)

security certification — A certification issued by competent authority to indicate that a person has been investigated and is eligible for access to classified matter to the extent stated in the certification.

security classification — A category to which national security information and material is assigned to denote the degree of damage that unauthorized disclosure would cause to national defense or foreign relations of the United States and to denote the degree of protection required. There are three such categories. a. top secret — National security information or material that requires the highest degree of protection and the unauthorized disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security. Examples of “exceptionally grave damage” include armed hostilities against the United States or its allies; disruption of foreign relations vitally affecting the national security; the compromise of vital national defense plans or complex cryptologic and communications intelligence systems; the revelation of sensitive intelligence operations; and the disclosure of scientific or technological developments vital to national security. b. secret — National

security information or material that requires a substantial degree of protection and the unauthorized disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to the national security. Examples of “serious damage” include disruption of foreign relations significantly affecting the national security; significant impairment of a program or policy directly related to the national security; revelation of significant military plans or intelligence operations; and compromise of significant scientific or technological developments relating to national security. c. confidential

— National security information or material that requires protection and the unauthorized disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the national security. See also classification; security.

security clearance — An administrative determination by competent authority that an individual is eligible, from a security stand-point, for access to classified information.

security countermeasures — Those protective activities required to prevent espionage, sabotage, theft, or unauthorized use of classified or controlled information, systems, or material of the Department of Defense. See also counterintelligence.

(JP 2-01.2)

security intelligence — (*) Intelligence on the identity, capabilities, and intentions of hostile organizations or individuals who are or may be engaged in espionage, sabotage, subversion, or terrorism. See also counterintelligence; intelligence; security.

security review — The process of reviewing news media products at some point, usually before transmission, to ensure that no oral, written, or visual information is filed for publication or broadcast that would divulge

national security information or would jeopardize ongoing or future operations or that would threaten the safety of the members of the force. See also security. (JP 3-61)

sedition — Willfully advocating or teaching the duty or necessity of overthrowing the US government or any political subdivision by force or violence. See also counterintelligence. (JP 2-01.2)

seize — To employ combat forces to occupy physically and to control a designated area. See also combat forces. (JP 3-18)

seizures — In counterdrug operations, includes drugs and conveyances seized by law enforcement authorities and drugrelated assets (monetary instruments, etc.) confiscated based on evidence that they have been derived from or used in illegal narcotics activities. See also counterdrug operations; law enforcement agency.

(JP 3-07.4)

selected area for evasion — A designated area in hostile territory that offers evaders or escapees a reasonable chance of avoiding capture and of surviving until they can be evacuated. Also called SAFE. See also escapee; evader; hostile. (JP 3-50.3)

selected area for evasion area intelligence description — In evasion and recovery operations, an in-depth, all-source evasion study designed to assist the recovery of military personnel from a selected area for evasion under hostile conditions. Also called SAID. See also evasion; evasion and recovery; hostile; recovery operations; selected area for evasion.

(JP 3-50.3)

Selected Reserve — Those units and individuals within the Ready Reserve designated by their respective Services and approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as so

essential to initial wartime missions that they have priority over all other Reserves. All Selected Reservists are in an active status. The Selected Reserve also includes persons performing initial active duty for training. See also Ready Reserve.

Selected Reserve strength — The total number of guardsmen and reservists in the Selected Reserve who are subject to the 200K Presidential recall or mobilization under declaration of war or national emergency.

selective identification feature — A capability that, when added to the basic identification friend or foe system, provides the means to transmit, receive, and display selected coded replies.

selective jamming — See spot jamming.

selective loading — (*) The arrangement and stowage of equipment and supplies aboard ship in a manner designed to facilitate issues to units. See also loading.

selective mobilization — See mobilization,

Part 2.

selective release process — The process involving requesting, analyzing, and obtaining approval for release of weapons to obtain specific, limited damage on selected targets.

selective unloading — In an amphibious operation, the controlled unloading from assault shipping, and movement ashore, of specific items of cargo at the request of the landing force commander. Normally, selective unloading parallels the landing of nonscheduled units during the initial unloading period of the ship-to-shore movement. (JP 3-02.2)

selenodesy — That branch of applied mathematics that determines, by

observation and measurement, the exact positions of points and the figures and areas of large portions of the moon’s surface, or the shape and size of the moon.

self-defense — A commander has the authority and obligation to use all necessary means available and to take all appropriate action to defend that commander’s unit and other US forces in the vicinity from a hostile act or hostile intent. Force used should not exceed that which is necessary to decisively counter the hostile act or intent and ensure the continued safety of US forces or other persons and property they are ordered to protect. US forces may employ such force in self-defense only so long as the hostile force continues to present an imminent threat.

self-destroying fuze — (*) A fuze designed to burst a projectile before the end of its flight.

self-protection depth — (*) The depth of water where the aggregate danger width relative to mines affected by a minesweeping technique is zero. Safe depth is a particular self-protection depth.

self-sustaining containership — A containership with shipboard-installed cranes capable of loading and off-loading containers without assistance of port crane service. See also containership. (JP 4-01.7)

semi-active homing guidance — (*) A system of homing guidance wherein the receiver in the missile utilizes radiations from the target which has been illuminated by an outside source.

semi-controlled mosaic — (*) A mosaic composed of corrected or uncorrected prints laid so that major ground features match their geographical coordinates. See also mosaic.

semi-permanent joint task force — A joint task force that has been assigned an expanded or follow-on mission and will continue to conduct these operations in a specified area for an undetermined period of time. See also joint task force; mission; operation. (JP 5-00.2)

senior meteorological and oceanographic officer — Meteorological and oceanographic officer responsible for assisting the combatant commander and staff in developing and executing operational meteorological and oceanographic service concepts in support of a designated joint force. Also called

SMO. See also meteorological and oceanographic. (JP 3-59)

senior officer present afloat — The senior line officer of the Navy, on active service, eligible for command at sea, who is present and in command of any unit of the operating forces afloat in the locality or within an area prescribed by competent authority. This officer is responsible for the administration of matters which collectively affect naval units of the operating forces afloat in the locality prescribed. Also called SOPA.

sensitive — Requiring special protection from disclosure that could cause embarrassment, compromise, or threat to the security of the sponsoring power. May be applied to an agency, installation, person, position, document, material, or activity.

sensitive compartmented information —

All information and materials bearing special community controls indicating restricted handling within present and future community intelligence collection programs and their end products for which community systems of compartmentation have been or will be formally established. (These controls are over and above the provisions of DOD 5200.1-R, Information

Security Program Regulation.) Also called

SCI.

sensitive compartmented information facility — An accredited area, room, group of rooms, or installation where sensitive compartmented information (SCI) may be stored, used, discussed, and/or electronically processed. Sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) procedural and physical measures prevent the free access of persons unless they have been formally indoctrinated for the particular SCI authorized for use or storage within the SCIF. Also called

SCIF. See also sensitive compartmented information. (JP 2-01)

separation zone — (*) An area between two adjacent horizontal or vertical areas into which units are not to proceed unless certain safety measures can be fulfilled.

sequel — A major operation that follows the current major operation. Plans for a sequel are based on the possible outcomes (success, stalemate, or defeat) associated with the current operation. See also branch. (JP 3-0)

sequence circuit — (*) In mine warfare, a circuit which requires actuation by a predetermined sequence of influences of predetermined magnitudes.

sequenced ejection system — See ejection systems.

serial — (*) 1. An element or a group of elements within a series which is given a numerical or alphabetical designation for convenience in planning, scheduling, and control. 2. (DOD only) A serial can be a group of people, vehicles, equipment, or supplies and is used in airborne, air assault, amphibious operations, and convoys.

serial assignment table — A table that is used in amphibious operations and shows the serial number, the title of the unit, the approximate number of personnel; the material, vehicles, or equipment in the serial; the number and type of landing craft and/or amphibious vehicles required to boat the serial; and the ship on which the serial is embarked.

seriously ill or injured — The casualty status of a person whose illness or injury is classified by medical authority to be of such severity that there is cause for immediate concern, but there is not imminent danger to life. Also called SII. See also casualty status.

seriously wounded — A casualty whose injuries or illness are of such severity that the patient is rendered unable to walk or sit, thereby requiring a litter for movement and evacuation. See also evacuation; litter; patient. (JP 4-02)

service ammunition — Ammunition intended for combat rather than for training purposes.

Service component command — A command consisting of the Service component commander and all those Service forces, such as individuals, units, detachments, organizations, and installations under that command, including the support forces that have been assigned to a combatant command or further assigned to a subordinate unified command or joint task force. See also component; functional component command. (JP 0-2)

Service component command chaplain —

The senior chaplain assigned to the staff of, or designated by, the Service component commander. The component command chaplain is responsible for supervising and coordinating religious ministries within the purview of the component commander and

may be supported by a staff of chaplains and enlisted religious support personnel. See also command chaplain; command chaplain of the combatant command; lay leader or lay reader; religious ministry support; religious ministry support plan; religious ministry support team. (JP1-05)

service environment — (*) All external conditions, whether natural or induced, to which items of materiel are likely to be subjected throughout their life cycle.

Service force module — Ahypothetical force module built per Service doctrine composed of combat, combat support, and combat service support forces and sustainment for an estimated period, e.g., 30 days.

service group — A major naval administration and/or tactical organization, consisting of the commander and the staff, designed to exercise operational and administrative control of assigned squadrons and units in executing their tasks of providing logistic support of fleet operations.

service mine — (*) A mine capable of a destructive explosion.

service squadron — An administrative and/ or tactical subdivision of a naval service force or service group, consisting of the commander and the staff and organized to exercise operational and administrative control of assigned units in providing logistic support of fleet units as directed.

service test — A test of an item, system of materiel, or technique conducted under simulated or actual operational conditions to determine whether the specified military requirements or characteristics are satisfied. See also troop test.

service troops — Those units designed to render supply, maintenance, transportation,