US Army Dictionary of Military Terms

evacuation, hospitalization, and other services required by air and ground combat units to carry out effectively their mission in combat. See also combat service support elements; troops.

Service-unique container — Any 20or 40-foot International Organization for Standardization container procured or leased by a Service to meet Service-unique requirements. Also called componentowned container. See also common-use container; component-owned container.

(JP 4-01.7)

Service-unique transportation assets —

Transportation assets that are: a. Assigned to a Military Department for functions of the Secretaries of the Military Departments set forth in Sections 3013(b), 5013(b), and 8013(b) of Title 10 of the United States Code, including administrative functions (such as motor pools), intelligence functions, training functions, and maintenance functions; b. Assigned to the Department of the Army for the execution of the missions of the Army Corps of Engineers; c. Assigned to the Department of the Navy as the special mission support force of missile range instrumentation ships, ocean survey ships, cable ships, oceanographic research ships, acoustic research ships, and naval test support ships; the naval fleet auxiliary force of fleet ammunition ships, fleet stores ships, fleet ocean tugs, and fleet oilers; hospital ships; Marine Corps intermediate maintenance activity ships, Marine Corps helicopter support to senior Federal officials; and, prior to the complete discharge of cargo, maritime pre-positioning ships; d. Assigned to the Department of the Air Force for search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, audiovisual services, aeromedical evacuation functions, and transportation of senior Federal officials. (JP 4-01)

servicing — See common servicing; cross-servicing; joint servicing. See also inter-Service support.

severe damage — See nuclear damage,

Part 3.

shaded relief — (*) Acartographic technique that provides an apparent three-dimensional configuration of the terrain on maps and charts by the use of graded shadows that would be cast by high ground if light were shining from the northwest. Shaded relief is usually used in combination with contours. See also hill shading.

shadowing — To observe and maintain contact (not necessarily continuously) with a unit or force.

shallow fording — The ability of a self-propelled gun or ground vehicle equipped with built-in waterproofing, with its wheels or tracks in contact with the ground, to negotiate a water obstacle without the use of a special waterproofing kit. See also flotation.

shaped charge — (*) A charge shaped so as to concentrate its explosive force in a particular direction.

shared data environment — Automation services that support the implementation and maintenance of data resources that are used by two or more combat support applications. Services provided include: identification of common data, physical data modeling, database segmentation, development of data access and maintenance routines, and database reengineering to use the common data environment. See also data. (JP 4-0)

shear link assembly — (*) A device designed to break at a specified mechanical load.

sheet explosive — (*) Plastic explosive provided in a sheet form.

sheetlines — Those lines defining the geographic limits of the map or chart detail.

shelf life — (*) The length of time during which an item of supply, subject to deterioration or having a limited life which cannot be renewed, is considered serviceable while stored. See also storage life.

shell (specify) — (*) A command or request indicating the type of projectile to be used.

shelter — An International Organization for Standardization container outfitted with liveor work-in capability. See also

International Organization for Standardization. (JP 4-01.7)

shielding — (*) 1. Material of suitable thickness and physical characteristics used to protect personnel from radiation during the manufacture, handling, and transportation of fissionable and radioactive materials. 2. Obstructions which tend to protect personnel or materials from the effects of a nuclear explosion.

shifting fire — Fire delivered at constant range at varying deflections; used to cover the width of a target that is too great to be covered by an open sheaf.

ship counter — (*) In naval mine warfare, a device in a mine which prevents the mine from detonating until a preset number of actuations has taken place.

ship haven — See moving havens.

ship influence — (*) In naval mine warfare, the magnetic, acoustic, and pressure effects of a ship, or a minesweep simulating a ship, which is detectable by a mine or other sensing devices.

shipping configuration — The manner in which an item is prepared for shipment.

shipping control — See naval control of shipping.

shipping designator — A code word assigned to a particular overseas base, port, or area for specific use as an address on shipments to the overseas location concerned. The code word is usually four letters and may be followed by a number to indicate a particular addressee.

shipping lane — (*) A term used to indicate the general flow of merchant shipping between two departure/terminal areas.

shipping time — The time elapsing between the shipment of materiel by the supplying activity and receipt of materiel by the requiring activity. See also order and shipping time.

ship-to-shore movement — (*) That portion of the assault phase of an amphibious operation which includes the deployment of the landing force from the assault shipping to designated landing areas.

shoal — A sandbank or bar that makes water shoal; i.e., a sand-bank that is not rocky and on which there is a water depth of 6 fathoms or less. (JP 4-01.6)

shock front — (*) The boundary between the pressure disturbance created by an explosion (in air, water, or earth) and the ambient atmosphere, water, or earth.

shore fire control party — A specially trained unit for control of naval gunfire in support of troops ashore. It consists of a spotting team to adjust fire and a naval gunfire liaison team to perform liaison functions for the supported battalion commander. Also called SFCP.

shoreline effect — See coastal refraction.

shore party — (*) A task organization of the landing force, formed for the purpose of facilitating the landing and movement off the beaches of troops, equipment, and supplies; for the evacuation from the beaches of casualties and enemy prisoners of war; and for facilitating the beaching, retraction, and salvaging of landing ships and craft. It comprises elements of both the naval and landing forces. Also called beach group. See also beachmaster unit; beach party; naval beach group.

shore-to-shore movement — The assault movement of personnel and materiel directly from a shore staging area to the objective, involving no further transfers between types of craft or ships incident to the assault movement.

shortfall — The lack of forces, equipment, personnel, materiel, or capability, reflected as the difference between the resources identified as a plan requirement and those apportioned to a combatant commander for planning, that would adversely affect the command’s ability to accomplish its mission.

short-range air defense engagement zone

— See weapon engagement zone. (JP 3-52)

short-range ballistic missile — A ballistic missile with a range capability up to about 600 nautical miles. Also called SRBM.

short-range transport aircraft — See transport aircraft.

short scope buoy — (*) A buoy used as a navigational reference which remains nearly vertical over its sinker.

short supply — An item is in short supply when the total of stock on hand and

anticipated receipts during a given period are less than the total estimated demand during that period.

short takeoff and landing — (*) The ability of an aircraft to clear a 50-foot (15 meters) obstacle within 1,500 feet (450 meters) of commencing takeoff or in landing, to stop within 1,500 feet (450 meters) after passing over a 50-foot (15 meters) obstacle. Also called STOL.

short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft

— (*) Fixed-wing aircraft capable of clearing a 15-meter (50-foot) obstacle within 450 meters (1,500 feet) of commencing takeoff run, and capable of landing vertically. Also called STOVL.

See also short takeoff and landing.

short title — (*) A short, identifying combination of letters, and/or numbers assigned to a document or device for purposes of brevity and/or security.

short ton — 2,000 pounds. Also called S/T or STON. (JP 4-01.7)

shouldering — Maneuvering a vessel in contact with an opposing vessel to cause the opposing vessel to turn away. Shouldering is undertaken with the intent of minimizing damage to the opposing vessel.

show of force — An operation designed to demonstrate US resolve that involves increased visibility of US deployed forces in an attempt to defuse a specific situation that, if allowed to continue, may be detrimental to US interests or national objectives. (JP 3-07)

shuttered fuze — (*) A fuze in which inadvertent initiation of the detonator will not initiate either the booster or the burst charge.

side-looking airborne radar — (*) An airborne radar, viewing at right angles to the axis of the vehicle, which produces a presentation of terrain or moving targets. Also called SLAR.

side oblique air photograph — An oblique photograph taken with the camera axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

side overlap — See overlap.

sighting — Actual visual contact. Does not include other contacts, which must be reported by type, e.g., radar and sonar contacts. See also contact report.

SIGINT direct service — A reporting procedure to provide signals intelligence (SIGINT) to a military commander or other authorized recipient in response to SIGINT requirements. The product may vary from recurring, serialized reports produced by the National Security Agency/Central Security Service to instantaneous aperiodic reports provided to the command or other recipient, usually from a fixed SIGINT activity engaged in collection and processing. See also signals intelligence.

SIGINT direct service activity — A signals intelligence (SIGINT) activity composed of collection and associated resources that normally performs in a direct service role under the SIGINT operational control of the Director, National Security Agency/ Chief, Central Security Service. See also signals intelligence.

SIGINT direct support — The provision of signals intelligence (SIGINT) information to a military commander by a SIGINT direct support unit in response to SIGINT operational tasking levied by that commander. See also signals intelligence.

SIGINT direct support unit — A signals intelligence (SIGINT) unit, usually mobile, designed to perform a SIGINT direct support role for a military commander under delegated authority from the Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service. See also signals intelligence.

SIGINT operational control — The authoritative direction of signals intelligence (SIGINT) activities, including tasking and allocation of effort, and the authoritative prescription of those uniform techniques and standards by which SIGINT information is collected, processed, and reported. See also signals intelligence.

SIGINT operational tasking — The authoritative operational direction of and direct levying of signals intelligence (SIGINT) information needs by a military commander on designated SIGINT resources. These requirements are directive, irrespective of other priorities, and are conditioned only by the capability of those resources to produce such information. Operational tasking includes authority to deploy all or part of the SIGINT resources for which SIGINT operational tasking authority has been delegated. See also signals intelligence.

SIGINT operational tasking authority —

A military commander’s authority to operationally direct and levy signals intelligence (SIGINT) requirements on designated SIGINT resources; includes authority to deploy and redeploy all or part of the SIGINT resources for which SIGINT operational tasking authority has been delegated. Also called SOTA. See also signals intelligence.

SIGINT resources — Personnel and equipment of any unit, activity, or

organizational element engaged in signals intelligence activities. See also signals intelligence.

SIGINT support plans — Plans prepared by the National Security Agency/Central Security Service, in coordination with concerned elements of the United States SIGINT system, which specify how the resources of the system will be aligned in crisis or war to support military operations covered by certain Joint Chiefs of Staff and unified and specified command operation plans. See also signals intelligence.

signal — (*) 1. As applied to electronics, any transmitted electrical impulse. 2. Operationally, a type of message, the text of which consists of one or more letters, words, characters, signal flags, visual displays, or special sounds with prearranged meaning, and which is conveyed or transmitted by visual, acoustical, or electrical means.

signal center — A combination of signal communication facilities operated by the Army in the field and consisting of a communications center, telephone switching central and appropriate means of signal communications. See also communications center.

signal letters — See international call sign.

signal operation instructions — A series of orders issued for technical control and coordination of the signal communication activities of a command. In Marine Corps usage, these instructions are designated communication operation instructions.

signal security — A generic term that includes both communications security and electronics security. See also security.

signals intelligence — 1. A category of intelligence comprising either individually

or in combination all communications intelligence, electronic intelligence, and foreign instrumentation signals intelligence, however transmitted. 2. Intelligence derived from communications, electronic, and foreign instrumentation signals. Also called SIGINT. See also communications intelligence; electronic intelligence; foreign instrumentation signals intelligence; intelligence. (JP 2-0)

signal-to-noise ratio — The ratio of the amplitude of the desired signal to the amplitude of noise signals at a given point in time.

signature equipment — (*) Any item of equipment which reveals the type and nature of the unit or formation to which it belongs.

signed route — A route along which a unit has placed directional signs bearing its unit identification symbol. The signs are for the unit’s use only and must comply with movement regulations.

significant wave height — The average height of the third of waves observed during a given period of time. Significant wave height is used for evaluating the impact of waves and breakers on watercraft in the open sea and surf zones. See also surf zone. (JP 4-01.6)

Silver Triangle — The South American region consisting of Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia that is historically known to be a major illegal drug production area. (JP 3-07.4)

simulative electromagnetic deception — See electromagnetic deception.

simultaneous engagement — The concurrent engagement of hostile targets by combination of interceptor aircraft and surface-to-air missiles.

single-anchor leg mooring — A mooring facility dedicated to the offshore petroleum discharge system. Once installed, it permits a tanker to remain on station and pump in much higher sea states than is possible with a spread moor. Also called SALM. See also offshore petroleum discharge system. (JP 4-01.6)

single department purchase — A method of purchase whereby one Military Department buys commodities for another Military Department or Departments.

single flow route — (*) A route at least one- and-a-half lanes wide allowing the passage of a column of vehicles, and permitting isolated vehicles to pass or travel in the opposite direction at predetermined points. See also double flow route.

single integrated theater logistic manager

— Service component or agency, usually in a mature theater, that is designated by the combatant commander or subunified commander as the single in-theater manager for planning and execution of a specific common-user logistic (CUL) item or related items. Single integrated logistic managers are normally long-term in nature with responsibilities that include planning, coordination, control, and execution of a specific CUL function (or similar CUL functions) at the theater level, in both peacetime and during actual operations, within the parameters of combatant commander’s directives. Also called SITLM. See also agency. (JP 4-07)

single manager for transportation — The United States Transportation Command is the Department of Defense single manager for transportation, other than Service-unique or theater-assigned transportation assets. See also

Service-unique transportation assets; theater-assigned transportation assets;

United States Transportation

Command. (JP 4-01)

single port manager — Through its transportation component commands, US Transportation Command is the Department of Defense-designated single port manager for all common-user aerial and sea ports worldwide. The single port manager performs those functions necessary to support the strategic flow of the deploying forces’ equipment and sustainment from the aerial and sea port of embarkation and hand-off to the combatant commander in the aerial and sea port of debarkation (APOD and SPOD). The single port manager is responsible for providing strategic deployment status information to the combatant commander and to manage workload of the APOD and SPOD operator based on the commander’s priorities and guidance. The single port manager is responsible through all phases of the theater aerial and sea port operations continuum, from an unimproved airfield and bare beach deployment to a commercial contract supported deployment. Also called

SPM. See also Military Traffic

Management Command; transportation component command; United States Transportation Command. (JP 4-0)

single-service manager — A component commander, designated by the combatant commander, who has been assigned responsibility and delegated the authority to coordinate specific theater personnel support activities such as theater postal operations. See also component. (JP 1-0)

single-spot ship — Those ships certified to have less than three adjacent landing areas. See also spot. (JP 3-04.1)

sinker — (*) In naval mine warfare, a heavy weight to which a buoyant mine is moored. The sinker generally houses the mooring

rope drum and depth-setting mechanism and for mines laid by ships, it also serves as a launching trolley.

situation map — (*) A map showing the tactical or the administrative situation at a particular time. See also map.

situation report — (*) A report giving the situation in the area of a reporting unit or formation. Also called SITREP.

situation template — A depiction of assumed adversary dispositions, based on adversary doctrine and the effects of the battlespace if the adversary should adopt a particular course of action. In effect, situation templates are the doctrinal templates depicting a particular operation modified to account for the effects of the battlespace environment and the adversary’s current situation (training and experience levels, logistic status, losses, dispositions). Normally, the situation template depicts adversary units two levels of command below the friendly force, as well as the expected locations of high-value targets. Situation templates use time-phase lines to indicate movement of forces and the expected flow of the operation. Usually, the situation template depicts a critical point in the course of action. Situation templates are one part of a adversary course of action model. Models may contain more than one situation template. See also course of action; doctrinal template. (JP 2-01.3)

skim sweeping — (*) In naval mine warfare, the technique of wire sweeping to a fixed depth over deep-laid moored mines to cut any shallow enough to endanger surface shipping.

skin paint — A radar indication caused by the reflected radar signal from an object.

skin tracking — The tracking of an object by means of a skin paint.

slant range — (*) The line of sight distance between two points, not at the same level relative to a specific datum.

slated items — Bulk petroleum and packaged bulk petroleum items that are requisitioned for overseas use by means of a consolidated requirement document, prepared and submitted through joint petroleum office channels. Packaged petroleum items are requisitioned in accordance with normal requisitioning procedures.

slice — An average logistic planning factor used to obtain estimates of requirements for personnel and materiel. (e.g., a personnel slice generally consists of the total strength of the stated basic combatant elements, plus its proportionate share of all supporting and higher headquarters personnel.)

slightly wounded — A casualty whose injuries or illness are relatively minor, permitting the patient to walk and/or sit. See also patient; walking patient. (JP 4-02)

small arms — Man portable, individual, and crew-served weapon systems used mainly against personnel and lightly armored or unarmored equipment.

small arms ammunition — Ammunition for small arms, i.e., all ammunition up to and including 20 millimeters (.787 inches).

small austere airfield — Unsophisticated airfield, usually with a short runway, that is limited in one or a combination of the following: taxiway systems, ramp space, security, materials handling equipment, aircraft servicing, maintenance, navigation aids, weather observing sensors, and communications. Also called SAAF. See also airfield. (JP 4-01.1)

small-lot storage — Generally considered to be a quantity of less than one pallet stack, stacked to maximum storage height. Thus,

the term refers to a lot consisting of from one container to two or more pallet loads, but is not of sufficient quantity to form a complete pallet column. See also storage.

small-scale map — A map having a scale smaller than 1:600,000. See also map.

smoke screen — A cloud of smoke used to conceal ground maneuver, obstacle breaching, recovery operations, and amphibious assault operations as well as key assembly areas, supply routes, and logistic facilities.

snagline mine — (*) A contact mine with a buoyant line attached to one of the horns or switches which may be caught up and pulled by the hull or propellers of a ship.

soft missile base — (*) A launching base that is not protected against a nuclear explosion.

soil shear strength — The maximum resistance of a soil to shearing stresses.

solatium payments — Monetary compensation given to alleviate grief, suffering, and anxiety resulting from injuries, and property or personal loss. (JP 1-06)

solenoid sweep — (*) In naval mine warfare, a magnetic sweep consisting of a horizontal axis coil wound on a floating iron tube.

sonar — A sonic device used primarily for the detection and location of underwater objects. (This term is derived from the words “sound navigation and ranging.”)

sonic — Of or pertaining to sound or the speed of sound. See also speed of sound.

sonobuoy — A sonar device used to detect submerged submarines that, when activated, relays information by radio. It

may be active directional or nondirectional, or it may be passive directional or nondirectional.

sortie — (*) In air operations, an operational flight by one aircraft.

sortie allotment message — The means by which the joint force commander allots excess sorties to meet requirements of subordinate commanders that are expressed in their air employment and/or allocation plan. Alsocalled SORTIEALOT. (JP3-56.1)

sortie number — (*) A reference used to identify the images taken by all the sensors during one air reconnaissance sortie.

sortie plot — An overlay representing the area on a map covered by imagery taken during one sortie.

sortie reference — See sortie number.

sorting — In counterdrug operations, the process involved in differentiating traffic that could be involved in drug trafficking from legitimate air traffic. Initial sorting criteria are established jointly by the US Coast Guard and US Customs Service, coordinated with Department of Defense counterparts, and disseminated as required. See also counterdrug operations. (JP 3-07.4)

source — 1. A person, thing, or activity from which information is obtained. 2. In clandestine activities, a person (agent), normally a foreign national, in the employ of an intelligence activity for intelligence purposes. 3. In interrogation activities, any person who furnishes information, either with or without the knowledge that the information is being used for intelligence purposes. In this context, a controlled source is in the employment or under the control of the intelligence activity and knows that the information is to be used

for intelligence purposes. An uncontrolled source is a voluntary contributor of information and may or may not know that the information is to be used for intelligence purposes. See also agent; collection agency.

space assignment — An assignment to the individual Departments/Services by the appropriate transportation operating agency of movement capability which completely or partially satisfies the stated requirements of the Departments/Services for the operating month and that has been accepted by them without the necessity for referral to the Joint Transportation Board for allocation.

space available mail — A transportation category for military mail transported to and from overseas bases by air on a spaceavailable basis. Also called SAM.

space control operations — Operations that provide freedom of action in space for friendly forces while, when directed, denying it to an enemy, and include the broad aspects of protection of US and US allied space systems and negation of enemy space systems. Space control operations encompass all elements of the space defense mission.

space defense — All defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy vehicles (including missiles) while in space, or to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of such attack. See also aerospace defense.

space environment — The region beginning at the lower boundary of the Earth’s ionosphere (approximately 50 km) and extending outward that contains solid particles (asteroids and meteoroids), energetic charged particles (ions, protons, electrons, etc.), and electromagnetic and ionizing radiation (x-rays, extreme

ultraviolet, gamma rays, etc.). See also ionosphere. (JP 3-59)

space support operations — Operations required to ensure that space control and support of terrestrial forces are maintained. They include activities such as launching and deploying space vehicles, maintaining and sustaining space vehicles while on orbit, and recovering space vehicles if required.

space systems — All of the devices and organizations forming the space network. The network includes spacecraft, ground control stations, and associated terminals.

space weather — A term used to describe the environment and other natural phenomena occurring above 50 kilometers altitude that can degrade Department of Defense communications (satellite communications and skywave), global positioning system, radar, and satellite operations.

span of detonation (atomic demolition munition employment) — That total period of time, resulting from a timer error, between the earliest and the latest possible detonation time. 1. early time — The earliest possible time that an atomic demolition munition can detonate; 2. fire time — That time the atomic demolition munition will detonate should the timers function precisely without error; 3. late time — The latest possible time that an atomic demolition munition can detonate.

special access program — A sensitive program, approved in writing by a head of agency with original top secret classification authority, that imposes need- to-know and access controls beyond those normally provided for access to confidential, secret, or top secret information. The level of controls is based

on the criticality of the program and the assessed hostile intelligence threat. The program may be an acquisition program, an intelligence program, or an operations and support program. Also called SAP. (JP 3-05.3)

special activities — Activities conducted in support of national foreign policy objectives that are planned and executed so that the role of the US Government is not apparent or acknowledged publicly. They are also functions in support of such activities but are not intended to influence US political processes, public opinion, policies, or media and do not include diplomatic activities or the collection and production of intelligence or related support functions. (JP 3-05)

special agent — A person, either United States military or civilian, who is a specialist in military security or the collection of intelligence or counterintelligence information.

special air operation — An air operation conducted in support of special operations and other clandestine, covert, and psychological activities. (JP 3-05.3)

special ammunition supply point — A mobile supply point where special ammunition is stored and issued to delivery units.

special assignment airlift requirements —

Airlift requirements, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -directed or -coordinated exercises, that require special consideration due to the number of passengers involved, weight or size of cargo, urgency of movement, sensitivity, or other valid factors that preclude the use of channel airlift. See also airlift requirement; channel airlift.

special boat squadron — Apermanent Navy echelon III major command to which two

or more special boat units are assigned for some operational and all administrative purposes. The squadron is tasked with the training and deployment of these special boat units and may augment naval special warfare task groups and task units. Also called SBS. (JP 3-05.3)

special boat unit — Those US Navy forces organized, trained, and equipped to conduct or support naval special warfare, riverine warfare, coastal patrol and interdiction, and joint special operations with patrol boats or other combatant craft designed primarily for special operations support. Also called SBU. (JP 3-05)

special cargo — Cargo that requires special handling or protection, such as pyrotechnics, detonators, watches, and precision instruments.

special-equipment vehicle — A vehicle consisting of a general-purpose chassis with special-purpose body and/or mounted equipments designed to meet a specialized requirement.

special forces — US Army forces organized, trained, and equipped specifically to conduct special operations. Special forces have five primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, direct action, special reconnaissance, and counterterrorism. Counterterrorism is a special mission for specially organized, trained, and equipped special forces units designated in theater contingency plans. Also called SF. (JP 3-05)

special forces group — A combat arms organization capable of planning, conducting, and supporting special operations activities in all operational environments in peace, conflict, and war. It consists of a group headquarters and headquarters company, a support company, and special forces battalions. The group