Special Forces Glossary
30 mike:
Slang for rounds fired from the Apache's M230 chain gun or A-10 Warthog's GAU-8 rotary cannon.
40 mike:
40mm grenades, usually deployed from a M203 grenade launcher. The 40mm rounds can also be fired from the AC-130 gunship.
AAA, Triple A:
Antiaircraft Artillery. Any improved position that has artillery designed to take down aircraft.
AFO:
Advance Force Operations. The "black" special operations team tasked with high-risk missions in hostile territory.
AO:
Area of Operation. The geographic location of the combat operations.
BDA:
Battle Damage Assessment. Report to aircraft or artillery that tells the success or failure of an airstrike or artillery strike.
CAS:
Close Air Support. Any air action from fixed or rotary wing aircraft against hostile forces when friendly forces are in close proximity.
Charlie Mike:
Military phonetic alphabet slang for "continue mission."
Contact:
A standard marking term used by aviators to acknowledge sighting of a specific reference point. For ground forces, it is when first contact is made with hostile forces. Often yelled, "Contact!"
C-SAR:
Combat Search And Rescue.
Delta Hotel:
Military phonetic alphabet slang for "direct hit." Acknowledges target destroyed.
Dismounts:
Troops that are on foot. They can be enemy or friendly.
DShK:
"Dishka." A Soviet-made heavy machine gun that fires large 12.7mm rounds and is used throughout Afghanistan by the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
FARP:
Forward Arming and Refueling Point. A safe area where aircraft can refuel that is closer to the area of operation than the base from which they launched.
FLIR:
Forward Looking Infrared. Infrared technology used in aviation to see in low light in addition to picking up heat signatures.
HVT:
High Value Target. An important person of interest who must be targeted or terminated.
IR:
Infrared. Often used in low light situations and in conjunction with NODs to mark targets or positions. Can be in the form of strobes or chemical lights.
Lima Charlie: Military phonetic alphabet slang for "loud and clear." Acknowledgement of an order.
LZ:
Landing Zone.
"Mujh":
Shorthand for mujahideen or "freedom fighter." Refers to any number of factions of armed guerilla fighters in Afghanistan, on either side of the war.
NCO:
Noncommissioned Officer. Enlisted soldier above the rank of corporal; usually refers to U.S. Army personnel.
"Nizzos":
Component of the male reproductive system.
No Joy:
A standard marking term used by aviators to state no visual on the target or reference point.
NOD: Night Optical Device. Sometimes called NVGs, these are used by the military to see in low light situations.
O Dark Thirty:
Military slang for the dark hours between midnight and sunrise. Very early.
PC:
Precious Cargo. General term used in the SOF community for a tangible objective to be acquired or secured. Can be a person, object, or data.
PID:
Positive Identification. Confirmed identification of a target, location, or reference point.
QRF:
Quick Reaction Force. A nimble, at-the-ready force deployed in very short notice, usually under fifteen minutes. The size depends on the threat, but most QRFs are a platoon or a squad.
Roger:
"Yes."
RPG:
Rocket-Propelled Grenade. Weapon of choice of guerilla forces—it's ubiquitous, portable, and deadly.
SIGINT:
Signal Intelligence. All forms of radio, telephone, satellite, or other communication other than personal interaction or human intelligence (HUMINT).
SOFLAM:
Special Operations Force Laser Marker. Hand-held laser rangefinder and designator unit used by SOF to mark and destroy enemy targets with laser-guided ordnance.
TADS:
Target Acquisition and Designation System. Used on the Apache helicopter, this is the system recognizes targets and designates them for fire missions.
Tally:
A standard marking term used by aviators to acknowledge sighting of confirmed enemy target.
Tango Uniform:
Military phonetic alphabet slang for total destruction of an intended target.
TOC:
Tactical Operations Center. The command center in the area of operation.
TOT:
Time on Target. Shorthand for the time before impact of ordnance on a target.
UAV:
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. A pilotless drone that is controlled remotely.
VTC:
Video Teleconference. A way for the rear echelon to keep tabs on the guys on the ground. Its benefits are debatable as it has as many detractors as supporters.
WILCO: "Will comply." The shortest, most concise way of saying, "I hear you and will do what you say."