Military Tactics, Weapons, Communications, and Land Navigation

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary flashcards covering tactical orders, weapons handling, radio communications, medical evacuation procedures, and land navigation.

SALUTE

An acronym used to report enemy information, standing for Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, and Equipment.

DRAW

An acronym identifying the four potential enemy courses of action: Defend, Reinforce, Attack, or Withdraw.

HAS

An acronym identifying friendly forces: Higher unit, Adjacent unit, and Supporting unit.

Warning order

An order issued only if time is given.

Fragmentation order

An order containing the mission and execution statement.

Calcaneus bone

The largest bone in the human foot.

MARCH fracture

A stress fracture that occurs on the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones.

French foot

A foot condition resulting from exposure to temperatures of $32\text{--}50\text{ }^\text{o}\text{F}$ for a duration of $12\text{ hours}$.

Individual Camouflage Types

The three methods of applying individual camouflage: blotching, striping, and combination.

Shelter Site Selection

The five requirements for selecting a shelter site: blend in, low silhouette, irregular shape, small, and secluded.

LMGAS

The design characteristics of the M-16 rifle: lightweight, magazine-fed, gas-operated, air-cooled, and shoulder-fed.

M-16 Maximum Range

The maximum range of the M-16 rifle, which is $3600\text{ m}$.

M-16 Maximum Effective Range (Individual Target)

The maximum effective engagement distance of the M-16 on an individual target, which is $550\text{ m}$.

M-16 Maximum Effective Range (Area Target)

The maximum effective engagement distance of the M-16 on an area target, which is $800\text{ m}$.

M855

Ball ammunition characterized by a green tip.

M856

Tracer ammunition characterized by a red tip.

M199

Dummy ammunition characterized by 6 grooves.

M200

Blank ammunition characterized by a violet tip.

Tactical reload

Reloading the weapon while rounds are still left in the magazine due to a pause or break in a firefight.

Speed reload

Reloading the weapon rapidly after having completely run out of ammunition.

Tactical carry

A weapon carry technique with the muzzle oriented up.

Ready carry

A weapon carry technique with the weapon aimed out toward the target area.

Alert carry

A weapon carry technique with the muzzle pointed down toward the dirt.

VHF blade antenna

A long radio antenna measuring $48.5\text{ inches}$ that folds in half.

VHF/UHF HB antenna

A radio antenna that stands $10\text{ inches}$ high.

Push-to-Talk (PTT)

The side button on the radio assembly used to transmit voice communications.

Plain Text (PT)

A radio toggle switch setting designating plain text, non-encrypted voice communication.

Load (LO)

A radio toggle switch setting that places the radio in load mode to receive encryption keys.

Ciphertext (CT)

A radio toggle switch setting that enables active encrypted communications.

Zeroize (Z)

A position on the 9-selection radio function knob that erases all preset channels and encryption keys.

6-Pin Connector

The connector on the radio used to plug in the headset.

Side Connector

The interface on the radio that allows digital data to be transmitted.

Over

A procedural radio word meaning that transmission has ended and a response is required.

Out

A procedural radio word meaning that transmission has ended and no response is needed.

Say again

The standard radio phrase used to request retransmission, used instead of the word 'repeat'.

Nine Line Patient Precedence

Line 3 evacuation priority categories: Urgent ($2\text{ hours}$), Priority ($4\text{ hours}$), and Routine ($24\text{ hours}$).

Ambulatory

A patient classification in Line 5 of a MEDEVAC request indicating a walking patient.

Nine Line Line 6

The line item in a MEDEVAC request indicating wartime security of the pickup site or peacetime MIST report.

Nine Line Line 9

The line item in a MEDEVAC request indicating wartime NBC contamination or peacetime terrain description.

Index contour line

Every 5th contour line on a map, which is drawn heavier and typically displays the elevation number.

Intermediate contour line

A fine contour line located between each index contour line.

Supplementary contour line

Dashed lines on a map that depict sudden or abrupt changes in elevation.

Draw

A minor terrain valley situated between two spurs.

Spurs

Short, low ridges extending from a larger terrain feature.

Cut

A man-made terrain feature depicted by two parallel lines with ticks/dashes facing inward.

Fill

A man-made terrain feature depicted by two parallel lines with ticks/dashes facing outward.

Grid coordinate precision (4, 6, 8 digits)

Map location precision levels: 4-digit coordinates designate a $1000\text{ m}$ area, 6-digit coordinates designate a $100\text{ m}$ area, and 8-digit coordinates designate a $10\text{ m}$ area.

LAMS

A mnemonic for grid-magnetic azimuth conversion: Left/Less Add, More/Magnetic Subtract; magnetic to grid adds, and grid to magnetic subtracts.

Cold weather compass placement

Carrying the lensatic compass on the outside clothing layer to prevent internal condensation.

OSMEAC

A five-paragraph operations order format including Orientation and Situation.

SALUTE

An acronym for reporting enemy information: Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, and Equipment.

DRAW

An acronym detailing actions the enemy can take or how to respond: Defend, Reinforce, Attack, and Withdraw.

HAS

An acronym for identifying friendly units: Higher unit, Adjacent unit, and Supporting unit.

Warning Order

A preliminary order issued only if time is given.

Fragmentation Order

An abbreviated order containing the mission and execution statement.

Calcaneus Bone

The largest bone in the human foot.

MARCH Fracture

A stress fracture occurring on the 2nd and 3rd metatarsals.

French Foot

A cold-weather foot injury occurring at $32\text{--}50^\circ\text{F}$ after exposure of at least $12\,\text{hours}$.

Individual Camouflage Types

The three methods of personal camouflage: Blotching, Striping, and Combination.

Shelter Site Selection Criteria

Key characteristics for selecting a shelter site: blend in, maintain a low silhouette, possess an irregular shape, remain small, and be secluded.

LMGAS

An acronym identifying the characteristics of the M-16: Lightweight, Magazine fed, Gas operated, Air cooled, and Shoulder fed.

M-16 Maximum Range

The maximum ballistic range of the M-16, which is $3600\,\text{m}$.

M-16 Maximum Effective Range

The maximum effective range of the M-16: $550\,\text{m}$ for an individual target and $800\,\text{m}$ for an area target.

Four Weapon Safety Rules

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded; 2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot; 3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire; 4. Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

M855 Ball

M-16 ammunition identified by a green tip.

M856 Tracer

M-16 ammunition identified by a red tip.

M199 Dummy

Inert training ammunition characterized by 6 grooves.

M200 Blank

Training ammunition marked by a violet tip or crimp.

Tactical Reload

Reloading a weapon that still has rounds left inside during a break in a firefight.

Speed Reload

A rapid reload executed when the weapon has completely run out of ammunition.

Tactical Carry

A weapon carry posture where the muzzle is pointed up.

Ready Carry

A weapon carry posture where the weapon is aimed directly out.

Alert Carry

A weapon carry posture where the muzzle is pointed toward the dirt.

VHF A Blade Antenna

A long radio antenna measuring $48.5\,\text{inches}$ that folds in half.

VHF/UHF HB Antenna

A radio antenna measuring $10\,\text{inches}$ high.

Radio Toggle Switch (PT / LD / CT)

A toggle switch where PT stands for plain text (non-encrypted), LD (or LO) places the radio on load to receive encryption, and CT enables cipher text (encryption).

Radio Function Knob (S / F / Z)

A multi-selection knob where S stands for Scan, F selects preset channels, and Z erases all presets and encryption.

6-Pin Connector

A dedicated radio interface used to connect a headset.

Side Connector

A radio connection interface that allows data to be transmitted.

Over

A procedural word indicating that a transmission has ended and a response is needed.

Out

A procedural word indicating that a transmission has ended and no response is needed.

Say Again

The standardized radio proword used to request a transmission repeat; replaces the word repeat.

Nine-Line Line 3

The line indicating the number of patients categorized by evacuation precedence: Urgent ($2\,\text{hours}$), Priority ($4\,\text{hours}$), and Routine ($24\,\text{hours}$).

Nine-Line Line 5

The line reporting the number of patients categorized by type, such as ambulatory (walking).

Nine-Line Line 6

The line reporting security of the pick-up site during wartime, or a MIST report during peacetime.

Nine-Line Line 9

The line reporting NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) contamination during wartime, or terrain description during peacetime.

Military Map Colors

Black indicates man-made features; blue indicates water; green indicates vegetation; brown indicates elevation; red-brown indicates cultural features; red indicates boundaries, populated features, and main roads.

Index Contour Line

Every 5th contour line on a military map, printed heavier than others and labeled with elevation.

Intermediate Contour Line

A fine contour line located between index contour lines.

Supplementary Contour Line

Dashed contour lines used to represent sudden changes in elevation.

Draw

A minor terrain feature described as a smaller valley situated between two spurs.

Spur

A minor terrain feature characterized as a little ridge.

Depression

A low point in the ground depicted on a map with small tick marks pointing inward.

Cut

A man-made terrain feature depicted by two parallel lines with dashed tick marks pointing in between them.

Fill

A man-made terrain feature depicted by two parallel lines with dashed tick marks pointing on the outside.

Ridge

A prominent linear elevation or hill that does not level off.

Grid Coordinate Precision

The resolution of map coordinates: a 4-digit grid locates a point within $1000\,\text{m}$, a 6-digit grid within $100\,\text{m}$, and an 8-digit grid within $10\,\text{m}$.

Three Types of North

Grid North (map lines), True North (the geographic North Pole at any point on Earth), and Magnetic North (direction indicated by the Earth's magnetic pull).

LAMS

A memory aid for declination conversion meaning Less Add, More Subtract; magnetic to grid adds, and grid to magnetic subtracts.

Cold Weather Compass Care

The procedure of wearing the compass on the outermost layer of clothing in freezing weather to prevent internal condensation.