FM 3-12: Cyberspace Operations & Electromagnetic Warfare – Core Vocabulary

Essential vocabulary flashcards drawn from FM 3-12 covering key terms, organizations, processes, and technologies central to Army cyberspace operations and electromagnetic warfare.

Cyberspace Operations (CO)

Employment of cyberspace capabilities to achieve objectives in or through cyberspace.

Electromagnetic Warfare (EW)

Military action using electromagnetic and directed energy to control the spectrum or attack the enemy.

Cyberspace Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA)

Process of planning, integrating, and synchronizing cyberspace operations and EW for unified land operations.

Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN)

All DOD information capabilities that collect, process, store, display, disseminate, and protect information.

DODIN Operations

Actions to secure, configure, operate, extend, maintain, and sustain the DODIN.

Defensive Cyberspace Operations (DCO)

Missions to preserve friendly cyberspace capabilities by defeating ongoing or imminent malicious activity.

DCO–Internal Defensive Measures (DCO-IDM)

Defensive actions conducted inside the defended portion of cyberspace.

DCO–Response Actions (DCO-RA)

Defensive actions taken outside the defended network to defeat threats.

Offensive Cyberspace Operations (OCO)

Missions intended to project power in and through cyberspace.

Cyberspace Security

Preventive actions within protected cyberspace to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Cyberspace Exploitation

Operations to gain intelligence, maneuver, collect information, or enable future missions in cyberspace.

Cyberspace Attack

Actions in cyberspace that create noticeable denial or manipulation effects.

Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS)

The range of all electromagnetic radiation organized by frequency bands.

Electromagnetic Attack (EA)

Use of electromagnetic or directed energy to degrade, neutralize, or destroy enemy capability.

Electromagnetic Protection (EP)

Actions to safeguard personnel, facilities, and equipment from adverse EMS effects.

Electromagnetic Support (ES)

Actions to search for, intercept, identify, and locate sources of electromagnetic energy for immediate use.

Directed Energy (DE)

Beam of concentrated electromagnetic energy or particles used as a weapon or countermeasure.

Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)

Strong burst of electromagnetic radiation that induces damaging currents and voltages.

Spectrum Management Operations (SMO)

Planning, coordinating, and managing use of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Emission Control (EMCON)

Selective control of emitters to minimize detection or interference.

Electromagnetic Masking

Controlled radiation on friendly frequencies to conceal operations from enemy ES/SIGINT.

Electromagnetic Hardening

Shielding or filtering measures that protect equipment against undesirable EM energy.

Electromagnetic Vulnerability

Susceptibility of a system to degradation from electromagnetic environmental effects.

Electromagnetic Warfare Reprogramming

Deliberate modification of EW or sensing systems in response to validated threat or environment changes.

Cyber Mission Force (CMF)

USCYBERCOM’s operational units composed of combat, national, and cyber-protection teams.

Combat Mission Team (CMT)

Tactical CMF unit that conducts offensive cyberspace operations.

Cyber Protection Team (CPT)

CMF unit that performs DCO-IDM on networks and systems.

Joint Force Headquarters-DODIN (JFHQ-DODIN)

Command that directs global DODIN operations and defensive cyberspace activities.

Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (JFHQ-C)

Service component command that plans and executes cyberspace missions for a specific CCMD.

Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF)

USCYBERCOM element that conducts national-level defensive cyberspace operations.

Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Cell (JEMSOC)

Joint staff element that integrates and controls JEMSO for a combatant commander.

Key Terrain in Cyberspace

Nodes, links, or data whose loss or control provides marked advantage to a force.

Operational Initiative

Setting tempo and terms of action throughout an operation to seize and exploit the advantage.

Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB)

Systematic analysis of enemy, terrain, weather, and civil factors to determine effects on operations.

Information Collection

Synchronizing sensors and assets to satisfy intelligence and operational requirements.

Target Area of Interest (TAI)

Geographic area where high-value targets can be acquired and engaged by friendly forces.

High-Payoff Target (HPT)

Target whose loss to the enemy significantly contributes to friendly success.

Cyber Effects Request Format (CERF)

Army tactical form used to request cyberspace effects from higher-level cyber forces.

Electromagnetic Attack Request

Five-line format submitted to obtain immediate airborne EA support.

Layered Defense

Multi-tiered technical, physical, and policy controls to protect the DODIN.

Operations Process

Army framework of planning, preparing, executing, and assessing operations.

Risk Management

Process of identifying, assessing, and controlling risks to balance cost with mission benefits.

Training Domains

Institutional, operational (home-station & CTC), and self-development venues that build readiness.

Joint Targeting Cycle

End-to-end process of selecting targets and matching appropriate responses in joint operations.

CEMA Working Group

Staff forum, led by the CEWO, that synchronizes cyberspace and EW with warfighting functions.