-
OA :
-
Objective Area, being the tactical goal or strategic aim of air,
ground, or amphibious missions; compare AO, TO, AOR, MOA, TAOR,
CHOP LINE, UA.
-
OAN HON :
-
in Vietnamese eschatology, a spirit in purgatory, usually
condemned to haunt the region of its death, until released by the
beneficence or sacrifice of others. See TIGER BALM; Compare PHI.
-
OATH :
-
a solemn appeal to a deity, or to some revered person, entity, or
thing, to witness a person's determination to speak the truth or
keep a PROMISE; any statement, troth, or affirmation accepted as
the equivalent of such an appeal. Also, to pledge, vow, plight,
or solemnly swear a binding obligation or PROMISE. Also, the form
of words in which an oath is made; see KEEP THE FAITH, SEMPER FI,
ESPRIT DE CORPS. Also, an irreverent or blasphemous expression,
as a profanation or curse, especially using the name of God or
anything sacred; see EXPLETIVE, GODDAM, BAD-MOUTH, TALK TRASH.
-
OB :
-
(oh-bee) Order of Battle, the identification, strength, command
structure (arrangement), and disposition of the personnel, units,
and equipment of military forces; known as Order of Battle
Echelon (OBE) by Naval personnel, and compiled by Order of Battle
Study (OOBS); compare TO&E/TOE, MTOE [cf: battalia]. Also,
the abbreviation for Operations Base; see FOB.
-
OBJ :
-
OBJective, being the TARGET or goal, destination or end-point of
an operation, usually denoted by code word or reference point
(RP); see AIMPOINT, PHASE LINE, WAY POINT, SOFT TARGET, HARD
TARGET, COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
-
OC :
-
abbreviation for Officer Candidate; see OCS, CADET; compare WOC.
Also, abbreviation for Observer Controller, being the designation
for umpire or referee CADRE who monitor FTX and war game
exercises for safety and security; see KNOCK IT OFF, OPFOR,
STOOGE.
-
OCB :
-
Operations Coordinating Board.
-
O CLUB :
-
short for Officer's Club, the "Officer's Open Mess" on posts and
bases around the world, where OFF-DUTY dress and deportment is
regulated as much as in any DUTY assignment or BILLET, and
perhaps scrutinized even more by wives who manage their husband's
careers! Each O CLUB is variously provided with dining rooms,
ballroom, barrooms, snack bar, game room, CLASS SIX store,
barbershop, picnic area, swimming pool, golf course, trap or
skeet range, boating area, and the like; usually located near HQ
buildings, main chapel, and VOQ. Although the NCO Club is
similar, the EM Club [v: SLOP CHUTE] or Service Club is primitive
by comparison. See RIGHT ARM, DINING-IN, MESS, GALLEY, CANTEEN,
ANNEX, PARTY SUIT, DIRTY SHIRT, BEARING, DISTAFF. [cf:
barrelhouse, cocktail lounge, saloon, roadhouse, speakeasy, blind
pig / blind tiger, pub, ginmill, public house, tavern, cantina,
bar, barroom, grogshop, watering hole, honky-tonk, dive,
brasserie, bistro, taproom, beer joint, beer parlor, alehouse,
rathskeller, cabaret, nightclub, drinkery]
-
OCONUS :
-
(oh-ko-nus) Outside [of the] CONtinental United States; being
MIL-SPEAK for overseas; see HERSHEY BAR, DEROS, compare CONUS,
ZI.
[nb: civilians go 'abroad' while soldiers go 'overseas']
-
OCS :
-
(oh-see-ess; not "ox") Officer's Candidate School; sometimes
called "Organized Chicken Shit", and the former enlisted
graduates are widely known as "Ninety Day Wonders" or "Ninety Day
Blunders" from the length of the original WWII training period,
commencing in 1941. Primarily oriented toward training combat
arms (ie: Infantry, Armor, Artillery) officers for company-level
assignments during wartime, the OCS program has also been
intermittently offered in Signal, Ordnance, Transportation,
Engineer, Chemical, and Medical Service Corps branches since its
inception. A WAC OCS program was episodically offered until women
were fully integrated into the Armed Forces in 1976. OCS during
WWII was the first training course to be racially desegregated.
The OCS program is also available to reservists, and is known as
Officer Training School (OTS) by the USAF. In 1918, ROTC was
suspended in favor of the Student Army Training Corps to train
enlisted men (EM) for special wartime assignments. To correct the
deficiencies of the original WWII program, OCS was extended to
22-weeks during the KOREAN WAR, and to 26-weeks during the
VIETNAM WAR; but in April 1973, the program was reorganized into
a 14-week branch immaterial course at Fort Benning. A student
training in OCS is known as a "candidate" [or more formally an
"officer candidate" (OC)], unlike the terms for CADET used in the
various TRADE SCHOOLs. In the post-Vietnam era, the OCS emblem,
once worn as a PATCH and later as a helmet BADGE, has acquired
the NICKNAME "roadwheel". [v: Siwash ("At Good Old Siwash" by
George Helgeson Fitch (1911)]
-
OD :
-
Olive Drab color, as standard dull "Olive Green" (OG) military
color. The wear of olive drab (OD) is no longer authorized after
30 April 2008. [nb: except for rifle regiments separate from
infantry and dragoons from before the War of 1812, the U.S. Army
wore blue uniforms until the adoption of KHAKIS and FATIGUES, so
when the CLASS-A uniform was redesigned in 1954, the color Army
Green (AG44) was selected for its historical link to the early
riflemen and SHARPSHOOTERS]
Also, Operational Detachment; see ODA, ODB, ODC.
-
ODA :
-
(oh-dah) Operational Detachment Alpha, being an A TEAM in the US
Army SPECIAL FORCES. The USSOCOM protocol for ODA numbering
(effective 2007) is: the first digit represents the SF Group (eg:
1SFGA=1, 3SFGA=3, 19SFGA=9, 20SFGA=2); the second digit
represents the Battalion (ie: 1-4); the third digit represents
the Company (ie: 1-3); and the fourth digit represents the
Detachment (ie: 1-6). Six A TEAMs or ODAs comprise a company
(CO), three SF Companies comprise a battalion (BN), and four SF
Battalions comprise a group (effective 2007); each active-duty SF
Group specializes in the languages and cultures of a particular
region (ie: 1st SFGA in East Asia; 3rd SFGA in Africa, Mid-East,
and Central Asia; 5th SFGA in Mid-East and Central Asia; 7th SFGA
in South America; and 10th SFGA in Europe). In developing a new
interservice amalgamation, USSOCOM has redesignated the 'ODA' as
a generic "special operations detachment", disconnecting its
formerly strict affiliation with SF/USSF.
-
O-DARK-30 / O-DARK-THIRTY :
-
(oh-dark-thirty) a vague reference to some unspecified time when
most other people are OFF-DUTY or asleep, as "worked till
O-DARK-30", or "awoke at O-DARK-30"; also represented as
"oh-dark-early", but never expressed as 0-dark-30 or
zero-dark-thirty, despite the fact that only numerals are used in
military computation. See WHITE NIGHT, TIME.
-
ODB :
-
(oh-dee-bee) Operational Detachment Bravo, being a B TEAM in the
US Army SPECIAL FORCES.
[nb: six A TEAMs or ODAs comprise a company (CO), three SF
Companies comprise a battalion (BN), and four SF Battalions
comprise a group (effective 2007); each active-duty SF Group
specializes in the languages and cultures of a particular
region (ie: 1st SFGA in East Asia; 3rd SFGA in Africa, Mid-East,
and Central Asia; 5th SFGA in Mid-East and Central Asia; 7th SFGA
in South America; and 10th SFGA in Europe)]
-
ODC :
-
(oh-dee-see) Operational Detachment Charlie, being a C TEAM in
the US Army SPECIAL FORCES.
[nb: six A TEAMs or ODAs comprise a company (CO), three SF
Companies comprise a battalion (BN), and four SF Battalions
comprise a group (effective 2007); each active-duty SF Group
specializes in the languages and cultures of a particular
region (ie: 1st SFGA in East Asia; 3rd SFGA in Africa, Mid-East,
and Central Asia; 5th SFGA in Mid-East and Central Asia; 7th SFGA
in South America; and 10th SFGA in Europe)]
-
OEF :
-
Operation Enduring Freedom, from 7 October 2001, conducted in
Afghanistan, South Africa, and the Philippines; compare OIF, see
GULF WAR, WAR ON TERROR.
-
OER :
-
Officer Efficiency Report; based on character and efficiency
(C&E) rating. See FITREP, ER, DOR, BAYONET SHEET.
-
OFF-DUTY :
-
time when military personnel are not assigned to specific tasks,
often coincident with personal time, STAND-DOWN, PASS, or LEAVE;
a military myth, because servicemen do not have protected working
conditions! Nobody in the military is guaranteed anything, except
due-process when they disobey. Anyone may be recalled from
OFF-DUTY whenever there skills are needed. [v: dog days]
[nb: "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."
Mark 2:27 KJV Bible]
-
OFFHAND :
-
the unsupported standing position for firing RIFLE or PISTOL.
Also, any abrupt or extemporaneous, casual or cavalier act.
-
OFFICE HOURS :
-
in the Marine Corps, a unit hearing for minor offences before the
commander at which non-judicial punishment may be imposed; see
ARTICLE 15, ADY, DRUMHEAD, YELLOW SHEET, ROCKS 'n' SHOALS, UCMJ,
compare CAPTAIN'S MAST.
-
OFFICER :
-
(off-ick-cur or ossif-fer) any MIL-PERS anointed by an ACT OF
CONGRESS with some form of commission (eg: warrant, direct,
regular, reserve, etc) which, the recipient infers, purportedly
bestows ineluctable suavity and character, or unimpeachable
wisdom and honor, such that he deserves the distinguished title
of "sir" (cur) rendered with a SALUTE for the monumental
restraint of non-FRATERNIZATION! ... in other words, anyone who
sleeps and eats and acts like everyone else and who is
mysteriously converted by appointment into believing that his
shit no longer stinks! As one distinguished veteran said: "The
only reason you are given any special consideration is because
you will use your superior ability to take care of your men and
lead them into battle." See AIDE, MISTER, WO, WOBBLY, MAVERICK,
OCS, CADET, PIP, TRADE SCHOOL, ROTC, BOAT SCHOOL, HUDSON HIGH,
RING-KNOCKER, MUSTANG, MAVERICK, BLUE BLOOD, CO, OLD MAN,
SKIPPER, HONCHO, WALLAH, MOTHER HEN, LDR, RHIP, ROUGHSHOD, GREEN
TAB, LINE OFFICER, ENSIGN, LT, LOOEY, BUTTER BAR, BROWN BAR,
CAPTAIN, AIMING STAKES, MAJOR, COMMANDER, LIGHT BIRD, FULL BULL,
FLAG OFFICER, WHITE WAY, COMMAND ELEMENT, CHAIN-OF-COMMAND,
MILICRAT, RANK.
[nb: although the USAF phased-out their Warrant Officer ranks in
1979, designating technical personnel as NCOs and command
personnel as officers, they did not resume the WWII Army Air
Corps program of "Flying Sergeants", inasmuch as pilots and
weapons officers are "technicians" ... so a Lieutenant "commands"
a one- or two-person aircraft worth $20-million but a Sergeant
"commands" a three- or four-person tank crew worth $60-million!]
[nb: the word "caddie", with the same origin as CADET, and
sometimes shortened to "cad" (irresponsible, dishonorable), was
the 17th Century term for a gentleman who learned the military
profession by serving in the army without a commission;
henceforth, it was applied to a person seeking employment]
[nb: until recently, an OFFICER was simultaneously designated a
"gentleman" when appointed by an ACT OF CONGRESS, which not only
inspired further intellectual development but also encouraged
cultural sophistication, which refinements were mocked as being
'suave and debonair' (deliberately mispronounced as "soo-wave"
and "dee-boner"); v: BRASS HAT, BLUE BLOOD, UP THE HAWSEPIPE,
OFFICER'S COUNTRY, TALLY-HO; cf: HARD-ASS, MACHO]
-
OFFICER'S CALL :
-
an early morning meeting of all subordinate officers with their
immediate superior, sometimes convened as a breakfast gathering
at the commander's discretion, for the purpose of discussing unit
problems, checking on work in progress, and assigning new details
or duties. This meeting is known as "Captain's Call" on-board
ships; and is commonly derided as "morning prayers". See
BRIEFING, CONFAB, EAR-BANG, CROSS-TALK, HALF-MAST, CHIN CHIN,
POWWOW.
-
OFFICER'S COUNTRY :
-
refers to where officers live and work, such as HQ, MESS, BOQ,
VOQ, NOB HILL, WARDROOM, and other QTRS, but is especially noted
on-board ships, where separation is both functional and social.
Compare BELOW DECK; see TOPSIDE, MUSTANG.
[nb: until recently, an OFFICER was simultaneously designated a
"gentleman" when appointed by an ACT OF CONGRESS, which not only
inspired further intellectual development but also encouraged
cultural sophistication, which refinements were mocked as being
'suave and debonair' (deliberately mispronounced as "soo-wave"
and "dee-boner"); v: BRASS HAT, BLUE BLOOD, UP THE HAWSEPIPE,
TALLY-HO; cf: HARD-ASS, MACHO]
-
OFF LIMITS :
-
areas prohibited or denied to unauthorized access, also known as
"restricted access" or "out of bounds", such as firing ranges,
munitions training areas, weapons storage areas, operational
security areas, intelligence briefing areas, prisoner detention
areas, communications equipment areas, medical treatment
facilities, and the like. Servicemembers are excluded from some
posted civilian establishments, and are confined by mileage
limits calibrated to PASS/Liberty periodicity (eg: 150mi for
36hr, 250mi for 72hr, 300mi for 96hr).
-
OFF THE RESERVATION :
-
used literally to specify persons or regions outside the military
COMPOUND, post, or BASE; and used figuratively to represent any
unauthorized conduct or unsanctioned action. Phrase most often
refers to a person or situation which is "unresponsive" to
command authority or is "out of control" by improvisation; being
more extra-legal than illegal. Sometimes known as "off the map",
as without guidance. Compare CHECKING THE DICTIONARY, VFR DIRECT,
UNODIR, WIGGLE ROOM; see SCRIPTURES, OFF LIMITS, OVERSIGHT,
SHADOW OF THE FLAGPOLE.
-
OG :
-
Olive Green color, as former (and now reinstated) standard
military color for ground forces; compare OD.
[nb: the human eye can discern more shades of green than any
other hue]
-
OGA :
-
Other Government Agency, or Other Governmental Agency; compare
NGO, QUANGO, GOCO, BELTWAY BANDIT.
-
OHRA :
-
(ohvera) Organization for Humanitarian and Reconstruction
Assistance [in the Mid-East].
-
OI :
-
(o-i) Operating Instructions
-
OIC :
-
(o-i-c) Officer In Charge; depending upon his personality or
command style, may be designated the Big Asshole In Charge (BAIC)
or the Big Mother / Motherfucker In Charge (BMIC) [nb:
reminiscent of Big Man On Campus (BMOC)]. See NCOIC, OOD, CQ.
-
OIF :
-
(oyef) Operation Iraqi Freedom, conducted from 19 March 2002 to 1
May 2003; sometimes called GULF WAR II or "Gulf War Part Two";
and also refers to the continuing WAR ON TERROR in the SANDBOX
after the "mission accomplished" announcement that was supposed
to be the "end of major hostilities", which is also referred to
as "Operation Iraqi Freedom Part Two" or "OIF2" / "OIF II".
Compare OEF; see GULF WAR, WAR ON TERROR.
-
OILER :
-
a service TENDER for other vessels; see LIGHTER, BOAT.
-
OJT :
-
On the Job Training; see MOS, PMOS, CROSS-TRAINING, Q-COURSE,
TRNG, POI, IA, UP THE HAWSEPIPE, BUDDY SYSTEM, DLI.
[nb: the word "caddie", with the same origin as CADET, and
sometimes shortened to "cad" (irresponsible, dishonorable), was
the 17th Century term for a gentleman who learned the military
profession by serving in the army without a commission;
henceforth, it was applied to a person seeking employment]
-
OLC :
-
Oak Leaf Cluster, a DEVICE denoting multiple awards of the same
medal or decoration on different occasions; also represented by a
star. See V-DEVICE, GONG. [nb: an insignia emblematic of the
honors and lineage of a military organization, unlike familial
"coats of arms", may be individually enhanced but not personally
heritable; v: Heraldry]
-
OLD BREED :
-
senior soldier (Army or Marines) of any RANK, also known as
"sweat" or OLD SWEAT, and "leather face", having a vast
experience; as contrasted with progressive "New Breed", "New
Centurions", and YOUNG LIONS, who typified elite units like Force
Recon and Special Forces. See DINOSAUR, MOSSBACK, OLD SALT,
MAVERICK, BROWN SHOE / BOOT.
-
OLD HAT :
-
stale INTEL, unchanged information, or something already known;
compare POOP, HEADS-UP, FYI, DOPE, GOUGE, BULLETIN, HOT-SHIT,
BOATSWAIN'S PIPE, BUGLE CALL, TANNOY, VECTOR. Also, pertaining to
an outdated style, pattern, method, mode, or fashion; see OLD
BREED, BROWN BOOT.
-
OLD MAN :
-
slang reference to the unit commander; but became ludicrous
during VIETNAM WAR when a 21 year old officer led 25 year old
NCOs and 19 year old troops! See CO, COMMAND ELEMENT, LDR, TOP
DOG, HONCHO, CHAIN-OF-COMMAND, MOTHER HEN, MC, OVERSIGHT.
[nb: a female unit commander is not called the OLD MAN nor "old
lady", not "chieftain" nor "chieftess", not the HONCHO nor
"honchette", not TOP DOG nor "top bitch", but is rather
antonomastically identified by the generic "boss" or "boss lady",
or by her designated NICKNAME or CODENAME; also see "GI Jane",
"Jane Bond", "Acting Jane", "Swinging Dickless", "Dear Jane",
SKIRT, ANGEL]
-
OLD SALT :
-
senior sailor of any rank having vast experience; also
referred to as SALTY (indicating seniority or experience; not
bitter or astringent) or "sea dog". See HANDY, MOSSBACK,
SHELLBACK, OLD BREED, DINOSAUR.
-
OLD SWEAT :
-
senior soldier of any rank having vast experience; also called
"sweat" (indicating seniority or experience; not bitter or sour),
and "leather face", being a MIL-PERS with enough "know how" to be
relied upon to get the job done. See OLD BREED, OLD SALT, BROWN
BOOT, TOP DOG, LIFER; compare SWEAT HOG.
-
ONE-BUCK :
-
designation for STRAC units held in readiness in the United
States for deployment to Vietnam on 48-hour notice.
-
100 MPH TAPE / ONE-HUNDRED MILE PER HOUR TAPE :
-
extremely strong and versatile cloth-based MIL-SPEC adhesive
tape, normally three inches wide and variously colored; commonly
known as "duct tape" (1942) by civilians. Most MIL-PERS believe
that 100 MPH TAPE is the greatest of all human inventions! See
MUZZLE.
[nb: in an effort to control costs and reduce waste, the DoD has
instituted a policy of "non-duplication" in military procurement
(Military Adaptable Commercial Item {MACI}), such that a mil-spec
contract will NOT be let whenever a commercial "off the shelf"
(COTS) product is "close enough for government work" and does not
require special features; so some name brand items are now in
logistical inventory]
-
1-MC :
-
the public-address (PA) system on-board ships, as used for "Now
Hear This" and "Do You Hear There" messages, and also known as
"loud hailer" and loudspeaker; see TANNOY, SQUAWK BOX, BLOWER,
HORN, KLAXON, TOCSIN, BOATSWAIN'S PIPE, BUGLE CALL, POOP,
HEADS-UP, FYI, DEFCON, ESP, SACON, GQ, AHOY, HOISE.
-
ONE-OH-DEUCE :
-
refers to a 105mm HOWITZER (DIME-NICKEL), which actually measures
102mm; including the M-52 SP, M-101, M-102, M-108 SP, M-119,
M-202, and L5 at ranges to 11,500m. See TOWED, SP, KILLER JUNIOR,
ARTY.
-
ONE-OH-WORST :
-
derisive NICKNAME for the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile)
based upon its numerical designation; also called "Hundred and
Worst" and "barfing buzzards". Formally known as Screaming
Eagles, from its infantry division mascot during the CIVIL WAR.
See SCREAMING CHICKENS, PUKING BUZZARDS.
-
ONE-SEVENTY-FIVE :
-
175mm artillery, including M-107 SP at ranges to 32,000m. See SP,
HEAVY STUFF, ARTY.
-
10 / ONE-ZERO :
-
(won-zeerow) designation for a fully qualified RECON team leader,
regardless of RANK [eg: Krait One-Zero Actual]; his second in
command is designated "11" (one-one). During the VIETNAM WAR, the
Recon Team Leader's Course for special operations patrolling was
colocated with the Jump School at Long Thanh from 1968; being
completely separate from the MACV RECONDO SCHOOL. See SOG, LDR,
MC, MOTHER HEN, HONCHO, SKIPPER.
-
10-CODES :
-
see TEN-CODES.
-
ONG :
-
Vietnamese term for an adult male; a man, equivalent to Signor,
Senhor, Herr, Monsieur, Mister. Compare PAPA-SAN.
-
ON GUARD :
-
the command for BAYONET drill or hand-to-hand combat; see AT
CLOSE QUARTERS, CQB, BUTT STROKE, KNIFE, GABRIEL, JAP SLAPPER;
compare GUARD, SENTRY.
[v: Knife Terms] [nb: the "spirit of the
bayonet" is "to kill!" ... not only was the word "kill" banned
from the training and indoctrination (TRADOC) vocabulary (see
SMACK) during the VIETNAM WAR, but bayonet, pugil stick, and
hand-to-hand close combat training have since been eliminated
from soldierly preparation. Although the "little corporal"
Napoleon claimed that three hostile newspapers are to be feared
more than thousands of BAYONETs, Voltaire said, as both social
and political philosophy, that "You can do anything with a
BAYONET, except sit on it!".]
-
ONI :
-
Office of Naval Intelligence; headed by the Director of Naval
Intelligence (DNI). See NILO.
-
ONIONS :
-
testes, testicles, or gonads of the male, which are also called
ballocks [v: bollix], balls, balloons, goolies, bangers,
klackers, dumbbells, danglers, cojones, stones, jewels, nuggets,
marbles, pebbles, rocks, acorns, nuts, beans, berries, eggs,
apples, tomatoes, plums, turnips, potatoes, tea bags, wheels;
being a metaphor for courage, bravery, valor, mettle,
fortitude, intestinal fortitude, fearlessness, dauntlessness,
stout-heartedness, intrepidity, daring / daring-do, boldness,
audacity, nerve, verve, derring-do, vim, hardihood, gumption,
hustle, pluck, spirit, grit, sand. See GUTS, SPUNK, MOXIE,
V-DEVICE, BRAGGING RIGHTS, TROPHY, KILL RING, STREAMER, WATCH MY
SMOKE, BITE THE BULLET, PAIN, COUNT COUP, DIEHARD, MACHO, HERO,
SLOW MATCH, WINTER SOLDIER; compare PRICK, CU, SPLIT, STRANGE.
-
ON STATION :
-
refers to a unit, vehicle or vessel being at its assigned
position or in its area of responsibility; see AO, TO, AOR, MOA,
TAOR, CHOP LINE, OA, UA. Also, is used to mean "on duty"; see
BILLET, BERTH, QTRS, DUTY.
-
ON THE BEACH :
-
someone who is not engaged in seafaring or not involved in marine
activities; being withdrawn or unemployed; being without a ship
assignment or retired from naval service.
-
ONTOS :
-
a self-propelled medium-sized TRACK-driven TANK body mounted with
1 (or up to 6) 106mm recoilless rifle(s), remotely fired and
reloaded from dismount, as used as a TANK destroyer and
fire-support vehicle by the USMC. Term ostensibly derives from
the Greek for "thing". See RR, SCORPION, DUSTER, SPAT, TRACK.
-
OOD :
-
Officer of the Day, and sometimes shortened to "OD"; equivalent
to Navy Officer of the Deck or "watch officer", who is stationed
on the BRIDGE at sea and on the QUARTERDECK in PORT. Compare CQ,
JOOD, SDO, CDO, SOPA; see BRASSARD, PARADE, DETAIL.
-
OODLES :
-
a PSYOPS deception project simulating a spy network
parallel to the agent teams actually compromised in NVN, with
pseudo messages and actual support; see DECEPTION, SOG.
-
OORAH :
-
(oo-rah, ouhr-rah) Marine Corps version of HOOAH, with the same
spirit and meaning; apparently introduced by recon elements
during the KOREAN WAR to express esprit, although earlier use of
HOISE is a very credible antecedent for both OORAH and HOOAH.
According to USMC FORCE RECON history, the 1st Amphibious
Reconnaissance Company, then operating aboard a WWII-vintage
diesel submarine in the KOREAN WAR theater, is credited with the
invention of the call or salute OORAH, which was then pronounced
"Aar-uugah", in imitation of the submarine dive warning alarm;
since the 1st and 2nd Amphib Recon Co's were then deployed for
raiding and surveillance from submarines, this call was both an
alert and an acknowledgement of readiness for action. The
veterans of these missions introduced this KLAXON sound to other
Marines during stateside training after the war, and it spread
... becoming a PT chant as well as an enthusiastic affirmation.
See CHANTEY, AHOY, HEAVE-HO, GUNG-HO, ESPRIT DE CORPS, BATTLE
CRY, WETSU, FIDO, STRAC, GUSTO, JODY CALL.
-
OP :
-
Observation Post, sometimes called "Oscar Papa", "lookout", or
"overwatch position"; not "out post" nor "operations post". A
daylight position setup outside the perimeter and beyond
perimeter defenses to give advanced or early warning of enemy
action. Situated so as to enable the calling and adjustment of
supporting ARTY or TAC AIR missions. The OP is in telephone or
radio contact with the perimeter, is lightly armed and manned,
and is not intended for defense. Compare LP, FO, OPN, CROW'S
NEST. [cf: picket, vedette] Also, Operations Base, an informal
designation for a BASE CAMP, JUMP CP, CP, FSB, FOB, AOB, MOB, or
other BASE.
-
OP BOX :
-
OPerational BOX, being a container, sized from FOOTLOCKER to
CONEX, that's packed with all mission specific weapons and
equipment for the unit's initial deployment, including radios and
optics, maps and manuals, medicine and relevant clothing; also
called TEAM BOX.
-
OPC :
-
Out-Processing Company; compare REPL' DEPOT.
-
OPCON :
-
(op-kon) OPerational CONtrol.
-
OPEN WAR :
-
any overt and demonstrative combat employing conventional forces
and legitimate resources, as opposed to covert or clandestine
operations by irregular forces; compare UW, SHADOW, SHROUD, UNDER
THE RADAR. Also, a style of combat, promulgated by John J.
"Blackjack" Pershing, marked by irregularity of formation,
comparatively little regulation in space and time, the greatest
possible use of infantry firepower, variable intervals and
distances between units and individuals, brief orders, and the
maximization of individual initiative by all troops engaged;
compare TRENCH WARFARE, see WAR.
-
OPFOR :
-
contraction of OPposition FORce(s); designation of appropriate
opponent or simulated "enemy" elements in WAR GAMES and
mock-combat field exercises. Displaying a circled triangle motif
and wearing ridged helmets with black uniforms, the OPFOR
utilizes foreign doctrine and known enemy tactics to make
training more genuine and testing more realistic. OPFOR elements
are named in conformity with the foreign doctrine they are
utilizing (such as "Krasnovyans" for Soviet practices). See FTX,
CPX, JTFEX, JRTC, NTC, RED FLAG, MILES, ORANGE FORCE; compare
GRAY FORCE, GREEN FORCE, BLUE FORCE, PURPLE FORCE, RED FORCE,
BANDIT, BAD GUYS, BELIEVER.
-
OPIUM DEN :
-
slang for a Naval Air Operations Center (AOC), situated at an air
station (NAS) or on-board a vessel (eg: FLATTOP). See COMMANDO
INDIAN, FOC, TAOC, OPN; compare WAR ROOM.
-
OPLAN :
-
(op-plan) OPerations pLAN. See DANCE CARD, PLAN B, FIELD
EXPEDIENT, WARNING ORDER, FRAG ORDER, CAPABILITY, COURSE OF
ACTION, TACTICS, STRATEGY.
-
OPLAN 34A :
-
USMC LTG Victor Krulac was designated by McNamara to
elicit covert targets of "plausible deniability" for combined
operations, producing this directive, dated 15 December 1963,
authorizing MACV to establish SOG, which became operational 24
January 1964, commencing direct operations against North Vietnam
on 17 March 1964; see CAS, CSD, LEAPING LENA, OSO.
-
OPLAN 37-64 :
-
a three element phased plan of GRADUATED RESPONSE intended to
interdict SVN insurgency and to militarily compel an NVN
diplomatic remedy; see ROE.
-
OPLAN 7500 :
-
the military's global counterterrorism plan of training partner
nations and of utilizing civil affairs to gather intelligence in
a classified strategy of eliminating safe havens and attacking
TERRORIST ideologies, as an expansion of simple manhunting
tactics by Special Operations Forces (SOF). See CONSTABULARY,
IRREGULARS, UW, COUNTER-GUERRILLA, COUNTERINSURGENCY, ASYMMETRIC
WARFARE GROUP, TIWG, NSPG, PROVOCATEUR.
-
OPN / OPNS :
-
abbreviation for OPeratioN or OPeratioNS, also known as Plans and
Operations, being S-3/G-3/J-3 (v: J-CODES); a military operation
is the use of tactics to attain the strategic objective. This
abbreviation is pronounced as a whole word, but may be
conversationally shortened to "op" or "ops" (ah-pss), which is
not a legal abbreviation for this term; also called BALL GAME.
See TOC, CMOC, JDOC, JOC, CTOC, MACCOC, WAR ROOM, AOC, FOC, TAOC,
ADOC, ASOC, COMMANDO INDIAN, OPIUM DEN.
[nb: at DoD/SecDef level, the planning element (J-5) is separated
from the operations element; "To fail to plan is to plan to
fail!" military maxim]
-
OPORD :
-
OPerations ORDer, also spelled "op ord"; see ORDER.
-
OPSCHED :
-
(op-sked) OPerations SCHEDule.
-
OPSEC :
-
(op-sek) OPerations/-al SECurity; see NEED TO KNOW,
PASSWORD, CODENAME, CODEWORD, RIG, COMPARTMENTALIZATION.
-
OP TEMPO :
-
OPerational TEMPO, being the rate, pace, or pattern of unit
deployment, hence unit preparedness and/or unit member readiness
for any given frequency of effective commitment; see STRAC, GOOD
TO GO, COMBAT LOADED, MISSION READY, SADDLE-UP, LOCK 'n' LOAD,
UNLIMBER, SLOW MATCH, MOVE OUT, JUMP-START, BATTAILOUS.
-
OP 'TIL YOU DROP :
-
rhyming slang satirizing continuous field operations in contrast
with piecemeal relief and replacement; being a method that
contradicts the COMBAT EFFECTIVEness of whole unit rotation,
necessary refit, and integrated replacement training ... a
catch-phrase that probably inspired the later civilian
expression: "shop 'til you drop".
-
OPTION IV :
-
US plan to evacuate Saigon.
-
OR :
-
Operating Room in a hospital. Also, ORDERLY ROOM. Also,
Operational Readiness.
-
ORANGE FORCE :
-
designation for an opposition force (OPFOR) in U.S. or allied WAR
GAMES or training exercises. See CPX, FTX, JTFEX, JRTC, NTC, GQ,
WAR GAMES, OPFOR, PURPLE FORCE, RED FORCE, BANDIT, BAD GUYS,
BELIEVER; compare GRAY FORCE, GREEN FORCE, BLUE FORCE, ALLY,
FRIENDLIES.
-
ORBIT :
-
to fly aircraft in a circular or oval (RACETRACK) pattern, as a
stable platform for surveillance and interception, as a method of
holding station (STACK) for availability, or as a method of
returning to an approach or recycling to an execution point; also
called "go around". See UMBRELLA, CAP, HIGH 'n' DRY, CROW'S NEST,
AWACS, VATLS; compare SHORT ORBIT.
-
ORDER :
-
an authoritative instruction, being a directive, command, or
commission to execute, fulfill, provide, or make something
resulting in conformity or obedience to established law(s);
including Army Regulation (AR), Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), Verbal Order of the Commanding Officer (VOCO), Special
Order (SO), Letter Order (LO), General Order (GO), Technical
Order (TO), Fragmentary Order (FRAG ORDER), WARNING ORDER,
MARCHING ORDERS, Operations Order (OPORD). See CHARGE, DELEGATE,
COMMAND ELEMENT, UCMJ, LAWS OF WAR, ROE, LOI, LON, BILLET, RIOT
ACT, UNODIR, CHECKING THE DICTIONARY, WIGGLE ROOM, OFF THE
RESERVATION, SCRIPTURES, LINE OF DUTY, TS CARD, SOP, BLUE BOOK.
Also, a formalized two part command consisting of the preparatory
order and the execution order (eg: forward march, PARADE REST, AT
EASE, eyes right, etc), as used to direct or control unit
elements or formations; see CLOSE ORDER, MANUAL OF ARMS [nb:
although the CADENCE of commands is stipulated in THE BIBLE, all
subordinates learn not to anticipate the command's execution
order, because uniformity is paramount].
-
ORDERLY :
-
an enlisted soldier assigned to perform various chores for a
commander or group of officers, as a steward, seneschal, reeve,
manciple, cellarer, chamberlain, factor, horse-holder, agent; see
DOGSBODY, STRIKER, MAN FRIDAY, GOFER, HOUSE MOUSE, DRO, AIDE.
Also, a hospital attendant having general, non-medical duties;
compare MEDIC, CORPSMEN, BAND-AID, BAC SI, Y SI, BONE CUTTER,
ANGEL. Also, pertaining to or charged with the communication or
execution of ORDERs; compare RUNNER, AIDE, HOUSE MOUSE. Also,
according to established order or law; characterized by,
observant of, or governed by system or method, by rule or
discipline.
-
ORDERLY ROOM :
-
the "business office" of every COMPANY-sized unit, and the domain
of the FIRST SHIRT, who administers this office on behalf of the
OLD MAN for the subordinate platoons (PLT) and sections (eg:
SUPPLY, MESSHALL); compare DAYROOM, see CQ, ORIFICE.
-
ORGANIZE :
-
to assign men and materiel, personnel and other assets to an
ACTIVATEd unit, making it operational; also called "constitute"
or "commission". Compare RECONSTITUTED, DEACTIVATE.
[nb: the term "composite" (put together) indicates a compound of
disparate elements forming a whole, while the term "component"
(put together) indicates constituent elements of a greater whole]
-
ORIFICE :
-
intentional mispronunciation of 'office', with allusion to
peristalsis for processing RED TAPE and other HEADSHED STATIC
(aka: CONFETTI, SNOW, SMOKE 'n' MIRRORS, MICKEY MOUSE, CHICKEN
SHIT, BRAVO SIERRA), and being the realm of the desk jockey,
PENCIL PUSHER, office flier, typing machinegunner ("Remington
Raider"), staff warrior, combat briefer, barroom shooter, fire
base gunfighter, and Saigon commando. See REMF, CLERKS 'n' JERKS,
CANDY-ASS, ACETATE COMMANDO, BEAN-COUNTER, TAP-DANCER,
BOMB-PROOF, MILICRAT, PAPER BULLET, RED TAPE. [nb: paper clip
patented 1899; stapler coined 1909; earlier papers were either
tied or were secured with a ribbon through a hole]
-
ORLOP :
-
the lowest DECK above the space at the bottom of the hull of a
ship; also called "orlop deck"; see HOLD.
-
ORION :
-
Lockheed P-3 propeller-driven aircraft, used for electronic and
anti-submarine warfare; see ASW, MAD, DASH, compare LIGHTNING.
-
OSD :
-
Office of the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF).
-
OSI :
-
Office of Special Investigations; Air Force directorate
equivalent to Navy NIS and Army CID. See BUTTON, FBI, POLICE.
-
OSO :
-
Office of Special Operations, directly subordinate to the
Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). See JCS.
-
OSPREY :
-
the V-22 tilt-wing VTOL aircraft, being one of the first to use
computer-assisted flight control to aid PILOTs with the complex
mechanics of maneuver; also called "tilt-rotor".
-
OSS :
-
(oh-es-es) Office of Strategic Services; sometimes called
"Donovan's Dilettantes" and "Oh So Social". Evolving from the
Coordinator of Intelligence (COI) in July 1941 and the JCS Office
of War Information (OWI) in June 1942, the OSS was developed from
13 June 1942 to engage in "unorthodox warfare" (eg: subversion,
espionage, counter-espionage, intel, psy-war, guerrilla warfare,
sabotage, economic warfare in support of military operations);
and was patterned on the British Special Operations Executive
(SOE, formed 19 July 1940, which was known as the "Ministry of
Ungentlemanly Warfare"). OSS subdivisions specialized in
processing information and direct action;including sections:
Research & Analysis (RA), Secret Intelligence (SI), Special
Operations (SO), Operational Groups (OG), Maritime Unit (MU),
CounterIntelligence Branch (X2), Morale Operations (MO), School
& Training Branch. OSS teams operated in Southeast Asia at
the end of WWII, and recommended Vietnamese autonomy under Ho Chi
Minh. OSS was disbanded Sept 1945, and was a forerunner of both
the CIA and Special Forces (USSF). See SACO, JACK, SECRET AGENT,
CRYPTO, TRADECRAFT, PROVOCATEUR, SPOOK, SHANGRI-LA, COUNTRY CLUB.
-
BILTMORE OSWALD :
-
a humorous character created by James Thorne Smith Jr., son of a
U.S. Navy commodore and WWI veteran, who was then editing the
Navy newspaper "Broadside"; the stories about this accident-prone
would-be sailor were collected into a book, "Biltmore Oswald: The
Diary of a Hapless Recruit" (1918), whose misadventures proved so
popular after the war that another volume of stories was
published, "Out 'o Luck: Biltmore Oswald Very Much at Sea"
(1919). Thorne Smith, who also published a book of poetry, is
best known for writing "Topper: An Improbable Adventure" (1926)
and "Topper Takes a Trip" (1932), "Night Life of the Gods"
(1931), "Turnabout" (1931), and two posthumous releases "I
Married a Witch" (1941) and "Bats in the Belfry" (1943), which
spawned the TV series "Bewitched", "I Dream of Jeannie", and "My
Living Doll" during the 1960s. Smith said of his work: "Like life
itself, my stories have no point and get absolutely nowhere. And
like life they are a little mad and purposeless. Quite casually I
wander into my plot, poke around with my characters for a while,
then amble off, leaving no moral proved and no reader improved."
See FICTIONAL CHARACTER.
-
OTTER :
-
DeHavilland U-1 fixed-wing light cargo aircraft, STOL capable by
wheels, skis, or floats; compare TWIN OTTER, see BIRD.
-
OTV :
-
the "Interceptor" Outer Tactical Vest, replaced by the lighter
and more protective Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV); see
SAPI, ESAPI, CHICKEN PLATE, HAPPY SUIT, FLAK VEST, FLAK JACKET.
[cf: flexible 'mail'; v: doublet]
-
OUA :
-
Outstanding Unit Award, being the US Air Force version (red,
white, blue stripes) of the Army / Navy / Marine Corps MUC; see
UNIT CITATION, GONG.
-
OUC DA LOI :
-
Vietnamese phrase for Australian; compare CO VAN MY, see ADV,
COUNTERPART.
-
OUT COUNTRY :
-
the Southeast Asian conflict outside South Vietnam (ie: North
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and sometimes Malaysia, Thailand, Burma
[Myanmar], and China); also spelled "out-country". Compare IN
COUNTRY.
-
OUT-GOING MAIL :
-
indirect fire aimed at enemy positions, as in
"sending them a message"; compare IN-COMING.
-
OVAL :
-
informal term for PARACHUTE WINGS Background Trimming, being a
distinctively colored and patterned PATCH worn behind the
parachutist's badge when the PARATROOPER is assigned to a unit on
jump status. Originating during WWII to increase the perceived
size of para-WINGS, which was commonly believed to be too small
by contrast with PILOT's WINGS, it became a designator for jump
status when permanent wear of the WINGS was permitted, regardless
of AIRBORNE standing. The OVAL is sometimes "humped" to include
the gradations of Senior and Master ratings; and the entire badge
(OVAL and WINGS) may sometimes be a single embroidered PATCH.
Depending upon historic tradition and unit evolution, the OVAL
will not always match the color or pattern of the same unit's
beret FLASH. The distinctive OVAL and FLASH patches are
collectively known as "FLASHing". AIRMOBILE units are not
authorized "FLASHing". Navy and Marine personnel on jump status
do not wear OVALs. Compare JSD; see Q-COURSE, Q-TAB, TRASH.
-
OVER A BARREL :
-
an awkward or untenable position, being one from which
extrication is difficult or impossible; as derived from a
corporal punishment practiced in earlier times, where the
offender was bound across the barrel of a cannon (not a staved
container, but the tubelike part of a gun) preliminary to lashing
for an infraction of military regulations. See PAIN; compare
GAUNTLET, KEELHAUL, GARROTE, DEATH OF A THOUSAND CUTS, TWIST IN
THE WIND, BELL THE CAT.
[nb: apparently civilians adopted variations of this punishment,
including humiliating college hazings, where victims were bound
helpless to a wooden barrel (a staved container) for assorted
torments, not unlike being locked in a pillory or stocks for
public derision]
[nb: a 19th Century Navy expression for a formal flogging with
the cat-o'-nine-tails as ship's punishment was: "dance at the
gratings"; while a Navy version of the pillory or stocks, known
as "kiss the wooden lady", bound a sailor facing the mast for
fatigue punishment and intermittent or random kicks to his
buttocks by shipmates]
-
OVER 'n' UNDER :
-
despite this phrase being indicative of a SHOTGUN configuration,
it is slang for the XM-203, introduced into the field in 1970,
which hung a single-shot 40mm "bloop tube" grenade launcher
barrel under the foregrip of the M-16 rifle, which impaired the
balance and accuracy of both weapons. An experimental style "pump
M-79", with a five-round tube-magazine below the barrel, was
selectively issued to LRRP and SPECIAL OPERATIONS teams in
Vietnam. In 2006, all versions of the single-shot grenade
launcher were superseded by the M-32 Multiple-shot Grenade
Launcher (MGL) for infantry operations. See BLOOPER, THUMPER.
-
OVERHEAD :
-
a ceiling-like covering of the exposed support members
for the above compartment; see DECK, BULKHEAD, HATCH.
-
OVERKILL :
-
to extirpate more of the enemy, or to cause more destruction,
than is absolutely necessary for a military victory; this term
implies wanton devastation and needless COLLATERAL DAMAGE. Term
seems to have originated after the atomic bombings of WWII, but
utterly fails to note historic examples of greater devastation
and annihilation; see CBR, WMD, NUKE, BOMB 'EM BACK TO THE STONE
AGE, BOUNCE THE RUBBLE, MASSACRE, HEADHUNTING, TURKEY SHOOT, KILL
'EM ALL, ATROCITY, GENOCIDE, HOLOCAUST [eg: Albi, Atlanta,
Beziers, Carthage, Columbia, Covington, Dresden, Glencoe,
Guernica, Hiroshima, Lidice, Meroë, Nagasaki,
Nanking/Nanjing, Shanghai, Sybaris, Tiananmen Square, Veii]. [v:
vernichtungsgedanken] Also, the capacity to exterminate or
obliterate the opposition, as with plans for Mutual Assured
Destruction (MAD); see BIGGER BANG FOR THE BUCK. Also, any great
or unsuitable excess, as to overwhelm or vitiate by misjudgement
or zeal.
-
OVERSIGHT :
-
(forthcoming);
supervision, responsibility for conduct/result; see READ-BACK,
SCRIPTURES, CHECKING THE DICTIONARY, WIGGLE ROOM, LDR, LOYALTY UP
- LOYALTY DOWN, HIGHER, RHIP, MICROMANAGEMENT, NO EXCUSE, ZERO
TOLERANCE, ROUGHSHOD;
supervision by overseer, see HONCHO, CHIEF, OLD MAN, TOP DOG,
MOTHER HEN, 10, MC, WALLAH, RAINMAKER, SKIPPER, CO, LDR, GADGET,
ACTING JACK, BREVET, MILICRAT, COMMAND ELEMENT, CHAIN-OF-COMMAND,
HEADSHED, SHADOW OF THE FLAGPOLE;
contranym alternative, to be overlooked during inspection, as
WIGGLE ROOM or OFF THE RESERVATION
-
OVER THE FENCE :
-
slang for cross-border operations, which are typically covert or
clandestine, except during HOT PURSUITs, interventions, or other
INCURSIONs; also called "across the fence", "cross the line" (or
"line crossing"), "over the wall", and "hop the fence". See DMZ,
DEMILITARIZE, THE GREEKS, UNPFK / UNPIK (CCRAK), JACK, STD, SOG,
SPECIAL OPERATIONS.
[nb: unlike the CIA and similar agencies, the military operates
in foreign territory only under Department of Defense (DoD) and
Department of State (DoS) sanctions, with operational security
(OPSEC) providing "plausible deniability" for any classified
operations]
-
OVER THE HILL :
-
an act of flight or abandonment, as to go or to have gone OVER
THE HILL, with figurative or symbolic reference to any boundary;
see AWOL, UA, DESERTER, MUTINEER, UCMJ, AWOL BAG. Also, informal
reference to anyone too old or too unfit to "cut the mustard"
(MUSTER), being a poor or pathetic example, an unworthy specimen,
past one's prime; as a metaphor for someone who has reached his
peak and is now on the downhill side of life's hill.
-
OVER THE TOP :
-
rash or impetuous, excessive or gross, extravagant or reckless
behavior; ostensibly derived from the brave CHARGE of WWI troops
advancing out of their trenches toward the enemy ... perhaps this
attribution and re-interpretation has been made by a mistaken
confusion between "dutiful courage" and "unfettered wildness" ...
in any case, the modern meaning has completely distorted its
origin.
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