-
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, HOLD ONE'S FEET TO THE FIRE. 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.
[nb: 'gee' and 'gee-whiz', used as an interjection or
exclamation, derive as euphemisms for the name "Jesus"; archaic
'zounds' derived as contraction of "God's wounds"; "blimey" or
"gorblimey", used as an interjection or exclamation, derive as a
reduction of "God blind me"; 'hooey', allegedly an Americanism
used as an interjection for nonsense or tripe, is actually a
corruption of the Russian vulgarity ("khuy") for penis, and is
commonly used alone (eg: dick, dickhead, dick-wad) or in phrases
(eg: dumber than dick; he doesn't know dick; don't dick around;
don't stir your tea with your dick; don't dip your dick in the
soup)] [cf: migration of "putz" from shine through ornament to
penis and dolt; as sexual lure] [v: lucky stiff]
[Swearing is either juvenile or crass, but MIL-PERS admire talent
and respect skill, so creative vulgarity and uncommon scurrility
is often appreciated. "The talk of him that sweareth much maketh
the hair stand upright." Ecclesiasticus 27:14 Apocrypha; "In
certain trying circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate
circumstances, profanity furnishes a relief denied even to
prayer." by Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens); "Take not
God's name in vain; select a time when it will have effect." by
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce; "Grant me some wild expressions,
Heavens, or I shall burst." by George Farquhar; "When angry,
count four; when very angry, swear." by Mark Twain (Samuel
Langhorne Clemens); "A whoreson jackanapes must take me up for
swearing; as if I borrowed mine oaths of him and might not spend
them at my pleasure. ... When a gentleman is disposed to swear,
it is not for any standers-by to curtail his oaths, ha?" by
William Shakespeare; "A footman may swear; but he cannot swear
like a lord. He can swear as often: but can he swear with equal
delicacy, propriety, and judgment?" by Jonathan Swift; "'Twas but
my tongue, 'twas not my soul that swore." by Euripides; "It comes
to pass oft that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accent
sharply twanged off, gives manhood more approbation than ever
proof itself would have earned him." by William Shakespeare; "And
when the riflemen heard their commander swear so prodigiously,
their minds were filled with amazement to learn how little they
knew of profanity!" said of Daniel Morgan during the AMERICAN
REVOLUTION] [v: protomartyr Saint Stephen was canonized for
blasphemy]
-
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.
-
OBA :
-
Oxygen Breathing Apparatus; being a rebreathing device, with mask
and goggles, providing a source of clean air for working (eg:
firefighting, evacuation) in a smoke-filled environment; compare
EEBD, SCUBA, GAS MASK.
-
OBC :
-
Officer's Basic Course, being the introductory branch-specific
training for newly commissioned officers, especially those from
ROTC programs; formerly known as Basic Officer's Course (BOC).
-
OBEY :
-
to comply with or follow the instructions, directions,
restrictions, commands, or any other lawful ORDERs issued by the
CHAIN-OF-COMMAND, without hesitation or mental reservation; to
submit or conform in action to authoritative guidance. See DRILL,
DISCIPLINE, CHECKING THE DICTIONARY, WIGGLE ROOM, OFF THE
RESERVATION, SCRIPTURES, UCMJ.
-
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.
-
OBJECTIFICATION :
-
the practice of degrading things, events, and processes to the
status of insensate or inanimate objects, as by the use of
impersonal or mechanistic labels, such as TARGET, ZONE OF FIRE,
BUSTING CAPS, ROCK 'n' ROLL, HOSE, MAD MINUTE, COLLATERAL DAMAGE,
TWEP. This is a coping mechanism that dehumanizes someone's
conduct or behavior; it's a form of spiritual or emotional
desensitization by causal distancing or connective disengagement.
Without OBJECTIFICATION, combatants have a tendency to become
dysfunctional from supersensitivity or hyperphysicality, neurotic
from evasion or abstraction, or psychotic from immersion or
supersaturation. See STRESS OF SOUL, THOUSAND-YARD STARE, ZOMBIE,
BLACKOUT, FLASHBACK, WATERWORKS, CONVERSION SYMPTOMS, PTSD,
TELESCOPING, DISSOCIATION, BROKEN-WING SYNDROME, FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT,
COMBAT BUM, TOUR BABY, TWO-FISTED, HOMESTEADER. [cf: vitalism,
dynamism, mechanism, automatism; v: objectivity, objectivism,
objective idealism, objective relativism, reification]
-
OBSTACLE COURSE :
-
a training course consisting of a series of physical barriers
which must be negotiated by troops in a race against time; used
for physical training (PT), and for familiarization with the
tactical movements that might be encountered on a battlefield.
This training course is also known as an "assault course" or
"commando course", and includes wall climbing, low-crawling under
wire, balance running, agility running, ditch jumping, rope
swing, net climbing, and the like. Sometimes mistakenly called a
CONFIDENCE COURSE (qv); the completion of an OBSTACLE COURSE is
an individual effort, while satisfying the requirements of a
CONFIDENCE COURSE is a team or group effort.
-
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, ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR.
-
OCB :
-
Operations Coordinating Board.
-
OCCUPATION :
-
the seizure and control of an area by military forces, especially
foreign territory, over a given period or for a set term. Also, a
job, skill, or specialty; see MOS, Q-COURSE, OJT, MIL-CRAFT.
-
OCCUPIED TERRITORY :
-
that area, region or section, subsection or subdivision,
controlled by a party or force that is at political, religious,
or ethnic variance from the majority of its residents, during
which such control is maintained against the will of those
denizens; such territory that's under the authority and effective
control of an armed belligerent, exclusive of the land and
peoples being administered pursuant to treaty or other terms of
agreement (express or implied) with the legitimate civil
authority of that territory.
-
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]
-
OCOI :
-
Office of the Coordinator Of Intelligence/Information (COI) was
the predecessor, along with the JCS Office of War Information
(OWI), of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII.
-
OCONUS :
-
(oh-ko-nus) Outside [of the] CONtinental United States; being
MIL-SPEAK for overseas; includes assignments in Alaska and
Hawaii. 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". [nb: Vietnamese term: Truong Sinh Vien
Si Quan] [v: Siwash ("At Good Old Siwash" by George Helgeson
Fitch (1911)]
-
OCTOPUS :
-
slang for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), because it
lives in the darkest depths, has tenticles that intrude
everywhere, and defends itself with a blinding effusion of ink.
Also, something likened to an octopus, as a masterful executive
with many forms of far-reaching influence or control.
-
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: the human eye can discern more shades of
green than any other hue] [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; then in 2008, the
traditional Continental Army blue color was restored]
Also, Operational Detachment; see ODA, ODB, ODC. Also, improper
abbreviation for Officer of the Day / Deck (OOD); see DUTY DOG,
DOG ROBBER, DOGSBODY, CDO, SDO, SOPA.
-
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, 10SFGA=0, 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). The older 3-digit notation differed by
having the second digit identify both the company and battalion
(ie: 1=A Co 1st Bn, 2=B Co 1st Bn, 3=C Co 1st Bn, 4=A Co 2nd Bn,
through 9=C Co 3rd Bn). 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. [v: Gulf War Supplement]
-
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, BLUE BLOOD, OIC, OOD, SDO, CO, OLD MAN,
SKIPPER, HONCHO, WALLAH, MOTHER HEN, LDR, RHIP, ROUGHSHOD, GREEN
TAB, LINE OFFICER, ENSIGN, LT, LOOEY, SHAVETAIL, 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: Vietnamese term: Si Quan]
[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, TACT; 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, CHATTER, HALF-MAST, CHIN
CHIN, POWWOW, SUMMIT.
-
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, ABOVE BOARD, 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, TACT; cf: HARD-ASS, MACHO]
-
OFFICER'S WIFE :
-
a woman who uses her native wit and feminine wile to acquire, by
fair means or foul, a military spouse who is sufficiently
malleable to be converted into her ideal (ie: the transsexual
version of herself) but without the onus of devoting an excess of
time or effort in attaining this expectation, and who is almost
as monomaniacally ambitious as herself, but can be driven to
greater achievements by the promise of several illicit
inducements, covert or clandestine, until either high enough rank
is obtained or compulsory retirement intervenes, at which point
she too retires, never to be nice to anyone again! Formerly a
lady and once a frontierswoman, serving in partnership with her
mate and sharing in his adversities, but lately a highly polished
female, more ornamental than practical, less enduring than
brittle, possessing a stainless steel smile and envious eyes in
every shade of jealousy. Her rigid spine forgives nothing, her
soft bosom comforts only herself, and her moral scale is so
finely balanced that everyone is found wanting, and none is
better than her. She wears her husband's rank, immodestly goes
where she doesn't belong, and no soldier is rude enough to tell
her to go away ... not even her sponsor. Although she marries
into the military lifestyle, she resents its obligations and
resists its impositions, making her sponsor and BRATs pay in
myriad and sundry ways for each and every unhappy limitation upon
her fickle nature, being at best an asset, and at worst a
deterrent to the career of a MIL-PERS. The only difference
between her and her sisters strolling the street outside the gate
is the price that is charged for services rendered. The gracious
and dedicated exception, so fine when rarely encountered, proves
the rule. See COW, PETTICOAT COMMAND, DRAG, CAMP FOLLOWER, RING
THE BELL, THE MOTHER-IN-LAW OF THE ARMY, CLASS-B DEPENDENT,
CAMPAIGN WIFE, DISTAFF, BITCH, SKIRT, BRAT, ARMY SOUP. [v:
officer's wife syndrome, professional widow] [nb: "They also
serve who only stand and wait" by John Milton; "It is women who
knit the lamb's wool cloak in which barbarism masquerades as
civilization."] [nb: "If the military wanted you to have a wife,
they'd have issued you one." serviceman's adage] [nb: until the
Vietnam-era, the military did not recognize the spouse or other
dependents of enlisted personnel below the non-commissioned
officer ranks]
-
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, ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR, WE DON'T NEED NO
STINKIN' BADGES; 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] [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; then in 2008, the traditional
Continental Army blue color was restored]
-
OGA :
-
Other Government Agency, or Other Governmental Agency; often a
euphemism for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Defense
Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Security Agency (NSA), and
the like; 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.
[nb: Vietnamese term: Si Quan Phu Trach]
-
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 is sarcastically called the "Baghdad urban renewal project";
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. [v: Gulf War Supplement]
-
OILER :
-
a service TENDER for other vessels; see LIGHTER, BOAT.
-
OJT :
-
On the Job Training; see MOS, PMOS, CROSS-TRAINING, Q-COURSE,
TRNG, POI, COUNTERINTUITIVE, IA, UP THE HAWSEPIPE, BUDDY SYSTEM,
DLI, DUTY, BILLET, BERTH, POST, ON STATION, WATCH, SHEEP-DIPPED,
HARDSHIP TOUR, BUMFUCK, TDY / TAD, PCS.
[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 on Navy and Marine awards, and by numerals on the Air Medal
(AM). 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 GROWLER :
-
slang nickname for the North American AT-6 TEXAN, a fighter
employed during WWII and KOREAN WAR; derived as a result of the
distinctive sound made by the propeller on take-off. Compare
GROWLER, see BIRD.
-
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, 10, MC, SKIPPER,
CHIEF, CAPTAIN, BREVET, 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, DINOSAUR, TOP DOG, LIFER; compare SWEAT HOG.
-
OLD WRIST BREAKER :
-
slang for the short and heavy saber issued to the U.S. Army
cavalry (CAV) and mounted infantry (DRAGOON) until WWI, which was
made of such inferior metal and so poorly tempered that it was
impossible to sharpen; see LONG KNIFE, MAMELUKE SWORD. [v: Knife Terms; The Language of
Swordplay]
-
OLYMPUS :
-
sardonic reference to the Oval Office in the White House, being
short for Mount Olympus, the mythic abode of the gods; that realm
where POTUS/CINC (Zeus) meets with the JCS (Titans) and other
cabinet members. See GREEN ACRES, NSC, SECDEF, CHAIN-OF-COMMAND.
[v: theomachy, gigantomachy, titanomachy]
-
OMEGA :
-
a special project that operated during the VIETNAM WAR as
Detachment B-50, organized under the auspices of Special
Operations Augmentation, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne); the
Greek letter designation 'omega' represents the last in a series,
and signifies final or ultimate, completion or conclusion. See
THE GREEKS, STD, SOG, SPECIAL FORCES, SPECIAL OPERATIONS. Also,
as a conceptual tenet (from alpha to omega, beginning to end), an
implication meaning "the last word", being complete, whole, and
unable to be improved.
-
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]
-
101st ABN DIV (AMBL) :
-
see ONE-OH-WORST, SCREAMING CHICKENS, PUKING BUZZARDS.
-
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, BITCH 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, Don, Mister. Compare PAPA-SAN.
-
ON GUARD :
-
the command for BAYONET drill or hand-to-hand combat, from "en
garde"; see AT CLOSE QUARTERS, CQB, BATS 'n' HATS, BUTT STROKE,
KNIFE, GABRIEL, MARTIAL ART, JAP SLAPPER; compare GUARD, SENTRY.
[v: Knife Terms; The Language of
Swordplay] [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!". An
old military maxim states: "Deny your soldiers a proper bayonet
and you will find a foreign one at your throat."]
-
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, cookies,
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, SCAR, COUNT COUP, DIEHARD, MACHO,
HERO, SLOW MATCH, WINTER SOLDIER; compare PRICK, CU, SPLIT,
STRANGE. [cf: bag, sack, scrot (shortening of 'scrotum'), purse]
-
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, used to mean "on duty" at one's
assigned place; see DUTY, BILLET, BERTH, POST, WATCH, HARDSHIP
TOUR, BUMFUCK, MOS, OJT, SHEEP-DIPPED, TDY / TAD, PCS, QTRS.
-
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.
-
ON THE BOUNCE :
-
see JUMP-START, OP TEMPO, GOOD TO GO, MISSION READY.
-
ON THE LINE :
-
being on DUTY with an infantry unit in the field; serving at the
SHARP END, on the FRONT LINE, or LINE OF BATTLE.
-
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 :
-
(oh-oh-dee) Officer of the Day, and sometimes shortened to "OD";
equivalent to USAF Air... or Aerodrome Officer of the Day
(AOD/AOOD) and to Navy "watch officer" or Officer of the Deck,
who is stationed on the BRIDGE at sea and on the QUARTERDECK in
PORT. Compare CQ, JOOD, SDO, CDO, SOPA, DUTY DOG, DOG ROBBER,
DOGSBODY; see BRASSARD, PARADE, DETAIL.
-
OODALOOP :
-
Observe - Orient - Decide - Act, being a decision-making process;
also spelled "OODA loop", and also known as BOYDLOOP (qv).
-
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, YUT, ESPRIT DE CORPS,
BATTLE CRY, WETSU, FIDO, STRAC, GUSTO, JODY CALL.
-
OOTW :
-
Operations Other Than War
-
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 Post, 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 DOOR :
-
the establishment of equal commercial access to certain
territories by the major economic powers, variously applied to
the Congo and Manchuria, but was initially based upon the "most
favored nation" clause in the treaty terms imposed on Imperial
China after the Opium War (1839-42); terminated after WWII by the
People's Republic of China (PRC). See NINE-POWER TREATY.
-
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.
-
OPINION :
-
any view or estimate that's based on grounds insufficient to
produce complete certainty; that personal attitude or appraisal
to which CIVILIANs are entitled; alternatively, that judgement
which acquires greater import and credence in direct correlation
with the increased authority of the express believer. A
dismissive military maxim states that "Opinions are like
assholes; everybody's got one, and they all stink!" See BIG
PICTURE, PARTY LINE, WINNING HEARTS AND MINDS, BRASS EAR, PEANUT
GALLERY, TOE THE LINE, SCRIPTURES, TRUE BELIEVER, WAR
CORRESPONDENT, RUMOR, SYMPATHY, TRUTH.
[nb: "The more opinions you have, the less you see." by Wim
Wenders; "The trouble with most folks ain't so much their
ignorance as knowing so many things that ain't so." by Josh
Billings; "Men are disturbed not by things that happen, but by
their opinion of the things that happen." by Epictetus; "People
with opinions just go around bothering others with them."
attributed to Siddhartha Gautama]
-
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 THE CAVE, WAR ROOM.
-
OPLAN :
-
(op-plan) OPerations pLAN; later designated "o-plan" (oh-plan).
See DANCE CARD, PLAN B, FIELD EXPEDIENT, WARNING ORDER, FRAG
ORDER, CAPABILITY, COURSE OF ACTION, TACTICS, STRATEGY.
-
O-PLAN :
-
(oh-plan) operations plan; see OPLAN.
-
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 the proverbial "3 shop", as 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,
ACV, CP.
[nb: Vietnamese term: Hanh Quan] [nb: at DoD/SecDef level, the
planning element (J-5) is separated from the operations element]
[nb: "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, EYES ONLY,
PASSWORD, CODENAME, CODEWORD, FOUO, NOFORN, 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, HOOPLA, 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". See OPTEMPO, WETSU.
-
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), Field Order (FO),
WARNING ORDER, MARCHING ORDERS, Operations Order (OPORD). See
CHARGE, DELEGATE, COMMAND ELEMENT, UCMJ, LAWS OF WAR, RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT (ROE), LOI, LON, BILLET, RIOT ACT, UNODIR, CHECKING
THE DICTIONARY, WIGGLE ROOM, OFF THE RESERVATION, WE DON'T NEED
NO STINKIN' BADGES, SCRIPTURES, LINE OF DUTY, TS CARD, SOP, BLUE
BOOK, ROCKS 'n' SHOALS.
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,
shield-bearer, spear-carrier, water-hauler, stamp-licker, 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, BABY DOC, BAC SI, Y SI, BONE
CUTTER, RAMP TRAMP, 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.
-
ORDER OF THE SPUR :
-
(forthcoming); see SPUR RIDE, CAMPAIGN HAT, INITIATION, LONG
KNIFE, PONY SOLDIER, YELLOWLEG, TOAD, TANKER, ARM, ACR, AIR CAV,
AIRMOBILE, AMBL, AM, AA, AIR ASSAULT, CAV, HELIBORNE, STIRRUP
CUP.
-
ORGANIZE :
-
to assign men and materiel, personnel and other assets to an
ACTIVATEd unit, making it operational; also called "constitute"
or "commission". Compare REFLAG, 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]
-
ORIENTEERING :
-
a paramilitary training and civil affairs activity practiced by
MIL-PERS, including CADETs and CRUITs, that promotes teamwork,
leadership, physical fitness, and navigational skills, which are
useful to military components ... ORIENTEERING is a recreational
pastime, not unlike sport parachuting, that appeals to military
servicemembers. As with fencing and polo, this sport originated
as a military exercise, and was first open to competition in 1897
near Oslo Norway, then the first large scale meet was organized
in 1918 near Stockholm Sweden. The sport developed (being the
impetus for the 1933 invention of the Swedish protractor COMPASS)
and expanded worldwide; and although Silva co-sponsored an event
at Dartmouth College in 1941, ORIENTEERING was not established in
America until the Vietnam-era. The International Orienteering
Federation (IOF), which sets rules and regulates competition, was
founded in 1961; and the United States Orienteering Federation
(USOF) was founded by members from the Quantico Club in 1971.
ORIENTEERING is an activity in which cross-country trekkers use a
detailed map and a compass to locate control sites (WAY POINTs)
in the landscape. A standard ORIENTEERING course consists of a
start (triangle), a series of demarcated control sites (circles),
and a finish (double circle). The control sites, numbered in the
order that they are to be visited, are marked by circles
connected by lines on a map, and by distinctive panels
("markers") on the ground. The control sites are positioned at
features that are to be found, and include a control description
(or "clue") that clearly identifies the site. The route between
control sites is not specified, so the selection of the best
navigational pathways is the essence of this sport. ORIENTEERING
exists in two basic forms: accuracy and timed events; it is also
undertaken by individuals or teams that compete from staggered,
relay, or mass starts. Although the timed events have an element
of accuracy, with competitors checking through a series of remote
stations, they are primarily speed races, from sprints to
overnighters, conducted on foot ("foot-o"), mountain bicycle
("bike-o" / "MTBO"), X-C ski ("ski-o"), or boat ("canoe-o").
Other timed events include hash marking ("hash-o" / "blaze-o"),
hill climbing ("billy goat"), extreme terrain ("extreme-o"),
Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance
("ROGAINE"), timed-out scoring ("score-o"), and Amateur Radio
Direction Finding ("ARDF" / "radio-o"). The accuracy events
("trail-o") are untimed and are typically much more difficult to
navigate. In trail-o competitions, it is not uncommon for the
course to have false goals at pivotal control sites to increase
the challenge. Trail-o courses are also open to handicapped
persons, such as disabled veterans, where canes, crutches, and
wheelchairs are not inhibiting factors. ORIENTEERING, which can
also be conducted in urban areas, uses a variety of maps (eg:
1:15,000 magnetic, road map, MOSAIC, TOPO, etc), prefers a wrist
or thumb COMPASS, but does not use the military GRID COORDINATES
system ... use of a GPS or other electronic locator is
prohibited. Other than suitably rugged outdoor attire, there is
no ORIENTEERING uniform, and team equipment costs are low. For
those unable to participate in an organization's shooting team or
drill team, ORIENTEERING can be an alternate sponsored activity.
[nb: "ROGAINE" actually derives from the names of its originators
in Australia: Rod Gail and Neil Phillips; cf: STABO] [cf: hide
and hunt, scavenger hunt, LETTER BOX hunt, treasure hunt]
-
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. The term 'office' derives
from service or DUTY. See REMF, CLERKS 'n' JERKS, CANDY-ASS,
ACETATE COMMANDO, BEAN-COUNTER, TAP-DANCER, BOMB-PROOF, MILICRAT,
PAPER BULLET, RED TAPE, ANNEX, SATELLITE.
[v: official office, public office, registry, officiary, chamber,
embassy, chancery, chancellery, prefecture, legation, yamen,
duumvir, triumvir] [nb: rubber band (elastic) invented 1852;
paper clip patented 1899; stapler coined 1909; earlier papers
were either tied or were secured with a ribbon through a hole]
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ORLOP :
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the lowest DECK above the space at the bottom of the hull of a
ship; also called "orlop deck"; see HOLD.
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ORION :
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Lockheed P-3 propeller-driven aircraft, used for electronic and
anti-submarine warfare; see ASW, MAD, DASH, compare LIGHTNING.
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ORV :
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Off-Road Vehicle, being an enclosed four-wheel drive (4WD)
automobile used to transport passengers; also known as an
"off-highway vehicle" (OHV) or "sport utility vehicle" (SUV), as
opposed to a sedan, JEEP / HMMWV, or TRUCK. Fleet purchase of the
International "Scout" in the 1950s began the procurement trend
away from vehicles built to MIL-SPEC (like the JEEP and HUMVEE)
that were later "civilianized" for sale to the general public,
and toward the purchase of commercial models that only needed to
be painted in military livery.
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OSCAR :
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the word assigned to represent the letter "O" in the
international phonetic alphabet; at various times in different
spelling schemes, it has also been acrophonetically represented
as Oboe and Opal; it is sometimes spelled "oskar". This is a
"governing flag" in US Navy signals that also represents
"optional". See ALPHABET SOUP, PHONETIC ALPHABET. [v: Alphabet Codes &
Signal Flags]
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OSD :
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Office of the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF).
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OSI :
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Office of Special Investigations; Air Force directorate
equivalent to Navy NIS and Army CID. See BUTTON, FBI, POLICE.
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OSO :
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Office of Special Operations, directly subordinate to the
Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). See JCS.
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OSPREY :
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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". The OSPREY is
scheduled to replace the CH-46 SEA KNIGHT.
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OSS :
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(oh-ess-ess) 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.
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OSUT :
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One Station Unit Training; being a combination of basic (BCT) and
advanced (AIT) training, where a soldier remains in the same unit
for both portions of instruction; similar to the CADRE system
employed during WWII where the parent unit was responsible for
training all of its members.
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BILTMORE OSWALD :
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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), "The Big Book of Alcoholics
Anonymous" (1939), 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.
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OTTER :
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DeHavilland U-1 fixed-wing light cargo aircraft, STOL capable by
wheels, skis, or floats; compare TWIN OTTER, see BIRD.
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OTV :
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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]
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OUA :
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Outstanding Unit Award, being the US Air Force version (red,
white, blue stripes) of the Army / Navy / Marine Corps
Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC); compare JMUA, see UNIT
CITATION, GONG.
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OUC DA LOI :
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Vietnamese phrase for Australian; sometimes represented as "Uc
Dai Loy". Compare CO VAN MY, TAN TAY LAN; see ADV, COUNTERPART.
[v: Down Under Military Glossary]
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OUT :
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a procedure word (PROWORD) meaning 'transmission complete' that's
used in radio/telephone procedure (RTP) to make voice
communications more concise and clear; it implies that the
station is shutting down or changing channels so that further
communication is not possible, and it is mutually exclusive with
OVER. [nb: 'clear' means that communication is finished but the
station is standing-by for more traffic (finished sending, able
to receive); 'break' means that this communication is finished
but this station is changing channels for further communication
(still sending, unable to receive)]
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OUT COUNTRY :
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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.
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OUT-GOING MAIL :
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indirect fire aimed at enemy positions, as in
"sending them a message"; compare IN-COMING.
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OUTGUN :
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to exceed in FIREPOWER; see UP-GUN, MAD, OVERKILL, BIGGER BANG
FOR THE BUCK, KNOCK INTO A COCKED HAT. Also, to outdo or
overwhelm, as by superior forces.
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OUTRIGGER :
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slang for the supporting and balancing TRAIL on a TOWED cannon or
other artillery piece when LIMBERed for travel or UNLIMBERed for
firing; also called "outrigger legs"; see ARTY.
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OUTSIDE THE BOX :
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(forthcoming); see ASYMMETRIC WARFARE, UW, COUNTERINSURGENCY,
COUNTER-GUERRILLA, ANTI-TERRORISM, SPECIAL OPERATIONS. [v: David
and Goliath; cf: color outside the lines] [nb: "A spider nestled
inside a coconut shell thinks his world is the whole world." Thai
allegory]
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OUTWORK :
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an earthwork or other defensive structure established outside the
limits of a larger fortification; see REDOUBT, BARBICAN,
EMPLACEMENT, BAILEY, DEFILADE, ZIGZAG, STOCKADE, PERIMETER. [v:
Military Earthworks Terms]
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OVAL :
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background trimming for para wings
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the informal term for the background trimming for PARACHUTE
WINGS, 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 active 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 (especially in the Far East where custom
tailoring was inexpensive). Depending upon historic tradition and
unit evolution, the OVAL will not always match the color or
pattern of the same unit's beret FLASH (eg: 5th SFGAbn). 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.
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OVER :
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a procedure word (PROWORD) meaning 'transmission temporarily
completed' that's used in radio/telephone procedure (RTP) to make
voice communications more concise and clear; it implies that the
station remains atuned and waiting so that further communication
is possible, and it is mutually exclusive with OUT.
[nb: 'clear' means that communication is finished but the station
is standing-by for more traffic (finished sending, able to
receive); 'break' means that this communication is finished but
this station is changing channels for further communication
(still sending, unable to receive)]
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OVER A BARREL :
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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]
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OVER 'n' UNDER :
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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,
BLACK MAGIC, WIDOW MAKER, POODLE SHOOTER, TUPPERWARE, ACTIV.
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OVERCOAT :
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a protective coat, knee-length and lined, designed to be worn
over ordinary clothes during the cold of winter; see FISH FUR,
compare GREATCOAT, FIELD JACKET.
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OVERHEAD :
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a ceiling-like covering of the exposed support members
for the above compartment; see DECK, BULKHEAD, HATCH.
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OVERKILL :
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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, UP-GUN, OUTGUN, ROMAN HOLIDAY, KNOCK INTO
A COCKED HAT, MASSACRE, HEADHUNTING, TURKEY SHOOT, KILL 'EM ALL,
ATROCITY, GENOCIDE, HOLOCAUST [eg: Albi, Atlanta, Beziers,
Carthage, Chatham Islands, Columbia, Covington, Dresden, Glencoe,
Guernica, Hiroshima, Lidice, Meroë, Nagasaki,
Nanking/Nanjing, Shanghai, Sybaris, Tiananmen Square, Veii]. [v:
vernichtungsgedanken] [nb: "Most of the world's ills would be
cured with one three-day open season on people." by Ernest M.
Hemingway] Also, the capacity to exterminate or obliterate the
opposition, as with plans for Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD);
see BRINKMANSHIP, BIGGER BANG FOR THE BUCK. Also, any great or
unsuitable excess, as to overwhelm or vitiate by misjudgement or
zeal.
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OVERSEAS BAR :
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a service stripe worn on the lower right sleeve of the CLASS-A
uniform, each representing six-months of foreign duty served in a
combat zone; this service stripe, commonly known as a HERSHEY
BAR(qv), replaced the WWI-era overseas chevron that was worn in
the same manner. See OCONUS, DEROS, DUC, PH.
[nb: an OVERSEAS BAR should never be confused with exotic
drinking establishments outside CONUS or with foreign legalities,
no matter how much the former involves the latter]
[nb: civilians go 'abroad' while soldiers go 'overseas']
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OVERSEAS CAP :
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the GARRISON CAP or garrison hat that was adopted for troops in
France during WWI as a more convenient replacement for the
CAMPAIGN HAT when not wearing a helmet; also known as a "Go To
Hell" cap, fore 'n' aft cap, flight cap, boat cap, flat cap,
envelope cap, pisscutter, or CUNT CAP. Compare BILLED CAP, SAUCER
CAP, CRUSHER; see HEADGEAR.
[nb: a Balmoral hat, which somewhat resembles a beret, and is
traditionally blue (from the campaigning dress of the Blue
Bonnets), and is often accented with a surrounding "diced"
pattern (called "checky" after an accounting process of the
Stewarts or High Stewards, from which "exchequer" derives) that
symbolizes guardianship and protection; the boat-shaped Glengarry
hats are of 19th century military origin]
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OVERSIGHT :
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(forthcoming);
supervision, responsibility for conduct/result; see READ-BACK,
SCRIPTURES, CHECKING THE DICTIONARY, WIGGLE ROOM, CROW'S NEST,
C&C, ABNCP, UMBRELLA, LDR, LOYALTY UP - LOYALTY DOWN, HIGHER,
RHIP, EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE, 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
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OVER THE FENCE :
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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: Vietnamese term: Hanh Quan Vuot Bien] [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]
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OVER THE HILL :
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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.
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OVER THE TOP :
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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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OVERWATCH :
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a supportive base of fire from heavy weapons during a maneuver.
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OWI :
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the JCS Office of War Information, being the predecessor, along
with the Office of the Coordinator Of Intelligence/Information
(OCOI), of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII.
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