OPERATIONAL TERMS - Army Publishing Directorate

1 FM TERMSMARCH 2021 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION:Approved for public release; distribution is publication supersedes FM , dated 21 November , DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYThis publication is available at the Army Publishing Directorate site ( ) and the Central Army Registry site ( ). *FM Restriction: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. This publication supersedes FM , dated 21 November i Field Manual No. Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, , 09 March 2021 OPERATIONAL TERMS Contents Page iii INTRODUCTION .. v Chapter 1 MILITARY TERMS .. 1-1 Chapter 2 ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND COUNTRY CODES.

2 2-1 Section I Acronyms and Abbreviations .. 2-1 Section II Geographical Entity Codes .. 2-23 REFERENCES .. References-1 This page intentionally left blank. 09 March 2021 FM iii Preface FM constitutes approved Army doctrinal terminology for general use. The principal audience for this manual are all members of the profession of Arms. Commanders and staffs of Army headquarters serving as joint task force or multinational headquarters should also refer to applicable joint or multinational doctrine concerning the range of military operations and joint or multinational forces. Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also use this publication.

3 Commanders, staffs, and subordinates ensure their decisions and actions comply with applicable , international, and, in some cases, host-nation laws and regulations. Commanders at all echelons ensure their Soldiers operate in accordance with the law of war and the rules of engagement. This publication implements the following international agreements: STANAG 1059 (ED. 8). Letter Codes for Geographical Entities. 01 April 2004. STANAG 1241 (ED. 5). NATO Standard Identity Description Structure for tactical Use. 06 April 2005. STANAG 3680 (ED. 5)/AAP-6 (2017) (2). NATO Glossary of TERMS and Definitions (English and French).

4 07 February 2018. FM uses joint TERMS where applicable. FM applies to the Active Army, Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and United States Army Reserve unless otherwise stated. The proponent of FM is the United States Army Combined Arms Center. The preparing agency is the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate , United States Army Combined Arms Center. Send written comments and recommendations on DA Form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) to Commander, Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, ATTN: ATZL MCD (FM ), 300 McPherson Avenue, Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027 2337; by email to or submit an electronic DA Form 2028.

5 This page intentionally left blank. 09 March 2021 FM v Introduction This second edition of FM compiles all Army TERMS and definitions approved for use in Army doctrinal publications, including ADPs, FMs, and ATPs. It also includes joint and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) TERMS used and listed in the glossaries of Army doctrinal publications as of September 2020. FM also lists shortened forms (whether considered acronyms or abbreviations) approved for use in Army doctrinal publications. This publication is augmented by the military TERMS and symbols database, known as the Army Dictionary online.

6 To maintain Army terminology current, the Army Dictionary online is updated monthly to reflect the latest OPERATIONAL term changes published in new editions of Army doctrine publications (To access the database, go to , and log in with a common access card.) This database is an official Department of Defense (DOD) Web site, maintained by the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate in collaboration with the Joint Staff Directorate for Joint Force Development, and is part of the Joint Doctrine, Education, and Training Electronic Information System. While the database includes the same joint TERMS appearing in FM , readers should consult the DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated TERMS for up-to-date joint terminology.

7 When communicating instructions to subordinate units, commanders and staffs from company through corps echelons should use this publication as a dictionary of OPERATIONAL TERMS and military symbols. FM is organized as follows: Chapter 1 presents defined TERMS . Chapter 2 presents acronyms, abbreviations, and country codes. The terminology entries in chapter 1 of this publication fall into three categories: Army only doctrine applicable definitions. Joint (DOD) definitions used in Army doctrine publications. NATO definitions used in Army doctrine publications. For each term and definition, a proponent publication is cited in parentheses after the definition.

8 Army only applicable doctrine definitions. The Army definition is preceded by (Army) if the term also has a joint definition that differs from the Army definition. (See the definition for attack position listed below.) If the term has no associated joint definition, the Army definition is not preceded by (Army) . (See the definition for situational understanding listed below.) All Army-unique definitions must be followed by the proponent Army publication in parentheses, as in the following examples: attack position - (Army) The last position an attacking force occupies or passes through before crossing the line of departure.

9 (ADP 3-90) situational understanding The product of applying analysis and judgment to relevant information to determine the relationship among the OPERATIONAL and mission variables to facilitate decision making. (ADP 6-0) Joint (DOD) defined TERMS that appear in glossaries of Army doctrine publications. Each joint definition is preceded by (DOD). A cross-reference such as See ADP X-YY follows the definition, signifying the publication discussing Army usage of the term, as in the following example: airspace control (DOD) Capabilities and procedures used to increase OPERATIONAL effectiveness by promoting the safe, efficient, and flexible use of airspace.

10 (JP 3-52) Referenced in ADP 3-0, ADP 3-90, ADP 5-0, FM 3-52, and FM 3-90-1. Introduction vi FM 09 March 2021 NATO defined TERMS that appear in glossaries of Army publications. Each NATO definition is preceded by (NATO). A cross-reference such as Referenced in ADP X-YY follows the definition, signifying the publication discussing Army usage of the term, as in the following example: explosive ordnance disposal incident (NATO) The suspected or detected presence of unexploded explosive ordnance, or damaged explosive ordnance, which constitutes a hazard to operations, installations, personnel or material.