Glossary: US military jargon
The leaked documents make extensive use of US military acronyms and jargon, which we’ve explained in this guide.
Published On 24 Oct 2010
The leaked documents make extensive use of acronyms and other military jargon – a report about al-Qaeda in Iraq operating fake checkpoints near Basra, for example, might be titled “AQIZ FALSE CPS IVO BASRA.” We’ve provided a glossary of terms below, with descriptions for some of the more obscure ones.
| Acronym | Description |
|---|---|
| ACF | Anti-coalition forces |
| ACR | Armored cavalry regiment |
| AGL | Above ground level |
| AIF | Anti-Iraqi forces |
| AMZ | Abu Musab al-Zarqawi |
| AO | Area of operations |
| AP | Anti-personnel |
| AQI | Al-Qaeda in Iraq |
| ASR | Alternate supply route |
| AWT | Air weapons team |
| BCT | Brigade combat team |
| BDA | Battle damage assessment |
| BITT | Border Iraqi training team |
| Blue-blue | “Friendly fire” between coalition forces |
| CAS | Close air support |
| CAV | Cavalry |
| CCIR | Commander’s critical information requirements |
| CF | Coalition forces |
| CIV | Civilian |
| CO | Company |
| Cordon and knock | Cordoning off an area and searching it for insurgents or weapons |
| CP | Checkpoint |
| CWIA | Civilian wounded in action |
| DET | Detonation, or detained |
| DMG | Damage |
| DOW | Died of wounds |
| EFP | Explosively formed penetrator |
| EOD | Explosive ordnance disposal |
| FMC | Fully mission capable |
| FOB | Forward operating base |
| FRAGO | Fragmentary order |
| FWCAS | Fixed-wing close air support |
| GOI | Government of Iraq |
| Green-green | “Friendly fire” between Iraqi forces |
| GSW | Gunshot wound |
| HE | High explosives |
| HHQ | Higher headquarters |
| HMMWV | High mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (Humvee) |
| IA | Iraqi army |
| IBP | Iraqi border patrol |
| ICW | In coordination with |
| ID | Infantry division |
| IDF | Indirect fire |
| IED | Improvised explosive device |
| IIP | Iraqi Islamic Party |
| IN | Infantry |
| ING | Iraqi national guard |
| INJ | Injuries |
| IO | Information operations |
| IOT | In order to |
| IP | Iraqi police |
| ISI | Islamic State of Iraq |
| ISO | In support of |
| ISP | Iraqi special police |
| ISR | Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance |
| IVO | In the vicinity of |
| IZ | Iraq/Iraqi |
| JAI | Jaish al-Islami |
| JAM | Jaish al-Mahdi |
| JSS | Joint security station |
| JTJ | Jama’at al-Tawhid w’al-Jihad |
| KIA | Killed in action |
| KLE | Key leader engagement |
| LN | Local national |
| LOAC | Laws of armed combat |
| MAG | Magazine |
| MAM | Military-aged male |
| MAS | Muqtada al-Sadr |
| MEU | Marine Expeditionary Unit |
| MITT | Military intelligence training team |
| MOI | Ministry of Interior |
| MP | Military police |
| MRAP | Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle |
| MNFI | Multi-National Forces (Iraq) |
| NEU | Neutral |
| NFI | No further information |
| NFTR | Nothing further to report |
| NSTR | Nothing significant to report |
| OBJ | Objective |
| PAX | Persons |
| PB | Patrol base |
| PBIED | Person-borne improvised explosive device |
| PID | Positive identification |
| POC | Point of contact |
| POETT | Port of entry training team |
| POO | Point of origin |
| PPE | Personal protective equipment |
| PTL | Patrol |
| QJBR | Tanzim al-Qaid’at al-Jihad fi al-Balad al-Rafidayn |
| QRF | Quick reaction force |
| RPG | Rocket-propelled grenade |
| RDX | Research Department Explosive |
| RPT | Report |
| RTB | Return to base |
| RTE | Route |
| RWCAS | Rotary-wing close air support |
| S2 | Brigade-level intelligence |
| SAF/SAFIRE | Small arms fire |
| SIGACT | Significant action |
| SITREP | Situation report |
| SOI | Sons of Iraq |
| SVIED | Suicide vest improvised explosive device |
| TF | Task force |
| TTP | Tactics, techniques and procedures |
| VBIED | Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device |
| UI | Unidentified |
| UNK | Unknown |
| USACE | US Army Corps of Engineers |
| UXO | Unexploded ordnance |
| VEH | Vehicle |
| VIC | Vicinity |
| WIA | Wounded in action |
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