Glossary

Darkness Falls Abbreviations & Slang

9-Line: Request for a MedEvac using a standardized (up to) 9 Lines radio message Form

AAR: After Action Review/Report after a training exercise, and when possible, a combat action to identify what went right, as well as things that should have been done better

ACP: Automatic Colt Pistol (aka .45ACP) .45 (inch) caliber ammunition (11.43x23mm) used in the M1911A1

ACU: Army Combat Uniform c .2005 a failed attempt for a camo uniform for all environments

{using pixilated patterns of Sage (pale green), Tan and Grey}Annoying Velcro closures for pockets

AO: Area of Operations a zone of territory assigned to a military unit for combat operations (or for training)

{in slang some soldiers/veterans might call the neighborhood they hang out in, or lake they fish, “Their AO”}

BDUs: Battle Dress Uniform of the US Army from the early 1980’s and still in limited use c .2009

{4 color camouflage uniform, using large Green, Tan, and Brown splotches, with smaller Black splotches}

“Blue Falcon” a Buddy Fucker, a person who is not to be trusted, because they betrayed a fellow soldier

BUD/s: Basic Underwater Demolition school the first stage of training for Navy SEALs, and some other personnel

CAB: Combat Action Badge US Army similar to a CIB, for Cavalry Scouts, Tankers, MPs, Artillery soldiers, etc.

CIB: Combat Infantryman’s Badge earned only by 11 & 18 series soldiers in the US Army who have been in combat

Class A’s: the standard “Dress” Uniform of the US Army, equivalent to a business suit

{aka “Dress Greens” dark green slacks & jacket, and a “mint” green shirt}

{“Pinks & Greens” (khaki) tan (“pink”) pants, and a Green jacket. as of 2021 the US Army returned to the traditional pre-World War Two dress uniform}

CO: Commanding Officer soldier or Marine in command of a Company (CPT), Battalion (LTC), Brigade (COL)

CONUS: Continental United States (which excludes Alaska and Hawaii)

CQB: Close Quarters Battle using firearms and other weapons (including hand-to-hand) at 50 meters or less, typically Urban combat (MOUT), fighting house to house, or room to room, as well as clearing bunkers, trenches, or similar situations, including Hostage Rescue, or counter terrorist activities by military, or LEO SWAT teams

CSH: Combat Support Hospital (slang: “Cash”) a deployable modular hospital with 44 (Critical Care) “Beds” but may be expanded out to as many as 248 hospital beds. A CSH is climate-controlled, and has pharmacy, labs, imaging (X-Ray, CT), (usually) Dental Care, and other medical care and services {Psychiatric / “Combat Stress”)

DCUs: Desert Camouflage Uniform Tan with brown splotches, c .1995 replaced the “Chocolate Chips” used during (Desert Storm/Desert Shield 1990/91) which had been developed for terrain peculiar to Iran

DLI: Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey, CA languages (and some culture) is taught to members of the US Armed Forces, as well as some civilian government officials from the CIA, FBI, State Dept. etc. there is also an affiliated “branch campus” near Wash. D.C.

DOW: Died of Wounds

Dress Blues: US Army’s more formal Dress Uniform, based upon the post Civil War era c .1865-1875

EDC: Every Day Carry: what a prepared person should have on them at all times, such as wallet, ID, cellular phone, knife, pistol, a multi-tool, a flashlight, IFAK, length of para-cord, butane lighter, keys, compass, etc.

EIB: Expert Infantryman’s Badge to earn this a soldier (Infantry only) must demonstrate mastery of some two dozen skills, such as qualify as Expert with the M16 Rifle (or M4 carbine), set up an M18 Claymore Mine, First Aid, etc.

EMP: Electro Magnetic Pulse from a CME Coronal Mass Ejection, or a nuclear detonation

EOD: Explosive Ordnance Detachment US Army experts at disarming explosive devices, investigating them too

FN: FN Herstal (aka Fabrique Nationale) is owned by the government of Wallonia (1/2 the nation of Belgium) it is the largest armaments manufacturer in Europe, and has subsidiaries in the USA, and owns Winchester rifle Co.

FMJ: Full Metal Jacket ammunition a copper covering over the lead bullet, cause less fouling in the barrel and is less likely to deform or expand upon hitting a human body or other object, also more likely to penetrate obstacles.

FOB: Forward Operating Base some are quite austere, but the larger ones have a PX, Burger King, etc.

“Fobbit” an aside to the Hobbits of the Shire in JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth, who prefer to stay in their comfortable safe homes (holes in the ground) derogatory reference REMFs who never leave the FOB except to return to CONUS

FTX: Field Training Exercise mostly refers to Maneuver Training, on foot or in vehicles, setting up defenses, etc.

FTX: Flexible Tip eXpander a modified form of JHP (Jacket Hollow Point) ammunition

“Golden Hour” refers to the high probability of survival if a wounded or injured person is able to receive advanced medical care at a civilian Trauma Center, or a military CaSH, or in some circumstances care from a SF Medic

92% of US and Allied soldiers survived being wounded (or severely injured in accidents) in Iraq and Afghanistan

Not literally an Hour. Prompt treatment, and transport to the best possible medical facilities is what is meant

“Green Berets” aka “Snake Eaters” or “Men in Funny Hats” refer to US Army Special Forces organized in SFGs (Special Forces Groups) {1^st Asia/Oceana, 3^rd Africa, 5^th Middle East, 7^th Central and South America, 10^th Europe as well as the 19^th Group and the 20^th Group that are composed of members of the National Guards of various states}

“Goat School” (aka Live Tissue Training) the most realistic medical training provided to Special Forces Medics (18Ds), Navy Corpsmen assigned to the SEALs (after graduating from BUD/s), USAF PJs (Pararescuemen) it is controversial, but there is no comparable training; even working in inner city ERs (Emergency Rooms) does not provide the opportunities of LTT, because victims in ERs are human beings; and it is real life, NOT training

“Grunt” Army or Marine Infantry (Rangers too) who stereotypically are not well educated, and are Caveman like

Haji / Hajis an Islamic terrorist/s (because of the obligation of the Haj the Pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia)

aka Muj or Mujahadeen (“holy warrior”)

H&K (or HK): Heckler & Koch a German firearms conglomerate

HMMWV: High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle aka “Humvee” the “jeep” c .1985 to present; replacements are being designed, and some have been fielded. Produced under license by multiple nations

HRT: Hostage Rescue Team

IBA: Interceptor Body Armor (w/SAPI plates) 16.4 lbs. (7.4 kg) (with SAPI plates) in service c .1997 to c .2015

IED: Improvised Explosive Device aka “Booby Trap” anything from a crude pipe bomb to a Self-Forging Projectile

IFAK: Individual First Aid Kit

IOTV: Improved Outer Tactical Vest (w/E-SAPI plates) weighs from 15 to 35 lbs. c .2008 to present

{F-IOTV: a version of the IOTV modified for wear by typical women (in military service) 13-25 lbs.}c .2012

JBLM: Joint Base Lewis-McCord; formerly Fort Lewis and McCord Air Force Base, just south of Tacoma, WA

JHP: Jacket Hollow Point ammunition, has a declivity or “cup” in the tip, likely to expand upon striking flesh

KIA: Killed In Action (in other words killed in combat)

LEO: Law Enforcement Officer

MCCUU: Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform significantly superior to the US Amry’s ACU

desert and woodland versions using a “digicam” pixilated camouflage pattern that is effective vs. NVGs

MEB: Marine Expeditionary Brigade

MedEvac: Medical Evacuation, by (ground) ambulance, or helicopter (most commonly) to a Hospital

MEU(SOC): Marine Expeditionary Unit-Special Operations Capable a Marine Infantry Battalion plus

MRAP: Mine Resistant / Ambush Proof (vehicle) armored, wheeled vehicles, usually on a truck chassis

MRE: Meal(s) Ready to Eat Military field rations, providing high calories, “wet packed” (not dehydrated)

NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer, corporals, Sergeants (incl Staff Sergeants, First Sergeants, Sergeant Majors, etc.)

NDA: Non-Disclosure Agreement

“Norks“ North Koreans

NTV: Non-Tactical Vehicle civilian type vehicles used by the armed forces; often pick-up trucks and SUVs

NVG: Night Vision Googles modern versions use light intensification, older versions use an Inferred Light source

ODA: Operational Detachment Alpha a 12 man Special Forces unit (aka an “A-Team”) consisting of the Detachment Commander (18A) Captain. “Team Chief” (180) CWO2, Ops NCO (18X), Intel (18F), and two each

Weapons Experts (18B), Engineers (18C), Medics (18D) Communications Specialists (18E)

ODB: Operational Detachment Bravo provides coordination and service-support for ODAs (aka an “B-Team”)

OCP: Operational Camouflage Pattern (aka “Multicam”) a significantly improved version of the ACU c .2009

OOW: Operations Other Than War such as Disaster Relief, international Peace Keeping, Riot Control, and the dreaded “nation building”

“Ops” Operations (also a nickname for an S-3 Operations Officer, or some NCOs)

OSHA: US Govt. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PASGT: Personal Armor System Ground Troops in service c .1982-1999/2005 primarily Kevlar Vests and Helmets

PDW: Personal Defense Weapon similar to SMGs, but using higher velocity 5.7x28mm or 4.6x30mm ammo (potentially capable of penetrating soft body armor); the FN P90 (used in Stargate) and H&K MP7 series

PLA: Peoples Liberation Army of the PRC Chinese Communist

POTUS: President of the United States

POV: Personally Owned Vehicle commonly a car, SUV, pick-up truck, or motorcycle

POW: Prisoner Of War

PRC: Peoples Republic of China; Communist China

“Q-Course” SFQC: Special Forces Qualification Course 56-95 weeks of Testing and training to become a