masterwordsmith-unplugged

Watch that latest military blockbuster movie, but you're at a loss as to some of the military terms they used? Here's a basic primer:

Befarkled: Confused, characterized by a state of genuine, profound disorientation; perpetual state of all Chemical units.

Primary Hammer or The Hammer: A cool operational term to impress a superior when describing the finishing force, or the main effort.

Fan-Out: A dismounted operation involving soldiers on the ground maximizing the amount of terrain they can cover or disperse over.

Paint the Picture: A term used to gather information and assess the situation. Usually asked by senior leaders to junior leaders. Usually invoked after the senior leader has gotten sleep and knows absolutely nothing of the tactical situation, while the battle captain has been up all night.

Critical Terrain: Terrain that if not secured, grabbed, taken or camped out on – you are screwed. A new category to describe terrain in FM 34-130 (Critical – Decisive – Key).

Kick-Out: An armor technique used to employ light infantry to clear severely restricted terrain in order to allow the armor to pass.

Phase: Infantry term for we don’t know how to write paragraph three.

Hey, Diddle – Diddle: Group of words used to describe a possible COA that allows for no analytical thought and ensures a minimum 75% casualty rate. Known also to the USMC as High, Diddle-Diddle.

Police-Up: An infantry operation to defeat the remaining enemy on an objective after Armor forces by-pass or attempt to avoid confrontation.

Flex: A really cool sounding non-doctrinal term used to maneuver a unit from one location to another. Used primarily when you don’t have a clue where you are or how the hell to get to the new location.

Technique: A noun, used in the phrase: “That’s a technique.” Translated – That’s a really screwed up way to execute this operation and you will probably kill your entire unit. But if you want to do it that way – go ahead.”

Hang Out: To establish a position characterized by a total lack of security, soldiers asleep in hammocks and a huge BBQ pit turning out chow. A task usually accomplished by Air Defenders.

Bells & Whistles: An inordinate amount of cheese, not required to get necessary information communicated to another individual or group of individuals. Commonly associated with Canine and Equestrian Theater.

Blah, Blah, Blah: Short for “You know what I’m going to say anyway, so I’m not going to waste our time to actually say it.” See also Yada Yada Yada or Homina Homina, or humma humma humma.

Let’s Rock Baby: Radio communications pro-word for “Guidons, this is 2. Panther 6 FRAGO follows, acknowledge, over.”

Getting’ Jiggy With It: A friendly oriented, offensive form of maneuver that simultaneously utilizes at least three maneuver elements.

Drive By: Engaging the enemy while bypassing. Meets both the destruction and bypass criteria given in the OPORD.