Glossary: US military jargon | Investigative News
Publish date: 2024-07-27
The leaked documents make extensive use of US military acronyms and jargon, which we’ve explained in this guide.
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 |
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7orjJmrGenaKWe6S7zGilnq%2BjZH9xfY9oaGlnYml8qLjOrKqaqqliwrR5zKKjoqyRp8ZutsCrnqim