ACTION-EVENT An ACTION that is an incident, phenomenon, or occasion of military significance which has occurred or is occurring but for which planning is not known. ACTION-TASK An ACTION that is being or has been planned and for which the planning details are known. Abdication The renouncement by a person of his official functions. Accident An unfortunate event, esp. one causing physical harm or damage, brought about unintentionally. Accident, aircraft ground An accident involving an aircraft during ground operations or maintenance. Accident, mine An accident involving unexploded ordnance. Accident, traffic An accident involving at least one motor vehicle. Accident, weapon An accident involving a weapon. Accident, workplace An accident occurring at the workplace. Advancing Moving towards an objective in some form of tactical formation. This is a transitional phase between operations that may or may not result in contact with the enemy. Aerial engagement The occurrence of a hostile encounter between military aircraft. Aerial shoot down The deliberate destruction of an aircraft. Air assault Mounting an assault utilising a mixture of aviation and ground transport, the principal feature of which is the insertion of combat power. Airborne assault Mounting an airborne operation, a phase beginning with delivery by air of the assault echelon of the force into the objective area and extending through attack of assault objectives and consolidation of the initial airhead. Aircraft crash The unforeseen destruction or damage of an aircraft (and personnel). Aircraft launch activity The occurrence of one or more aircraft taking off. Aircraft loss The unforeseen loss of an aircraft (and personnel), other than crash. Airspace violation The invasion of the declared own airspace by an aircraft. Alert cancellation The end of a state of readiness. Ambush A surprise attack by fire or other destructive means from concealed positions on a moving or temporarily halted force or group of personnel. Amphibious operation Mounting an operation launched from the sea by naval and land forces against a hostile, or potentially hostile shore. Arms production An activity of, relating to or based on the production of arms. Arms trade A happening of selling or buying of arms. Arresting, legal Seizing and detaining of a person under authority of the law. Arresting/obstructing Stopping or checking of the motion, progress, growth, or spread of something. Arson The crime of maliciously setting fire to the property of another or of burning one's own property for an improper purpose, as to collect insurance. Artillery fire [No definition given in APP-6A] Assassination Murder of a prominent person. Assembling Joining together of multiple objects in the same area. Assisting a criminal Assisting or abetting a known criminal or terrorist. Atmospheric pollution Contamination of the atmosphere caused by a poison or toxin. Attack, deliberate Conducting an offensive operation characterised by pre-planned coordinated employment of firepower and manoeuvre to close with and destroy or capture the enemy. Attack, diversion Conducting an attack wherein a force attacks, or threatens to attack, a target other than the main target for the purpose of drawing enemy defences away from the main effort. Attack, electronic Conducting an offensive operation characterised by the deliberate radiation, re-radiation, alteration, absorption or reflection of electromagnetic energy in a manner intended to confuse, distract or seduce an enemy or his electronic systems. Attack, hasty In land operations, an attack in which preparation time is traded for speed in order to exploit an opportunity. Attack, main Conducting the principal attack or effort into which the commander throws the full weight of the offensive power at his disposal. An attack directed against the chief objective of the campaign or battle. Attack, not otherwise specified Conducting an offensive operation characterised by coordinated employment of firepower and manoeuvre to close with and destroy or capture the enemy. Attack, supporting Conducting an offensive operation carried out in conjunction with a main attack and designed to achieve one or more of the following: a. deceive the enemy; b. destroy or pin down enemy forces which could interfere with the main attack; c. control ground whose occupation by the enemy will hinder the main attack; or d. force the enemy to commit reserves prematurely or in an indecisive area. Attempted murder The attempted act of unlawfully killing of one human being by another, especially with premeditated malice. Attempted rape The attempted act of forcing another person to submit to sexual intercourse. Attempted robbery The attempted act of robbing a person or place. Attempted suicide The attempted act of killing oneself intentionally. Avoiding Staying clear of a specified object. Belly landing An aircraft has landed without using the landing gear. Blocking Denying of enemy access to an area or preventing his advance in a direction or along an avenue of approach. Bombing Attacking, damaging or destroying through the use of bombs. Bombing, accidental An unfortunate bombing incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally. Bombing, deliberate A deliberate and intentional bombing incident. Booby trap discovery The detection of a device intended to cause damage to unsuspecting people. Border crossing, escorted A border crossing that is conducted under escort. Border crossing, forced A border crossing that is conducted under pressure. Border crossing, illegal A border crossing that is forbidden by law. Border crossing, not-planned A border crossing that is unplanned. Border crossing, planned A border crossing that is known to have been planned ahead of time. Border crossing, surveilled A border crossing that is conducted under surveillance. Border incursion Moving a force or a group of people across a national or territorial border. Border raid A surprise attack by a force or a group of people across a national or territorial border (restricted to 25 km from the border). Breaching Breaking through or securing a passage through an enemy defence, obstacle, minefield, or fortification. Build-up Attaining prescribed strength of units and prescribed levels of vehicles, equipment, stores and supplies. Burned out object Complete destruction of an object by flames. Bypass Manoeuvring around an obstacle, position, or enemy force to maintain the momentum of advance. Canalise Restricting operations to a narrow zone by use of existing or reinforcing obstacles or by fire or bombing. Capture Taking possession of an object, normally by force; it frequently involves movement as a preliminary phase. Carrier launch Launching of aircraft by a naval platform. Carrier recovery Aircraft recovery by a naval platform. CBRN-EVENT An ACTION-EVENT that involves chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materiel individually or in combination. Ceremony or parade The formal gathering of a group of people in order to carry out an act or series of acts prescribed by ritual protocol or convention. Civil demonstration, illegal A public meeting or march illegally expressing protest or other opinion on an issue. Civil demonstration, legal A public meeting or march legally expressing protest or other opinion on an issue. Civil disobedience The refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes etc. as a peaceful form of political protest. Civil unrest A behaviour that results in the disturbance of the normal order of society that generally falls short of riots and/or property destruction in the civil population. Civil war A war among fellow-citizens or within the limits of one community. Clearing, air Clearing of the air to gain either temporary or permanent air superiority or control in a given sector. Clearing, land combat Removing all enemy forces from a specific location, area, or zone. Clearing, obstacle Eliminating or neutralising an obstacle. Clearing, radio net Eliminating transmissions on a tactical radio net in order to allow a higher precedence transmission to occur. Codeword execution Initiating the codeword activity. Collision, mid-air In-flight collision of an aircraft with another aircraft. Collision, obstacle In-flight collision of an aircraft with natural or man-made object (fixed or mobile) located on the ground. Communications activation The enabling of transmission of information. Communications deactivation The disabling of transmission of information. Communications disruption Interruption of the passage of communications by natural or man-made phenomena. Communications interception Capturing electromagnetic communications signals. Communications outage The failure of communications equipment due to a mechanical malfunction. Communications restoration The reestablishment of the ability to communicate. Conducting conference Conducting a meeting for discussion, esp. a regular one held by an association or organisation. Conducting forward passage of lines Moving an incoming force through another force that is currently in contact with the enemy in order for the incoming force to come into contact with the enemy. Conducting media interview Conducting a conversation between a reporter etc. and a person of public interest, used as a basis of a broadcast or publication. Conducting preparatory fire Delivering fire on a target preparatory to an assault. Conducting rearward passage of lines Moving a force through the defensive positions of another force behind it in order to break contact with the enemy. Conducting recreational activities Conducting a refreshing or entertaining activity. Conducting road service Enabling the movement of a number of specific units. Conducting social events Conducting any social gathering, esp. one organised by a club or congregation. Conducting sporting events Conducting any game or competitive activity, especially an outdoor one involving physical exertion, e.g. cricket, football, racing, hunting. Confiscation The seizure of property under public authority. Consolidating of a position Re-organising and strengthening of a newly captured position so that it can be used against the enemy. Constructing Building, digging or creating an object. Containing Restricting enemy forces by stopping, holding or surrounding them or compelling the enemy forces to centre activity on a given front and to prevent his withdrawing any part of his forces for use elsewhere. Cooperating Working or acting together. Counter attack Mounting an offensive operation in which an attack by a part or all of a defending force is made against an enemy attacking force, for such specific purposes as regaining ground lost, cutting off or destroying lead enemy units, and with the general objective of regaining the initiative and denying the enemy the attainment of his goal or purpose in attacking. Counter attack by fire Denying the enemy his goal by using fire against an engagement area to defeat or destroy an enemy force. Counter-battery fire Fire delivered for the purpose of destroying or neutralising indirect fire weapons systems. Coup de Estat A violent or illegal seizure of power. Covering Operating as a force apart from the main body to protect the main body by fighting to gain time while also observing and reporting information and preventing enemy ground observation of an direct fire against the main body. Crime against humanity Violation of the laws so gross in numbers affected that it is considered to affect all humans and not only individuals. Criminal incident A violation of law. Crossing Traversing a FEATURE or FACILITY. Death, natural causes Normal termination of life. Death of chief of state Self-defined. Death of spiritual leader Self-defined. Deception Employing measures designed to mislead the enemy by manipulation, distortion, or falsification of evidence to induce him to react in a manner prejudicial to his interests. Deception, electronic In electronic countermeasures, the deliberate radiation, re-radiation, alteration, absorption or reflection of electromagnetic energy in a manner intended to confuse, distract or seduce an enemy or his electronic systems. Defeat Diminution of the effectiveness of the enemy to the extent that he is unable to participate further in the battle or at least cannot fulfil his intention. Defending Protecting a defined object against an enemy attack. Deflecting Preventing an enemy force from following the intended course. Delaying Slowing the momentum of the enemy by conducting an operation in which the force under pressure trades time for space; the aim is to inflict the maximum damage on the enemy without becoming decisively engaged. Demolition The destruction of structures, facilities, or materiel by use of fire, water, explosives, mechanical, or other means. Demonstration Conducting an offensive operation that is either an attack or a show of force on a front where a decision is not sought, made with the aim of deceiving the enemy. It is similar to a feint with the exception that no contact with the enemy is sought. In OOTW, an operation by military forces in sight of an actual or potential enemy to show military capabilities. Denying Preventing access by blocking, disrupting, dislocating and/or bringing fire to bear. Deploying Moving to and adopting a tactical formation or dispersal at a specific location. Destroying Physically rendering an enemy force combat-ineffective or damaging a target so that it cannot function as intended, nor be restored to a usable condition without being entirely rebuilt. Disease A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific part. Disengaging Breaking off an action. Disrupting Breaking apart an enemy’s formation and tempo, interrupting the enemy’s time table, causing premature commitment of forces, and/or splintering their attack using integrated fire planning and obstacle effect. Distributing Dividing or dispensing in portions. Diversion Drawing the attention and forces of an enemy from the point of the principal operation; an attack, alarm, or feint that diverts attention. Drive-by shooting [No definition given in APP-6A] Drought A prolonged or chronic shortage of water. Drug consumption, illegal An action of consuming illegal drugs. Drug distribution, illegal An action to distribute illegal drugs or to illegally distribute legal drugs. Drug manufacturing, illegal An action to manufacture illegal drugs or to illegally manufacture legal drugs. Drug operation [No definition given in APP-6A] Drug storage An action to store drugs. Drug transportation An action to transport drugs. Early warning alert Early notification of the launch or approach of weapons or weapons carriers. Earthquake A convulsion of the earth's crust due to the release of accumulated stress as a result of faults in strata or volcanic action. Election associated violence The occurrence of violent acts due to an election process. Electronic emission The radiation of electromagnetic energy. Electronic warfare Military action to exploit the electro-magnetic spectrum encompassing the search for, interception and identification of electro-magnetic emissions, the employment of electro-magnetic energy, including directed energy, to reduce or prevent hostile use of the electro-magnetic spectrum, and actions to ensure its effective use by friendly forces. Enemy contact The situation when opposing forces are in sight of or in range of direct fire of each other's weapons. Enveloping Manoeuvring by the main attacking force to pass around or over the enemy's principal defensive positions with the aim of securing objectives to the enemy's rear. Epidemic A widespread occurrence of a disease in a community at a particular time. Equipment failure A cessation of proper functioning or performance of a piece of equipment. Escaping Breaking free from a restriction or control of a place, person, or organisation. Escorting Accompanying and protecting another force or convoy. Evacuating Clearing or removing materiel and personnel from a given locality. Execution Putting a person to death, especially as a legal penalty. Exploitation Taking advantage of a successful attack by mounting an offensive operation to follow-up and harass a dislocated enemy with the aim of further disorganising him in depth. This may provide the opportunity to capture ground that was not part of the objective of the original attack. Explosion A sudden release of any kind of energy. Famine An extreme scarcity of food. Fire A rapid, persistent chemical reaction that releases heat and light, especially the exothermic combination of a combustible substance with oxygen. Firefighting The activity of extinguishing fires. Fix Preventing the enemy from moving any part of his force from a specific location for a specific period of time. Fix, acoustic [No definition given in APP-6A] Fix, electromagnetic [No definition given in APP-6A] Fix, electro-optical [No definition given in APP-6A] Flood The overflowing of a body of water onto dry land. Following and assuming Operating as a committed force that is following a force conducting an offensive operation and is prepared to continue the mission of the force it is following when that force is fixed, attrited, or otherwise unable to continue. Following and supporting Operating as a committed force that follows and supports the mission accomplishment of a force conducting an offensive operation. Forced landing An aircraft that by hostile act, or lack of vital resources is compelled to land. Friendly fire Accidental damage by Allied troops to one's own installations, aircraft or personnel. Generating chemical smoke Producing chemical smoke to act as a form of cover to protect ongoing operations. Genocide The deliberated and systematic destruction of a racial, political or cultural group. Governmental collapse The sudden loss of force, effectiveness or authority of the governing organisation. Guarding Operating as a security element to protect the main body by fighting to gain time while also observing and reporting information. Gunnery, air-to-air The act of firing an air-to-air weapon, usually at an aircraft. Harassing Conducting an operation or executing a fire plan designed to curtail movement and, by threat of losses, to lower the morale of enemy troops. Hiding Concealing an object. Hijacking, boat Seizure of a boat or ship in order to go somewhere other than the scheduled destination. Hijacking, land vehicle Seizure of a land vehicle in order to go somewhere other than the scheduled destination. Hijacking, not otherwise specified Seizure of a vehicle in order to go somewhere other than the scheduled destination. Hijacking, plane Seizure of an aircraft in order to go somewhere other than the scheduled destination. Hold, defensive Maintaining or retaining possession by force a position or area in defensive operations. Hold, offensive Exerting sufficient pressure by means of combat power in an attack to prevent the movement or redeployment of enemy forces. Hostage taking Action to seize or hold a person as security for the fulfilment of a condition. Human rights violation The commitment of an act against human rights. Hunting The activity of hunting wild animals or game, especially for food or sport. Identifying Determining the identification of a particular class of object, recognising the friendly or enemy character of an object, or detecting the presence of an object. Illumination Providing battlespace lighting by employing searchlight or pyrotechnic illuminants using diffusion or reflection. Indirect fire Fire delivered on a target that is not itself used as a point of aim for the weapons or the director. Indiscriminate shooting Firing without a specific objective and without making distinction. Industrial espionage incident The practice of spying or the use of spies to obtain information about the plans and activities of competitors. Infiltration Moving a force, broken down as individuals or small groups, over, through or around enemy positions with the aim of avoiding detection. Interception Conducting electronic warfare support operations with a view to searching, locating and recording radiated electromagnetic energy. Interdiction Diverting, disrupting, delaying, or destroying the enemy's surface military potential before it can be used effectively against friendly forces. Intimidation Act to frighten or overawe. Invasion The act of taking possession of another land. Isolation Sealing off (both physically and psychologically) an enemy from its sources of support, denying an enemy freedom of movement, and preventing an enemy unit from having contact with other enemy forces. Issuing media article Sending forth or putting into circulation a non-fictional essay, especially one included with others in a newspaper, magazine, or journal. Issuing media documentary Sending forth or putting into circulation any document published on a media that provides a factual record or report. Issuing press release Sending forth or putting into circulation an official statement issued to media for information. Jamming Deliberately radiating, re-radiating or reflecting electromagnetic energy with the object of impairing the use of electronic devices, equipment or systems being used by the enemy. Kidnapping Seizing and holding a person unlawfully, usually for ransom or political gain. Labour strike The organised refusal by employees to work until some grievance is remedied. Leaguer Adopting a defended formation as a temporary defensive measure in areas of low or moderate risk of combat. Letter bomb explosion The explosion of a seemingly harmless letter or parcel. Letter bomb incident The detection of a seemingly harmless letter or parcel. Local election An ACTION-EVENT in which local officials are selected by vote. Locating Establishing the position of an object. Looting Act to take private property from an enemy in war or stolen by thieves. Maintaining Providing services to keep equipment in condition to carry out its function. Marking Making visible (by the use of light/IR/laser/arty) an object in order to allow its identification by another object (usually as a precursor to the use of direct fire weapons). Martial law implementation Giving practical effect to military law, usually by restricting the rights of citizens for security reasons. Massing of forces The concentration of large quantities of military equipment and personnel. Massive deportation/banishment The driving out or removing from a home or place of usual resort or continuance of a large number of people. Medical evacuation The process of moving any person who is wounded, injured or ill to/between medical treatment FACILITYs. Military mobilisation The act of assembling and making ready for active military service. Mine-laying [No definition given in APP-6A] Missing individual The absence of a PERSON from an expected or anticipated location. Mission staging The assembly of aircraft for the completion of a mission or other activity. Mortar fire [No definition given in APP-6A] Moving Changing position. Murder The unlawful killing of one human being by another, especially with premeditated malice. Mutual assistance pact agreement An arrangement or contract between a number of organisations to provide mutual support. National election An ACTION-EVENT in which national officials are selected by vote. National holiday A day designated by a national authority as a day when work is not compulsory. National state of emergency A political term, to describe a condition approximating to that of war, wherein the normal constitution is suspended. Natural disaster The damage caused by force of nature, such as a hurricane, cyclone, tornado or tidal wave. Naval gun fire The act of firing a naval surface-to-surface weapon. Naval platform flight operations Aircraft launch or recovery by a naval platform. Network seizure Taking electronic control of a communications network. Neutralise, chemical Making safe or non-toxic an object contaminated with a chemical agent. Neutralise, combat Rendering ineffective or unusable in military operations. Neutralise, explosive Rendering bombs, mines, missiles, and booby traps into a safe state. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. Observing Providing continuous view and the potential for reports on the activity of an object. Occupying Moving onto an objective, key terrain, or other manmade or natural terrain area without opposition and controlling that entire area. Oceans, seas or water pollution Contamination of a body of water caused by a poison or toxin. Offensive/counteroffensive Conducting an operation by an attack force. Organised crime Violation of the laws of a civil society performed by a group of persons established for that reason. Outbreak of racial/tribal/ethnic warfare The use of force or violence by or against racial or tribal groups. Patrolling Gathering information or carrying out a destructive, harassing, mopping-up, or security mission. Peace conference A meeting of a group of persons to discuss a peace process. Peace treaty agreement An arrangement or contract among involved nations or factions to end a conflict. Penetrating Breaking through the enemy's defence or disrupting the enemy's defensive systems. Pestilence A fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague. Petroleum product spills The accidental or delivered release of any petroleum product into the environment. Picketing An act by a person or persons outside a place of work, intending to persuade esp. workers not to enter during a strike. Poisoning Injuring or killing with toxic agents. Political demonstration A public display of group feelings towards a political idea, person or cause. Political execution A putting to death of a person or group of persons for political reasons. POW return The arrival of a POW or a group of POWs to their own forces or country. Prisoner exchange The act of giving or taking POWs in return for others. Procuring Buying whatever is needed to fulfil a certain action. Protection, electronic The preservation of the fighting potential against electronic attacks of a force so that the commander can apply maximum force at the decisive time and place. Providing accommodation Providing room for receiving people, esp. a place to live or lodgings. Providing agricultural support Providing advice or supplies for cultivating the soil and rearing animals. Providing bedding Providing (1) sleeping accommodation or (2) mattress and bedclothes. Providing camps Providing temporary accommodation of various kinds, usually consisting of huts or tents, for detainees, homeless persons, and other emergency use. Providing construction services Providing labour and materiel for construction of facilities. Providing decontamination services Providing purification of different items from contamination. Providing education services Providing labour and materiel for the educational process. Providing healthcare services Providing labour and materiel for maintaining the general health and welfare. Providing host nation support Providing civil and/or military assistance rendered by a nation to foreign forces within its territory during peacetime, crises or emergencies, or war based on agreements mutually concluded between nations. Providing infrastructure Providing basic facilities such as roads, bridges, and sewers. Providing laundry services Providing labour and materiel for laundering of clothes or linens. Providing repair services Providing labour and materiel to restore objects to sound condition. Providing security services Providing labour and materiel to assure safety of personnel and facilities. Providing shelter Providing housing. Providing storage services Providing services for storage. Providing transhipment services Providing movement of cargo from one ship or train or container to another for further shipment. Proxy-bombing A deliberate and intentional bombing incident that happens unexpectedly where the perpetrator acts through a representative. Psychological operation Planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behaviour of foreign governments, organisations, groups, and individuals. The purpose of psychological operations is to induce or reinforce foreign attitudes and behaviour favourable to the originator's objectives. Publishing media article Making generally known a non-fictional essay, especially one included with others in a newspaper, magazine, journal, etc. Publishing media documentary Making generally known any document published on a media that provides a factual record or report. Publishing press release Making generally known an official statement issued to media for information. Pursuing Continuing an offensive operation in order to catch or cut off a hostile force attempting to escape, with the aim of destroying it. Typically, contact is maintained and risk taken to harass relentlessly, thereby turning the pursuit into a rout. Rape The act of forcing another person to submit to sexual intercourse. Reconnaissance Conducting a mission to obtain by visual operations or other detection methods information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or to secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographic or geographic characteristics of a particular area. Reconnaissance in force Conducting an offensive operation designed to discover and/or test the enemy's strength, or to obtain other information. Reconstituting Attaining prescribed strength of units and prescribed levels of vehicles, equipment, stores and supplies. The process will only take place after a unit/formation combat effectiveness has been reduced. Recovering Retrieving any lost, incapacitated or captured object. Recuperating Resting a unit after it has been in action. Some reconstitution may take place as well. Redeployment Transferring a unit, an individual, or supplies deployed in one area to another area, or to another location within the area, for the purpose of further employment. Refugee movement The movement of people who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. Reinforcing Making a force available for the purpose of supplementing an in-place force. Relief in place An operation in which, by direction of higher authority, all or part of a unit is replaced in an area by the incoming unit. The responsibilities of the replaced elements for the mission and the assigned zone of operations are transferred to the incoming unit. The incoming unit continues the operation as ordered. Religious demonstration A public display of group feelings towards a religious idea, person or cause. Religious violence Individual or organised act directed against groups or individuals because of their religious beliefs. Religious warfare An act of open armed conflict due to a difference of religious belief between two separate groups. Rendezvous Achieving a pre-arranged meeting at a given time and place. Reorganising Changing a task organisation for a particular operation. (Normally takes place before an operation). This includes the transfer of authority. Repairing Restoring an item to serviceable condition through correction of a specific failure or unserviceable condition. Resting Observing a specified period of inactivity by an organisation that is out of contact with the enemy. Resupplying Replenishing stocks in order to maintain the required levels of supply. Retain Occupying and holding a terrain feature to ensure it is free of enemy occupation or use. Retire Moving a force out of contact with the enemy with the expectation of no further significant contact. Revolution The overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed. Riot A disturbance of the peace by a crowd; an occurrence of public disorder. Robbery Unlawfully taking property, valuables or money from a person or place. Rocket fire [No definition given in APP-6A] Sabotage An act or acts with intent to injure, interfere with, or obstruct the national defence of a country by wilfully injuring or destroying, or attempting to injure or destroy, any national defence or war material, premises or utilities, to include human and natural resources. Screening Operating as a security element whose primary task is to observe, identify and report information, and which only fights in self-protection. Secession of portion of country The formal withdrawal of a portion of a country. Securing Gaining possession of a position or terrain feature, with or without force, and making such disposition to prevent, as far as possible, its destruction or loss by enemy action. Security compromise A release of information to someone unauthorised. Security violation An infringement of a security protocol. Seizing Clearing a designated area and obtaining control of it. Serving as a breakout force Operating as a force that is tasked with the continuation of the operation during an obstacle crossing. Serving as a bridgehead force Operating as a force that seizes or controls ground in order to permit the continuous embarkation, landing or crossing of troops or materiel and to provide manoeuvre space during a water obstacle crossing. Serving as a flank guard Operating as a security element whose primary task is to protect the main force by fighting on the designated flank to gain time, whilst also observing and reporting information. Serving as a main body Operating as the main force for a specific operation. Serving as a rear guard Operating as a security element whose primary task is to move (or remain) at the rear of the main body and protect the main force by fighting to gain time, whilst also observing and reporting information. Serving as a reserve Operating as a force that may be committed into combat only on the order of the commander of the organisation who so designated the reserve force. Serving as an advance guard Operating as a security element whose primary task is to move ahead of the main body and protect the main force by fighting to gain time, whilst also observing and reporting information. Serving as an in-place force Operating as a force that provides fire and other support to the bridgehead force during an obstacle crossing. Setting up Establishing a FACILITY, ORGANISATION or FEATURE. Shooting The act of firing of a weapon, usually at a person. Sniper attack An attack by one who shoots at others from a concealed place. Space accident The unforeseen loss, destruction or damage of a spacecraft. Spying Obtaining intelligence information furtively as an agent of a foreign power or competition. State of war A state characterised by hostile military activity between the parts. Strafing, aerial Attack by enemy aircraft against ground targets using forward firing ordnance (bullets, shells, or rockets). Strike The organised refusal by employees to work until some grievance is remedied. Suicide The action of killing oneself intentionally. Supporting Aiding, protecting, complementing or sustaining an object. Suppressing Providing fires that neutralises or temporarily degrades the capabilities of enemy forces within a specific area. This makes no assumptions as to enemy casualties; it may be a transitory effect. Surrender Yielding to the control or power of the enemy. Surveillance, electronic The systematic observation of aerospace, surface or subsurface areas, places, persons, or things, by electronic means. Suspension of hostilities The cessation of war activities. Terrorism Using or threatening force or violence against individuals or property in an attempt to coerce or intimidate governments or societies to achieve political, religious or ideological objectives. Threaten Menacing an armed force by manoeuvre or action. Torture An action or practice of inflicting severe pain as a punishment or a forcible means of persuasion. Transporting Moving assets to a specified objective by sea, land or air. Traversing Travelling over a designated route. Treaty violation An infringement or breaking of the provisions of a formal agreement. Troublemaking, agitating Stirring up of public interest on a matter of controversy, such as a political or social issue. Troublemaking, bullying Intimidating by the use of superior size or strength. Troublemaking, harassing Persecuting systematically by besetting with annoyances, threats or demands. Troublemaking, hooliganism Causing difficulties by the actions of hoodlums, especially young ruffians. Troublemaking, inciting Provoking to action, stirring up or urging on. Troublemaking, intimidating Discouraging or inhibiting by or as if by threats. Turning Compelling an enemy force to move from one avenue of approach or movement corridor to another. UXO discovery The detection of the presence of unexploded explosive ordnance. Vandalism/Rape/Loot/Ransack/Plunder/Sack [No definition given in APP-6A] Verifying Testifying to, asserting, affirming or confirming, as true or certain. Vessel sinking The unforeseen loss, damage or destruction of a vessel by submersion. Volcanic eruption The release of lava or steam by a volcano. War crime Violation of the laws and customs of war, i.e. the principles and norms of international law that enshrine the rights and duties of warring parties and neutral states. War/crisis alert The state of readiness caused by the possibility of a war. War/military conference A meeting of a group of persons to discuss war/military process. Weapon firing The firing of weapons. Withdrawal Disengaging a force in contact from an enemy force. Withdrawal under pressure Disengaging from the enemy when the enemy has sufficient contact with friendly forces to interfere with the withdrawal. Witnessing Observing an activity that may result in the need to provide evidence. CHEMICAL-BIOLOGICAL-EVENT A CBRN-EVENT involving chemical and/or biological materiel. Not known It is not possible to determine which value is most applicable. RADIOACTIVE-EVENT A CBRN-EVENT involving radioactive materiel(s). Unidentified release other than attack (ROTA) The release of an unknown chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological materiel(s) [agent(s)] into the environment intentionally or accidentally but not for the intended purpose of conducting an attack. Biological alarm An action by which a biological detector is triggered or a group is warned. Biological attack Employing the use of biological materiel(s) [agent(s)] to kill, injure, or incapacitate, for a significant period of time, man or animals, and deny or hinder the use of areas, facilities or materiel, or defence against such employment. Biological release other than attack (ROTA) The release of a biological agent or toxin into the environment intentionally or accidentally but not for the intended purpose of conducting an attack. Biological sampling The action of detecting a biological contaminant. Chemical alarm An action by which a chemical detector is triggered or a group is warned. Chemical attack Employing the use of chemical materiel(s) [agent(s)] to produce casualties in man or animals and damage to plants or materiel; or defence against such employment. Chemical release other than attack (ROTA) The release of chemicals or chemical agents into the environment intentionally or accidentally but not for the intended purpose of conducting an attack. Chemical sampling The action of detecting a chemical contaminant. Chemical/biological facility event An event that involves viable agent released to the atmosphere following a strike against a facility containing chemical warfare agent(s) and/or biological warfare agent(s). Not known It is not possible to determine which value is most applicable. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. NUCLEAR-EVENT A RADIOACTIVE-EVENT involving nuclear materiel and/or nuclear detonation. Radiation alarm An action by which a radiological detector is triggered or a group is warned. RADIOLOGICAL-EVENT A RADIOACTIVE-EVENT involving radioactive materiel(s) but not involving nuclear materiel(s) and/or nuclear detonation. Not known It is not possible to determine which value is most applicable. Nuclear attack The delivery of a nuclear weapon against a target. Nuclear release other than attack (ROTA) The release of nuclear material into the environment intentionally or accidentally but not for the intended purpose of conducting an attack. Nuclear sampling The action of detecting a radiological contaminant. Nuclear test The explosion of a nuclear device for test purpose. Nuclear war alert The state of readiness caused by the possibility of atomic bombings. Nuclear waste disposal Removing nuclear polluted substances to a designated storage area. NUCLEAR-WEAPON-EVENT A NUCLEAR-EVENT that involves the detonation of a nuclear device. Order An ACTION-TASK that is directed to be executed. Plan An ACTION-TASK that represents a course of action that is foreseen or anticipated. REQUEST An ACTION-TASK that states a requirement. Template An ACTION-TASK that serves as a reference in planning. Action To discover the actions of an ACTION-OBJECTIVE (OBJECT-ITEM) by any means. Association To discover the relation between two ACTION-OBJECTIVEs (OBJECT-ITEMs) by any means. Capability To discover the capability of an ACTION-OBJECTIVE (OBJECT-ITEM) by any means. Holding To discover the holding of an ACTION-OBJECTIVE (OBJECT-ITEM) by any means. Hostility To recognise the friendly or enemy character of an ACTION-OBJECTIVE (OBJECT-ITEM) by any means. Location To discover the location of an ACTION-OBJECTIVE (OBJECT-ITEM) by any means. Presence To discover the manifestation of an ACTION-OBJECTIVE in the area of operational interest specified through another ACTION-OBJECTIVE (OBJECT-ITEM: FACILITY, FEATURE). Status To recognise the status of an ACTION-OBJECTIVE (OBJECT-ITEM) by any means. Type To recognise the type of an ACTION-OBJECTIVE (OBJECT-ITEM) by any means. Electro-magnetic capability The characteristics, required for planning, of those MATERIELs or MATERIEL-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to generate, receive or affect transmissions in the electromagnetic spectrum. ENGINEERING-CAPABILITY A CAPABILITY, required for planning, of those ORGANISATIONs and PERSONs or ORGANISATION-TYPEs and PERSON-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to perform construction or destruction activities. FIRE-CAPABILITY A CAPABILITY, required for planning, of those FACILITYs, MATERIELs, ORGANISATIONs and PERSONs, or FACILITY-TYPEs, EQUIPMENT-TYPEs, ORGANISATION-TYPEs and PERSON-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to discharge or launch a projectile or missile. Hoist The capability to raise or haul up. Humanitarian aid and assistance capability A CAPABILITY, required for planning, of those ORGANISATIONs or ORGANISATION-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to provide humanitarian aid or assistance. Maintenance capability The characteristics, required for planning, of those FACILITYs, ORGANISATIONs and PERSONs or FACILITY-TYPEs, ORGANISATION-TYPEs, and PERSON-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to repair and service MATERIEL or MATERIEL-TYPEs in operational conditions. Medical capability The characteristics, required for planning, of those FACILITYs, ORGANISATION and PERSONs or FACILITY-TYPEs, ORGANISATION-TYPEs and PERSON-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to treat people for illnesses and injuries. Military load classification The characteristics, required for planning, of those CONTROL-FEATUREs, FACILITYs and MATERIELs or CONTROL-FEATURE-TYPEs, FACILITY-TYPEs and EQUIPMENT-TYPEs, and ORGANISATION-TYPEs that represents the standard system in which a route, bridge, or raft is assigned class number(s) representing the load it can carry. Vehicles are also assigned number(s) indicating the minimum class of route, bridge, or raft they are authorized to use. MISSION-CAPABILITY A CAPABILITY, required for planning, of those ORGANISATIONs and PERSONs or ORGANISATION-TYPEs and PERSON-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability, the training and the equipment to perform an operation. MOBILITY-CAPABILITY A CAPABILITY, required for planning, of those FACILITYs, MATERIELs, ORGANISATIONs and PERSONs or FACILITY-TYPEs, EQUIPMENT-TYPEs, ORGANISATION-TYPEs, and PERSON-TYPEs that are deemed as having the nominal ability to move in space, air, on water, under water, or over a specific type of terrain. Obstacle crossing capability The characteristics, required for planning, of those MATERIELs, ORGANISATIONs and PERSONs or EQUIPMENT-TYPEs, ORGANISATION-TYPEs and PERSON-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to cross obstacles. STORAGE-CAPABILITY A CAPABILITY, required for planning, of those FACILITYs and MATERIELs or EQUIPMENT-TYPEs and FACILITY-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to hold a specific MATERIEL-TYPE. SURVEILLANCE-CAPABILITY A CAPABILITY, required for planning, of those FACILITYs, MATERIELs, ORGANISATIONs and PERSONs or FACILITY-TYPEs, EQUIPMENT-TYPEs, ORGANISATION-TYPEs and PERSON-TYPEs that are deemed as having the nominal ability to observe aerospace, surface or subsurface areas, places, persons, or things, by visual, aural, electronic, photographic or other means. Transport capability The characteristics, required for planning, of those FACILITYs, MATERIELs, ORGANISATIONs and PERSONs or FACILITY-TYPEs, EQUIPMENT-TYPEs, ORGANISATION-TYPEs and PERSON-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to move personnel and/or materials. Water delivery capability The characteristics, required for planning, of those FACILITYs and MATERIELs or FACILITY-TYPEs and EQUIPMENT-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to deliver water. Water manoeuvre capability The characteristics, required for planning, of those MATERIELs and EQUIPMENT-TYPEs that are deemed as having the ability to move on or under water. Aerial refuelling The capability to conduct aerial refuelling operations. Air assault The capability to perform a mission involving total integration of helicopter assets in their ground or air roles. Air defence The capability to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action. Air interdiction Air operations conducted to destroy, neutralise, or delay the enemy's military potential before it can be brought to bear effectively against friendly forces at such distance from friendly forces that detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of friendly forces is not required. Air to ground The capability to perform air to ground operations. Airborne The capability to carry out operations, either by paradrop or air landing, following an air movement. Amphibious The capability to conduct an operation launched from the sea by military forces against a hostile or potentially hostile shore. Anti-submarine warfare Operations conducted with the intention of denying the enemy the effective use of his submarines. Arctic The capability to perform a mission involving an arctic operation. Artillery survey The capability to calculate the coordinates and the altitude of an object/point and from which the bearings/azimuths to a number of reference objects are also known. Attack The capability to perform an offensive mission. C2 The capability to exercise the authority, responsibilities and activities of military commanders in direction and co-ordination or military forces and the implementation of orders related to the execution of operations. Central intelligence No definition given in APP-6A. Civilian law enforcement The capability to conduct civilian law enforcement operations. Close air support The capability to perform an air action against hostile targets which are in close proximity to friendly forces and which require detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces. Command operations No definition given in APP-6A. Counter intelligence The capability to conduct activities that are concerned with identifying and counteracting the threat to security posed by hostile intelligence services or organisations, or by individuals engaged in espionage, sabotage, subversion or terrorism. Electronic ranging The capability to establish target distance electronically. Electronic warfare The capability involving the use of electromagnetic energy to determine, exploit, reduce, or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum and action to retain its effective use by friendly forces. Electronic warfare, direction finding The capability for obtaining bearings of radio frequency emitters by using a directional antenna and a display unit on an intercept receiver or ancillary equipment. Electronic warfare, intercept The capability to intercept intentional or unintentional radiated electromagnetic energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition. Electronic warfare, jamming The capability to deliver radiation, re-radiation or reflection of electromagnetic energy with the object of impairing the use of electronic devices, equipment or systems being used by an enemy. Engineer, combat The capability to perform engineer functions in direct support of combat operations. Engineer, construction The capability to build various facilities in direct support of military operations. Engineer, construction naval The capability to build various facilities in direct support of naval operations. Finance The capability to provide financial advice and guidance, support for the procurement process, providing pay and disbursing support. Interrogation The capability to procure information by direct questioning of a person under the control of a questioner. Joint intelligence The capability to produce intelligence from elements of more than one Service. Labour The capability to provide labour services. Legal The capability to provide legal services. Maintenance The capability to provide supply and repair services to keep a force in condition to carry out its mission. Maintenance, electro-optical The capability to maintain electro-optical materiel in or to restore it to a specified condition. Maintenance, ordnance The capability to maintain ordnance (ammunition) in or to restore it to a specified condition. Maintenance, ordnance missile The capability to maintain ordnance missile (materiel) in or to restore it to a specified condition. Marine No definition given in APP-6A. Maritime The capability to perform maritime operations. Medical evacuation The capability for timely and efficient movement of patients while providing en route medical care to and between medical treatment facilities. Military intelligence, aerial exploitation No definition given in APP-6A. Military intelligence, operation The capability to provide information required for the planning and conducting campaigns and major operations to accomplish strategic objectives within theatres or areas of operations. Military intelligence, tactical exploitation The capability to use information required for the planning and conducting tactical operations. Mine countermeasure The capability to prevent or reduce damage or danger from mines. Morale, welfare recreation The capability to provide morale, welfare and recreation services in support of military personnel. Mortuary/graves registry The capability to provide care and disposition of deceased personnel. Mountain The capability to conduct military operations in mountainous areas. NBC, biological The capability to employ biological materiel to produce casualties in man or animals and damage to plants or materiel; or defence against such employment. NBC, chemical The capability to employ chemical materiel to kill, injure, or incapacitate for a significant period of time, man or animals, and deny or hinder the use of areas, facilities or materiel; or defence against such employment. NBC, chemical, smoke The capability to employ chemical materiel released as a cloud of smoke or defence against such employment. NBC, chemical decontamination The capability to make any person, object, or area safe by absorbing, destroying, neutralising, making harmless, or removing, chemical materiel. NBC, decontamination The capability to make any person, object, or area safe by absorbing, destroying, neutralising, making harmless, or removing, chemical or biological materiel, or by removing radioactive material clinging to or around it. NBC, nuclear No definition given in APP-6A. NBC, radiological The capability to employ radiological materiel to produce casualties in man or animals and damage to plants or materiel; or defence against such employment. Peace support The capability to conduct multi-functional operations involving military forces and diplomatic and humanitarian agencies. The operations are designed to achieve humanitarian goals or a long term peace settlement. Personnel services The capability to provide the support services needed by military and civilian personnel. Public affairs The capability to provide those public information, command information, and community relations activities directed towards the general public. Public affairs, broadcast The capability to provide those public information, command information, and community relation activities over a broadcast medium, such as radio or TV, directed towards the general public. Public affairs, joint information The capability to provide those public information, command information, and community relations activities directed towards the general public in a joint services environment. Railway The capability to provide rail services. Reconnaissance The capability to obtain, by visual observation or other detection methods, information about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or to secure data concerning the meteorological, hydrographical, or geographic characteristics of a particular area. Recovery The capability to contact, protect and extract personnel, small groups or units, or materiel. Replacement holding The capability to provide personnel to take the place of other personnel who depart a unit. Scout The capability to move out ahead of the main force in order to reconnoitre the position or movements of the enemy. Search and rescue The capability to use aircraft, surface craft, submarines, specialised rescue teams, and equipment to search for and rescue personnel in distress on land or sea. Signal, forward communications The capability to provide tactical communications in the combat zone. Signal, node, large extension The capability in signal services to manage, operate and control a communications large extension node. Signal, node, small extension The capability in signal services to manage, operate and control a communications small extension node. Signal, node centre The capability in signal services to manage, operate and control a communications node centre. Signal, radio The capability in signal services to manage, operate and control a radio communications. Signal, radio relay The capability in signal services to manage, operate and control a communications radio relay. Signal, radio tactical satellite The capability in signal services to manage, operate and control a tactical satellite terminal. Signal, radio teletype The capability in signal services to manage, operate and control a radio teletype communications. Signal, support The capability to provide personnel and equipment from other forces for the establishment of a special or supplementary communications system. Signals intelligence (SIGINT) The capability to provide intelligence derived from communications, electronics, and instrumentation signals. Supply, laundry/bath The capability to provide laundry and/or bath services. Supply (class I) The capability to provide combat/fresh rations, water and personal, health and welfare items. Supply (class II) The capability to provide materiel. Supply (class III) The capability to provide fuel and lubricants. Supply (class III aviation) The capability to provide aviation fuel and lubricants. Supply (class IV) The capability to provide construction materials. Supply (class V) The capability to provide ammunition, explosives and chemical agents. Supply (water) The capability to provide drinking water. Surveillance The capability to perform systematic observation of aerospace, surface or subsurface areas, places, persons, or things by visual, aural, electronic, photographic, or other means. Surveillance, ground module The capability to manage and operate a ground module for a surveillance system. Surveillance, long range The capability to perform, from long range, systematic observation of aerospace, surface or subsurface areas, places, persons, or things by visual, aural, electronic, photographic, or other means from a ground station. Surveillance, meteorological The capability to perform systematic observation of meteorological conditions. Surveillance, sensor The capability to manage, operate and maintain sensor surveillance assets. Tactical air reconnaissance The capability to use of air vehicles to obtain information concerning terrain, weather, and the disposition, composition, movement, installations, lines of communications, electronic and communication emissions of enemy forces. Also included are artillery and naval gunfire adjustment, and systematic and random observation of ground battle areas, targets, and/ or sectors of airspace. Target acquisition The capability to manage, operate and maintain target acquisition assets. Target acquisition, flash The capability to manage, operate and maintain flash target acquisition assets. Target acquisition, radar The capability to manage, operate and maintain radar target acquisition assets. Target acquisition, sound The capability to manage, operate and maintain sound target acquisition assets. Targeting The capability to provide targeting services. Theatre missile defence The capability to manage, operate and maintain theatre missile defence assets. Transportation, APOD/APOE The capability to provide transportation services at aerial ports where cargo or personnel arrive or depart. Transportation, missile The capability to provide equipment for transportation of missiles. Transportation, movement control The capability to provide planning, routing, scheduling and control of personnel and freight movements over lines of communication. Transportation, SPOD/SPOE The capability to provide transportation services at seaports where cargo or personnel arrive or depart. Utility The capability to provide utilities (water, gas, electric, et al). Water purification The capability to provide clean potable drinking/bathing water. Air, composite The capability to move through the air by means that combine deriving lift from fixed wings or from aerofoils that rotate. Air, fixed wing The capability to move through the air by deriving lift from fixed wings. Air, lighter than air The capability of an air vehicle to remain airborne and move by displacing a weight of air greater than its own. Air, rotary wing The capability to move through the air by deriving lift from aerofoils that rotate. Airborne The capability to be employed, following transport by air, in an assault debarkation either by parachuting or touchdown. Amphibious The capability of a device to operate both on land and in water. Animal, mounted The capability to move by using an animal as a carrier. Dismounted The capability of moving on foot. Land, railed The capability of a device to move along rails. Land, self-propelled The capability of a device to move over land under its own power. Land, towed The capability of a device to move by means of external propulsion (mechanical or animal). Land, tracked The capability of a device to move on caterpillar treads. Land, wheeled The capability of a device to move on wheels. Not known It is not possible to determine which value is most applicable. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. Sea, subsurface The capability of a device to move on or under the sea surface. Sea, surface The capability of a device to move on the sea surface. Communication The ability to gain information by exploiting communications systems. Electronic The ability to gain information by exploiting non-communications electronic systems (generally pulsed). Human The ability to gain information by exploiting human senses. Imaging The ability to gain information by exploiting imaging systems. Not known It is not possible to determine which value is most applicable. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. Signal The ability to gain information from exploiting EMS (not imagery) systems. GEOMETRIC-VOLUME A specific LOCATION that is a three-dimensional bounded space. LINE A LOCATION that is defined by two or more POINTs connected by one-dimensional line segments in an ordered sequence. POINT A zero-dimensional LOCATION. SURFACE A two-dimensional LOCATION. Undefined A LOCATION that is not specified. CONE-VOLUME A GEOMETRIC-VOLUME whose boundary is swept by a line that has a fixed point and another that moves along the path defined by the border of a specific SURFACE. SPHERE-VOLUME A VOLUME that has its horizontal boundaries defined by the spherical surface determined by the radius and the specified POINT. SURFACE-VOLUME A VOLUME that has its horizontal boundaries defined by a specific SURFACE. ABSOLUTE-POINT A POINT in a geodetic system. RELATIVE-POINT A POINT whose position is specified with respect to a specific RELATIVE-COORDINATE-SYSTEM. CARTESIAN-POINT An ABSOLUTE-POINT that has its position specified in a three-dimensional Earth-centred Cartesian system. GEOGRAPHIC-POINT An ABSOLUTE-POINT that has its position specified with respect to the surface of the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) ellipsoid. CORRIDOR-AREA A SURFACE that is defined by its width and a sequence of points. ELLIPSE A planar SURFACE in the form of an ellipse. FAN-AREA A SURFACE that is in the form of a truncated ring sector, which is a sector lying between and being bounded by the rays emanating from the centre-point of the ring and having a central angle. ORBIT-AREA An AREA that is (a) an open rectangular section defined by its width and the distance between the two specific POINTS, (b) is closed by two half-circles with radii equal to half the width, and is positioned left, centred, or right with respect to the line formed by the defining points. POLYARC-AREA An AREA that consists of a circular arc and a polygonal segment defined by a specific LINE whose beginning coincides with the initial point of the arc and whose end coincides with the last point of the arc. POLYGON-AREA An AREA that has its boundaries defined by a specific LINE. TRACK-AREA An AREA that is a rectangular section with its length defined by the two specific POINTs and its width by the sum of the widths to the left and right of the connecting line between the two points. FACILITY An OBJECT-ITEM that is built, installed or established to serve some particular purpose and is identified by the service it provides rather than by its content. FEATURE An OBJECT-ITEM that encompasses meteorological, geographic, and control features of military significance. MATERIEL An OBJECT-ITEM that is equipment, apparatus or supplies of military interest without distinction as to its application for administrative or combat purposes. Not known It is not possible to determine which value is most applicable. ORGANISATION An OBJECT-ITEM that is an administrative or functional structure. PERSON An OBJECT-ITEM that is a human being to whom military or civilian significance is attached. AIRFIELD A FACILITY that is an area prepared for the accommodation (including any buildings, installations, or equipment) landing and take off of aircraft. ANCHORAGE A FACILITY that is a place where vessels anchor. APRON A FACILITY that is an area intended for parking, loading, unloading and/or servicing. BASIN A FACILITY that is an open area of water, usually artificial and enclosed by dock gates lined with wharves, warehouses and berths to enable vessels to load and unload. BERTH A FACILITY that is a space or length in the water at a harbour allocated to or reserved for a vessel to dock and moor for loading or unloading. BRIDGE A FACILITY that is a structure (including overpass and viaduct), fixed or moveable, spanning and/or providing passage over an object. DRY-DOCK A FACILITY that provides an enclosure for maintenance, building or repairing ships, from which water can be pumped out. HARBOUR A FACILITY that is a restricted body of water, an anchorage, or other limited coastal water area and its water approaches from which and in which shipping operations are projected or supported. JETTY A FACILITY that is a platform that may be fixed or floating extending from a shore, normally attached to a wharf or the shore, and which allows access to a vessel lying alongside, used to secure, protect and provide landing and docking for vessels. MILITARY-OBSTACLE A FACILITY designed to stop, impede, or divert movement of amphibious or ground forces. NETWORK A FACILITY that provides bearer services for communication and information services and is composed of one or more links and nodes. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. QUAY A FACILITY that is a solidly constructed platform, usually parallel to the shoreline of navigable water, alongside which a vessel can be docked or berthed and, on which, the vessel can be accessed and cargo can be loaded or unloaded on one side of the vessel only. RAILWAY A FACILITY that is a track or set of tracks made of steel rails along which trains run. ROAD A FACILITY that is a path or way with a specially prepared surface. RUNWAY A FACILITY that is a specifically prepared surface along which aircraft take off and land. SLIPWAY A FACILITY that provides a sloping surface or inclined structure leading down to the water. MINEFIELD A MILITARY-OBSTACLE that is an area of land or water containing mines. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. MINEFIELD-LAND A MINEFIELD that is an area of land containing mines. MINEFIELD-MARITIME A MINEFIELD that is an area or volume of water containing mines. Broadcast A broadcast network used to transport voice and/or data. Multicast A mode of transmission where information is conveyed from one sender to a determined number of receivers Not known It is not possible to determine which value is most applicable. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. Point-to-point A transmission where information is transferred between two nodes. Lane The specific ROAD is a track or lane. Local The specific ROAD is a local road or street. Main The specific ROAD is a main road, highway or federal road. Motorway The specific ROAD is a motorway or expressway. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. Pedestrian The specific ROAD is a pedestrian road. Railway The specific ROAD is a railway road. Regional The specific ROAD is a regional, secondary or district road. CONTROL-FEATURE A non-tangible FEATURE of military interest that is administratively specified, may be represented by a geometric figure, and is associated with the conduct of military operations. GEOGRAPHIC-FEATURE A FEATURE describing terrain characteristics to which military significance is attached. METEOROLOGIC-FEATURE A FEATURE that describes reported or forecast weather and light conditions. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. AIRSPACE-CONTROL-MEANS A CONTROL-FEATURE that reserves airspace for specific airspace users, restricts the action of airspace users, controls the actions of specific airspace users, and/or requires airspace users to accomplish specific actions. APPROACH-DIRECTION A CONTROL-FEATURE that specifies approach directional details for takeoff and landing. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. ROUTE A CONTROL-FEATURE that is the prescribed course to be travelled from a specific point of origin to a specific destination. ROUTE-SEGMENT A portion of a route usually without an intermediate stop, as defined by two consecutive significant points. Centre The specific value that specifies the centre runway approach for parallel runways. Left The specific value that specifies the left side runway approach for parallel runways. Right The specific value that specifies the right side runway approach for parallel runways. STOL The specific value that specifies short take-off and landing approach direction. True The specific value, which specifies that the approach direction is comparable to the true heading not magnetic heading. AIR-ROUTE-SEGMENT A portion of a route to be flown usually without an intermediate stop, as defined by two consecutive significant points. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. ATMOSPHERE A METEOROLOGIC-FEATURE that specifies humidity, pressure, and temperature characteristics of Earth's atmosphere. CLOUD-COVER A METEOROLOGIC-FEATURE that specifies the characteristics of clouds above Earth's surface. Cyclone The atmospheric pressure distribution in which there is a low central pressure relative to the surroundings. Cyclonic circulation is anticlockwise round the centre in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere; in either case the sense of rotation about the vertical is the same as that of the earth's rotation. Funnel cloud A violent, rotating column of air that does not touch the ground, usually appended to a cumulonimbus cloud. Also called a tuba. Hurricane A tropical cyclone, especially in the West Indies, in which wind velocity equals or exceeds 64 knots (73 mph = 117.5 km/hr). ICING A METEOROLOGIC-FEATURE that specifies the accumulation of frozen water on stationary or moving surfaces. Jet stream A narrow belt of strong winds, with speeds of 50 to 200 knots, in the upper troposphere. LIGHT A METEOROLOGIC-FEATURE that specifies the availability of natural illumination by type and time. Lightning A luminous manifestation accompanying a sudden electrical discharge, which takes place from or inside a cloud or, less often, from high structures on the ground, or from mountains. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. PRECIPITATION A METEOROLOGIC-FEATURE that specifies the type of particulate matter in the Earth's atmosphere and the rate of its accumulation on the Earth's surface. Storm An atmospheric disturbance manifested in strong winds with precipitation. Thunderstorm A local storm produced by a cumulonimbus cloud accompanied by strong gusty winds, vertical currents at higher levels, and heavy precipitation with lightning and/or thunder. It is usually a few miles in both horizontal and vertical dimensions, extending from the ground up to 20,000, 40,000, or even 60,000 feet in the most vigorous examples. Thunderstorms and rain A local storm produced by a cumulonimbus cloud accompanied by lightning and/or thunder and precipitation, either in the form of drops larger than 0.02 inch (0.5 mm), or smaller drops, which in contrast to drizzle, are widely separated. Tornado A violent, rotating column of air touching the ground; funnel cloud touching the ground. A tornado nearly always starts as a funnel cloud and is accompanied by a loud, roaring noise. Tropical storm A tropical cyclone having winds ranging from approximately 48 to 121 kilometres or 30 to 75 miles per hour. Typhoon A severe tropical hurricane. VISIBILITY A METEOROLOGIC-FEATURE that specifies the distance at which an object illuminated by light in the visual spectrum can be detected. Waterspout A violent, rotating column of air that forms over a body of water, such as a bay, gulf, or lake, and touches the water surface; a tornado or funnel cloud that touches a body of water. Whirlwind A small revolving storm of wind in which the air whirls around a core of low pressure. Whirlwinds sometimes extend upwards to a height of many hundreds of metres and cause dust whirls formed over a desert. WIND A METEOROLOGIC-FEATURE that specifies the velocity and directional characteristics of atmospheric movement. Clouds A weather condition in which the sky or part of the sky is covered or partly covered by clouds. Radioactive cloud A cloud that contains the hot gases, smoke, dust and other particulate matter from the nuclear bomb itself or other sources that are carried aloft. Smoke A weather condition in which the sky or part of the sky is covered by smoke. Clear icing Glossy, clear, or translucent ice formed by the relatively slow freezing of large supercooled droplets. The droplets spread out over the airframe surface before completely freezing. Mixed icing A hard rough conglomerate of ice that can cause very rough accumulation and severe loss of lift. Rime icing Rough, milky opaque ice formed by the instantaneous freezing of small supercooled droplets which trap air within the ice as they strike the aircraft. Civil twilight The periods of incomplete darkness following sunset and preceding sunrise. The darker limit occurs when the centre of the sun is 6 degrees below the celestial horizon. Darkness The absence of light. Daylight Ambient atmospheric light resulting from the sun. Moonlight Ambient atmospheric light resulting from the moon. Nautical twilight The periods of incomplete darkness following sunset and preceding sunrise. The darker limit occurs when the centre of the sun is 12 degrees below the celestial horizon. Drizzle Fairly uniform precipitation composed exclusively of fine drops (diameter less than 0.02 inch or 0.5 mm) very close together. Drizzle appears to float while following air currents although, unlike fog droplets, it falls to the ground. It usually falls from low stratus clouds and is frequently accompanied by low visibility and fog. Freezing drizzle Drizzle which freezes upon impact with the ground, with objects in flight, or with objects on the ground. Produces glaze (clear) ice. Freezing rain Rain that freezes on impact with the ground, with objects in flight, or with objects on the ground. Produces glaze (clear) ice. Hail Precipitation in the form of small balls or other pieces of ice falling separately or frozen together in irregular lumps. Hailstones consist of alternate opaque and clear layers of ice in most cases. Hail is normally associated with thunderstorms and surface temperatures above freezing. Ice crystals A fall of unbranched (snow crystals are branched) ice crystals in the form of needles, columns, or plates. They are termed "ice prisms" in synoptic observations. Ice crystals are often so tiny they seem to be suspended in air. They may fall from a cloud or from clear air. The crystals are visible mainly when they glitter in the sunshine or other bright light (diamond dust), thus producing a luminous pillar or other optical phenomena. This hydrometer (rarely more than the lightest precipitation), which is frequent in polar regions, occurs only at very low temperatures in stable air masses. Ice pellets Precipitation of transparent or translucent pellets of ice, which are round or irregular, rarely conical, and have a diameter of 0.2 inch (5 mm) or less. The pellets usually rebound when striking hard ground and make a sound on impact. There are two main types: hard grains of ice consisting of frozen raindrops or melted and refrozen snowflakes and pellets of snow encased in a thin layer of ice formed from the freezing, either of droplets intercepted by the pellets, or of water resulting from the partial melting of the pellets. No precipitation No measurable precipitation. Rain Precipitation, either in the form of drops larger than 0.02 inch (0.5 mm), or smaller drops, which in contrast to drizzle, are widely separated. Rain shower The rain changes intensity or starts and stops abruptly. These showers fall exclusively from cumuliform clouds. Sleet A condition with precipitation of rain and snow. Snow Frozen precipitation in the form of white or translucent hexagonal ice crystals that fall in soft, white flakes. Snow grains Precipitation of very small, white, opaque particles of ice; the solid equivalent of drizzle. The grains are fairly flat or elongated. Diameters are generally less than 0.04 inch (1 mm). When the grains hit hard ground, they do not bounce or shatter. They usually fall in very small quantities from stratus clouds (or occasionally from fog). Snow shower Snow changes intensity or starts and stops abruptly. These showers fall exclusively from cumuliform clouds. Blowing dust or sand Dust or sand raised by the wind to a height of 6 feet (1.8 meters) or more. Blowing snow Snow particles raised and stirred violently by the wind to moderate or great heights. Prevailing visibility is reduced to less than 7 miles (9,999 meters) and the sky may become obscured when the particles are raised to great heights. Dust devil Well-developed dust/sand whirls (PO). An ensemble of particles of dust or sand, sometimes accompanied by small litter, raised from the ground in the form of a whirling column of varying height with a small diameter and an approximately vertical axis. Reported regardless of the visibility. Dust storm An unusual, frequently severe weather condition characterised by strong winds and dust-filled air over an extensive area. Report a dust storm if the prevailing visibility is reduced to less than 5/8 miles (1,000 meters), but not less than 5/16 miles (500 meters). Report a heavy (severe) dust storm (+DS) if the visibility is reduced to less than 5/16 miles (500 meters). Fog/mist A visible aggregate of minute water particles (droplets), which are based on the Earth's surface, extends vertically, and reduces horizontal visibility to less than 5/8 mile (1,000 meters). When fog is further described by the descriptors BC, MI, or PR, the prevailing visibility may be equal to or greater than 5/8 mile (1,000 meters). Unlike drizzle, Fog does not fall to the ground. Freezing fog A suspension of numerous minute ice crystals in the air, or water droplets at temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius, based at the Earth’s surface and extending vertically to greater than 6 feet (1.8 meters). FZFG reduces prevailing visibility to less than 5/8 mile (1000 meters) and, unlike drizzle, does not fall to the ground. The water droplets may freeze upon contact with exposed objects to form a coating of rime or glaze and it can occur even though the air temperature is above freezing. The water droplets may freeze upon contact with exposed objects to form a coating of rime or glaze. Also called Ice Fog. Haze A suspension in the air of extremely small, dry particles invisible to the naked eye and sufficiently numerous to give the air an opalescent appearance. This phenomenon resembles a uniform veil over the landscape and subdues all colours. Dark objects viewed through this veil tend to have a bluish tinge while bright objects, such as the sun or distant lights, tend to have a dirty yellow or reddish hue. When haze is present and the sun is well above the horizon, its light may have a peculiar silvery tinge. Haze particles may be composed of a variety of substances; e.g., dust, salt, residue from distant fires or volcanoes, pollen, etc., which generally are well diffused through the atmosphere. Not known It is not possible to determine which value is most applicable. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. Sandstorm Particles of sand ranging in diameter from 0.008 inches to 1 millimetre carried aloft by a strong wind. The sand particles are mostly confined to the lowest ten feet, and rarely rise more than fifty feet above the ground. A sandstorm is reported if the prevailing visibility is reduced to less than 5/8 miles (1,000 metres), but not less than 5/16 miles (500 metres). Report a heavy (severe) sandstorm (+SS) if the visibility is reduced to less than 5/16 miles (500 metres). Smoke A suspension in the air of small particles produced by combustion. A transition to haze may occur when smoke particles have travelled great distances (25 to 100 miles or 40 to 160 kilometres or more) and when the larger particles have settled out and the remaining particles have become widely scattered through the atmosphere. When viewed through smoke, the disk of the sun at sunrise and sunset appears very red. The disk may have an orange tinge when the sun is above the horizon. Evenly distributed smoke from distant sources generally has a light greyish or bluish appearance. Constant Winds that have a constant force. Gusting A rapid increase in the strength of the wind relative to the mean strength at the time. Not known It is not possible to determine which value is most applicable. Squalls A strong wind that rises suddenly, generally lasts for some minutes, and dies comparatively suddenly away. It is distinguished from a gust by its longer duration. Turbulence, extreme Extreme turbulence is a transitory atmospheric condition that has varying effects on aircraft operations. It is a serious hazard to pilots that may occur without warning. Turbulence, light Light turbulence is a transitory atmospheric condition that has varying effects on aircraft operations. It is a serious hazard to pilots that may occur without warning. Turbulence, moderate Moderate turbulence is a transitory atmospheric condition that has varying effects on aircraft operations. It is a serious hazard to pilots that may occur without warning. Turbulence, severe Severe turbulence is a transitory atmospheric condition that has varying effects on aircraft operations. It is a serious hazard to pilots that may occur without warning. Variable Winds that have a variable force. Wind shear A variation in wind velocity at right angles to the wind's direction. CONVOY An ORGANISATION that is a group of vehicles or vessels organised for the purpose of control and orderly movement with or without escort protection. Not otherwise specified The appropriate value is not in the set of specified values. UNIT A military ORGANISATION whose structure is prescribed by competent authority.