| Acronym | Definition |
| O | contour pattern |
| O&I | operations and intelligence |
| O&M | operation and maintenance |
| O-Day | off-load day |
| O/B | outboard |
| OA | objective area; operating assembly; operational area; Operations Aerology shipboard METOC division |
| OADR | originating agency's determination required |
| OAE | operational area evaluation |
| OAF | Operation ALLIED FORCE |
| OAFME | Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner |
| OAG | operations advisory group |
| OAI | oceanographic area of interest |
| OAJCG | Operation Alliance joint control group |
| OAP | offset aimpoint |
| OAR | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff operation plans assessment report |
| OAS | offensive air support; Organization of American States |
| OASD | Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense |
| OASD(PA) | Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) |
| OASD(RA) | Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs) |
| OAU | Organization of African Unity |
| OB | operating base; order of battle |
| OBA | oxygen breathing apparatus |
| OBFS | offshore bulk fuel system |
| objective | (DOD) 2. The specific target of the action taken (for example, a definite terrain feature, the seizure or holding of which is essential to the commander's plan, or, an enemy force or capability without regard to terrain features). See also target. |
| objective | (DOD) 1. The clearly defined, decisive, and attainable goal toward which every operation is directed. |
| objective area | (DOD) A defined geographical area within which is located an objective to be captured or reached by the military forces. This area is defined by competent authority for purposes of command and control. Also called OA. |
| oblique air photograph | (DOD,NATO) An air photograph taken with the camera axis directed between the horizontal and vertical planes. Commonly referred to as an "oblique." a. High Oblique. One in which the apparent horizon appears. b. Low Oblique. One in which the apparent horizon does not appear. |
| observation helicopter | (DOD,NATO) Helicopter used primarily for observation and reconnaissance, but which may be used for other roles. |
| observation post | (DOD,NATO) A position from which military observations are made, or fire directed and adjusted, and which possesses appropriate communications; may be airborne. Also called OP. |
| observed fire | (DOD,NATO) Fire for which the point of impact or burst can be seen by an observer. The fire can be controlled and adjusted on the basis of observation. |
| observed fire procedure | (DOD,NATO) A standardized procedure for use in adjusting indirect fire on a target. |
| observer-target line | (DOD,NATO) An imaginary straight line from the observer/spotter to the target. See also spotting line. |
| observer-target range | (DOD) The distance along an imaginary straight line from the observer or spotter to the target. |
| OBST | obstacle |
| obstacle | (DOD) Any obstruction designed or employed to disrupt, fix, turn, or block the movement of an opposing force, and to impose additional losses in personnel, time, and equipment on the opposing force. Obstacles can exist naturally or can be man-made, or can be a combination of both. |
| obstacle belt | (DOD) A brigade-level command and control measure, normally given graphically, to show where within an obstacle zone the ground tactical commander plans to limit friendly obstacle employment and focus the defense. It assigns an intent to the obstacle plan and provides the necessary guidance on the overall effect of obstacles within a belt. See also obstacle. |
| obstacle clearing | (DOD) The total elimination or neutralization of obstacles. |
| obstacle intelligence | (DOD) Those collection efforts to detect the presence of enemy (and natural) obstacles, determine their types and dimensions, and provide the necessary information to plan appropriate combined arms breaching, clearance, or bypass operations to negate the impact on the friendly scheme of maneuver. It is typically related to the tactical level of intelligence. Also called OBSTINTEL. |
| obstacle restricted areas | (DOD) A command and control measure used to limit the type or number of obstacles within an area. See also obstacle. |
| obstacle zone | (DOD) A division-level command and control measure, normally done graphically, to designate specific land areas where lower echelons are allowed to employ tactical obstacles. See also obstacle. |
| OBSTINTEL | obstacle intelligence |
| obstructor | (DOD,NATO) In naval mine warfare, a device laid with the sole object of obstructing or damaging mechanical minesweeping equipment. |
| OC | oleoresin capsicum; operations center |
| OCA | offensive counterair; operational control authority |
| OCC | Operations Computer Center (USCG) |
| OCCA | Ocean Cargo Clearance Authority |
| occupation currency | (DOD,NATO) See military currency. |
| occupational and environmental health surveillance | (DOD) The regular or repeated collection, analysis, archiving, interpretation, and dissemination of occupational and environmental health-related data for monitoring the health of, or potential health hazard impact on, a population and individual personnel, and for intervening in a timely manner to prevent, treat, or control the occurrence of disease or injury when determined necessary. |
| occupational and environmental health threats | (DOD) Threats to the health of military personnel and to military readiness created by exposure to hazardous agents, environmental contamination, or toxic industrial materials. See also health threat. |
| occupied territory | (DOD) Territory under the authority and effective control of a belligerent armed force. The term is not applicable to territory being administered pursuant to peace terms, treaty, or other agreement, express or implied, with the civil authority of the territory. See also civil affairs agreement. |
| OCD | orderwire clock distributor |
| OCDETF | organized crime drug enforcement task force |
| OCE | officer conducting the exercise |
| Ocean Cargo Clearance Authority | (DOD) The Surface Deployment and Distribution Command activity that books Department of Defense sponsored cargo and passengers for surface movement, performs related contract administration, and accomplishes export and import surface traffic management functions for Department of Defense cargo moving within the Defense Transportation System. Also called OCCA. |
| ocean convoy | (DOD,NATO) A convoy whose voyage lies, in general, outside the continental shelf. See also convoy. |
| ocean manifest | (DOD,NATO) A detailed listing of the entire cargo loaded into any one ship showing all pertinent data which will readily identify such cargo and where and how the cargo is stowed. |
| ocean station ship | (DOD,NATO) A ship assigned to operate within a specified area to provide several services, including search and rescue, meteorological information, navigational aid, and communications facilities. |
| OCEANCON | control of oceanographic information |
| oceanography | (DOD) The study of the sea, embracing and integrating all knowledge pertaining to the sea and its physical boundaries, the chemistry and physics of seawater, and marine biology. From a military perspective, oceanography includes basic oceanography plus the study of bathymetry, hydrography, geophysics, astrometry and precise time; supported by ocean engineering, operational supercomputing, and operations research. |
| OCHA | Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
| OCJCS | Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| OCJCS-PA | Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-Public Affairs |
| OCMI | officer in charge, Marine Inspection |
| OCO | offload control officer |
| OCONUS | outside the continental United States |
| OCOP | outline contingency operation plan |
| OCP | operational configuration processing |
| OCR | Office of Collateral Responsibility |
| OCS | Officer Candidate School |
| OCU | orderwire control unit (Types I, II, and III) |
| OCU-1 | orderwire control unit-1 |
| OD | operational detachment; other detainee |
| ODA | operational detachment-Alpha |
| ODATE | organization date |
| ODB | operational detachment-Bravo |
| ODC | Office of Defense Cooperation |
| ODCSLOG | Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (Army) |
| ODCSOPS | Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans (Army) |
| ODCSPER | Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (Army) |
| ODIN | Operational Digital Network |
| ODJS | Office of the Director, Joint Staff |
| ODR | Office of Defense representative |
| ODZ | outer defense zone |
| OE | operational environment |
| OEBGD | Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document |
| OEF | Operation ENDURING FREEDOM |
| OEG | operational experts group; operational exposure guide; operations security (OPSEC) executive group |
| OEH | occupational and environmental health |
| OEM | original equipment manufacturer |
| OER | officer evaluation report; operational electronic intelligence (ELINT) requirements |
| OES | office of emergency services |
| OET | Office of Emergency Transportation (DOT) |
| OF | officer (NATO) |
| OFAC | Office of Foreign Assets Control |
| OFCO | offensive counterintelligence operation |
| OFDA | Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance |
| off-load preparation party | (DOD) A temporary task organization of Navy and Marine maintenance, embarkation, equipment operators, and cargo-handling personnel deployed to the maritime pre-positioning ship before or during its transit to the objective area to prepare the ship's off-load systems and embarked equipment for off-load. Also called OPP. See also task organization. |
| off-the-shelf item | (DOD) An item that has been developed and produced to military or commercial standards and specifications, is readily available for delivery from an industrial source, and may be procured without change to satisfy a military requirement. |
| offensive counterair | (DOD) Offensive operations to destroy, disrupt, or neutralize enemy aircraft, missiles, launch platforms, and their supporting structures and systems both before and after launch, but as close to their source as possible. Offensive counterair operations range throughout enemy territory and are generally conducted at the initiative of friendly forces. These operations include attack operations, suppression of enemy air defenses, fighter escort, and fighter sweep. Also called OCA. See also counterair; defensive counterair; operation. |
| offensive counterair attack operations | (DOD) Offensive action in support of the offensive counterair mission against surface targets which contribute to the enemy's air power capabilities. Any part of the joint force may be tasked to conduct or support offensive counterair attack operations. Also called OCA attack ops. See also counterair; offensive counterair. |
| offensive minefield | (DOD) In naval mine warfare, a minefield laid in enemy territorial water or waters under enemy control. |
| offensive space control | (DOD) Those operations to prevent an adversary's hostile use of US/third party space capabilities and services or negate (disrupt, deny, degrade, deceive, or destroy) an adversary's space capabilities. |
| office | (DOD) An enduring organization that is formed around a specific function within a joint force commander's headquarters to coordinate and manage support requirements. |
| officer in tactical command | (DOD) In maritime usage, the senior officer present eligible to assume command, or the officer to whom the senior officer has delegated tactical command. Also called OTC. |
| officer of the deck | (DOD) The officer of the deck under way has been designated by the commanding officer to be in charge of the ship, including its safe and proper operation. The officer of the deck reports directly to the commanding officer for the safe navigation and general operation of the ship, to the executive officer (and command duty officer if appointed) for carrying out the ship's routine, and to the navigator on sighting navigational landmarks and making course and speed changes. Also called OOD. |
| official information | (DOD) Information that is owned by, produced for or by, or is subject to the control of the United States Government. |
| offset bombing | (DOD,NATO) Any bombing procedure which employs a reference or aiming point other than the actual target. |
| offset costs | (DOD) Costs for which funds have been appropriated that may not be incurred as a result of a contingency operation. Those funds may then be applied to the cost of the operation. See also contingency operation. |
| offshore bulk fuel system | (DOD) The system used for transferring fuel from points offshore to reception facilities on the beach. It consists of two subsystems: amphibious bulk liquid transfer system and the offshore petroleum discharge system. See also amphibious bulk liquid transfer system; offshore petroleum discharge system. |
| offshore patrol | (DOD,NATO) A naval defense patrol operating in the outer areas of navigable coastal waters. It is a part of the naval local defense forces consisting of naval ships and aircraft and operates outside those areas assigned to the inshore patrol. |
| offshore petroleum discharge system | (DOD) Provides a semipermanent, all-weather facility for bulk transfer of petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) directly from an offshore tanker to a beach termination unit (BTU) located immediately inland from the high watermark. POL then is either transported inland or stored in the beach support area. Major offshore petroleum discharge systems (OPDS) components are: the OPDS tanker with booster pumps and spread mooring winches; a recoverable single anchor leg mooring (SALM) to accommodate tankers of up to 70,000 deadweight tons; ship to SALM hoselines; up to 4 miles of 6-inch (internal diameter) conduit for pumping to the beach; and two BTUs to interface with the shoreside systems. OPDS can support a two-line system for multiproduct discharge, but ship standoff distance is reduced from 4 to 2 miles. Amphibious construction battalions install the OPDS with underwater construction team assistance. OPDS are embarked on selected Ready Reserve Force tankers modified to support the system. Also called OPDS. See also facility; petroleum, oils, and lubricants; single-anchor leg mooring. |
| OFHIS | operational fleet hospital information system |
| OFOESA | Office of Field Operational and External Support Activities |
| OGA | other government agency |
| OGS | overseas ground station |
| OH | overhead |
| OHDACA | Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid |
| OHDM | Office of Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief, and Mine Action |
| OI | Office of Intelligence (USCS); operating instruction |
| OI&A | Office of Intelligence and Analysis (DHS) |
| OIC | officer in charge |
| OICC | officer in charge of construction; operational intelligence coordination center |
| OID | operation order (OPORD) identification |
| OIF | Operation IRAQI FREEDOM |
| oiler | (DOD,NATO) A naval or merchant tanker specially equipped and rigged for replenishing other ships at sea. |
| OIR | operational intelligence requirements; other intelligence requirements |
| OJT | on-the-job training |
| OL | operating location |
| OLD | on-line tests and diagnostics |
| OLS | operational linescan system; optical landing system |
| OM | contour multiunit |
| OMA | Office of Military Affairs (CIA) |
| OMB | Office of Management and Budget; operations management branch |
| OMC | Office of Military Cooperation; optical memory card |
| OMF | officer master file |
| OMS | Office of Mission Support |
| OMT | operations management team; orthogonal mode transducer |
| OMT/OMTP | operational maintenance test(ing)/test plan |
| on berth | (DOD) Said of a ship when it is properly moored to a quay, wharf, jetty, pier, or buoy or when it is at anchor and available for loading or discharging passengers and cargo. |
| on hand | (DOD) The quantity of an item that is physically available in a storage location and contained in the accountable property book records of an issuing activity. |
| on-call | (DOD) 1. A term used to signify that a prearranged concentration, air strike, or final protective fire may be called for. |
| on-call | (DOD) 2. Preplanned, identified force or materiel requirements without designated time-phase and destination information. Such requirements will be called forward upon order of competent authority. |
| on-call resupply | (DOD) A resupply mission planned before insertion of a special operations team into the operations area but not executed until requested by the operating team. See also automatic resupply; emergency resupply. |
| on-call target | (DOD) Planned target upon which fires or other actions are determined using deliberate targeting and triggered, when detected or located, using dynamic targeting. See also dynamic targeting; on-call; operational area; planned target; target. |
| on-call wave | (DOD,NATO) See wave. |
| on-scene commander | (DOD) 1. An individual in the immediate vicinity of an isolating event who temporarily assumes command of the incident. |
| on-scene commander | (DOD) 2. The federal officer designated to direct federal crisis and consequence management efforts at the scene of a terrorist or weapons of mass destruction incident. Also called OSC. |
| on-station time | (DOD) The time an aircraft can remain on station. May be determined by endurance or orders. |
| ONDCP | Office of National Drug Control Policy |
| ONE | Operation NOBLE EAGLE |
| one day's supply | (DOD,NATO) A unit or quantity of supplies adopted as a standard of measurement, used in estimating the average daily expenditure under stated conditions. It may also be expressed in terms of a factor, e.g., rounds of ammunition per weapon per day. |
| one-look circuit | (DOD,NATO) A mine circuit which requires actuation by a given influence once only. |
| ONI | Office of Naval Intelligence |
| OOB | order of battle |
| OOD | officer of the deck |
| OODA | observe, orient, decide, act |
| OOS | out of service |
| OP | observation post; operational publication (USN); ordnance publication |
| OPARS | Optimum Path Aircraft Routing System |
| OPBAT | Operation Bahamas, Turks, and Caicos |
| OPCEN | operations center (USCG) |
| OPCOM | operational command (NATO) |
| OPCON | operational control |
| OPDEC | operational deception |
| OPDS | offshore petroleum discharge system |
| OPE | operational preparation of the environment |
| OPELINT | operational electronic intelligence |
| open improved storage space | (DOD) Open area that has been graded and hard surfaced or prepared with topping of some suitable material so as to permit effective materials handling operations. |
| open ocean | (DOD) Ocean limit defined as greater than 12 nautical miles (nm) from shore, as compared with high seas that are over 200 nm from shore. See also contiguous zone. |
| open route | (DOD,NATO) A route not subject to traffic or movement control restrictions. |
| open unimproved wet space | (DOD) That water area specifically allotted to and usable for storage of floating equipment. |
| open-source intelligence | (DOD) Information of potential intelligence value that is available to the general public. Also called OSINT. See also intelligence. |
| operating forces | (DOD) Those forces whose primary missions are to participate in combat and the integral supporting elements thereof. See also combat service support element. |
| operation | (DOD) 1. A military action or the carrying out of a strategic, operational, tactical, service, training, or administrative military mission. |
| operation | (DOD) 2. The process of carrying on combat, including movement, supply, attack, defense, and maneuvers needed to gain the objectives of any battle or campaign. |
| operation and maintenance | (DOD) Maintenance and repair of real property, operation of utilities, and provision of other services such as refuse collection and disposal, entomology, snow removal, and ice alleviation. Also called O&M. |
| operation annexes | (DOD) Those amplifying instructions that are of such a nature, or are so voluminous or technical, as to make their inclusion in the body of the plan or order undesirable. |
| operation order | (DOD) A directive issued by a commander to subordinate commanders for the purpose of effecting the coordinated execution of an operation. Also called OPORD. |
| operation plan | (DOD) 2. In the context of joint operation planning level 4 planning detail, a complete and detailed joint plan containing a full description of the concept of operations, all annexes applicable to the plan, and a time-phased force and deployment data. It identifies the specific forces, functional support, and resources required to execute the plan and provide closure estimates for their flow into the theater. Also called OPLAN. See also operation order. |
| operation plan | (DOD) 1. Any plan for the conduct of military operations prepared in response to actual and potential contingencies. |
| operational architecture | (DOD) Descriptions of the tasks, operational elements, and information flows required to accomplish or support a warfighting function. |
| operational area | (DOD) An overarching term encompassing more descriptive terms for geographic areas in which military operations are conducted. Operational areas include, but are not limited to, such descriptors as area of responsibility, theater of war, theater of operations, joint operations area, amphibious objective area, joint special operations area, and area of operations. Also called OA. See also amphibious objective area; area of operations; area of responsibility; joint operations area; joint special operations area; theater of operations; theater of war. |
| operational art | (DOD) The application of creative imagination by commanders and staffs - supported by their skill, knowledge, and experience - to design strategies, campaigns, and major operations and organize and employ military forces. Operational art integrates ends, ways, and means across the levels of war. |
| operational authority | (DOD) That authority exercised by a commander in the chain of command, defined further as combatant command (command authority), operational control, tactical control, or a support relationship. See also combatant command (command authority); in support of; operational control; support; tactical control. |
| operational characteristics | (DOD) Those military characteristics that pertain primarily to the functions to be performed by equipment, either alone or in conjunction with other equipment; e.g., for electronic equipment, operational characteristics include such items as frequency coverage, channeling, type of modulation, and character of emission. |
| operational contract support | (DOD) The process of planning for and obtaining supplies, services, and construction from commercial sources in support of joint operations along with the associated contractor management functions. |
| operational control | (DOD) Command authority that may be exercised by commanders at any echelon at or below the level of combatant command. Operational control is inherent in combatant command (command authority) and may be delegated within the command. Operational control is the authority to perform those functions of command over subordinate forces involving organizing and employing commands and forces, assigning tasks, designating objectives, and giving authoritative direction necessary to accomplish the mission. Operational control includes authoritative direction over all aspects of military operations and joint training necessary to accomplish missions assigned to the command. Operational control should be exercised through the commanders of subordinate organizations. Normally this authority is exercised through subordinate joint force commanders and Service and/or functional component commanders. Operational control normally provides full authority to organize commands and forces and to employ those forces as the commander in operational control considers necessary to accomplish assigned missions; it does not, in and of itself, include authoritative direction for logistics or matters of administration, discipline, internal organization, or unit training. Also called OPCON. See also combatant command; combatant command (command authority); tactical control. |
| operational control authority | (DOD,NATO) The naval commander responsible within a specified geographical area for the naval control of all merchant shipping under Allied naval control. Also called OCA. |
| operational decontamination | (DOD) Decontamination carried out by an individual and/or a unit, restricted to specific parts of operationally essential equipment, materiel and/or working areas, in order to minimize contact and transfer hazards and to sustain operations. This may include decontamination of the individual beyond the scope of immediate decontamination, as well as decontamination of mission-essential spares and limited terrain decontamination. See also decontamination; immediate decontamination; thorough decontamination. |
| operational design | (DOD) The conception and construction of the framework that underpins a campaign or major operation plan and its subsequent execution. See also campaign; major operation. |
| operational design element | (DOD) A key consideration used in operational design. |
| operational environment | (DOD) A composite of the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect the employment of capabilities and bear on the decisions of the commander. Also called OE. |
| operational exposure guide | (DOD) The maximum amount of nuclear/external ionizing radiation that the commander considers a unit may be permitted to receive while performing a particular mission or missions. Also called OEG. See also radiation exposure status. |
| operational intelligence | (DOD) Intelligence that is required for planning and conducting campaigns and major operations to accomplish strategic objectives within theaters or operational areas. See also intelligence; strategic intelligence; tactical intelligence. |
| operational level of war | (DOD) The level of war at which campaigns and major operations are planned, conducted, and sustained to achieve strategic objectives within theaters or other operational areas. Activities at this level link tactics and strategy by establishing operational objectives needed to achieve the strategic objectives, sequencing events to achieve the operational objectives, initiating actions, and applying resources to bring about and sustain these events. See also strategic level of war; tactical level of war. |
| operational limitation | (DOD) An action required or prohibited by higher authority, such as a constraint or a restraint, and other restrictions that limit the commander's freedom of action, such as diplomatic agreements, rules of engagement, political and economic conditions in affected countries, and host nation issues. See also constraint; restraint. |
| operational necessity | (DOD) A mission associated with war or peacetime operations in which the consequences of an action justify the risk of loss of aircraft and crew. See also mission. |
| operational pause | (DOD) A temporary halt in operations. |
| operational procedures | (DOD,NATO) The detailed methods by which headquarters and units carry out their operational tasks. |
| operational reach | (DOD) The distance and duration across which a unit can successfully employ military capabilities. |
| operational readiness | (DOD,NATO) The capability of a unit/formation, ship, weapon system, or equipment to perform the missions or functions for which it is organized or designed. May be used in a general sense or to express a level or degree of readiness. Also called OR. See also combat readiness. |
| operational readiness evaluation | (DOD,NATO) An evaluation of the operational capability and effectiveness of a unit or any portion thereof. |
| operational requirement | (DOD,NATO) See military requirement. |
| Operational Requirements Document | (DOD) A formatted statement containing performance and related operational parameters for the proposed concept or system. Prepared by the user or user's representative at each milestone beginning with Milestone I, Concept Demonstration Approval of the Requirements Generation Process. Also called ORD. |
| operational reserve | (DOD) An emergency reserve of men and/or materiel established for the support of a specific operation. |
| operational route | (DOD,NATO) Land route allocated to a command for the conduct of a specific operation; derived from the corresponding basic military route network. |
| operational support airlift | (DOD) Operational support airlift missions are movements of high-priority passengers and cargo with time, place, or mission-sensitive requirements. Operational support airlift aircraft are those fixed-wing aircraft acquired and/or retained exclusively for operational support airlift missions, as well as any other Department of Defense-owned or controlled aircraft, fixed- or rotary-wing, used for operational support airlift purposes. Also called OSA. |
| operational testing | (DOD) A continuing process of evaluation that may be applied to either operational personnel or situations to determine their validity or reliability. |
| operational training | (DOD,NATO) Training that develops, maintains, or improves the operational readiness of individuals or units. |
| operationally ready | (DOD) 2. Personnel available and qualified to perform assigned missions or functions. |
| operationally ready | (DOD) 1. A unit, ship, or weapon system capable of performing the missions or functions for which organized or designed. Incorporates both equipment readiness and personnel readiness. |
| operations center | (DOD) The facility or location on an installation, base, or facility used by the commander to command, control, and coordinate all operational activities. Also called OC. See also base defense operations center; command center. |
| operations research | (DOD) The analytical study of military problems undertaken to provide responsible commanders and staff agencies with a scientific basis for decision on action to improve military operations. Also called operational research; operations analysis. |
| operations security | (DOD) A process of identifying critical information and subsequently analyzing friendly actions attendant to military operations and other activities to: a. identify those actions that can be observed by adversary intelligence systems; b. determine indicators that adversary intelligence systems might obtain that could be interpreted or pieced together to derive critical information in time to be useful to adversaries; and c. select and execute measures that eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level the vulnerabilities of friendly actions to adversary exploitation. Also called OPSEC. See also operations security indicators; operations security measures; operations security planning guidance; operations security vulnerability. |
| operations security indicators | (DOD) Friendly detectable actions and open-source information that can be interpreted or pieced together by an adversary to derive critical information. |
| operations security measures | (DOD) Methods and means to gain and maintain essential secrecy about critical information. See also operations security. |
| operations security planning guidance | (DOD) Guidance that serves as the blueprint for operations security planning by all functional elements throughout the organization. It defines the critical information that requires protection from adversary appreciations, taking into account friendly and adversary goals, estimated key adversary questions, probable adversary knowledge, desirable and harmful adversary appreciations, and pertinent intelligence system threats. It also should outline provisional operations security measures to ensure the requisite essential secrecy. |
| operations security vulnerability | (DOD) A condition in which friendly actions provide operations security indicators that may be obtained and accurately evaluated by an adversary in time to provide a basis for effective adversary decisionmaking. |
| operations support element | (DOD) An element that is responsible for all administrative, operations support and services support functions within the counterintelligence and human intelligence staff element of a joint force intelligence directorate. Also called OSE. |
| operations to restore order | (DOD) Operations intended to halt violence and support, reinstate, or establish civil authorities. They are designed to return an unstable and lawless environment to the point where indigenous police forces can effectively enforce the law and restore civil authority. See also operation; peace operations. |
| OPFOR | opposing force; opposition force |
| OPG | operations planning group |
| OPGEN | operation general matter |
| OPLAN | operation plan |
| OPLAW | operational law |
| OPM | Office of Personnel Management; operations per minute |
| OPMG | Office of the Provost Marshal General |
| OPNAVINST | Chief of Naval Operations instruction |
| OPORD | operation order |
| OPP | off-load preparation party; orderwire patch panel |
| opportune lift | (DOD) That portion of lift capability available for use after planned requirements have been met. |
| OPR | office of primary responsibility |
| OPREP | operational report |
| OPROJ | operational project |
| OPS | operational project stock; operations; operations center |
| OPSCOM | Operations Committee |
| OPSDEPS | Service Operations Deputies |
| OPSEC | operations security |
| OPSTK | operational stock |
| OPSUM | operation summary |
| OPT | operational planning team |
| OPTAR | operating target |
| OPTASK | operation task |
| OPTASKLINK | operations task link |
| OPTEMPO | operating tempo |
| optical axis | (DOD,NATO) In a lens element, the straight line which passes through the centers of curvature of the lens surfaces. In an optical system, the line formed by the coinciding principal axes of the series of optical elements. |
| optical minehunting | (DOD,NATO) The use of an optical system (e.g., television or towed diver) to detect and classify mines or minelike objects on or protruding from the seabed. |
| optimum height | (DOD,NATO) The height of an explosion which will produce the maximum effect against a given target. |
| optimum height of burst | (DOD,NATO) For nuclear weapons and for a particular target (or area), the height at which it is estimated a weapon of a specified energy yield will produce a certain desired effect over the maximum possible area. |
| OPTINT | optical intelligence |
| OPZONE | operation zone |
| OR | operational readiness; other rank(s) (NATO) |
| ORBAT | order of battle |
| orbit point | (DOD,NATO) A geographically or electronically defined location used in stationing aircraft in flight during tactical operations when a predetermined pattern is not established. See also holding point. |
| ORCON | originator controlled |
| ORD | Operational Requirements Document |
| order | (DOD,NATO) A communication, written, oral, or by signal, which conveys instructions from a superior to a subordinate. (DOD only) In a broad sense, the terms "order" and "command" are synonymous. However, an order implies discretion as to the details of execution whereas a command does not. |
| order of battle | (DOD,NATO) The identification, strength, command structure, and disposition of the personnel, units, and equipment of any military force. Also called OB; OOB. |
| ordered departure | (DOD) A procedure by which the number of US Government personnel, their dependents, or both are reduced at a foreign service post. Departure is directed by the Department of State (initiated by the chief of mission or the Secretary of State) to designated safe havens with implementation of the combatant commander noncombatant evacuation operations plan. |
| ordinary transport | (DOD,NATO) In railway terminology, transport of a load whose size, weight, or preparation does not entail special difficulties vis-a-vis the facilities or equipment of the railway systems to be used. See also exceptional transport. |
| ordnance | (DOD) Explosives, chemicals, pyrotechnics, and similar stores, e.g., bombs, guns and ammunition, flares, smoke, or napalm. |
| ORDREF | order reference |
| ORDTYP | order type |
| ORG | origin (GELOC) |
| organic | (DOD) Assigned to and forming an essential part of a military organization. Organic parts of a unit are those listed in its table of organization for the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and are assigned to the administrative organizations of the operating forces for the Navy. |
| organization for combat | (DOD) In amphibious operations, task organization of landing force units for combat, involving combinations of command, ground and aviation combat, combat support, and combat service support units for accomplishment of missions ashore. See also amphibious operation; task organization. |
| organization for embarkation | (DOD) In amphibious operations, the organization for embarkation consisting of temporary landing force task organizations established by the commander, landing force and a temporary organization of Navy forces established by the commander, amphibious task force for the purpose of simplifying planning and facilitating the execution of embarkation. See also amphibious operation; embarkation; landing force; task organization. |
| organization for landing | (DOD) In amphibious operations, the specific tactical grouping of the landing force for the assault. |
| organization of the ground | (DOD,NATO) The development of a defensive position by strengthening the natural defenses of the terrain and by assignment of the occupying troops to specific localities. |
| organizational equipment | (DOD) Referring to method of use: signifies that equipment (other than individual equipment) used in furtherance of the common mission of an organization or unit. See also equipment. |
| organizational maintenance | (DOD) That maintenance that is the responsibility of and performed by a using organization on its assigned equipment. Its phases normally consist of inspecting, servicing, lubricating, and adjusting, as well as the replacing of parts, minor assemblies, and subassemblies. |
| Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force | (DOD) A network of 13 regional organized crime drug enforcement task forces designed to coordinate Federal law enforcement efforts to combat the national and international organizations that cultivate, process, and distribute illicit drugs. Also called OCDETF. |
| ORIG | origin |
| origin | (DOD) Beginning point of a deployment where unit or non-unit-related cargo or personnel are located. |
| original destination | (DOD,NATO) In naval control of shipping, the original final destination of a convoy or an individual ship (whether in convoy or independent). This is particularly applicable to the original destination of a voyage begun in peacetime. |
| originating medical facility | (DOD) A medical facility that initially transfers a patient to another medical facility. |
| originator | (DOD) The command by whose authority a message is sent. The responsibility of the originator includes the responsibility for the functions of the drafter and the releasing officer. |
| ORM | operational risk management |
| oropesa sweep | (DOD,NATO) In naval mine warfare, a form of sweep in which a length of sweep wire is towed by a single ship, lateral displacement being caused by an otter and depth being controlled at the ship end by a kite and at the other end by a float and float wire. |
| ORP | ocean reception point |
| ORS | operationally responsive space |
| ORSA | operations research and systems analysis |
| orthomorphic projection | (DOD,NATO) A projection in which the scale, although varying throughout the map, is the same in all directions at any point, so that very small areas are represented by correct shape and bearings are correct. |
| OS | operating system |
| OSA | operational support airlift |
| OSAT | out-of-service analog test |
| OSC | offensive space control; on-scene commander; on-site commander; operational support command; operations support center |
| OSCE | Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe |
| oscillating mine | (DOD,NATO) A mine, hydrostatically controlled, which maintains a pre-set depth below the surface of the water independently of the rise and fall of the tide. See also mine. |
| OSD | Office of the Secretary of Defense |
| OSE | on scene endurance; operations support element |
| OSEI | operational significant event imagery |
| OSG | operational support group |
| OSI | open system interconnection; operational subsystem interface |
| OSIA | on-site inspection activity |
| OSINT | open-source intelligence |
| OSIS | open-source information system |
| OSO | operational support office |
| OSOCC | on-site operations coordination center |
| OSP | operations support package |
| OSPG | overseas security policy group |
| OSRI | originating station routing indicator |
| OSUT | One Station Unit Training |
| OSV | ocean station vessel |
| OT | operational test |
| OT&E | operational test and evaluation |
| OTC | officer in tactical command; over the counter |
| OTG | operational target graphic |
| OTH | other; over the horizon |
| OTH-B | over-the-horizon backscatter (radar) |
| other detainee | (DOD) Person in the custody of the US Armed Forces who has not been classified as an enemy prisoner of war (article 4, Geneva Convention of 1949 Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (GPW)), retained personnel (article 33, GPW), or civilian internee (article 78, Geneva Convention). Also called OD. See also civilian internee; custody; detainee; prisoner of war; retained personnel. |
| other government agency | (DOD) Within the context of interagency coordination, a non Department of Defense agency of the United States Government. Also called OGA. |
| OTHT | over-the-horizon targeting |
| OTI | Office of Transition Initiatives |
| OTS | Officer Training School; one-time source |
| otter | (DOD,NATO) In naval mine warfare, a device which, when towed, displaces itself sideways to a predetermined distance. |
| OUB | offshore petroleum discharge system (OPDS) utility boat |
| OUSD | Office of the Under Secretary of Defense |
| OUSD(AT&L) | Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) |
| OUSD(C) | Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) |
| OUSD(P) | Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Policy) |
| OUT | outsize cargo |
| outer transport area | (DOD) In amphibious operations, an area inside the antisubmarine screen to which assault transports proceed initially after arrival in the objective area. See also inner transport area; transport area. |
| outline map | (DOD,NATO) A map which represents just sufficient geographic information to permit the correlation of additional data placed upon it. |
| outline plan | (DOD,NATO) A preliminary plan which outlines the salient features or principles of a course of action prior to the initiation of detailed planning. |
| outsized cargo | (DOD) Cargo that exceeds the dimensions of oversized cargo and requires the use of a C-5 or C-17 aircraft or surface transportation. A single item that exceeds 1,000 inches long by 117 inches wide by 105 inches high in any one dimension. See also oversized cargo. |
| OVE | on-vehicle equipment |
| OVER | oversize cargo |
| over-the-horizon amphibious operations | (DOD) An operational initiative launched from beyond visual and radar range of the shoreline. |
| over-the-horizon radar | (DOD) A radar system that makes use of the atmospheric reflection and refraction phenomena to extend its range of detection beyond line of sight. Over-the-horizon radars may be either forward scatter or back scatter systems. |
| overlap | (DOD) 2. In cartography, that portion of a map or chart that overlaps the area covered by another of the same series. |
| overlap | (DOD) 3. In naval mine warfare, the width of that part of the swept path of a ship or formation that is also swept by an adjacent sweeper or formation or is reswept on the next adjacent lap. |
| overlap | (DOD) 1. In photography, the amount by which one photograph includes the same area covered by another, customarily expressed as a percentage. The overlap between successive air photographs on a flight line is called "forward overlap." The overlap between photographs in adjacent parallel flight lines is called "side overlap." |
| overpressure | (DOD,NATO) The pressure resulting from the blast wave of an explosion. It is referred to as "positive" when it exceeds atmospheric pressure and "negative" during the passage of the wave when resulting pressures are less than atmospheric pressure. |
| overprint | (DOD,NATO) Information printed or stamped upon a map or chart, in addition to that originally printed, to show data of importance or special use. |
| Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document | (DOD) A set of objective criteria and management practices developed by the Department of Defense to protect human health and the environment. Also called OEBGD. |
| oversized cargo | (DOD) 1. Large items of specific equipment such as a barge, side loadable warping tug, causeway section, powered, or causeway section, nonpowered. Requires transport by sea. |
| oversized cargo | (DOD) 2. Air cargo exceeding the usable dimension of a 463L pallet loaded to the design height of 96 inches, but equal to or less than 1,000 inches in length, 117 inches in width, and 105 inches in height. This cargo is air transportable on the C-5, C-17, C-130, KC-10 and most civilian contract cargo carriers. See also outsized cargo. |
| overt operation | (DOD) An operation conducted openly, without concealment. See also clandestine operation; covert operation. |
| OVM | Operation Vigilant Mariner |
| OW | orderwire |
| OWS | operational weather squadron |
