| Acronym | Definition |
| W | sweep width |
| w | search subarea width |
| W-day | declared by the President, W-day is associated with an adversary decision to prepare for war |
| W-day | (DOD) See times. |
| WAAR | Wartime Aircraft Activity Report |
| WACBE | World Area Code Basic Encyclopedia |
| wading crossing | (DOD,NATO) See deep fording capability. |
| WADS | Western Air Defense Sector |
| WAGB | icebreaker (USCG) |
| WAI | weather area of interest |
| walking patient | (DOD) A patient whose injuries and/or illness are relatively minor, permitting the patient to walk and not require a litter. See also litter; patient; slightly wounded. |
| WAN | wide-area network |
| wanted cargo | (DOD,NATO) In naval control of shipping, a cargo which is not immediately required by the consignee country but will be needed later. |
| war game | (DOD) A simulation, by whatever means, of a military operation involving two or more opposing forces using rules, data, and procedures designed to depict an actual or assumed real life situation. |
| war materiel requirement | (DOD) The quantity of an item required to equip and support the approved forces specified in the current Secretary of Defense guidance through the period prescribed for war materiel planning purposes. |
| war reserve materiel requirement | (DOD) That portion of the war materiel requirement required to be on hand on D-day. This level consists of the war materiel requirement less the sum of the peacetime assets assumed to be available on D-day and the war materiel procurement capability. |
| war reserve stock | (DOD) That portion of total materiel assets designated to satisfy the war reserve materiel requirement. Also called WRS. See also reserve; war reserve materiel requirement; war reserves. |
| war reserves | (DOD,NATO) Stocks of materiel amassed in peacetime to meet the increase in military requirements consequent upon an outbreak of war. War reserves are intended to provide the interim support essential to sustain operations until resupply can be effected. |
| warble | (DOD,NATO) In naval mine warfare, the process of varying the frequency of sound produced by a narrow band noisemaker to ensure that the frequency to which the mine will respond is covered. |
| warden system | (DOD) An informal method of communication used to pass information to US citizens during emergencies. See also noncombatant evacuation operations. |
| warhead section | (DOD,NATO) A completely assembled warhead, including appropriate skin sections and related components. |
| WARM | wartime reserve mode |
| WARMAPS | wartime manpower planning system |
| warned exposed | (DOD,NATO) The vulnerability of friendly forces to nuclear weapon effects. In this condition, personnel are assumed to be prone with all skin covered and with thermal protection at least that provided by a two-layer summer uniform. See also unwarned exposed; warned protected. |
| warned protected | (DOD,NATO) The vulnerability of friendly forces to nuclear weapon effects. In this condition, personnel are assumed to have some protection against heat, blast, and radiation such as that afforded in closed armored vehicles or crouched in fox holes with improvised overhead shielding. See also unwarned exposed; warned exposed. |
| warning | (DOD) 1. A communication and acknowledgment of dangers implicit in a wide spectrum of activities by potential opponents ranging from routine defense measures to substantial increases in readiness and force preparedness and to acts of terrorism or political, economic, or military provocation. |
| warning | (DOD) 2. Operating procedures, practices, or conditions that may result in injury or death if not carefully observed or followed. |
| warning area | (DOD,NATO) See danger area. |
| warning of attack | (DOD) A warning to national policymakers that an adversary is not only preparing its armed forces for war, but intends to launch an attack in the near future. See also tactical warning; warning. |
| warning order | (DOD) 3. A planning directive that describes the situation, allocates forces and resources, establishes command relationships, provides other initial planning guidance, and initiates subordinate unit mission planning. Also called WARNORD. |
| warning order | (DOD) 2. A planning directive that initiates the development and evaluation of military courses of action by a supported commander and requests that the supported commander submit a commander's estimate. |
| warning order | (DOD) 1. A preliminary notice of an order or action that is to follow. |
| warning red | (DOD) See air defense warning conditions. |
| warning shots | (DOD) The firing of shots or delivery of ordnance by personnel or weapons systems in the vicinity of a person, vessel, or aircraft as a signal to immediately cease activity. Warning shots are one measure to convince a potentially hostile force to withdraw or cease its threatening actions. |
| warning white | (DOD) See air defense warning conditions. |
| warning yellow | (DOD) See air defense warning conditions. |
| WARNORD | warning order |
| WARP | web-based access and retrieval portal |
| warp | (DOD) To haul a ship ahead by line or anchor. |
| wartime load | (DOD) The maximum quantity of supplies of all kinds which a ship can carry. The composition of the load is prescribed by proper authority. |
| wartime manpower planning system | (DOD) A standardized Department of Defense (DOD)-wide procedure, structure, and database for computing, compiling, projecting, and portraying the time-phased wartime manpower requirements, demand, and supply of the DOD components. Also called WARMAPS. See also S-day. |
| wartime reserve modes | (DOD) Characteristics and operating procedures of sensor, communications, navigation aids, threat recognition, weapons, and countermeasures systems that will contribute to military effectiveness if unknown to or misunderstood by opposing commanders before they are used, but could be exploited or neutralized if known in advance. Wartime reserve modes are deliberately held in reserve for wartime or emergency use and seldom, if ever, applied or intercepted prior to such use. Also called WARM. |
| WAS | wide area surveillance |
| Washington Liaison Group | (DOD) An interagency committee and/or joint monitoring body, chaired by the Department of State with representation from the Department of Defense, established to coordinate the preparation and implementation of plans for evacuation of United States citizens abroad in emergencies. Also called WLG. |
| WASP | war air service program |
| WATCHCON | watch condition |
| watching mine | (DOD,NATO) In naval mine warfare, a mine secured to its mooring but showing on the surface, possibly only in certain tidal conditions. See also floating mine; mine. |
| water terminal | (DOD) A facility for berthing ships simultaneously at piers, quays, and/or working anchorages, normally located within sheltered coastal waters adjacent to rail, highway, air, and/or inland water transportation networks. |
| watercraft | (DOD) Any vessel or craft designed specifically and only for movement on the surface of the water. |
| waterspace management | (DOD) The allocation of waterspace in terms of antisubmarine warfare attack procedures to permit the rapid and effective engagement of hostile submarines while preventing inadvertent attacks on friendly submarines. Also called WSM. |
| wave | (DOD) A formation of forces, including ships, craft, amphibious vehicles or aircraft, required to beach or land about the same time. Waves can be classified by function: scheduled, on-call, or non-scheduled. Waves can also be classified by type of craft, e.g., assault, helicopter, or landing craft. |
| wave crest | (DOD) The highest part of a wave. See also crest; wave. |
| wave height | (DOD) The vertical distance between trough and crest, usually expressed in feet. See also wave. |
| wave length | (DOD) The horizontal distance between successive wave crests measured perpendicular to the crest, usually expressed in feet. See also crest; wave; wave crest. |
| wave period | (DOD) The time it takes for two successive wave crests to pass a given point. See also wave; wave crest. |
| wave trough | (DOD) The lowest part of the wave between crests. See also crest; wave. |
| wave velocity | (DOD) The speed at which a wave form advances across the sea, usually expressed in knots. See also wave. |
| WB | wideband |
| WBGTI | wet bulb globe temperature index |
| WC | wind current |
| WCA | water clearance authority |
| WCCS | Wing Command and Control System |
| WCDO | War Consumables Distribution Objective |
| WCO | World Customs Organization |
| WCS | weapons control status |
| WDT | warning and display terminal |
| weapon engagement zone | (DOD) In air defense, airspace of defined dimensions within which the responsibility for engagement of air threats normally rests with a particular weapon system. Also called WEZ. |
| weapon system employment concept | (DOD,NATO) A description in broad terms, based on established outline characteristics, of the application of a particular equipment or weapon system within the framework of tactical concept and future doctrines. |
| weapon(s) system | (DOD,NATO) A combination of one or more weapons with all related equipment, materials, services, personnel, and means of delivery and deployment (if applicable) required for self-sufficiency. |
| weaponeering | (DOD) The process of determining the quantity of a specific type of lethal or nonlethal weapons required to achieve a specific level of damage to a given target, considering target vulnerability, weapons characteristics and effects, and delivery parameters. |
| weapons assignment | (DOD,NATO) In air defense, the process by which weapons are assigned to individual air weapons controllers for use in accomplishing an assigned mission. |
| weapons free zone | (DOD) An air defense zone established for the protection of key assets or facilities, other than air bases, where weapon systems may be fired at any target not positively recognized as friendly. |
| weapons of mass destruction | (DOD) Chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons capable of a high order of destruction or causing mass casualties and exclude the means of transporting or propelling the weapon where such means is a separable and divisible part from the weapon. Also called WMD. See also special operations. |
| weapons of mass destruction - civil support team | (DOD) Joint National Guard (Army National Guard and Air National Guard) team established to deploy rapidly to assist a local incident commander in determining the nature and extent of a weapons of mass destruction attack or incident; provide expert technical advice on weapons of mass destruction response operations; and help identify and support the arrival of follow-on state and federal military response assets. Also called WMD-CST. |
| weapons of mass destruction active defense | (DOD) Active measures to defeat an attack with chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons by employing actions to divert, neutralize, or destroy those weapons or their means of delivery while en route to their target. Also called WMD active defense. |
| weapons of mass destruction consequence management | (DOD) Actions authorized by the Secretary of Defense to mitigate the effects of a weapon of mass destruction attack or event and, if necessary, provide temporary essential operations and services at home and abroad. Also called WMD CM. |
| weapons of mass destruction elimination | (DOD) Actions undertaken in a hostile or uncertain environment to systematically locate, characterize, secure, and disable, or destroy weapons of mass destruction programs and related capabilities. Also called WMD elimination. |
| weapons of mass destruction interdiction | (DOD) Operations to track, intercept, search, divert, seize, or otherwise stop the transit of weapons of mass destruction, its delivery systems, or related materials, technologies, and expertise. Also called WMD interdiction. |
| weapons of mass destruction offensive operations | (DOD) Actions to disrupt, neutralize, or destroy a weapon of mass destruction threat before it can be used, or to deter subsequent use of such weapons. Also called WMD offensive operations. |
| weapons of mass destruction security cooperation and partner activities | (DOD) Activities to improve or promote defense relationships and capacity of allied and partner nations to execute or support the other military mission areas to combat weapons of mass destruction through military-to-military contact, burden sharing arrangements, combined military activities, and support to international activities. Also called WMD security cooperation. |
| weapons readiness state | (DOD) The degree of readiness of air defense weapons which can become airborne or be launched to carry out an assigned task. Weapons readiness states are expressed in numbers of weapons and numbers of minutes. Weapon readiness states are defined as follows: a. 2 minutes--Weapons can be launched within two minutes. b. 5 minutes--Weapons can be launched within five minutes. c. 15 minutes--Weapons can be launched within fifteen minutes. d. 30 minutes--Weapons can be launched within thirty minutes. e. 1 hour--Weapons can be launched within one hour. f. 3 hours--Weapons can be launched within three hours. g. released--Weapons are released from defense commitment for a specified period of time. |
| weapons recommendation sheet | (DOD,NATO) A sheet or chart which defines the intention of the attack, and recommends the nature of weapons, and resulting damage expected, tonnage, fuzing, spacing, desired mean points of impact, and intervals of reattack. |
| weather deck | (DOD) A deck having no overhead protection; uppermost deck. |
| weather minimum | (DOD) The worst weather conditions under which aviation operations may be conducted under either visual or instrument flight rules. Usually prescribed by directives and standing operating procedures in terms of minimum ceiling, visibility, or specific hazards to flight. |
| WEAX | weather facsimile |
| weight and balance sheet | (DOD,NATO) A sheet which records the distribution of weight in an aircraft and shows the center of gravity of an aircraft at takeoff and landing. |
| wellness | (DOD) Force health protection program that consolidates and incorporates physical and mental fitness, health promotion, and environmental and occupational health. See also force health protection. |
| WES | weapon engagement status |
| WETM | weather team |
| WEU | Western European Union |
| WEZ | weapon engagement zone |
| WFE | warfighting environment |
| WFP | World Food Programme (UN) |
| WG | working group |
| WGS | Wideband Global Satellite Communications (SATCOM); World Geodetic System |
| WGS-84 | World Geodetic System 1984 |
| WH | wounded due to hostilities |
| wharf | (DOD) A structure built of open rather than solid construction along a shore or a bank that provides cargo-handling facilities. A similar facility of solid construction is called a quay. See also quay. |
| WHEC | high-endurance cutter (USCG) |
| white cap | (DOD) A small wave breaking offshore as a result of the action of strong winds. See also wave. |
| whiteout | (DOD,NATO) Loss of orientation with respect to the horizon caused by sun reflecting on snow and overcast sky. |
| WHNRS | wartime host-nation religious support |
| WHNS | wartime host-nation support |
| WHNSIMS | Wartime Host Nation Support Information Management System |
| WHO | World Health Organization (UN) |
| WIA | wounded in action |
| winch | (DOD) A hoisting machine used for loading and discharging cargo and stores or for hauling in lines. See also stores. |
| wind velocity | (DOD,NATO) The horizontal direction and speed of air motion. |
| wing | (DOD) 3. A balanced Marine Corps task organization of aircraft groups and squadrons, together with appropriate command, air control, administrative, service, and maintenance units. A standard Marine Corps aircraft wing contains the aviation elements normally required for the air support of a Marine division. |
| wing | (DOD) 2. A fleet air wing is the basic organizational and administrative unit for naval-, land-, and tender-based aviation. Such wings are mobile units to which are assigned aircraft squadrons and tenders for administrative organization control. |
| wing | (DOD) 1. An Air Force unit composed normally of one primary mission group and the necessary supporting organizations, i.e., organizations designed to render supply, maintenance, hospitalization, and other services required by the primary mission groups. Primary mission groups may be functional, such as combat, training, transport, or service. |
| wing | (DOD) 4. A flank unit; that part of a military force to the right or left of the main body. |
| wingman | (DOD) An aviator subordinate to and in support of the designated section leader; also, the aircraft flown in this role. |
| WISDIM | Warfighting and Intelligence Systems Dictionary for Information Management |
| WISP | Wartime Information Security Program |
| WIT | weapons intelligence team |
| withdrawal operation | (DOD) A planned retrograde operation in which a force in contact disengages from an enemy force and moves in a direction away from the enemy. |
| WLG | Washington Liaison Group |
| WMD | weapons of mass destruction |
| WMD CM | weapons of mass destruction consequence management |
| WMD-CST | weapons of mass destruction-civil support team |
| WMEC | Coast Guard medium-endurance cutter |
| WMO | World Meteorological Organization |
| WMP | Air Force War and Mobilization Plan; War and Mobilization Plan |
| WOC | wing operations center (USAF) |
| WOD | wind-over deck; word-of-day |
| work order | (DOD) A specific or blanket authorization to perform certain work--usually broader in scope than a job order. It is sometimes used synonymously with job order. |
| working anchorage | (DOD) An anchorage where ships lie to discharge cargoes over-side to coasters or lighters. See also emergency anchorage. |
| working capital fund | (DOD) A revolving fund established to finance inventories of supplies and other stores, or to provide working capital for industrial-type activities. |
| working group | (DOD) An enduring or ad hoc organization within a joint force commander's headquarters formed around a specific function whose purpose is to provide analysis to users. The working group consists of a core functional group and other staff and component representatives. Also called WG. |
| world geographic reference system | (DOD,NATO) See georef. |
| Worldwide Port System | (DOD) Automated information system to provide cargo management and accountability to water port and regional commanders while providing in-transit visibility to the Global Transportation Network. Also called WPS. See also Global Transportation Network. |
| WORM | write once read many |
| WOT | war on terrorism |
| wounded | (DOD) See seriously wounded; slightly wounded. |
| wounded in action | (DOD) A casualty category applicable to a hostile casualty, other than the victim of a terrorist activity, who has incurred an injury due to an external agent or cause. The term encompasses all kinds of wounds and other injuries incurred in action, whether there is a piercing of the body, as in a penetration or perforated wound, or none, as in the contused wound. These include fractures, burns, blast concussions, all effects of biological and chemical warfare agents, and the effects of an exposure to ionizing radiation or any other destructive weapon or agent. The hostile casualty's status may be categorized as "very seriously ill or injured," "seriously ill or injured," "incapacitating illness or injury," or "not seriously injured." Also called WIA. See also casualty category. |
| WP | white phosphorous; Working Party (NATO) |
| WPA | water jet propulsion assembly |
| WPAL | wartime personnel allowance list |
| WPARR | War Plans Additive Requirements Roster |
| WPB | Coast Guard patrol boat |
| WPC | Washington Planning Center |
| WPM | words per minute |
| WPN | weapon |
| WPR | War Powers Resolution |
| WPS | Worldwide Port System |
| WR | war reserve; weapon radius |
| WRA | Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (DOS) |
| WRAIR | Walter Reed Army Institute of Research |
| WRC | World Radiocommunication Conference |
| WRL | weapons release line |
| WRM | war reserve materiel |
| WRMS | war reserve materiel stock |
| WRR | weapons response range (as well as wpns release rg) |
| WRS | war reserve stock |
| WRSA | war reserve stocks for allies |
| WRSK | war readiness spares kit; war reserve spares kit |
| WSE | weapon support equipment |
| WSES | surface effect ship (USCG) |
| WSESRB | Weapon System Explosive Safety Review Board |
| WSM | waterspace management |
| WSR | weapon system reliability |
| WT | gross weight; warping tug; weight |
| WTCA | water terminal clearance authority |
| WTCT | weapons of mass destruction technical collection team |
| WTLO | water terminal logistic office |
| Wu | uncorrected sweep width |
| WVRD | World Vision Relief and Development, Inc. |
| WWABNCP | worldwide airborne command post |
| WWII | World War II |
| WWSVCS | Worldwide Secure Voice Conferencing System |
| WWX | worldwide express |
| WX | weather |
