M4gery: A civilian semiauto-only version of an M4 Carbine, with a sixteen-inch barrel instead of a 14.5-inch barrel.
M9: The U.S. Army–issue version of the Beretta M92 semiauto 9mm pistol.
M14: The U.S. Army–issue 7.62mm NATO selective-fire battle rifle. These rifles are still issued in small numbers, primarily to designated marksmen. The civilian semiauto-only equivalent of the M14 is called the M1A.
M16: The U.S. Army–issue 5.56mm NATO selective-fire battle rifle. The current standard variant is the M16A2, which has improved sight and three-shot burst control. See also M4.
M60: The obsolete U.S. Army–issue 7.62mm NATO belt-fed light machine gun that utilized some design elements of the German MG-42.
M240: The U.S. military variant of the 7.62mm NATO FN-MAG light machine gun. See also FN-MAG.
M249: The U.S. military variant of the 5.56mm NATO FN Minimi light machine gun.
MAG: See FN-MAG.
MAG-58: See FN-MAG.
Maglite: A popular American brand of sturdy flashlights with a machined aluminum casing.
MAPEX: Map Exercise.
MC: Master of Ceremonies.
MCRU: Mobile Control and Reporting Unit.
MG3: A German belt-fed light machine gun, chambered in 7.62mm NATO.
MG4: A German belt-fed light machine gun, chambered in 5.56mm NATO.
MI: Military Intelligence. See also CI, HUMINT, and SIGINT.
Mini-14: A 5.56mm NATO semiauto carbine made by Ruger.
Minimi: See M249.
MOIS: Ministry of Intelligence and Security, the Iranian spy agency. See also VEVAK.
MOLLE: Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment.
Molotov cocktail: A hand-thrown firebomb made from a glass container filled with gasoline or thickened gasoline (napalm).
MOS: Military Occupational Specialty.
MP: Military Police.
MRAP: Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (vehicle).
MRE: Meal Ready to Eat. See also IMP and CR1M.
MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
MSS: Depending on context, Ministry of State Security or Modular Sleep System.
MTBE: Methyl tert-butyl ether. An oxygenating additive for gasoline.
MultiCam: See OCP.
MURS: Multi Use Radio Service. A VHF two-way radio service that does not require a license. See also FRS and GMRS.
MVPA: Military Vehicle Preservation Association.
MWR: Morale, Welfare, and Recreation.
NAB: Naval Amphibious Base.
Napalm: Thickened gasoline, used in some flame weapons.
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
NBC: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical.
NCO: Noncommissioned Officer.
NFA: The National Firearms Act of 1934. The law that first imposed a two-hundred-dollar transfer tax on machine guns, suppressors (commonly called silencers), and short-barreled rifles and shotguns.
NiCd: Nickel cadmium (rechargeable battery).
NiMH: Nickel Metal Hydride (rechargeable battery) improvement of NiCd.
NIMTC: Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center.
NIPRnet: Nonclassified Internet Protocol Router Network. This network replaced MILNET. It is now known as the Unclassified but Sensitive Internet Protocol Router Network, but still commonly called “Nipper Net.”
NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology.
NLR: Nous sommes la résistance. (Translated: “We are the resistance.”)
NOC: Nonofficial cover. (Clandestine agent.)
Nondiscussion Area: A clearly defined area within a SCIF where classified discussions are not authorized due to inadequate sound attenuation. See also Secure Working Area.
Norinco: The China North Industries Corporation. A weapons and military vehicle maker.
NRO: National Reconnaissance Office.
NSA: National Security Agency.
NSA-Net: The National Security Agency’s secure intranet. Commonly called “the high side.”
NSA-W: NSA Washington.
NSTS: National Secure Telephone System.
NSWC: Naval Special Warfare Center.
NWO: New World Order.
OB: Order of Battle.
OCONUS: Outside the Continental United States.
OCP: Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern, commonly called by its civilian trade name, MultiCam.
One-Time Pad: A manual one-time cryptosystem produced in pad form.
OP: Observation Post. See also LP/OP.
Open Storage: The storage of SCI material within an accredited SCIF in any configuration other than within GSA-approved security containers. Open storage is approved while the facility is unoccupied by authorized personnel. See also Closed Storage.
OPORD: Operations Order.
OPSEC: Operational Security. The systematic and proven process by which potential adversaries can be denied information about capabilities and intentions by identifying, controlling, and protecting generally unclassified evidence of the planning and execution of sensitive activities. The process involves five steps: identification of critical information, analysis of threats, analysis of vulnerabilities, assessment of risks, and application of appropriate countermeasures.
OSINT: Open Source Intelligence. Gathering intelligence from public, unclassified sources, such as periodicals. OSINT sources are unclassified, but once analyzed, they become classified, usually at low level.
P90: A bullpup 5.7x28 caliber personal defense weapon, manufactured by FN.
PAL: Possession and Acquisition License. (For firearms, in Canada.)
Paracord: A contraction for Parachute cord.
PCS: Permanent Change of Station.
PDD: Presidential Decision Document.
PEDs: Personal Electronic Devices.
PETN: Pentaerythritol tetranitrate.
PF-89: The Chinese 80mm equivalent of a LAW rocket.
P.I.: Philippine Islands.
Pindad SS2: The Pindad Senapan Serbu 2 Indonesian variant of the FN FNC 5.56mm battle rifle.
PLA: People’s Liberation Army (China).
PM: Prime Minister.
P-MAG: Polymer magazine.
POL: Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants.
POV: Privately Owned Vehicle.
PPCLI: Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. A Canadian army unit, headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Pre-1965: U.S. silver coins with 1964 or earlier mint dates, usually with little or no numismatic value. They are sold for the bullion content. These coins have 90 percent silver content. Well-worn pre-1965 coins are sometimes derisively called “junk” silver by rare coin dealers.
Project Tall Oak: A fictitious DIA working group, later renamed DCS Task Group Tall Oak.
ProvGov: Provisional Government (in the United States).
PSYOPS: Psychological Operations.
PV: Photovoltaic (solar power conversion cell or array). Used to convert solar power to DC electricity, typically for battery charging.
PVC: Depending on context, Poly-Vinyl Chloride (white plastic water pipe) or Progressive Voice of Canada.
PVCL: People’s Voice of Canadian Liberation.
QBZ-95: Bullpup-style assault rifle manufactured by Arsenal 266, part of Norinco and Arsenal 296, under Jianshe Corp., China South for the People’s Liberation Army. These bullpups shoot the Chinese 5.8x42mm cartridge, which was rarely exported, and only for military contracts.
QRF: Quick Reaction Force.
QSZ-92: A semiautomatic pistol designed by Norinco that shoots the 5.8x21mm cartridge.
RAC: Radio Amateurs of Canada.
RBC: Royal Bank of Canada.
RCG: Restoration of Constitution Government.
RCIED: Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device.
RCMP: Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
RDX: Research Department Explosive.
READOUT (Multi-Net): A classified acronym.
Red: Designation applied to a
n Information System(s), and associated areas, circuits, components, and equipment in which unencrypted national security information is being processed. See also DRSN.
Red/Black (Switch): Red commonly refers to clear text-sensitive information, while Black refers to either encrypted or unclassified signals. The Red/Black switching security requirements and their criteria were declassified in 1995.
Reg: Slang for regulation.
RFI: Request(s) for Intelligence.
RINT: Radiations Intelligence.
RORO: Roll-On-Roll-Off. A type of cargo ship designed for transporting vehicles.
RPG: Rocket-Propelled Grenade.
RPV: Remotely Piloted Vehicle. See also UAV.
RRSP: Registered Retirement Saving Plan.
RSOC: Regional Security Operations Center. (Formerly Regional SIGINT Operations Center.)
RTA: Radio Traffic Analyst. See also TA.
RTB: Return to Base.
RTV: Room Temperature Vulcanizing (silicone sealant).
RVCA: Resistance Veterans of Canada Association.
SAD: Special Activities Division.
SADCOM: See CENTCOM.
SAEDA: Subversion and Espionage Directed Against the U.S. Army.
SALT: Size, Activity, Location, Time. An intelligence report format. See also SALUTE.
SALUTE: Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time & Duration, Equipment. An intelligence report format. See also SALT.
SAM: Depending on context, Surface-to-Air Missile or Sources and Methods.
SAP: Special Access Program. Any approved program that imposes need-to-know or access controls beyond those normally required for access to CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, or TOP SECRET information. Commonly (and erroneously) called “above top secret,” SAP compartmented information is actually considered collateral to the TOP SECRET security level.
SBI: Special Background Investigation.
SCI: Sensitive Compartmented Information. This is classified information concerning or derived from intelligence sources, methods, or analytical processes, which is required to be handled exclusively within formal control systems established by the director of Central Intelligence. See also SAP and SCIF.
SCIF: Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility. An accredited area, room, group of rooms, building, or installation where SCI may be stored, used, discussed, and/or electronically processed. Also commonly called a vault.
SEAL: Sea-Air-Land (Team). The U.S. Navy Special Operations Force. See also BUD/S.
SEARCHLIGHT: An NSA administrative webpage.
SECRET: The security classification applied to information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause serious damage to national security.
Section: Depending on context, either a 640-acre area of land measuring one mile square, or an intelligence working group (or the telecommunications equipment thereof).
Secure Working Area: An accredited SCIF (or portion of a SCIF) used for handling, discussing, and/or processing of SCI, but where SCI will not be stored. See also Nondiscussion Area.
Secwepemc: A First Nations tribal group in British Columbia. Also known as the Shuswap.
SID: System Identification.
SIG: Schweizer Industrie Gesellschaft. A major Swiss gun maker.
SIGINT: Signals Intelligence.
SIN: Social Insurance Number. (The Canadian equivalent of a U.S. Social Security number.)
SIPRNet: Secure Internet Protocol Router Network.
SITTEMPS: Situational templates.
SMLE: Short Magazine Lee-Enfield. A British family of bolt-action rifles that were in service for more than seventy years. Most were chambered for the .303 British cartridge.
SMS: Short Message Service.
SOCC: Security Operations Control Center.
SOCOM: Special Operations Command.
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure.
SPECTRA: The synthetic material similar to Kevlar used in ballistic helmets issued to French, Canadian, and Danish military units. In France, the SPECTRA helmet is also known as the CGF Gallet Combat Helmet. See also CGF Gallet.
SQL: Structured Query Language. (Used with database software.)
SS2: See Pindad SS2.
SSB: Single Sideband (an operating mode for CB and amateur radio gear).
SSO: Special Security Officer.
STE: Section-Terminating Equipment. See also STU.
Steyr AUG: The Austrian Army’s 5.56mm bullpup infantry carbine. Also issued by the Australian Army as their replacement for the L1A1. Often called the AUS-Steyr by the Australians.
Strat: Slang for Strategic.
STU: Secure Telephone Unit. (Spoken “Stew.”) See also STE and NSTS.
STU-III: A third-generation STU phone. (Spoken “Stew Three.”) See also STE and NSTS.
SUV: Sport Utility Vehicle.
S&W: Smith and Wesson.
SWAT: Special Weapons and Tactics. (SWAT originally stood for Special Weapons Assault Team until that was deemed politically incorrect.)
TA: Traffic Analyst/Analysis. Study of communications patterns to determine unit relationships and dispositions. See also RTA.
Tactical SCIF: An accredited secure area used for actual or simulated war operations for a specified period of time.
Tall Oak: See Project Tall Oak. (Later renamed Task Group Tall Oak.)
TARP: Depending on context, Threat Awareness and Reporting Program or Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Task Group Tall Oak: See Project Tall Oak.
TAWS: Terrain Awareness and Warning System.
TBAS: Tiered Body Armor System (Australian army issue).
TBD: To Be Determined.
TDY: Temporary Duty.
Technical Truck: A pickup truck equipped with a pedestal-mounted machine gun.
TEMPEST: Telecommunications Electronics Material Protected from Emanating Spurious Transmissions. The now unclassified U.S. government code word for emanations security. See also EMSEC.
TEP: TEMPEST Endorsement Program.
Thermite: A mixture of aluminum powder and iron rust powder that, when ignited, causes a vigorous exothermic reaction. Used primarily for welding. Also used by military units as an incendiary for destroying equipment.
Third Department: The PLA’s signals intelligence-gathering and analysis arm.
TIG: Tungsten Inert Gas. (A welding method.)
TNT: 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene is a colorless or pale yellow and odorless crystalline high explosive.
TO: Tall Oak.
TOC: Tactical Operations Center.
TO&E: Table of Organization and Equipment.
Topo: Short for topographical.
TOP SECRET: The security classification applied to information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security. See also TS and SCI.
TPZ: Transportpanzer. A variant of the six-wheel Fuchs (Fox) APC.
TRU: Thompson Rivers University.
TS: Top Secret.
TSCM: Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (Surveys and Evaluations). A physical, electronic, and visual examination to detect technical surveillance devices, technical security hazards, and attempts at clandestine penetration. See also TEMPEST and EMSEC.
TSEC: The system for identifying the type and purpose of certain items of COMSEC material.
Type 92: See QSZ-92.
Type 95: See QBZ-95.
UAV: Unmanned aerial vehicle. See also RPV.
UDT: Underwater Demolition Team.
UN: United Nations.
UN-MNF: United Nations Multinational Force.
UNPROFOR: United Nations Protection Force (Security Assistance Command).
UPS: Uninterruptible Power Source.
U.S.: United States.
USB: Universal Serial Bus.
U.S.-Controlled Facility: A base or building to which access is physically controlled by U.S. individuals who are authorized U.S. government or U.S. government contractor employees.
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USMC: United States Marine Corps.
VAB: Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé (Armored Vanguard Vehicle).
VAC: Volts, Alternating Current.
Valmet: The Finnish conglomerate that formerly made several types of firearms.
Vault: See SCIF.
VBCI: Véhicule Blindé de Combat d’Infanterie.
VBT: Very Bad Thing.
VCI: Véhicule de Combat d’Infanterie (infantry combat vehicle). A variant in the VBCI family of wheeled APCs.
VCP: Vehicle Control Point.
VDC: Volts, Direct Current.
VEVAK: Vezarat-e Ettela’at va Amniyat-e Keshvar. The Iranian intelligence service See also MOIS.
VPC: Véhicule Poste de Commandement (command post vehicle). A variant in the VBCI family of wheeled APCs.
VTT: Véhicule de Transport de Troupes (troop transport vehicle). A variant in the VBCI family of wheeled APCs.
VW: Volkswagen.
WAN: Wide Area Network.
WD-1: U.S. military-issue two-conductor insulated field telephone wire.
Wi-Fi: Wireless Fidelity.
XL: Extra Large.
Z-9: A Chinese military utility helicopter. It is a license-built version of the French Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin, manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The attack variants have fixed-mount 23mm cannons.
Z-10: An attack helicopter developed by the People’s Republic of China.
Z-19: A Chinese reconnaissance/attack helicopter developed by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force and the Ground Force Air Force.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks to Mrs. X., who articulated the dilemma of those trapped in and near the D.C. Beltway, bound by golden handcuffs.
Also, thanks to “Joe Snuffy.” Despite having his own successful career in military intelligence, and many job offers, he chose to live a simpler life, and avoided the golden handcuffs.
This book’s title is a shared homage in honor of:
The veterans of the U.S. Army Fourteenth Armored Division (“The Liberators”);
Those who designed and built the Consolidated B-24 and PB4Y-1 “Liberator” heavy bombers;
The aircrewmen who flew B-24 Liberator bombers in World War II. In particular, I thank Lt. Col. Alvin G. “Al” Millspaugh, whom I met when I was a teenager;
Liberators Page 42
