Read Spoken from the Front Online
Authors: Andy McNab
AAA: Anti-aircraft Artillery
A&E: Accident and Emergency
AH: attack helicopter
AK-47: assault rifle
ANA: Afghan National Army
ANP: Afghan National Police
Apache: attack helicopter
A-10: US close-air-support jet
Bastion/Camp Bastion: the main British base in Helmand
province
BDA: battle damage assessment
bergen: rucksack
BFBS: British Forces Broadcasting Service
Black Hawk: US utility helicopter
blue on blue: friendly fire
BRF: brigade recce force
B1s/B1Bs: US bomber aircraft
cam: camouflage
CAS: close air support
Chinook: support helicopter
CIMIC: Civil Military Co-operation
Civvy: civilian
Claymore: directional anti-personnel mine
CMT: combat medical technician
comms: communications
contact: fire-fight between rival forces
CO: commanding officer
CP: command post
C/S: call sign
CSE: Combined Services Entertainment
DA: duty aviator
DFC: Distinguished Flying Cross
DPM: disruptive pattern material
DSM: Distinguished Service Medal
Dushka: Soviet-made heavy machine gun
D&V: diarrhoea and vomiting
FAC: forward air controller
FOB: forward operating base
FOO: forward observation officer
FPM: force provost marshal
Friendlies: troops fighting on the same side
FSG: Fire Support Group
FST: Fire Support Team
GMG: grenade machine-gun
GMLRS: guided multiple launch rocket system
GMPG: general-purpose machine-gun
GPD: general police duties
GPS: global positioning system
Harrier: UK close-air-support aircraft
Hercules: transport aircraft
HLS: helicopter landing site
HQ: headquarters
HRF: Helmand Reaction Force
IDP: internally displaced people
IED: improvised explosive device
ILAW: interim light anti-tank weapon
int: intelligence
IRT: Incident Response Team
ISAF: International Security Assistance Force
ISTAR: intelligence, surveillance, target, acquisition and
reconnaissance
Javelin: anti-tank missile
JTAC: joint terminal air controller
K: kilometre
LMG: light machine gun
LOE: limit of exploitation
LS: landing site
MC: Military Cross
MC: multiple commander
MERT: medical emergency response team
MFC: mortar fire controller
MID: Mentioned In Dispatches
mini-gun: six-barrelled Gatling-style gun
minimi: light machine-gun
MoD: Ministry of Defence
MOG: Manoeuvre Outreach Group
MPS: Military Provost Service
M60: machine-gun (US)
NCO: non-commissioned officer
net: radio network
OC: officer commanding
ODP: operating-department practitioner
OMLT: Operational Mentor Liaison Team
op: military operation
OP: observation post
PB: patrol base
Pinzgauer: armoured vehicle
PKM: machine-gun (Russian)
Predator: unmanned aircraft
PsyOps: Psychological Operations
QBO: quick battle order
QGM: Queen's Gallantry Medal
QM: Quartermaster
QRF: Quick Reaction Force
RC: regional command
replen: replenishment
RHA: Royal Horse Artillery
RMP: Royal Military Police
RPG: rocket-propelled grenade
RQMS: Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
RSM: regimental sergeant major
RSOI: reception, staging and onward integration
RTA: road traffic accident
RV: rendezvous
R&R: rest and recuperation
sangar: small fortified position
Saxon: armoured vehicle
SA80: assault rifle
shura: meeting
SF: Special Forces
SIB: Special Investigations Branch
sit rep: situation report
Snatch: lightly armoured Land Rover
TA: Territorial Army
tac: tactical group on the ground
TADS: targeting acquisition designating sight
TIC: troops in contact
TQ: theatre qualification
TSM: troop sergeant major
T1: critically injured casualty
T2: seriously injured casualty
T3: walking wounded casualty
T4: dead casualty
UAV: unmanned aerial vehicle
UGL: underslung grenade launcher
U/S: unserviceable
USL: under-slung loads
Viking: tracked armoured protected vehicle
wadi: riverbed
Warrior: mini tank
WMIK: armed Land Rover
WO: warrant officer
WRAC: Women's Royal Army Corps
YTS: Youth Training Scheme
2IC: second in command