Military English

Tactical and Peacekeeping Operations

Aide-Mémoire
for Teachers

Army
1. Army Ranks 9. Patrols
2. Units 10. Orders
3. Radio 11. Navigation
4. TC3 12. Numbers &
5. OPs Time
6. Overwatch & 13. Key Acronyms
Movement 14. Map Symbols
7. Checkpoints 15. NATO
8. Convoys Alphabet
Introduction

This Aide-Mémoire contains just some of the key terms

that you will need to understand as a teacher of army
personnel.

As part of your professional development you need to

learn the key words, terms and collocations which your
students will need to learn and use.

The coursebook materials you will be using will be your

starting point. Then you should access published field
manuals and use them to expand your knowledge.

US Army Field Manuals

The Army Publishing Directorate (APD) publishes US

Army Field Manuals. These are in the public domain so
you can use them for research and to create materials.
https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/Pub-Form/FM.aspx

Using this Aide Memoire

This is a pocket sized ‘cheat sheet’ to remind you of

some of the most common terms. I suggest you print it
out, laminate it and then keep it in your pocket. Review
it regularly and use it to test yourself.

Good luck!

Rob

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 1

1. Army Ranks

NATO Great Britain USA

CODE
OF10 Field-Marshal General of the Army
OF9 General General
OF8 Lieutenant General Lieutenant General
OF7 Major General Major General
OF6 Brigadier Brigadier General
OF5 Colonel Colonel
OF4 Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel
OF3 Major Major
OF2 Captain Captain
OF1 Lieutenant 1st Lieutenant
2nd Lieutenant 2nd Lieutenant
OR9 Warrant Officer Sergeant Major
Class 1
OR8 Warrant Officer Master sergeant/
Class 2 First sergeant
OR7 Staff/Colour Sergeant 1st class
Sergeant
OR6 Sergeant Staff Sergeant
OR5 Sergeant
OR4 Corporal Corporal/Specialist
OR3 Lance Corporal Private 1st Class
OR2/1 Private Private

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 2

2. Units/Formations: US Army

Fireteam 4 soldiers

Squad 8 to 12 soldiers; Corporal, Sergeant or

Staff Sergeant leads.

Platoon Two to four squads; 16 to 55 soldiers;

Lieutenant commands.

Company Three to five platoons; 60 to 250

soldiers; Captain or Major commands.

Battalion Two to six companies; 300 to 1,000

soldiers Lieutenant-Colonel commands.

Brigade Two to seven combat battalions;

Combat 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers; Colonel
Team commands.

Division Three brigades; 10,000 to 15,000

soldiers; Major General commands.

Army Two to five divisions; 20,000 to 50,000

Corps soldiers; Lieutenant General
commands.

Army Two or more corps; 40,000 + soldiers;

Lieutenant General or higher
commands.

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 3

3. PRO Words

When you call someone on the radio you say their call
sign first and then your call sign.
Like this:
[Call sign B2:] Alpha One. This is Bravo Two. Over.
You say 'over' to show you have finished talking.
You say ‘out’ to show the call has ended.
The NCS [or 0 : Zero] is the Net Control Station.
You can omit call signs when there are only two
stations on the Net.
The receiving station can omit 'THIS IS' in good
conditions when responding to a call.

Use this list of PROWORD to test yourself.

ACKNOWLEDGE DISREGARD THIS

TRANSMISSION-OUT
ALL AFTER
DO NOT ANSWER
ALL BEFORE
EXEMPT
AUTHENTICATE
FIGURES
AUTHENTICATION IS
FLASH
BREAK
FROM
CLEAR
GROUPS
CORRECT
I AUTHENTICATE
CORRECTION

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 4

IMMEDIATE SILENCE
INFO SILENCE LIFTED
I READ BACK SPEAK SLOWER
I SAY AGAIN THIS IS
I SPELL TIME
I VERIFY TO
MESSAGE UNKNOWN STATION
MORE TO FOLLOW VERIFY
OUT WAIT
OVER WAIT OUT
PRIORITY WILCO
READ BACK WORD AFTER
RELAY (TO) WORD BEFORE
ROGER WORD TWICE
ROUTINE WRONG
SAY AGAIN

Give all students as much practice as

possible making radio calls using radios

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 5

4. TC3: Tactical Casualty Combat Care

Three distinct phases.

Phase 1 Care Under Fire

Priority: win fire fight, then provide aid. Control
haemorrhaging (major bleeding) to avoid hypovolemic
shock. Use a temporary tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

Phase 2 Tactical Field Care

Soldier medic gives tactical field care. Priority: stabilise
casualty until evacuation Use the MARCH mnemonic.

M: Massive hemorrhage: control bleeding.

A: Airway: make sure the patient can breathe.
R: Respiration: decompress suspected tension pneumo-
thorax, seal open chest wounds, support breathing.
C: Circulation: establish Intravenous (IV) access and
give fluids to treat shock.
H: Head Injury/Hypothermia: prevent or treat hypo-
tension and hypoxia to prevent worsening of Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI) and prevent or treat hypothermia.

Phase 3 Combat Casualty Evacuation Care

Care during evacuation by an aircraft, vehicle, or boat
combat casualty evacuation

CASEVAC: Casualty Evacuation

MEDEVAC: Medical Evacuation
TACEVAC Tactical Evacuation

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 6

5. OPs: Observation Posts

OPs are used to watch and listen for enemy activity

and provide security and intelligence for the platoon.

• Should be sited to allow observation of the

designated area.
• Sited to take advantage of natural cover and
concealment
• Located within small-arms range of the platoon
positions.
• Avoid obvious terrain such as hilltops, water
towers, church steeples, tallest buildings, lone
trees etc.
• A selected observation post should be observed
for 10 to 15 minutes to ensure it is not
occupied.
• Use a covered and concealed route to and from
the OP. Do not use routes to the OP that skyline
soldiers.
• At least two soldiers must man each OP.
• A fire team may man the OP if manned for long
periods.
• All soldiers should prepare fighting positions at
the OP for protection and concealment.
• OPs should be relieved every two to four hours.
• Radio antenna should be masked from enemy
observation

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 7

6. Movement, Overwatch & Manoeuvre

Tactical Movement
Tactical movement is the movement of a unit assigned
a tactical mission under combat conditions when not in
direct ground contact with the enemy.
Infantry formations: Line; Column/File; Vee; Box; Wedge;
Diamond; Echelon.
Overwatch
Overwatch is when elements of a unit observe and
provide firepower at the ready to cover the rest of the
unit during movement or manoeuvre e.g. Travelling
Overwatch; Bounding Overwatch; urban patrol.
Maneuver (US) / Manoeuvre (GB)
Movement ends when ground contact is made, or the
unit reaches its destination. Movement is not maneuver.
Maneuver happens once a unit has made contact with
the enemy. There are five forms of offensive maneuver:
1. Envelopment: to surround the enemy forces.
2. Turning movement: to make the enemy move
from current positions by seizing objective’s to
enemy’s rear.
3. Infiltration: undetected movement through
enemy positions to an objective in the rear.
4. Penetration: breach the enemy’s main defense
positions, widen the gap created and seize the
objective.
5. Frontal attack: an attacking element seeks to
destroy a weaker enemy force or fix a larger
enemy force along a broad front.
Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 8
7. Checkpoints

Roadblocks and Check Points (CPs) are a means of

controlling movement on roads, tracks, and footpaths.
Four types
Deliberate
Permanent or semi-permanent roadblocks placed on a
main road, perhaps near a border, on the outskirts of a
city, or on the edge of a controlled area.
Hasty
These roadblocks are easy to set up and dismantle by
ground troops, already on patrol, or a rapid reaction
force deployed by helicopter.
Triggered
This is a variation of the hasty roadblock, usually used
under circumstances where it is often easy for anyone
to take avoiding action on sighting a block in operation.
Reactionary
This is a version of the hasty roadblock but is used in
reaction to an incident or attack in another area.

Roadblock/Check Point Elements:

Headquarters
Barrier Sentries
Covering Party
Assault Force
Overwatch

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 9

8. Convoys

Convoy Elements

(1) March units. smallest element of a convoy; up to 25

vehicles; a squad to platoon-size element; march unit
commander.
(2) Serials. A serial is a group of two to five march units;
a company to battalion-size element; serial commander.
(3) Columns. A column is a group of two to five serials;
a battalion to brigade-size element; column com-
mander.
Convoy Sections and Personnel
All columns, serials, and march units have three parts:
Head. The head is the first vehicle. Contains guide and
pacesetter.
Main body. The main body follows immediately after the
head and consists of most of the vehicles.
Trail. The trail is the last sector of each march column,
serial, and march unit.
The Pacesetter sets the pace needed to meet the
scheduled itinerary along the route. Guides are used to
ensure the convoy follows the prescribed route. The Trail
Maintenance Officer is in charge of the maintenance and
recovery personnel and equipment; supervises en route
maintenance operations. The Trail Officer is responsible
for recovery, maintenance, and medical support.

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 10

9. Patrols

A patrol will be tasked to:

• collect information
• confirm or deny accuracy of previously gained
information
• provide security
• harass, destroy, or capture the enemy.
Patrols can be conducted dismounted or mounted.
a. Dismounted Patrols. A patrol may be a fire team,
squad, platoon, or company. Multiple units maintain
mutual support for each other as they move and
operate.
b. Mounted Patrols. Mounted patrols are especially
useful in an economy of force mission where the unit has
a large sector to cover.
Reconnaissance Patrols
Reconnaissance patrols (e.g. a squad) gather
information about the enemy, terrain or resources.
Combat Patrols
A combat patrol is a fighting patrol assigned missions
that require engagement with the enemy in combat.
Used to: capture enemy documents, provide security,
and capture or destroy enemy equipment and
installations. Four types of combat patrols: raid (to
destroy an installation, base etc.), contact (to find and
engage the enemy), ambush (to destroy an enemy
formation), and security (to protect friendly forces).

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 11

10. Orders

WARNO: Warning order

OPORD: Operation order
FRAGO: Fragmentary order

Sequence

STEP 1. Receive the mission

STEP 2. Issue a warning order (WARNO)
STEP 3. Make a tentative plan
STEP 4. Start necessary movement
STEP 5. Reconnoitre
STEP 6. Complete the plan
STEP 7. Issue the complete order (OPORD)
STEP 8. Supervise

Outline of Five Paragraph Order:

Most armies use variations of this kind of order format.

Para I. Situation

A brief description of the enemy and friendly forces

dispositions. Point out key locations on the ground, map
or sketch. Attachments and detachments to the
squad/platoon.
A. Enemy Forces
• Composition, Disposition, Strength
• Capabilities & Limitations
• Most Likely Course of Action
• Most Dangerous Course of Action

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 12

B. Friendly Forces
• Higher command's Mission & Intent
• Adjacent Units / Supporting Units
C. Attachments/Detachments
D. Civil/Terrain considerations

Para 2. Mission
Concise statement of the task and purpose (who, what,
when, where, and why). If not all information is known,
state which parts of the mission statement are tentative.

Para 3. Execution
Brief statement of the tentative concept of the
operation.

A. Commander's Intent
B. Concept of the Operation [incl. Scheme of
Maneuver and Fire Support Plan]
C. Tasks: Time schedule [e.g. earliest time of move;
Time and place of OPORD; probable execution
time. Inspection times and items to be inspected
different from SOP. Rehearsal time, location, and
actions to be rehearsed]; Tasks to subordinate key
personnel e.g. Platoon sergeant; squad leaders;
RATELO; aidman; attachments. Tasks to soldiers
helping prepare OPORD. Tasks as needed to
others.
D. Coordinating Instructions (with other units).

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 13

Para 4. Service Support
CSS tasks to be accomplished that are different from the
TACSOP; Equipment and transportation.

A. Administration - Enemy Prisoners of War ("EPW") &

Casualty Evacuation Plans
B. Logistics - Food, Ammunition, Supply, Communicat-
ions, Pyrotechnics, etc.

Para V. Command and Signals

A. Signals/code words [Primary; Alternate; Contingency;
Emergency]; SOI in effect.
B. Command Location of CP; succession of command (if
not SOP).

Acronyms
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
SOI: Signal Operation Instructions
CSS: Combat Service Supports
TACSOP: Tactical Standard Operating Procedure
CP: Command Post
RATELO: Radio Telephone Operator

Give students as much practice as possible

giving and listening to orders. They need to
understand everything in orders. Every.
Single. Detail.

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 14

11. Navigation

Military English Tactical and Peacekeeping

Operations uses a six-figure grid system. In certain
cases, soldiers will need to use more accurate 8 figure
grids references.
Maps are divided into numbered squares. These squares
are made by the grid lines on the map. There are two
kinds of grid lines: eastings and northings. See below.

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 15

Eastings: are lines that run vertically up and down the
map. They increase in number the further you move
east. Northings: are lines that run horizontally across
the map. They increase in number the further you move
north. Now imagine the square 5880 is divided into 10 x
10 smaller squares. Use these squares to calculate the
6-figure grid number as in the example below. Calculate
the easting first and add it to the 4-figure grid reference
and then the northing.

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 16

12. Numbers and Time

Numbers

0/zero (US) / oh (GB)

1/one/wun 2/two/too 3/three/tree

4/four/fower 5/five/fife 6/six

7/seven 8/eight/ait 9/nine/niner

Time

zero one hundred (hours) (US)

1 a.m. 01:00
oh one hundred (hours) (GB)
zero five thirty (hours)
5.30 a.m. 05:30
oh five thirty (hours)
zero seven forty-five (hours)
7.45 a.m. 07:45
oh seven forty-five (hours)
10.15 a.m. 10:15 ten fifteen (hours)
1 p.m. 13:00 thirteen hundred (hours)
4.30 p.m. 16:30 sixteen thirty (hours)

Date Time Group: DDHHMM(Z)MONYY

Day: DD e.g. 08
Hours + Minutes: HHMM e.g. 1330
Time Zone: e.g. Zulu
Day: e.g. Monday
Month: e.g. February
Year: YY e.g. 20

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 17

13. Key Acronyms

The acronyms in this list are mainly US Army terms.

There will be differences between armies, and there are
many more acronyms. These are just a key selection.
Ask your students to match acronyms and meanings,
then ask them to sort sets of acronyms into categories,
then revise the acronyms constantly.
AA assembly area
AA avenue of approach
AO area of operations
APC armored personnel carrier
BCT Brigade Combat Team
BHL battle handover line
BP battle position
BRIDGEREP report of bridge, overpass, culvert,
underpass, or tunnel
C2 command and control
CAS close air support
CASEVAC casualty evacuation
CCP casualty collection point
CFL coordinated fire line
COA course of action
CP check point
CP command post
CROSSREP report of ford, ferry, or other water
crossing site
CS combat support
DS direct support
EA engagement area
EPW enemy prisoner of war
ESTAT equipment status report
Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 18
FA field artillery
FAC forward air controller
FDC fire direction center
FEBA forward edge of the battle area
FFA free fire area
FIST fire support team
FLOT forward line of own troops
FO forward observer
FRAGO fragmentary order
FSCL fire support coordination line
FSCOORD fire support coordinator
FSE fire support element
FSO fire support officer
FWF former warring factions
HPT high-priority target
HQ headquarters
HVT high-value target
ID identification
IFV Infantry fighting vehicle
IRP initial rally point
JFC Joint Force Commander
JTF Joint Task Force
KIA killed in action
LACE liquid, ammunition, casualty, and
equipment
LC line of contact
LD line of departure
LD/LC line of departure is line of contact
LO liaison officer
LOA limit of advance
LOC line of communication
LOS line of sight
LOW law of war
Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 19
LRP logistic release point
LT lieutenant
LZ landing zone
MBA main battle area
MBT Main Battle Tank
MEDEVAC medical evacuation
MEL maximum engagement line
METL mission essential task list
METT-TC mission, enemy, terrain (and
weather), troops, time available, and
civilian
MOPP mission-oriented protective posture
MOS military occupational speciality
MOUT military operations on urbanized
terrain
MSD minimum safe distance
MSR main supply route
MVT Movement
NCO non-commissioned officer
NCOIC non-commissioned officer in charge
NCS net control station
NEO non-combatant evacuation operation
NFA no-fire area
NMC non-mission capable
OAKOC observation and fields of fire,
avenues of approach, key and
decisive terrain, obstacles, cover and
concealment
OIC officer in charge
OP observation post
OPCON operational control
OPLAN operational plan
OPORD operation order

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 20

OPSEC operations security
OPTEMPO operational tempo
ORP objective rally point
PCC pre-combat check
PCI pre-combat inspection
PFC private first class
PI percent of incapacitation
PL platoon leader
PL phase line
PLD probable line of deployment
PSG platoon sergeant
PX post exchange
PZ pickup zone
REDCON readiness condition
RFA restrictive fire area
RFL restrictive fire line
RISTA reconnaissance, intelligence,
surveillance, and target acquisition
ROE rules of engagement
ROI rules of interaction
ROUTEREP route (reconnaissance) report
RP release point
RRP re-entry rally point
RTO radiotelephone operator
SALUTE size, activity, location, unit
identification, time, and equipment
(format for reporting enemy
information)
SBF support by fire
SDM squad designated marksman
SFC sergeant first class
SGT sergeant
SITREP situation report
Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 21
SL squad leader
SOFA status of forces agreement
SOI signal operation instructions
SOP standing operating procedure
SOSRA suppress, obscure, secure, reduce,
and assault
SP start point
SPEC specialist
SPOTREP spot report
SSG staff sergeant
TAC CP tactical command post
TAI target area(s) of interest
TCP traffic control point
TF task force
TL team leader
TLP troop-leading procedures
TOC tactical operations center
TRP target reference point
TTP tactics, techniques, and procedures
UAV unmanned aerial vehicle
UCMJ Uniform Code of Military Justice
WARNO / warning order
WARNORD
WFF warfighting function
WIA wounded in action
WSL weapons squad leader
XO executive officer
ZF zone of fire

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 22

14. Map Symbols

These symbols are based on US Marine Map Symbols.

There will be slight variations between armies.

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 23

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 24
Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 25
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Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 27
15. NATO Alphabet

A ALFA AL FA
B BRAVO BRA VO
C CHARLIE CHAR LEE
D DELTA DELL TAH
E ECHO EK OH
F FOXTROT FOKS TROT
G GOLF GOLF
H HOTEL HOH TELL
I INDIA IN DEE AH
J JULIET JEW LEE ETT
K KILO KEY LO
L LIMA LEE MA
M MIKE MIKE
N NOVEMBER NO VEM BER
O OSCAR OSS KA
P PAPA PAH PAH
Q QUEBEC KWA BECK
R ROMEO ROW ME OH
S SIERRA SEE AIR RAH
T TANGO TANG GO
U UNIFORM YOU NEE FORM
V VICTOR VIK TAH
W WHISKEY WISS KEY
X X-RAY EKS RAY
Y YANKEE YAN KEY
Z ZULU ZOO LOO

Military English Aide-Mémoire: Army 28