GLOSSARY

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment:: The Army’s premier helicopter unit that provides aviation support to special forces. Known as the “Night Stalkers,” they are widely regarded as the best helicopter pilots and crews in the world.
.260:: .260 Remington; .264"/6.5mm rifle cartridge that is essentially a .308 Winchester necked down to accept a smaller-diameter bullet. The .260 provides superior external ballistics to the .308 with less felt recoil and can often be fired from the same magazines.
.300 Norma:: .300 Norma Magnum; a cartridge designed for long-range precision shooting that has been adopted by USSOCOM for sniper use.
.375 CheyTac:: Long-range cartridge, adapted from the .408 CheyTac, that can fire a 350-grain bullet at 2,970 feet per second. A favorite of extreme long-range match competitors who use it on targets beyond 3,000 yards.
.375 H&H Magnum:: An extremely common and versatile big-game rifle cartridge, found throughout Africa. The cartridge was developed by Holland & Holland in 1912 and traditionally fires a 300-grain bullet.
.404 Jeffery:: A rifle cartridge, designed for large game animals, developed by W. J. Jeffery & Company in 1905.
.408 CheyTac:: Long-range cartridge adapted from the .505 Gibbs capable of firing a 419-grain bullet at 2,850 feet per second.
.500 Nitro:: A .510-caliber cartridge designed for use against heavy dangerous game, often chambered in double rifles. The cartridge fires a 570-grain bullet at 2,150 feet per second.
75th Ranger Regiment:: A large-scale Army special operations unit that conducts direct-action missions including raids and airfield seizures. These elite troops often work in conjunction with other special operations units.
AC-130 Spectre:: A ground-support aircraft used by the U.S. military, based on the ubiquitous C-130 cargo plane. AC-130s are armed with a 105mm howitzer, 40mm cannons, and 7.62mm miniguns, and are considered the premier close-air-support weapon of the U.S. arsenal.
Accuracy International:: A British company producing high-quality precision rifles, often used for military sniper applications.
ACOG:: Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight. A magnified optical sight designed for use on rifles and carbines made by Trijicon. The ACOG is popular among U.S. forces as it provides both magnification and an illuminated reticle that provides aiming points for various target ranges.
AFIS:: Automated Fingerprint Identification System; electronic fingerprint database maintained by the FBI.
Aimpoint Micro:: Aimpoint Micro T-2; high-quality unmagnified red-dot combat optic produced in Sweden that can be used on a variety of weapons platforms. This durable sight weighs only three ounces and has a five-year battery life.
AISI:: The latest name for Italy’s domestic intelligence agency. Their motto, “scientia rerum reipublicae salus,” means “knowledge of issues is the salvation of the Republic.”
AK-9:: Russian 9x39mm assault rifle favored by Spetsnaz (special purpose) forces.
Al-Jaleel:: Iraqi-made 82mm mortar that is a clone of the Yugoslavian-made M69A. This indirect-fire weapon has a maximum range of 6,000 meters.
Alpha Group:: More accurately called Spetsgruppa “A,” Alpha Group is the FSB’s counterterrorist unit. You don’t want them to “rescue” you. See Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis and the Beslan School Massacre.
Amphib:: Shorthand for Amphibious Assault Ship. A gray ship holding helicopters, Harriers, and hovercraft. Usually home to a large number of pissed-off Marines.
AN/PAS-13G(v)L3/LWTS:: Weapon-mounted thermal optic that can be used to identify warm-blooded targets day or night. Can be mounted in front of and used in conjunction with a traditional “day” scope mounted on a sniper weapons system.
AN/PRC-163:: Falcon III communications system made by Harris Corporation that integrates voice, text, and video capabilities.
AQ:: al-Qaeda. Meaning “the Base” in Arabic. A radical Islamic terrorist organization once led by the late Osama bin Laden.
AQI:: al-Qaeda in Iraq. An al-Qaeda–affiliated Sunni insurgent group that was active against U.S. forces. Elements of AQI eventually evolved into ISIS.
AR-10:: 7.62x51mm brainchild of Eugene Stoner that was later adapted to create the M16/M4/AR-15.
Asherman Chest Seal:: A specialized emergency medical device used to treat open chest wounds. If you’re wearing one, you are having a bad day.
AT-4:: Tube-launched 84mm anti-armor rocket produced in Sweden and used by U.S. forces since the 1980s. The AT-4 is a throwaway weapon: after it is fired, the tube is discarded.
ATF/BATFE:: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A federal law enforcement agency formally part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which doesn’t seem overly concerned with alcohol or tobacco.
ATPIAL/PEQ-15:: Advanced Target Pointer/Illuminator Aiming Laser. A weapon-mounted device that emits both visible and infrared target designators for use with or without night observation devices. Essentially, an advanced military-grade version of the “laser sights” seen in popular culture.
Avtoritet:: The highest caste of the incarcerated criminal hierarchy. Today used in association with a new generation of crime bosses.
Azores:: Atlantic archipelago consisting of nine major islands that is an independent autonomous region of the European nation of Portugal.
Barrett 250 Lightweight:: A lightweight variant of the M240 7.62mm light machine gun, developed by Barrett Firearms.
Barrett M107:: .50 BMG caliber semiautomatic rifle designed by Ronnie Barrett in the early 1980s. This thirty-pound rifle can be carried by a single individual and can be used to engage human or vehicular targets at extreme ranges.
BATS:: Biometrics Automated Toolset System; a fingerprint database often used to identify insurgent forces.
Bay of Pigs:: Site of a failed invasion of Cuba by paramilitary exiles trained and equipped by the CIA.
BDU:: Battle-dress uniform; an oxymoron if there ever was one.
Beneteau Oceanis:: A forty-eight-foot cruising sailboat, designed and built in France. An ideal craft for eluding international manhunts.
Black Hills Ammunition:: High-quality ammunition made for military and civilian use by a family-owned and South Dakota–based company. Their MK 262 MOD 1 5.56mm load saw significant operational use in the GWOT.
Bratok:: Member of the bratva.
Bratva:: The Brotherhood. An umbrella term for Russian organized crime, more technically referring to members of the Russian mafia who have served time in prison.
Brigadir:: Lieutenant of a bratva gang boss.
Browning Hi-Power:: A single-action 9mm semiautomatic handgun that feeds from a thirteen-round box magazine. Also known as the P-35, this Belgian-designed handgun was the most widely issued military sidearm in the world for much of the twentieth century and was used by both Axis and Allied forces during World War II.
BUD/S:: Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training. The six-month selection and training course required for entry into the SEAL Teams, held in Coronado, California. Widely considered one of the most brutal military selection courses in the world, with an average 80 percent attrition rate.
C-17:: Large military cargo aircraft used to transport troops and supplies. Also used by the Secret Service to transport the president’s motorcade vehicles.
C-4:: Composition 4. A plastic-explosive compound known for its stability and malleability.
CAG:: Combat Applications Group. See redacted portion of glossary in the “D” section.
CAT:: Counter-Assault Team; heavily armed ground element of the Secret Service trained to respond to threats such as ambushes.
[Redacted]: [Redacted X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X]
Cessna 208 Caravan:: Single-engine turboprop aircraft that can ferry passengers and cargo, often to remote locations. These workhorses are staples in remote wilderness areas throughout the world.
CIA:: Central Intelligence Agency
CIF/CRF:: Commanders In-Extremis Force/Crisis Response Force; a United States Army Special Forces team specifically tasked with conducting direct-action missions. These are the guys who should have been sent to Benghazi.
CJSOTF:: Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force. A regional command that controls special operations forces from various services and friendly nations.
CMC:: Command Master Chief, a senior enlisted rating in the United States Navy.
CQC:: Close-quarter combat
CrossFit:: A fitness-centric worldwide cult that provides a steady stream of cases to orthopedic surgery clinics. No need to identify their members; they will tell you who they are.
CRRC:: Combat Rubber Raiding Craft. Inflatable Zodiac-style boats used by SEALs and other maritime troops.
CTC:: The CIA’s Counterterrorism Center. Established out of the rise of international terrorism in the 1980s, it became the nucleus of the U.S. counterterrorism mission.
CZ-75:: 9mm handgun designed in 1975 and produced in the Czech Republic.
DA:: District attorney; local prosecutor in many jurisdictions.
Dam Neck:: An annex to Naval Air Station Oceana near Virginia Beach, Virginia, where nothing interesting whatsoever happens.
DCIS:: Defense Criminal Investigation Service
DEA:: Drug Enforcement Administration
[Redacted X X X X]:: A classic 1986 film starring Chuck Norris, title of the 1983 autobiography by the unit’s first commanding officer and popular name for the Army’s Special [Redacted X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X].
Democratic Federation of Northern Syria:: Aka Rojava, an autonomous, polyethnic, and secular region of northern Syria.
Det Cord:: Flexible detonation cord used to initiate charges of high explosive. The cord’s interior is filled with PETN explosive; you don’t want it wrapped around your neck.
Directorate I:: The division of the SVR responsible for electronic information and disinformation.
Directorate S:: The division of the SVR responsible for their illegals program. When you read about a Russian dissident or former spy poisoned by Novichok nerve agent or a political rival of the Russian president murdered in a random act of violence, Directorate S is probably responsible.
DO:: The CIA’s Directorate of Operations, formerly known by the much more appropriate name: the Clandestine Service.
DOD:: Department of Defense
DOJ:: Department of Justice
DShkM:: Russian-made 12.7x108mm heavy machine gun that has been used in virtually every armed conflict since and including World War II.
DST:: General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance. Morocco’s domestic intelligence and security agency. Probably not afraid to use “enhanced interrogation techniques.” DST was originally redacted by government censors for the hardcover edition of True Believer. After a five-month appeal process, that decision was withdrawn.
EFP:: Explosively Formed Penetrator/Projectile. A shaped explosive charge that forms a molten projectile used to penetrate armor. Such munitions were widely used by insurgents against coalition forces in Iraq.
EKIA:: Enemy Killed In Aciton.
Eland:: Africa’s largest antelope. A mature male can weigh more than a ton.
EMS:: Emergency medical services. Fire, paramedic, and other emergency personnel.
ENDEX:: End Exercise. Those outside “the know” will say “INDEX” and have no idea what it means.
EOD:: Explosive Ordnance Disposal. The military’s explosives experts who are trained to, among other things, disarm or destroy improvised explosive devices or other munitions.
EOTECH:: An unmagnified holographic gunsight for use on rifles and carbines, including the M4. The sight is designed for rapid target acquisition, which makes it an excellent choice for close-quarters battle. Can be fitted with a detachable 3x magnifier for use at extended ranges.
FAL:: Fusil Automatique Léger: gas-operated, select-fire 7.62 x51mm battle rifle developed by FN in the late 1940s and used by the militaries of more than ninety nations. Sometimes referred to as “the right arm of the free world” due to its use against communist forces in various Cold War–era insurgencies.
FBI:: Federal Bureau of Investigation; a federal law enforcement agency that is not known for its sense of humor.
FDA:: Food and Drug Administration
FLIR:: Forward-Looking InfraRed; an observation device that uses thermographic radiation, that is, heat, to develop an image.
Floppies:: Derogatory term used to describe communist insurgents during the Rhodesian Bush War.
FOB:: Forward Operating Base. A secured forward military position used to support tactical operations. Can vary from small and remote outposts to sprawling complexes.
Fobbit:: A service member serving in a noncombat role who rarely, if ever, leaves the safety of the Forward Operating Base.
FSB:: Russia’s federal security service responsible for internal state security and headquartered in the same building in Lubyanka Square that once housed the KGB. Its convenient in-house prison is not a place one wants to spend an extended period.
FSO:: Federal Protective Service; Russia’s version of the Secret Service.
FTX:: Field Training Exercise.
G550:: A business jet manufactured by Gulfstream Aerospace. Prices for a new example start above $40 million but, as they say, it’s better to rent.
Game Scout:: A wildlife enforcement officer in Africa. These individuals are often paired with hunting outfitters to ensure that regulations are adhered to.
Glock:: An Austrian-designed, polymer-framed handgun popular with police forces, militaries, and civilians throughout the world. Glocks are made in various sizes and chambered in several different cartridges.
GPNVG-18:: Ground Panoramic Night Vision Goggles; $43,000 NODs used by the most highly funded special operations units due to their superior image quality and peripheral vision. See Rich Kid Shit.
GPS:: Global Positioning System. Satellite-based navigation systems that provide a precise location anywhere on earth.
Great Patriotic War:: The Soviets’ name for World War II; communists love propaganda.
Green-badger:: Central Intelligence Agency contractor
Ground Branch:: Land-focused element of the CIA’s Special Activities Division, according to Wikipedia.
GRS:: Global Response Staff. Protective agents employed by the Central Intelligence Agency to provide security to overseas personnel. See 13 Hours. GRS was originally redacted by government censors for the hardcover edition of True Believer. After a five-month appeal process, that decision was withdrawn.
GRU:: Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate. The foreign military intelligence agency of the Russian armed forces. The guys who do all the real work while the KGB gets all the credit, or so I’m told. Established by Joseph Stalin in 1942, the GRU was tasked with running human intelligence operations outside the Soviet Union. Think of them as the DIA with balls.
GS:: General Schedule; federal jobs that provide good benefits and lots of free time.
Gukurahundi Massacres:: A series of killings carried out against Ndebele tribe members in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, by the Mugabe government during the 1980s. As many as twenty thousand civilians were killed by the North Korean–trained Fifth Brigade of the Zimbabwean army.
GWOT:: Global War on Terror; the seemingly endless pursuit of bad guys, kicked off by the 9/11 attacks.
Gym Jones:: Utah-based fitness company founded by alpine climbing legend Mark Twight. Famous for turning soft Hollywood actors into hard bodies, Gym Jones once enjoyed a close relationship with a certain SEAL Team.
Hell Week:: The crucible of BUD/S training. Five days of constant physical and mental stress with little or no sleep.
Hilux:: Pickup truck manufactured by Toyota that is a staple in third-world nations due to its reliability.
HK416:: M4 clone engineered by the German firm of Heckler & Koch to operate using a short-stroke gas pistol system instead of the M4’s direct-impingement gas system. Used by select special operations units in the U.S. and abroad. May or may not have been the weapon used to kill [Redacted].
HK417:: Select-fire 7.62x51mm rifle built by Heckler & Koch as a big brother to the HK416. Often used as Designated Marksman Rifle with a magnified optic.
HUMINT:: Human intelligence. Information gleaned through traditional human-to-human methods.
HVI/HVT:: High-Value Individual/High-Value Target. An individual who is important to the enemy’s capabilities and is therefore specifically sought out by a military force.
IDC:: Independent Duty Corpsman. Essentially a doctor.
IED:: Improvised Explosive Device. Homemade bombs, whether crude or complex, often used by insurgent forces overseas.
IR:: Infrared. The part of the electromagnetic spectrum with a longer wavelength than light but a shorter wavelength than radio waves. Invisible to the naked eye but visible with night observation devices. Example: an IR laser aiming device.
Iron Curtain:: The physical and ideological border that separated the opposing sides of the Cold War.
ISIS:: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Radical Sunni terrorist group based in parts of Iraq and Afghanistan. Also referred to as ISIL. The bad guys.
ISR:: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
ITAR:: International Traffic in Arms Regulations; export control regulations designed to restrict the export of certain items, including weapons and optics. These regulations offer ample opportunity to inadvertently violate federal law.
JAG:: Judge Advocate General. Decent television series and the military’s legal department.
JMAU:: Joint Medical Augmentation Unit. High-speed medicine.
JSOC:: Joint Special Operations Command. A component command of SOCOM, [Redacted X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X].
Katyn Massacre:: Soviet purge of Polish citizens that took place in 1940 subsequent to the Soviet invasion. Twenty-two thousand Poles were killed by members of the NKVD during this event; many of the bodies were discovered in mass graves in the Katyn Forest. Russia denied responsibility for the massacre until 1990.
KGB:: The Soviet “Committee for State Security.” Excelled at “suppressing internal dissent” during the Cold War. Most often referred to by kids of the eighties as “the bad guys.”
KIA:: Killed In Action.
Kudu:: A spiral-horned antelope, roughly the size and build of an elk, that inhabits much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Langley:: The Northern Virginia location where the Central Intelligence Agency is headquartered. Often used as shorthand for CIA.
LaRue OBR:: Optimized Battle Rifle; precision variant of the AR-15/AR-10 designed for use as a Designated Marksman or Sniper Rifle. Available in both 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm.
Law of Armed Conflict:: A segment of public international law that regulates the conduct of armed hostilities.
LAW Rocket:: M-72 Light Anti-armor Weapon. A disposable, tube-launched 66mm unguided rocket in use with U.S. forces since before the Vietnam War.
Leica M4:: Classic 35mm rangefinder camera produced from 1966 to 1975.
Long-Range Desert Group:: A specialized British military unit that operated in the North African and Mediterranean theaters during World War II. The unit was made up of soldiers from Great Britain, New Zealand, and Southern Rhodesia.
M1911/1911A1:: .45-caliber pistol used by U.S. forces since before World War I.
M3:: World War II submachine gun chambered in .45 ACP. This simple but reliable weapon became a favorite of the frogmen of that time.
M4:: The standard assault rifle of the majority of U.S. military forces, including the U.S. Navy SEALs. The M4 is a shortened carbine variant of the M16 rifle that fires a 5.56x45mm cartridge. The M4 is a modular design that can be adapted to numerous configurations, including different barrel lengths.
MACV-SOG:: Military Assistance Command, Vietnam—Studies and Observations Group. Deceiving name for a group of brave warriors who conducted highly classified special operations missions during the Vietnam War. These operations were often conducted behind enemy lines in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam.
Mahdi Militia:: An insurgent Shia militia loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr that opposed U.S. forces in Iraq during the height of that conflict.
MANPADS:: Man-Portable Air-Defense System; small antiaircraft surface-to-air guided rockets such as the U.S. Stinger and the Russian SA-7.
Marine Raiders:: U.S. Marine Corps special operations unit; formerly known as MARSOC.
Maritime Branch:: It’s best to just google it.
Mazrah Tora:: A prison in Cairo, Egypt. You do not want to wake up here.
MBITR:: AN/PRC-148 Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio. A handheld multiband, tactical software–defined radio, commonly used by special operations forces to communicate during operations.
McMillan TAC-50:: Bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in .50 BMG used for long-range sniping operations used by U.S. special operations forces as well as the Canadian army.
MDMA:: A psychoactive drug whose clinical name is too long to place here. Known on the street as “ecstasy.” Glow sticks not included.
MH-47:: Special operations variant of the Army’s Chinook helicopter, usually flown by members of the 160th SOAR. This twin-rotor aircraft is used frequently in Afghanistan due to its high service ceiling and large troop- and cargo-carrying capacity. Rumor has it that, if you’re careful, you can squeeze a Land Rover Defender 90 inside one.
MH-60:: Special operations variant of the Army’s Black Hawk helicopter, usually flown by members of the 160th SOAR.
MI5:: Military Intelligence, Section 5; Britain’s domestic counterintelligence and security agency. Like the FBI but with nicer suits and better accents.
MIL DOT:: A reticle-based system used for range estimation and long-range shooting, based on the milliradian unit of measurement.
MIL(s):: One-thousandth of a radian; an angular measurement used in rifle scopes. 0.1 MIL equals 1 centimeter at 100 meters or 0.36" at 100 yards. If you find that confusing, don’t become a sniper.
MIT:: Turkey’s national intelligence organization and a school in Boston for smart kids.
Mk 46 MOD 1:: Belt-fed 5.56x45mm light machine gun built by FN Herstal. Often used by special operations forces due to its light weight, the Mk 46 is a scaled-down version of the Mk 48 MOD 1.
Mk 48 MOD 1:: Belt-fed 7.62x51mm light machine gun designed for use by special operations forces. Weighing eighteen pounds unloaded, the Mk48 can fire 730 rounds per minute to an effective range of 800 meters and beyond.
MP7:: Compact select-fire personal defense weapon built by Heckler & Koch and used by various special operations forces. Its 4.6x30mm cartridge is available in a subsonic load, making the weapon extremely quiet when suppressed. What the MP7 lacks in lethality it makes up for in coolness.
MQ-4C:: An advanced unmanned surveillance drone developed by Northrop Grumman for use by the United States Navy.
MultiCam:: A proprietary camouflage pattern developed by Crye Precision. Formerly reserved for special operators and airsofters, MultiCam is now standard issue to much of the U.S. and allied militaries.
NATO:: North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance created in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat to the Western Hemisphere. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the alliance is commanded by a four-star U.S. military officer known as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).
Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU):: A command that appears on the biographies of numerous admirals on the Navy’s website. Vice President Joe Biden publicly referred to it by a different name.
NCIS:: Naval Criminal Investigative Service. A federal law enforcement agency whose jurisdiction includes the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Also a popular television program with at least two spin-offs.
Niassa Game Reserve:: Sixteen thousand square miles of relatively untouched wilderness in northern Mozambique. The reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife as well as a fair number of poachers looking to commoditize them.
NODs:: Night observation devices. Commonly referred to as “night-vision goggles,” these devices amplify ambient light, allowing the user to see in low-light environments. Special operations forces often operate at night to take full advantage of such technology.
NSA:: National Security Agency; U.S. intelligence agency tasked with gathering and analyzing signals intercepts and other communications data. Also known as No Such Agency. These are the government employees who listen to our phone calls and read our emails and texts for reasons of “national security.” See Permament Record by Edward Snowden.
NSC:: National Security Council; this body advises and assists the president of the United States on matters of national security.
NSW:: Naval Special Warfare. The Navy’s special operations force; includes SEAL Teams.
Officer Candidate School (OCS):: Twelve-week course where civilians and enlisted sailors are taught to properly fold underwear. Upon completion, they are miraculously qualified to command men and women in combat.
OmniSTAR:: Satellite-based augmentation system service provider. A really fancy GPS service that provides very precise location information.
Ops-Core ballistic helmet:: Lightweight high-cut helmet used by special operations forces worldwide.
P226:: 9mm handgun made by SIG Sauer, the standard-issue sidearm for SEALs.
P229:: A compact handgun made by SIG Sauer, often used by federal law enforcement officers, chambered in 9mm as well as other cartridges.
P320:: Striker-fired modular 9mm handgun that has recently been adopted by the U.S. armed forces as the M17/M18.
P365:: Subcompact handgun made by SIG Sauer, designed for concealed carry. Despite its size, the P365 holds up to thirteen rounds of 9mm.
Pakhan:: The highest-ranked Blatnoy in prison. Now more synonymous with “senior criminal.”
Pakistani Taliban:: An Islamic terrorist group composed of various Sunni Islamist militant groups based in the northwestern Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border in Pakistan.
Pamwe Chete:: “All Together”; the motto of the Rhodesian Selous Scouts.
Panga:: A machete-like utility blade common in Africa.
Peshmerga:: Military forces of Kurdistan. Meaning “the one who faces death,” they are regarded by Allied troops as some of the best fighters in the region.
PETN:: Pentaerythritol TetraNitrate. An explosive compound used in blasting caps to initiate larger explosive charges.
PG-32V:: High-explosive antitank rocket that can be fired from the Russian-designed RPG-32 rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Its tandem charge is effective against various types of armor, including reactive armor.
PID:: Protective Intelligence and Threat Assessment Division; the division of the Secret Service that monitors potential threats to its protectees.
PKM:: Soviet-designed, Russian-made light machine gun chambered in 7.62x54R that can be found in conflicts throughout the globe. This weapon feeds from a non-disintegrating belt and has a rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute. You don’t want one shooting at you.
PLF:: Parachute Landing Fall. A technique taught to military parachutists to prevent injury when making contact with the earth. Round canopy parachutes used by airborne forces fall at faster velocities than other parachutes, and require a specific landing sequence. More often than not ends up as feet-ass-head.
PMC:: Private Military Company. Though the profession is as old as war itself, the modern term PMC was made infamous in the post-9/11 era by Blackwater, aka Xe Services, and now known as Academi.
POTUS:: President of the United States; leader of the free world.
PPD:: Presidential Protection Detail; the element of the Secret Service tasked with protecting POTUS.
President’s Hundred:: A badge awarded by the Civilian Marksmanship Program to the one hundred top-scoring military and civilian shooters in the President’s Pistol and President’s Rifle matches. Enlisted members of the U.S. military are authorized to wear the tab on their uniform.
Professional Hunter:: A licensed hunting guide in Africa, often referred to as a “PH.” Zimbabwe-licensed PHs are widely considered the most qualified and highly trained in Africa and make up the majority of the PH community operating in Mozambique.
Protocols of the Elders of Zion:: An anti-Semitic conspiracy manifesto first published in the late 1800s by Russian sources. Though quickly established as a fraudulent text, Protocols has been widely circulated in numerous languages.
PSO-1:: A Russian-made 4x24mm illuminated rifle optic developed for use on the SVD rifle.
PTSD:: Post-traumatic stress disorder. A mental condition that develops in association with shocking or traumatic events. Commonly associated with combat veterans.
PVS-15:: Binocular-style NODs used by U.S. and allied special operations forces.
QRF:: Quick Reaction Force, a contingency ground force on standby to assist operations in progress.
Ranger Panties:: Polyester PT shorts favored by members of the 75th Ranger Regiment that leave very little to the imagination, sometimes referred to as “silkies.”
REMF:: Rear-Echelon Motherfucker. Describes most officers taking credit for what the E-5 mafia and a few senior enlisted do on the ground if the mission goes right. These same “people” will be the first to hang you out to dry if things go south. Now that they are home safe and sound, they will let you believe that when they were “downrange” they actually left the wire.
RFID:: Radio Frequency Identification; technology commonly used to tag objects that can be scanned electronically.
RHIB/RIB:: Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat/Rigid Inflatable Boat. A lightweight but high-performance boat constructed with a solid fiberglass or composite hull and flexible tubes at the gunwale (sides).
Rhodesia:: A former British colony that declared its independence in 1965. After a long and brutal civil war, the nation became Zimbabwe in 1979.
Rhodesian Bush War:: An insurgency battle between the Rhodesian Security Forces and Soviet-, East German–, Cuban-, and Chinese-backed guerrillas that lasted from 1964 to 1979. The war ended when the December 1979 Lancaster House Agreement put an end to white minority rule.
Rhodesian SAS:: A special operations unit, formed as part of the famed British Special Air Service in 1951. When Rhodesia sought independence, the unit ceased to exist as part of the British military but fought as part of the Rhodesian Security Forces until 1980. Many members of the Selous Scouts were recruited from the SAS.
Rich Kid Shit:: Expensive equipment items reserved for use by the most highly funded special operations units, usually part of [XXX].
RLI:: Rhodesian Light Infantry; an airborne and airmobile unit used to conduct “fireforce” operations during the Bush War. These missions were often launched in response to intelligence provided by Selous Scouts on the ground.
Robert Mugabe:: Chairman of ZANU who led the nation of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 2017 as both prime minister and president. Considered responsible for retaliatory attacks against his rival Ndebele tribe as well as a disastrous land redistribution scheme that was ruled illegal by Zimbabwe’s High Court.
ROE:: Rules of engagement. Rules or directives that determine what level of force can be applied against an enemy in a particular situation or area.
RPG-32:: 105mm rocket-propelled grenade launcher that is made in both Russia and, under license, in Jordan.
SAD:: The CIA’s Special Activities Division. Though it is now called the Special Activities Center, it’s still responsible for covert action, aka the really cool stuff.
SAP:: Special Access Program. Security protocols that provide highly classified information with safeguards and access restrictions that exceed those for regular classified information. Really secret stuff.
SCAR-17:: 7.62x51mm battle rifle produced by FN. Its gas mechanism can be traced to that of the FAL.
Schmidt & Bender:: Privately held German optics manufacturer known for its precision rifle scopes.
SCI:: Special Compartmentalized Information. Classified information concerning or derived from sensitive intelligence sources, methods, or analytical processes. Often found on private basement servers in upstate New York or bathroom closet servers in Denver.
SCIF:: Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility; a secure and restricted room or structure where classified information is discussed or viewed.
SEAL:: Acronym of SEa, Air, and Land. The three mediums in which SEALs operate. The U.S. Navy’s special operations force.
Secret Service:: The federal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting the POTUS.
Selous Scouts:: An elite, if scantily clad, mixed-race unit of the Rhodesian army responsible for counterinsurgency operations. These “pseudoterrorists” led some of the most successful special operations missions in modern history.
SERE:: Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape. A military training program that includes realistic role-playing as a prisoner of war. SERE students are subjected to highly stressful procedures, sometimes including waterboarding, as part of the course curriculum. More commonly referred to as “camp slappy.”
Shishani :: Arabic term for Chechen fighters in Syria, probably due to “Shishani” being a common Chechen surname.
SIGINT:: Signals intelligence. Intelligence derived from electronic signals and systems used by foreign targets, such as communications systems, radars, and weapons systems.
SIPR:: Secret Internet Protocol Router network; a secure version of the Internet used by DOD and the State Department to transmit classified information.
SISDE:: Italy’s Intelligence and Democratic Security Service. Their suits are probably even nicer than MI5’s.
SOCOM:: United States Special Operations Command. The Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Component Commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force of the United States Armed Forces. Headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
Special Boat Team-12:: The West Coast unit that provides maritime mobility to SEALs using a variety of vessels. Fast boats with machine guns.
Special Reconnaissance (SR) Team:: NSW Teams that conduct special activities, ISR, and provide intelligence support to the SEAL Teams.
SR-16:: An AR-15 variant developed and manufactured by Knight Armament Corporation.
SRT:: Surgical Resuscitation Team. You want these guys close by if you take a bullet.
StrongFirst:: Kettle-bell-focused fitness program founded by Russian fitness guru Pavel Tsatsouline that is popular with special operations forces.
S-Vest:: Suicide vest; an explosives-laden garment favored by suicide bombers. Traditionally worn only once.
SVR:: The Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation, or as John le Carré describes them, “the KGB in drag.”
Taliban:: An Islamic fundamentalist political movement and terrorist group in Afghanistan. U.S. and coalition forces have been at war with members of the Taliban since late 2001.
Targeting Officer:: The CIA’s website reads that as a targeting officer you will “identify new opportunities for DO operational activity and enhance ongoing operations.” Translation—they tell us whom to kill.
TDFD:: Time-delay firing device. An explosive initiator that allows for detonation at a determined period of time. A fancy version of a really long fuse.
TIC:: Troops in contact. A firefight involving U.S. or friendly forces.
TOC:: Tactical Operations Center. A command post for military operations. A TOC usually includes a small group of personnel who guide members of an active tactical element during a mission from the safety of a secured area.
TOR Network:: A computer network designed to conceal a user’s identity and location. TOR allows for anonymous communication.
TQ:: Politically correct term for the timely questioning of individuals on-site once a target is secure. May involve the raising of voices.
Troop Chief:: Senior enlisted SEAL on a forty-man troop, usually a master chief petty officer. The guy who makes shit happen.
TS:: Top Secret. Information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to national security, that the original classification authority is able to identify or describe. Can also describe an individual’s level of security clearance.
TST:: Time-sensitive target. A target requiring immediate response because it is highly lucrative, is a fleeting target of opportunity, or poses (or will soon pose) a danger to friendly forces.
UAV:: Unmanned aerial vehicle; a drone.
UCMJ:: Uniform Code of Military Justice. Disciplinary and criminal code that applies to members of the U.S. military.
UDI:: Uniform Declaration of Independence; the 1965 document that established Rhodesia as an independent sovereign state. The UDI resulted in an international embargo and made Rhodesia a pariah.
V-22:: Tilt-rotor aircraft that can fly like a plane and take off/land like a helicopter. Numerous examples were crashed during its extremely expensive development.
VBIED:: Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device; a rolling car bomb driven by a suicidal terrorist.
VC:: National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, better known as the Viet Cong. A communist insurgent group that fought against the government of South Vietnam and its allies during the Vietnam War. In the movies, these are the guys wearing the black pajamas carrying AKs.
Vor v Zakone:: An individual at the top of the incarcerated criminal underground. Think godfather. Top authority for the bratva. Today, each region of Russia has a Vor v Zakone.
Vory:: A hierarchy within the bratva. Career criminals. More directly translated as “thief.”
VPN:: Virtual Private Network. A private network that enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. Considered more secure than a traditional Internet network.
VSK-94:: Russian-made Sniper/Designated Marksman rifle chambered in the subsonic 9x39mm cartridge. This suppressed weapon is popular with Russian special operations and law enforcement units due to its minimal sound signature and muzzle flash.
Wagner Group:: A Russian private military company with close ties to the Russian government.
War Vets:: Loosely organized groups of Zimbabweans who carried out many of the land seizures during the 1990s. Often armed, these individuals used threats and intimidation to remove white farmers from their homes. Despite the name, most of these individuals were too young to have participated in the Bush War. Not to be confused with ZNLWVA, a group that represents ZANU-affiliated veterans of the Bush War.
WARCOM/NAVSPECWARCOM:: United States Naval Special Warfare Command. The Navy’s special operations force and the maritime component of United States Special Operations Command. Headquartered in Coronado, California, WARCOM is the administrative command for subordinate NSW Groups composed of eight SEAL Teams, one SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) Team, three Special Boat Teams, and two Special Reconnaissance Teams.
Westley Richards Droplock:: A rifle or shotgun built by the famed Birmingham, England, gunmakers that allows the user to remove the locking mechanisms for repair or replacement in the field. Widely considered one of the finest and most iconic actions of all time.
Whiskey Tango:: Military speak for “white trash.”
WIA:: Wounded In Action.
Yazidis:: An insular Kurdish-speaking ethnic and religious group that primarily resides in Iraq. Effectively a subminority among the Kurds, Yazidis were heavily persecuted by ISIS.
YPG:: Kurdish militia forces operating in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria. The Turks are not fans.
ZANLA:: Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army. The armed wing of the Maoist Zimbabwe African National Union and one of the major combatants of the Rhodesian Bush War. ZANLA forces often staged out of training camps located in Mozambique and were led by Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe:: Sub-Saharan African nation that formerly existed as Southern Rhodesia and later Rhodesia. Led for three decades by Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe ranks as one of the world’s most corrupt nations on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
ZIRPA:: Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army. The Soviet-equipped armed wing of ZAPU and one of the two major insurgency forces that fought in the Rhodesian Bush War. ZIRPA forces fell under the leadership of Josh Nkomo, who spent much of the war in Zambia. ZIRPA members were responsible for shooting down two civilian airliners using Soviet SA-7 surface-to-air missiles in the late 1970s.
Zodiac Mk 2 GR:: 4.2-meter inflatable rubber boat capable of carrying up to six individuals. These craft are often used as dinghies for larger vessels.