S-Z
SSS
S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, S-5, S-6
Basic staff sections of military (namely Army and Marine) units at the level of battalion, squadron or higher.
S-1: personnel (finance, leave, promotions, demotions, legal, medical)
S-2: intelligence (anything having to do with understanding the enemy)
S-3: operations (mission planning, training)
S-4: supply (logistics, food, ammunition)
S-5: civil affairs (liaison with local civilians in a combat or peacekeeping zone)
S-6: signal/communication (Internet, radio, satellite, telephone)
sailor
Naval personnel of all ranks and assignments (whether on land, at sea or flying). Includes Navy reservists.
SEAL
Naval special forces (sea-air-land).
Like Army Special Forces, these sailors have extensive training in
tactics, urban warfare, language, medicine and infiltration (especially
on beaches). Unlike Army Special Forces, much of their training focuses
on ocean warfare and amphibious action.
secretary
There is no secretary of the Marine Corps.
sergeant
1. A rank in the Army and Marine Corps.
2. The Army, Air Force and Marine Corps each have several other ranks that include the word “sergeant.” Use the full rank.
See also:
ranks and titles
sergeant major
The most senior enlisted rank in the Army and Marine Corps (They have the highest enlisted pay grade, E-9). Not an officer.
The plural is sergeants major. The same goes for command sergeants major, which is the same pay grade, but denotes a different set of responsibility for a larger number of service members. (Note: In any case, do not use “sergeant majors;’ they are sergeants, not majors – ‘major’ is only a modifier to denote their seniority.)
Also see:
command sergeant major
ranks
ranks and titles
ship
See:
Navy organization, except aviation
soldier, soldiers
Army personnel of all ranks and assignments (including Army reservists and Army National Guard members). Note: Army and Defense Department press releases will refer to “Soldiers,” uppercase. Correct AP style is soldier.
Confine the use of “soldier” and “soldiers” to refer to people in the Army, not to service members in general.
special forces, Special Forces
Uppercase
when applied exclusively to soldiers or units of the Army Special
Forces Command. Generally in other uses, the phrase is lowercase
because it is a description designating a type of force, not a specific
organization.
Special Forces (uppercase) are the most elite of all Army personnel. These soldiers have extensive training on tactics, urban combat, language, medicine, infiltration and military maneuver. Generally considered the cream of the crop. Navy special forces are SEALs (sea-air-land).
See also:
Special Operations
SEAL
special operations, Special Operations
Uppercase when clearly and exclusively applied to one or more units (or organizations) with “Special Operations” in the name, or personnel belonging to any those units. At least generally in other uses, the phrase is lowercase because it is a description designating a type of operation, not an organization.
Also see:
Special Operations Command
spy plane
“Reconnaissance plane” or “surveillance plane” is more neutral, and thus preferred.
squad
See:
Army organization
Marine Corps ground combat
squadron
See:
Air Force organization
Marine Corps aviation
Navy aviation
structure
See:
organizational structure
TTT
tank
The main
See also:
tracked vehicles
tracked vehicles
Any vehicle that rides on metal and rubber tracks as opposed to tires. There are a number of different types of tracked vehicles (tanks, self-propelled howitzers, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, command post carriers, etc).
A common error is to assume that anything with tracks is a tank. Take a minute to research it if you are not sure.
troop, troops
A “troop” is a group.
WRONG: “Three troops were killed.”
RIGHT: “Three service members were killed.” OR “Two soldiers and a Marine were killed.”
UUU
UA
Stands for “unauthorized absence.” Navy and Marine Corps equivalent of “AWOL.”
UCMJ
See:
Uniform Code of Military Justice
unified combat commands
See:
joint commands
uniform
Be
careful when referring to specific uniforms. There is seldom a handy
phrase that is both correct to the military and clear to civilians.
Exceptions are the camouflage uniform and Marine Corps dress blues.
In other cases, the best way to indicate a uniform is usually to describe it, such as in “a short-sleeve khaki shirt and green skirt.”
See also:
camouflage uniform
Navy uniforms
uniform colors
uniform colors
Typical uniform colors worn by each service are:
Black — Navy
Blue — Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy
Camouflage – Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, sometimes Navy
Green — Army (Flight suits are commonly green among the services.)
Green with khaki shirt — Marine Corps
Khaki — Navy officers and chief petty officers
Khaki shirt with green or blue pants or skirt — Marine Corps
White — Navy
See also:
uniforms
Uniform Code of Military Justice
Legal system that a7pplies to all services and governs day-to-day behavior of all military personnel. Abbreviated by the military as “UCMJ.”
EXTERNAL LINK:
(UCMJ basics in layman's terms) -- http://usmilitary.about.com/library/weekly/aa091100a.htm
See also:
Article 15
Article 32
court-martial
utility uniform
See:
camouflage uniform
VVV
VHA
Jargon; stands for “Variable Housing Allowance.” Additional money paid to compensate for varying housing costs in different areas.
EXTERNAL LINK:
Vietnam War
Uppercase.
WWW
Wac, WAC
Use only in historical references. NOTE: This differs with AP.
Waf, WAF
Use only in historical references. NOTE: This differs with AP.
war against terror, war against terrorism
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross:
“‘Terrorism’ is a phenomenon. Both practically and legally, war cannot be waged against a phenomenon, but only against an identifiable party to an armed conflict. For these reasons, it would be more appropriate to speak of a multifaceted ‘fight against terrorism’ rather than a ‘war on terrorism.’”
war on terror, war on terrorism
See:
war against terror, war against terrorism
warrant officers
Warrant officers (pay grades W-1 through W-5) are senior to enlisted people and junior to commissioned officers.
wars
Uppercase the following:
Korean War
Persian Gulf War
Vietnam War
World War I, World War II
See also:
Persian Gulf War
war against terror
war on terror
World War I, World War II
watercraft and related matters
The following expressions are not synonymous:
amphibious ship and amphibious assault ship
amphibious vehicle, boat, ship, landing craft, watercraft
amphibious, Marine, marine, nautical (Nor are those synonymous with “naval” or “Naval.” But any distinction between “naval” and “Naval” might be more a matter of style than fact.)
Wave, WAVES
Use only in historical references. NOTE: This differs from AP.
wing
See:
Air Force organization
Marine Corps aviation
Navy aviation
World War I, World War II
Don't abbreviate in body copy.
WW I, WW II
Don't abbreviate in body copy.