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USAF and Joint Operational Brevity Words

ABORT

—Directive call to cease action, attack, event, or mission.

ACTION
—Directive call to initiate a briefed attack sequence or maneuver.
ACTIVE 

(system) ACTIVE (location/direction)

—Referenced emitter is radiating at the stated location or along the stated bearing.

ADD

(system/category)

—Directive call to add a specific system or electronic order of battle (EOB) category to search responsibilities.

AJAX
—Landing zone/pick up zone is clear of threats.
ALARM
—Directive or informative call indicating the termination of EMCON procedures.
ALLIGATOR
—LINK-11/ TADIL-A.
ALPHA CHECK
—Request for confirmation of bearing and range from ownship to described point.
ANCHORED 

ANCHORED (w/location)

—Informative call to indicate a turning engagement at the
specified location.

ANCHOR
—Orbit about a specific point; refueling track flown by tanker.
ANGELS
—Height of friendly aircraft in thousands of feet mean sea level (MSL).
ARIZONA
—No ARM ordnance remaining.
ARM
—Element resulting from target maneuvers exceeding GROUP criteria.
ARM/ARMED (SAFE/HOT)
—Select armament (safe/hot) or armament is safe/hot.
AS FRAGGED
—Unit or element will be performing exactly as stated by the air tasking order (ATO).
ATTACKING
—Indicates air-to-surface (A/S) attack on a specific ground target.
AUTHENTICATE
—To request or provide a response to a coded challenge.
AUTOCAT
—Any communications relay using automatic retransmissions.
 AWAY

(weapon) AWAY

—Release/launch of specified weapon.

AZIMUTH
AZIMUTH—A picture label describing two groups separated laterally. 
BANDIT
—An aircraft identified as an enemy IAW theater identification criteria. The term does not necessarily imply direction or authority to engage.
BANZAI
—Informative or directive call to execute launch-and-decide tactics.
BASE
—Reference number used to indicate such information as headings, altitudes, and fuels.
BEAD WINDOW
—Last transmission potentially disclosed unauthorized information.
BEAM 

BEAM (w/cardinal direction)

—Target stabilized within 70 to 110 degrees of aspect; generally given in cardinal directions: east, west, north, and south.

BEARING 

BEARING (w/cardinal direction)

—Inner group formation with the trailer displaced approximately 45 degrees behind the leader.

BENT

(system) BENT

—System indicated is inoperative

BINGO
—Fuel state needed for recovery.
BIRD
—Friendly surface-to-air missile (SAM).
BIRD(S) AFFIRM
—Surface-to-air informative call indicating unit is able and prepared to engage a specified target with SAMs (presumes target is within or will enter the SAM engagement envelope).
BIRD(S) AWAY
—Surface-to-air informative call indicating friendly SAM has been fired at designated target.

BIRD(S) NEGATE

—Surface-to-air informative call indicating unit is unable to engage a specified target with SAMs. Opposite of BIRD(S) AFFIRM.

BITTERSWEET

—Notification of possible blue-on-blue (fratricide) situation relative to a designated track or friendly.

BLIND

—No visual contact with friendly aircraft/ground position; opposite of VISUAL.

BLOW THROUGH

—Directive or informative call that indicates aircraft will continue straight ahead at the merge and not become anchored with target/targets.

BOGEY

—A radar or visual air contact whose identity is unknown.

BOGEY DOPE

—Request for target information as requested or closest group in BRAA (with appropriate fill-ins).

BOOMERANG

—Aircraft or flight is returning to base.

BOX

—A picture label describing four distinct groups with two in front and two behind in a square or offset square orientation.

BRAA

—Tactical control format providing target bearing, range, altitude, and aspect, relative to a friendly aircraft. Aspect is only required if other than HOT.

BRACKET

BRACKET (w/direction)

—Directive call to maneuver to a position on opposing sides, either laterally or vertically from the targets.


BREAK

BREAK (w/direction)

—Directive call to perform an immediate maximum performance 180-degree turn (or as directed) in the indicated direction. Assumes a defensive situation requiring infrared missile defense (IRMD).


BREAK AWAY

—Tanker or receiver call indicating immediate vertical and nose/tail separation between tanker and receiver is required.