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 |
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. |