APPENDIX GLOSSARY OF COMMON I MILITARY TERMS AIR DEFENSE- All defensive measures designed to destroy attacking enemy aircraft or missiles in the earth's envelope of atmosphere or to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of such attack.

AREA OF OPERATIONS (AO)- That portion of an area of war necessary for military operations and for the administration of such operations.

AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (AOR)- A defined area of land in which responsibility is specifically assigned to the commander of the area for the development and maintenance of installations, the control of movement, and the conduct of tactical operations involving troops under the commander's control, along with parallel authority to exercise these functions.

ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER (APC)- A lightly armored, highly mobile, full-tracked vehicle, amphibious and air-droppable, used primarily for transporting personnel and their individual equipment during tiwtical operations.

Production modifications or application of special kits permit use as a mortar carrier, a command post, a flame thrower, an antiaircraft artillery chassis, or a limited recovery vehicle.

AVENUE OF APPROACH- An air or ground route of attacking forces of a given size leading to its objective or key terrain in its path.

AVIATION COMBAT ELEMENT (ACE)- One of the four elements of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The Aviation Combat Element (ACE) is task-oriented to provide all or a portion of the functions of Marine Corps aviation in varying degrees based on the tactical situation and the MAGTF mission and size. These functions are air reconnaissance, antiair warfare, assault support, offensive air support, electronic warfare, and control of aircraft and missiles. The ACE is organized around an aviation headquarters and varies in size from a composite aircraft squadron to one or more aircraft wing( s). It includes the aviation command (including air control agencies), combat, combat support, and combat service support units required by the situation. Normally, there is only one ACE in a MAGTF.

BARRIER- A coordinated series of obstacles designed or used to channel, direct, restrict, delay, or stop the movement of an opposing force and to impose additional losses in personnel, time, and equipment on the opposing force. Barriers can exist naturally, be man-made, or a combination of both.

BAS- Battalion aid station. BASE- An area or locality containing installations that provide logistic or other support.

BRIGADE SERVICE SUPPORT GROUP (BSSG)- The BSSG is the task-organized combat service support element of the Marine amphibious brigade (MAB). Personnel and equipment are assigned to the BSSG from the permanent battalions of the force service support group. As required, it may be augmented by combat service support elements from the division or air wing.

CASUALTY STATUS- A term used to classify a casualty for reporting purposes. There are seven casualty statuses: (1) deceased, (2) duty status -whereabouts unknown, (3) missing, (4) very seriously ill or injured, (5) seriously ill or injured, (6) incapacitating illness or injury, and (7) not seriously injured.

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT DETACHMENT (CSSD)- A task organization from any combination of combat service support resources. It mayor may not be part of a MAGTF, dependent upon the situation. For example, it could be formed to augment the organic capability of a reinforced infantry battalion conducting an independent operation or to support a squadron located at a remote airfield. The command and control element will normally be provided by the force service support group.

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT ELEMENT (CSSE)- One of the four elements of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). It is task-organized to provide the full range of combat service support necessary to accomplish the MAGTF mission. The CSSE can provide supply, maintenance, transportation, deliberate engineer, health, postal, disbursing, prisoner of war, automated information systems, and exchange. The CSSE varies in size from a MAU service support group (MSSG) to a force service support group (FSSG). Normally, there is only one Combat Service Support Element in a MAGTF.

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT OPERATION CENTER (CSSOC)- The agency that controls and coordinates the day-to-day operations of the combat support elements.

COMBAT SUPPORT ELEMENTS (CSE)- Those elements whose primary missions are to provide combat support to the combat forces and which are a part, or prepared to become a part, of a theater, command, or task force formed for combat operations.

COMMAND AND CONTROL- The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned forces in the accomplishment of the mission. Command and control functions are performed through an arrangement of personnel, equipment, communications, facilities, and procedures used by a commander in planning, directing, coordinating, and controlling forces and operations in the accomplishment of the mission.

COMMAND ELEMENT (CSE)- One of the four elements of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). It is the MAGTF headquarters. The Command Element is a permanent organization composed of the commander, the general or executive and special staff sections, the headquarters section, and requisite communica-tions and service support facilities. The command element provides command, control, and coordination essential for effective planning and execution of operations by the Aviation Combat Element (ACE), the Ground Combat Element (GCE), and the Combat Service Support Element (CSSE). There is only one command element in a MAGTF.

CONTAMINATION- The deposit and/ or absorption of radioactive material or biological or chemical agents on and by structures, areas, personnel, or objects.

CONVOY ESCORT- An escort to protect a convoy of vehicles from being scattered, destroyed, or captured.

DEAD SPACE- An area within the maximum range of a weapon, a radar, or an observer that cannot be covered by fire or observation from a particular position because of intervening obstacles, the nature of the ground, the characteristics of the trajectory, or the limitations of the pointing capabilities of the weapons.

DECONTAMINATION- The removal or neutra-lization of hazardous levels of chemical, biological or radiological contamination from personnel and material.

DEFENSE AREA- For any particular command, the area extending from the forward edge of the battle area to its rear boundary. It is here that the decisive defensive battle is fought.

DEFENSE IN DEPTH- The siting of mutually supporting defense positions designed to absorb and progressively weaken attack, to prevent initial observations of the whole position by the enemy, and to allow the commander to maneuver his reserve.

DETAILED EQUIPMENT DECON- Process of removing or neutralizing contamination on interior and exterior surfaces of unit equipment to negligible risk levels to allow MOPP level reduction for extended periods.

DETAILED TROOP DECON- Process of decontaminating individual fighting equipment to negligible risk levels; removing contaminated MOPP gear including protective masks; decontaminating protective masks; and monitoring personnel equipment for decon effectiveness. This is done to reduce MOPP levels for extended periods.