OPERATIONAL CONTROL (OPCON)- The authority delegated to a commander to perform those functions of command over subordinate forces involving the composition of subordinate forces, the assignment of tasks, the designation of objectives, and the authoritative direction necessary to accomplish the mission. Operational control includes directive authority for joint training. Operational control should be exercised through the commanders of assigned normal organizational units or through the commanders of subordinate forces established by the commander exercising operational control. Operational control normally provides full authority to organize forces as the operational commander deems necessary to accomplish assigned missions and to retain or delegate operational control or tactical control as necessary. Operational control may be limited by function, time, or location. It does not, of itself, include such matters as administration, discipline, internal organization, and unit training.

OPERATOR'S SPRAY DOWN- Process of applying decontaminant onto unit equipment control surfaces to stop contamination from soaking into surfaces.

PARTIAL DECONTAMINATION- The removal or neutralization of all visible or detectable contamination from individual clothing and equipment and from those surfaces of equipment that operators or crew members must contact to perform their mission-vehicle entry and exit routes.

PASSIVE AIR DEFENSE- All measures, other than active air defense, taken to minimize the effectiveness of hostile air action. These measures include deception, dispersion, and use of protective construction.

PASSIVE DEFENSE- Measures taken to reduce the probability of and to minimize the effects of damage caused by hostile action without the intention of taking the initiative.

PERSONAL WIPE DOWN- Process of removing or neutralizing contamination from the individual's equipment including the protective mask, hood, gloves, rifle, and helmet to stop contamination spread and to stop contamination from penetrating into equipment surfaces.

PHYSICAL SECURITY- That part of security concerned with physical measures designed to safeguard personnel; to prevent unauthorized access to equipment, installations, material, and documents; and to safeguard them against espionage, sabotage, damage, and theft.

POWER-DRIVEN DECON EQUIPMENT- Any of several different kinds of pump and heater units capable of spraying heated water or steam. Soap and decontaminants can also be mixed and sprayed through these units in most cases, such as the M12 power-driven decon apparatus and the XM17 SANATOR lightweight decon system.

PROVISIONAL MOBILE SECURITY PLATOON (PMSP)- Unit of the provisional security forces which provides the rear area security coordinator with a quick reaction capability in support of the RAS mission.

PROVISIONAL SECURITY FORCES (PSF)- Units available to the rear area security coordinator for supplementing local defense efforts and to give assistance to the military police in the performance of RAS missions.

PYROTECHNIC- A mixture of chemicals which when ignited is capable of reacting exothermically to produce light, heat, smoke, sound or gas, and may also be used to introduce a delay.

REAR AREA OPERATIONS CENTER (RAOC)- The agency responsible for planning, coordinating, directing, and monitoring rear area security.

REAR AREA SECURITY (RAS)- The measures taken before, during, and/ or after an enemy airborne attack, sabotage action, infiltration, guerrilla action, and/ or initiation of psychological or propaganda warfare to minimize the effects thereof.

REAR AREA SECURITY COORDINATOR (RASC)- That person responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing the RAS effort. The RASC is usually the CSSE commander but can be the ACE commander.

RECONSTITUTION- The rest, refitting, maintenance, and replacement necessary to restore a military unit to its full capability, often after it has been depleted by military operations.

RATE OF FIRE- The number of rounds fired per weapon per minute.

RATE OF MARCH- The average number of miles or kilometers to be travelled in a given period of time, including all ordered halts. It is expressed in miles or kilometers in the hour.

SKIN DECON TECHNIQUE- Process of removing or neutralizing contamination on the skin within 1 minute of contamination to prevent it from penetrating into skin.

SITUATION MAP- A map showing the tactical or the administrative situation at a particular time.

SITUATION REPORT (SITREP)- A report giving the situation in the area of a reporting unit or formation.

SMALL ARMS- Man portable, individual, and crew-served weapon systems used mainly against personnel and lightly armored or unarmored equipment.

SPOT REPORT- A concise narrative report of essential information covering events or conditions that may have an immediate and significant effect on current planning and operations that is afforded the most expeditious means of transmission consistent with requisite security.

STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP)- A set of instructions covering those features of operations which lend themselves to a definite or standardized procedure without loss of effectiveness. The procedure is applicable unless ordered otherwise.

TABLE OF ALLOWANCE (TOA)- An equipment allowance document which prescribes basic allowances of organizational equipment and provides the control to develop, revise, or change equipment authorization inventory data.

TACTICS-( 1) The employment of units in combat and (2) the ordered arrangement and maneuver of units in relation to each other and/ or to the enemy in order to use their full potentialities.

TAP APRON- Toxicological agent protective apron. TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY- A target visible to a surface of air sensor or observer which is within range of available weapons and against which fire has not been scheduled or requested.

TERRAIN ANALYSIS- The collection, analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of geographic information on the natural and man-made features of the terrain, combined with other relevant factors, to predict the effect of the terrain on military operations.

VEHICLE WASH DOWN- Process of flushing contamination off equipment surfaces to limit spread, reduce overall amounts of contamination, and speed weathering.