Military Terms and Symbology
Know how to build/read a symbol- most likely a medical symbol
1. What is the difference between secure, seize and clear?
a. Secure: To gain possession of a position or terrain with or without force
i. Deployed in a manner which prevents destruction or loss to the enemy
ii. Physical occupation not required
b. Seize: To clear a designated area and obtain control of it
i. Must physically occupy the ground
c. Clear: Eliminate organized resistance in an assigned zone by destroying, capturing, or forcing the
withdrawal of enemy forces that could interfere with the friendly unit’s ability to accomplish its
mission.
2. Delay vs. Disrupt
a. Delay: Conducted when a CDR needs time to concentrate, preserve, or withdraw forces. To establish
defenses in greater depth. To complete offensive actions elsewhere.
b. Disrupt: To break apart or cause confusion in the enemy’s execution of an activity or event
3. On Order vs Be Prepared
a. On Order: A mission which the force will accomplish at a later time; second in priority to any
primary mission for planning; included in paragraph 2 of the OPORD.
b. Be prepared: A mission which the force may accomplish at a later time; next in priority to any on
order mission for planning; not included in paragraph 2 of the OPORD.
4. Destroy vs Defeat
a. Destroy: To render the opposing force combat ineffective unless reconstituted
i. Physical destruction over psychological destruction
b. Defeat: To disrupt/nullify the enemy’s plan and/or subdue his will to fight so he is either unwilling
or unable to pursue his mission.
i. May or may not entail the destruction of any part of the enemy force
ii. Psychological over physical destruction
5. What are the components of a symbol?
a. Frame
i. Serves as the base to which other symbol components are added. The frame indicates the
standard identity, physical domain, and status of the object being represented.
b. Standard identity
i. The relationship of the symbol being represented to friendly forces.
1. Circle or rectangle: denotes friendly or assumed friend
2. Diamond: denotes hostile or suspect
3. Square: denotes neutral
4. Quatrefoil: Unknown and pending
c. Physical Domain
i. Primary mission area for the object being represented (i.e. air, space, land, sea surface).
d. Status
i. Solid line indicates a present status and a dashed line indicates an anticipated, planned, or
suspected status.
ii. Present or Confirmed – operational object exist at the location identified
iii. Planned or Anticipated – will in the future reside at that location
iv. Suspected – thought to reside at that location
e. Color: Provides a redundant clue with regard to standard identity.
i. The fill is the interior area within a symbol.
1
,ii. If color is not used, the fill is transparent.
2
, 1. Friendly: Blue or cyan
2. Enemy: Red
3. Neutral: Green
4. Unknown: Yellow
f. Modifiers
i. Provides an abstract pictorial or alphanumeric representation, displayed in conjunction with
an icon.
ii. Provides additional information about the icon (unit, equipment, installation, or activity)
iii. Conform to the bounding octagon and are placed either above or below the icon
g. Amplifiers
i. Provides additional information about the symbol
ii. Displayed outside the frame
iii. Only essential amplifiers should be used
iv. Arabic numerals are used, except for Corps (Roman numerals)
6. Sector 1 Modifiers are found where and what does it indicate?
a. Top part of frame
b. Reflects a unit’s specific capability
c. ADRP 1-02 chapter 4 table 4-3
7. Sector 2 Modifier is found where and what does it indicate?
a. On bottom of frame
b. Reflects the mobility of the unit or size, range or altitude of unit equipment
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Know how to build/read a symbol- most likely a medical symbol
1. What is the difference between secure, seize and clear?
a. Secure: To gain possession of a position or terrain with or without force
i. Deployed in a manner which prevents destruction or loss to the enemy
ii. Physical occupation not required
b. Seize: To clear a designated area and obtain control of it
i. Must physically occupy the ground
c. Clear: Eliminate organized resistance in an assigned zone by destroying, capturing, or forcing the
withdrawal of enemy forces that could interfere with the friendly unit’s ability to accomplish its
mission.
2. Delay vs. Disrupt
a. Delay: Conducted when a CDR needs time to concentrate, preserve, or withdraw forces. To establish
defenses in greater depth. To complete offensive actions elsewhere.
b. Disrupt: To break apart or cause confusion in the enemy’s execution of an activity or event
3. On Order vs Be Prepared
a. On Order: A mission which the force will accomplish at a later time; second in priority to any
primary mission for planning; included in paragraph 2 of the OPORD.
b. Be prepared: A mission which the force may accomplish at a later time; next in priority to any on
order mission for planning; not included in paragraph 2 of the OPORD.
4. Destroy vs Defeat
a. Destroy: To render the opposing force combat ineffective unless reconstituted
i. Physical destruction over psychological destruction
b. Defeat: To disrupt/nullify the enemy’s plan and/or subdue his will to fight so he is either unwilling
or unable to pursue his mission.
i. May or may not entail the destruction of any part of the enemy force
ii. Psychological over physical destruction
5. What are the components of a symbol?
a. Frame
i. Serves as the base to which other symbol components are added. The frame indicates the
standard identity, physical domain, and status of the object being represented.
b. Standard identity
i. The relationship of the symbol being represented to friendly forces.
1. Circle or rectangle: denotes friendly or assumed friend
2. Diamond: denotes hostile or suspect
3. Square: denotes neutral
4. Quatrefoil: Unknown and pending
c. Physical Domain
i. Primary mission area for the object being represented (i.e. air, space, land, sea surface).
d. Status
i. Solid line indicates a present status and a dashed line indicates an anticipated, planned, or
suspected status.
ii. Present or Confirmed – operational object exist at the location identified
iii. Planned or Anticipated – will in the future reside at that location
iv. Suspected – thought to reside at that location
e. Color: Provides a redundant clue with regard to standard identity.
i. The fill is the interior area within a symbol.
1
,ii. If color is not used, the fill is transparent.
2
, 1. Friendly: Blue or cyan
2. Enemy: Red
3. Neutral: Green
4. Unknown: Yellow
f. Modifiers
i. Provides an abstract pictorial or alphanumeric representation, displayed in conjunction with
an icon.
ii. Provides additional information about the icon (unit, equipment, installation, or activity)
iii. Conform to the bounding octagon and are placed either above or below the icon
g. Amplifiers
i. Provides additional information about the symbol
ii. Displayed outside the frame
iii. Only essential amplifiers should be used
iv. Arabic numerals are used, except for Corps (Roman numerals)
6. Sector 1 Modifiers are found where and what does it indicate?
a. Top part of frame
b. Reflects a unit’s specific capability
c. ADRP 1-02 chapter 4 table 4-3
7. Sector 2 Modifier is found where and what does it indicate?
a. On bottom of frame
b. Reflects the mobility of the unit or size, range or altitude of unit equipment
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