This diary series will present a selection of the classified Afghanistan War documents that were leaked to Wikileaks in summer 2010. They represent a series of snapshots, from the point of view of the troops on the ground, of the Afghan War from 2004 to 2010. The documents consist of after-action reports filed by the actual units on the field. These reports are used by US intelligence and military authorities to develop a broader picture of what is really happening on the ground. From the 91,000 leaked documents, this diary series will present those which are the most illustrative of the reality of the Afghan War on the ground, and which contain interesting insights into how the war is fought on both sides. The reports are written in the terse matter-of-fact style preferred by the military, and are filled with military jargon, acronyms and abbreviations. To help the reader make sense of these, a glossary is given here of the most common terms. Each diary will have an introduction to put the documents in the context of the total war.
The only alteration that has been made to the files is to remove all the sourcing and filing information. Otherwise, the reports, complete with hurried typos and misspellings, are exactly as the soldiers in the field wrote them.
Glossary of Military Jargon and Acronyms Used in the Wikileaks Documents
A/C—"Aircraft", usually referring to fixed-wing airplanes
AAF—"Anti-Afghan Forces". The insurgency, consisting of the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and several small splinter groups.
ABP—"Afghan Border Police". An Afghan Government police force.
ACK—"Acknowledged"
ACM—"Anti-Coalition Militia". The locally-organized insurgency units.
AFG—"Afghan".
AIHRC—"Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission".
AMF—"Afghan Military Forces"
ANA—"Afghan National Army". The armed forces of the Kabul Government.
ANAP—"Afghan National Auxiliary Police". A police force of the Kabul Government.
ANBP—"Afghan National Border Police". An Afghan Government police force.
Angel—A Marine KIA.
ANP—"Afghan National Police".
ANSF—"Afghan National Security Forces". The security and police units of the Kabul Government.
AO—"Area of Operations"
AQ—"Al Qaeda". One of the two major anti-government insurgency groups.
ASG—"Area Support Group".
ASV—"Armored Security Vehicle".
ATT—"At this time"
ATTK—"Attack"
AUP—"Afghan Uniformed Police"
BAF—"Bagram Air Field". The primary American base in Afghanistan.
BBIED—"Bike-borne Improvised Explosive Device". The low-tech version of a car-bomb, in which explosives are strapped to a bicycle or motorcycle.
BCT—"Brigade Combat Team". An American military unit.
BDA—"Battle Damage Assessment". An evaluation of the actual damage done to the enemy by an attack or action.
BDE—"Brigade". A military unit.
Beaten Zone—the area of fire in which bullets or other ordnance actually impact.
BFT—"Blue Force Tracking". Efforts made to identify friendly forces in the area so they are not accidentally hit.
BG—"Brigadier General".
Blue Force—An American or other friendly military unit.
Blue on Blue—Friendly fire, in which a unit inadvertently fires on another allied unit.
BN—"Battalion". A military unit.
BPT—"Be prepared to"
BRF—"Brigade Reconnaissance Force". A scouting unit.
BSN—Camp Bastion. An important American military base.
BTIF—Bagram Theater Internment Facility. The primary American military detention center for suspected insurgents. Also known as "Bagram Prison".
BTL—"Battalion". A military unit.
Buzz Saw—A method of signaling at night, in which a light stick is waved over the head in a circle.
C//NF—"Confidential, No Foreigners". A security code indicating that this report is not to be shared with non-Americans.
C/S—"Call Sign". The code name used to identify oneself on the radio.
CAS—"Close Air Support". An air strike against nearby targets that are engaging American troops.
CAT C—"Category C". A medical designation for a severely-wounded priority patient.
CCIR—"Command’s Critical Information Requirements". The intelligence needed by a military commander for a mission.
CD—"Commander"
CND—"Canadian"
CDR—"Commander"
CF—"Coalition Forces". The NATO and other allied forces that joined the US in Afghanistan.
CHOPS—"Chief of Operations".
CIV—"Civilian"
CIVCAS—"Civilian Casualties"
CJ2--Designation for the American intelligence and security command in Afghanistan.
CJ3—Designation for joint special operations in Afghanistan.
CJTF—"Combined Joint Task Force". A military unit.
CJSOTF—"Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force". A Special Forces unit.
CLP—"Combat Logistics Patrol". A supply convoy.
CO—"Commanding Officer"
COL—"Colonel"
COP—"Chief of Police". The local Afghan police supervisor.
COP—"Combat Outpost". A small military camp.
Coy—"Company". A small American military unit.
CP—"Check Point". A roadblock or other security post.
Cpt—"Captain"
CSH—"Combat Support Hospital". A field hospital for treating casualties.
CWIED—"Command Wired Improvised Explosive Device". A homemade bomb which is rigged with an electrical wire and detonated by a nearby person with a switch.
Daisy Chain—A number of explosives that are wired together to blow up at the same time.
DC—"District Center". A local command center.
DF—"Direct Fire". Weapons fire directed against a visible target.
DOI—"Date of Incident"
DOS—"Department of State". The US State Department.
DSHKA—A Soviet-made heavy machine gun, usually left over from the 1979 war.
DETREP—"Detailed report"
DOW—"Died of Wounds"
DTMF—"Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency". An electronic chip used to generate the keypad signals in cellphones. It can be used to construct radio-detonated bombs.
ECM—"Electronic-Countermeasures". A device that sends out radio signals ahead of a convoy to detonate radio-controlled IED’s before the vehicle reaches them.
ECP—"Entry Control Point". A security gate or checkpoint.
EKIA—"Enemy Killed In Action"
ENG BDE—"Engineer Brigade". Engineers are specially trained to handle mines and improvised explosive devices.
EOD—"Explosive Ordnance Disposal". An engineer trained to defuse unexploded mines or IEDs.
EOF: "Escalation of Force". An exchange of fire with an enemy.
ETT—"Embedded Training Team". An American group that trains Afghan units.
EVAC—"Evacuation"
FB—"Forward Base". An advance American military post.
FF—"Friendly Forces"
FIR—"First Impressions Report". A preliminary initial report.
FO—"Forward Observer"
FOB—"Forward Operations Base"
FP—"Firing Point". A place where machine guns or other weapons are located.
FRA—"French"
FSB—"Forward Support Base". A supply dump.
GBU—"Glide Bomb Unit". An aerial bomb.
GCTF—"Global Counter Terrorism Forces"—The US forces engaged in the "War on Terror".
GHZ—"Ghazni". Ghazni Province is an active area of operations.
GIROA—"Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan". The Kabul government being defended by the US.
GMRLS—An American multiple-rocket launcher.
GSW—"Gun Shot Wound"
HEAT—"High Explosive Anti-Tank". A rocket with a shaped-charge warhead designed to penetrate armor
HELO—"Helicopter"
HHB—"Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion"
HIIDE—"Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment". A scanner that identifies people through biometric measurements.
HIMARS—An American multiple rocket launcher
HLZ—"Helicopter Landing Zone"
HME—"Homemade Explosives"
HMLA—"Helicopter, Marines, Light Attack". A Marine helicopter unit.
HRT—"Hostage Rescue Team"
HET—"Human Exploitation Team". Interrogators.
HVI—"High Value Individual". A captured Al Qaeda or Taliban insurgency leader.
HWY—"Highway"
IAW—"In accordance with"
IAW EOF SOP—"In accordance with escalation of force standard operating procedures". American forces are provided with "rules of engagement" that cover what they can and cannot do in any operation.
ICOM—Radio communications
IDF—"Indirect Fire". Weapons fire against a target that lies out of sight.
IED—"Improvised Explosive Device". A homemade bomb, usually fashioned from an unexploded artillery shell or aerial bomb. IEDs are the favorite weapon of the Afghan insurgency.
ILLUM—"Illumination". A mortar or artillery shell that gives off a bright light, used to illuminate the battlefield at night.
INFIL—"Infiltrate"
INS—"Insurgents"
INTSUM—"Intelligence Summary"
IO—"Information Operations". American and Afghan propaganda. Often used for Psyops.
IOT—"In order to"
IR—"Incident Report". An after-action report describing the facts of an event.
IR—"Infrared". A heat-sensing device used for night vision or to guide heat-seeking weapons.
IROA—"Islamic Republic of Afghanistan". The Kabul government being defended by the US.
ISAF—"International Security Assistance Force". The American allies in Afghanistan. Also known as "Coalition Forces".
ISN—"Internment Serial Number". The identifying number assigned to prisoners at American camps.
ISO—"In Support Of"
ISR—"Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance"
IVO—"In the vicinity of"
JAF—"Jalalabad Air Field". An important US base.
JBAD—"Jalalabad". A city near the Afghan-Pakistani border. An active area for insurgents and an important American base of operations.
JDAM—"Joint Direct Attack Munition". An American device that converts an ordinary "dumb bomb" into a guided "smart bomb".
JDCC—"Joint District Coordination Center"
JDOC—"Joint Defense Operations Center"
Jingle trucks—common Afghan civilian vehicles that are decorated with numerous bells and bright colors
JOC—"Joint Operations Center"
JPEL—"Joint Prioritized Effects List". The "hit list" of priority individuals to be arrested or killed.
JTAC—"Joint Terminal Air Controller". An observer who directs air strikes.
JUGROOM—Fort Garmsir, an American base in Afghanistan.
KAF—"Kandahar Air Field". An important US base.
KAIA—"Kabul International Airport". The airport in the Afghan capital, used for both civilian and military flights.
KDZ—"Kunduz". An area of operations in Afghanistan.
KIA—"Killed In Action".
KJI—"Kajaki". An area of operations in Afghanistan.
KMTC—"Kabul Military Training Center". Where Afghan forces are trained by American personnel.
KPRT—"Kabul Province Reconstruction Team". A group in charge of rebuilding damaged civilian infrastructure.
L:—"Location"
LEP—"Law Enforcement Professionals"
LKG—"Lashkar Gar". An area of operations.
LN—"Local National". An Afghan.
LNO—"Liason Officer". An American who coordinates US operations with the Kabul government.
LTC—"Lieutenant Colonel".
Luna—A German-made unmanned aerial drone
LZ—"Landing Zone".
M240b—A machine gun
M249—A machine gun
M4—An American rifle. A version of the Vietnam-era M16, it is the standard US infantry battlefield weapon.
MAM—"Military Age Male"
MAR—"Marines". US Marine Corps.
MED OPS—"Medical Operations"
MED TM—"Medical Team"
MEDEVAC—"Medical Evacuation"
MEY PRT—"Meymanah Province Reconstruction Team"
MG—"Machine Gun"
MHL—"Mehtar Lam". An area of operations.
MM—"Military Message"
MOD—"Ministry of Defense". The Kabul government’s department of defense.
MOI—"Ministry of Interior". The Kabul government’s security service.
MP—"Military Police"
MS—"Military Support"
MSN—A military nurse
MSR—"Main Supply Route"
MTF—"More to follow"
MTT—"Military Training Team"
N/I C—"NATO/ISAF Confidential" A security code indicating that this report is not to be shared outside of NATO.
NAI—"Named Area of Interest". A targeted area.
NC—"Non-Combatant". A civilian.
NCO—"Non-Commissioned Officer". The lowest levels of American military officers.
NDS—"National Directorate of Security". The Kabul government’s intelligence service.
NFI—"Not further identified"
NFTR—"Nothing further to report"
NMC—"Non-Mission Capable"
NOFORN—"No foreigners". A security classification limiting distribution to American forces.
NSTR—"Nothing significant to report"
OBJ—"Objective". Persons on the kill/capture list are given OBJ codenames.
OC—"Outcome"
OCC-P—"Operations Command Center-Provincial"
OCCD—"Operations Coordination Center District"
ODA—"Operational Detachment Alpha". US Special Forces.
OGA—"Other Government Agency". Refers to non Defense Department parts of the US government. Usually indicates the CIA or other intelligence organization.
OIC—"Officer in Charge"
OMF—"Opposing Military Forces"
OP—"Operation". An action by military or security forces.
OP—"Observation Post". A site, usually temporary, used to watch enemy areas.
OP GRID—"Operation Grid". The map coordinates used for an operation.
OP SUM—"Operation Summary".
ORSA—"Operations Research and Systems Analysis". The process of integrating all the various individual incident reports into a coherent over-all picture.
PA—"Physician Assistant". A medic.
PAK—"Pakistan"
PAKMIL—"Pakistan Military"
PAO—"Public Affairs Officer". US military official who deals with the press.
PAX—People or persons.
PB—"Patrol Base".
PBIED—"Pedestrian-Borne Improvised Explosive Device". A suicide bomber with an explosive vest.
PEF—"Poppy Eradication Force". The Afghan police who have responsibility for controlling the opium/heroin trade. The drug trade is a major source of funding, for the insurgency as well as the local Afghan tribal warlords.
PEN—Penich. A base of operations.
PHQ—"Police Headquarters"
PID—"Positive identification"
PKM—A machine gun
PL or PLT—"Platoon". A small military unit.
PLT SJT—"Platoon Sargeant"
PMT—"Police Mentor Team"
POA—"President of Afghanistan"
POC—"Point of Contact"
POI—"Point of Impact"
POO—"Point of Origin"
PPIED—"Pressure-plate Improvised Explosive Device. A buried bomb that is detonated when a vehicle drives over it or a person steps on it.
PRED—An American-made Predator unmanned aerial drone
PRO COY—"Protection Company". An armed escort.
PRT—"Provincial Reconstruction Team"
PSO—"Post Security Officer"
PT—"Patient". A medical casualty.
PTS—"Peace Through Strength". An amnesty program run by the Kabul government to encourage and support defectors from the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces.
Qalat--A walled Afghan compound.
QRF—"Quick Response Force"
RB—"Roadblock"
RC(N)--"Regional Command, North"
RC CENTRAL—"Regional Command, Central"
RC(E)--"Regional Command, East"
RC(S) -- "Regional Command, South"
RC(W)--"Regional Command, West"
RCAG—"Regional Corps Assistance Group"
RC(C.)--"Regional Command, Capitol". The commander in the Kabul area.
RCIED—"Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device". A homemade bomb that is set off at a distance by an operator with a radio or cell phone.
RCP—"Route Clearance Patrol". An armed convoy to sweep a road clear of insurgents and IEDs.
RDS—"Rounds". Bullets or ammunition.
RFS—"Resident Field Squadron"
RG—An American armored vehicle
ROE—"Rules of Engagement". A set of guidelines that specify what actions can or cannot be taken by American troops during an operation.
ROLE 3--An American military surgical hospital
RPG—"Rocket-propelled grenade". Used to attack buildings and armored vehicles.
RPK—A machine gun
RPT—"Report"
RTB—"Return to Base"
RTE—"Route"
S-2--Military intelligence officer
S-5--Officer who coordinates a military unit’s actions with the local civilian authority.
SALT—"Size, Activity, Location, Time"
SALTUR—"Size, Activity, Location, Time, Unit, Result"
SALUTE—"Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, Effect"
S: -- Size
S//REL—"Selective Release". A security code indicating that a report is to be released only to specified agencies.
SA7--Russian-made shoulder-launched antiaircraft missile
SAF or SAFIRE—"Small Arms Fire". Rifle fire.
SAF or SAFIRE—"Surface to Air Fire". Antiaircraft or antihelicopter fire.
SAW—A machine gun
SFG—"Special Forces Group"
Shura—A meeting of Afghan tribal leaders
SIED—"Suicide Improvised Explosive Device". A bomb detonated by a suicide bomber.
SIGACT—"Significant Activity"
SIR—"Serious Incident Report"
SOF—"Special Operations Force"
SOG—"Special Operations Group"
Solatia—A payment made to civilians for damage or deaths caused by American actions.
SOP—"Standard Operating Procedures"
SOTF—"Special Operations Task Force"
SOTG—"Special Operations Task Group"
SPC—"Specialist". An Army rank.
Spider—An electronic device that receives radio signals, used in remote-detonated bombs
SQD or SQN—"Squadron".
Squirter—A person seen running away, or someone who attempts to get away from US forces
SSE—"Sensitive Site Exploitation". The process of gathering intelligence from a captured enemy location.
SVBIED—"Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device". A homemade bomb delivered by truck or car. A suicide car bomb.
SWO—"Surface Warfare Officer"
SWT—"Scout Weapons Team".
T: -- "Time"
TB—"Taliban". One of the two primary insurgent groups.
TBC—"To be confirmed"
TBD—"To be decided"
TCP—"Traffic Control Point". A checkpoint.
TERP—An interpreter.
TF—"Task Force".
TFK—"Task Force Kandahar"
TG—"Tactical Group"
TIC—"Troops in contact" with enemy forces
TOC—"Tactical Operations Center"
TTPs—"Tactics, Techniques and Procedures"
TQ—"Tactical Questioning"
UAH—"Up-Armored Humvee". A reinforced Humvee vehicle used for convoy duty.
UAV—"Unmanned Aerial Vehicle". A drone flown by remote control, used for reconnaissance and attack.
UH1--An American helicopter
UH60--An American helicopter
UI—"Unidentified"
UNAMA—"United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan".
UNK—"Unknown"
USFOR-A—"United States Forces in Afghanistan"
UXO—"Unexploded Ordnance"
VBIED—"Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device". A car bomb.
VCP—"Vehicle Check Point"
VIC—"Vicinity"
VOIED—"Vehicle-Operated Improvised Explosive Device". A homemade mine that is buried in the road. Driving over the mine's pressure plate sets it off.
VP—"Vulnerable Point"
VPB—"Vehicle Patrol Base"
VSA—"Vital Signs Absent". Dead—a fatal casualty.
WIA—"Wounded in Action"
X-SPRAY--Field test used to indicate whether someone has been in contact with explosives