A twin-engine, single-seat jet designed for close-air support of ground forces. A-10 and Thunderbolt are both acceptable on second reference. The aircraft is sometimes known as the "Warthog." Refrain from using this.
A derivative of the C-130 Hercules used for close-air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The AC-130U has advanced electronics and more munitions capacity. AC-130 Gunship is incorrect: gunship is a generic term used like fighter and bomber
air-to-ground missile
air intercept (or air-to-air) missile
Use in first reference, ACC in subsequent. Created June 1, 1992, Air Combat Command operates fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, battle-management and electronic-combat aircraft. ACC also provides command, control, computing, communications and intelligence (C4I) systems, and conducts global information operations.
Within the United States: with a flight line: Air Force base without a flight line: Air Force station Outside the United States: with a flight line: air base without a flight line: air station Note: Bagram Airfield is the exception, since that is the name the Air Force has given the base.
Former (and obsolete) name of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
An Air Force major command with headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. AFSPC is acceptable on second reference.
An Air Force major command with headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Fla. AFSOC is acceptable on second reference.
Air Force Global Strike Command in first reference, AFGSC in subsequent. Created Aug. 9, 2009 it has responsibility for the nuclear-capable assets of the Air Force.
An Air Force major command with headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. AMC is acceptable on second reference.
As a rule of thumb, the initial letter or letters in an aircraft designation indicate the primary mission.
- A — attack, as in AH-1W.
- B — bomber, as in B-1, B-2, B -52.
- C — cargo, as in CH-46, CH-53, C-5. These aircraft are likely to be relatively large and may be used to transport troops.
- E — reconnaissance and surveillance.
- F — fighter, as in F-15.
- FA — fighter/attack, as in FA-18.
- H — helicopter.
- T — trainer
Spell out full name of squadron on first reference. On second reference, use abbreviation and hyphenate. Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-97 deployed aboard USS Carl Vinson. During their deployment, VFA-97 maintained a perfect safety record.
An assault rifle capable of firing in semi-automatic and automatic using a selector switch. Originally manufactured in the former Soviet Union, the rifle is now made in several countries. There are many U.S. manufacturers who produce a weapon that is similar in looks to an AK-47, but they are not the same, since they can only be fired in semi-automatic mode. When used in a police story, do not use this form unless the police have confirmed this is indeed the type of weapon used. Use "an AK-47-style weapon." Or "a weapon similar in looks to an AK-47."
ABM is acceptable on second reference.
A lightweight semi-automatic weapon made by Colt, and available to the civilian market. There are many variations of this rifle including the Bushmaster .223. While they may look like the military's M16, these are not assault rifles. AR stands for Armalite, the original company that designed the weapon. It does not stand for assault rifle. The form to use is semi-automatic weapon or semi-automatic rifle.
Governs the military equivalent of a grand jury under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Use Article 32 investigation or Article 32 hearing on first reference, hearing or investigation thereafter.
Associated Press has change its style: to a rifle that is capable of being fired in fully automatic and semi-automatic modes, at the user’s option. Designed for, and used by, military forces. Also used by some law enforcement agencies. The form: an M16 assault rifle, an AK-47 assault rifle. Updated: Nov. 22, 2010
A generic term used for semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15 or Bushmaster .223. The term is not interchangeable with assault rifle. Different state and federal laws may define the term assault weapon differently, so it is important that the reporter explain whether they are using the generic term or the legal term as defined by the jurisdiction.
A four-engine, swing-wing bomber. B-1B or Lancer is acceptable on second reference.
A four-engine bomber -- the “stealth bomber.” B-2 or Spirit is acceptable on second reference.
An eight-engine, multi-role bomber. B-52 or Stratofortress is acceptable on second reference. BUFF or other nicknames are not used.
An outdated term used only in a historical sense. Use dormitory.
Acceptable when referring to an Army and Air Force Exchange Service outlet at an Air Force installation. BX is acceptable on second reference. Lowercase unless preceded by the name of the installation: Lackland Air Force Base Exchange or Lackland Base Exchange.
An unsuccessful invasion of Cuba by 1,500 Cuban exiles with limited U.S. support on April 17, 1961.
The supply of vital necessities to West Berlin by U.S. air transports from June 1948 through September 1949. It was a continuous flow of American planes, totalling 277,000 flights with more than 2 million tons of supplies.
Former name of a private military and security company. It is now known as Xe Services LLC. The company says there was no meaning in the new name.
A civilian semi-automatic rifle based on the AR-15 "look and feel." This is not an automatic rifle. The rifle is made by Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC, a supplier of AR15-type rifles manufactured in aluminum and carbon fiber.
A four-engine transport used primarily for tactical airlift. The latest model is the C-130J Super Hercules; Es and Hs remain in the inventory. C-130 or Hercules is acceptable on second reference. See also AC-130, EC-130, HC-130, MC-130 and WC-130.
A four-engine jet transport capable of large deliveries of all types of cargo to small, austere airfields. C-17 or Globemaster is acceptable on second reference.
A four-engine jet transport that is one of the largest aircraft in the world. C-5 or Galaxy is acceptable on second reference.
Academy or ROTC cadets are identified as Cadet Thomas Gaines on first reference. Cadet Gaines is acceptable thereafter.
A lightweight rifle with a barrel length of less than 20 inches. The form: an M4 carbine.
Not hyphenated.
Outdated term; use only in historical sense. Correct term is dining facility.
By federal law, the Civil Air Patrol is an official Air Force auxiliary with headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. CAP is acceptable on second reference.
The Associated Press writes "A device to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit, ready for insertion into the gun. Clips are generally used to load obsolete military rifles. Clip is not the correct term for a detachable magazine commonly used in modern military rifles, assault rifles, assault weapons, submachine guns and semi-automatic pistols. However, they are incorrect that clips are used for obsolete military rifles. Clips are still used today for various hunting rifles. Stripper clips also are used by the military and civilians for fast transfer of cartridges to a magazine.
This is the Marines official designation for Marine personnel assigned to such duty. Avoid using when referring civilians; use war reporter, military reporter or combat reporter instead.
Use CIC in second reference. A section of a ship filled with electronic equipment that collects data and provides tactical information.
Lowercase unless preceded by the name of the installation: base commissary, Langley Commissary.
An officer below the rank of major.
Plural is courts-martial.
The Air Force version of the V-22 Osprey. It is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. CV-22 or Osprey is acceptable on second reference. (V-22 is the Navy and Marine version of the same aircraft.
In naval usage, measures necessary aboard ship to preserve and reestablish watertight integrity, stability, maneuverability, and offensive power; to control list and trim; to effect rapid repairs of materiel; to limit the spread of and provide adequate protection from fire; to limit the spread of, remove the contamination by, and provide adequate protection from chemical, biological, and radiological agents; and to provide for care of wounded personnel.
It's not "day of infamy."
DIA is acceptable on second reference.
Use military spending.
Stand for Distant Early Warning line. A line of radar and communications equipment deployed along northern Alaska and Canada designed to detect and track incoming Soviet ballistic missiles.
AP style is to lowercase the expression. The informal name for the federal law that barred gays from serving openly in the military from Dec. 23, 1993 to Sept. 20, 2011.
There are two types of drones to be aware of, the first and most common today are remotely control unmanned aircraft or watercraft. The second are target drones. Prior to the 1960s these were towed by an aircraft of ship and used for target practice by gunners. The latter would be more familiar to military personnel from World War II to the Vietnam War.
A four-engine, modified Boeing 707-320 used as an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications needed by commanders of U.S. and NATO air forces. See airborne warning and control system.
A four-engine, modified Boeing 707 equipped with an airto-ground surveillance system designed to track ground targets in all weather conditions. E-8C Joint STARS is acceptable on first reference, but explain later that STARS stands for Surveillance Target Attack Radar System. Also apropriate is J-STAR.
A Navy electronicattack aircraft that jams enemy radar, electronic data links and communications.
ECM is acceptable on second reference.
Capitalize the names of exercises: Red Flag; Cope Thunder 04-02. Capitalize "Exercise" only if it is part of the official title.
A single-seat, twinengine, low-observable aircraft designed to exploit stealth technology. F-117 or Nighthawk is acceptable on second reference. Flown by Air Force pilots, it is no longer in the inventory.
A single-seat, twin-turbofan air-to-air fighter flown by the Air Force. F-15 or Eagle is acceptable on second reference.
A two-seat, dualrole version of the F-15 designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. F-15E or Strike Eagle is acceptable on second reference. Flown by Air Force pilots.
A single-seat, single-engine, multi-role fighter. Do not use informal “Viper.” F-16 or Fighting Falcon is acceptable on second reference. Flown by Air Force pilots.
A single-seat, twin-engine, multi-role fighter. Don’t include “A” as in F-22A. F-22 or Raptor is acceptable on second reference. Flown by Air Force pilots.
A multi-role, tri-service fighter being developed to replace current aircraft. F-35, Lighting II, JSF acceptable on second reference.
One word. This is AP's style as of March 2011.
- George C. Marshall (16 Dec 1944)
- Douglas MacArthur (18 Dec 1944)
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (20 Dec 1944)
- Henry H. Arnold (21 Dec 1944)
- Omar Bradley (20 Sep 1950)
- William D. Leahy (15 Dec 1944)
- Ernest J. King (17 Dec 1944)
- Chester W. Nimitz (19 Dec 1944)
- William F. Halsey, Jr. (11 Dec 1945)
- Henry H. Arnold (21 Dec 1944)
Use as two words.
Two words.
It is hyphenated.
The first is used as a noun; the second is used as an adjective. Troops on the frontline need supplies. Front line troops are the most in need.
guided bomb unit
Use with the "s"; that is the official name.
It is a high altitude reconnaissance and surveillance platform. Can be referred to as an unmanned aircraft (UA) or a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).
Do not use Global War on Terror or GWOT unless in a quote. The correct phrase is war on terrorism. See the book for more information.
Use war on terror (all lower case). See "Military Reporters Stylebook and Reference Guide" for more information.
Correct form for the war that was from Aug. 2, 1990 to Feb. 28, 1991.
Gulf War syndrome, or Gulf War illness, affects veterans and civilians who were near conflicts during or downwind of a chemical weapons depot demolition, after the 1991 Gulf War. A wide range of acute and chronic symptoms have included fatigue, loss of muscle control, headaches, dizziness and loss of balance, memory problems, muscle and joint pain, indigestion, skin problems, immune system problems, and birth defects. Approximately 250,000 of the 697,000 veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War are afflicted with enduring chronic multi-symptom illness, a condition with serious consequences. Exposure to toxic chemicals is currently believed to be the cause of the illness. Several specific causes have been investigated, including pyridostigmine bromide (PB) nerve gas antidote (NAPP) pills, organophosphate military strength pesticides, chemical weapons, and depleted uranium. Causes which have been ruled out include post traumatic stress disorder, anthrax vaccinations and smoke from oil well fires, though these exposures may have led to various illnesses and symptoms in a limited number of Gulf War veterans.
In the modern Navy, falsifying reports or records.
A generic term for a type of combat aircraft, like fighter or bomber. See AC-130 entry.
A highly modified version of the Army Black Hawk helicopter, its primary mission is to conduct day or night operations into hostile environments to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel during war. HH-60G or Pave Hawk is acceptable on second reference
One word in all uses: The Navy's newest homeport will be Detroit. The ship is homeported in San Diego.
Military personnel arrive in country. Once there, they have and in-country presence.
The nation formerly called Persia. Associated Press does not consider this an Arab country. The official name of the country is the Islamic Republic of Iran. Uppercase Islamic Revolution when referring to the 1979 event. The people are Iranians, not Persians or Irani. The official language is Persian, also known as Farsi.
Lowercase war. The war in Iraq can also be used. However, "Iraqi" war is incorrect. The war started with the invasion on March 19, 2003. Combat operations ended Aug. 18, 2010 when the last Army brigade left Iraq for Kuwait.
Use intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft in first reference; ISR aircraft thereafter.
Acceptable on second reference for joint direct attack munition.
On second reference, refer to a base as JB (Air Force tie). e.g. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst would be JB McGuire on second reference. Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, on second reference, will be JB Carswell. AFRC's 10th AF and 301st Fighter Wing are stationed there as well as the Texas Air National Guard's 136th Airlift Wing.
Use when identifying the F-35 Lightning II.
Stands for Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System. It is a long-range, air-to-ground surveillance system aboard an Air Force Boeing 707. The system is designed to locate, classify and track ground targets in all weather conditions. While flying in friendly airspace, JSTARS uses a side-glancing radar system that can detect and track ground movements in real time and relay that information to command centers or to individual troops on the ground. The radar has a range of more than 150 miles.
A lieutenant or captain.
A three-engine aerial refueler also capable of carrying cargo. KC-10 or Extender is acceptable on second reference.
A four-engine aerial refueler also capable of carrying cargo. KC-135 or Stratotanker is acceptable on second reference.
See assault rifle.
Associated Press: The ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a firearm. It may be fixed to the firearm or detachable. It is not a clip.
The highest honor in the military. There is no "Congressional" in front of it. No one wins it. See Military Stylebook for more information.
Avoid medevac except in direct quotes.
A smaller version of the MRAP ideal for off-road work and narrow trails or paths. M-ATV can be used on second reference.
An armored vehicle designed to survive IED attacks, ambushes. MRAP is acceptable on second reference.
An intercontinental ballistic missile. Minuteman III missile is acceptable in all references.
A remotely piloted aircraft used for reconnaissance and for strike missions with the laser-guided Hellfire missile. Predator alone is acceptable in all uses. It is part of a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) which technically means a system including the aircraft, the ground-control system, the satellite link and personnel.
A remotely piloted aircraft used for eliminating targets and for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is larger and more powerful than the MQ-1 Predator. Reaper alone is acceptable in all uses. It is part of a remotely piloted aircraft system which technically means a system including the aircraft, the ground-control system, the satellite link and personnel. For a quick reference to avoid confusion, MQ-9 horizontal stabilizers point upward.
M.A.D. is a military strategy in which a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two opposing sides would effectively result in the destruction of both the attacker and the defender, becoming thus a war that has no victory nor any armistice but only total destruction. The term applied to the Soviet Union and the U.S. wherein both countries had enough nuclear power to destroy each other completely. It was considered a deterrent to either side starting a war.
The official Air Force museum and the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world. Established in 1923, the museum is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Do not use Air Force Museum.
NSA is acceptable on second reference.
Official title for those who fly aircraft in the Navy and Coast Guard. Use in first reference, pilot may be use afterward.
On 22 March 1915, "Naval Aviator" replaced the title "Navy Air Pilot" for officers who became qualified as aviators.
Acceptable in all references to noncommissioned officer.
An Army project begun in 1945 to develop missiles for air defense. Several Nike missiles were developed and deployed, including the Nike-Ajax and Nike-Hercules. The project delivered the first operational anti-aircraft missile system in 1953.
Spell out Air Force; not 12th AF, but 12th Air Force.
Do not hyphenate.
The combat operation in Afghanistan. OEF is acceptable on second reference. This is government propaganda in name usage (see book for more details). Avoid using unless in a quote; use war in Afghanistan.
The combat operation in Iraq. OIF is acceptable on second reference. This is government propaganda in its name usage; avoid using, unless in a quote; use war in Iraq.
Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom When citing both together in one sentence, operations is lower case and Freedom must appear for both.
This is jargon, avoid using. Optempo would be used in second reference.
What close-air-support aircraft provide ground troops.
A major command with headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. PACAF is acceptable on second reference.
Forces or groups distinct from the regular armed forces of any country, but resembling them in organization, equipment, training, or mission.
Specially trained personnel qualified to penetrate a location by land or parachute, provide medical aid, accomplish survival methods, and rescue survivors.
Experienced aircraft crews who lead a formation to the drop zone, release point, or target. 2. Teams dropped or air landed at an objective to establish and operate navigational aids for the purpose of guiding aircraft to drop and landing zones. 3. A radar device used for navigating or homing to an objective when visibility precludes accurate visual navigation. 4. Teams delivered by aircraft into enemy territory for the purpose of determining the best approach and withdrawal lanes, landing zones, and sites for helicopter-borne forces.
Two words, unless used as a modifier (peace-keeping force). Military operations undertaken with the consent of all major parties to a dispute, designed to monitor and facilitate implementation of an agreement (ceasefire, truce, or other such agreement) and support diplomatic efforts to reach a long-term political settlement. See also peace building; peace enforcement; peacemaking; peace operations.
Use Arabian Gulf. "Gulf" is acceptable in second reference. Note: The Arabian Sea is its own body of water and should not be confused with references to the Arabian Gulf.
Use Gulf War. The war was from Aug. 2, 1990 to Feb. 28, 1991. See Gulf War.
Pilot call signs or nicknames will not be used in news stories, unless they are integral to the story. Some may be deemed unsuitable for use. If a full name cannot be used because of security reasons, the rank and first name will be used instead.
Don't use. This fall into the category as pre-recorded, pre-register.
Acceptable in all references to MQ-1 Predator.
Acceptable on second reference for Quadrennial Defense Review.
Acceptable in all references to MQ-9 Reaper.
Acceptable in all references for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineers. If possible, explain the acronym in the story as a secondary fact: RED HORSE stands for Rapid…
Use retired before rank/rate and name. Do not capitalize. Do not use abbreviated after a name.
Generally refers to the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk.. UAS also is acceptable term. Do not use UAV. Don't use "operator;" the aircraft is flown by an RPA pilot, but avoid "remotely piloted aircraft pilot" -- that's redundant.
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty signed in 1972. It froze numbers of ICBMs and SLBMs in place for five years and restricted the deployment of anti-ballistic missiles.
It is not a rank – do not use Col. (Sel) John Smith. The correct title is Lt. Col. John Smith.
Use with a hyphen (AP style since 2008). AP has conflicting ways of spelling, sometimes it uses the hyphen other times it does not. The AP prefers the hyphen when used for weapons. Semi-automatic means the trigger must be pulled once for each round shot; one trigger pull, one round. From a military standpoint, any rifle that is semi-automatic is technically not an assault rifle. They may look like one, but they're not. The AR-15 and the Bushmaster .223 are examples of semi-automatic rifles; they are not assault rifles. The confusion comes to when different state and federal laws categorizes semi-automatic rifles as "assault rifles." If you're writing about a specific law, explain the difference. AP defines semi-automatic rifles as "assault weapons."
Associated Press preference is service member.
Use servicemember when either a man or woman could be affected or included.
This is the formal name for the Green Berets. It is not a generic term.
Units who are part of the U.S. Special Operations Command that include specific units such as the Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Delta and Airborne units, Air Force Special Tactics teams (Combat Controllers, Pararescuemen, and Special Operations Weathermen), Marine Corps Special Operations Command units (MARSOC) and Army Special Forces (also known as Green Berets). Note: Special Forces is not a generic term.
Capitalized when used with a number to designate a particular squadron: He works at the 37th Mission Support Squadron. He works at the mission support squadron
Use Strategic Air Command in first reference, SAC in subsequent. Operated from March 21, 1946 to June 1, 1992. Strategic Air Command also controlled the infrastructure necessary to support the strategic bomber and ICBM operations, such as aerial refueling tanker aircraft to refuel the bombers in flight, strategic reconnaissance aircraft, command post aircraft, and, until 1957, fighter escorts.
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in first reference, START on second.
Strategic Defense Initiative on first reference, SDI in subsequent. An anti-ballistic missile research program dedicated to finding technology to destroy incoming ICBMs. It bagan in 1983.
A lightweight automatic gun firing handgun ammunition.
A two-seat, twin-engine jet used to train student pilots. T-37 or Tweet is acceptable on second reference. No longer in the Air Force inventory as July 31, 2009.
A two-seat, twin-engine supersonic jet used to train Air Force pilots. T-38 or Talon is acceptable on second reference.
A single-engine, two-seat trainer designed to train students in basic flying skills common to Air Force and Navy pilots. T-6 or Texan II is acceptable on second reference.
A major Air Force command from March 21, 1946 to June 1, 1992. It was replaced by the Air Combat Command.
Outmoded term replaced by force protection condition.
The Air Force precision flying demonstration team that flies red, white and blue aircraft. Members of the Thunderbirds make up the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron.
Use Tomahawk cruise missile in first reference, cruise missile in second.
The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is an all-weather, long-range, subsonic cruise missile used for land attack warfare, launched from Navy surface ships and Navy and Royal Navy submarines.
Features
Tomahawk carries a nuclear or conventional payload. The conventional, land-attack, unitary variant carries a 1,000-pound-class warhead (TLAM-C) while the submunitions dispenser variant carries 166 combined-effects bomblets (TLAM-D).
Tomahawk Block IV (TLAM-E) is the latest improvement to the Tomahawk missile family. Block IV capability enhancements include: (a) increased flexibility utilizing two-way satellite communications to reprogram the missile in-flight to a new aimpoint or new preplanned mission, send a new mission to the missile en route to a new target, and missile health and status messages during the flight; (b) increased responsiveness with faster launch timelines, mission planning capability aboard the launch platform, loiter capability in the area of emerging targets, the ability to provide battle damage indication in the target area, and the capability to provide a single-frame image of the target or other areas of interest along the missile flight path; and (c) improved affordability with a production cost of a Block IV significantly lower than the cost of a new Block III and a 15-year Block IV recertification interval compared to the eight-year interval for Block III.
The cruise missiles are designed to fly at extremely low altitudes at high subsonic speeds, and are piloted over an evasive route by several mission tailored guidance systems. The first operational use was in Operation Desert Storm, 1991.
Each missile is stored and launched from a pressurized canister that protects it during transportation and storage and acts as a launch tube. These canisters used in Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) on surface ships, Capsule Launch Systems (CLS) in the later Los Angeles class submarines, and in submarines' torpedo tubes.
For submarine-launched missiles (called UGM-109s), after being ejected by gas pressure (vertically via the VLS) or by water impulse (horizontally via the torpedo tube), the missile exits the water and a solid-fuel booster is ignited for the first few seconds of airborne flight until transition to cruise.
(n., adj.) The pilot performed a touch and go. Student pilots practice touch-and-go landings.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the result of a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of such an injury may range from “mild”—a brief change in mental status or consciousness—to “severe,” an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. The terms "concussion" and "mild TBI" (mTBI) are interchangeable. For more information, visit http://www.dvbic.org/
Uppercase when writing about a specific designation system. Example: The Tri-Service F-35 is an expensive system. Lowercase when used in a generic form. Example: "the tri-service system will be built."
The three legs of the nuclear deterrent force: manned bombers, ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Triad is not an acronym.
A military health care program with three options: Tricare Prime, Tricare Extra and Tricare Standard. It is not an acronym (not TRICARE).
The Associated Press and New York Times describe "troop" as a group of people, often military. Plural is troops. When used with a number as in 200,000 troops, it means persons. Reporters should use this term more narrowly to mean ground combat forces, as opposed to a specialty branch unit such as a Patriot missile battery. In this case, the use of troops would be used lower in the story. Example: "US sends troops to Turkey." The recent story was about 150 soldiers attached to a anti-aircraft missile battery. To be clearer, the headline and lede to they story should have been "US sends missile battery to Turkey."
A single-seat, single-engine, highaltitude reconnaissance aircraft.
Use U.S. Military Academy in first reference, West Point in subsequent.
Unmanned aircraft system; use unmanned aircraft when referring to just the aircraft. UA acceptable on second ref. Used interchangeably with RPA. (See RPA)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Outdated term, no longer used.
One word.
Should be used in addition to a unit's given name in news stories only when it is the way the command prefers to be known: the Darkhorse battalion; Betio Bastards. Capitalize without quotation marks, When a nickname is explained after the identification of the unit, use quotation marks: 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, known as the "Betio Bastards."
Veteran is not capitalized in news stories. It is a common noun, unless used in a formal name of an organization, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Former name for what is now Veterans Affairs.
Associated Press uses "war on terror." Lowercase.
No longer exists. There were seven Warsaw Pact nations: the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania.
Use in second reference. Use U.S. Military Academy in first reference.
The Navy's designation for the western Pacific, west of the Hawaiian Islands.
Use in first reference, WWII in subsequent references.
Formerly known as Blackwater USA. The company says there is no meaning to its new name.
Communications code word for the letter Z. Used by aviators in reference to Greenwich Mean Time — mean solar time of the Greenwich meridian used as the basis of standard time throughout the world. Sometimes referred to as universal time.
[...] and have been providing special uniforms to engine room, flight-related, firefighters and damage control personnel since then. But this means other personnel working in spaces with fuel lines, oil, steam, [...]