Military Glossary

Fleet ballistic missile submarine
(DOD) A nuclear-powered submarine designed to deliver ballistic missile attacks against assigned targets from either a submerged or surfaced condition. Designated as SSBN.

Flexible Deterrent Option
(DOD) A planning construct intended to facilitate early decision by laying out a wide range of interrelated response paths that begin with deterrent-oriented options carefully tailored to send the right signal. The Flexible Deterrent Option is the means by which the various deterrent options available to a commander (such as economic, diplomatic, political, and military measures) are implemented into the planning process.

Flight operations center
(DOD) The element of the tactical Army air traffic regulation system which provides for aircraft flight following, separation of aircraft under instrument conditions, and identification of friendly aircraft to friendly air defense agencies.
Flight readiness firing
(DOD) A missile system test of short duration conducted with the propulsion system operating while the missile is secured to the launcher. Such a test is performed to determine the readiness of the missile system and launch facilities prior to flight test.

Floating reserve
(DOD, NATO) In an amphibious operation, reserve troops which remain embarked until needed.

Fly(ing) at speed
(DOD) In air intercept, a code meaning, "Fly at (mach__/__) indicated air speed," or, "My indicated air speed is (__ knots/mach __)."

FOB
See forward operating base; forward operations base.

Follow-up echelon
(DOD, NATO) In air transport operations, elements moved into the objective area after the assault echelon.

Force requirement number
(DOD) An alphanumeric code used to uniquely identify force entries in a given operation plan time-phased force and deployment data.

Force structure
See military capability.

Foreign instrumentation signals intelligence
(DOD) Technical and intelligence information derived from the intercept of foreign electromagnetic emissions associated with the testing and operational deployment of non-US aerospace, surface, and subsurface systems. Foreign instrumentation signals intelligence is a subcategory of signals intelligence. Foreign instrumentation signals include, but are not limited to, telemetry, beaconry, electronic interrogators, and video data links.

Foreshore
(DOD) That portion of a beach extending from the low water (datum) shoreline to the limit of normal high water wave wash.

Formerly restricted data
(DOD) Information removed from the Restricted Data category upon a joint determination by the Department of Energy (or antecedent agencies) and Department of Defense that such information relates primarily to the military utilization of atomic weapons and that such information can be adequately safeguarded as classified defense information. (Section 142d, Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.)

Forward aeromedical evacuation
(DOD, NATO) That phase of evacuation which provides airlift for patients between points within the battlefield, from the battlefield to the initial point of treatment, and to subsequent points of treatment within the combat zone.

Forward slope
(DOD, NATO) Any slope which descends towards the enemy.

Fox away
(DOD) In air intercept, a code meaning, "Missile has fired or been released from aircraft."

Free air overpressure
(DOD, NATO) The unreflected pressure, in excess of the ambient atmospheric pressure, created in the air by the blast wave from an explosion.

Frequency deconfliction
(DOD) A systematic management procedure to coordinate the use of the electromagnetic spectrum for operations, communications, and intelligence functions. Frequency deconfliction is one element of electromagnetic spectrum management.

Fulton Recovery System
(DOD) A method used for quickly extracting personnel from isolated areas that consists of a kit containing a harness, tow line, and helium-inflated balloon dropped to an individual(s) by a specially designed aircraft that is capable of snaring the tow line and extracting the harnessed individual(s) from the area.

Fuze (specify
(DOD) In artillery and naval gunfire support, a command or request to indicate the type of fuze action desired; i.e., delay, quick, time, proximity.

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