Military Glossary

Sparrow
(DOD) An air-to-air solid-propellant missile with nonnuclear warhead and electronic-controlled homing. Designated as AIM-7. The ship-launched surface-to-air version is designated as Sea Sparrow (RIM-7).

Special access program
(DOD) A sensitive program, approved in writing by a head of agency with original top secret classification authority, which imposes need-to-know and access controls beyond those normally provided for access to confidential, secret, or top secret information. The level of controls is based on the criticality of the program and the assessed hostile intelligence threat. The program may be an acquisition program, an intelligence program, or an operations and support program.

Special-equipment vehicle
(DOD) A vehicle consisting of a general-purpose chassis with special-purpose body and/or mounted equipments designed to meet a specialized requirement.

Special operations combat control team
(DOD) A team of Air Force personnel organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. Under clandestine, covert, or low-visibility conditions, these teams establish and control air assault zones; assist aircraft by verbal control, positioning, and operating navigation aids; conduct limited offensive direct action and special reconnaissance operations; and assist in the insertion and extraction of special operations forces.

Special weapons
(DOD) A term sometimes used to indicate weapons grouped for special procedures, for security, or other reasons. Specific terminology, e.g., nuclear weapons, guided missiles, is preferable.

Spectrum of war
(DOD) A term which encompasses the full range of conflict; cold, limited, and general war.

Spin stabilization
(DOD) Directional stability of a projectile obtained by the action of gyroscopic forces that result from spinning of the body about its axis of symmetry.

Sprocket
(DOD, NATO) In naval mine warfare, an anti-sweep device included in a mine mooring to allow a sweep wire to pass through the mooring without parting the mine from its sinker.

Squawk flash
(DOD) A code meaning, "Actuate Identification Friend or Foe I/P switch."

Staballoy
(DOD) Designates metal alloys made from high-density depleted uranium with other metals for use in kinetic energy penetrators for armor-piercing munitions. Several different metals such as titanium or molybdenum can be used for the purpose. The various staballoy metals have low radioactivity that is not considered to be a significant health hazard.

Staging
(DOD) Assembling, holding, and organizing arriving personnel, equipment, and sustaining materiel in preparation for onward movement. The organizing and preparation for movement of personnel, equipment, and materiel at designated areas to incrementally build forces capable of meeting the operational commander's requirements.

Standard SSM (ARM)
(DOD) A surface-to-surface anti-radiation missile equipped with a conventional warhead. It is planned for anti-ship missions and is carried by the FFG-1 class, 8 DDG-2 class units and the PG 98 and 100. Designated as RGM-66D.

Stinger
(DOD) A lightweight, man-portable, shoulder-fired, air defense artillery missile weapon for low altitude air defense of forward area combat troops. Designated as FIM-92A.

Storage or stowage
(DOD) Storage is the act of placing material or ammunition and other supplies onboard the vessel. Stowage relates to the act of securing those items stored in such a manner that they do not shift or move during at-sea periods using methods and equipment as approved by higher authority.

Strategic material (critical)
(DOD) A material required for essential uses in a war emergency, the procurement of which in adequate quantity, quality, or time, is sufficiently uncertain, for any reason, to require prior provision of the supply thereof.

Stuffing
(DOD) Packing of cargo into a container.

SUBROC
See submarine rocket.

Supplementary facilities
(DOD, NATO) Facilities required at a particular location to provide a specified minimum of support for reinforcing forces, which exceed the facilities required to support in-place forces.

Surface action group
(DOD) A temporary or standing organization of combatant ships, other than carriers, tailored for a specific tactical mission.

Sustaining stocks
(DOD, NATO) Stocks to support the execution of approved operational plans beyond the initial predetermined period covered by basic stocks until resupply is available for support of continued operations.

System support manager
See system manager.

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