Patrol
Patrolling is the standard implemented military tactic used by the armed forces of a nation. Small groups or individual units are deployed from a larger formation to achieve a specific objective and then return. The tactic of patrolling may be applied to ground troops, armored units, naval units, and combat aircraft. The duration of a patrol will vary from a few hours to several weeks depending on the nature of the objective and the type of units involved. A patrol has applications with regular forces and special operations forces. There are several types of patrols.
1. Combat Patrol
Combat Patrol or 'CP' is the standard mission for military forces that mainly involves projecting force and security by deploying forces into the field to establish a presence and to search and root for targets in designated or suspected areas. Typically accomplished by standard units, but occassionally utilized by SOF to position into an AO or serve a secondary objective alongside standard units. 2. Clearing Patrol
Typically a brief patrol around a newly occupied defensive position in order to ensure that the immediate area is secure. Clearing patrols are often undertaken on the occupation of a location, and during stand to in the transition from night to day routine and vice versa. When used in conjunction with Combat Patrols, a clearing patrol is designated as a patrol in which the objective is to clear out areas of hostile fighters, vehicles and weapon caches as well the clearance of Improvised Explosive Devices and other explosives. |
3. Standing Patrol
A static patrol, known as an OP/LP(Observation Post/Listening post) in US and NATO terminology. Standing patrols are usually small (half squad) static patrols intended to provide early warning, security or to guard some geographical feature, such as dead ground. 4. Reconnaissance Patrol
A recce patrol is consistent of usually a small element whose main mission is the gathering of information. Generally speaking recce patrols tend to avoid contact, although it is not uncommon for recon patrols to "fight for information". 5. Screening Patrol
A screening patrol combines a number of patrols to 'screen' a large area. This type of patrol is often used by armored formations in desert theaters, and also by ground troops operating in primarily rural areas. A screen is generally composed of a number of static observation posts. |
Battle area ingress/egress
Friendly forces will insert into battle area, during or after conflict, engage hostile forces if necessary then conduct and scale after-action reports and battle damage assessments, as well as other important data collection for intelligence analysis and the destruction and collection of specific and sensitive materials such as weapons, documents and equipment and then egress the area.
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Locate and fix the enemy
Involves friendly forces finding and identifying enemy forces but not engaging, maintaining surveillance once located, assessing the capabilities and intentions, and reporting those findings to higher elements for direct mission and assault planning. Typically monitoring locations and specific key structures used by hostile forces.
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Engage the enemyFriendly forces locate, and close with the enemy, to kill or capture him, to seize and hold ground, by day or night, regardless of season, weather or terrain as well as destroy the enemy with fire and manoeuvre, and to repel the enemy assault by fire and close combat in a rural or urban setting, in hostile environments, with minimized/controlled collateral damage.
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Combat Raid (Conventional)Though standard in special operations and irregular warfare mission profiles, a conventional combat raid is directed with limited attack capabilities and typically is a precise and coordinated attack on a fixed location with the intention of performing of two things:
1. Establish a forward point from detracted forces. 2. Probing a fixed, usually defended position to either establish the strength of the point, or the weaknesses along the points' area of surveillance and responsibility. |
Rapid staff planningThe capability to rapidly plan and be prepared to commence execution of operations within six (6) hours of receipt of the warning order/alert order. Commencement of operations is signified by the launch of forces by air and/or surface means. This may range from the insertion of reconnaissance and surveillance assets in support of the mission to the actual launch of an assault force. Rapid staff planning and execution is a key to overall operational success.
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Joint force interoperabilityThe Fighting Eleventh is normally committed in conjunction with joint or combined task force (J/CTF) operations. Joint/combined force interoperability is a shared responsibility of the force commander and subordinate elements. Interoperability depends on compatible C5ISR equipment and standardized procedures while embracing common terminology and techniques. The objective is a thorough understanding of mutual command and control procedures, capabilities, and limitations developed through continual participation in joint and combined exercises.
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FORCE AssaultFriendly forces conduct raids and assaults via air and/or surface, to include amphibious assault, means from extended ranges in order to inflict loss or damage upon opposing forces, create diversions, capture and/or evacuate individuals and material by swift incursion into an objective area followed by a planned withdrawal. Force Assault and amphibious raids are the primary operational focus for the 11th Marine Division and forward-operating MEU(SOC)s.
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Limited-objective attacksAssaults based on limited force. Typically conducted in conjunction with raids. Limited attacks are only applied whenever friendly forces have limited interoperability to conduct a long-scale offensive against hostile forces and objectives. During specialized assaults, raid forces attack and hold specific key locations for additional follow up forces to assist and establish a forward-operating point. Commonly used in beach-head assaults.
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Non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO)Friendly forces conduct NEO by evacuating and protecting noncombatants in either a permissive or non-permissive environment. This capability includes the requirement to provide a security force, evacuation control center, recovery force, medical support, and transportation of evacuees.
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Humanitarian MissionsUsually done in the contexts of supporting diminished capacity communities in developing nations. This typically involves flooding developing nations with support and humanitarian supplies such as food, water and medical supplies and aid, supporting and defending refugees, demining of minefields, and disaster relief after a hurricance, flood or any other natural disaster has devastated an area.
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show of force operationsFriendly forces engage in show of force operations, that include but are not limited to; security assistance, combat applicability, assistance of local inhabitants, intelligence and law enforcement assistance, demoralization of hostile influence, neutralization of key weapon and enemy platforms, detainment of prisoners, demonstrations, presence of forces, or flyovers in support of U.S. interests.
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MAritime Security OperationsFriendly forces conduct security operations to protect U.S. (or designated Allied / friendly nation) property and noncombatants in maritime areas, including aerial and maritime interdiction with water and aerial-based craft to prevent enemy forces from threatening and harming specific interests within maritime regions. The Fighting Eleventh and Forward-operating MEU(SOC)s typically are capable and establish an integrated local security perimeter, screening for explosive devices, and providing personal protection to designated individuals.
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Mobile training teams - Allied assistance (MTT)Friendly forces and security force assistance teams provide training and interoperability to assigned individuals, groups, or units within their respective branch as well as other branches of the United States Armed Forces and Government. Also applies to the training of another nations armed forces or paramilitary / law enforcement units in specific concepts and developments to assist and provide foreign nations with increased warfighting and domestic handling skills.
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Rapid Reaction DutiesAn armed combatant element capable of rapidly responding to developing situations in very short time frames to emergencies, typically to assist allied units in need of such assistance. Secondary objectives are to intervene quickly as a spearhead to gain and hold ground in quickly unfolding combat or low intensity conflicts. They typically have equipment ready to respond to any type of emergency, typically within ten minutes or less.
The speed at which a QRF is expected to react is defined by its readiness condition, or REDCON, level. The mission and vehicle profile of a QRF can vary widely, as they are used to respond to any threat the commander chooses to employ them for. |
Civil–military operations –civil assistanceCivil affairs units help military commanders by working with civil authorities and civilian populations in the commander’s area of operations to lessen the impact of military operations and violence on them during peace, contingency operations and declared war.
CA units act as a liaison between the civilian inhabitants of a warzone or disaster area and the military presence, both informing the local commander of the status of the civilian populace as well as effecting assistance to locals by either coordinating military operations with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and IGO's. Civil affairs units also provide aid and services such as medical and dental care, minor construction repair to civilian facilities, temporary assistance to local government, and assistance to counter the devastation caused by a manmade or natural disaster. |
Tactical deception operationsFriendly forces design and implement tactical deception operations plans in order to deceive the enemy through psychological operations, information warfare, visual deception and other methods, electronic means, feints, demonstrations, and ruses which cause the enemy to react or fail to react in a manner which assists in the accomplishment of the overall mission. As a form of strategic use of information (disinformation), it overlaps with psychological warfare. To the degree that any enemy that falls for the deception will lose confidence when it is revealed, he may hesitate when confronted with the truth.
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Fire support CoordinationFriendly forces control and coordinate naval surface fire, air support and ground fire support coordination measures for U.S. or designated Allied/friendly forces. Fire support is known as fires that directly support land, maritime, amphibious, and special operations forces to engage enemy forces, combat formations, and facilities in pursuit of tactical and operational objectives. Typically, fire support is provided by artillery or close air support (usually directed by a forward observer), and is used to shape the battlefield or, more optimistically, define the battle.
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Tactical recovery of aircraft, equipment and personnel (TRAP)Friendly forces conduct recovery of downed aircraft and personnel, sensitive information and documentation and aircraft sanitization, and provide advanced trauma-life support in a benign or hostile environment. Extensions include civilian and government personnel, prisoners of war and weapons and equipment during in-extremis situations.
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Counter-intelligence operationsBoth conventional and special purpose, friendly forces conduct counterintelligence and human intelligence operations that protect the force against espionage, sabotage, narcotics, proliferation, terrorism, and subversion by developing and providing information the commander can use to undertake countermeasures to protect his resources.
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Counter-insurgency/COINBoth in conventional and special operations capacity, friendly forces conduct counter-insurgency missions to neutralize, nullify, challenge or address the root causes of an insurgency. This can be done by improving living conditions, supporting government in providing services for people and eliminate any support for the insurgency. The main objective of modern counter-insurgency is not to just kill/capture insurgents. It is to siphon and strangle support for the insurgency, therefore effectively neutralizing it's capacity to continue operations. This can work in conjunction with intelligence gathering. Typically, the local populace when being supported by a military force rooting out insurgents, will intentionally or inadvertently release information that leads to the kill or capture of further insurgent targets.
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Initial terminal guidance (ITG)Friendly forces establish and operate navigational, signal, and/or electronic devices to guide rotor-wing, fixed-wing aircraft, naval surface and armored vehicles as well as surface waves from a designated point to a landing zone or beach. Often utilized when there is a frequent amount of vehicular traffic or for logistical and transportation needs for friendly forces.
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Electronic warfare/signals intelligenceFriendly forces conduct tactical SIGINT, limited and full ground bases EW, and communications security (COMSEC) monitoring and analysis in direct support of a MAGTF. This is accomplished by employing organic collection and direction finding (DF) equipment as well as through connectivity to national and theater SIGINT/EW assets.
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Military operations in urban terrain (MOUT)Friendly forces conduct military operations in a built-up area. Operations in build up areas is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat is very different from combat in the open at both the operational and tactical level. Complicating factors in urban warfare include the presence of civilians and the complexity of the urban terrain. Urban combat operations may be conducted in order to capitalize on the strategic or tactical advantages with which possession or control of a particular urban area gives or to deny these advantages to the enemy.
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Close quarters battle (CQB)Close Quarters Battle is a tactical concept that involves physical confrontation between several combatants. Friendly special operations forces conduct close fighting missions, employing close quarter battle combat and dynamic assault tactics and techniques.
In a typical close quarters combat scenario, the attackers try a very fast, violent takeover of a vehicle or structure controlled by the defenders, who usually have no easy way to withdraw. |
Direct actionFast-paced missions during which the special operators infiltrate the target, complete their objective, and exfiltrate within a short amount of time. Objectives in direct action missions include raids, ambushes, or direct assault tactics; conduct standoff attacks by fire from air, ground, or maritime platforms; and provide terminal guidance for precision-guided munitions.
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Combat raidA special operations combat raid is a precise and coordinated attack with the intention of achieving one or several objectives:
1. Assault a target suspected or confirmed as housing a high-value target. 2. Attacking a location to conduct SSE (Sensitive Site Exploitation) for possible intelligence or actionable material. 3. Demoralize, confuse or exhaust the enemy. |
4. Destroy specific goods or installations of military or economic value.
5. Free Prisoners of War. 6. Capture enemy combatants for interrogation. |
4. Recover:
Involves coordinated actions of commanders and staffs, recovery forces and the isolated individual. 5. Reintegrate: The primary consideration is the physical and mental health of the recovered personnel. |
Clandestine recovery operationsThe ability in which special operations forces recover downed aviation pilots or other US service members who are isolated, missing, detained, or captured (IMDC) in an operational environment or sensitive materials behind enemy lines; conduct clandestine extraction of personnel or sensitive items from enemy-controlled areas.
THE FIVE PR EXECUTION TASKS
1. Report Begins with the recognition of an isolating event. It must be both timely and accurate. 2. Locate: Involves the effort to find and authenticate isolated personnel. Accurate position and positive ID are generally required prior to committing forces. 3. Support: Involves support for isolated personnel and their families. It can include establishing two-way communications, dropping supplies, or suppressing enemy threats. |
Specialized demolition operationsFriendly special operations forces conduct specialized breaching; to employ specialized demolitions and counter explosive devices in support of conventional and other special operations. This includes an explosive entry capability to support close quarters battle/combat.
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In-extremis hostage rescue (IHR)Friendly special operations forces conduct recovery operations during an in-extremis situation by means of an emergency extraction of hostages and/or sensitive items from a non-permissive environment and expeditiously transport them to a designated safe haven. The IHR capability will only be employed when directed by appropriate authority and when dedicated national assets are unavailable. Emphasis is placed on isolation, containment, employment of reconnaissance assets, and preparation for turnover of the crisis site when/if national assets arrive.
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BLACKLISt manhuntsManhunting of blacklisted high value target involves the deliberate identification, capturing, or killing of senior or otherwise important enemy combatants by special operations forces and intelligence organizations. A manhunt is also defined as an organized search for a person or persons of interest that have usually been charged with a crime. Manhunts are responses to asymmetric tactics adopted by terrorists, insurgents, pirates, narco-traffickers, arms proliferators, and other non-state actors, manhunting has been adopted by special operations and intelligence organizations to reduce collateral damage that would occur during a conventional military assault.
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Counter-terrorismThis mission profile is used in broad spectrum application. To some extent, methods utilized in counter-insurgency also apply to counter-terrorism. The special operations of counter-terrorism spans from pre-emptive strikes on targets of interests, advising the hardening of possible terrorists targets, and direct intervention of forces in response to terrorists attacks. Tactical intervention is the most common form of counter-terrorism. Usually nations will deploy a CTU or a "counter-terrorism unit" in response to terrorist activities. Specialization and training in counter-terrorism makes units capable of intervening in situations such as hostage crisis, sieges, and hijackings.
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Counter-narcoticsOperations conducted by special operations intended to halt the production of illegal narcotics and prevent the distribution of such drugs in the United States. Special operations forces typically work with both local and federal law enforcement agencies in foreign and domestic environments to assist in the countering of narcotics and harmful substances.
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Foreign/domestic securitySpecial operations provide security assistance for valuable assets or important persons; can range anywhere from convoy security to static security of a target. Special operations forces also coordinate as an integrated and synchronized, multi-disciplinary (and often joint, interagency, and international as well) task force to combating actual or threatened insurgency both domestically and in a foreign state. While operating in a foreign state, this is known as Foreign Internal Defense. Foreign states are known as the Host Nation (HN) under US (and generally accepted NATO) doctrine.
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FID involves military deployment of counter-insurgency specialists, that operate with Host Nation security forces for a close working relationship between the HN government and security forces with outside diplomatic, information, intelligence, military, economic, and other specialists. The most successful FID actions suppress actual violence; when combat operations are needed, HN security forces take the lead, with appropriate external support, the external support preferably being in a non-combat support and training role only.
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Key FacilitY SeizureSpecial operations directive to secure airfields, ports, or other key facilities in order to support MAGTF missions or to receive follow-on forces and deny hostile forces means of transportation and key facilities through use of violent and strategic action. Fire support and external mission assets often play a key role in the assistance of capture of key locations.
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Gas and oil platforms operations (GOPLAT)Special operations forces typically conduct seizure and/or destruction of offshore gas and oil platforms in support of military operations and to deny hostile forces the opportunity to gain logistical support and fuel. Gas and oil platforms are offshore platforms, or offshore drilling platforms where a wellbore is drilled below the seabed using a large structure with facilities for well drilling to explore, extract, store, process petroleum and natural gas which lies in rock formations beneath the seabed.
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Visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) is the term used by military and law enforcement agencies for maritime boarding actions and tactics. VBSS teams are designed to capture enemy vessels, combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections in support of maritime interdiction operations.
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Maritime interdiction operations (MIO)Friendly special operations forces organically conduct MIO in support of visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations during day or night on a cooperative, uncooperative, or hostile contact of interest. Maritime interdictions aim to delay, disrupt, or destroy enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area before they do any harm against friendly forces, similar to air interdiction.
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Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organizations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detection by the enemy to conduct clandestine reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence gathering through entry into an objective area by air, surface, or subsurface means in order to perform information collection, target acquisition, and other intelligence collection tasks.
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ISR frequently includes covert direction of air and missile attacks, in areas deep behind enemy lines, placement of remotely monitored sensors and preparations for other special operations forces. Like other special operations, ISR units may also carry out direct action (DA) and unconventional warfare (UW), including guerilla operations.
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Unconventional warfare can be employed in furtherance of one of three strategic outcomes:
1. Overthrow of an existing government or occupying power, 2. Disruption of the operations of that power, or 3. The coercion of that power. Unconventional warfare targets civilian population psychologically to win hearts and minds, and only targets military and political bodies for that purpose, seeking to render the military proficiency of the enemy irrelevant. Limited conventional warfare tactics can be used unconventionally to demonstrate might and power, rather than to substantially reduce the enemy's ability to fight. In addition to the surgical application of traditional weapons, other armaments that specifically target military can be used are: airstrikes, nuclear weapons, incendiary devices, or other such weapons. |
Unconventional WarfareThe Department of Defense defines unconventional warfare as activities conducted to enable a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce, disrupt, or overthrow a government or occupying power by operating through or with an underground, auxiliary, and guerrilla force in a denied area. Whereas conventional warfare is used to reduce the opponent's military capability directly through attacks and maneuvers, unconventional warfare is an attempt to achieve victory indirectly through a proxy force. This can be done by educating the working forces to utilize more efficient methods of resisting or engaging their domestic threats, or supporting them through flow of weapons, equipment and training.
The intent of U.S. Unconventional Warfare efforts is to exploit a hostile power’s political, military, economic, and psychological vulnerabilities by developing and sustaining resistance forces to accomplish U.S. strategic objectives or according to John F. Kennedy: "There is another type of warfare—new in its intensity, ancient in its origin—war by guerrillas, subversives, insurgents, assassins; war by ambush instead of by combat, by infiltration instead of aggression, seeking victory by eroding and exhausting the enemy instead of engaging him. It preys on unrest." |
Offensive OperationsOffensive operations are mainly used during times of war. The purpose of offensive operations is to change the course of events in our favor -- and these types of operations usually include violence and force. However, offensive operations can also be used to deter future conflicts; for example, placing armed service members at civilian checkpoints in combat zones is a type of offensive operation. Armed service members working out of civilian checkpoints is a show of force designed to deter conflict.
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Defensive OperationsDefensive operations are designed to prevent military casualties on our side of the battle while setting the stage for a future offensive operation. During a defensive operation, military forces will protect themselves, their area of operations (commonly called the AO) and any property contained in the AO. When U.S. forces come under attack, commanders gather information and instruct their troops to defend themselves. Generally, commanders plan ahead for these situations and can use experience, strategy and TTPs to turn the tables on the enemy.
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Stability OperationsStability operations hold military situations together during tenuous times. Using psychological operations, latent shows of force and cooperation between local forces and our military, stability operations prevent the U.S. Armed Forces from having to take an offensive or defensive stance. Stability operations cannot be conducted during active combat; rather, stability operations occur before and after periods of active combat. Building community facilities, responding to local crises and training local law enforcement officers are examples of stability operations.
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Support OperationsSupport operations provide reinforcement to local authorities, both foreign and domestic, during times of need. This type of operation can be used concurrently with a stability operation and during defensive operations. When a local military engages an enemy, for example, U.S. forces may lend assistance as requested. Support operations are designed to win wars, resolve conflict and promote peace. Support operations can also include responding to national emergencies and disasters.
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Theater:
This describes an operation over a large, often continental, area of operation and represents a strategic national commitment to the conflict, with general goals that encompass areas of consideration outside of the military, such as the economic and political impact.
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Battle
This describes a subset of a campaign that will have specific military goals and geographic objectives, as well as clearly defined use of forces.
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Engagement:
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Strike/Mission/Sortie
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This describes a tactical combat event or contest for a specific area or objective by actions of distinct units on a small-scale level.
Siege Warfare
In siege warfare, a sortie, or sudden issuing of troops against the enemy from a defensive position, can be launched against the besiegers by the defenders. If the sortie is through a sally port, either to sortie or to sally can be used.
Military Aviation
In military aviation, a sortie is a combat mission of an individual aircraft, starting when the aircraft takes off and ending on its return. For example, one mission involving six aircraft would tally six sorties.
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In general, a Mission or Sortie is a deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops, from a strong-point. The mission, whether by one or more aircraft, vessels or troops, usually has a specific & single task, such as a direct action mission. The mission rate is the number of mission that a given unit can support in a given time.
A Strike describes a single attack, upon a specified target. This often forms part of a broader engagement. Strikes have an explicit goal, such as rendering facilities such as airports inoperable, assassinating enemy leaders, or limiting the delivery of supplies to enemy troops. Evacuations
An evacuation is described as a limited or full-scale retreat from a designated area or region consisting of military personnel, including of a fleet of ships, their accompanying aircraft and submarines, aviation and flights as well ground forces. This particular event and operation is only active if friendly forces are unable to overcome enemy forces in a battle or may be under heavy attack within a base or similar location. This includes an evacuation from a posting in advance to avoid a natural disaster such as a hurricane.
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