Airborne Communications Node (ACN): A consortium of communications equipment (node) placed onboard an airborne platform designed specifically for signal support.

Army Common User System (ACUS): ACUS is a secure, multi-user, high volume command and control, operations/intelligence, and administration/logistics voice and data traffic system. It is an integrated switching system from the battalion through the Theater Army.

Army Data Distribution System (ADDS): ADDS is an integrated C2 communications system providing near real-time transmission capabilities to support high-volume data networks. It provides precise position, location, navigation, identification, and reporting information for units on the battlefield.

Bandwidth: The width of a given band or spectrum of frequencies of interest, expressed in Hertz. The lowest usable frequency subtracted from the highest usable frequency for a communication channel gives its bandwidth. Generally, higher bandwidth channels have greater capacity to convey signal modulated with higher data rates of information.

Battle Command: The art of decision making, leading, and motivating soldiers and their organizations into action to accomplish missions: includes visualizing current state and future state, then formulating concepts of operations to get from one to another at least cost; also includes assigning missions, prioritizing and allocating resources, selecting the critical time and place to act, and knowing how and when to make adjustments during the fight.

Battlefield Operating System (BOS): Major functions performed by the force on the battlefield to successfully execute Army operations (battles and engagements) in order to accomplish military objectives directed by the operational commander; they include maneuver, fire support, air defense, command and control, intelligence, mobility and survivability, and combat service support.

Broadcast: The broadcast communications systems use technology similar to commercial television and radio stations, where transmit-only stations send information to many receive-only stations.

Combat Net Radio (CNR): The term CNR covers a broad spectrum of single-channel radio systems which provide immediate C2 voice capability.

Command & Control On-The-Move (C2OTM): Communications systems that enable a commander to direct the order of battle on a rapidly moving, "fluid" battlefield.

Communications Security (COMSEC): The protection resulting from all measures designed to deny unauthorized persons information of value which might be derived from the possession and study of telecommunications, or a mislead unauthorized persons in their interpretation of the results of such possession and study. Also called COMSEC. COMSEC includes cryptosecurity, transmission security, emission security, and physical security of COMSEC materials and information.

Communications System: An organized assembly of resources which convey information of any kind.

Contingency Communications Package (CCP): VHF/UHF radios and antennas systems installed on command and control aircraft for C2 communications.

Crosslink: A communications link between ACNs that provides connectivity for theater-wide range extension.

Dissimilar Communications Systems: Communications systems that utilize either different frequencies, protocols, computer hardware and/or software systems that prohibit direct transfer of information. These systems require gateways for data format conversions in order to establish signal linkages and data transfers.

Electronic Mail (e-mail): Messages sent and received electronically via telecommunications links between microcomputers or terminals.

Electronic Warfare (EW): Military actions that include: electronic attack-the use of either electromagnetic or directed energy to degrade, neutralize, or destroy an enemy’s combat capability; electronic protection-those actions taken to protect personnel, facilities, and equipment from friendly or enemy employment of electronic warfare; electronic warfare support-those actions tasked by an operational commander to search for, intercept, identify, and locate sources of radiated electromagnetic energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition.

Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS): Optimized for data distribution to support battlefield automated weapons systems. Uses time-division multiple access (TDMA) technology to provide secure, jam-resistant, near-real-time data communications, position location reporting, navigation, and identification services. EPLRS feature integral communications security (COMSEC) and provide antijamming protection with spread spectrum frequency hopping and forward error detection/correction capabilities. EPLRS radios were designed to provide near-real-time data between automated systems and do not have voice capability.

Footprint: A footprint is that area on the Earth’s surface covered by antennas’ beam patterns within the field of view of ground radio systems.

Gateway: A device that connects networks with different network architectures. Gateways use all seven layers of the open systems interconnect (OSI) model and perform protocol conversions.

Global Broadcast System (GBS): A high bandwidth satellite broadcasting system.

Global Positioning System (GPS): A satellite based navigation system.

Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS): Optimized for data distribution to support battlefield automated weapons systems for Air Defense. Uses time-division multiple access (TDMA) technology to provide secure, jam-resistant, near-real-time data communications, position location reporting, navigation, and identification services. JTIDS feature integral communications security (COMSEC) and provide antijamming protection with spread spectrum frequency hopping and forward error detection/correction capabilities. JTIDS radios were designed to provide near-real-time data between automated systems and do not have voice capability.

Integrated System Control (ISYSCON): ISYSCON allows the signal support staff to manage and control the allocation and use of available communications resources on a battlefield. It provides automated and integrated support to Signal Corps-unique C2 functions as well as those technical functions common to communications systems at all echelons.

Information Dominance: The capability to collect, process, and disseminate an uninterrupted flow of information while exploiting or denying an adversary’s ability to do the same.

Information Operations: Continuous combined arms operations that enable, enhance, and protect the commander’s decision cycle and execution while influencing an opponent’s; operations are accomplished through effective intelligence, command and control, and command and control warfare operations, supported by all available friendly information systems; battle command information operations are conducted across the full range of military operations.

Information Warfare (IW): Actions taken to preserve the integrity of one’s own information system from exploitation, to corrupt or destroy an adversary’s information system, and, in the process, to achieve an information advantage in the application of force.

Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE): Is the ACUS for all US Army corps and divisions. MSE integrates the functions of transmission, switching, control and terminal equipment into one system, and provides the user with a switched telecommunications system extended by mobile radiotelephone.

Multilevel Security (MLS): An security architecture which enables a user to access and exchange information at different levels of classification using a single C4I system.

Multichannel SATCOM: Designed to provide range extension to area common user systems.

Multiple Security Levels (MSL): A system architecture that allows the exchange of information at different levels of classification over a single communications transport means. Classification levels are separated using encryption techniques.

Omnidirectional Antennas: Capable of transmitting or receiving signals in all directions.

Over-The-Air Rekeying (OTAR): The distribution of COMSEC variables by the radio network.

Position Location Reporting System (PLRS): A portable position location and navigation system using Frequency and Time Division Multiple Access (FTDMA) technology to provide real-time position tracks on hundreds of ground and air user units.

Protocol: A set of rules or conventions followed by computers to communicate.

Satellite Communications (SATCOM): Term includes both military and commercial satellite communications.

Seamless Communications: Technological capabilities that enable automatic voice and data transfers among dissimilar communications systems throughout an entire network.

Signal Doctrine: Those fundamental principles by which the Signal Corps guides its actions to support national objectives. It is authoritative, but it requires judgment in application.

Signal Linkage: The process of connecting communication systems to transfer information.

Signal Site/Signal Node: A group of signal facilities located at a junction point of a communication system where management, control, and direction of the flow of communication can be exercised.

Signal Support: The collective, integrated, and synchronized use of information systems to support warfighting capabilities across the operational continuum. Also, the implementation of the Information Mission Area (IMA) at the operational through tactical levels of war.

Signal Unit: An element or elements comprised of signal assets whose specific mission involves the installation, operation, and maintenance of signal equipment.

Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS): Short-range, line-of-sight radios that support nets which link elements operation within a small geographic area. The SINCGARS provides these capabilities in the current force.

Standard Tactical Entry Point (STEP): The STEP is an initiative to better utilize the existing Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) strategic earth terminals by providing the warfighters with a standardized set of propositioned circuits for entry into the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN).

Tactical Packet Network (TPN): Primary data exchange medium from the maneuver brigade

through echelon above corps.

UHF Line of Sight: Radios systems utilizing UHF frequency spectrum for direct line of sight connectivity without SATCOM relay.

UHF Surrogate Satellite: Communications equipment designed for airborne platforms (i.e., towers, balloons, manned/unmanned aircraft) to provide UHF connectivity to ground stations, eliminating the need for direct satellite access to connect theater users.

UHF Tactical Satellite (TACSAT): Provides range extension for Combat Net Radios within the theater and via satellite "hops" to worldwide locations.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): An unmanned aerial vehicle piloted by remote control.