Glossary
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8mm |
A compact videocassette record/playback tape format that uses eight-millimeter wide magnetic tape, a world-wide standard established in 1983 allowing high-quality video and audio recording. Flexibility, lightweight cameras, and reduced tape storage requirements are among the format's advantages. |
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AAR |
after-action review |
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AC |
active component |
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ACCP |
Army Correspondence Course Program |
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ACUS |
Area Common User System |
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AAFES |
Army and Air Force Exchange Service |
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AFRTS |
Forces Radio and Television Services |
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AIPD |
Army Institute for Professional Development |
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AIT |
advanced individual training |
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AMC |
Army Materiel Command |
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analog |
A method of representing data using continuously varying electrical voltages. Analog video whether transmitted over cables, read from videotapes, or broadcast is subject to degradation due to noise, distortion, and other electronic phenomena. Normal signal levels should be within 0.7 to 1 volt. |
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ANCOC |
Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course |
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AO |
area of operations |
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AR |
Army regulation |
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ASC |
Army Signal Command |
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ASCC |
Army Service Component Command |
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ATRRS |
Army Training Resources and Requirements System |
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audio |
The "other half" of any video production consisting of frequencies corresponding to a normally audible sound wave (20 Hz to 20,000 Hz). The "soundtrack" of a videotape. |
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AV |
audiovisual |
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AVIDP |
Army Visual Information Documentation Program |
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AVIMO |
Army Visual Information Management Office |
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BDA |
battlefield damage assessment |
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BDAR |
battle damage assessment and repair |
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Betacam |
Portable, professional camera/recorder format developed by Sony. Betacam uses a component video system. |
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Betacam SP |
A superior performance version of Betacam. SP uses metal particle tape and a wider bandwidth recording system. |
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Betamax |
Consumer videocassette record/playback tape format using 1/2 inch wide magnetic tape. Developed by Sony, Betamax was the first home VCR format. |
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BIS |
battlefield information system |
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BNCOC |
Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course |
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C2 |
command and control |
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C4ISR |
command, control, communications, computers, information, surveillance, and reconnaissance |
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CA |
civil affairs |
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Camcorder |
Combination of camera and videotape recorder in one device. Camcorders permit easy and rapid photography and recording simultaneously. Camcorders are available in most home video formats: 8mm, HI-8, VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, etc. |
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CBTDEV |
combat developer |
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CCTV |
closed circuit television |
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CE |
communications-electronics |
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CJCSI |
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction |
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CMF |
Career Management Field |
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CNR |
combat net radio |
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COMCAM |
combat camera |
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component video |
Most home video signals consist of combined (composite) video signals, composed of luminance (brightness) information, chrominance (color) information, and sync information. To get maximum video quality, professional equipment and some consumer equipment keep the video components separate. |
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compression |
The process of electronically processing a file to make it use less storage, or to allow more data to be sent down a transmission channel. |
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COP |
common operating picture |
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COTS |
commercial-off-the-shelf |
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DA |
Department of the Army |
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definition |
The aggregate of fine details available on-screen. The higher the image definition, the greater the number of details that can be discerned. |
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digital |
A method of representing data using binary numbers. |
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DINFOS |
Defense Information School |
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DISN |
Defense Information Systems Network |
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distortion |
In video, distortion usually refers to changes in the brightness color portions of a signal. It may contort the picture and produce improper contrast, faulty brightness levels, twisted images, erroneous colors, and snow. In audio, distortion refers to any undesired changes in the waveform of a signal caused by the introduction of spurious elements. The most common audio distortions are harmonic distortion, intermodulation distortion, crossover distortion, transient distortion, and phase distortion. |
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DOD |
Department of Defense |
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DS |
direct support |
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DSN |
Defense Switch Network |
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ECB |
echelons corps and below |
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EN |
engineer |
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FM |
frequency modulation. This is a process used for radio and television audio transmission and videotape recording. A low frequency signal modulates the frequency of a high frequency, radio frequency carrier signal. The original signal is demodulated at the receiver. |
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FOA |
field operating agency |
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FOCI |
foreign ownership, control, or influence |
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G2 |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G2 (Intelligence) |
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G3 |
Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 (Operations and Plans) |
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G6 |
Assistant Chief of Staff for C4 Operations, G6 |
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GIE |
global information environment. Includes all individuals, organizations, or systems, most of which are outside the control of the military or NCA, that collect, process, and disseminate information to national and international audiences. |
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GS |
general support |
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HI-8 |
An improved version of the 8mm-tape format, capable of recording better picture resolution. |
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HQDA |
Headquarters, Department of the Army |
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HUMINT |
human intelligence |
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Hz |
hertz |
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IAW |
in accordance with |
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IO |
information operations. Activities that gain information and knowledge and improve friendly execution of operations while denying an adversary similar capabilities by whatever possible means. |
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IT |
information technology |
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J2 |
Joint Staff Intelligence |
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J3 |
Joint Staff Operations |
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JCMT |
Joint COMCAM Management Team |
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JCS |
Joint Chiefs of Staff |
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JPEG |
joint photographic experts group. A digital compression standard for still video images that allows the image to occupy less memory or disk space. It includes options for trading off between storage space and image quality. |
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JTF |
joint task force |
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LAN |
local area network |
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LOAC |
Law of Armed Conflict |
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LRC |
lesser regional conflict |
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MACOM |
major Army command |
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MATDEV |
materiel developers |
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METT-TC |
mission, enemy, terrain and weather, time, troops available, and civilian considerations |
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MI |
military intelligence |
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MIE |
military information environment |
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MILDEPS |
military departments |
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monitor |
A display that gets its signal directly from a camera or VCR, as opposed to a television. |
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MOS |
military occupational specialty |
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MP |
military police |
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MPEG |
motion/joint photographic experts group. A digital compression standard for moving video images that allows the images to occupy less memory or disk space. It includes options for trading off between storage space and image quality. |
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MTOE |
modified table(s) of organization and equipment |
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multimedia |
A somewhat ambiguous term that describes the ability to combine audio, video, and other information with graphics, control, storage, and other features of computer-based systems. Applications include presentation, editing, interactive learning, games, and conferencing. |
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MVES |
Motion Video Editing System |
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MWO |
modification work order |
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NBC |
nuclear, biological, chemical |
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NCA |
National Command Authority |
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NCO |
noncommissioned officer |
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NCOA |
Noncommissioned Officer Academy |
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NDI |
nondevelopmental item |
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NMPS |
Navy Motion Picture Service |
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OASD(PA) |
Office of the Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) |
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OCOS |
Office of the Chief of Signal |
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ODISC4 |
Office of the Director of Information Systems, Command, Control, Communications, and Computers |
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OJT |
on-the-job training |
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OPA |
other procurement, Army |
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OPCON |
operational control |
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OPDOC |
operational documentation |
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OPLAN |
operation plan |
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OPORD |
operation order |
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OPSEC |
operations security |
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ORF |
operational readiness float |
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OVERLAY |
Keyed insertion of one image into another. Overlay is used, for example, to superimpose computer-generated text on a video image for titling purposes. |
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PA |
public affairs |
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PAM |
pamphlet |
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PE |
peace enforcement |
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PK |
peacekeeping |
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PLL |
prescribed load list |
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PMCS |
preventive maintenance checks and services |
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post-production |
All production work done after the raw video footage and audio elements have been captured. Editing, titling, special effects insertion, image enhancement, audio mixing, and other production work is done during post-production. |
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protocol |
A specific software-based guide or language for linking several devices together. Communication protocols are used between computers and VCRs or edit controllers to allow bi-directional "conversation" between the units. |
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PSYOP |
psychological operations |
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RC |
reserve component |
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RDTE |
research, development, test, and evaluation |
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resolution |
A measure of the ability to reproduce detail. Generally referred to as horizontal resolution and evaluated by establishing the number of horizontal lines which are clearly discernible on a test pattern. |
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ROA |
Regimental Officer Academy |
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SA |
situational awareness |
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SCCC |
Signal Captains Career Course |
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SLPD |
School of Leadership and Professional Development |
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SOP |
standing operating procedure |
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SPEPS |
Still Photography Editing and Processing System |
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split screen |
An electronic process that allows the viewing of two video images, side by side or above and below, on-screen simultaneously. |
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SSC |
small-scale contingency |
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STD |
standard |
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S-VHS |
Super Video Home System. An improved version of the VHS tape format capable of recording better picture resolution. A higher-density tape is required which provides a wider brightness bandwidth, resulting in sharper picture quality and improved signal-to-noise ratio. |
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TA |
theater Army |
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TACSAT |
tactical satellite |
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T-ASA |
Television-Audiovisual Support Activity |
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TC |
type-classified |
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TDA |
tables of distribution and allowances |
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TECDOC |
technical documentation |
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TMDE |
test measurement and diagnostic equipment |
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TOE |
table(s) of organization and equipment |
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TRADOC |
United States Army Training and Doctrine Command |
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TSC |
Theater Signal Command |
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TTP |
tactics, techniques, and procedures |
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US |
United States |
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UAV |
unmanned aerial vehicle |
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USACECOM |
United States Army Communications-Electronics Command |
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USASC&FG |
United States Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon |
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VCR |
video camera recorder |
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VHS |
Video Home System. Consumer videocassette record/playback tape format using half-inch wide magnetic tape. The most common home VCR format in the United States. |
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VI |
visual information |
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video camera |
A camera with an electronic image sensor rather than photographic film. This electronic circuitry generates color and sync pulses. Equipped with a full complement of audio circuitry. |
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video editing |
A procedure for combining selected portions of video footage in order to create a new, combined version. During video editing, special effects can be added. Audio editing is often carried out simultaneously with video editing. |
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VIDOC |
visual information documentation |
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VISC |
visual information support center |
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VTC |
video teleconferencing |
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WMD |
weapons of mass destruction |
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WSS |
Wholesale Supply System |
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WSV |
weapons system video |
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