POW/MIA INSIDERS GLOSSARY

SAIGON:  Used to be the capitol city of South Vietnam.  Now is called Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), and is the largest and most modern city in Vietnam.

SAR:  Search and Rescue.  Generic term used for forces who attempt to locate and rescue downed aircrew members.

SATCOM:  Acronym for Satellite Communications.

SCUBA:  Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.  Gear used by divers to search the ocean for salvage ops.

SCRUB:  Informal term for JTF-FA/DPMO coordination conference.

SEA:  Acronym for Southeast Asia.

SEAL:  U.S. Navy Special Forces (Sea, Air and Land).

SEARCH:  The physical act of looking for a particular item or items at a specific location.

SEASAL:  Codename for the U.S. Navy’s JCRC directed effort to recover remains in the ocean off Vietnam.

SERE:  Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape.

SF:  Special Forces.  The U.S. Army’s Green Berets.

SITE:  A physical location, normally one where a significant event such as an aircraft crashed or a burial site.

SITE SURVEY:  In the context of JTF-FA operations, a survey is the process of evaluating and recording the pertinent details of a site.

SKIRMISH SEARCH:  A type of search conducted by arranging team members on line and maintaining this formation while searching a specific area.  If terrain and vegetation allow, this is normally the most thorough method of searching an area.

SNAFU:  Situation Normal All Fucked Up.  Used a lot around JTF-FA.

SRT:  Special Remains Team.  The SRT’s mission was to investigate cases where the possibility exists that remains from that individual could be located.

SRV:  Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

SSN:  Social Security Number.

STONY BEACH:  A DIA team that used to be based in Bangkok, Thailand but is now at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, responsible for conducting live sighting investigations in Southeast Asia.  They also used to conduct limited refugee interviewing.  But in reality they are the most useless organization working the POW/MIA Issue.  Should be disbanded immediately.

SUMMARY REPORT (SR):  The initial report released after the completion of a JFA.  It provides an overview of the results of the activity, including a statistical summary of the cases addressed and a narrative assessment of host nation cooperation and other significant subjects.

SURVEY:  A ground operation that is done prior to an excavation operation.

TACSAT:  Tactical Satellite Communications.

TAD:  Temporary Additional Duty.  The term used for when one is on orders for temporary duty at a location other than his home station.  Sometimes called “Traveling Around Drunk”.  Used by the Navy and Marines.

TAN SON NHUT:  The International Airport located at Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam.  During the war Tan Son Nhut was the busiest airport in the world.

TARFU:  Things are really fucked up.

TDY:  Temporary Duty.  Term used by the Army and Air Force when on temporary duty from their main station of assignment.

TECHNICAL TALKS:  Regularly scheduled formal bilateral meetings conducted in the countries of Southeast Asia to discuss issues relevant to the issue of un-accounted for Americans.

TEST PIT:   A sample test hole that is dug during a survey.  It is used to gather additional evidence for an excavation recommendation or to provide detailed soil description to facilitate planning for an excavation.

TFR:  Task Force Russia.  A group of Moscow based investigators who conduct investigations with the Republics of the former Soviet Union for our missing men.

TRANSFER CASES:  Aluminum cases the size of standard caskets which are used for the transportation of remains.  These cases are utilized during formal repatriation ceremonies.

TRILATERAL INVESTIGATIONS:  An investigation that draws on witnesses from a third nation.  Trilateral investigations require significant coordination between the U.S. government and the host nation.