NG Army Exam key terms

The basic military stance: heels together on the same line, feet angled outward at about 45 degrees, legs straight, body erect, arms hanging straight with palms facing the thighs and thumbs along the seams.

The two-part alignment check used in formation: dressing aligns each soldier with the person to the left or right, while covering aligns the body so the head and eyes are directly behind the person in front.

A relaxed but stationary stance assumed on command: feet stay in place from attention, hands are placed behind the back with the right hand over the left, arms straight, and the head and eyes look straight ahead.

The exchange of military courtesy in which the junior raises the right hand with fingers extended to the brow or hat brim, holds until the salute is returned, then lowers it sharply to the side.

A named subdivision of troops in ranks, such as a squad, platoon, or company, each with a designated leader who positions the element and reports its status to the next higher commander during ceremonies.

Commands that place soldiers in or remove them from a formation. Fall in means to take the assigned position in ranks; fall out means to leave ranks but remain nearby for further instructions.

A formal courtesy in which a soldier knocks, enters, salutes, and states the report aloud, ending with the soldier's name and unit, then holds the salute until the officer returns it and directs otherwise.

A coordinate system that divides maps into numbered grid squares and expresses a location as easting first, then northing, with a lettered 100,000-meter square identifier added for larger areas.

The small map graphic showing the angular difference between true north, magnetic north, and grid north, used to convert a magnetic azimuth taken by compass into a grid azimuth plotted on the map.

A horizontal angle measured clockwise from a reference direction, usually expressed in degrees from 0 to 360 or in mils, and used to state the direction of travel or of a target.

The opposite direction of a given azimuth, found by adding 180 degrees when the azimuth is 180 or less and subtracting 180 when it is greater, used to return along the same line of travel.

The standard military compass with a magnetized needle, a rotating bezel marked in mils, and a lens for reading the dial, used to shoot azimuths and follow a bearing in the field.

Natural landforms such as hills, valleys, ridges, saddles, and depressions that are read on a map through contour lines and used to plan routes, cover movement, and describe positions to others.

The vertical distance in meters between adjacent contour lines on a map, printed in the map margin and used with the contour lines to judge slope steepness and elevation change across terrain.

A navigation method that tracks distance traveled and direction from a known starting point to estimate current position, useful when visibility or terrain prevents fixing a location by terrain association.

The mechanical rate at which a weapon can fire rounds per minute when the trigger is held back and ammunition is available, distinct from the slower sustained and rapid rates a soldier actually uses.

The rate a weapon can fire for an extended period without damaging the barrel or causing overheating, lower than rapid and cyclic rates, and the rate used to plan ammunition resupply.

The immediate action drill a soldier performs when a weapon fails to fire, typically involving tapping the magazine, racking the charging handle, and reacquiring the target before continuing to fire.

The steady-position, aiming, breathing, trigger-control, and recovery skills that together produce accurate fire, taught as a sequence in which each element supports the next.

The process of adjusting a weapon's sights so the point of aim matches the point of impact at a chosen distance, after which the soldier can hit targets at other ranges using hold-offs.

The first phase of tactical casualty care, given while the scene is still under threat, limited to returning fire, directing the casualty to take cover, and applying a tourniquet for life-threatening bleeding.

The phase of casualty care provided once the casualty is no longer under direct enemy fire, covering airway checks, breathing, bleeding control, shock prevention, and preparation for evacuation.

A constricting band placed high and tight on a limb to stop severe arterial bleeding when direct pressure fails, tightened until bleeding stops and left in place with the time of application recorded.

The unbroken line of authority from the lowest soldier up through squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon leader, first sergeant, commander, and higher, used for orders, reports, and accountability.

An enlisted leader holding a rank from corporal upward who carries authority over soldiers, enforces standards, trains subordinates, and serves as the primary link between enlisted soldiers and officers.

A specialized leader ranked between enlisted soldiers and commissioned officers, appointed for technical or tactical expertise in a career field and addressed as Mister or Miss rather than by a standard salute title.

A leader who holds a presidential appointment and carries legal authority to command soldiers and units, holding a rank from second lieutenant upward and bearing responsibility for orders and mission accomplishment.

The standing orders that define a sentry's duties, including guarding assigned posts, reporting violations, and giving the alarm, memorized word for word and applied whenever a soldier stands guard.

The exchange of the hand salute between soldiers as a mark of respect, given to officers and to the colors, and rendered indoors only under specific conditions such as reporting formally to an officer.

The standards governing how the uniform is worn, including proper fit, insignia placement, cleanliness, and the prohibition on mixing uniform items with civilian clothing outside authorized situations.

The appearance rules for hair, facial hair, fingernails, and personal hygiene that apply to all soldiers, with separate male and female provisions and religious accommodation exceptions approved through command channels.

The nonjudicial punishment provision of military law that lets a commander impose limited punishment such as restriction, extra duty, or forfeiture of pay for minor offenses without a court-martial.

A military court that tries service members for offenses under military law, with summary, special, and general levels distinguished by the seriousness of the offense and the punishment authorized.

A directive from a superior that is within the superior's authority, relates to military duty, and is not itself illegal; soldiers must obey lawful orders and may face discipline for refusing.

The six-event physical assessment covering deadlift, power throw, push-ups, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and two-mile run, scored against age and gender standards and used to measure readiness for duty.

Measures taken to avoid heat illness during training and operations, including hydration, work-rest cycles, acclimatization, monitoring for early symptoms, and rapid cooling of a suspected heat casualty.

The body composition screening rules that compare a soldier's weight to a maximum allowed for height, with a tape measurement used when the screening weight is exceeded.

The standardized voice format for military radio traffic, using call signs, prowords, and a strict order of transmission so that messages are short, clear, and understood on the first attempt.

A short, standardized spoken word such as roger, wilco, over, or out that carries a precise meaning in radio traffic and replaces longer phrases to keep transmissions brief and unambiguous.

A short identifying name or number assigned to a unit, station, or leader for radio use, which conceals the true designation and lets operators recognize who is transmitting and who is addressed.

The set of habits that keep a soldier from being detected, including using natural and artificial cover, avoiding skylining, controlling shine and noise, and matching personal camouflage to the surroundings.

The personal measures a soldier takes to blend into terrain, such as applying face paint in a disruptive pattern, covering reflective equipment, and breaking up the outline of the helmet and body.

The ordered needs a soldier addresses when isolated, commonly summarized as first aid, shelter, fire, signaling, water, and food, with protection from the elements and rescue signaling taking precedence.