Simple methods to avoid psychic pitfalls

[Pat McDonald]

One method of generating meaningful names for tactical operations is to have one stack of random adjectives like "steel, grey, green, hot, cold" etc. And another stack of random (but butch) nouns like "hammer, fury, impact, slash" etc.

I doubt that it was or is used, but I have seen such implementations within military sims. Note that there is a difference between naming a tactical operation - an exercise, battle, or other limited operation - and a research project.

The only reference I have to naming culture within US military is written by a Brit and so may well be inaccurate as far as US custom goes.

Although I can state that a random single name of database words was used by the MOD at around the same time and produced such terms as "Operation Nimrod" (Iranian Embassy storming by Special Forces), "Operation Corporate" (amphibious assault of the Falklands) and "Operation Granby" (deployment of 7th Armoured division to Saudi Arabia in response to invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1991).

Source, Storm Command, Peter De La Billiere, ISBN 978-0002551380

[dazdude]

interesting - i always wondered on this.

thank you for sharing.

daz

[Pat McDonald]

Slight correction - for "7th Armoured Division" read "7th Armoured Brigade".

D-Rats have shrunk a bit since El Alamein and D-Day.