Observation post

An observation post for airfield defense coordination.

An observation post (commonly abbreviated OP), temporary or fixed, is a position from which soldiers can watch enemy movements, to warn of approaching soldiers (such as in trench warfare), or to direct fire. In strict military terminology, an observation post is any preselected position from which observations are to be made - this may include very temporary installations such as a vehicle parked as a roadside checkpoint, or even an airborne aircraft.[1]

  1. ^ DoD News Briefing, February 15, 1996 1:30 pm EST (from a DoD news briefing. Accessed 2008-06-21.)