Given that we are used to reading an enormous amount of articles related to the internet and to the weight and impact it has over our lives, it is possible that, when reading the title of this piece of writing, you thought that this one was another one on how globalization and the media have changed our paradigm and how now we are just one click away from connecting with the rest of the world. Nevertheless, this is not the case: today, we will discuss an important yet unknown idiom. What does it mean to be “one click away”?
Not much is known about slang terms related to the U.S. Armed Forces, but it is still important to bear in mind that the military utilizes various them. Military jargon creates a unique culture that represents the Armed Forces and our national culture as a whole. It enables service members to communicate quickly and efficiently, but it also provides certain elements that allow us to feel and indeed be part of our country.
Understanding cultural expressions
Culture serves as a cornerstone to a person’s life. It provides all and each of the members of a society with a set of elements that allow them to identify themselves while also encouraging their representation, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or religion. Thus, it can be argued that should we want to be part of that system, we must start to understand all the elements within our culture, and language is one of the key aspects. Through language, we become aware of the small and different pieces of the puzzle that shape our society, and consequently, we can embrace all the different perspectives.
As individuals, we may feel self-conscious or even ashamed about expressing ourselves and our personal identities, given that we may be afraid about the response of others. Still, this should not be the case, as no one should deny their cultural roots, and no one should ever be discriminated against because of them. Despite not sharing someone else’s culture, it is important to always bear in mind that learning about someone else’s identity is indeed what allows us to gain exposure in an environment that is not the same one as the one in which we were raised.
So, what is exactly a click?
To put it simply, it is a slang term that is used to mean kilometer. Ever since World War I, the armed forces have relied on the metric system, given that they, along with the United Kingdom soldiers, found it easier to turn to the metric system to read the maps drawn by the French. Moreover, the term is also included in a PBS.org glossary that contains the terms used by the army during the Vietnam War. Consequently, the term kilometers became part of the US military jargon and is now included in the Military Grid Reference System (also known as MGRS), NATO’s official mapping system. This concept is so common that the military lexicon is now shortened to “click” or even “klick,” depending on the circle.
The origins of the term
We have therefore defined a click as a kilometer. However, it is still important to explain why the United States chose a foreign unit of measure, considering that they do not use kilometers as their standard unit in America but miles. The truth is that they had to start using this unit of measure to standardize, as it was proven that it actually saved lives. For instance, there was an incident during the Gulf War in 1994, which resulted in the death of all the soldiers on the Army choppers.
It was then discovered that, due to miscommunication, military operations had and could have again in the future fatal results. Hence, they decided to use the standard units of measure to avoid miscalculations and their potential consequences. Given that the kilometer was the unit used by many of the nations that participated in World War One, at the end of the Second World War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization required all military maps used the kilometer as the standard unit of measure
A kilometer is equal to 0.621 miles. Grounded forces use them to communicate with each other. For example, if one soldier wants to inform another, they are “20 clicks” east of their position. Consequently, the unit receiving this information would understand that the other soldier is 20 kilometers (or 12.4 miles East) from their position.
Nevertheless, the term click is also used by soldiers when they adjust their weapons. In this case, the term becomes more technical, but to sum up, when they adjust the sight of their weapons by one click, they change the point of impact of the bullet by one inch for one hundred target yards away.
The Armed Forces and the United States
It is no surprise that the military plays a key role in the United States. Even though the militarism of the country is frequently criticized by those who argue that it only increases the threat of war and the subsequent threat to the Country’s freedom and its members, it is also possible to assert that the U.S. Armed Forces are considered as the world’s most powerful military. Consequently, it has the highest military budget, accounting for over 36% of the world’s defense expenditures. Still, regardless of the dangers that it may bring, it is also possible to claim that its greatness is also based on the fact that it provides citizens with a sense of security while also enhancing the feeling of nationalism and their feeling of attachment identification with the nation.
Knowing more about these terms is important because it will allow us to be more part of our nation, be more connected with our roots, culture, history, and what makes us Americans.
title: “How Far Is A Click The Origins Guide” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-02” author: “Cruz Maddox”
Given that we are used to reading an enormous amount of articles related to the internet and to the weight and impact it has over our lives, it is possible that, when reading the title of this piece of writing, you thought that this one was another one on how globalization and the media have changed our paradigm and how now we are just one click away from connecting with the rest of the world. Nevertheless, this is not the case: today, we will discuss an important yet unknown idiom. What does it mean to be “one click away”?
Not much is known about slang terms related to the U.S. Armed Forces, but it is still important to bear in mind that the military utilizes various them. Military jargon creates a unique culture that represents the Armed Forces and our national culture as a whole. It enables service members to communicate quickly and efficiently, but it also provides certain elements that allow us to feel and indeed be part of our country.
Understanding cultural expressions
Culture serves as a cornerstone to a person’s life. It provides all and each of the members of a society with a set of elements that allow them to identify themselves while also encouraging their representation, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or religion. Thus, it can be argued that should we want to be part of that system, we must start to understand all the elements within our culture, and language is one of the key aspects. Through language, we become aware of the small and different pieces of the puzzle that shape our society, and consequently, we can embrace all the different perspectives.
As individuals, we may feel self-conscious or even ashamed about expressing ourselves and our personal identities, given that we may be afraid about the response of others. Still, this should not be the case, as no one should deny their cultural roots, and no one should ever be discriminated against because of them. Despite not sharing someone else’s culture, it is important to always bear in mind that learning about someone else’s identity is indeed what allows us to gain exposure in an environment that is not the same one as the one in which we were raised.
So, what is exactly a click?
To put it simply, it is a slang term that is used to mean kilometer. Ever since World War I, the armed forces have relied on the metric system, given that they, along with the United Kingdom soldiers, found it easier to turn to the metric system to read the maps drawn by the French. Moreover, the term is also included in a PBS.org glossary that contains the terms used by the army during the Vietnam War. Consequently, the term kilometers became part of the US military jargon and is now included in the Military Grid Reference System (also known as MGRS), NATO’s official mapping system. This concept is so common that the military lexicon is now shortened to “click” or even “klick,” depending on the circle.
The origins of the term
We have therefore defined a click as a kilometer. However, it is still important to explain why the United States chose a foreign unit of measure, considering that they do not use kilometers as their standard unit in America but miles. The truth is that they had to start using this unit of measure to standardize, as it was proven that it actually saved lives. For instance, there was an incident during the Gulf War in 1994, which resulted in the death of all the soldiers on the Army choppers.
It was then discovered that, due to miscommunication, military operations had and could have again in the future fatal results. Hence, they decided to use the standard units of measure to avoid miscalculations and their potential consequences. Given that the kilometer was the unit used by many of the nations that participated in World War One, at the end of the Second World War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization required all military maps used the kilometer as the standard unit of measure
A kilometer is equal to 0.621 miles. Grounded forces use them to communicate with each other. For example, if one soldier wants to inform another, they are “20 clicks” east of their position. Consequently, the unit receiving this information would understand that the other soldier is 20 kilometers (or 12.4 miles East) from their position.
Nevertheless, the term click is also used by soldiers when they adjust their weapons. In this case, the term becomes more technical, but to sum up, when they adjust the sight of their weapons by one click, they change the point of impact of the bullet by one inch for one hundred target yards away.
The Armed Forces and the United States
It is no surprise that the military plays a key role in the United States. Even though the militarism of the country is frequently criticized by those who argue that it only increases the threat of war and the subsequent threat to the Country’s freedom and its members, it is also possible to assert that the U.S. Armed Forces are considered as the world’s most powerful military. Consequently, it has the highest military budget, accounting for over 36% of the world’s defense expenditures. Still, regardless of the dangers that it may bring, it is also possible to claim that its greatness is also based on the fact that it provides citizens with a sense of security while also enhancing the feeling of nationalism and their feeling of attachment identification with the nation.
Knowing more about these terms is important because it will allow us to be more part of our nation, be more connected with our roots, culture, history, and what makes us Americans.
