trip wire - a small military force that serves as a first line of defense; if they become engaged in hostilities it will trigger the intervention of stronger military forces

social unit, unit - an organization regarded as part of a larger social group; "the coach said the offensive unit did a good job"; "after the battle the soldier had trouble rejoining his unit"

command - a military unit or region under the control of a single officer

enemy - an opposing military force; "the enemy attacked at dawn"

task force - a temporary military unit formed to accomplish a particular objective

army unit - a military unit that is part of an army

naval unit - a military unit that is part of a navy

air unit - a military unit that is part of the airforce

armour, armor - a military unit consisting of armored fighting vehicles

armed service, military service, service - a force that is a branch of the armed forces

armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"

mujahadeen, mujahadein, mujahadin, mujahedeen, mujahedin, mujahideen, mujahidin - a military force of Muslim guerilla warriors engaged in a jihad; "some call the mujahidin international warriors but others just call them terrorists"

legion - a large military unit; "the French Foreign Legion"

echelon - a body of troops arranged in a line

phalanx - a body of troops in close array

Republican Guard - Iraq's elite military unit whose primary role is to protect the government in Baghdad

Haganah - the clandestine military wing of the Jewish leadership during the British rule over the mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948; became the basis for the Israel Defense Force

IDF, Israeli Defense Force - the ground and air and naval forces of Israel

militia, reserves - civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army

home guard - a volunteer unit formed to defend the homeland while the regular army is fighting elsewhere

commando - an amphibious military unit trained for raids into enemy territory

contingent, detail - a temporary military unit; "the peace-keeping force includes one British contingent"

headquarters - (plural) a military unit consisting of a commander and the headquarters staff

spearhead - the leading military unit in an attack

military man, serviceman, man, military personnel - someone who serves in the armed forces; a member of a military force; "two men stood sentry duty"