some terms are intentionally intended to obscure, disguise, distort, or otherwise change the meaning of words. this is called "doublespeak". for example, the united states reduction of troop strength in afghanistan is called by american troops "the retrograde." this is from an old military euphemism meaning to retreat (no military likes to admit it retreats). some phrases are so strange that nobody outside the military understands them. "15 minutes prior to 15 minutes prior" refers to military people being told to show up 15 minutes early for everything. so when a commanding officer says there will be a meeting at "06:00" (6:00 a.m. on the 24-hour clock), it means to show up at 05:45. when junior officers repeat the order to the sergeant, to him it means 05:30, and so on. by the time it filters down to the lowest ranking soldier, it can mean be there by midnight.