Secretary of Defense James Mattis frequently talks about "lethality," as the central priority of the military. “Everything we do must contribute to the lethality of our military. We cannot expect success fighting tomorrow’s conflicts with yesterday’s weapons or equipment.”
The term is catching on, as bosses' messages will in a hierarchical institution.
In fact, one military officer I know told me he is beyond weary of hearing the term parroted by every paper-pushing Second Lieutenant he runs into at the water cooler.
"If I hear 'lethality' one more time," my man bellowed without any apparent ironic intent, "I'm gonna shoot somebody in the face!"
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