word of the day: cadre

The word of the day is cadre:

Etymology:  French cadre frame (e.g. of a picture), also used in sense ‘l'ensemble des officiers et sous-officiers d'une compagnie’ (Littré), < Italian quadro < Latin quadrum four-sided thing, square. 

 

1. A frame, framework; scheme.

2. Mil.a. The permanent establishment forming the framework or skeleton of a regiment, which is filled up by enlistment when required. Also of an R.A.F. squadron. Also attrib. 

b. The complement of officers of a regiment; the list or scheme of such officers.(After the Indian Mutiny, the cadres of Native Regiments which had been disbanded were kept in the Indian Army List for regulating promotions. In the parliamentary discussions about the amalgamation of the Indian with the British Army, the word was in constant use in this sense.)

 3.a. In Communist countries, a group of workers, etc., acting to promote the interests of the Communist Party; also, a member of such a group; = cell n.¹ 19.

b. In the People's Republic of China, an office-holder in a Party, governmental, or military organization; also more widely, one who holds a position, esp. in a local organization, school, etc. Also attrib., esp. as cadre school.  (OED)

"As the sharp end of a counter-insurgency strategy, McChrystal's approach resembled the C.I.A.'s Phoenix program during the Vietnam War, when the United States tried, and failed, to suppress the Vietcong by detaining and assassinating thousands of suspected militants and cadre leaders."

 - Steve Coll, "Remote control: our drone delusion", 6 May 2013 The New Yorker