Special ___ (some military missions)

The crossword question is asking for a term that is commonly used to refer to military missions that are deemed special in nature. The answer to this question is ‘OPS‘. This term is usually used as an abbreviation of ‘operations‘, and can be applied to a wide range of different military activities, from covert operations and intelligence gathering, to direct action in combat zones, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions. By using the term ‘OPS‘, military personnel and other stakeholders are able to quickly and easily refer to these missions, and understand their unique nature and purpose.