How Far is a Klick? Understanding This Common Military Distance Measurement

If you’ve watched military movies or talked to service members, you may have heard the term “klick” used to describe distances. As a civilian, you might find yourself wondering – how far is a klick? What does it mean and why do soldiers use this word instead of miles or kilometers?

As someone interested in military lingo, I decided to do some research on the distance of a klick Keep reading to learn all about this unique unit of measurement commonly used in the armed forces.

What Is a Klick?

A “klick” refers to a kilometer or 0.62 miles. It’s simply a slang term used by the military and other professions like police, emergency responders, and truck drivers to describe distances in kilometers.

Some key facts about the distance of a klick

• 1 klick = 1 kilometer exactly
• 1 kilometer = 0.62 miles
• 1 klick = 0.62 miles

So in other words, when a soldier says something is “2 klicks away,” that means it’s approximately 2 kilometers or 1.24 miles away. The klick is interchangeable with the kilometer.

Why “Klick” Instead of Kilometer?

You might be wondering why the military prefers to say “klick” rather than using the full word kilometer. There are a few reasons for this:

• Brevity – Klick is one syllable, while kilometer is four. This shorter word helps with quick, efficient communication.

• Clarity – In radio communication, shorter words with distinct sounds are easier to understand clearly. “Klick” is less likely to get garbled over spotty radio connections.

• Tradition – Military slang terms like klick become ingrained in the culture. The lingo helps build camaraderie and a sense of belonging.

So in military convoys, giving directions on the battlefield, calling in air support, or just chatting about distances, “klick” is the standard term. Though it may sound strange to civilians at first, this one simple word is deeply woven into military tradition.

Is “Click” Also Acceptable?

Since klick is military slang, you’ll sometimes see it spelled as “click” as well. In general, click and klick can be used interchangeably when referring to distance. However, click has some other meanings in the military:

• On a rifle, the click of the sight adjustment
• In radio comms, the “click” sound when starting to talk

So in distance usage, both click and klick are fine. But klick avoids confusion with other military terminology.

Possible Origins of the Term

So who came up with this “klick” slang in the first place? While its exact origins are obscure, there are some theories on where it emerged:

• It may have arisen in WW1 from the “k” sound being emphasized when saying kilometer.

• Some believe it was first used by Australian soldiers serving in Vietnam in the 1960s.

• The 1965 AP Style Guide included it as Vietnam War slang, evidence of early adoption.

However it was invented, klick quickly spread through all branches of the military as the standard distance term. Today, service members from private to general instinctively use klicks in conversation and reports.

Examples of Klicks in Military Use

To help give you a better feel for this measurement, here are some examples of how klicks get used by the military:

• A soldier reporting: “The enemy is approximately 3 klicks northeast of our position.”

• A marine briefing: “We’ll rally at the checkpoint, then continue 8 klicks west along this route.”

• A pilot requesting air support: “Provide cover fire 500 klicks ahead along the tree line.”

• Two sailors chatting: “It’s only half a klick to the mess hall from here.”

In these kinds of reports, commands, and casual talk, klick fits in seamlessly as the go-to distance term.

How Klicks Convert to Other Units

Since klicks are firmly ingrained in military culture, it’s helpful for civilians to understand how they convert to miles and other distance measurements:

• 1 klick = 0.62 miles
• 2 klicks = 1.24 miles
• 5 klicks = 3 miles
• 10 klicks = 6.2 miles

And some equivalents in feet:

• 1 klick = 3,280 feet
• 0.5 klick = 1,640 feet
• 2 klicks = 6,561 feet

So next time you hear a soldier say something like “The target is 5 klicks away,” you can instantly visualize that as approximately 3 miles.

Should Civilians Start Using Klick?

Given how entrenched klick is in the military, should everyday civilians start trying to use it instead of miles or kilometers? I say the answer is no – at least for now.

Since most people have no familiarity with the term klick, it would just lead to confusion in daily civilian life. Klick makes sense in context among service members, but not the general public.

However, as more civilians have contact with military terminology through movies, books, and veteran relationships, klick could potentially gain wider traction. For now though, I’d say it’s best to stick with miles and kilometers outside the military sphere.

Converting Distances in Your Head

Whether you’re a civilian or hope to join the armed forces one day, quickly converting klicks to miles in your head is a useful skill. Here are some tips to memorize those conversions:

• Picture a kilometer marker when you hear “klick”
• Chunk it as 0.6 miles = 1 klick
• Quiz yourself by converting random klick distances to miles
• Learn common benchmarks like 5 klicks = 3 miles

With practice, you’ll soon be able to make those klick to mile conversions automatically!

Final Thoughts

Understanding klicks gives civilians insight into the military mindset. Next time you see a war movie where they say “5 klicks to the LZ,” you’ll instantly realize they mean 3 miles. Knowing this bit of military speak brings you one step closer to understanding the realities of service life.

So whether you’re hoping to join the ranks one day or just want to talk the lingo with friends and family in uniform, commit the distance of a klick to memory. This simple military measurement can deepen your appreciation for the challenges facing our troops.