What term describes maintaining silence and stealth in a combat situation?

The term that best describes maintaining silence and stealth in a combat situation is noise discipline. This concept is crucial for military operations, as it involves minimizing sounds that could give away a unit's position or compromise stealthy movements. Proper noise discipline helps ensure that troops can operate without alerting the enemy, allowing for surprise, tactical advantage, and effective maneuvering in hostile environments.

In contrast, light discipline refers to controlling the use of light sources to avoid detection. Litter discipline is related to the proper handling and disposal of equipment and waste during operations. Security discipline involves measures to protect personnel and resources from threats, focusing on observation and situational awareness rather than silence. Noise discipline specifically targets the control of sound, making it the most appropriate choice in this context.