Historical clue formulations

• ___ Z (Zoomers) — 2026-05-19
• Bit of shorthand in some age cohorts — 2026-03-28
• Lead-in to X, Y or Z — 2026-02-04
• Lead-in to X, Y, Z or Alpha — 2026-01-26
• With 16-Across, group that began in the 2010s, familiarly — 2025-11-08
• ___ Z, a.k.a. Zoomers — 2024-10-28
• What comes before X, Y and Z — 2024-06-08
• Lead-in to X, Y or Z — 2023-01-29
• ___-X — 2022-06-21
• ___ chem (101-level course, familiarly) — 2022-06-04
• Next-___ technology — 2021-10-11
• Four-star officer: Abbr. — 2021-03-15
• Lead-in to X, Y or Z — 2020-08-13
• Lead-in to X or Y — 2019-10-19
• X or Y preceder — 2019-08-30
• Lead-in to X, Y or Z — 2018-12-13
• ___-X — 2018-03-27
• ___-X — 2018-01-23
• Next ___ (emerging group of young leaders, informally) — 2017-10-14
• Col.'s superior — 2017-04-02
• Geo. Washington, in the Revolutionary War — 2015-06-01
• 45-Down, for one: Abbr. — 2015-03-21
• Title for Powell or Petraeus: Abbr. — 2015-02-09
• X or Y preceder — 2014-09-27
• Brig. ___ — 2014-05-27
• First of 66 books: Abbr. — 2014-05-16
• ___-X — 2014-02-11
• X or Y lead-in — 2014-02-01
• Campaign manager: Abbr. — 2011-11-25
• 41-Down was named after one: Abbr. — 2011-06-26
• Patton or Petraeus: Abbr. — 2011-06-13
• Lee, e.g.: Abbr. — 2011-05-22
• See 51-Down: Abbr. — 2011-05-15
• ___-X — 2011-03-07
• Brig. ___ — 2011-02-20
• ___-Xer — 2010-07-13
• With 69-Down, V.I.P. in the 30-Down — 2009-11-15
• ___ Xers — 2007-12-24
• ___-X — 2007-10-28
• Pentagon fig. — 2007-01-07
• Star wearer: Abbr. — 2006-12-24
• Mil. title — 2006-11-04
• ___-X — 2006-10-31
• Mil. commander — 2006-04-09
• ___-Y (modern youth) — 2006-03-09
• ___-X — 2005-09-11
• ___-X — 2005-06-17
• ___-X — 2005-04-08
• Campaign mgr.? — 2005-02-12
• Four-star officer: Abbr. — 2004-06-14