COMSEC
The first principle of military radio work is the concept of COMSEC, or Communications Securuty. You must assume that the enemy is listening to everything that is sent, that they will attempt to insert false traffic, or simply jam you, by working on your chosen frequencies.
A very simple security method is to make it difficult to distinguish one station from another, by using set voice procedures, making everyone sound much the same, along with keeping the messages short. This also aides in speeding and clarifying communications. While still making it difficult for the enemy, especially irregular ones, not used to this kind of radio work.
The Radio Net
When radios are deployed, they form what are called networks. A network is made up of a group of radio stations on a particular "channel", assigned to either particular units, formations or purposes. Some networks are tactical, providing communications for front line fighting elements, others are information and reporting networks, designed to provide all the necessary support for the front line units, without clogging up their tactical channels.
A channel is defined as a pre-arranged frequency with or without privacy codes (CTCSS/DCS), and assigned a number. This channel number bares no relationship whatsoever to the actual frequency or codes used. Note that most Squad level PMR radios are factory set with assigned numbers that equate to particular frequencies and codes, these should not be used on air, as to do so will compromise your COMSEC (Communications Security). This is done so that when an order to change channel is given, enemy stations monitering that channel have no idea to what frequency or code is about to be moved to, delaying their ability to listen in.
When a network has more than a handful of stations, a Network Controller is appointed, and that station's CALL SIGN is for the duration amended to "ZERO". The Network Controller is in effect an on-air radio manager and sometime referee. The Network Controller will, if appropriately equipped, also take on the task of working across two or more networks, for example passing messages between stations not on the same net.
Syntax
All exchanges on air follow a standard four phase syntax; the hail, the content, the hand over, and the sign off, using a range of "set piece" words and phrases to achieve speed and clarity of meaning, when using voice radio communications on the battlefield. These are known as "Prowords" which is the abbreviation of the phrase "Procedural Words". Click the link to part 4 for list of Prowords. And see the Nnemonic Aide-Memoires section below for tools to remember how to send a signal.
Each radio in the field and at base will have a CALL SIGN, which is a short string of letters and numbers that identifies that station, or sometimes the actual operator. For ease in the UNSGC these are usually associated with the unit's organisation and composition. This alpha-numeric label is sent using the NATO Phonetic Code, for example D20 would be said as "DELTA TWO ZERO", see part 3 via the link above.
Nnemonic Aide-Memoires
The following two mnemonics CRAPSHOOT and CAROT are useful tips to good radio procedure, and it is recommended that you write them down in your Battlebook and carry them in the field as a personal aide memoire. CRAPSHOOT deals with 3 of the 4 phases of a message, the hail, the hand over, and the sign off, while CARROT deals with the content:
C.R.A.P.S.H.O.O.T.
To send a message use the following routine:
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COMPOSE your message in your head or if necessary write it down, and if time permits, reherse it.
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RELAX, take a deep breath, listen to the channel, so you're not in a panic, nor are you trying to talk over someone else who is already on air; especially necessary when you, or they, are under fire.
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ACTIVATE the Push To Talk Button (PTT) on your radio, carefully and positively, do not fumble.
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PAUSE for one second before you talk. A common fault with excited or new operators is to talk as they begin to push the PTT button, which results in the first few words of your message being chopped off and not transmitted, requiring the other station to request that you "SAY AGAIN, OVER".
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SPEAK slowly, clearly, with pauses and do not shout, so you can be easily understood. Do NOT use any contractions like "aren't", "isn't" or "they're", they vannish, put on your best posh RP voice.
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HAIL: hail the station or stations you want, by using their CALL SIGNS twice. Then identify yourself with the Prowords "THIS IS" and your CALL SIGN. The double CALL SIGN combination, functions as a sort of "bing-bong" pay attention people signal. This is an essential tool in the battlefield, where Marines attentions are often elsewhere and not on their radios. Modern practise is no longer to use the old British Army Proword "HELLO", but to give the called stations CALL SIGN twice, as not only does it perform the job of "bing-bong", it also doubles your chance that the correct station will hear it and respond quickly to your call. Some ex-UK forces personnel will commonly employ the "HELLO" Proword.
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"OVER": having sent the first part of the content of your message, conclude this initial phase of your transmission by using the Proword "OVER". OVER means that you expect or need a reply, it is sometimes defined as a "receipt" or as an "invitation" to transmit. NB: it is a common practise after a long transmission to prefix "OVER", with "...THIS IS (callsign), OVER", as an aid to all stations to remind them who is talking.
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"OUT": use "OUT" to formally end the communications session. OUT means "I have finished talking to you, no response is required, expected or desired". Therefore
never use the classic error "over and out" as a combined Proword, its a contridiction in terms, meaning "I want you to talk to me and shut up!"
With the exception of the responding station coming under effective enemy fire, ONLY the station that initiated the call can end it. This ensures that all business is concluded with no outstanding issues.
NB: it is a common practise after a long transmission to prefix "OUT", with "...THIS IS (callsign), OUT", as an aid to all stations, to remind them who you are.
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TRAFFIC: having finished, keep listening for more incoming traffic, or move on to your next batch of traffic.
C.A.R.O.T.
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CONCISE, keep it short.
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ACCURACY, be sure to pass all the information correctly.
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RELEVANCY, pass only the information required by the person to whom you are talking, do not pad out the message with unnecessary data or woffle.
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OBJECTIVE, keep in mind what the intention or purpose of the message is, when you compose it.
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TIMELY, pass the message when it is needed, do not delay.
So, hopefully you can now clearly see and remember the four phase syntax of a radio message; the hail, the content, the hand over, and the sign off. Keep this structure in mind, so that even if the rest of your mmessage turns in to a screaming frantic plea for aid that is not quite to the letter, you will be understood, and then, with luck, help will arrive.
Key Dos, Do Nots & Reminders
The following are the most important issues that cause new operators problems:
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Do not use sir, ma'am, or personal names (unless essential) on air as the enemy WILL be listening, and collecting intelligence. The commander of a unit, will identify themselves on air by the use of the "CALL SIGN" suffix "ACTUAL", rather than a name, e.g. "...THIS IS LIMA FIVE ZERO ACTUAL..."
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Do not use the word "fire" by itself on air, for example as an order to shoot. Instead use the compound phrases "open fire" to start people shooting, and "check your fire" to stop them. These compounds are sufficiently distinct from "fire", not to require replacement with terms like "shoot" which is used aboard ship. Leave "fire" for uses like "..MY VEHICLE IS ON FIRE, OUT!" This is an especially well known issue amongst former sea-going Marines or Naval personnel, because shouting "fire" while on board ship, may not quite get you the expected result. If you are ever faced with a conflagration, you should cry or signal "Fire, fire, fire!", that should get you the correct response.
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Reminder: never use the classic error "over and out", as the Proword OVER, means that you expect or need a reply, it is sometimes defined as a "receipt" or as an "invitation" to transmit, wheras OUT means "I have finished talking to you, no response is required, expected or desired". Therefore this is a contridiction in terms, meaning "I want you to talk to me and shut up!"
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The word "right" is ONLY ever to be used for expressing a direction. It is NEVER to be used to express the affirmative, an agreement, act as an acknowledgement or to indicate the correctness of a thing. These other distinct meanings are ones that the military for obvious reasons want kept absolutely separate, therefore use instead:
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For "yes" use: "AFFIRMATIVE"
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For an acknowledgement use: "ACKNOWLEDGE"
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For the correctness of a thing use: "CORRECT" or "WRONG"
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For I agree with that statement, or "I hear that" use the informal use of "ROGER" or "ROGER THAT". ROGER officially means "received", but as it was originally from an older phonetic code, where it was used to express the letter "R", it consequentially ended up serving as a substitute for the word "right", as in "right!", "that's right".
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For an agreement to perform an action use: "WILCO" meaning "I have received your message, and will comply with the request/instructions/orders". The oft heard combination of "ROGER, WILCO" although not as bad as "over and out", is redundent as WILCO contains the same acknowledgement "received" , and thus breaks the rule of keeping messages short and concise.
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Do not use the word "incorrect" as this can be easily confused with "CORRECT". Use "WRONG" instead.
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Always use individual numbers, as ONE, TWO, THREE, never compound them, for example as "one hundred and twenty three". And never use "Oh" for the number 0, always use "ZERO", "Oh" is after all a letter.
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Only use the official NATO phonetic expressions for letters.
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Do not use the pseudo-military phrases; "copy?", "how copy?", "no copy", "solid copy" or "hard copy", use the military Prowords; "ACKNOWLEDGE", "ROGER", "NOTHING HEARD".
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Do not end your operations with the civilian Proword "clear", use the "CLOSING DOWN" Proword.
Special notes about enunciation:
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When speaking on a radio network, especially in combat, it is very easy to shout, gabble, and for the pitch of the voice to rise. All of these things will mean that your messages will not be understood. It is vital that you speak slowly, clearly, and never use contractions like "isn't", "I'll" or "they're". Contractions can be very easily lost or misunderstood. Put on your best "posh" speaking RP voice, it will save your life and those of your comrades!
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Difficult or confusing words, may need to be spelt out. For this purpose the military use the NATO Phonetic Code that replaces each letter with a set word, ALPHA, BRAVO, CHARLIE... and so on. You need to know this system perfectly. Use the link above to see the rest of the alphabet and other related material.
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Be aware that the numbers 3, 4, 5 and 9 are especially susceptible to readability issues. Nine is the only digit that is always said differently, being expressed as "NINER", as "nine" which is monosylabic can get lost in transmission. So it is made in to a word with a double sylable to render it clear. Likewise, in poor reception conditions the numbers 3, 4 and 5 also can be problematical. So when required there are alternative expressions for each; "TREE", "FOWER" and "FIFE". Fortunately with digital radios these three numbers are less of an issue, but bare it in mind.
End of Document
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Updated:
12 JUL 16
