FM/C86 - Communications - Radio Communications

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The FM outlines our core skills, policies and guides to ensure every member stands ready for the mission ahead.

A radio is a specialized communication device designed for use by armed forces to facilitate secure and reliable communication on the battlefield and during military operations.

The primary purpose of a radio is to enable effective coordination and command among elements, allowing for the swift transmission of orders, intelligence, and situational updates. This real-time communication capability is crucial for coordinating maneuvers, calling for support, reporting enemy positions, and ensuring overall operational efficiency and safety of personnel during operations.

During any operation that requires it, you'll be provided with an AN/PRC-152. It is the short range radio used by all elements. The main frequency is the channel (C1, C2,…) that is currently selected on the radio.

To set up your main frequency:

1. Check with your leader or in the ORBAT what frequency you should be on
2. Hover with your mouse on your current frequency (2) and type the desired frequency; eg. 271
3. Click the ENT (4) button to enter (save) the frequency
4. Check in with your team to see if the radio is working properly

Using the AN/PRC-152 you can also set up an additional frequency to communicate with other elements that aren't your own. The additional frequency is set manually and will show as “A#” in place of the channel name e.g. If channel 2 is selected as the alternate frequency, it will become A2.

To set up an additional frequency:

1. Click the + button (5) to select the desired channel.
2. Click the left arrow button (8) to set an additional channel. 
   1. At this point you should read A# (# being the channel number) instead of C#, next to the frequency number.
3. Type the wanted frequency you want to use as additional; eg. 270
4. Click the ENT (4) button to enter the frequency
5. Click the - button (6) to return to your main frequency

If you want to dictate which ear you want the audio for your main and alternate channels to come out from, select the frequency you want to adjust and click the 0(9) button to modify the stereo settings. On the bottom right of the screen, you'll see an indicator that says either "left", "right" or "left and right". Ensure you do this for both your main and alternate channels on any radios you're using.

Now you should be able to hear both frequencies in different ears.

Above: The BLUFOR issued AN/PRC-152 and its buttons explained.

When pronouncing individual letters over a radio channel, replace the letter with the corresponding word from the following table:

When pronouncing individual numerals over a radio channel, pronounce the numeral according to the following table:

A callsign is the identifier that is used to address another unit over radio. Every unit down to the fireteam level has a unique callsign to identify it.

Some individuals also have their own callsigns. These are generally for people with leadership or specialised roles, like the platoon commander, platoon seargeant or forward air controller.

Deployment ORBATs in UNITAF have callsigns which are assigned by the deployments Field Leader, callsigns come from a pre-approved callsign list. Some callsigns are from the phonetic alphabet, ALPHA, BRAVO CHARLIE etc. However many other callsigns exist, and can carry themes such as birds, animals and chess pieces. Callsigns are usually words which are short, easy to say, remember and to understand.

In UNITAF Callsigns are assigned to Platoons or to Companies. When a Platoon is assigned a callsign, all subordinate elements of the Platoon also adopt that callsign. A simple example of how this works is outlined below.

• Platoon HQ (ALPHA 9)
• Platoon Sergeant (ALPHA 8)
• Platoon RTO (ALPHA 7)
• Platoon Medic (ALPHA 6)
• 1st Squad (ALPHA 1-0)
  • 1st Squad 1st Fireteam (ALPHA 1-1)
  • 1st Squad 2nd Fireteam (ALPHA 1-2)
• 2nd Squad (ALPHA 2-0)
  • 2nd Squad 1st Fireteam (ALPHA 2-1)
  • 2nd Squad 2nd Fireteam (ALPHA 2-2) 
• 3rd Squad (ALPHA 3-0)
  • 3rd Squad 1st Fireteam (ALPHA 3-1)
  • 3rd Squad 2nd Fireteam (ALPHA 3-2)

When needing to speak to the leader of an element specifically, and not anyone else on net who may take transmissions for the callsign (platoon sergeant/radio operators etc.), append ACTUAL after the element's callsign.

ACTUAL is never combined with a personal callsign as defined in FM/BP-1137 - Personal callsigns

To keep radio communications brief, shorten callsigns whenever possible, according to the following rules:

• Drop the common section of the callsign of all stations on the net (ALPHA 1-1 ←→ ALPHA 1-2 becomes (1 ←→ 2)
• Drop the numerals when only a single station of that callsign is on the net (ALPHA 1 ←→ BRAVO 1 becomes ALPHA ←→ BRAVO)

When addressing a specific person in the HQ element, use their personal callsign. The assignment of HQ personal callsigns works in reverse from the number 9, where 9 is the commander of that callsign. Typically, the second-in-command will be 8, forward air controllers, observers or medics can be 7, 6 and so on.

• The personal callsign will be displayed on the ORBAT.
• Personal callsigns are never transferred to another person, even when said person is incapacitated.

When adressing all callsigns on a network, use ALL STATIONS instead of listing all callsigns separately.

A transactional radio network is a network based on a transaction: a back and forth set of messages between a defined set of participants. It is bases on the following principles:

1. Radio handshake: Every transaction (conversation) begins with a handshake that defines who will participate in the transaction. The handshake is initiated by the sending party and acknowledges by the receiving parties. This way, all parties are confident all other parties are ready to transmit and receive information. See FM/BS-822 - Initiate a conversation on a transactional network for how to perform the handshake. 
2. Convey meaning through standardised words: To maximise understanding and minimise mixups, standardised words are used to convey a defined meaning. These words are choses so they cannot easily be confused with other words, especially when interacting with non-native English users. 
3. Transaction end: Every transaction should be ended according to FM/BS-824 - End a conversation on a transactional network. This ensures everyone on the radio network is aware the transaction is over, and that another transaction may be started.

In transactional nets callsigns must first identify with one another and once ident has been completed, a series of tranmissions may take place, and then the transaction is ended with the proword "OUT". 

• When a transaction is taking place between two callsigns, only those callsigns can use the net, other callsigns on the net must remain silent until they hear "OUT" which indicates that the transaction is completed.
• UNITAF does not use the pro-word "OVER".
• If a callsign who is not part of the ongoing transaction has urgent information to send, they can use the proword "BREAK BREAK BREAK" to break into a transaction.
• Once a series of transmissions in a transaction are underway, IDENT does not need to happen for each message, just at the start and end of the transaction.

The below table shows the types of nets and their usage of IDENT and transactional communication procedures.

Join a transactional network by saying:

[your full callsign], checking into the net

or shortened as:

[your full callsign], checking in

When starting a conversation on a transactional network, state:

[reciever callsign(s)], 

(this is) [sender callsign], 

(priority)

The other party(ies) respond, in order of their callsign, with:

[sender callsign], 

(this is) [reciever callsign]

When ending a conversation on a transactional network, append OUT at the end of the transmission.

A transmission can only be ended by the party that has the initiative in the conversation.

When indicating your understading of a transmission use either of the following:

Never use these together, as WILCO implies ROGER.

When unable to respond to a transmission, use either of the following:

When asking another callsign to relay information, state:

relay to [final receiver callsign] [information to relay]

When relaying information from another callsign, state:

relay from [original sender callsign] [information to relay]

Use the following standardized words instead of other synonyms on a transactional network:

To interrupt an ongoing conversation, transmit after a transmission has finished, or after FM/BS-825 - Break up long transmissions on a transactional network: 

break break break, FM/BS-822 - Initiate a conversation on a transactional network

Only interrupt a conversation when the new conversation has a higher urgency than the interrupted one.

Use BREAK to split long transmissions into multiple parts of roughly 5 seconds.

After transmitting BREAK, uncue the radio and pause for 2 seconds, before continuing.

After stating incorrect information state the following: 

correction, [corrected information]

After stating information that was correct at the time, but isn't anymore state the following: 

disregard ([stale information])

If the readback was correct, transmit:

Correct

If the readback was inccorect, transmit:

Negative, I say again, [correct information]

If a callsign is not answering you, try to reach them for a total of three times with several seconds passing in between. Each additional time they may add the information that they haven’t received anything, to make other stations aware of it.

If the suspected station is your superior you may assume that they may be incapacitated and/or killed and the next station in the Chain of Command needs to take command in their place.

Example

This example will cover a squad net on channel 250 consisting of Outlaw 1-0, 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3. 1-2 is trying to reach 1-0 without success: 

Trying to contact

1-2: Actual, this is 2.

1-0: (1-0 is not responding so after a couple of seconds 1-2 tries again)

1-2: Actual, this is 2, nothing heard.

1-0: (1-0 is not responding so after a couple of seconds 1-2 tries for the last time)

1-2: Actual, this is 2, nothing heard OUT.

1-0: (1-0 is not responding so 1-1 needs to take command)

 

Succession of command

1-2: 1, this is 2.

1-1: 2 this is 1.

1-2: You need to take command.

1-1: This is 1, taking command..

If you identify a target outside of your controller’s sight, inform them immediately. Do not engage any targets without explicit clearance, regardless of perceived threat level or risk to friendly forces.

Pilots must maintain continuous communication with their assigned controller, providing regular updates on status and capabilities. Controllers will relay updates on ground and air situations and coordinate target assignments.

Key communication practices include:

• Checking in with your controller upon handoff and reporting any status changes.
• Receiving situation updates after check-in and when conditions evolve.
• Accepting target designations and guidance during attack phases.
• Obtaining clearance before engaging targets.
• Receiving Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) feedback and mission clearance when tasks are complete.

Aircrew operate under ground control restrictions at all times. Outside the area of operations (AO), pilots report to an Air Traffic Controller (ATC). Inside the AO, control is passed to a Forward Air Controller (FAC). An exception is when performing Combat Air Patrol (CAP) duties, where control is maintained by an ATC or Air Battle Manager (ABM).