FM/C86 - Communications - Reports

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

A contact report is a way for any member of the unit to concisely communicate important information about the enemy in a standard way. Being able to concisely report enemy locations is a critical communication skill to have. The sooner we know about enemy positions, and the faster it is passed to the entire squad, the better our survivability will be and the more effective we will be at reacting to threats.

A contact report consists of several key elements that must be presented in a specific order for it to be effective.

1. ALERT: Begin with an alert pro-word. 
   • Use "Contact!" for entities in contact with the reporter
   • Use "Sighting!" for entities sighted but not in contact.
   • Use "Audible!" for entities not sighted and only heard.
2. ORIENT: Provide direction and range. Range can be omitted if desired. Direction should be one of the following:
   • Relative direction (front, left, right, rear) if movement direction is established.
   • Cardinal direction.
   • Compass bearing in degrees for high precision.
3. DESCRIBE: Composition of the enemy element:
   • Type of the enemy (infantry, MG nest, tank,…)
   • Rough size estimate (fireteam, squad,…)
4. EXPOUND: Give additional details such as:
   • Range if not provided during orient (from general, e.g. "Close", to specific, e.g. "523 meters").
   • A specific degree bearing if only a relative bearing was initially given
   • Movement of the enemy
   • Detailed information about individual enemy positions

Example Contact Report: "Contact front! Enemy infantry in the open, bearing 210, three hundred meters!"

A Situation Report (SITREP) is a concise method for a leader to quickly understand the status and activity of their troops. It enables efficient communication up and down the chain of command, ensuring leaders maintain situational awareness across all elements.

For our purposes, a SITREP answers two simple questions:“What is your location?” and “What is your activity?”

SITREPs can be requested at any level and are most commonly used during pauses in combat, at the conclusion of engagements, or when higher command requests an update.

REQUEST: STREPs are called for using a simple, clear command.

“(Element), send SITREP.” 

ACKNOWLEDGE (if required): The responding element acknowledges the request. If unable to report immediately, they may reply:

“(Element) – WAIT OUT.”

RESPOND: When ready, the element provides their concise SITREP, following the format:

1. Location: Current position or reference point.
2. Activity: What the element is doing.

“(Element): SITREP – firm at Compound 6-6, awaiting orders.”

CONFIRMATION: The requesting leader acknowledges receipt of the report.

"(Element): ROGER OUT."

An ACE Report is a concise update given from one element leader to the next higher leader regarding their element’s operational status.It allows rapid assessment of ammunition, casualties, and equipment across multiple teams without unnecessary detail.

• Only include what your element needs, not what it has. Within Ammo and Equipment, report issues from most to least severe.
• Simplicity and brevity are key – report only what matters.

AMMO: Report your team’s ammunition status, covering all primary and secondary weapons including non-disposable launchers (e.g. MAAWS, SMAW, Javelin, Stinger). Specify the types and calibres where shortages exist.

Example: “Red 9 mm, orange STANAG, red AT-4.”

CASUALTIES: Summarise the team’s medical condition:

• Number of personnel up (conscious/able to fight)
• Number of wounded
• Detailed triage information belongs in a CASREP, not an ACE.

Example: “5 up, 1 wounded.”

EQUIPMENT: Report any loss of key gear or mission-critical items such as radios, NVGs, disposable launchers, or specialist tools.

Example: “Red on AT-4, orange on bandages.”

• Only report relevant shortages.
• Use ORANGE for low and RED for out.
• GREEN is never reported - it adds no value.

Before an ACE Report can be sent, the leader must gather the required information from their team. This is called an ACE Check.

AS A LEADER

• Gather information from your buddy team directly, then from the other team’s leader.
• Conduct the check off-radio when possible to reduce chatter.
• If spread out, collect from each member individually.

AS A TEAM MEMBER

Individual members provide raw details only when needed, following A-C-E order, without using colours or headers.

Correct:

“Need 4× 5.56 STANAG, need a stitch, nearly out of bandages.”

Incorrect:

“Orange on 5.56, orange need a stitch, red on bandages.”“Ammo low on 5.56, Casualty need a stitch, Equipment low on bandages.”

Only report what is required:

“Low on 5.56 STANAG and nearly out of bandages.”

If there are no needs:

“All good.” or “All green.”

Compiling an ACE Report

Once all ACE Checks are received, the leader compiles them into a single report for the higher element.

SL: 1-1, this is Actual – ACE Report.FTL (Kevin): Actual, this is 1-1 – Roger, WAIT OUT.

[Kevin collects ACE Checks from team]

KEVIN: Actual, this is 1-1 – orange 5.56 STANAG, orange 9 mm,5 up 3 wounded, orange bandages.SL: Roger, out.

• Leaders merge information logically: consolidate ammo shortages, casualty counts, and equipment losses before reporting.
• Maintain brevity and standard colour codes.

A casualty report (CASREP) is a concise, focused communication detailing the status of casualties within an element. This enables leaders and medical units to quickly assess the severity of the situation and allocate resources accordingly.

CASREPs are used in the following scenarios:

• When a leader needs to know casualty status.
• To convey the specific extent and severity of wounded personnel.
• For medical units (ambulances, medevac teams) to understand casualty situations.

When reporting casualties, use the following format:

[number of immediate casualties] immediate

[number of immediate casualties] delayed

[number of immediate casualties] minimal

[number of immediate casualties] KIA

(request medical assistance)

Note the order and wording corresponds with FM/BS-188 - Identify the triage category of a patient