Radio Voice Protocol

This is a guide to the radio protocol required to be mastered by all Radio Telephone Operator (RTOs). All NCOs should have at least a basic fundemental understanding of the Voice Procedure (VP) outlined in this guide. This guide was based off information found in this google doc and elsewhere, so credit goes to the UK officer who designed it.

Call Signs


a Company is allocated a call sign identifier, often starting with the letter of the Company (e.g. Able for A Company, Bulldog for B Company). Platoons are designated with a number (Bulldog-1 for 1 Platoon). Each leadership position has a number affixed: 7 for NCOs, 6 for Commanders, 5 for Executive Officers. Hence Bulldog-7 is B Company First Sergeant. Bulldog-1-6 is B Company, 1 Platoon Leader. Support platoons are often given a separate callsign (e.g. Steel for mortar platoon). For brevity once comms have been established, the identifier is omitted and only the numbers are used. New call signs joining the net must announce themselves with the full call sign and identifier.

On the Platoon nets, Squads use the same call sign with the squad number affixed. Hence Bulldog-1-1 is 1 Platoon 1st Squad; Bulldog-1-1-A is 1 Platoon, 1st Squad, Alpha FireTeam. “Actual” is appended to any call sign to specify the commander, as opposed to the Radio Telephone Operator (RTO) who would otherwise routinely answer the call.

Voice Procedure
Voice Procedure is used in order to get the most amount of information across in the shortest possible time. Airtime is precious and as much as possible needs to be reserved for command and control, so reducing the amount of unnecessary chatter is vital. To facility brevity and accuracy, VP employs a number of prowords with specific meanings and rules associated to them, which are largely standardised throughout NATO. Good net discipline can be maintained by following some basic rules:


 * Think before transmitting.
 * Be brief.
 * Be succinct.
 * Use Out instead of Over whenever possible.

Prowords
Prowords are standardised calls used to ensure understanding of common terms and tasks and help keep comms clear and succinct. Every proword has a specific and unique meaning and some of them will by implication trigger a certain set of activities. For example “CONTACT” explicitly means the call sign is engaged with the enemy and the chain of command will react accordingly. Care should therefore be take to use the correct proword to avoid unintended consequences.

Reports
Reports are VP drills designed to communicate the most critical information in a simple, unambiguous format quickly and easily. The most common tactical reports are Situation Reports. SALUTE or SALTA are acronyms used to describe the enemy in detail and are aids to completeness. SALUTE is used for detailed reconnaissance reports whereas the slightly abbreviated SALTA is more commonly used for quick tactical reporting.

Fire Missions
Target Grid is the standard method used by an observer to request Offensive Support (such as 81mm mortar and 105mm Light Gun) from a Forward Observer attached to the unit. The FO then handles the details and execution of the fire mission with the artillery battery. Note that when requesting OS, every line is repeated in full by the answering call sign to confirm it is correct. This document does not contain details for a Call for Fire mission. See Call for Indirect Fire.

Close Air Support
CAS from fast air or attack helicopters is normally requested via a 9 line CAS request (“nine liner”). An abbreviated 7 line format can be used in emergencies. For most game purposes, this ECAS request is sufficient. The critical information is Lines 1 to 3 and 7.