VoiceProcedurefortheLight

Infantryman

Introduction
ThepurposeofthisguideistointroducethefundamentalsoftacticalradiocommunicationsattheCompanyandPlatoonlevel,includingbasicVoiceProcedureonthe
CombatNetRadio(CNR).Communicatingeffectivelyisavitalbattlefieldskilltoenablecommandandcontrol,improvedsituationalawareness,facilitatethetimely
passageofinformationandmaintainanallinformednet.ItisespeciallyimportantforCommanders,NCOsandRadioOperatorstounderstandhowtopassoncritical
informationswiftly,accuratelyandsuccinctly.

AlternativeColourSchemeVersionifyourestrugglingwiththebackgroundonmobiledevices.

Militaryvoiceprocedureisusedbecauseithasrealutilityinthegameenvironmentandnotsimplybecauseitmakesthegameplaysoundmoreauthentic,thoughitdoes
thattoo.However,similartootherguidesforArmA,thisisnotaslavishcopyofmilitarymanuals,althoughtheyprovideausefulreference.MilitarySimulation(milsim)
necessarilyrequiresthatrealworldtactics,techniquesandproceduresaretailoredtofitthegameandthisguideisnodifferent.

Standardoperatingproceduresvarybetweencountriesandevendifferentunits,althoughNATOcountriesfollowacommonstandardwhennecessary.Thescopeofthis
guidecoversUSandUK/Commonwealthvariations.Relevantpartshavebeenlabelledtoclearlyindicatethevariances.Eitherway,goodnetdisciplineandaccurate,
realisticcommunicationsnotonlyenhanceuniteffectivenessbutalsoincreaseenjoymentofthegame.

USSpecific UK&CommonwealthSpecific JointForcesorNATOStandard TailoredforArmA

About the Author

TheauthorisaformerBritishArmyCaptainwithoperationalexperienceinIraqandworldwide.HavingworkedasbothaChallenger2TroopLeaderandInfantryPlatoon
Commander,hewaspostedastheRegimentalSignalsOfficerresponsibleforrunningBattlegroupHeadquartersandmaintainingcommunicationsfortheunit.Heavily
involvedintheconversionoftheBritishArmytoBowmandigitisedcommunications,hewaslaterpostedastheSO3CommsattheCombinedArmsCISSchool,wherehe
instructedthenextgenerationofTroopLeadersandSignalsOfficers.HehasbeenplayingmilsimontheOperationFlashpoint/ArmAplatformsincethegamewas
released,withtheoccasionalbreaktodoitforreal,andhasbeenPlatoonCommanderofVOLCBATsince2010.


Introduction
References
CombatNetRadio
RadioNets
CallSigns
VoiceProcedure
Prowords
IncorrectProwords
Reports
SupportRequests
FireMissions
CloseAirSupport

CasualtyEvacuation
AnnexA:ExampleCallSignMatrix

References
1. MCRP622CUSMarineCorpsRadioOperatorsHandbook
2. FM1033USArmyRadioOperatorsHandbook
3. FM1132USArmyFieldManual:CombatNetRadioOperations
4. JWP600CISSupporttoJointOperations(2ndEd)
5. UKVoiceCommunicationsProceduresEBBv7

Note:USpublicationsarefreelyavailableonline.UKpubscanonlybeaccessedontheRestrictedLanInterconnect(RLI).Allinformationincludedhereisunclassified.

Combat Net Radio

Radio Nets
UnitlevelradionetsatBattalionandaboveareformalnets.Theyhavewatchkeepersmaintaininga24hourlisteningwatch,arefullyloggedandrequirescheduled
reports,returnsandrequests(R3)aswellastheregularcommand,controloradmintraffic.Assuch,thereisafairamountofformalprotocolthatappliesspecificallyto
thesenets.Atsubunitlevel(Companyandbelow),commandnetsareusuallyinformalalthoughstandardVoiceProcedure(VP)stillapplies.AttheSectionorSquad
level,shortrangenetsonPersonalRoleRadiosareconsideredchatnets,althoughitisgoodpracticetofollowstandardVP.


ALightInfantryCompanyoperatesasinglecommandnetwithoccasionaluseofadditionalnetsforbusyoperationsinordertodeclutterthecommandnet,suchasan
AdminnetorOffensiveSupport(Fires)netforForwardObservers,ForwardAirControllersorJointTerminalAttackControllersattachedtothesubunit.EachPlatoonhas
aseparatePlatoonCommandnet,sometimesreferredtointheUSasanAssaultnet.Finally,eachSection/SquadhasaPRRchatnet.FireTeamsworkonthe
Section/SquadnetbutTeamLeaderswillmonitor(listento)thePlatoonCommandnetonaseparateradio.TheBattalionSignalsOfficerdistributesfrequency
allocations,callsignsandpasswordsonaCommunicationsElectronicInstruction(CEI)aheadofoperations.Asaruleitisbettertouseasfewnetsaspossible.

Call Signs
Callsignsareameansofuniquelyidentifyingeachstationonanet.CallsignswillvaryslightlydependingonthestructureandtypeofunitandevenunitSOP,butthis
guidefocusesonagenericLightInfantryCompany.WhiletheUSandUKfollowaslightlydifferentapproach,thereislogictobothsystems.

IntheUSArmy,aCompanyisallocatedacallsignidentifier,oftenstartingwiththe
letteroftheCompany(e.g.AbleforACompany,BulldogforBCompany).Platoons
aredesignatedwithanumber(Bulldog1for1Platoon).Eachleadershipposition
hasanumberaffixed:7forNCOs,6forCommanders,5forExecutiveOfficers.
HenceBulldog7isBCompanyFirstSergeant.Bulldog16isBCompany,1Platoon
Leader.Supportplatoonsareoftengivenaseparatecallsign(e.g.Steelformortar
platoon).Forbrevityoncecommshavebeenestablished,theidentifierisomitted
andonlythenumbersareused.Newcallsignsjoiningthenetmustannounce
themselveswiththefullcallsignandidentifier.

OnthePlatoonnets,Squadsusethesamecallsignwiththesquadnumberaffixed.
HenceBulldog11is1Platoon1stSquadBulldog11Ais1Platoon,1stSquad,
AlphaTeam.Actualisappendedtoanycallsigntospecifythecommander,as
opposedtotheRadioTelephoneOperator(RTO)whowouldotherwiseroutinelyanswer
thecall.

IntheUK,acallsignindicator(phoneticletter)isallocatedtoeachsubunit.Thecall
signindicatorisvariableandmaychangeperiodicallyasdetailedintheBattalion
CEI.PlatoonsandSectionsaredesignatedbynumber,forexampleF10
(pronouncedFoxtrotOneZero)isBCompany,1Platoon,whereFoxtrotisthecall
signindicatorallocatedtoBCompanyintheCEI.AlphaspecifiestheCommander,
soF10Ais1PlatoonCommander.Thiscanbefurtherbrokendowntodesignate
SectionsandFireTeams,henceF11is1Platoon,1SectionF11Cis1Platoon,1
Section,CharlieFireTeam.


Leadershippositionshavefixedcallsigns:0AistheCompanyCommander,0Cisthe
2IC,33AistheCompanySergeantMajor.0(Zero)istheControlStationandistypically
mannedbytheRadioOperator.OnthePlatoonnets,Sectionsusethesamecallsigns
thoughinthiscontext0AisthePlatoonCommander,0BthePlatoonSergeant.

Voice Procedure
VoiceProcedureisusedinordertogetthemostamountofinformationacrossintheshortestpossibletime.Airtimeispreciousandasmuchaspossibleneedstobe
reservedforcommandandcontrol,soreducingtheamountofunnecessarychatterisvital.Tofacilitybrevityandaccuracy,VPemploysanumberofprowordswith
specificmeaningsandrulesassociatedtothem,whicharelargelystandardisedthroughoutNATO.Goodnetdisciplinecanbemaintainedbyfollowingsomebasicrules:

GoldenRulesofVP Considerthis: Comparedtothis:

1. Thinkbeforetransmitting. BULLDOG16,BULLDOG16this BULLDOG16thisisBULLDOG,move

BULLDOG,messageover nowtoCheckpointThreeTwoTango,over
2. Avoidofferingmessages.
3. Bebrief. RogerBULLDOG,thisisBULLDOG16,send BULLDOG16,RogerOut
trafficover
4. Besuccinct.
5. UseOutinsteadofOver BULLDOG16,initiatemovementatthistime
wheneverpossible. tocheckpointThreeTwoTango,Break,how
copyover?

BULLDOGthisisBULLDOG16,Roger
Wilco,movingtocheckpointThreeTwoTango,
IamOscarMikeover

BULLDOG16thisisBULLDOGRogerOut

Prowords
Prowordsarestandardisedcallsusedtoensureunderstandingofcommontermsandtasksandhelpkeepcommsclearandsuccinct.Everyprowordhasaspecificand
uniquemeaningandsomeofthemwillbyimplicationtriggeracertainsetofactivities.ForexampleCONTACTexplicitlymeansthecallsignisengagedwiththeenemy
andthechainofcommandwillreactaccordingly.Careshouldthereforebetaketousethecorrectprowordtoavoidunintendedconsequences.

Indicatesa5secondpauseinalongmessagetoallowotherstobreakinwithcritical
BREAK information.Shouldonlybeusedonhalfduplexnetsbycommandersprovidinglong
messagessuchasquickbattleorders.

CANCEL Cancelapreviousmessage,asin"referencemovetoFRV,CANCEL.Holdfirm."

Iamcomingundereffectiveenemyfireandhaveengagedtheenemy,asin
CONTACT
CONTACTWAITOUT.

CORRECT Youarecorrect,orwhatyouhavetransmittediscorrect.

CORRECTION Anerrorhasbeenmade,thecorrectversionis...

UsedinCloseAirSupportrequeststoindicateordnancewillbedroppedwithinarange
DANGERCLOSE
thatcouldcausefriendlyforcescasualties.

DISREGARD Transmissionmadeinerror,disregardit.

FIGURES (Optional)Numeralstofollow.Onlyrequiredtoavoidambiguity.

MESSAGE Amessagethatrequiresrecordingisabouttofollow.ReplywithSEND.

OK Icanhearyouloudandclear.UsedinreplytoRADIOCHECK

OUT Ihavefinishedspeakinganddonotrequireareply.

OVER Ihavefinishedspeakingandrequireareply.OVERandOUTareneverusedtogether.

Usetoconfirmcommsareworking.Replywith"OKOVER"(UK)or"ROGEROVER"
RADIOCHECK
(US).

READBACK Readbackthelastmessagetoconfirmithasbeenreceivedcorrectly.

RELAY(TO) Retransmitthismessagetothefollowingstations.

Repeatthelastartilleryornavalgunfirefiremission.NottobeconfusedwithSAY
REPEAT
AGAIN!

ROGER Ihavereceivedandunderstoodyourmessage.UsedinreplytoRADIOCHECK(US).

ROGERSOFAR Confirmreceiptandunderstandingofthepartofalongmessagesentsofar.

Sendthelastmessageagain.CanbecombinedwithprowordsALLAFTERorALL
SAYAGAIN
BEFORE,asinSAYAGAINALLAFTERGrid...


SEND Iamreadytorecordyourmessage.ResponsetoMESSAGE.

SIGHTING Ihaveseentheenemybutamnotengaged.FollowedbyaSightingReport.

VERIFY Verifyallorpartofamessageandsendthecorrectversion.

WAIT Shortpausefurtherinformationtofollowinafewseconds.

WAITOUT Furtherinformationtofollowinafewminutes(netisclearedforotherusers).

WRONG Youarewrong,orwhatyouhavetransmittediswrong.

Ihavereceivedandunderstandyourmessageandwillcomply.Sincethemeaningof
WILCO ROGERisalreadyimplied,thetwoprowordsshouldneverbeusedtogether.

Incorrect Prowords
AnumberofwordshavecreptintopopularusewhichdonotexistinmilitaryVP.Theirprovenancehasbeenincorrectlyattributedtothemilitarybytheentertainment
industryorhabitspickedupfromCBradioandCivilAviation.ThishappensintherealmilitaryandnotjustinsomeArmAgroupsbutjustbecauseyouheardasoldiersay
itoncedoesnotmakeitcorrect!Theyshouldbeavoidedastheyaddlittlevalueandmerelyclutterthenetwithunnecessarilylongtransmissions.

Incorrect Correct Incorrect Correct PhoneticPronunciation

Whilethephoneticalphabetis
Affirmative YES LimaCharlie OKorROGER
nowuseduniversally,
Atthistime NOW Negative NO pronunciationofnumbersis
taughtslightlydifferently.For
BeAdvised Notrequired Rogeryourlast ROGER example,USMCteaches
TREEbutUSandUKArmies
Howcopy OVER Sendtraffic Notrequired
sayTHREE.USuseNINER
butUKteachNINE.
Interrogative Notrequired SolidCopy ROGER

Reports
ReportsareVPdrillsdesignedtocommunicatethemostcriticalinformationinasimple,unambiguousformatquicklyandeasily.Themostcommontacticalreportsare
Sighting,Contact,SpotandSituationReports.SALUTEorSALTAareacronymsusedtodescribetheenemyindetailandareaidstocompleteness.SALUTEisusedfor
detailedreccereportswhereastheslightlyabbreviatedSALTAismorecommonlyusedforquicktacticalreporting.


Report
SightingReport ContactReport SpotReport
Usedwhenaunitobservesanenemyor Usedwhenaunitcomesundereffective Usewhenaunitobservesanyknownor
suspectedthreatbutisnotactuallyin enemyfireorhasactivelyengagedthe suspectedthreatactivityoranycharacteristic
contact.Thisisstrictlydistinctfroma enemy.Immediatelyoncomingunder oftheareaofoperationslikelytoimpactthe
Usage Contact.Contactmustonlybeusedifthe contact,thecallsignsendsCONTACT mission.ASPOTREPshouldbesentwithin
unitiscomingundereffectiveenemyfire. WAITOUT.Allstationswillkeeptrafficto oneminuteofacontactandusesSALUTE
aminimumuntilthecallsignincontacthas todescribetheenemy.
sentafullcontactreport.

Timeofreport Timeofreport LINE1Date&Time___(ofreport)

Sizeofenemy Size LINE2Unit___(senderscallsign)
Activity Activity LINE3Size___(numberofenemy)
Location Location LINE4Activity___(whattheyaredoing)
Timeobserved Actions LINE5Location___(Gridofenemy)
Format
Actionstaken LINE6Unit___(oruniformworn)
LINE7Time___(observed)
LINE8Equipment___(carried)
LINE9Assessment___
LINE10Narrative___

"0Athisis31.Sightingasat0930hrs, 0Athisis31,ContactWaitOut. BULLDOG6thisisBULLDOG1,

Grid12345678,4manpatrolmoving "0Athisis31,Contactasat0930hrs, SPOTREP,oneBRDMstationaryatGrid
Example
Northonroad,amobserving,Out." Grid12345678,enemybunkerwithPKM, 12345678,0930hrs,amcontinuingto
amassaulting,Out." observe,Out.

SituationReport(SITREP) AMCAS
Sitrepsaretheprimarymeansofupdatingthechainofcommandonyourcurrentlocationandtactical AMCASisanabbreviationof
situation.Asaruleofthumb,eachsubunitshouldsendaSitrepevery5minsincontactandevery15 AmmunitionandCasualtystate.
minsoutofcontact.Theyshouldalsobesentaftercompletinganysignificanttask,suchasan ItcanbeusedinaSITREPto
assault,uponreachingacheckpointorRV,orwhenrequestedbythecommander.


indicatetheoverallcombat
Asaminimum,SitrepsmustincludethelocationofknownEnemyandFriendlyForces.Adminand effectiveness(CE)ofsubunits.
LogisticsRequestsmaybeaddedifthesituationdictates.HQwillsendaconsolidatedownward
Sitrepfromtimetotimeinordertoensureeveryoneisfullyawareofthesituationandthe Greenover90%CE
commandersintent. Amber60%to90%CE
Redlessthan60%CE
Timeofreport
Enemylocations,casualtiesinflicted,PWstaken Aunitatlessthan40%CEis
Friendlylocationsandstate consideredtobedestroyed.
CommandersIntent
AdditionalInfoCombatServiceSupportorotherpertinentinfo 0Bthisis31,AMCASGreen,
Out.
"0Athisis31,SitRepasat0930hrs,Grid12345678,haveengagedanddestroyed10infantryat
ObjectiveTango,further8enemyinfantrysighted1000monAxis,withdrawingNorth.Amreorging
andawaitingfurtherorders,Over."

Support Requests
Somerequestformatsvarybetweennationalmilitariesanddifferentunits,especiallyinthecaseofArmAwheretheyareoftentailoredtothegameandcapabilitiesof
specificunits.RefertoyourunitSOPsforfurtherinformation.

Fire Missions
TargetGridisthemethodusedbyanuntrainedobservertorequestOffensiveSupport(suchas81mmmortarand105mmLightGun)fromaForwardObserverattached
totheunit.TheFOthenhandlesthedetailsandexecutionofthefiremissionwiththeartillerybattery.NotethatwhenrequestingOS,everylineisrepeatedinfullbythe
answeringcallsigntoconfirmitiscorrect.TheVPusedbetweenFOandbatteryhasadditionaldetailbutisnotincludedhere.

FireMissionTargetGrid

K11thisis32,FireMission,Over
FireSupportRequest __thisis__firemission,over.
K11,FireMission,Over.

TargetGridRef______
Indication FireMission,Grid32215612...
(Optional)TargetNo.XRay____


Direction Directionoftargetfromtheobserver ...Direction1800mils.

TargetDescription TypeandActivity ...Enemyinfantryintheopen...

Neutralise(acombinationofHE&Smoke)
Effect Screen(asmokescreeninfrontoftarget) ...Neutralise...
Illuminate(starshells)

Immediate(Now)
When&ForHowLong Delayed(In2minutes) ...Nowfor2minutes,Over
OnMyCommand

K11,FireMissionGrid32215612,Direction1800
Confirmation mils,Enemyinfantryintheopen,Neutralisenowfor
2minutes,Out

Shot15(timeuntilroundsland)
FireForAdjust(if 32thisisK11,Shot15.Splash
Splash(called5secondsbeforeimpact)
required) K11Left100Add50Over
Left/Right,Add/Drop

32thisisK11,Shot15
Shot15(timeuntilroundsland)
FireForEffect 32,Shot15,Out
Splash(called5secondsbeforeimpact)
32thisisK11,Splash,Out

RoundsComplete(gunshavestoppedfiring)
Repeat(repeatthefiremissionexactly)
FireMissionComplete RecordAsTarget(logfiremissionforarepeat
infuturee.g.UT1001)
EndofMission(supportnolongerrequired)
32thisisK11,RoundsComplete,Over
32,RoundsComplete,EndofMission,Over
K11,EndofMission,Out

Close Air Support

CASfromfastairorattackhelicoptersisnormallyrequestedviaa9lineCASrequest(nineliner).Anabbreviated7lineformatcanbeusedinemergencies.Formost
gamepurposes,thisECASrequestissufficient.ThecriticalinformationisLines1to4.

EmergencyCloseAirSupport


K20thisis32,StandbyforECAS,Over
Line1 TargetGrid K20,Send,Over
32,Line1,123456...

TargetType
AInfantry
Line2 BLightVehicle Line2,Alpha
CArmoured
DFixed

RequestedOrdnance
HGuns
Line3 IRockets Line3,India
JATMissiles
KLGB

Marking
VSmoke
Line4 WIRBeam Line4,Victor
XLaser
YNone

Ingress
Line5 AHeading(towardstarget) Line5,NorthWestfromGrid123456
BBattlePointGrid(RunIn)

Egress
Line6 Line6,North
HHeading

Friendlies
V400m+
W300m+
Line7 Line7,Victor,Over
X200m+
Y100m+
ZDangerClose

Casualty Evacuation
CASEVACrequestsfollowa9lineformat.However,someinformationisirrelevantinthegamecontextsowecanuseasimplified5lineformat.

CASEVACRequest

HelloK20thisis31,StandbyforCASEVAC
request,Over
Line1 LocationofPickUpSite(Grid)
K20,Send,Over
31,Line1,123456...

Line2 Callsign&Frequency(PlHQbydefault) Line2,32on77.9

Line3 NumberofCasualties(T1,T2,T3,T4) Line3,1xT1,2xT2

SecurityofPickUpSite
EEnemy
LIne4 Line4,November
NNoEnemy
PPossibleEnemy

MethodofMarkingPickUpSite(Smoke,
Line5 Line5,PurpleSmoke,Over
Lightsticks,Other)

Annex A: Example Call Sign Matrix

ThisisanexamplecallsignmatrixforBCompanyshowingtheUScallsignsystemandtheequivalentUKorCommonwealthsystem.Thesecondtableshowsthecall
signsusedontheplatoonlevelnetfor1PlatoonBCompany.

BCompany(CompanyNet)

Station
CallSign:BULLDOG CallSignIndicator:FOXTROT

BULLDOG 0 ControlStation(RTO/RO)

BULLDOG6Actual 0A CompanyCommander

0B CompanyCommandersVehicle


BULLDOG5 0C CompanyXO/2IC

BULLDOG7 33A Company1stSergeant/SergeantMajor

BULLDOG1 F10 1Platoon

BULLDOG16Actual F10A 1PlatoonLeader/PlatoonCommander

BULLDOG11 F11 1Squad/Section

BULLDOG11A,B,C F11C,F11D FireTeams

BULLDOG2 F20 2Platoon

BULLDOG3 F30 3Platoon

1PlatoonBCompany(PlatoonNet)

Station
CallSign:BULLDOG CallSignIndicator:FOXTROT

BULLDOG1 0 ControlStation(RTO/RO)

BULLDOG16Actual 0A PlatoonLeader/PlatoonCommander

BULLDOG17 0B PlatoonSergeant

BULLDOG11 F11 1stSquad/Section

BULLDOG11A,B,C F11C,F11D FireTeams

BULLDOG12 F12 2ndSquad/Section

BULLDOG13 F13 3rdSquad/Section