AUSTRALIAN ARMY CADETS Radiotelephone procedures Recruit introduction to

AUSTRALIAN ARMY CADETS Radiotelephone procedures Recruit introduction to RATEL ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

What is a proword? n A proword is: n a pronounceable word or phrase: which has been given a particular meaning – for the purpose of speeding up messages between users on radio circuits ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Examples of prowords ROGER n Means ‘I have received your last transmission satisfactorily’ or ‘I understand your message’ n Can also mean ‘loud and clear’ SEND n Means ‘I am ready to receive your message’ WILCO n Means ‘Message understood, and will be complied with’ A full list of authorised prowords is at ANNEX A of your RATEL AIDE MEMOIRE ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Prowords DO NOT USE INCORRECT PROWORDS YES and NO n Are correct prowords ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Prowords DO NOT USE INCORRECT PROWORDS YES and NO n Are correct prowords ‘AFFIRMATIVE’ and ‘NEGATIVE’ n Are NOT correct prowords “DO YOU READ ME” and similar expressions n Are NOT correct prowords ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Prowords DO NOT USE INCORRECT PROWORDS YES and NO n Are correct prowords X X ‘AFFIRMATIVE’ and ‘NEGATIVE’ n Are NOT correct prowords “DO YOU READ ME” and similar expressions n Are NOT correct prowords ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

The phonetic alphabet Enables spelling of words or phrases in a radiotelephone message n n to be conveyed accurately and consistently in a standard format that all users know ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

The phonetic alphabet n n n n A B C D E F G ALPHA BRAVO CHARLIE DELTA ECHO FOXTROT GOLF AL-FAH BRAH-VOH CHAR-LEE DELL-TAH ECK-OH FOKS-TROT GOLF ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

The phonetic alphabet n n n n H I J K L M N HOTEL INDIA JULIETT KILO LIMA MIKE NOVEMBER HOH-TELL IN-DEE-AH JOO-LEE-ETT KEY-LOH LEE-MAH MIKE NO-VEM-BER ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

The phonetic alphabet n n n n O P Q R S T U OSCAR PAPA QUEBEC ROMEO SIERRA TANGO UNIFORM OSS-CAH PAH-PAH KEH-BECK RO-ME-OH SEE-AIR-RAH TANG-GO YOU-NEE-FORM ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

The phonetic alphabet n n n V W X Y Z VICTOR WHISKEY X-RAY YANKEE ZULU VIK-TAH WISS-KEY ECKS-RAY YANG-KEY ZOO-LOO ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Spelling using the phonetic alphabet is preceded by the proword ‘I SPELL’ Example: ‘WALK – I SPELL – WHISKEY-ALPHALIMA – KILO – WALK’ ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Pronunciation of figures 0 1 2 3 4 5 ZERO WUN TOO THU-REE FO-WER FI-YIV Emphasis on ‘n’ Sharp ‘t’, long ‘oo’ Short ‘u’, roll ‘r’, long ‘ee’ Long ‘o’ Emphasise ‘f’, ‘v’, first ‘i’ is long, second ‘i’ is short ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Pronunciation of figures 6 7 SIX SEV-EN Emphasis on ‘x’ Two distinct syllables, ‘en’ as in ‘hen’ 8 ATE Long ‘a’ 9 NINER Long ‘i’, emphasis both ‘n’s 10 WUN ZERO ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Pronunciation of figures • Numbers are transmitted digit by digit • • Example FIY-IV WUN TOO for ‘ 512’ Exact multiples of hundreds and of thousands may be spoken as such • Example FIY-IV HUNDRED ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Pronunciation of figures • • In good conditions numbers may be sent as in normal speech Example ‘Forty-four’ for ’ 44’ Example ‘Two thousand eight’ for ‘ 2008’ Example: ‘Twenty-three fifty-nine hours’ for ‘ 2359 hours’ ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Pronunciation of figures • • Under poor or difficult conditions, figures are sent digit by digit, preceded by the proword FIGURES Example: ‘FIGURES SEV-EN THUH-REE FOWER’ for ‘ 734’ ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Pronunciation of figures • Proword ‘FIGURES’ is NOT used with: • • • Callsigns Grid references Time checks ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Pronunciation of figures • Decimal point spoken as ‘DAY-SEE-MAL’ • Example ‘Wun Too Thuh-ree DAY-SEE-MAL Fow-er’ for ‘ 123. 4’ ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Grid references GRID REFERENCE IN CLEAR ‘GRID Three Two Six – Eight Four Seven’ ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Fixed Callsigns A fixed callsign is a callsign assigned to a unit Does not change daily Stays the same (‘fixed’) Arranged in a tiered sequence § e. g. 10 (ONE ZERO), 11 (ONE ONE), 12 (ONE TWO)… § The NCS callsign is usually 0 A (ZERO ALPHA) ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Layout of typical command structure showing fixed callsigns 12* (12 Platoon) 12 A 12 B 11 A 11 B* 11 C* (1 Section) (2 Section) (3 Section) 13* (13 Platoon) 12 C 13 A* 13 B* 13 C* (7 Section) (8 Section) (9 Section) ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Radio appointment titles Purpose is to hide identity of the person in that appointment. Same appointment titles for all units. SUNRAY Commander SUNRAY MINOR Deputy Commander MOLAR Quartermaster MOONBEAM Executive Officer PLAYTIME Transport STARLIGHT Medical SEAGULL MINOR Adjutant ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

CALLING To communicate on a radio net, make an initial call (‘transmission’). An initial call has several parts: ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Initial Call CALLSIGN identifies station/s being called ‘THIS IS’ proword - means callsign of caller follows CALLSIGN identifies caller TEXT the message itself ENDING: ‘OVER’ proword - means ‘your turn to talk, NOW’ ‘OUT’ proword - means ‘end of my transmission, no answer required’ ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

ANSWERING An answer to an initial call has several parts: ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Parts of an answer CALLSIGN identifies station/s now being called ‘THIS IS’ proword – means callsign of caller follows – compulsory in first reply CALLSIGN identifies caller now calling RECEIPT ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Parts of an answer RECEIPT: § ‘ROGER’, or § ‘WILCO’, OR § ‘WAIT’ ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Parts of an answer ‘ROGER’ proword – means § ‘Message received’ ‘WILCO’ proword – means: § Message received, and § I understand, and § I will comply. ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Parts of an answer ‘WAIT’ § § § proword – means: Your message received, and There will be a brief delay – less than 5 seconds, and No other station is to transmit during this pause. ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Parts of an answer ‘WAIT OUT’ Proword – means: § § ‘Received your message, There will be a delay more than 5 seconds, I will come back to you later, and Any station is free to transmit now. ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Parts of an answer – 25 ‘OUT TO YOU’ Proword – means: § § § ‘This ends my transmission to you, and No answer needed, and I am going to call another station immediately. ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

INITIAL CALLS • At time designated for opening of net, NCS makes ‘initial call’ to all stations • NCS uses proword ‘RADIO CHECK’ • RADIO CHECK means ‘what is my signal strength & readability? ’

INITIAL CALLS • Substations then reply in correct answering order, stating how they hear the NCS.

INITIAL CALLS • Substations use these prowords to report signal strength: • LOUD Your signal strength is excellent • GOOD Your signal strength is good • WEAK Your signal strength is weak • VERY WEAK Your signal strength is very weak • FADING Your signal strength at times fades so that continuous reception cannot be relied upon

DO NOTS DO NOT SAY ‘LOUD AND CLEAR’ - THE CORRECT PROWORD IS: ‘ROGER’ DO NOT say ‘how do you read’ – the correct proword is ‘RADIO CHECK’ DO NOT use any other unauthorised prowords

EXAMPLE OF INITIAL CALL NCS (0 A) initiates the call: “XRAY PAPA - THIS IS 0 A – RADIO CHECK – OVER” 11 replies: “(0 A) - (THIS IS) 11 - (ROGER) - OVER” 12 replies: “(0 A) - (THIS IS) 12 – WEAK BUT READABLE – OVER” 13 replies: “(0 A) - (THIS IS) 13 – LOUD WITH INTERFERENCE - OVER” 14 replies: “(0 A) - (THIS IS) 14 – (ROGER) – OVER”

Procedure if station fails to join the net When a substation fails to answer in proper sequence, it must wait until all other substations have answered

Procedure if station fails to join the net If NCS does not receive a reply to the final request, NCS transmits: ‘NOTHING HEARD’

Procedure if station fails to join the net When able to join net, substation reports in, using proword: ‘REPORTING INTO THE NET’ NET

EXAMPLE OF FIXED STATION JOINING A WORKING NET Substation 12 joins the net after it has already been opened 12 initiates call: “ 0 A - THIS IS 12 – REPORTING INTO THE NET – OVER” NCS (0 A) replies: “(12) - (THIS IS) 0 A - (ROGER) - OVER” 12 replies: “(0 A) - (THIS IS) 12 – OUT”

I’ve got a message for you! OFFERING MESSAGES ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMANMARTIN, 2011

OFFERING MESSAGES Messages are ‘offered’: to see if called station is ready to receive before sending reports or orders in poor or difficult conditions if message must be written down when NCS states that net is directed ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

OFFERING MESSAGES When message is offered, it is not given during initial transmission Message is offered using one of these prowords: MESSAGE CRYPTO MESSAGE SITREP, CASEVAC REQUEST, MAINTDEM, etc Receiver must take down offered message in writing ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

LONG MESSAGES Long message – one which takes > 30 seconds to transmit Sent in sections each lasting approx 30 seconds Each section terminates with ‘MORE TO FOLLOW – OVER’ Receiving stations acknowledge each section in turn – with callsign followed by ‘OVER’ ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

LONG MESSAGES Procedure may be interrupted after any section by urgent traffic If no interruption, next section is transmitted using ‘ALL AFTER’ – followed by last word or phrase of section previously transmitted This procedure is continued until message is completed Receiving stations then acknowledge the last section & end with proword ‘OUT’ ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

REPORTS ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMANMARTIN, 2011

REPORTS LOCSTAT – location statement SITREP – situation report MAINTDEM – demand for essential supplies INCIDENTREP – report of an incident MOVEREQ – movement (i. e. transport) request NOTICAS – notification sick/injured not requiring evacuation. ) FATALCAS – SHORT NOTICAS format – reports fatality CASEVAC – sick or injured requiring urgent evacuation ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

LOCSTAT ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

LOCSTAT ALPHA. Callsign BRAVO. Time (Date/Time Group) CHARLIE. Location (GR) DELTA. Direction (if moving) or length of halt (if halted) LOCSTAT to be provided on request If no change from previous LOCSTAT, state ‘LOCSTAT: No change’

LOCSTAT Conversation between 0 A and 11 ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Note how punctuation marks such as full stops are spelled out as prowords. This draws attention to the start of each section. It also allows a brief catch up time when the receiver writes down the message. ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT At 0900 hours on 31 July 2006, 11 sends a LOCSTAT to 0 A stating that they are at GR 563 728 and are heading North to checkpoint 3 (nickname CLEAR FOX) ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT 11 initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 – LOCSTAT – OVER” ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT 11 initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 – LOCSTAT – OVER” NCS replies: “(11) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – SEND LOCSTAT – OVER” ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT 11 initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 – LOCSTAT – OVER” NCS replies: “(11) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – SEND LOCSTAT – OVER” 11 replies with LOCSTAT: “(0 A) – (THIS IS) 11 – LOCSTAT – ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT 11 initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 – LOCSTAT – OVER” NCS replies: “(11) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – SEND LOCSTAT – OVER” 11 replies with LOCSTAT: “(0 A) – (THIS IS) 11 – LOCSTAT – ALPHA – FULL STOP – One [callsign] ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT 11 initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 – LOCSTAT – OVER” NCS replies: “(11) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – SEND LOCSTAT – OVER” 11 replies with LOCSTAT: “(0 A) – (THIS IS) 11 – LOCSTAT – ALPHA – FULL STOP – One BRAVO – FULL STOP – Three One–Zero Niner Zero – JULY – Zero Six [Date/Time Group] ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT (continued) CHARLIE – FULL STOP – GRID – Six–Five–Three – Seven– Two–Eight [Grid Reference] ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT (continued) CHARLIE – FULL STOP – GRID – Six–Five–Three – Seven– Two–Eight DELTA – FULL STOP – heading North to CLEAR FOX [direction] ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT (continued) CHARLIE – FULL STOP – GRID – Six–Five–Three – Seven– Two–Eight DELTA – FULL STOP – heading North to CLEAR FOX 0 A acknowledges receipt of the LOCSTAT: “(11) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – OVER” ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE - LOCSTAT (continued) CHARLIE – FULL STOP – GRID – Six–Five–Three – Seven– Two–Eight DELTA – FULL STOP – heading North to CLEAR FOX 0 A acknowledges receipt of the LOCSTAT: “(11) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – OVER” 11 (originator) ends: “(0 A) – (THIS IS) – 11 – OUT” OUT ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

SITREP ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMANMARTIN, 2011

SITREP – Situation report SITREP ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

SITREP – Situation report SITREP ALPHA. Callsign ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

SITREP – Situation report SITREP ALPHA. Callsign BRAVO. Current situation overview ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

SITREP – Situation report SITREP ALPHA. Callsign BRAVO. Current situation overview CHARLIE. Remarks ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

SITREP – Situation report SITREP ALPHA. Callsign BRAVO. Current situation overview CHARLIE. Remarks DELTA. Admin situation ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

SITREP – Situation report SITREP ALPHA. Callsign BRAVO. Current situation overview CHARLIE. Remarks DELTA. Admin situation ECHO. General (must include future intentions) ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

SITREP – Situation report SITREP ALPHA. Callsign BRAVO. Current situation overview CHARLIE. Remarks DELTA. Admin situation ECHO. General (must include future intentions) FOXTROT. Commander’s evaluation ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE OF SITREP Conversation between 11 A and 0 A ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

Punctuation marks – such as FULL STOP and COMMA – in the written message are pronounced as prowords when the message is transmitted by voice. ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP 11 A initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 A – SITREP – OVER” ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP 11 A initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 A – SITREP – OVER” 0 A replies: “(11 A) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – SEND SITREP – OVER” ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP 11 A initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 A – SITREP – OVER” 0 A replies: “(11 A) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – SEND SITREP – OVER” 11 A sends SITREP: “(0 A) – (THIS IS) 11 A – SITREP – ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP 11 A initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 A – SITREP – OVER” 0 A replies: “(11 A) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – SEND SITREP – OVER” 11 A replies: “(0 A) – (THIS IS) 11 A – SITREP – ALPHA – FULL STOP – One Alpha – [callsign] ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP 11 A initiates call: “ 0 A – THIS IS 11 A – SITREP – OVER” 0 A replies: “(11 A) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – SEND SITREP – OVER” 11 A replies: “(0 A) – (THIS IS) 11 A – ALPHA – FULL STOP – One Alpha – BRAVO – FULL STOP – behind time due to terrain [current situation overview]

EXAMPLE – SITREP CHARLIE – FULL STOP – Nil – [remarks] ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP CHARLIE – FULL STOP – Nil – DELTA – FULL STOP – Moving slowly and will not reach destination until after ETA – [admin situation] ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP CHARLIE – FULL STOP – Nil – DELTA – FULL STOP – Moving slowly and will not reach destination until after ETA – ECHO – FULL STOP – Moving slowly and will not reach destination until after ETA. Intend to reach checkpoint one tonight. [general – must include future intentions] ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP CHARLIE – FULL STOP – Nil – DELTA – FULL STOP – Moving slowly and will not reach destination until after ETA – ECHO – FULL STOP – Moving slowly and will not reach destination until after ETA. Intend to reach checkpoint one tonight. FOXTROT – FULL STOP – Intend to reach checkpoint two tomorrow as arranged [Commander’s intentions] ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP CHARLIE – FULL STOP – Nil – DELTA – FULL STOP – Moving slowly and will not reach destination until after ETA – ECHO – FULL STOP – Moving slowly and will not reach destination until after ETA. Intend to reach checkpoint one tonight. FOXTROT – FULL STOP – Intend to reach checkpoint two tomorrow as arranged 0 A gives a receipt: “(11 A) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – (ROGER) – OVER” ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

EXAMPLE – SITREP CHARLIE – FULL STOP – Nil – DELTA – FULL STOP – Moving slowly and will not reach destination until after ETA – ECHO – FULL STOP – Moving slowly and will not reach destination until after ETA. Intend to reach checkpoint one tonight. FOXTROT – FULL STOP – Intend to reach checkpoint two tomorrow as arranged 0 A gives a receipt: “(11 A) – (THIS IS) – 0 A – (ROGER) – OVER” 11 A (the originator) ends: “(0 A) – (THIS IS) – 11 A – OUT” ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

ANY FINAL QUESTIONS ? ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011

THAT’S ALL FOLKS ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMANMARTIN, 2011 ©LTCOL(AAC) G. R. NEWMAN-MARTIN, 2011