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Basic Communication

Professional Military EducationInitial Entry Training

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Communication is the process of exchanging information usually via a

common system of symbols.

Basic Communications:Definitions & Types

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Basic Communications:Definitions & Types

• Visual• Sound• Messenger• Wire• Radio (Wireless)

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Basic Communications

• Radio Discipline• Phonetic Alphabet and Numerals• Procedure (pro) Words• Message Format• Operating Procedures

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Basic Communications:Radio Discipline

ALWAYS:• Use correct voice procedure.• Maintain a constant listening radio watch unless specific

instructions or permission has been received to the contrary. • Ensure that the correct frequency is in use.• Answer calls in the correct order and without delay.• Listen carefully before transmitting to ensure that the frequency

is clear.• Release the push-to-talk (PTT) switch promptly.• On releasing the PTT switch, ensure that the radio returns to the

receive condition.

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Basic Communications:Radio Discipline

NEVER:• Violate radio silence.• Compromise sensitive information by unauthorized disclosure.• Make unnecessary or unduly long transmissions.• Engage in unofficial conversation or operator’s chat.• Identify an individual or any other personal information.• Speak faster than the station experiencing the worst reception

conditions can be expected to receive, thus avoiding needless repetition.

• Show loss of temper or use profane language.

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Basic Communications:Phonetic Alphabet

A - ALPHAB - BRAVOC - CHARLIED - DELTAE - ECHOF - FOXTROTG - GOLFH – HOTELI - INDIA

J - JULIETK - KILOL - LIMAM - MIKEN - NOVEMBERO - OSCARP - PAPAQ - QUEBECR - ROMEO

S - SIERRAT - TANGO U - UNIFORMV - VICTORW - WHISKEYX - X-RAYY - YANKEEZ - ZULU

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Basic Communications:Phonetic Alphabet

Numerals will be transmitted digit by digit except multiples of thousands may be spoken as such. However, there are special cases, such as in anti-air warfare reporting procedures in which normal pronunciation of numerals is prescribed and this rule does not apply. For example, 17 would then be SEVENTEEN.

Artillery Fire In conduct of artillery fire when calling for fire, the pronunciation of whole hundreds is "HUNDRED" instead of "ONE ZERO, ZERO'', For example, 100 would be spoken as "ONE HUNDRED".

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Basic Communications:Phonetic Numerals

1 - WUN2 - TOO3 - TREE4 - FOW-ER5 - FIFE

6 - SIX7 - SEV-EN8 - AIT9 - NIN-ER0 - ZERO

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Basic Communications:Procedure (Pro) Words

• Procedure Words (Pro words) are used to aid the radio operator and to keep transmission time to a minimum.

• A complete understanding of the pro words and their meaning is essential for the expeditious handling of radio traffic.

• A complete list is found in the Allied Communication Publications (ACP) 125 .

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Basic Communications:Procedure (Pro) Words

ACKNOWLEDGE

I SAY AGAIN

I SPELL

OUT

An instruction to the addresses that the message must be acknowledged. I am repeating the entire transmissionI will spell the next word phonetically. This is the end-of my transmission to you and noanswer is required.

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Basic Communications:Procedure (Pro) Words

OVER

READ BACK

ROGER

SAY AGAIN

This is the end of my transmission to youRepeat this entire transmission back to me exactly as received. I have received your last transmission satisfactorilyRepeat all of your lasttransmission.

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Basic Communications:Procedure (Pro) Words

USE FULL CALL SIGNS

VERIFY

WILCO

Call signs are to be sent in full until further noticeVerify entire message with the originator and send correct version.I have received your message, understand it, and will comply. (The pro word ROGER isincluded in that of WILCO, the two pro words are never used together).

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Basic Communications:Net Control Station (NCS)

• The radio station that controls and directs the operation of the net.

• The station serving the senior commander is normally designated the NCS.

• Has complete technical control over the operation of the radio net

• Does not have control over local administration of the individual stations in the net.

• The scope of its authority, its decisions are absolute.

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Basic Communications:Net Control Station (NCS)

Duties and Responsibilities:• Opens and closes the net.• Admits or releases a station from the net.• Determines the type of net (free or directed).• Maintains circuit discipline.• Supervises the flow of traffic.• Maintains transmission security.• Imposes or lifts emergency silence.• Directs the net to use full or abbreviated calls.

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Basic Communications:Message Format

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Basic Communications:Message Format

Each message transmitted by radio is divided into three principal parts:• Heading• Text• Ending

Each message contains only elements essential to the transmission of that particular message.

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Basic Communications:Message Format

HEADING:(1) Call W66, THIS IS A64(2) Message follows MESSAGE(3) Transmission instructions RELAY(4) Precedence PRIORITY(5) Date-time group 121430Z(6) Address instructions FROM A64 TO I86(7) Separation from heading BREAK

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Basic Communications:Message Format

TEXT:(1) Text EXECUTE PLAN ALPHA(2) Separation from text BREAK

ENDING:(1) Time group (when no date-time group in the heading) 1430Z(2) Final instructions MORE TO FOLLOW(3) Termination OUT

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Basic Communications:Operating Procedures

• Radio checks will not be made unless absolutely necessary.

• Excessive radio checks are a violation of transmission security.

• A station is understood to have good signal strength and readability unless otherwise notified.

• Pro words will be used to conduct radio checks

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Basic Communications:Operating Procedures

LOUD Your signal is very strongGOOD Your signal strength is goodWEAK Your signal strength is weakFADING Continuous reception not reliableCLEAR Quality of transmission is excellentREADABLE Transmission is satisfactoryUNREADABLE Cannot understand youDISTORTED Signal is distortedINTERFERENCE Signal experiencing interference

Recipients of an e-mail message addressed to that individual should re-send such traffic to only the next higher person in the chain of command.

If you receive an e-mail, you can forward it only with the permission of the sender

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E-mail Protocols

The “CC” recipients of a message will be furnished copies for their information only and should not retransmit the message to any person unless the original directs otherwise.

“CC” recipients may respond only to the sender and not to other “CC” recipients.

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E-mail Protocols

Emails are used for informal communication within the command.

Formal official VDF business:orders, policy letters, letters of instruction, etc. may be transmitted by e-mail as an attachment.

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E-mail Protocols

Routine use of the “reply all” function is discouraged. Such usage generates needless traffic.

Traffic to general officers is restricted. Unless replying to an e-mail from a GO.

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E-mail Protocols

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Any Questions?

Professional Military EducationInitial Entry Training