A company or platoon network is always transactional. Everyone transmitting must adhere to: FM/G165 - Transactional communications
A squad network is the lowest network in use. All squad members that have a radio are a part of it and can transmit on it.
A squad radio network is not transactional, but using correct prowords is encouraged.
A callsign is the identifier that is used to address another unit over radio. Every unit down to the fireteam level has a unique callsign to identify it.
Some individuals also have their own callsigns. These are generally for people with leadership or specialised roles, like the platoon commander, platoon seargeant or forward air controller.
A callsign consists of a word with a series of numerals appended.
Infantry elements
For infantry elements, the following structure is used.
[company identifier] [platoon identifier] [squad identifier] [fireteam identifier]
| Level | Identifier |
|---|---|
| Company | Identified by a word (like “HITMAN”) |
| Platoon | Identified by numbers 1 through 4 |
| Squad | Identified by numbers 1 through 4 |
| Fireteam | Identified by ALFA, BRAVO and CHARLIE |
Vehicle elements
For vehicle elements, a slightly different structure is used. This is only for when a vehicle element is not integrated into another element. A vehicle company is never the same as a infantry company.
[company identifier] [platoon identifier] [vehicle identifier]
| Level | Identifier |
|---|---|
| Company | Identified by a word (like “BUFALLO”) |
| Platoon | Identified by numbers 1 through 4 |
| Vehicle | Identified by numbers 1 through 4 |
Air elements
Air elements follow a simple structure.
[flight identifier] [mission number] [vehicle identifier]
| Level | Identifier |
|---|---|
| Flight | Identified by a word (like “JESTER”) |
| Mission | Identified by numbers 1 through 9 (for our purposes, the mission number can be chosen arbitrarily) |
| Vehicle | Identified by numbers 1 through 4 |
Personal callsigns are appended to the callsign of the element the individual is part of.
| Callsign | User |
|---|---|
| 6 | Company commander / platoon leader. Also or vehicle elements, but not for air elements. |
| 7 | Platoon sergeant |
| Medic | Platoon medic (if attached) |
| FO | Forward observer (if attached) |
| FAC | Forward air controller (if attached) |
| EOD | EOD (if attached) |
When needing to speak to the leader of an element specifically, and not anyone else on net who may take transmissions for the callsign (platoon sergeant/radio operators etc.), append ACTUAL after the element's callsign.
ACTUAL is never combined with a personal callsign as defined in FM/BP-1137 - Personal callsigns
To keep radio communications brief, shorten callsigns whenever possible, according to the following rules:
When addressing a specific person in the HQ element, use their personal callsign. The assignment of HQ personal callsigns works in reverse from the number 9, where 9 is the commander of that callsign. Typically, the second-in-command will be 8, forward air controllers, observers or medics can be 7, 6 and so on.
When adressing all callsigns on a network, use ALL STATIONS instead of listing all callsigns separately.
The squad network is the primary network most people will find themselves listening to and transmitting on. It's primary function is to facilitate the smooth operation of the squad.
Because all squad members (if they have a radio atleast) are part of the squad network, it allows for good situational awereness for all squad members. This also means that all squad members are aware of the tasking of their team and that of the other teams, enabling an easy succession of command when needed.
The squad leader should be the primary transmitter on the squad radio network. Most communication between fireteams should flow over the squad network. This keeps everyone's situational awereness up to date, and reduces misunderstandings, as verbal communication in hectic situations can become increasingly hard to understand.
Other than the squad leader, the fireteam leaders in turn use the squad radio network to communicate with the squad leaderm. They also occasionally communicate with their buddy teams over the radio in situations like bounding maneuvers, where shouting might not reach far enough in loud environments.
As a squad leader, make liberal use of the squad network to communicate:
As a fireteam leader, make use of the squad network to communicate:
As a squad member, do not transmit on the radio network unless: