Communications

REF 6TP/TRG/003

The comms matrix and net, the phonetic alphabet, and the signals slates for reports, casualties, fire support and captured persons.

00COMMS MATRIX

NET	FREQUENCY	CALL SIGN
Troop net (all stations)	48.0 MHz	All
Troop HQ	40.0 MHz	Zero
1 Patrol	41.0 MHz	6-1
2 Patrol	42.0 MHz	6-2
3 Patrol	43.0 MHz	6-3
4 Patrol	44.0 MHz	6-4

All comms for supporting elements are routed through 56A, the special forces communicator to Troop HQ. From there, supporting assets are organised and dispatched: drones, planes, helicopters, artillery and others. This includes MEDEVAC, fire missions and attack aviation.

When 56A is not available, the highest-ranking troop member takes on this responsibility.

NET DIAGRAM

PHONETIC ALPHABET

AAlpha

BBravo

CCharlie

DDelta

EEcho

FFoxtrot

GGolf

HHotel

IIndia

JJuliet

KKilo

LLima

MMike

NNovember

OOscar

PPapa

QQuebec

RRomeo

SSierra

TTango

UUniform

VVictor

WWhiskey

XX-ray

YYankee

ZZulu

REPORTS

Contact report

NATOSALTA

Immediate action: "Hello Zero. This is 6-2. Contact. Wait out." When the action is concluded, send the full contact report. The prefixes follow SALTA.

A	Size of enemy S	Details of the strength of the enemy, and who is involved.
B	Enemy activity A	Details of what has happened.
C	Location L	Location or grid reference of enemy forces (if known), and of friendly forces.
D	DTG of contact T	DTG of enemy contact. Confirm time only.
E	Action of friendly forces A	Details of what you have done, and what you intend to do.

EXAMPLE CALL

6-2"Hello Zero. This is 6-2. Contact as at 1405. Alpha: enemy infantry section with small arms. Bravo: on patrol to our east. Charlie: enemy grid 123456, friendly grid 124347. Delta: 1405. Echo: ambushed and destroyed enemy force. Holding in a defensive posture at grid 125348. ACE to follow. Over."

SOURCE: BRITISH ARMY AIDE-MEMOIRE, AUTHORITY LWC JUN 25

SITREP

NATOSituation report

Initiated by the call sign to make routine reports as per orders, or to report a significant or unusual event. It can be requested or initiated at any time.

A	When?	DTG of the current situation, or the event this report refers to.
B	Own location?	Your location or grid reference.
C	What is happening?	What it is, and what it is doing.
D	What are you doing about it?	Details of any actions taken, or to be taken.

EXAMPLE CALL

ZERO"Hello 6-2. This is Zero. Send SITREP. Over."

6-2"6-2. SITREP. Alpha: time now. Bravo: grid 123456. Charlie: nothing to report. Delta: patrolling to RV 3. Over."

ZERO"Zero. Roger. Out."

SOURCE: BRITISH ARMY AIDE-MEMOIRE, AUTHORITY LWC JUN 25

ACE

Ammunition, casualty, equipment

Report each state using the RAG system below. Unit SOP.

A	Ammunition state
C	Casualty state
E	Equipment state	Specialist equipment.

	GREEN	AMBER	RED	BLACK
LEVEL
AMMUNITION	More than 8 mags. More than 500 link.	Fewer than 6 mags. Fewer than 400 link.	Fewer than 2 mags. Fewer than 200 link.	No ammunition.
CASUALTY	OK.	Patrol able to treat.	Urgent. Severe injury. Troop medic or MERT required.	KIA.
EQUIPMENT	As issued.	Enough for one engagement.	Not combat effective.	Nil.

SOURCE: 6 TROOP UNIT SOP

CASUALTIES AND EVACUATION

MIST AT

UK ONLYCasualty report

Do not delay the launch of MEDEVAC. Supply further information once it is available.

Z	Zap number	If known. For example: TA2324.
M	Mechanism of injury	And at what time, if known.
I	Injury or illness sustained
S	Symptoms and vital signs	MMassive bleedingAAirwayRRespiratory distressCCirculationHHypothermia / head injuries Record MARCH against a time, and repeat the observations as the casualty's condition changes.
T	Treatment given	For example: tourniquet and time applied, fentanyl.
A	Age of the casualty	Adult or child, at least.
T	Time of wounding

Specify if critical medical supplies are needed to be brought in with MEDEVAC
The 9-line is not used for requests to move casualties who are killed in action (KIA) at the scene

EXAMPLE CALL

6-1"Hello Zero. This is 6-1. MIST AT. Over."

ZERO"Zero. Send. Over."

6-1"6-1. Casualty 6-1C. Mike: gunshot wounds, 5 minutes ago. India: left arm and chest. Sierra: significant bleed, unconscious, no heart rate. Tango: chest seal and splint applied, fentanyl given, time now. Conducting CPR. Alpha: adult. Tango: wounded 5 minutes ago. Request troop medic. Over."

SOURCE: BRITISH ARMY AIDE-MEMOIRE, AUTHORITY LWC JUN 25

MEDEVAC

NATO9-line request

Head the request with the DTG and unit.

1	Call sign and frequency
2	Location	Grid of the HLS.
3	Number of patients / precedence	P1At R2 or R3 within 60 minsP2At R2 or R3 within 4 hrsP3At R2 or R3 within 24 hrs
4	Special equipment required	ANoneBHoistCExtraction equipmentDVentilatorEOther
5	Number of patients / type	SStretcherWWalkingEEscortOOther, give details
6	Security at pick-up zone	NNo enemyPPossible enemyEEnemy in areaXArmed escort required
7	HLS marking method	APanelsBPyroCSmoke (colour?)DNoneEOther
8	Number of patients by nationality / status	AUK / NATO militaryBUK / NATO civilianCNon-UK / NATO militaryDNon-UK / NATO civilianEDetainees / PWFEmbedded interpreterGCiv cas caused by FFHChild
9	Tactical considerations and other information

SOURCE: BRITISH ARMY AIDE-MEMOIRE, AUTHORITY LWC JUN 25

Rotary extraction

Request through 56A

For moving the patrol by air. For casualties, send the MEDEVAC 9-line and MIST AT instead.

A	Own (current) location	Six-figure grid reference of your current position.
B	HLS location	Six-figure grid reference. This gives the pilot 100 m to work with.
C	Marked by	Smoke by day. Strobe or laser at night.
D	Remarks	Number of pax. Ingress direction. Hazards and obstacles. Enemy contacts. Ask for a read back.

POINTS TO NOTE

Have the message prepared before calling
Ensure the HLS is level, defensible, and a suitable size for the aircraft type
Ensure you have notified all hazards, and that you get a read back
Do not use white, red or yellow smoke, unless it is a MERT call
Request permission to board while the aircraft is still in the air, to save time

EXAMPLE CALL: THE REQUEST

6-2"Hello 56A. This is 6-2. Request extraction. Over."

56A"56A. Send request. Over."

6-2"6-2. Read back. Own grid 123456. HLS grid 124457. Marked by smoke. Four pax. Ingress from south. Trees north and east, power lines west. No contacts. Read back. Over."

56A reads back the message, then tasks the aircraft.

EXAMPLE CALL: ON THE AIRCRAFT'S ARRIVAL

6-2"Hello Wildcat. This is 6-2. Confirm smoke. Over."

WILDCAT"Wildcat. I see purple smoke. Over."

6-2"6-2. Confirmed purple smoke. Request permission to board on landing. Over."

WILDCAT"Wildcat. Yes, yes. Board on landing. Out."

SOURCE: 6 TROOP UNIT SOP

FIRE SUPPORT

Call for fire

UK ONLYFire mission

Open with: "Fire mission. Over."

A	Target location
B	Direction	From observer to target, in mils.
C	Target description
D	Nearest FF or non-combatants in relation to the target	For example: "From target, east 750 m, section in NW corner of woodblock", or "I am nearest friendly troops". Only use grids in extremis. If the distance from the target to the closest FF or non-combatants is less than 900 m, danger close procedures may be used. More information will be required, and special instructions issued over the radio.
E	Effect required	SMKSmokeILLUMIlluminationHARHarassing fireNEUNeutraliseDESTDestroyADJAdjust
F	For how long?
G	When?

CORRECTIONS

If a qualified observer cannot confirm "target identified", they will request "send corrections". Correct for line, then bracket for range: ADD, DROP, LEFT or RIGHT, as you see it. Make bold corrections, in multiples of 50 m.

VOICE PROCEDURE

'On target'	Adjusting rounds have hit the target.
'Repeat'	Fire the same type and amount of ammunition at the same target.
'Check firing'	Stop firing, but not loading. Guns and mortars will not fire again until 'cancel check firing' is given.
'Record as target'	Store the target for reference or future use.
'End of mission'	Mission successful.

SOURCE: BRITISH ARMY AIDE-MEMOIRE, AUTHORITY LWC JUN 25

Close combat attack

NATOAttack aviation call for fire

1	Observer and warning order	"[Aircraft call sign], this is [observer call sign], fire mission, over."
2	Friendly location and mark	"My position [TRP, grid, bearing / distance], marked by [strobe, beacon, panel, pointer]."
3	Target location	"Target location [bearing (magnetic) and range (metres), TRP, grid, building number / floor, etc.]."
4	Target description and mark	"[Target description], marked by [pointer, tracer, smoke, laser code XXXX]."
5	Remarks	"[Threats, nearest / other friendly forces or non-combatants, danger close, time on target (impact), at my command, etc.], over."

NOTES

CLEARANCE	Once airspace has been cleared between the employing aircraft and the target, transmission of this brief is clearance to fire, unless "danger close" or "at my command" is stated.
DANGER CLOSE	The observer or commander must accept responsibility for the increased risk. State "cleared danger close" in line 5, and pass the initials of the on-scene ground commander. This clearance may be pre-planned.
AT MY COMMAND	For positive control of the aircraft, state "at my command" on line 5. The aircraft will call "ready to fire" when ready.
ABORT	If you do not want the pilot to engage, or want them to stop engaging, call the abort code agreed in the mission brief.

SOURCE: BRITISH ARMY AIDE-MEMOIRE, AUTHORITY LWC JUN 25

CAPTURED PERSONS

Initial CPERS report

UK ONLY

1	Capturing call sign
2	DTG of capture	For example: 221500JAN25.
3	Place of capture	Use a full UTM grid reference.
4	Number of CPERS (total)
5	CPERS category	Record each category as (1) male or (2) female. APerson of interestBCombatantCCivilianDChild / juvenileERetained person (medical / religious personnel)
6	Reason for capture
7	Current location	Use a full UTM grid reference.

SOURCE: BRITISH ARMY AIDE-MEMOIRE, AUTHORITY LWC JUN 25

CPERS evacuation request

UK ONLY

1	Requesting call sign
2	Location	Grid of the collection point. Use a full UTM grid reference.
3	Number of pax (total)	Padres and medics should be included in the numbers for evacuation, under C (other). ACPERSBEscortsCOther
4	CPERS category	Record each category as (1) male or (2) female. APerson of interestBCombatantCCivilianDChild / juvenileERetained person (medical / religious personnel)
5	Cargo / additional load	Evidence, IED components, weapons, property, intelligence (documents, mobiles).
6	Security at the collection point	NNo enemyEEnemy in areaPPossible enemyXEscort required
7	CP marking method	APanelsBPyroCSmoke (colour?)DNoneEOther
8	CP terrain / obstacles

SOURCE: BRITISH ARMY AIDE-MEMOIRE, AUTHORITY LWC JUN 25

HANDLING CAPTURED PERSONS

THE FIVE Ss

Safety · Search · Secure · Segregate · Safeguard

CARE OF CPERS

Protection · Reporting and recording · Individual rights · Medical · Evacuate

ABBREVIATIONS

ACEAmmunition, casualty, equipment

ADJAdjust

CCAClose combat attack

CPCollection point

CPERSCaptured persons

CPRCardiopulmonary resuscitation

DESTDestroy

DTGDate-time group

FFFriendly forces

HARHarassing fire

HLSHelicopter landing site

ILLUMIllumination

KIAKilled in action

MARCHMassive bleeding, airway, respiratory, circulation, head / hypothermia

MEDEVACMedical evacuation

MERTMedical Emergency Response Team

MIST ATMechanism, injury, symptoms, treatment, age, time

NEUNeutralise

PaxPersonnel

PWPrisoner of war

R2 / R3Role 2 / Role 3 medical treatment facility

RAGRed, amber, green

RVRendezvous

SALTASize, activity, location, time, action

SFSpecial forces

SITREPSituation report

SMKSmoke

TRPTarget reference point

UTMUniversal Transverse Mercator

Zap numberCasualty identification number