Communications are some of the most difficult task of the light fighter, but they do not have to be complicated, here are twelve rules to help in with radio coms.
- There are other ways to communicate besides radios, field phones, string, flags, vis panels, semaphore, runners, whistles, horns, drums, pigeons, etc.
We too often become fixated on the radio, but make sure you have other simple means of communication. Some of the simplest methods and devices are the best, such as whistles and vis panels. A piece of paracord tied between two fighting positions can be tugged to alert the team. These light weight reliable tools should not just be brought as a backup to more high tech methods, they should be employed as primary means when appropriate.
2. Check the on- off switch
Stupid, yeah, but the most common problem with radio coms is people turning them off, failing to monitor them, or truing the volume too low.
3. Know your system: Make a trouble shooting list.
What are the trouble shooting steps for your radio? Antenna oriented correctly, connections snug, radio grounded, batteries in place, etc.? Make a list of these, and attach it to each radio issued to your team.
4. Encrypt your transmissions.
Use your SOI, and insist that your team use it too. There is a time for plain speak, but it is the exception, not the norm. Use plain speak at times when information is time sensitive and the situation is evolving quickly enough that the enemy is unlikely to benefit from any information they overhear.
5. Be smart about un-encrypted transmissions.
Once, in a fire fight, my team leader asked me over the net, “What is your location?” this was an active fire fight and the information was too time sensitive to encrypt. I could have said, “In the ditch 50 meters south of the road”, but then anyone listening would know my exact location. Instead I told him , “I am 50 meters directly to your south”. This let him know him what he needed to know, but would be of little value to anyone listening in.
6. Assume unfriendly people are listening / monitor the enemy net.
This cuts both directions. Even if you don’t crack their code, how much information can be gleaned from transmissions? Who has directional finding capabilities? Hint: Assume the other side does, unless you know otherwise. Estimating from the number of call signs used you can determine the size and composition of enemy units. If their chatter goes quiet, they may have pulled into the patrol base for the night, or be moving as a single unit, or massing for an attack.
7. Use on- the- fly authentication.
If you think the SOI may have been compromised, is there special knowledge you have on your teammates that could be used as on- the- fly authentication? What river did we float last weekend? What is my second son’s name?
If your enemy is from a different culture, these can be broader: What kind of tree did George Washington chop down? What league are the Chicago White Socks in?
8. The best radio security is to keep the enemy busy.
If you put constant pressure on the enemy, they won’t have time to spend cracking your radio traffic.
9. Rotate SOI and frequency regularly, especially if compromised.
No explanation needed.
10. Keep transmitting, even if compromised.
The value of information that you are communicating to friendly units may outweigh the risk. Even if the enemy hears your coms, he will have to react to them. Is his reaction gap short enough to cause you problems? You will have to judge that on a case by case basis.
11. Radio checks need to be a part of every Pre Combat Inspection.
Make sure everybody has an SOI and knows the frequency and the alternate frequency(s), has spare batteries, and check to see that radios will not shift in their pouches and hot mike.
12. Learn and use the standardized report forms. SALUTE and nine line reports exist for a reason. First, they make sure you don’t forget to send important information; secondly, they make the report easier to understand. Encrypted messages can be hard to understand (as in, “moving to north”). Is that you or the enemy? The forms help keep this information clear.
What are your thoughts, see a rule here you disagree with? Or one I left out? Please share in the comments.
american fyrd 