As COMMUNICATOR you are responsible for all operations regarding communications within your team. On the day of the exercise you will be provided with a mobile radio and instructions on how to operate the radio. In this handout you are given required and recommended radio transmissions during the course of the exercise. This exercise will require adherence to a timeline and interaction with another squad. As a collateral duty, you will also be responsible for keeping the SQUAD LEADER properly advised on timeline adherence. You, as the COMMUNICATOR, will report directly to the SQUAD LEADER. You are tasked with the following:

1. Briefing the designated operating channel to your adjacent squad.
2. Establishing and maintaining communication with your adjacent squad.
3. Monitoring the timeline.
4. Keeping the SQUAD LEADER informed of all pertinent radio communications or times when communications may be lost or faulty.
5. Advising, as required, your adjacent squad of all significant developments relating to the exercise or ability to adhere to the timeline.
6. Accomplish any other tasks as assigned by the SQUAD LEADER.

You will greatly increase your situational awareness by maintaining a close liaison with the COMPASS, NAVIGATOR, and PACER. When communicating with either fellow team members or outside agencies, remember the “Three C’s” of effective communication:

CLEAR Clearly state your communication.
CONCISE Be brief but exact in your communication.
CONTROLLED Control your voice tone and inflection.

Recommended and required radio transmissions:

“Radio Check” required
Departing Start Point” required
Present position, grid --------“ recommended/as required
Arriving Check Point (1, 2, 3, etc.)” required
Estimate arriving Check Point (1, 2, etc.) recommended
Presently stopped” recommended
Medical Emergency” required

Additionally all squads will have a “call sign,” that is, a name to be used over the radio. You will be working with an adjacent squad (a squad separated from your squad but working and operating on your squad’s frequency). Below is a sample of a proper radio transmission:

“Sniper this is Snake, radio check, over.”
Snake this is Sniper, loud and clear, over.”
Sniper this is Snake, have you the same, out.”

If you expect a response, end each transmission with “over”. If you do not expect a response, simply end the transmission with “out”.