USCMRPG

For ease of radio communications, platoons use callsigns. Since callsigns weren't assigned, I'm using this logic:

Easy Eights, First Squad = Echo Eight One.

Now if you're a squad leader, let's say second squad, you'd use this.

Echo Eight Two Actual.

Not sure about the platoon sergeant, but I think he'd use Echo Eight Charlie (Command). And the LT would use Echo Eight Charlie Actual.

If you're talking to members of your own squad, don't worry about callsigns, you're assumed to know each other. If Obi wanted to talk to Quinn, no callsign would be required unless radio discipline was being enforced, like the enemy was listening to radio traffic.

Most radio traffic typically works like so. You preface your message with the callsign of the person you're trying to reach, immediately followed by your callsign.

If Quinn wanted to talk to Morse via radio, he'd start with "Echo Eight Two Actual, Echo Eight One Actual." and wait for confirmation that Morse is listening to him. But this being an PbP RPG, waiting for confirmation would take some time, so just tack on your message after the address. Or if your message is urgent, you'd just continue. But you'd also repeat your message once or twice if it was urgent enough.

Good summary. IMO with the PRC-119s and radio ops they barney it down a lot and this helps everyone understand the setup of a transmission:

"Hey you, this is me, this is what I have to say." Three easy to remember parts.

As for radio structure, in the Army they usually would use the Company or Company or even Battalion CO's callsign or a callsign related term. At times for simplification they would just use the company letter.

So to break it into pieces Marine-style using our "related unit nickname" and current TO. Easy Eight is a mouthful to say in radio communication. And IRL this would be confused with Echo Eight _____ (Letter). If you have to give some indication of who you are and your rank you say it like so "Echo Five Bravo" (this would be myself. I'm an E-5/Sergeant and my last name begins with "B"). This is because technically you are never to give your actual name or such in radio communication.

Eightball Six: Platoon Commander (IRL The Company Command Group/Six Actual being the Skipper)
Eightball Five: Platoon Sergeant/1st Section Lead (IRL the Company 1st Sergeant)
Eighbtall Four: (IRL this would technically be at the company level and would be the Weapons Platoon Commander's spot)
Eightball Three: 3rd Squad SL
Eightball Two: 2nd Squad SL
Eightball One: 1st Squad SL

If you wanted individuals within the squads could have their own letters/numbers as well: Eightball One Actual (1st Squad SL), Eightball Two Bravo (2nd squad, 3rd man since Alpha would be 2nd man and Actual being the SL). Yes this can be a complicated thing, but it doesn't need to be lol.

If the Company has its own call signs, that would be a completely different radio net. Usually the net is predetermined before a mission (and is usually something established long before) by the commander and comms officer.

But thats just my .02. Ultimate authority IMO should be that of the GM/Lt and then the leading NCO's and established and briefed pre-drop.

Thanks Quinn and kbeir, I found that extremely helpful.

so, my character would be :Echo Eight 1 Alpha? or Echo Eight 1 Charlie? (going by the surname bit you mentioned.)

actually, now I'm a bit confused.

I would ditch the surname business it was just an example. Essentrially used when no table is established or someone without a callsign.

ah ok, so the first example would be correct. Cool! before it sounded like people saying random things, but now it makes sense. thanks. (as you can tell, the extent of my military experience starts and finishes at paintball and the occasional killstreaks in modern warfare 2, lol. hence Quinn being repositioned to Echo Eight 1 actual)

I'm still not a fan of Echo Eight. I mean I guess it gets the point across. But it seems like Eightball or something else would come across the radio much simpler. Pretty much the less you say the better...

One of the important rules of radio comms is that everything you say is clear, concise and minimal.

Hence the heavy use of prowords (Procedure words, over, out, copy, break, etc)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ic3u6t2VkY

One of my favorite aspects of the Generation Kill miniseries was their extremely accurate radio chatter. Even during the episodes and stuff you hear things like this in the background. Very accurate but realistic too. Not everyone is gonna sit there talking like a robot on the radio, but they aren't on the net for 10 minute transmissions.

These two first recording from Vietnam are from two US recce teams that are being attacked by NVA - Radio discipline goes out the window pretty quick when shit hits the fan...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEGWISd6jYs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0YpCiyITM

Third recording is from Somalia 1993 where outnumbered US troops fight for their lives in the alleyways of Mogadishu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_rqkNVrgVw

//N

Hello all,

ZFH2 - You can use the following Allied Radio Appointment titles to identify Commanders and 2 I/C.

SUNRAY - LT (overall Commander)

SUNRAY MINOR - SGT (2nd In Command).

So if any other units Command wanted to talk to our units LT it would be


"SUNRAY ECHO EIGHT this is SUNRAY ZERO ALPHA over"

From this it indicates that the Commander in charge of callsign Zero Alpha wants to talk to the commander of Echo Eight.

Just a thought,

Cheers AR

Obi