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Arma 3 VP Guide
Arma 3 VP Guide
Arma 3 VP Guide
Infantryman
Introduction
ThepurposeofthisguideistointroducethefundamentalsoftacticalradiocommunicationsattheCompanyandPlatoonlevel,includingbasicVoiceProcedureonthe
CombatNetRadio(CNR).Communicatingeffectivelyisavitalbattlefieldskilltoenablecommandandcontrol,improvedsituationalawareness,facilitatethetimely
passageofinformationandmaintainanallinformednet.ItisespeciallyimportantforCommanders,NCOsandRadioOperatorstounderstandhowtopassoncritical
informationswiftly,accuratelyandsuccinctly.
AlternativeColourSchemeVersionifyourestrugglingwiththebackgroundonmobiledevices.
Militaryvoiceprocedureisusedbecauseithasrealutilityinthegameenvironmentandnotsimplybecauseitmakesthegameplaysoundmoreauthentic,thoughitdoes
thattoo.However,similartootherguidesforArmA,thisisnotaslavishcopyofmilitarymanuals,althoughtheyprovideausefulreference.MilitarySimulation(milsim)
necessarilyrequiresthatrealworldtactics,techniquesandproceduresaretailoredtofitthegameandthisguideisnodifferent.
Standardoperatingproceduresvarybetweencountriesandevendifferentunits,althoughNATOcountriesfollowacommonstandardwhennecessary.Thescopeofthis
guidecoversUSandUK/Commonwealthvariations.Relevantpartshavebeenlabelledtoclearlyindicatethevariances.Eitherway,goodnetdisciplineandaccurate,
realisticcommunicationsnotonlyenhanceuniteffectivenessbutalsoincreaseenjoymentofthegame.
Introduction
References
CombatNetRadio
RadioNets
CallSigns
VoiceProcedure
Prowords
IncorrectProwords
Reports
SupportRequests
FireMissions
CloseAirSupport
CasualtyEvacuation
AnnexA:ExampleCallSignMatrix
References
1. MCRP622CUSMarineCorpsRadioOperatorsHandbook
2. FM1033USArmyRadioOperatorsHandbook
3. FM1132USArmyFieldManual:CombatNetRadioOperations
4. JWP600CISSupporttoJointOperations(2ndEd)
5. UKVoiceCommunicationsProceduresEBBv7
Note:USpublicationsarefreelyavailableonline.UKpubscanonlybeaccessedontheRestrictedLanInterconnect(RLI).Allinformationincludedhereisunclassified.
ALightInfantryCompanyoperatesasinglecommandnetwithoccasionaluseofadditionalnetsforbusyoperationsinordertodeclutterthecommandnet,suchasan
AdminnetorOffensiveSupport(Fires)netforForwardObservers,ForwardAirControllersorJointTerminalAttackControllersattachedtothesubunit.EachPlatoonhas
aseparatePlatoonCommandnet,sometimesreferredtointheUSasanAssaultnet.Finally,eachSection/SquadhasaPRRchatnet.FireTeamsworkonthe
Section/SquadnetbutTeamLeaderswillmonitor(listento)thePlatoonCommandnetonaseparateradio.TheBattalionSignalsOfficerdistributesfrequency
allocations,callsignsandpasswordsonaCommunicationsElectronicInstruction(CEI)aheadofoperations.Asaruleitisbettertouseasfewnetsaspossible.
Call Signs
Callsignsareameansofuniquelyidentifyingeachstationonanet.CallsignswillvaryslightlydependingonthestructureandtypeofunitandevenunitSOP,butthis
guidefocusesonagenericLightInfantryCompany.WhiletheUSandUKfollowaslightlydifferentapproach,thereislogictobothsystems.
IntheUSArmy,aCompanyisallocatedacallsignidentifier,oftenstartingwiththe
letteroftheCompany(e.g.AbleforACompany,BulldogforBCompany).Platoons
aredesignatedwithanumber(Bulldog1for1Platoon).Eachleadershipposition
hasanumberaffixed:7forNCOs,6forCommanders,5forExecutiveOfficers.
HenceBulldog7isBCompanyFirstSergeant.Bulldog16isBCompany,1Platoon
Leader.Supportplatoonsareoftengivenaseparatecallsign(e.g.Steelformortar
platoon).Forbrevityoncecommshavebeenestablished,theidentifierisomitted
andonlythenumbersareused.Newcallsignsjoiningthenetmustannounce
themselveswiththefullcallsignandidentifier.
OnthePlatoonnets,Squadsusethesamecallsignwiththesquadnumberaffixed.
HenceBulldog11is1Platoon1stSquadBulldog11Ais1Platoon,1stSquad,
AlphaTeam.Actualisappendedtoanycallsigntospecifythecommander,as
opposedtotheRadioTelephoneOperator(RTO)whowouldotherwiseroutinelyanswer
thecall.
IntheUK,acallsignindicator(phoneticletter)isallocatedtoeachsubunit.Thecall
signindicatorisvariableandmaychangeperiodicallyasdetailedintheBattalion
CEI.PlatoonsandSectionsaredesignatedbynumber,forexampleF10
(pronouncedFoxtrotOneZero)isBCompany,1Platoon,whereFoxtrotisthecall
signindicatorallocatedtoBCompanyintheCEI.AlphaspecifiestheCommander,
soF10Ais1PlatoonCommander.Thiscanbefurtherbrokendowntodesignate
SectionsandFireTeams,henceF11is1Platoon,1SectionF11Cis1Platoon,1
Section,CharlieFireTeam.
Leadershippositionshavefixedcallsigns:0AistheCompanyCommander,0Cisthe
2IC,33AistheCompanySergeantMajor.0(Zero)istheControlStationandistypically
mannedbytheRadioOperator.OnthePlatoonnets,Sectionsusethesamecallsigns
thoughinthiscontext0AisthePlatoonCommander,0BthePlatoonSergeant.
Voice Procedure
VoiceProcedureisusedinordertogetthemostamountofinformationacrossintheshortestpossibletime.Airtimeispreciousandasmuchaspossibleneedstobe
reservedforcommandandcontrol,soreducingtheamountofunnecessarychatterisvital.Tofacilitybrevityandaccuracy,VPemploysanumberofprowordswith
specificmeaningsandrulesassociatedtothem,whicharelargelystandardisedthroughoutNATO.Goodnetdisciplinecanbemaintainedbyfollowingsomebasicrules:
Prowords
Prowordsarestandardisedcallsusedtoensureunderstandingofcommontermsandtasksandhelpkeepcommsclearandsuccinct.Everyprowordhasaspecificand
uniquemeaningandsomeofthemwillbyimplicationtriggeracertainsetofactivities.ForexampleCONTACTexplicitlymeansthecallsignisengagedwiththeenemy
andthechainofcommandwillreactaccordingly.Careshouldthereforebetaketousethecorrectprowordtoavoidunintendedconsequences.
Indicatesa5secondpauseinalongmessagetoallowotherstobreakinwithcritical
BREAK information.Shouldonlybeusedonhalfduplexnetsbycommandersprovidinglong
messagessuchasquickbattleorders.
CANCEL Cancelapreviousmessage,asin"referencemovetoFRV,CANCEL.Holdfirm."
Iamcomingundereffectiveenemyfireandhaveengagedtheenemy,asin
CONTACT
CONTACTWAITOUT.
CORRECT Youarecorrect,orwhatyouhavetransmittediscorrect.
CORRECTION Anerrorhasbeenmade,thecorrectversionis...
UsedinCloseAirSupportrequeststoindicateordnancewillbedroppedwithinarange
DANGERCLOSE
thatcouldcausefriendlyforcescasualties.
DISREGARD Transmissionmadeinerror,disregardit.
FIGURES (Optional)Numeralstofollow.Onlyrequiredtoavoidambiguity.
MESSAGE Amessagethatrequiresrecordingisabouttofollow.ReplywithSEND.
OK Icanhearyouloudandclear.UsedinreplytoRADIOCHECK
OUT Ihavefinishedspeakinganddonotrequireareply.
OVER Ihavefinishedspeakingandrequireareply.OVERandOUTareneverusedtogether.
Usetoconfirmcommsareworking.Replywith"OKOVER"(UK)or"ROGEROVER"
RADIOCHECK
(US).
READBACK Readbackthelastmessagetoconfirmithasbeenreceivedcorrectly.
RELAY(TO) Retransmitthismessagetothefollowingstations.
Repeatthelastartilleryornavalgunfirefiremission.NottobeconfusedwithSAY
REPEAT
AGAIN!
ROGER Ihavereceivedandunderstoodyourmessage.UsedinreplytoRADIOCHECK(US).
ROGERSOFAR Confirmreceiptandunderstandingofthepartofalongmessagesentsofar.
Sendthelastmessageagain.CanbecombinedwithprowordsALLAFTERorALL
SAYAGAIN
BEFORE,asinSAYAGAINALLAFTERGrid...
SEND Iamreadytorecordyourmessage.ResponsetoMESSAGE.
SIGHTING Ihaveseentheenemybutamnotengaged.FollowedbyaSightingReport.
VERIFY Verifyallorpartofamessageandsendthecorrectversion.
WAIT Shortpausefurtherinformationtofollowinafewseconds.
WAITOUT Furtherinformationtofollowinafewminutes(netisclearedforotherusers).
WRONG Youarewrong,orwhatyouhavetransmittediswrong.
Ihavereceivedandunderstandyourmessageandwillcomply.Sincethemeaningof
WILCO ROGERisalreadyimplied,thetwoprowordsshouldneverbeusedtogether.
Incorrect Prowords
AnumberofwordshavecreptintopopularusewhichdonotexistinmilitaryVP.Theirprovenancehasbeenincorrectlyattributedtothemilitarybytheentertainment
industryorhabitspickedupfromCBradioandCivilAviation.ThishappensintherealmilitaryandnotjustinsomeArmAgroupsbutjustbecauseyouheardasoldiersay
itoncedoesnotmakeitcorrect!Theyshouldbeavoidedastheyaddlittlevalueandmerelyclutterthenetwithunnecessarilylongtransmissions.
Reports
ReportsareVPdrillsdesignedtocommunicatethemostcriticalinformationinasimple,unambiguousformatquicklyandeasily.Themostcommontacticalreportsare
Sighting,Contact,SpotandSituationReports.SALUTEorSALTAareacronymsusedtodescribetheenemyindetailandareaidstocompleteness.SALUTEisusedfor
detailedreccereportswhereastheslightlyabbreviatedSALTAismorecommonlyusedforquicktacticalreporting.
Report
SightingReport ContactReport SpotReport
Usedwhenaunitobservesanenemyor Usedwhenaunitcomesundereffective Usewhenaunitobservesanyknownor
suspectedthreatbutisnotactuallyin enemyfireorhasactivelyengagedthe suspectedthreatactivityoranycharacteristic
contact.Thisisstrictlydistinctfroma enemy.Immediatelyoncomingunder oftheareaofoperationslikelytoimpactthe
Usage Contact.Contactmustonlybeusedifthe contact,thecallsignsendsCONTACT mission.ASPOTREPshouldbesentwithin
unitiscomingundereffectiveenemyfire. WAITOUT.Allstationswillkeeptrafficto oneminuteofacontactandusesSALUTE
aminimumuntilthecallsignincontacthas todescribetheenemy.
sentafullcontactreport.
SituationReport(SITREP) AMCAS
Sitrepsaretheprimarymeansofupdatingthechainofcommandonyourcurrentlocationandtactical AMCASisanabbreviationof
situation.Asaruleofthumb,eachsubunitshouldsendaSitrepevery5minsincontactandevery15 AmmunitionandCasualtystate.
minsoutofcontact.Theyshouldalsobesentaftercompletinganysignificanttask,suchasan ItcanbeusedinaSITREPto
assault,uponreachingacheckpointorRV,orwhenrequestedbythecommander.
indicatetheoverallcombat
Asaminimum,SitrepsmustincludethelocationofknownEnemyandFriendlyForces.Adminand effectiveness(CE)ofsubunits.
LogisticsRequestsmaybeaddedifthesituationdictates.HQwillsendaconsolidatedownward
Sitrepfromtimetotimeinordertoensureeveryoneisfullyawareofthesituationandthe Greenover90%CE
commandersintent. Amber60%to90%CE
Redlessthan60%CE
Timeofreport
Enemylocations,casualtiesinflicted,PWstaken Aunitatlessthan40%CEis
Friendlylocationsandstate consideredtobedestroyed.
CommandersIntent
AdditionalInfoCombatServiceSupportorotherpertinentinfo 0Bthisis31,AMCASGreen,
Out.
"0Athisis31,SitRepasat0930hrs,Grid12345678,haveengagedanddestroyed10infantryat
ObjectiveTango,further8enemyinfantrysighted1000monAxis,withdrawingNorth.Amreorging
andawaitingfurtherorders,Over."
Support Requests
Somerequestformatsvarybetweennationalmilitariesanddifferentunits,especiallyinthecaseofArmAwheretheyareoftentailoredtothegameandcapabilitiesof
specificunits.RefertoyourunitSOPsforfurtherinformation.
Fire Missions
TargetGridisthemethodusedbyanuntrainedobservertorequestOffensiveSupport(suchas81mmmortarand105mmLightGun)fromaForwardObserverattached
totheunit.TheFOthenhandlesthedetailsandexecutionofthefiremissionwiththeartillerybattery.NotethatwhenrequestingOS,everylineisrepeatedinfullbythe
answeringcallsigntoconfirmitiscorrect.TheVPusedbetweenFOandbatteryhasadditionaldetailbutisnotincludedhere.
FireMissionTargetGrid
K11thisis32,FireMission,Over
FireSupportRequest __thisis__firemission,over.
K11,FireMission,Over.
TargetGridRef______
Indication FireMission,Grid32215612...
(Optional)TargetNo.XRay____
Neutralise(acombinationofHE&Smoke)
Effect Screen(asmokescreeninfrontoftarget) ...Neutralise...
Illuminate(starshells)
Immediate(Now)
When&ForHowLong Delayed(In2minutes) ...Nowfor2minutes,Over
OnMyCommand
K11,FireMissionGrid32215612,Direction1800
Confirmation mils,Enemyinfantryintheopen,Neutralisenowfor
2minutes,Out
Shot15(timeuntilroundsland)
FireForAdjust(if 32thisisK11,Shot15.Splash
Splash(called5secondsbeforeimpact)
required) K11Left100Add50Over
Left/Right,Add/Drop
32thisisK11,Shot15
Shot15(timeuntilroundsland)
FireForEffect 32,Shot15,Out
Splash(called5secondsbeforeimpact)
32thisisK11,Splash,Out
RoundsComplete(gunshavestoppedfiring)
Repeat(repeatthefiremissionexactly) 32thisisK11,RoundsComplete,Over
FireMissionComplete RecordAsTarget(logfiremissionforarepeat 32,RoundsComplete,EndofMission,Over
infuturee.g.UT1001) K11,EndofMission,Out
EndofMission(supportnolongerrequired)
EmergencyCloseAirSupport
K20thisis32,StandbyforECAS,Over
Line1 TargetGrid K20,Send,Over
32,Line1,123456...
TargetType
AInfantry
Line2 BLightVehicle Line2,Alpha
CArmoured
DFixed
RequestedOrdnance
HGuns
Line3 IRockets Line3,India
JATMissiles
KLGB
Marking
VSmoke
Line4 WIRBeam Line4,Victor
XLaser
YNone
Ingress
Line5 AHeading(towardstarget) Line5,NorthWestfromGrid123456
BBattlePointGrid(RunIn)
Egress
Line6 Line6,North
HHeading
Friendlies
V400m+
W300m+
Line7 Line7,Victor,Over
X200m+
Y100m+
ZDangerClose
Casualty Evacuation
CASEVACrequestsfollowa9lineformat.However,someinformationisirrelevantinthegamecontextsowecanuseasimplified5lineformat.
CASEVACRequest
HelloK20thisis31,StandbyforCASEVAC
request,Over
Line1 LocationofPickUpSite(Grid)
K20,Send,Over
31,Line1,123456...
SecurityofPickUpSite
EEnemy
LIne4 Line4,November
NNoEnemy
PPossibleEnemy
MethodofMarkingPickUpSite(Smoke,
Line5 Line5,PurpleSmoke,Over
Lightsticks,Other)
BCompany(CompanyNet)
Station
CallSign:BULLDOG CallSignIndicator:FOXTROT
BULLDOG 0 ControlStation(RTO/RO)
BULLDOG6Actual 0A CompanyCommander
0B CompanyCommandersVehicle
BULLDOG5 0C CompanyXO/2IC
1PlatoonBCompany(PlatoonNet)
Station
CallSign:BULLDOG CallSignIndicator:FOXTROT
BULLDOG1 0 ControlStation(RTO/RO)
BULLDOG16Actual 0A PlatoonLeader/PlatoonCommander
BULLDOG17 0B PlatoonSergeant