COM 3: Radio-Telephone Procedure (RTP)

1. COM 3: Radio-Telephone Procedure (RTP) Prepared by JWT 2004

2. COM 3: Radio-Telephone Procedure (RTP) • Reasons for security • Rules for security • How to speak clearly • Radio discipline • The Phonetic Alphabet • Radio appointment titles

3. Ratel Procedure The successful use of voice radio requires • a standard ratel procedure, • constant practice and • good radio discipline.

4. Ratel Procedure Ratel procedure is a set of simple rules based on the principles of: • Security, • Accuracy, and • Discipline. • The principles of security, accuracy and discipline can be remembered by the mnemonic SAD.

5. Reasons for Radio Security • In a military situation, any enemy will attempt to listen in to radio communications. They will not only try to find out any information, but also locate units by identifying operators. • Although Cadets does not operate under the same security conditions as the army, the same rules for radio security apply.

6. Rules for Radio Security • Only authorised transmissions are to be made. • The following practices are specifically forbidden: • violations of communications silence (radio, electronic and emergency); • unofficial conversation between operators; • transmitting a person’s name;

7. Rules for Radio Security • unauthorised use of plain language; • use of plain language in place of suitable prowords; • use of jargon; • obscene language.

8. Questions • What does S.A.D. stand for? • Why do we need radio security? • What are some of the practices that are forbidden on the radio?

9. Accuracy: How to Speak Clearly To avoid wasting time on repetitions and corrections, ratel messages must be sent clearly. Operators and users must remember the following points: • Hold the microphone close to the mouth when transmitting. • Use the correct manner of rhythm, speed, volume and pitch (RSVP)

10. Accuracy: How to Speak Clearly • Rhythm. Keep a natural rhythm. Divide the message into sensible phrases. • Speed. Speech should be slightly slower than for normal conversation. • Volume. Speak only as loudly as in normal conversation. Shouting results in a distorted signal. • Pitch. The voice should be pitched slightly higher than usual.

11. Radio Discipline Discipline is essential for the efficient working of radio nets. The NCS operator, irrespective of rank, is in charge of the net and is responsible for radio discipline. Radio discipline includes: • correct use of ratel procedure, • use of the correct frequency, and • constant radio watch by all stations on the net.

12. Radio Discipline • Only one station may transmit at a time. To prevent confusion, the following rules must be obeyed: • Before speaking, listen to ensure that the frequency is clear to avoid cutting in on other transmissions. • Leave a short pause at the end of a conversation. • Answer all calls immediately and in the correct order.

13. Questions • What do the letters R.S.V.P. stand for? • What are some of the elements of radio discipline? • How can you prevent confusion when transmitting?

14. The Phonetic Alphabet • When it is necessary to identify any letter of the alphabet, the authorised phonetic alphabet to be used. • Difficult words or groups within the text of plain text messages may be spelled using the phonetic alphabet and preceded by the prowords I SPELL. • If the operator can pronounce the word to be spelled, he will do so before and after the spelling to identify the word, for example: Papadopoulos - I SPELL Papa Alpha Papa Alpha Delta Oscar Papa Oscar Uniform Lima Oscar Sierra - Papadopoulos.

15. The Phonetic Alphabet

16. The Phonetic Alphabet

17. The Phonetic Alphabet

18. Questions • Spell Camberwell in the phonetic alphabet. • Spell your surname in the phonetic alphabet. • Spell your street name in the phonetic alphabet.

19. Radio Appointment Titles • To avoid disclosing the level of a headquarters by referring to specific appointments, standard radio appointment titles are used throughout the Australian Defence Force (ADF). These titles are not classified and only conceal the level of the headquarters.

20. Radio Appointment Titles The title is not to be qualified in any way except: • to indicate appointments next in seniority, in which case MINOR may be added, for example PRONTO MINOR is the next most senior Signals Corps representative; • when it is necessary to distinguish between similar appointment holders of different formations, MY, YOUR, HIS, OUR or THEIR, may be used before the title, for example, MY PRONTO, YOUR PRONTO or OUR SUNRAY may be used before the title; • when the call-sign may follow the title, for example, STARLIGHT call-sign Zulu Three Four.

21. Radio Appointment Titles

22. Questions • Why are radio appointment titles used? • What does sunray mean? • What does sunray minor mean? • What does starlight mean? • What does pronto mean? • What does playtime mean?

23. Final questions? • Look over your notes. There will be a test of the material you have learnt in this lesson. • Now is your chance to ask final questions.

24. COM 3: Radio-Telephone Procedure (RTP) Prepared by JWT 2004