CAP Radiotelephone Procedures Guide
29 November 1997
Preface
The possession of a radio license does not make a radio operator. The skills required for excellence in on-the-air ability are learned by reading, listening, practice, and adherence to procedures, and are polished by experience under all operating conditions.
Radio communications networks consist of radio stations operated by people. The success of any net is dependent upon the ability of the people who operate these radio stations. A good operator sounds good, knows how to operate correctly, and does so consistently. A poor operator, by lack of knowledge and/or attention, can disrupt a net with the misuse of prowords and procedures, indiscriminate transmissions, and poor discipline.
With that thought in mind, this guide is written to assist Civil Air Patrol members in improving their radiotelephone procedures and on-the-air practices. The information contained in this guide follows CAPM 100-1, ACP-125, and other directives.
If additional information is needed or desired, or if you have comments or suggestions regarding any information in this guide, do not hesitate to contact any of the NCC members, or National Headquarters/DOK.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Civil Air Patrol Communications Mission
Communications Responsibility
Standardization
Proper Expression
The Phonetic Alphabet
Prowords
Numerals
Punctuation
Radio checks
Maintaining Records
Net Operating Procedures
Proword Application
Calling
Numerals
Date-Time Groups
Precedence Designations
URGENCY SIGNALS
Dual Precedence
Handling Traffic
Message Construction
Passing the Message
Repetitions
Group Counts for Mixed Alpa-numerics
Corrections during Transmission
Canceling a Message during Transmission
CAP Unique Operating Procedures
Use of Call Sign and Office Symbol
External/Non-Military Organization
Additional Comments
Introduction
Membership in the Civil Air Patrol communications program entails certain responsibilities on your part. One of the most important of these is to familiarize you with the rules and regulations set forth by National Headquarters and comply with them.
Civil Air Patrol Communications Mission
The communications mission is to:
- Organize and maintain a reliable nationwide point-to-point, air-to-ground and mobile radio capability for use in emergencies and for training radio communications personnel
- Provide familiarization and practice in radio communications procedures and demonstrate techniques of air-to-ground and point-to-point operation to maintain operator proficiency provide radio communications support for search and rescue. Civil Defense, and disaster relief missions augment other existing communications services in the event of natural disasters
- Support the United States Air Force survival and recovery programs as implemented by the USAF Survival, Recovery and Reconstitution (SRR) and Civil Aviation Reconnaissance Damage Assessment (CARDA) plans
- Provide command and control communications to all command levels in CAP, including messages regarding CAP aircraft movement and other communications related to the safety of lives and property.
Communications Responsibility
The responsibility of Civil Air Patrol communications is to provide the commander at each level with the means for controlling and monitoring his unit's activities. The communications network accomplishes this by providing each echelon radio communications to his superior, lateral, and subordinate commanders, his counterparts in the United States Air Force, and other organizations.
Standardization
The radiotelephone procedures presented in this guide are to be used in Civil Air Patrol communications and are based on the appropriate USAF and FCC rules and regulations, as well as appropriate ACPs. Violations of these rules and regulations invariably create interference and confusion, reduce reliability and tend to nullify the effectiveness of the entire net. Each radio operator must exercise good common sense and courtesy when faced with a situation not covered in this guide.
Civil Air Patrol is unique in that it has been chartered as a non-profit civilian corporation and has been declared the auxiliary of the United States Air Force. As the auxiliary of the Air Force, we wear the United States Air Force uniform (with modifications) and operate on military frequencies controlled by the USAF. The Civil Air Patrol is funded by the USAF while conducting search and rescue missions and for some other expenditures incurred. We communicate with active duty and reserve personnel and our national, region, and wing headquarters have both active duty and reserve USAF personnel as liaison to the USAF and DOD. For these reasons and others, the chapter in CAPM 100-1 regarding radiotelephone procedures was extracted from ACP-125. Allied Communications Publications (ACP) are the official manuals establishing the rules and regulations for all United States military forces and Allies throughout the world, regarding communications:
- ACP-124 is the manual covering interrupted continuous wave (CW);
- ACP-125 governs radiotelephone procedures; and
- ACP-127 pertains to radioteletype (RTTY).
The CAP radio log sheet, CAPF 110, is an exact duplicate of the AF Form 1020. Only the form number has been changed. The phonetic alphabet used by the CAP is the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) alphabet. It is the only one authorized for CAP, as well as military organizations.
Proper Expression
Expressing yourself properly on CAP frequencies is very important. Proper expression involves a working familiarity with the phonetic alphabet, authorized prowords and the proper enunciation of numerals.
It is easy to understand the need for these three subjects if you listen to the nets of some of the non-military organizations and observe the innumerable ways of expressing phonetics and passing traffic. Consider the numeral "ZERO". You will hear individuals pronounce it "OH", "OUGHT' or "NOTHING". Sometimes they even pronounce it properly, "ZERO". Another example is the last letter of the alphabet, "Z". You will hear it called "ZED", "ZEBRA" "ZIP", "ZERO" etc.
The old "ADAM", "BAKER", "CHARLES" and other non-standard, and thus confusing, renditions of a phonetic alphabet are not as easy to understand as the ICAO alphabet. The ICAO established a committee to determine which phonetic expressions were commonly understood throughout the world. After years of research and study, the present ICAO phonetic alphabet was developed and accepted by most organizations that have radio communications capability. We suggest that all members obtain a copy, post it near the operating position, and memorize it.
The Phonetic Alphabet
LetterWordPronunciation
AALPHAAL-FAH
BBRAVOBRAH-VOH
CCHARLIECHAR-LEE
DDELTADELL
EECHOECK-OH
FFOXTROTFOX-TROT
GGOLFGOLF
HHOTELHOH-TELL
IINDIAIN-DEE-AH
JJULIETJEW-LEE-EIT
KKILOKEY-LOH
LLIMALEE-MAH
MMIKEMIKE
NNOVEMBERNO-VEM-BER
OOSCAROSS-CAH
PPAPAPAH-PAH
QQUEBECKEH-BECK
RROMEOROW-ME-OH
SSIERRASEE-AIR-RAH
TTANGOTANG-GO
UUNIFORMYOU-NEE-FORM
VVICTORVlK-TAH
WWHISKEYWISS-KEY
XXRAYECKS-RAY
YYANKEEYANG-KEY
ZZULUZOO-LOO
CAP, as a military auxiliary organization, is required to use this set of phonetics. It may require some time to commit them to memory, but frequent use, where applicable, will aid in learning this list and will definitely clarify the differences between B, C, D, E, G, P, T, V, and Z; N and M; S and F; and other similar sounding letters.
Prowords
ProwordExplanation
AFFIRMATIVEYou are correct, OR what you have transmitted is correct. Yes.
ALL AFTERThe portion of the message to which I have reference is that portion which follows ______.
ALL BEFOREThe portion of the message to which I have reference is that portion which precedes ______.
BREAKI hereby indicate the separation of the text from all other portions of this message.
CORRECTYou are correct. That is correct.
CORRECTIONAn error has been made in this transmission. Transmission will continue with the last word correctly transmitted.
DISREGARD THIS TRANSMISSION, OUT
This transmission is in error. Disregard it. (This proword will not be used to cancel a message that has been transmitted and receipted for by the receiving station.)
DO NOT TRANSMIT, OUT
Stations called will not answer this call, receipt for this message, or otherwise transmit regarding this transmission. (When this proword is used, the transmission will always end with the proword "OUT").
EXEMPTThe addressees immediately following are exempted from the collective call. The addressees following are exempt from receiving this message.
FIGURESA group of one or more characters, the first of which is a numeral, follows.
FLASHThis message has a precedence of FLASH
FROMThe originator of the message immediately follows.
GROUPSThe text of this message contains ______groups or words. (Normally not used in CAP originated messages)
IMMEDIATEThis message has a precedence of IMMEDIATE.
INFOThe addresses immediately following are addressed for information only. No action is required of them.
INITLAL(S)A group of one or more characters, the first of which is a letter, follows.
I READ BACKThe following is in response to your request to read back.
I SAY AGAINI am repeating the transmission, or the portion you need repeated.
I SPELLI will spell the next word phonetically.
I VERIFYThat Which follows has been verified per your request (to be used only as a reply a VERIFY request).
MAYDAYInternational Distress Signal. Indicates traffic concerning immanent and grave danger to life and property.
MESSAGE FOLLOWSA message which requires recording follows.
MORE TO FOLLOWI have more messages, traffic or information for you.
NEGATIVENot received. No.
NO TRAFFICThis station has no traffic to send.
NOTHING HEARDTo be used when no reply is received from a call.
NUMBERThis station message number, in numerals, follows.
OUTThis is the end of my transmission to you and no answer or reply is required or expected.
OVERThis is the end of my transmission to you and a response is expected. Go ahead.
PANInternational Urgency Signal. Identifies very urgent information concerning the safety of lives and property.
PRIORITYThis message has a precedence of PRIORITY.
READ BACKRepeat this transmission back to me exactlv as received.
RELAY (TO)Transmit this message to all addressees immediately following this proword.
RELAY THROUGHRelay your message through ______.
ROGERI have received and understood your last message. (Does NOT mean yes or permission granted).
ROUTINEThis message has a precedence of ROUTINE.
SAY AGAINRepeat the portions of your last transmission I am indicating.
SECURITEInternational Safety Signal. Pronounced "SEE CURI TAY". Identifies urgent information regarding safety of navigation to vessels.
SPEAK SLOWERYour transmission is too fast. Reduce speed.
THIS ISThis transmission is from thc station whose call sign immediately follows.
THIS IS A DIRECTED NET
Used by the Net Control Station (NCS) to establish the type of net being operated as a directed net.
THIS IS A FREE NET
Used by the Net Control Station (NCS) to establish the type of net being operated as a free net.
TIMEThe figures which follow are the Date/Time Group (DTG) of this message.
TOThe addressee(s) who are to take action, and to whom this message is to be delivered are as follows.
UNKNOWN STATIONThe identity of the station I am trying to contact is unknown (used in place of that station's call sign).
VERIFYVerify entire message (or portion indicated) with the originator and send the verified version (used by receiving station).
WAITI must pause for a few seconds. Standby. Do not transmit. Wait for me to continue with my transmission (the proword "OVER" is not used).
WAIT, OUTI must pause for more than a few seconds. This contact is terminated until I call you again. The net can continue.
WILCOI have received, understood, and will comply (note: Since the meaning of the proword ROGER is included the two prowords are not used together).
WORD AFTERThe word to which I have reference is that which follows ______.
WORD BEFOREThe word to which I have reference is that which precedes ______.
WORDS TWICECommunication is difficult. Transmit each word or phrase twice (may be used as a request or a statement of intent).
WRONGYour last transmission was incorrect. The correct version is ______.
Numerals
The following is the proper expression of numerals including special emphasis for the purpose of clarifying certain digits. They are pronounced:
NumeralPronounced
0ZE-RO
1WUN
2TOO
3TREE
4FOW-ER
5FIFE
6SIX
7SEV-EN
8AIT
9NIN-ER
Roman Numerals will be transmitted as the corresponding Arabic numerals proceeded by the words "Roman Numeral".
Messages will frequently contain numbers to give an address, amount, weight, etc. They will be spoken digit by digit (except numerals ending in even thousands) and will be preceded by one of the prowords:
NUMBER used to give the serial number or message number of a message;
TIME is always followed by the Date-Time-Group (DTG);
GROUPS always precedes the group count for the text of a message; or
FIGURES used in all other instances involving numbers.
Note: These prowords will never be mixed or used together.
When you see numerals in the heading or text of a message, always express them digit by digit, preceded by the proper proword. It is incorrect to say "nineteen ninety three" - say "FIGURES WUN NINER NINER TREE". Do not say "twenty one" - say "FIGURES TOO WUN". Even thousands will be spoken as follows:
16000 is spoken as "FIGURES WUN SIX TOU-SAND".
When giving the Date-Time Group 012136Z DEC 93, say "TIME ZERO WUN TOO WUN TREE SIX ZULU DECEMBER NINNER TREE". You never say "TIME FIGURES". You never say "GROUPS FIGURES". You never say "FIGURES NUMBER". Prowords pertaining to numerals are never mixed.
Punctuation
In amateur radio messages the character "X" is frequently used in lieu of specific punctuation. "X" will not be used for punctuation in CAP messages.
Punctuation will not be used in messages unless it is absolutely necessary to the meaning of the text. When used, punctuation symbols may be either spelled or abbreviated.
PunctuationAbbreviation
ColonCLN
CommaCMM
DashDASH
Decimal PointDECIMAL POINT
HyphenHYPHEN
ParagraphPARA
ParenthesesPAREN
PeriodPD
Question MarkQUES
QuotationQUOTE/UNQUOTE
SemicolonSMCLN
SlantSLANT
Radio checks, signal strength, readability
A station is understood to have a good signal strength and readability unless otherwise notified. Strength of signals and readability will not be exchanged unless one station cannot clearly hear the other. A station wishing to inform another of the signal strength and readability will do so by means of a short, concise response of actual reception, such as "WEAK BUT READABLE", "LOUD AND CLEAR", "LOUD BUT DISTORTED", "WEAK WITH INTERFERENCE", etc. Reports such as "FOUR BY FOUR", "FIVE BY FIVE", "20 OVER S9", "WALL TO WALL AND TREETOP TALL", "BLOWING MY DOORS OFF", etc. will not be used to indicate strength and quality of reception.
The following prowords will be used when initiating or answering queries concerning signal strength and readability:
Report of signal strength:
LOUDYour signal is very strong.
GOODYour signal strength is good.
WEAKYour signal strength is weak.
VERY WEAKYour signal strength is very weak.
FADINGAt times your signal strength fades to such an extent that continuous reception cannot be relied on.
Report of readability:
CLEARThe quality of your transmission is excellent.
READABLEThe quality of your transmission is satisfactory.
UNREADABLEThe quality of your transmission is so bad that I cannot understand you.
DISTORTEDHaving trouble understanding you because your signal is distorted.
WITH INTERFERENCEHaving trouble understanding you due to interference.
INTERMITTENTHaving trouble understanding you because your signal is intermittent.
Maintaining Records
All formal messages on CAP radio should be recorded. CAP-USAF Headquarters requires all CAP members to keep a file of all messages handled for a period of 30 days. After 30 days, the recorded copy may be destroyed unless otherwise instructed by National, Region, or Wing Headquarters.
Message File
A simple message file might consist of three manila folders, labeled "RECEIVED", "SENT" and "TO BE SENT".
Station Log
A separate log for CAP operations, if required, must be retained for a period of 30 days unless otherwise instructed by National, Region or Wing Headquarters.
Nets
The type of net and method of operation is determined by operational factors. There are two types of CAP and military nets:
Directed NetIn a directed net, stations must obtain permission from the Net Control Station (NCS) prior to communicating with other stations. CAP nets will be directed unless otherwise stated by the NCS.
Free Net In a free net, the NCS authorizes stations to transmit traffic to other stations without obtaining prior permission. Free net operation does not relieve the NCS of the responsibility for maintaining circuit discipline.
Net Operating Procedures
It is the intent of this directive to make the procedure uniform so that every member will understand the proper manner of transmitting and receiving messages and otherwise conducting themselves on CAP nets.
Proword Application
Proword ApplicationOne of the first things a member should learn upon entry into CAP communications is how to check into, or enter, a net. Normally, the first words used before your call sign are the prowords THIS IS. These prowords mean that the transmission is from the station whose call sign immediately follows.
Calling
The four types of calls most commonly used in CAP operations are:
Abbreviated Call. The abbreviated call is the most commonly used. It starts with "THIS IS (your call sign), OVER". (Example -- "THIS IS HEADCAP FOWLER, OVER"). It is incorrect to say "NET CONTROL, THIS IS ______".
Full, or Formal Call. The "full" or "formal" call starts with the call sign of the station being called, followed by the prowords "THIS IS", and then the call sign of the calling station and the proword 'OVER". (example-"HEADCAP TOO TOO, THIS IS HEADCAP FOW-ER, OVER").
Collective Call. The "collective call" is normally used by those who act as net control or alternate net control stations. The collective call assists the NCS in calling groups of stations during the course of the net and is an invitation to stations waiting for the opportunity to check into the net. (Example -- "NATIONAL COMMAND NET, THIS IS HEADCAP FOW-ER, OVER").