📡 Comms Basics
Clear communication keeps teams alive. Whether you’re face-to-face or on the radio, knowing how to talk (and when not to) is just as important as knowing how to shoot.
This lesson covers how to speak clearly, use your radio properly, and stay silent when needed.
🗣️ Verbal Comms (Face-to-Face)
✅ Combat Phrases You’ll Use Often:
- “Contact!” – You’ve confirmed a hostile
- “Movement!” – Unconfirmed movement
- “Audible!” – Heard something (footsteps, voices)
- “Shot!” – You’re firing across someone’s lane — make them stop
- “Bail! Bail! Bail!” – Everyone break and find hard cover
Speak clearly, don’t panic, and avoid slang.
🔐 Verbal IFF (Challenge and Pass)
If you’re not sure someone is friendly, use the Challenge/Pass system:
“Raven?” — “Tac!”
Each mission has a custom code word pair. If they get it wrong, assume they might be hostile.
📻 Radio Comms
We use two main radio nets:
- Platoon Net – For leadership coordination
- Section Net – For internal team comms
Radio Format:
“[Receiver], this is [Sender], [Message], over.”
Example:
“Alpha, Bravo. Move to grid 0342, over.”
Use “Over” to pass the mic, “Out” to end the conversation.
🔁 Closed Loop Comms
Used to confirm important info:
“Cover that window.”
“Covering window.”
“Good copy.”
Never assume your message got through — confirm it.
📖 Radio Terms Cheat Sheet
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| “How Copy?” | Did you hear me clearly? |
| “Good Copy” | I heard and understood |
| “Say Again” | Repeat the last message |
| “Wilco” | Will comply |
| “Break” | Pause between messages |
| “Break Break” | Emergency priority message |
| “Standby” | Wait for more information |
| “Wait One” | Short pause (usually a few seconds) |
| “Out” | I’m done talking |
🤫 Nonverbal Comms
Sometimes you can’t talk — or you don’t want to be heard. We use lasers, lights, and gestures.
| Signal | Meaning | | ---------------------- | --------------------------- | --------------- | | Barrel up/down | Ready to move | | Laser circle | Soft contact or signal prep | | Solid laser | Confirmed contact | | Vertical laser ( | ) | Execute/confirm | | Horizontal laser ( — ) | Cancel/stop |
Use IR lasers or visible lights depending on the mission.
Brief signals before the mission if nonverbal is expected.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ❌ Talking over others
- ❌ Using “repeat” (this means call in artillery in some systems!)
- ❌ Forgetting who you’re talking to
- ❌ Not confirming orders
- ❌ Staying silent when you should speak
✅ Summary
- Speak clearly — short, direct, and calm
- Use the right net for the right message
- Confirm orders and requests (closed loop)
- Learn key phrases, and don’t forget your IFF
- Use nonverbal cues when stealth is needed
📘 Next: Contact Reports