Tactics, tips, procedures from observer controllers

Army Communicator,  Fall, 2006  by Brian Jacobson,  Adrian Borel,  Wyman Rosener,  Brian Lowman

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The purpose of this article is to provide tactics, tips, and procedures to help make brigade and battalion/ squadron Signal sections more successful in a tactical environment. These TTPs were identified by observing multiple units conduct operations during Joint Readiness Training Center rotations, discussions with units operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, and personal experience by the members of the Signal observer/controller team. The following TTPs are "A Way" for Signal teams to conduct business.

1. Annex H

The battalion Signal annex should be one page summarizing pertinent communication instructions for maneuver commanders. Reiterate key instructions in the coordinating instructions of the main operations order. Some major components of the annex should be:

a. Line-of-site analysis of the area of operations

b. Primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency means of communication broken down by voice and data for company procedures focusing on compromise, changeover, and delivery of COMSEC to patrol bases or elements outside of the forward operating base.

c. Frequency modulation PACE

d. Changes to the Signal operating instructions based on attachments and detachments.

2. Help desk

Within the brigade tactical operations center there should be an established "help desk". Their task is to screen issues that units or staff personnel have with equipment or connectivity.

Their purpose is to reduce the amount of "fire missions" and people going directly to the S6, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, or other personnel in the network operations center. Some keys to success of this TTP are:

a. Desk positioned at the entrance of the NOC/S6 cell with a Secure Internet Protocol Router Network connected computer, phone, a pair of squad radios, phone book, and trouble ticket system posted to the S6 share portal for users to monitor the status of their request.

b. A priority system should be established in the NOC standard operating procedure and enforced by the NOC battle captain.

c. Personnel at the help desk are charged to log the trouble tickets on the S6 web page and handle 10 level tasks if they are trained to do so.

3. Left seat/ right seat ride

While conducting the AO orientation with counter part there should be a couple of objectives. First pick their brain to find out the best ways to communicate through the AO focusing on what they have and how to use your equipment. Second, while units are moving throughout the AO they need to constantly conduct radio checks to identify potential trouble spots.

4. Digital stand to

Like a preventive maintenance check and service and a communications rehearsal combined, all systems should be turned on daily to validate the status. There is a basic and a graduate level of digital stand to. Command emphasis is essential to the success of both but here is "A Way"

5. Communication exercise and/or communication rehearsal

Most Signal officers focus on the COMM-EX to validate their communication assets work, but they should focus closely on the communication rehearsal. The difference is one makes sure the equipment works--the other makes sure the equipment works and the operator knows how to use it. Rehearsals should include the private first class radio telephone operator for a platoon leader to the battalion or brigade commander conducting a conference call using a IP phone. All systems should be validated by as many users as possible. Here is "A Way" to conduct a rehearsal.

6. Battle tracking

The Signal shop needs to track both network status (FM, HF, TACSAT, DIGITAL, etc) and maintenance status of equipment. The TOC needs to know what assets that they have connectivity to and to which command posts, here, we use a "skittles" or "bubble" chart to display the ability to communicate. We use a slant report to monitor maintenance from which we can recommend shifting assets to elements that are short in particular areas. These are two separate reports. One report tells the commander the status of our connectivity to units on the battlefield while the other lets him know where we stand from a maintenance stand point.

7. COMSEC Compromise

Plan

The compromise plan needs to be synced with brigade and adjacent units. Pro-words (the words that are used to trigger a certain action) should be something easy to remember for the private that just arrived to the unit. I recommend using beer names and associating a particular first letter with a particular action. Such as "C" equals change Julian dates by two days forward and once the pro-word "Corona" is called over the FM all know what to do. By keeping it simple you avoid Soldiers writing down the key where the enemy may be able to get to it.

8. FM Compromise

9. Compromise and changeover rehearsals

When was the last time a unit conducted a traffic encryption key changeover during a field exercise?

Most units don't practice it at home station which leads to a lot of friction when having to conduct one during operations at JRTC and beyond. Push the command to train on this event during your next weeklong field exercise or Signal gunnery at home station.