Signalling & Radio

[Dalle]

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Electronic Warfare
A Branch under the category of Communications, unlike a Signals Specialist/Joint Terminal Attack Controller, your electronic Warfare Specialist is focused on the interception and decoding of Enemy Communications. They sacrifice much of the common training on the Comsets and Sat's in favour of a Pack, containing Decoding software, signal jamming software and interception software. However the Electronic Warfare Specialist has got limited knowledge in setting up communications post, and when not required to perform their normal role, can assist Signallers and Joint-Terminal Attack Controllers.

The EW Specialist has several Primary Roles:

SIGNIT - Signals Intelligence
ELNIT - Electronic Intelligence
Assistance in setting up Field Communications Posts, Maintenance of JTAC/Signals and EW Equipment

The equipment of the Electronic Warfare Specialist:

EWP-10 "Pack"
A specialised piece of equipment, roughly the size of the MR-90 Comset able to intercept, decode, and disrupt enemy communications, if used correctly. However like the MR-90, it is a field piece of kit and not a huge computer, such as the NID would have. Thus it is only effective within the vicinity of the Platoon, up to around 100-150 Kilometres along flat terrain.

EWP-10 Antenna
A Antenna which can be attached to the EWP, or the MR-90 to extend the range of frequencies, allowing the EWS to intercept enemy signals on higher frequencies, lower frequencies, and more finite frequencies if they cannot pick up a clear signal with the EWP's set frequencies.

The EWS Specialist, being in conjunction with the Communications Specialist/Signaller/JTAC the EWS can often carry any equipment they cannot, such as taking wires, poles antenna etc. They may also take spare equipment to be able to set up a field communications post, should the Platoon or Company need it.

Joint-Terminal-Attack-Controller

Joint Terminal Attack Controllers are the guys who get to mess around with Air Strikes (CAS), and anything related to calling in air support or drone support in a close proximity to the Platoon. Their equipment is pretty much the same as a Signallers, and they are able to double up as a Signaller if needed. Able to send and receive messages, they may also assist with the setting up of Field Communications Posts.

There is one Primary Role for the JTAC:
The Co-ordination and Control of Drones, UAV's, Artillery and Air Support within a close proximity to a Platoon or Company.

The JTAC can also be called a FAC (Forward Air Controller)
All JTAC's are giving limited pathfinding training, as they also double up as Forward Fire Observers, able to find and direct strikes on enemy targets in their proximity.

Key terms for a JTAC:
CAS - Close Air Support: Like an Airstrike, however within the close proximity of a platoon. This must be handled by a JTAC due to the precision needed, to not hit your own guys.

MEDEVAC - Medical Evacuation: The Evacuation of Personnel by air due to Medical Circumstances

CASEVAC: Casualty Evacuation: The Immediate Evacuation of personnel who have sustained Injuries where Medics or Medical Staff are not available. (Thanks to Errikos for that one)

FIREMISSION - A Co-ordinated Artillery Strike on a enemy location.

So my future JTAC's: How do we JTAC.

CAS:

"Control, Visit 1-0, message, over."
"Visit 1-0, Control, go ahead, over."
"Control, Requesting CAS at grid 098 765, over"
"Visit 1-0, Copy, Contact (CALLSIGN I.E Mule 1), out."

"Visit 1-0, (CALLSIGN I.E Mule 1) , Requesting CAS at grid 098 765"
"Visit 1-0, Copy, [AWS (Available Weapons Systems)] available, over."
"(CALLSIGN I.E Mule 1), requesting[ TYPE I.E Rockets] on (TARGET I.E Enemy Comm Relay) at grid 098 765, (APPROACH VECTOR), over.
"Visit 1-0, copy, inbound, ETA 5 Mikes, out."

Key information:
Control would be the Communicator for the Flight Deck, they know what Callsigns are free for CAS, this process is repeated for any type of Starfighter or Shuttle request.

The Approach Vector is the direction you want them to approach from, three key things must be asserted: You can hit the target from that Vector, that Vector is Safe for a Starfighter to fly down, the Vector will not compromise your troops.

ONLY THE JTAC Can call in CAS, NO ONE else is qualified. Not even the Platoon Leader, PLatoon Sergeant or any NCO. In times of EMERGENCY the EWS can call in CAS.

Emergency Artillery Request
"Bilegan 1-0 this is Visit 1-0, requesting fire mission on grid 654 321, fire for effect, I repeat, fire for effect, out."

Here's the key thing about it, it is a EMERGENCY. Like 1000000 Choomas are about to over-run our position. You don't wait for a response, you just tell them, fucking fire or we die. So they will, they will fire on that grid until they either: Run out of Ammunition, or You call them off. Should you wish to call them off:

"Bilegan 1-0 this is Visit 1-0, ceasefire, I repeat, ceasefire, out."

once more, you don't want a response from them, you just want them to stop.

In a time of we are going to die, oh shit the JTAC is down, a NCO (Like the Squad Leader or Platoon Sergeant or PL) Can order this.

MEDEVAC

"Control, Visit 1-0, message, over."
"Visit 1-0, Control, go ahead, over."
"Control, Requesting MEDEVAC at grid 098 765, over"
"Visit 1-0, Copy, (CALLSIGN I.E Mule 1), inbound, ETA 4 mikes, pop red smoke to mark LZ, out."

There are some key bits of information you need to relay to your Squad Leader "here pop red smoke to mark LZ". We need to know how to mark the LZ or the Shuttle Pilot won't see us or have a clear landing zone. "ETA 4 mikes", your squad leader needs to know how long you got until they get here.

Fire Mission

"Bilegan 1-0 this is Visit 1-0, message, over."
"Visit 1-0 this is Bilegan 1-0, go ahead, over."
"Bilegan 1-0, requesting fire mission on grid 654 321, Seven Rounds (Amount), High Explosive (Type), how copy, over."
"Visit 1-0, solid copy, Seven Rounds, High Explosive, grid 654 321. Out."

This time, we are not in any massive rush, and we are in close proximity, so, you want to co-ordinate, communicate. make sure that the Batter Understand what you want and they won't drop it on your head.

So here's one I thought would be interesting, although I don't know if it is still currently in use today is the term "Broken Arrow", although I have no idea if it is still in use today and it would probably be called something different. This is what we call the pinnacle, pinnacle, pinnacle, pinnacle of Anders rolling a 10. The meaning of the code word is a friendly unit has been or is about to be overrun by enemy forces. By broadcasting this like so
"Visit 1-0, All Stations, Broken Arrow, out."
You create the biggest shitstorm on the flight deck of every Air Station, Ship and Landing Pad in the vicinity, everything, when I say everything I mean everything will scramble to your aid and provide some kick ass support. I think it is kinda cool and well, knowing Anders I think we need it. But uh, it might not be here in 2 days.