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PROBLEMS:

1. Many units have good SOPs on how information should be relayed from the field, but they do not follow their SOP.

2. Too many units fail to use brevity codes.

3. Units do not have the equipment to perform target acquisition and damage assessment missions.

4. Units do not train to do damage assessment.

5. LRS coordination habitually suffers during and after LRS missions.

6. Coordination information is often late, incomplete, or inaccurate.

7. Brigades routinely plan maneuver operations with no idea if or where LRS is operating in their area.

Techniques:

1. Exercise SOPs during training exercises and then refine the procedures based on how well the procedures work.

2. Incorporate HF and FM communications during training exercises.

3. Use brevity codes to reduce transmission time and to clarify information transmitted.

4. Units that use TACSAT as a back-up to their normal HF systems are generally successful:
- TACSAT does not require a huge antenna field; this reduces signature.
- TACSAT is more reliable, weighs less, and can be set up in far less time than a comparable HF system.

5. Use laser range finders (LRF) and night optical devises (NOD) to aid target acquisition.

6. Train to do damage assessment:
- condition of targets
- crater analysis
- personnel casualty rates

7. Designate an LRS LNO to operate out of the division G2, or the brigade TOC if an LRS unit is operating in the brigade's AO.

* User/Operator Communications Equipment Skills [C2-Signal]:

PROBLEMS:

1. Many commanders and battle staffs are initially unable to perform many basic tasks, such as install, operate, and maintain tactical FAXs, SINCGARS FM, SINCGARS remotes, and MSRTs/DNVTs.

2. The above tasks, along with the rerouting of information over alternate means of communications are many times delegated to the brigade signal officer and communications section.

RESULT: these taskings disrupt the priority of work, planning and crew tasks of the signal officer and his personnel.

Techniques:

1. FM 24-1, Signal Support in the AirLand Battle, requires user owned and operated equipment to be installed, operated and maintained by the user.

2. Conduct Home Station user/operator communication equipment training and certification or licensing to improve or sustain individual skills.

3. TOC/TAC communications battle drills should include at a minimum:
- Combat Net Radio (CNR) assets installation
- MSE user equipment training
- how to use redundant/backup communications means

4. The commanders and staff should be qualified with their assigned individual communications equipment.

4.1.2 Manage Means of Communicating Information

* Pre-Operational Combat Checks and COMEXs [C2-Signal]: Pre-operational combat checks and COMEXs are normally not conducted to standard.

PROBLEMS: 1. Initial COMEXs are not complete and communications are not normally integrated into the brigade task force rehearsal.

2. COMEXs are not planned, executed or discussed.

3. COMEXs too often do not include all SINCGARS FM and IHRF radio NCSs controlling their nets.

4. Task force briefings and rehearsals do not include a complete review of the signal operations concepts or plans.

Procedures:

1. Revise brigade task force SOPs to include those pre-operational and pre-combat checks necessary to ensure functionality and completeness of communications equipment.

2. Pre-combat checks:
- supervised inventory
- function checks
- SOP review

3. COMEXs:
- all mission critical stations enter required nets under the control of the associated NCS or MSE switches to verify PALs, COMSEC and databases.
- include tasks, conditions and standards.

4. Signal operations rehearsals:
- review the communications concepts, plans and orders.
- review a timeline of events to synchronize the signal operations with the maneuver commander's tactical plan.

5. References:
- FM 11-32 Combat Net Radio (CNR) Operations, for developing tasks to accomplish during COMEXs.
- FM 11-37, MSE Primer for Small Unit Leaders and FM 11-38, MSE System Management and Control for development of MSE switchexs.

* Information Flow between Task Force Signaleers [C2-Signal]: Signal operations are often desynchronized because there is little or no crosstalk between signaleers.

PROBLEM: After insertion into the brigade area of operations, task force signaleers often completely lose track of each other.

Techniques:

1. The brigade signal officer and communications chief need to implement a system subordinate signaleers can use to pass information between themselves.

2. Conduct daily meetings while still in the Intermediate Staging Base.

3. Establish a method to communicate in the field, ie. MSE conference calls, a separate commo net, via MPSN, TOC meetings, etc. This communication must result in a daily report to higher (fax or data) and must use a voice connection (conference call or FM net) to discuss areas of concern.

* Compromise Procedures and COMSEC Management [C2-Signal]: Brigade task force compromise plans are generally not well thought out, comprehensive enough, or rehearsed.

PROBLEMS:

1. Most units plan to jump their Julian dates up or down on the FH FM nets because alternate net IDs have not been established and/or published.

2. A SINCGARS time change from Julian date GPS Zulu/ or alternate net ID is only a temporary fix (long enough to correct the reason for change) to deny enemy access to compromised nets. Once all nets are on the adjusted time, a COMSEC and/or SOI changeover must be initiated.

Technique: Although manually distributing COMSEC/SOI changes is an acceptable method, a more preferred method is to implement all COMSEC/SOI management and compromise procedures using electronic key transfer, ie. FM over-the-air-rekey (OTAR) and/or MSE bulk/individual variable transfer. Incorporate the OTAR method of distribution into the brigade's SINCGARS CNR sustainment training program. See FM 11-32 Combat Net Radio (CNR) Operations for building SINCGARS SOPs.

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