TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS...
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
We've all seen the TV commercials for the famous cellular phone conglomerate. I saw in Soldier of Fortune magazine long ago, that during the wars in Yugoslavia and the Balkans, some military forces were actually using cell phones to communicate with other friendly units and to call for and correct artillery strikes. I am in no way suggesting that anyone train or practice tactical communications with cell phones. In a time of local war or general lawlessness, if the relay stations and communications towers are still working, you could use cell phones. It is a handy back up anyway.
Just like having a good combat medical team, at least two of your people should be practiced enough in radio communications to pass a Ham Radio Operator's test and actually have a license and practice long range communications with other ham operators. The FCC has some strict rules about using codes and military lingo when using the airwaves, so talk like a normal civilian in times of peace or law and order. When you have a trained "commo" team, they can direct and instruct the rest of the unit in radio communications at all levels. The levels range from long distance communications to other parts of the Nation or world with HF radios, satellite technology and packet radio with laptop computers to VHF radios, to Family Radio Service walkies for close in small unit commo.
Hand Signals
The commo instructors or someone need to teach everyone the necessary hand signals to communicate without radios in a stealthy manner. These should be common sense gestures made with the one hand and arm. Everyone needs to be very anal about keeping their head on a swivel and watching all around for signals that need to be relayed to the other troops in your patrol. Find a combat infantry Veteran and ask about hand signals. Get them from manuals or make up your own.
Close in Radio Communication for Small Units
Next, the troops need to be outfitted with the same brand and model of Family Radio Service walkies. I recommend the more expensive compact Kenwood types that have privacy and scramble features for reasonably secure close range, line of sight commo between different fire teams. Many organized modern military forces and intelligence agencies can listen to and track any radio, electronic or sonic communication you can send out. You can encrypt, but superior technology can track communications to point of origin immediately and send a 175 mm. surprise package to you, with free shipping! The modest little FRS radios can't broadcast wide or far enough to attract attention from big brother types. You don't have to have a license for these. Also get ear buds and throat mics or lapel mics so the bad guys nearby can't hear "Mama call you home for dinner" and grease you before you can ask "what she cooked."
Intermediate Range Radio Communication for Commo with Other Units in the Region
Other more powerful ham radios can attract enemy fire, but are still necessary to reach further than your own unit's immediate area. The trick here is to speak and get the hell out of the area. This is where the licensed ham radio operator's peace time practice pays off. These radios will be the FM and VHF varieties.
Long Range Commo to other States or Countries or Military Forces
These would be HF, UHF, Packet Radio, Satellite and Wireless Internet. I think it was on the Discovery Channel or History Channel that I saw that the US military now has a set of web gear with a wireless internet computer built right into the load bearing combat vest with a ten character keypad and a track ball on the shoulder strap and a see-through, heads-up display eye-monitor mounted on his helmet. This grunt is like an intelligence agency in the field. He can send and receive any information needed instantly, and the folks at Headquarters can see what's going on with the video camera mounted on his rifle. Also the camera patched in to the soldier's eye-monitor will allow the dude to shoot around a corner without sticking out his computer game trained head. I'm not sure but I believe these things have GPS, Topo Map Displays, Radio Commo, FFI (Friend or Foe Identifiers as not to shoot at another friendly unit with the same equipment) and Wireless Internet Access! Kids! They get all the cool toys! Next to your medics, you need engineer types, computer geeks or techs that can train everyone in the art of encryption and codes, security and alarm systems, surveillance and counter surveillance, detection and electronics. If you can keep up with law enforcement scanning great, but don't count on it. Big cities or technically advanced agencies don't make it easy anymore. Also, espionage training would be a plus, unless you happen to have an intelligence agency at your disposal. Try to keep up with these kinds of things.
Did I say something about GPS? Get at least one GPS device for your unit. Make sure it will talk to your Topo software. I've heard about guys that have a palm pilot with custom programed topo map info, sniper stats and ballistics and other tactical information. This high tech stuff is growing by leaps and bounds! The average person today has available to them better technology than military super powers of just ten years ago. Take advantage of these wonderful toys, but remember, all that crap can break down, and it's back to the old ways. Learn to use map and compas before you get all pussy whipped by technology! You do plan to train for improvisation also...right?
"Keep your powder dry and watch your six."
Badger
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