c. Use communications security (COMSEC) procedures, such as DRYAD, when
needed.
d. Wait 3 seconds after pushing the transmit switch on the microphone before
beginning the message.
e. Speak slowly and distinctly at a normal voice level directly into the
microphone, just as you would speak into a conventional telephone.
f. Use appropriate prowords and phonetics (paragraph 5-19).
g. Wait for the other station to acknowledge receipt of your message.
h. Do not violate radio silence unless an emergency exists and the enemy
knows you are in the area.
i. Do not transmit coordinate locations or a person's name and rank unless the
communication is secure or the information is encoded.
j. Do not conduct unofficial conversations between operators, use profane or
obscene language, employ unofficial ("C.B.") jargon, or transmit at speeds so rapid the
receiving operator cannot write down the information.
5-19. PROWORDS AND PHONETICS
Proper communication over a radio requires a knowledge of common prowords
and how letters and numbers are communicated phonetically.
a. Prowords. Procedure words (prowords) are pronounceable words or
phrases that have been assigned specific meanings. They shorten messages and,
thereby, reduce transmission time. Some frequently used prowords are given in Table
5-1.
b. Phonetic Alphabet. The phonetic alphabet is used to clarify the spelling of
difficult words and to clarify letter groups within the text of a message, such as giving a
call signal. The words "bravo" and "delta," for example, are much less likely to be
misunderstood than the letters "b" and "d" when pronounced. The standard phonetic
alphabet is shown in Table 5-2. The underlined syllables are accented.
c. Phonetic Numerals. Numerals are pronounced phonetically as given in
Table 5-3. The underlined syllables are accented. Numbers are usually transmitted digit
by digit, but exact multiples of one thousand may be spoken as such (numeral "tou-
sand"). If the number is a decimal, the decimal point is pronounced as "day-see-mal."
NOTE:
Sometimes the decimal is called "point."
MD0001
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