Why discipline matters
Disciplined radio traffic halves incident response times. Undisciplined traffic loses key information at the moment it matters most.
The core prowords
Standby (attention required), Roger (received), Wait out (no answer yet, will respond), Over (my message ends). Use them without inventing alternatives.
Situation-report structure
SITREP: location, situation, action taken, action required, timing. Delivered in one 30-second transmission where possible.
Multi-team escalations
A designated net control (usually control room) directs traffic. Field units do not talk over control unless declaring priority.
Common comms failures
Talking too long, forgetting callsign, giving opinions, transmitting personal details unnecessarily. All fixable with a five-minute pre-shift drill.