When necessary to identify a letter of the alphabet, the standard phonetic alphabet should be used. This helps to prevent the receiving operator from copying your words or groups of words incorrectly. Bs, Ps, Ts, and other letters that sound alike can be confusing when heard on radio telephone nets. Learn the phonetic alphabet listed below and the proper pronunciation as spoken over radio nets.

USE OF THE PROWORD "I SPELL." Difficult words or groups within the text of the message maybe spelled out using the phonetic alphabet and should be started with the proword "I SPELL."

EXAMPLE: CATENARY . . . . . "I SPELL" CHARLIE, AMA, TANGO, ECHO, NOVEMBER, ALFA, ROMEO, YANKEE. . . CATENARY

Where the text is composed of easily pronounced words, they can be spoken.

USE OF PROWORD "FIGURES." In order to distinguish numerals from words similarly pronounced, you may use the proword "FIGURES" before numbers.

TRANSMITTING NUMERALS. When numerals are transmitted by radiotelephone, the rules for their proper pronunciation are as follows:

TRANSMITTING NUMBERS. Numbers are transmitted digit by digit except that exact multiples of hundreds and thousands may be spoken as such; however, there are special cases when the normal pronunciation of numerals is as follows:

PROWORDS

The following prowords and their meanings, authorized for general use, are those that are commonly used on the Seabee battalion radio nets. ALL AFTER: The portion of the message to which I have reference is all of the message which follows . ALL BEFORE: The portion of the message to which I have reference is all of the message which precedes .

BREAK: I hereby indicate the separation of the text from other portions of the message.

CORRECTION: An error has been made in this transmission. I will continue with the last word I transmitted correctly.

DISREGARD THIS TRANSMISSION: The transmission is an error. Disregard it. This proword shall not be used to cancel a message that has been completely transmitted and for which receipt or acknowledgement has been received.

DO NOT ANSWER: Stations called are not to answer this radio call, receipt for this message, or otherwise transmit in connection with this transmission. When this proword is used, the transmission shall be ended with the proword OUT.

EXEMPT: The addressee call signs immediately following are exempted from the collective call or net call.

FIGURES: Numerals or numbers to follow.

FROM: The originator of this message is indicated by the call sign immediately following.

INFO: The addressee(s) immediately following is/are addressed for information.

I SAY AGAIN: I am repeating transmission or portion indicated.

I SPELL: I shall spell the next word phonetically.

MESSAGE FOLLOWS: A message that requires recording is about to follow. Transmitted immediately after the radio call. (This proword is intended for use when messages are passed on tactical or reporting nets. It is not used on nets intended primarily for conveying messages.)

NUMBER: Station serial number of messages sent. Normally run in sequence for one 24-hour period.

OUT: This is the end of my transmission to you and no answer is required or expected.

OVER: This is the end of my transmission to you and a response is necessary. Go ahead; transmit.

PRECEDENCE PROWORDS: Four precedence designations are used in handling radio messages. These precedence prowords indicate the order in which one message is handled relative to other messages. The originator of the message assigns the precedence of the message. The precedence prowords in order of their importance are as follows:

1. FLASH

2. OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE

3. PRIORITY

4. ROUTINE

READ BACK: Repeat this entire transmission back to me exactly as you received it.

RELAY Transmit this message to each of the addressees immediately following.

ROGER: I have received your last transmission satisfactorily.

SAY AGAIN: Repeat all of your last transmission. When followed by identification data means "Repeat portion indicated."

THIS IS: This transmission is from the station whose call sign immediately follows.

TO: The addressee(s) immediately following is/are to take action on this message.

WAIT: I must pause for a few seconds.

WAIT OUT: I must pause longer than a few seconds.

WILCO: I have received your message, understand it, and will comply. To be used only by the addressee. Since the meaning of ROGER is included in that of WILCO, the two prowords are never used together.

WORD AFTER: The word of the message to which I have reference is that which follows .

WORD BEFORE: The word of the message to which I have reference is that which precedes .

WORDS TWICE: Communication is difficult. Transmit each phrase (or each code group) twice. This proword may be used as an order, request, or as information.

WRONG: Your last transmission was incorrect. The correct version is .