522 Manpack

[buzgo]

The volume should always be at full blast on a combat net,   so he can hear whats going on when the firing starts.   Unless youre on a Recce.   If you need to swithch over to your admin net, then theres no rush.   Take it off your back and switch it for him.   All I'm saying is that Ive see na lot of comms flop and manpacks mysteriously zeroised, when a young Lt starts playing with dials.   If you guys really want to take the chance thats up to you.   Personally, they dont even come in the back of my radvan.   Everything works that way, and all the officers I've worked with understand.   I can't contribute any more to this post.   Im out.


Cheers;
Andrew

I see from your profile that you have tonnes of experience ... 

There are lots of reasons that the officer should have access to the radio. I don't know about the militia types, but MOST of the reg force combat arms types (not just officers) that I've worked with are just as competent with the IRIS gear as any signaller. The guys working in the brigade CP barely even get to talk on "their" radios at all. I spent a lot of time copying things into logs for the officer in the box.

 

[The_Falcon]

I see from your profile that you have tonnes of experience ...  

There are lots of reasons that the officer should have access to the radio. I don't know about the militia types, but MOST of the reg force combat arms types (not just officers) that I've worked with are just as competent with the IRIS gear as any signaller. The guys working in the brigade CP barely even get to talk on "their" radios at all. I spent a lot of time copying things into logs for the officer in the box.

Exactly!  I was told once by one of my officers that the radio belongs to him, I just get the "privilege" of carrying it for him

 

[JimmyPeeOn]

And what reason would a Pl comd have to touch anything but the PTT?  If you have it set up correctly, what need is there to play with it?  By all means I'm not painting them all with the same brush, I've learned a lot about TCCCS from Jr Offr's.

The guys working in the brigade CP barely even get to talk on "their" radios at all. I spent a lot of time copying things into logs for the officer in the box.

Ok, so theyre touching the PTT, which was point one, if you bothered to read this thread.

I see from your profile that you have tonnes of experience ...  

Youre right, I don't have tonnes.  Im here offering suggestions. If it makes you feel big to slag on my experience, or TI, go ahead.  I'm not here to impress the guys finishing thier career's in the NCR.

Cheers;
Andrew

 

[kilekaldar]

Well, speaking as a Sig, I've had officers yank the headset of my head a few times in the Bn CP because they decided it was THEIR turn, despite the fact that I was in mid Tx, with 8 other people on 2 nets waiting on traffic(gotta love C/S 8). Point is, some are micromanagers, control freaks, others will let you do your job. It's also different from base to base. In Kingston because the Sig school is there they tend to follow the official Jimmy policy of 'hands off my comms gear'. Other places, not so much. Get to know who your working for and let them know by showing them that YOU are the guy with the training, this is YOUR job, and you are not some glorified secretary who only transcribes traffic. That advice I got from my Mcpls, Sgt, and WO when I first got to my unit.

As for carrying the 522, ditch the harness, it's horrible, it hurts after a while, the radio has the nasty habit of falling out the bottom at the worst time. Use ANYTHING else, but the new CADPAT Daypack is the best, 100x better than the harness.

Over.

 

[buzgo]

I can't comment any more, I'm finishing off my career in the NCR  : I'm going to put my hands in my pockets, lose my beret, unblouse my pants and head over to the Rideau Centre for some donuts...

 

[JimmyPeeOn]

Well, speaking as a Sig, I've had officers yank the headset of my head a few times in the Bn CP because they decided it was THEIR turn, despite the fact that I was in mid Tx, with 8 other people on 2 nets waiting on traffic(gotta love C/S 8). Point is, some are micromanagers, control freaks, others will let you do your job. It's also different from base to base. In Kingston because the Sig school is there they tend to follow the official Jimmy policy of 'hands off my comms gear'. Other places, not so much. Get to know who your working for and let them know by showing them that YOU are the guy with the training, this is YOUR job, and you are not some glorified secretary who only transcribes traffic. That advice I got from my Mcpls, Sgt, and WO when I first got to my unit.

Over.

More or  less what I was trying to say, with eloquence.

Cheers!

I can't comment any more, I'm finishing off my career in the NCR   : I'm going to put my hands in my pockets, lose my beret, unblouse my pants and head over to the Rideau Centre for some donuts...

Good point,  that was a little harsh.  I'm checking fire on this blade war.

Cheers, and sorry for the dig.
Andrew

 

[GO!!!]

The best way is to place your radio between your therma rest and valise, so that it is perpendicular to the ground, and the buttons and antennae stick out the side. This will lower your silhouette, and make the antennae easy to point upwards once you go static. You can also load freqs and batteries without taking it out of your ruck. The padding on both sides offers shock protection (important when jumping).

The day pack is the superior choice, but only if you are just on a day trip - and have left the rucks behind.

Putting your 522 radio on the front of you is the stupidest suggestion I have ever heard. How are you supposed to go prone?

Most reg F officers are pretty handy with a 522, or an HF, due to years of undermanning, when they had to carry their own radios, or if they did'nt, absent jimmys or poor quality signallers. So telling them not to touch your radio will not make you any friends.

Just a few tips from someone who was a signaller for 3 years in a Light Bn. Hope this helps.

 

[buzgo]

I have buddies who were Airborne back in the day and IIRC they told me that the CO used to carry the 515 from time to time...

 

[mudgunner49]

I just came back from SG 05 where I carried my own radio for the entire ex.  I carried it (as I have for the past year or so) in my LF R.A.I.D. Pack, along with my stealth suit, dry socks and an IMP.  Incidentally, I got weighed at the BMS, wearing the radio, flak vest, TV (yes, I wore the damn thing - most of the time...), rifle and helmet I was 313 pounds!!!

I had no problems with comfort carrying it in the R.A.I.D., and when my driver had to accompany me once and there was a fair chance we'd have to split up, he carried our second 522 in my Eagle 3-Day pack.  both of the packs have a frame sheet and this helped immeasurably, no doubt...


blake

 

[GO!!!]

I just came back from SG 05 where I carried my own radio for the entire ex.   I carried it (as I have for the past year or so) in my LF R.A.I.D. blake

All of you other cbt arms officers out there could take a lesson from this fine example of a man !!!

I've only seen two officers - both OCs, carry their own radios on ex...

 

[KevinB]

Keep in mind Blake came from the Ranks 

WTF - TacVest - with all your kit you caved for a TV 

 

[devil39]

I just came back from SG 05 where I carried my own radio for the entire ex.   I carried it (as I have for the past year or so) in my LF R.A.I.D. Pack, along with my stealth suit, dry socks and an IMP.   Incidentally, I got weighed at the BMS, wearing the radio, flak vest, TV (yes, I wore the damn thing - most of the time...), rifle and helmet I was 313 pounds!!!

I had no problems with comfort carrying it in the R.A.I.D., and when my driver had to accompany me once and there was a fair chance we'd have to split up, he carried our second 522 in my Eagle 3-Day pack.   both of the packs have a frame sheet and this helped immeasurably, no doubt...


blake

Great, and good on you. 

An exercise is the best time to prove your manliness and carry the manpack. 

If you do it for real, and troops lives might depend on your mental ability vice your physical ability, I would highly recommend that you enlist the services of the highly trained (and relatively highly paid) MCpl and Cpl who are in your Tac.  Speaking as an Infantry Officer that is.....

They will filter the "dogsh*t" calls, plot your map references, and leave you free to run all over the area applying your influence with subordinates at the crucial time and place.  Carry the small 521, maintain comms, and maintain your energy levels and alertness.... never know when you will need those!

My 2 cents

 

[mudgunner49]

Keep in mind Blake came from the Ranks  

WTF - TacVest - with all your kit you caved for a TV  

Not exactly - I was wearing my Hellcat until the Bde Comdr saw it and lost his mind!!!  I was actually hoping to avoid contact with anyone who had enough juice to influence things for the durationof the ex - what can i say???  Wrong time, wrong place...

devil39 - I couldn't disagree more.  i have always carried my own radio, whether as a FOO or as the BC.  It's not a matter of proving anything, it's a matter of expediency.  When I need to call for fire or make mods to a fire plan I don't need to look for someone to pass me the handset, I just start yakkin'.  Furthermore, as the Bn Comd's Fire Support Advisor, it is oftentimes necessay for me to be separate from my FSCC, and for my driver to bring it up at a later time.  My sig already has one 522 set, and my tech has the laser, goniometer, cam net and sometimes the NODLR.  I'm pretty sure I need to do more as "my part" than to run around stripped to nothing but my basic load with a map in my hand.  Besides, as SSFD over on the Lightfighter board says "If you can't terrain associate at a trot, you shouldn't be out of the house without adult supervision anyway..." (or words to that effect)...

On another note, you would think that when we buy a new comms system (TICCS), they would be smaller, lighter and work better.  Not so!!  On one occasion this past week, I could not talk with one of my c/s 8 km down the road, but an hour later I was picking up chatter on a range control frequency out of Fort Huachuca Arizona - WTF, over...


blake

 

[George Wallace]

Well put Blake

I found devil39's comments rather odd to say the least.  Kind of brought back that 18th Century British Army Aristocratic snobbery type of feelling we so often have with inexperienced officers that send shivers down our spines.  Cannon fodder, say whoyt.

 

[GO!!!]

If you do it for real, and troops lives might depend on your mental ability vice your physical ability,

I thought that as one of our well paid, motivated, dashing, intelligent, and ridiculously fit "superiors", you would be able to do both! 

By the way - OC C - the NEW 39, carried his own radio on the last ex - the whole time. Which makes sense with an understrength coy, as Coy HQ should not be approaching the size of a small Pl, and taking needed rifles out of the platoons.

 

[mudgunner49]

I thought that as one of our well paid, motivated, dashing, intelligent, and ridiculously fit "superiors", you would be able to do both!  

By the way - OC C - the NEW 39, carried his own radio on the last ex - the whole time. Which makes sense with an understrength coy, as Coy HQ should not be approaching the size of a small Pl, and taking needed rifles out of the platoons.

Ahhh, there is that also - good point...

blake

 

[KevinB]

Realistically with a 3 man FOO party/det - everyone needs a radio anyway.  I know back in bad old days (before I saw the Patricia light  )  I had to carry one as a FOTech - attached to the lead 031 Platoon.  The FOO had one - and dismounted the SIg carried one half the time too - the only way you can break the party and maintain comms over two nets.

Even in the 031 Pl and Coy the leadership needs to carry comms - simply since the Sig can only carry ONE radio and the Coy Commander needs to be on two (min) - ideally the Pl comd/OC can get a MBITR/148 Set - but outside JTF supported ops these don't exist (or did not).  The 148 is roughly the size of the 521 with 522 set range and no stupid battery/crypto issues.