Appendix 3: Tactical Callsigns

Use of Tactical Callsigns

The use of tactical callsigns is recommended to help clarify the function of individual stations. These tactical callsigns should be used in lieu of Amateur callsigns for all initial calls and for subsequent exchanges of traffic.

Recommended Tactical Callsigns

Net Control

Net Control station for the emergency net.

EOC

Johnson County Emergency Operations Center.

"xxxxxx" County

Station serving as Liaison with another county.

Medical

Station responsible for maintaining liaison with medical response agencies.

Police

Station responsible for maintaining liaison with local police department(s).

Sheriff

Station responsible for maintaining liaison with the Johnson County Sheriff.

"Agency"

Station serving as liaison with a specific agency (such as "Red Cross").

"Function"

The specific function you are serving (such as "Government").

"Location"

Your assigned location (such as "Check-point 4").

Assignment of Tactical Callsigns

If at all possible, tactical callsigns should be defined in advance of an event and distributed to participating stations for reference. Otherwise, Net Control should announce the tactical callsign assignments as a station assumes a particular function.

Examples might include:

1. WØAA, please act as liaison with Linn County ARES on 146.745. Your callsign to this net will be "Linn County".
2. This is NØAA. I will be standing by with Area Ambulance Service, callsign "Medical".

Meeting FCC Requirements

Your Amateur callsign should be used at the end of an exchange or every ten minutes to satisfy FCC regulation 97.119. This is easily satisfied by terminating an exchange with your tactical callsign plus your FCC-assigned Amateur callsign.

Example: "Government… county heads have left the area… NØAA, clear."

Note that participation in a formal net is considered one continuous exchange. However, you need not identify every ten minutes if you have not transmitted since the last time you identified.

Last updated June 13, 2006 by KØCF