text: Communications
  COMPANY OPERATIONS BASE
  6-34. The COB is the primary link between the deployed teams and BFSB S-2 fusion element. COB
  BRS is normally located well within the security umbrella of the BFSB. It should be close enough to the
  BFSB and R&S squadron S-2 sections to permit a land wire network for reporting purposes.
  ALTERNATE OPERATIONS BASE
  6-35. The AOB may collocate if communications are established and maintained between the deployed
  teams and the COB. For increased survivability and redundancy, the AOB may be located elsewhere in the
  AO. If communication cannot be established or maintained between the teams and the COB, the AOB is
  moved in order to establish communication with the deployed teams and the COB. When the AOB is used
  as the primary reporting link, it must maintain a constant communication path with the COB, while the
  COB generally moves with the BFSB or R&S squadron.
  TACTICAL SATELLITE
  6-36. UHF TACSAT radio is a reliable communications system with unlimited range. It comes in both
  manpack and vehicle configurations. The best systems for LRS missions are multiband, multimission,
  multisystem-compatible UHF TACSAT systems with--
  • Embedded demand-assigned, multiple access (DAMA) capabilities.
  • Satellite communications modems.
  • Diverse communications and transmission security capabilities.
  6-37. Understandably, satellite channels and UHF TACSAT systems are in high demand and are also in
  short supply. Because the priority for UHF TACSAT channels goes to division HQ and above, joint and
  special operations units, LRSUs usually must share satellite channels. For this reason, the HF radio remains
  the primary means of communication. When LRSU do get satellite access, they must carefully manage it
  for airtime and message precedence.
  Section IV. REPORTS
  Teams communicate with the BRS at specified times or per-designated communications windows, with each
  team having a separate window. The number of scheduled times used by the LRSU depends on METT-TC.
  Scheduling windows too often places a team at risk, while scheduling windows too seldom can reduce the
  relevance of time-sensitive intelligence.
  MESSAGES AND REPORT FORMATS
  6-38. To accomplish their mission, LRS teams must send timely and accurate messages, properly
  formatted, to the COB, AOB or MSS BRS. Each team does this during assigned "windows," based on
  METT-TC. Using too frequent windows raises susceptibility to enemy interception and direction-finding
  capabilities; however, using too few windows reduces the relevance--and usefulness--of time-sensitive
  intelligence. For the purpose of this manual, a message refers to the information sent from one station to
  another. Most messages follow a report format.
  MESSAGES
  6-39. Each BRS logs in detail all messages it sends and receives. The unit SOP specifies how done. The
  BRS team chief in the COB ensures that all messages for committed teams originate with the operations
  section and that they are properly formatted.
  Interoperability
  6-40. Report formats provided below are based on the standardized formats in FM 6-99.2. LRSC should
  base unit SOPs on these report formats in order to gain rapid interoperability between LRSU.