COMMUNICATION INSTRUCTIONS GENERAL - …

1 UNCLASSIFIED ACP 121 (H) UNCLASSIFIED APRIL 2007 Combined Communications-Electronics Board COMMUNICATION INSTRUCTIONS GENERAL ACP 121(H) UNCLASSIFIED ACP 121(H) UNCLASSIFIED i FOREWORD 1. The Combined Communications-Electronics Board (CCEB) is comprised of the five member nations, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States and is the Sponsoring Authority for all Allied Communications Publications (ACPs). ACPs are raised and issued under common agreement between the member nations.

2 2. ACP 121(H), COMMUNICATION INSTRUCTIONS - GENERAL , is an UNCLASSIFIED CCEB publication. 3. This publication contains Allied military information for official purposes only. 4. It is permitted to copy or make extracts from this publication. 5. This ACP is to be maintained and amended in accordance with the provisions of this document. UNCLASSIFIED ACP 121(H) UNCLASSIFIED iiCCEB LETTER OF PROMULGATION FOR ACP 121(H) 1. The purpose of this Combined COMMUNICATION Electronics Board (CCEB) Letter of Promulgation is to implement ACP 121(H) within the Armed Forces of the CCEB Nations.

3 ACP 121(H), COMMUNICATIONS INSTRUCTIONS - GENERAL , is an UNCLASSIFIED publication developed for Allied use and, under the direction of the CCEB Principals. It is promulgated for guidance, information, and use by the Armed Forces and other users of military communications facilities. 2. ACP 121(H) is effective on receipt for CCEB Nations and when directed by the NATO Military Committee (NAMILCOM) for NATO Nations and Strategic Commands. ACP 121(H) will supersede ACP 121(F), which shall be destroyed in accordance with national regulations.

4 EFFECTIVE STATUS Publication Effective for Date Authority ACP 121(H) CCEB On Receipt LOP 3. All proposed amendments to the publication are to be forwarded to the national coordinating authorities of the CCEB or NAMILCOM. For the CCEB Principals [Original Signed] JA STOTT, RN Lt Cdr Permanent Secretary to CCEB UNCLASSIFIED ACP 121(H) UNCLASSIFIED v RECORD OF CHANGES AND CORRECTIONS Identification of Change or Correction and Date Date Entered Entered by (Signature ~ Rank, Grade or Rate & Name of Command) Change Correction UNCLASSIFIED ACP 121(H)

5 UNCLASSIFIED vi TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD .. i CCEB LETTER OF PROMULGATION FOR ACP 121(H) .. ii RECORD OF CHANGES AND TABLE OF CONTENTS .. vi CHAPTER 1 .. 1-1 INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITIONS .. 1-1 1-1 1-1 ALLIED COMMUNICATIONS PUBLICATIONS (ACPs) .. 1-1 DEFINITION OF TERMS .. 1-1 CHAPTER 2 .. 2-1 COMMUNICATIONS ROLE, HISTORY, CONCEPT, CAPABILITIES AND MEANS .. 2-1 SECTION I .. 2-1 GENERAL .. 2-1 ROLE OF MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS .. 2-1 SECTION 2-1 HISTORY OF MILITARY GENERAL .. 2-1 PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT.

6 2-1 SECTION III .. 2-3 CONCEPT AND 2-3 TYPES OF COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS .. 2-3 USER RESPONSIBILITIES .. 2-4 SECTION IV .. 2-4 MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS .. 2-4 GENERAL .. 2-4 ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC .. 2-5 VISUAL .. 2-5 SOUND/ACOUSTIC .. 2-6 MAIL .. 2-6 MESSENGER/COURIER .. 2-7 SECTION V .. 2-7 LIST OF ASSOCIATED 2-7 ALLIED COMMUNICATIONS PUBLICATIONS (ACPs) .. 2-7 SECTION VI .. 2-9 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL .. 2-9 CHAPTER 3 .. 3-1 MESSAGE PREPARATION .. 3-1 SECTION I .. 3-1 INTRODUCTION .. 3-1 ORIGINATOR.

7 3-1 TEXT .. 3-1 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RELEASING OFFICER .. 3-1 SECTION 3-2 TYPES OF MESSAGE .. 3-2 GENERAL .. 3-2 ORGANIZATIONAL ADDRESSED UNCLASSIFIED ACP 121(H) UNCLASSIFIED vii SECTION III .. 3-3 ADDRESS OF MESSAGES .. 3-3 COMPONENTS OF THE ADDRESS .. 3-3 LIMITING THE NUMBERS OF 3-3 AUTHORITIES TO BE ADDRESSED .. 3-3 SECTION IV .. 3-4 DRAFTING THE TEXT .. 3-4 BREVITY .. 3-4 3-4 PHONETIC EQUIVALENTS .. 3-5 NUMBERS .. 3-6 EXPRESSION OF DATE AND TIME IN THE TEXT .. 3-6 REPETITION .. 3-7 REFERENCES.

8 3-8 SPECIAL MESSAGE DESIGNATIONS/INTERNAL HANDLING 3-9 EXERCISE COMMUNICATIONS .. 3-10 SECTION V .. 3-11 MESSAGE 3-11 GENERAL .. 3-11 INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING OUT THE MESSAGE 3-11 DETERMINING SECURITY CLASSIFICATION .. 3-15 CLASSIFIED MESSAGES TRANSMITTED IN PLAIN LANGUAGE .. 3-16 DETERMINING PRECEDENCE .. 3-17 DUAL PRECEDENCE .. 3-18 ASSIGNMENT OF PRECEDENCE .. 3-19 SEQUENCE OF TEXTUAL MATTERS .. 3-23 SECTION VI .. 3-24 SPECIAL 3-24 3-24 CONFIRMATION OF 3-25 CANCELLATIONS .. 3-25 CORRECTIONS.

9 3-26 REPETITIONS, CHECKS AND 3-26 READDRESSING MESSAGES .. 3-26 SECTION 3-27 REDUCTION OF MESSAGE AND TELEPHONE TRAFFIC IN AN EMERGENCY .. 3-27 REASON FOR REDUCTION AND CONTROL OF TRAFFIC .. 3-27 MEANING AND EFFECTS OF MINIMIZE .. 3-27 AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE MINIMIZE .. 3-27 APPLICATION OF MINIMIZE .. 3-27 CONTROL OF MESSAGE AND TELEPHONE TRAFFIC DURING 3-28 CANCELLATION OR MODIFICATION OF MINIMIZE .. 3-29 SECTION VIII .. 3-30 INSTRUCTIONS ON MAIL AND EXTERNAL MESSENGER DELIVERY BY COMMUNICATION CENTRES.

10 3-30 CHAPTER 4 .. 4-1 SPECTRUM 4-1 4-1 BACKGROUND .. 4-1 SPECTRUM CONTROL CONCEPTS .. 4-1 RESPONSIBILITIES IN OPERATIONS .. 4-1 SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT PROCESS .. 4-1 INTERFERENCE 4-1 INFORMATION EXCHANGE .. 4-3 UNCLASSIFIED ACP 121(H) UNCLASSIFIED viii CHAPTER 5 .. 5-1 CALL AND ADDRESS COMPONENTS OF MESSAGE HEADINGS .. 5-1 SECTION I .. 5-1 5-1 STATION AND ADDRESS DESIGNATORS .. 5-1 SECTION 5-2 USE OF STATION AND ADDRESS DESIGNATORS .. 5-2 GENERAL .. 5-2 USE OF CALL 5-3 USE OF ADDRESS 5-3 USE OF ROUTING 5-5 USE OF PLAIN LANGUAGE STATION AND ADDRESS 5-5 ADDRESS COMPOSITION AND USE OF ADDRESS INDICATING GROUPS (AIGs).