Procedure word

"WILCO" redirects here. For other uses, see Wilco (disambiguation).

Procedure words or prowords are words or phrases limited to radio telephone procedure used to facilitate communication by conveying information in a condensed standard verbal format. Prowords are voice versions of the much older prosigns for Morse code first developed in the 1860s for Morse telegraphy, and their meaning is identical. The U.S. military communications manual ACP-125 contains the most formal and perhaps earliest modern (post-WW-II) glossary of procedure words, but its definitions have been adopted by many other organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Rhode Island Department of Emergency Management, Civil Air Patrol, Military Auxiliary Radio System, and others.

Procedure words are one of several structured parts of radio voice procedures, including Brevity codes and Plain language radio checks. The vast majority of the brevity codes from the U.S. military's Multiservice tactical brevity code are inappropriate for any civilian use, owing to their focus on large weapons (missiles, etc.) and other war-related issues. However, a few are used frequently enough in media to be memorable, including ABORT, BOGEY, BANDIT, FEET WET, FEET DRY, NEGATIVE CONTACT, and NO JOY.

Most important procedure words

According to the U.S. Marine Corps training document FMSO 108, "understanding the following PROWORDS and their respective definitions is the key to clear and concise communication procedures."

THIS IS

This transmission is from the station whose designator immediately follows. For clarity, the station called should be named before the station calling. So, "Mike Juliet zero, THIS IS Golf Whiskey three..." or for brevity, "Mike Juliet zero, Golf Whiskey three, ROGER, OUT". Never "This is GW3 calling MJ0", "Ground control to Major Tom" nor any other reversed combination.

OVER

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

Contrary to popular belief, "OVER" and "OUT" are never used at the same time, since their meanings are mutually exclusive. With spring-loaded PTT buttons on modern combined transceivers, the same meaning can be communicated with just "OUT", as in "Ops, Alpha, ETA five minutes. OUT."

OUT

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

ROGER

"I have received your last transmission satisfactorily, radio check is LOUD AND CLEAR." "ROGER" may be used to mean "yes" with regards to confirming a command; however, its use (specifically in Air Traffic Control phraseology) does not signify a clearance has been given.

Romeo is sometimes used for the same purpose, mainly in Australian maritime operations.

For maritime VHF, "copy" does not mean the same as "roger" or "received". It is used when communications between two other stations which includes information for your station that has been overheard and received satisfactorily.

WILCO

"I understand and Will Comply." Used on receipt of an order. "Roger" and "Wilco" used together are redundant, since "Wilco" includes the acknowledgement element of "Roger".

SAY AGAIN

"I have not understood your message, please SAY AGAIN". Usually used with prowords "ALL AFTER" or "ALL BEFORE". Example: radio working between Solent Coastguard and a motor vessel, call-sign EG 93, where part of the initial transmission is unintelligible

- All stations, all stations, this is Solent Coastguard, Solent Coastguard. Be advised large shipping vessel entering Southampton Water, currently at position [transmission unintelligible] OUT

- Solent Coastguard, Solent Coastguard, this is Echo Golf niner three. SAY AGAIN ALL AFTER position. OVER

At this juncture, Solent Coastguard would reply, giving the position of the shipping vessel preceded with the prowords "I SAY AGAIN":

- All stations, all stations, this is Solent Coastguard. I say again, large shipping vessel entering Southampton water, currently at position one decimal two miles from Calshot Spit on bearing one six five degrees. Vessel restricted in ability to deviate from its course. Do not impede. OUT

The word "REPEAT" should not be used in place of "SAY AGAIN", especially in the vicinity of naval or other firing ranges, as "REPEAT" is an artillery proword defined in ACP 125 U.S. Supp-2(A) with the wholly different meaning of "request for the same volume of fire to be fired again with or without corrections or changes" (e.g., at the same coordinates as the previous round).

ALL AFTER…

Please repeat the message you just sent me beginning after the word or phrase said after this proword.

ALL BEFORE…

Please repeat the message you just sent me ending before the word or phrase said after this proword.

WAIT OVER

I must pause for a few seconds.

WAIT OUT

I must pause for longer than a few seconds. I will call you back.

READ BACK

Please repeat my entire transmission back to me.

I READ BACK

The following is my response to your READ BACK proword.

CORRECTION

I made an error in this transmission. Transmission will continue with the last word correctly sent.

RADIO CHECK

What is my signal strength and readability; how do you hear me?

I request a response indicating the strength and readability of my transmission, according to plain language radio check standards:

• A response of ROGER is shorthand for the prowords LOUD AND CLEAR.
• A response of WEAK BUT READABLE ("Weak Readable" is also used) indicates a weak signal but I can understand.
• A response of WEAK AND DISTORTED indicates a weak signal and unreadable.
• A response of STRONG BUT DISTORTED indicates a strong signal but unreadable. One of the two stations might be slightly off frequency, there might be multipath distortion, or there might be a problem with the audio circuits on one or both of the radios.

5 by 5 is an older term used to assess radio signals, as in 5 out of 5 units for signal strength and for readability. Other terms similar to 5x5 are "LOUD AND CLEAR" or "Lima and Charlie". Example:

Alpha 12: X-ray two-three, this is Alpha one-two, RADIO CHECK, OVER.

X-ray 23: Alpha one-two, this is X-ray two-three, I read you 5 by 5, OVER.

Alpha 12: Alpha one-two ROGER, OUT.

Similar example in shorter form:

Alpha 12: X-ray two-three, this is Alpha one-two, RADIO CHECK, OVER

X-ray 23: Alpha one-two, this is X-ray two-three, ROGER, OUT

If the initiating station (Alpha 12 in the example) cannot hear the responding station (X-ray 23 above), then the initiator attempts a radio-check again, or if the responder's signal was not heard, the initiator replies to the responder with "Negative contact, Alpha 12 OUT".

The following readability scale is used: 1 = bad (unreadable); 2 = poor (readable now and then); 3 = fair (readable, but with difficulty); 4 = good (readable); 5 = excellent (perfectly readable).

Example of correct US Army radio check:

For receiver: A-11 (Alpha 11) and sender: D-12 (Delta 12)

A-11 This is D-12 "RADIO CHECK, OVER" D-12 This is A-11 "ROGER, OVER"

A-11 this is D-12 "ROGER, OUT"

Article 32 Radio Regulations distress and rescue prowords

On the radio, distress (emergency) and rescue usage takes precedence above all other usage, and the radio stations at the scene of the disaster (on land, in a plane, or on a boat) are authorized to commandeer the frequency and prohibit all transmissions that are not involved in assisting them. These procedure words originate in the International Radio Regulations, and are documented in the U.S. military's ACP 135(F) Communications instructions Distress and Rescue Procedures.

MAYDAY

Main article: Mayday

This is the official SOS/distress call for voice.

I, my vessel or a person aboard my vessel is in grave and imminent danger, send immediate assistance. This call takes priority over all other calls.

The correct format for a MAYDAY call is as follows:

[The first part of the signal is known as the call]
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY,

This is (vessel name repeated three times, followed by call sign if available)

[The subsequent part of the signal is known as the message]

MAYDAY (vessel name)

My position is (position as a lat-long position or bearing and distance from a fixed point)

I am (type of distress, e.g. on fire and sinking)

I require immediate assistance

I have (number of people on board and their condition)

(Any other information e.g. "I am abandoning to life rafts")

Over"

VHF instructors, specifically those working for the Royal Yachting Association, often suggest the mnemonic MIPDANIO for learning the message of a mayday signal: mayday, identify, position, distress, assistance, number of crew, information, over.

In aviation a different format is used:

[First part of the message] MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY

[Second part of the message] Callsign is stated at the end, followed by either "heavy" or "super", though this is not always necessary

[Third part of the message] Nature of the emergency

For example: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, Earth Air 999, we have lost both of our engines due to a bird strike, we are gliding now.

After that pilot can give, or the controller can ask for, additional information, such as, fuel and number of passengers on board.

PAN-PAN

Main article: Pan-pan

This is the official urgency voice call. (pronounced /ˈpæn ˈpæn/)

Meaning "I, my vessel or a person aboard my vessel requires assistance but is not in distress." This overrides all but a mayday call, and is used, as an example, for calling for medical assistance or if the station has no means of propulsion. The correct usage is:

PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN

All stations, all stations, all stations

THIS IS [vessel name repeated three times]

My position is [position as a lat-long position or bearing and distance from a fixed point]

I am [type of urgency, e.g. drifting without power in a shipping lane]

I require [type of assistance required]

[Any other information e.g. size of vessel, which may be important for towing]

OVER

SÉCURITÉ

Main article: Sécurité

Pronounced /seɪˈkjuːrɪteɪ/ say-KEWR-i-tay, this is the official safety voice call.

"I have important meteorological, navigational or safety information to pass on." This call is normally broadcast on a defined channel (channel 16 for maritime VHF) and then moved onto another channel to pass the message. Example:

[On channel 16]

SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ

All stations, all stations, all stations.

This is Echo Golf niner three, Echo Golf niner three, Echo Golf niner three.

For urgent navigational warning, listen on channel six-seven.

OUT

[Then on channel 67]

SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ, SÉCURITÉ

All stations, all stations, all stations.

This is Echo Golf niner tree (three), Echo Golf niner tree, Echo Golf niner tree.

Floating debris sighted off Calshot Spit.

Considered a danger to surface navigation.

OUT

SEELONCE MAYDAY

Indicates that your vessel has an emergency and that you are requiring radio silence from all other stations not assisting you.

SEELONCE DISTRESS

Indicates that you are relaying or assisting a station that has placed a MAYDAY call and you are requiring radio silence from all other stations not assisting you or the station in distress.

When the emergency issue is winding down and then has been resolved, these prowords are used to open up the frequency for use by stations not involved in the emergency.

PRU-DONCE

Indicates that complete radio silence is no longer required and restricted (limited) use of the frequency may resume, but immediately giving way to all further distress communications.

SEELONCE FEENEE

Indicates that emergency communications have ceased and normal use of the frequency may resume.

ACP 125(F) procedure words

Proword	Meaning	Prosign/ OPSIG
ACKNOWLEDGE (ACK)	An instruction to the addressee that the message must be acknowledged	ZEV or QSL
ADDRESS GROUP	The group that follows is an address group
ALL AFTER	The portion of the message to which I have reference is all that follows……………	AA
ALL BEFORE	The portion of the message to which I have reference is all that precedes…………..	AB
ANSWER AFTER	The station called is to answer after call sign……..when answering transmissions.	ZGO
ASSUME CONTROL	You will assume control of this net until further notice	ZKD
AUTHENTICATE	The station called is to reply to the challenge that follows	INT ZNB
AUTHENTICATION IS	The transmission authentication of this message is……….
BREAK	I hereby indicate the separation of the text from other portions of the message	BT
BROADCAST YOUR NET	Link the two nets under your control for automatic rebroadcast
CALL SIGN	The group that follows is a call sign
CLOSE DOWN	Stations are to close down when indicated. Acknowledgments are required	ZKJ
CORRECT	You are correct, or what you have transmitted is correct.	C
CORRECTION	An error has been made in this transmission. Transmission will continue with the last word correctly transmitted. An error has been made in this transmission (or message indicated). The correct version is…… That which follows is a corrected version in answer to your request for verification"	EEEEEEEE C C
DISREGARD THIS TRANSMISSION – OUT	This transmission is in error, disregard it. (This proword shall not be used to cancel any message that has been completely transmitted and receipted.	EEEEEEEE AR
DO NOT ANSWER	Stations called are not to answer this call, receipt for this message, or otherwise transmit in connection with this transmission. When this proword is employed, the transmission shall be ended with the proword OUT.	F
EXECUTE	Carry out the purport of the message or signal to which this applies. (To be used only with the Executive Method.)	IX-----
EXECUTE TO FOLLOW	Action on the message or signal that follows is to be carried out upon receipt of the proword EXECUTE. (To be used only with the Delayed Executive Method.)	IX
EXEMPT	The station(s) immediately following is (are) exempted from the collective call or from collective address	XMT
FIGURES	Numerals or numbers follow.
FLASH	Precedence FLASH.	Z
FROM	The originator of this message is indicated by the address designator immediately following	FM
GRID	The portion following is a grid reference
GROUPS	This message contains the number of groups indicated by the numeral following.	GR
GROUP NO COUNT	The groups in this message have not been counted.	GRNC
I AM ASSUMING CONTROL	I am assuming control of this net until further notice	ZKA
I AUTHENTICATE	The group that follows is the reply to your challenge to authenticate	ZNB
IMMEDIATE	Precedence IMMEDIATE	O
IMMEDIATE EXECUTE	Action on the message or signal following is to be carried out on receipt of the EXECUTE. (To be used only with the Immediate Executive Method.)	IX
INFO	The addressees immediately following are addressed for information	INFO
I READ BACK	The following is my response to your instructions to read back	IRB
I SAY AGAIN	I am repeating transmission or portion indicated.	IMI
I SPELL	I shall spell the next word phonetically.
I VERIFY	That which follows has been verified at your request and is repeated. (To be used only as a reply to VERIFY.)	C
MESSAGE	A message that requires recording is about to follow. (Transmitted immediately after the call. This proword is not used on nets primarily employed for conveying messages. It is intended for use when messages are passed on tactical or reporting nets.)	ZBO
MORE TO FOLLOW	Transmitting station has additional traffic for the receiving station.	B
NEGATIVE (NEGAT)	No. Cancel message(s) sent by the Delayed Executive Method. (NEGAT may be used to cancel a single message or a group of messages awaiting execution.)	ZUG
NET NOW	All stations are to net their radios on the unmodulated carrier wave that I am about to transmit.	ZRC2
NO PLAY	During exercises the words NO PLAY are used to distinguish real activity from messages concerned with exercise play e.g. a real emergency or real casualty. The first words of any message is to contain the words exercise (nickname e.g.Red Flag) NO PLAY
NOTHING HEARD	To be used when no reply is received from a call station.	ZGN
NUMBER	Station serial number.	NR
OUT	This is the end of my transmission to you and no answer is required or expected.	AR
OVER	This is the end of my transmission to you and a response is necessary. Go ahead, transmit	K
PRIORITY	Precedence PRIORITY	P
READ BACK	Repeat this entire transmission back to me exactly as received	G
REBROADCAST YOUR NET	Link the two nets under your control for automatic rebroadcast.
RELAY (TO)	Transmit this message to all addressees (or addressees immediately following this proword). The address component is mandatory when this proword is used.	T or ZOF
RELAY THROUGH	Relay your message through call sign………	ZOK
ROGER	This is a method of receipt. I have received your last transmission satisfactorily.	R
ROUTINE	Precedence ROUTINE.	R
SAY AGAIN	Repeat all of your last transmission. Followed by identification data means “Repeat………… (portion indicated).”	IMI
SEND YOUR	I am ready to receive your message, report, etc.	K
	(Used only in reply to the offer of a message, etc., on tactical or reporting nets.)
SERVICE	The message that follows is a SERVICE message	SVC
SIGNALS	The groups that follow are taken from a signal book. (This proword is not used on nets primarily employed for conveying signals. It is intended for use when tactical signals are passed on non-tactical nets.)
SILENCE (Repeated three or more times)	Cease transmissions on this net immediately. Silence will be maintained until lifted. (Transmissions must be authenticated by use of a self authenticated system, codeword, etc.)	HM HM HM
SILENCE LIFTED	Silence is lifted. (Transmissions must be authenticated by means of self authentication system, codeword, etc.)	ZUG HM HM HM
SPEAK SLOWER	Your transmission is too fast. Reduce speed of transmission.	QRS
STOP REBROADCASTING	Cut the automatic link between the two nets that are being rebroadcast and revert to normal working.
THIS IS	This transmission is from the station whose designator immediately follows.	DE
THIS IS A DIRECTED NET	From now until further notice this net is directed.	ZKB
THIS IS A FREE NET	From now until further notice this net is free.	ZUG ZKB
THROUGH ME	Relay your message through me	ZOE
TIME	That which immediately follows is the time or datetime group of the message.	QTR
TO	The addressees immediately following are addressed for action	TO
--TO--	The portion of the message to which I have reference is all that which appears between the groups………and………
UNKNOWN STATION	The identity of the station with whom I am attempting to establish communication is unknown.	AA
USE ABBREVIATED CALL SIGNS	Call signs are to be abbreviated until further notice.
USE ABBREVIATED PROCEDURE	As conditions are normal, all stations are to use abbreviated procedure until further notice.
USE FULL CALL SIGNS	Call signs are to be sent in full until further notice
USE FULL PROCEDURE	As conditions are not normal, all stations are to use full procedure until further notice.
VERIFY	Verify entire message (or portion indicated) with the originator and send correct version. (To be used only at the discretion of, or by, the addressee to which the questioned message was directed.)	J
WAIT	I must pause for a few seconds	AS
WAIT – OUT	I must pause for longer than a few seconds.	AS AR
WILCO	I have Received your signal, 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…………..	WA
WORD BEFORE	The word of the message to which I have reference is that which precedes…………..	WB
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.)	QSZ
WRONG	Your last transmission was incorrect. The correct version is…….	ZWF

Aviation radio prowords

More formally known as "Aeronautical Mobile communications", radio communications from and to aircraft are governed by rules created by the International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO defines a very similar but shorter list of prowords in Annex 10 of its Radiotelephony Procedures (to the Convention on International Civil Aviation). Material in the following table is quoted from their list. ICAO also defines "ICAO Radio Telephony Phraseology".

Proword	Meaning	Notes
ACKNOWLEDGE	Let me know that you have received and understood this message
AFFIRM	Yes.
APPROVED	Permission for proposed action granted.
BREAK	I hereby indicate the separation between portions of the message.
BREAK BREAK	I hereby indicate the separation between messages transmitted to different aircraft in a very busy environment
CANCEL	Annul the previously transmitted clearance
CHECK	Examine a system or procedure
CLEARED	Authorized to proceed under conditions specified.
CONFIRM	I request verification of: (clearance, instruction, action information).
CONTACT	Establish communications with...
CORRECT	True or Accurate
CORRECTION	An error has been made in this transmission (or message indicated). The correct version is...
DISREGARD	Ignore
HOW DO YOU READ	What is the readability of my transmission
I SAY AGAIN	I repeat for clarity or emphasis.
MONITOR	Listen out on (frequency)
NEGATIVE	"No" or "Permission not granted", or "That is not correct" or "Not capable"
OVER	My transmission is ended, and I expect a response from you.
OUT	This exchange of transmissions is ended and no response is expected.
READ BACK	Repeat all, or the specified part, of this message back to me exactly as received.
RECLEARED	A change has been made to your last clearance and this new clearance supersedes your previous clearance or part thereof.
REPORT	Pass me the following information...
REQUEST	I should like to know...
ROGER	I have received all of your last transmission.
SAY AGAIN	Repeat all, or the following part, of your last transmission.
SPEAK SLOWER	Reduce your rate of speech	Normal rate of speech is to never exceed 100 words per minute. This rate is still too fast for most people to write or type, so SPEAK SLOWER means a significant drop.
STANDBY	Wait and I will call you.
UNABLE	I cannot comply with your request, instruction, or clearance.
WILCO	I understand your message and will comply with it.
WORDS TWICE	(As a request) Communication is difficult. Please send every word, or group of words, twice.

Marine Radio Prowords

Marine radio procedure words follow from the ACP-125 definition, and those in the International Radio Regulations published by the ITU, and should be used by small vessels as their standard radio procedure. Beginning in 2001, large vessels, defined as being 500 gross tonnage or greater, the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers has required that a restricted and simplified English vocabulary with pre-set phrases, called Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP), be used and understood by all officers in charge of a navigational watch. These rules are enforced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO describes the purpose of SMCP, explaining "The IMO SMCP includes phrases which have been developed to cover the most important safety-related fields of verbal shore-to-ship (and vice-versa), ship-to-ship and on-board communications. The aim is to get round the problem of language barriers at sea and avoid misunderstandings which can cause accidents."

The SMCP language is not free-form like the standard radio voice procedures and procedure words. Instead, it consists of entire pre-formed phrases carefully designed for each situation, and watch officers must pass a test of their usage in order to be certified under international maritime regulations. For example, ships in their own territorial waters might be allowed to use their native language, but when navigating at sea or communicating with foreign vessels in their own territorial waters, they should switch to SMCP, and will state the switch over the radio before using the procedures, like this:

When it is necessary to indicate that the SMCP are to be used, the following message may be sent: "Please use Standard Marine Communication Phrases." "I will use Standard Marine Communication Phrases."

SMCP Procedure words

• Yes
• No
• Stand by
• No information

Commonly misused prowords

CLEAR

"Clear" is sometimes heard in amateur radio transmissions to indicate the sending station is done transmitting and leaving the airways, i.e. turning off the radio, but the Clear proword is reserved for a different purpose, that of specifying the classification of a 16-line format radio message as one which can be sent in the clear (without encryption), as well as being reserved for use in responding to the Radio Check proword to indicate the readability of the radio transmission.

AFFIRMATIVE

"Confirm" or "yes" and sometimes shortened to Affirm is heard in several radio services, but is not listed in ACP-125 as a proword because in poor radio conditions it can be confused with Negative. Instead, the proword Correct is used.

NEGATIVE

Means "no", and can be abbreviated to Negat. Because over a poor quality connection the words "affirmative" and "negative" can be mistaken for one another (for example over a sound-powered telephone circuit), United States Navy instruction omits the use of either as prowords. Sailors are instructed to instead use "yes" and "no".

Examples of radio communication using procedure words

Example 1

Two helicopters, call signs "Indian 610" and "Indian 613", are flying in formation :

Indian 610: "613, I have a visual on you at my 3 o'clock. 610"

Indian 613: "ROGER 613"

Indian 610: "613, Turn right to a heading of 090. 610"

Indian 613: "WILCO 613"

Anytime a radio call is made (excepting "standby", where the correct response is silence), there is some kind of response indicating that the original call was heard. 613's "ROGER" confirms to 610 that the information was heard. In the second radio call from 610, direction was given. 613's "WILCO" means "will comply."

Reading back an instruction confirms that it was heard correctly. For example, if all 613 says is "WILCO", 610 cannot be certain that he correctly heard the heading as 090. If 613 replies with a read back and the word "Wilco" ("Turn right zero-niner-zero, Wilco") then 610 knows that the heading was correctly understood, and that 613 intends to comply.

Example 2

The following is the example of working between two stations, EG93 and VJ50 demonstrating how to confirm information:

EG93: "Victor Juliet five zero, Victor Juliet five zero, this is Echo Golf niner three. Request rendezvous at 51 degrees 37.0N, 001 degrees 49.5W. Read back for check. Over"

VJ50: "Echo Golf niner three, Echo Golf niner three, this is Victor Juliet five zero. I read back: five one degrees three seven decimal zero north, zero zero one degrees four niner decimal five west. Over."

EG93: "Victor Juliet five zero, Victor Juliet five zero, this is Echo Golf niner three. Correct, Out"

See also

• Allied Communication Procedures
• NATO phonetic alphabet
• Prosigns for Morse code
• Ten-code
• Distress signal
• Plain language radio checks

References

Bibliography

• FM 21-75
• Handbook for Marine Radio Communication, Fifth Edition