Message Handling & Signal Reports

ARES/ACS/ARES

Block Number	Block Title	ICS-213 Instructions
1	Incident Name (Optional)	Enter the name assigned to the incident. This block is optional.
2	To (Name and Position)	Enter the name and position the General Message is intended for. For all individuals, use at least the first initial and last name. For Unified Command, include agency names.
3	From (Name and Position)	Enter the name and position of the individual sending the General Message. For all individuals, use at least the first initial and last name. For Unified Command, include agency names.
4	Subject	Enter the subject of the message.
5	Date	Enter the date (month/day/year) of the message.
6	Time	Enter the time (using the 24-hour clock) of the message.
7	Message	Enter the content of the message. Try to be as concise as possible.
8	Approved byNameSignaturePosition/Title	Enter the name, signature, and ICS position/title of the person approving the message.
9	Reply	The intended recipient will enter a reply to the message and return it to the originator.
10	Replied byNamePosition/TitleSignatureDate/Time	Enter the name, ICS position/title, and signature of the person replying to the message. Enter date (month/day/year) and time prepared (24-hour clock).

Circuit Merit	Definition	Nominal Value (speech-to-noise ratio)	Range
CM5	Perfectly readable, negligible noise.	—	>30 dB
CM4	Perfectly readable but with noticeable noise.	22 dB	16 to 30 dB
CM3	Readable with only occasional repetition.	12 dB	9 to 16 dB
CM2	Readable with difficulty, requires frequent repetition.	7 dB	5 to 9 dB
CM1	Unusable, presence of speech barely discernible.	—	<5 dB

	Proword	Meaning
	LOUD	Your signal is very strong.
	GOOD	Your signal strength is good.
	WEAK	Your signal strength is weak.
	VERY WEAK	Your signal strength is very weak.
	FADING	At times your signal strength fades to such an extent that continuous reception cannot be relied upon.

	Proword	Meaning
	CLEAR	The quality of your transmission is excellent.
	READABLE	The quality of your transmission is satisfactory.
	UNREADABLE	The quality of your transmission is so bad that I cannot read you.
	DISTORTED	Having trouble reading you due to interference.
	WITH INTERFERENCE	Having trouble reading you due to interference.
	INTERMITTENT	Having trouble reading you because your signal is intermittent.

Letter:	Code Word:	Pronunciation:
A	Alpha	Al fah
B	Bravo	Brah Voh
C	Charlie	Char Lee
D	Delta	Dell Tah
E	Echo	Eck Oh
F	Foxtrot	Foks Trot
G	Golf	Golf
H	Hotel	Hoh Tell (FAA, IMO, ITU) Ho Tell (ICAO)
I	India	In Dee Ah
J	Juliett	Jew Lee Ett
K	Kilo	Key Loh
L	Lima	Lee Mah
M	Mike	Mike
N	November	No Vem Ber
O	Oscar	Oss Car
P	Papa	Pah Pah
Q	Quebec	Keh Beck
R	Romeo	Row Me Oh
S	Sierra	See Air Ah (FAA) See Air Rah (ICAO, IMO, ITU)
T	Tango	Tang Go
U	Uniform	You Nee Form
V	Victor	Vik Tah
W	Whiskey	Wiss Key
X	X Ray	Ecks Ray
Y	Yankee	Yang Key
Z	Zulu	Zoo Loo