English Language I

Contents Objectives Introductory Activity Online Tools

Increase army vocabulary
Tactical radio
Practice listening and reading
Topography & terrain skills

Reading and listening

Planned Activities

Tactical radio vocabulary with Topography and terrain features Reading practice
practice with practice Listening practice
20 minutes 20 minutes 40 minutes

Homework Lesson Evaluation & Revisions

REMINDER! Next week, first presentations. Prepare them and
study!
 ENGLISH LANGUAGE I
Defence and Security Degree – 2nd Semester
1. Tactical Radio
To successfully use radio communication, you need to follow some rules. Some of them may be:
− Identify whom you are calling.

− Wait for a moment after pushing the push-to-talk (ptt) button.

− Be direct and short.

− Speak slowly and clearly.

− Spell out letters and numbers using the NATO alphabet (check below).

− Use lingo (abbreviated words) and prowords (procedure words).

Common Military PROWORDS include:

ACKNOWLEDGE: a directive requiring the recipient to confirm they received a message.

ALL AFTER: this references a portion of the message as being “all that follows.”

ALL BEFORE: this references a portion of the message as being “all that proceeds.”

AUTHENTICATE: used by a sender to ask the called station to authenticate the message that
follows.
AUTHENTICATION IS: the transmission authentication of this message is ____.

BREAK: used to break a message for a pause before relaying the next part of the message.

CLEAR: used to clear a message in order to relay another one of higher importance.

CORRECT: confirms the message broadcast is correct.

CORRECTION: corrects a misheard message.

DISREGARD THIS TRANSMISSION-OUT: this means “Forget this message, it was sent in error.”

DO NOT ANSWER: used to indicate that the called station shouldn’t reply. The sender also should
end with the proword “OUT.”
EXEMPT: those addressed after this proword are exempt from the message sent and should
disregard its contents.
FIGURES: used to signal that numbers will follow.

FROM: used to indicate who the message is from (its originator).

GROUPS: used to signal a message that contains numbers of groups.

I AUTHENTICATE: used to authenticating a message with what follows.

IMMEDIATE: used in the most dire of situations that require immediate implementation and top
priority.
INFO: the sender requests information from the addressees immediately following this proword.

Sara Albán Barcia

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I READ BACK: used to repeat the instructions back to a sender to confirm the recipients
understood them correctly.
I SAY AGAIN: used to repeat a sent message because it was either misunderstood or extremely
important.
I SPELL: used to spell out the words that follow phonetically, using the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

I VERIFY: used to verify a request and repeated to verify a sent message.

MESSAGE: used to indicate that a message must be recorded.

MORE TO FOLLOW: used to convey that more will follow from the message initiator.

OUT: used to end a transmission.

OVER: used to end a message while asking for a reply.

PRIORITY: used for important messages that take precedence over regular conversation.

READ BACK: used to ask a message recipient to repeat back the message exactly as received.

RELAY (TO): transmit this message to [CALL SIGN(S)].

ROGER: used to confirm receipt of a message.

ROUTINE: used to convey that the message being transmitted is routine and normal, having less
importance.
SAY AGAIN: used to ask a sender to repeat their last transmission.

SILENCE: used to signal an immediate stop of all communication until the silence is lifted.

SILENCE LIFTED: used to lift a temporary silence of communication.

SPEAK SLOWER: used to request that the person speaking speaks more slowly.

THIS IS: used to transmit a message from one call sign to another. But, some messages omit this
proword. Example: “Delta 1, Delta 2, over” vs. “Delta 1 THIS IS Delta 2, over.”
TIME: used to convey the time frame for complying with the message.

TO: used to address those who must comply with the message.

UNKNOWN STATION: station identity is unknown that is attempting to be communicated with.

VERIFY: used to verify a message.

WAIT: used to indicate that a sender or recipient must pause for a few seconds.

WILCO: used to indicate receipt of — and compliance with — the sent instructions.

WORD AFTER: the word of the message to which I have reference is that which follows … ___.

WORD BEFORE: the word of the message to which I have reference is that which proceeds … ___.

WORD TWICE: used to say the words twice to make a message more easily understood.

WRONG: used to say your last transmission was incorrect. The correct version is ___.

Sara Albán Barcia

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Common Military LINGOS include:
Ambulatory: military casualties who is capable of walking.
40 Mike Mike: 40mm grenade launcher
Bird: Helicopter
Chalk: MH-47 Chinook Helicopter
Charlie Mike: Continue Mission
COMMs: communication
COP: Combat Out Post
Liter: a military casualties who is incapable of walking.
F.R.I.E.S: Fast Rope Infil Exfil System – Drop in or extract using helicopter ropes. AKA Fast
Roping.
HALO: High Altitude Low Opening – method of the insert from the air where you jump in high
and open the chute low to the ground.
HAHO: High Altitude High Opening – method of the insert from the air where you jump in high
and open the chute high to steer.
FOB: Forward Operating Base
FOP: Forward Operating Post
NVG (NODs): Night Vision Goggles
O.P.: Observation Point
Oscar Mike: On the move (on my way)
RTB: Return to Base
PID: Positively Identify
Pull Security: set up a perimeter and look for activity.
Small arms fire: anything that’s infantry bullet related; AK-47, M4s, etc..
S.P.: Start Point (Sometimes will include a time)
TIC: Troops in Contact

The problems you may face during radio communication are: interference, noise and static, a
shared frequency, or poor reception.
The basic rules when communicating are:

− Never interrupt an ongoing conversation.

− Never transmit personal or sensitive information.

− Conduct radio checks to ensure others can understand your messages.

Sara Albán Barcia

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 − Never say “repeat.” Instead use “Say again.” Why? The military uses the term “repeat” as an
instruction to resume firing weapons.

− Use the correct lingo (e.g., “break,” “out,” “roger,” etc).

− Always share short, direct, clear, and articulate messages.

NATO Alphabet

A – Alpha F – Foxtrot K – Kilo O – Oscar S – Sierra W – Whiskey

B – Bravo G – Golf L – Lima P – Papa T – Tango X – X-ray

C – Charlie H – Hotel M – Mike Q – Quebec U – Uniform Y – Yankee

D – Delta I – India N – November R – Romeo V – Victor Z – Zulu

E – Echo J – Juliet

Practice: listening extra-practice

from https://ditc.defence.gov.au/lesson-listening-radio-communications (recordings)

2. Topography and terrain features

boulder (peñasco) flood mild (suave)
boundary foggy mountain
bush (arbusto) gentle slope mountain range (cordillera)
cave glacier pass (puerto de montaña)
clay (arcilla) grass pebbles (piedras, guijarros)
cliff gravel (gravilla) plain (llanura)
cold gully (zanja, barranco) plateau (meseta)
contour lines harsh (duro) pond (estanque)
cool hill (colina) rainy
creek (arroyo) hilltop (cima) rapids
crest/peak (cima) hollow (hondonada) ravine (barranco)
depression hot ridge (cresta, cadena)
draw (vaguada) lake ridge line (divisoria)
elevation level ground river

Sara Albán Barcia

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rock stormy valley
saddle (collado) stream vegetation
sand summit waterfall
silt (cieno, limo) swamp (pantano) whirlpool (remolino)
snowy temperate windy
spring (fuente) torrid (tórrido) wood
spur (cresta, cadena) trees
steep slope undergrowth (sotobosque)

Practice: external exercises for this vocabulary

from https://ditc.defence.gov.au/vocabulary-builder-terrain-features

3. Reading practice
Drilled to perfection
A military parade involving soldiers from 30 countries and very little time to rehearse. It’s a good
thing there was a British RSM on hand.
Ask troops from 30 nations to take part at short notice in a high-profile parade and the potential
for disaster looms large.
The resulting concoction of confused languages and variable standards of drill could be enough
to make even the hardiest sergeant major quake at the knees.
Step forward WO1 (RSM) Graham Highet of the Royal Scots, who is obviously made of sturdy
stuff.
When Lt Gen Michael Dodson, US Army, handed command of NATO’s Stabilisation Force (SFOR)
in Bosnia to fellow countryman Lt Gen John Sylvester, a ceremony had to be organised.
But HQ SFOR had no worries because running the show was WO1 Highet, who brought to the
event a level of expertise second to none.
Not the least of his problems was the language barrier.
“We have more than 30 nations in Camp Butimer, all with different disciplines, different dress,
different languages and different military standards,” he told Soldier.
Security was provided by a Turkish company, military police from Ireland and Spain and
carabinieri from Italy.
Soldiers for the parade were drawn from units serving with Multi-National Divisions South-East
and South-West.
With a shake of the head he relieved one horror. “When we finished the first parade rehearsal I
got them to go through a bit of marching as well,” he said. WO1 Highet wasn’t impressed.
“So the watchword was KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid. All I asked them to do was to march into
position and I would do the rest.”

Sara Albán Barcia

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 Adding to the mix was a colour party of seven involving five nationalities and a just-arrived US
Army band.
“It’s a bit different marching to a band and as soon as they started, everyone was out of step so we
had to start again.”
In the event the parade passed off smoothly and WO1 Highet was delighted.
(Adapted from Soldier Magazine 2001, Breakthrough Students’ book p. 25)
1. Read the previous text and choose the correct answer for each of the following multiple-choice
questions.
1. What was the main challenge of organizing the military parade?
a) Lack of soldiers available to participate
b) Language barriers and differences in standards of drill
c) An inadequate venue for the event
d) Poor coordination between commanders
2. Why was WO1 Graham Highet chosen to oversee the parade?
a) He had previous experience in Bosnia.
b) He was the highest-ranking officer in the area.
c) He had expertise in organizing complex military events.
d) He volunteered for the role at short notice.
3. What does the principle "KISS" stand for in this context?
a) Keep It Simple, Sergeant
b) Keep It Simple, Stupid
c) Keep It Steady, Soldier
d) Keep It Strategic, Standard
4. What issue occurred during the first rehearsal of the parade?
a) The soldiers were late to arrive.
b) The band played the wrong music.
c) The troops struggled to march in step with the band.
d) The colour party refused to cooperate.
5. How did WO1 Highet feel about the final result of the parade?
a) Frustrated due to minor errors during the event
b) Satisfied with how smoothly it went
c) Disappointed because of poor attendance
d) Unconcerned about the event's outcome

Sara Albán Barcia

[email protected] pág.6
6. What was unusual about the colour party in the parade?
a) It consisted of soldiers from seven different countries.
b) It included troops from five nationalities.
c) It featured only US soldiers.
d) It did not include any European troops.

4. Listening practice
1. Listen to the recording and complete the sentences with the words missing.
a. If a language no longer has __________ (1), it eventually disappears.
b. Latin is an example of a language that isn’t spoken natively but is still used occasionally for
__________ (2) purposes.
c. One major reason languages become endangered is that they stop being __________ (3)
or prioritized in schools.
d. When children stop learning a language, they are less likely to __________ (4) it to their
future families.
e. Language is deeply connected to people’s __________ (5) and sense of identity.
f. If a language is lost, so is a unique way of __________ (6) the world.
g. Cornish, a language from southwest England, has been brought back to life through
__________ (7) events and social media.
h. In Bolivia, people are using online platforms like blogs and __________ (8) to save their
endangered languages.
i. Wikitongues has helped endangered languages by building a/an __________ (9) of
languages and creating children’s books.
j. People who document, teach, and __________ (10) their languages regularly are essential
to preserving them.

5. February Presentations
Next week the February presentations will take place. Prepare them carefully and pay attention to
what you say and how you say it. Please!

Sara Albán Barcia

[email protected] pág.7
 TACTICAL RADIO
PRACTICE
4) Now read Radio Conversation 1 Part 1.

Radio Conversation 1 - Part 1

A: 10, this is 11, ________.
B: 11, ________ ____ 10, _________, __________.
A: 11, red vehicle approaching VCP at speed. Appears to match suspect vehicle reported
earlier. _______ ___ __________, _______.
B: 10, ______, _______.
A: 11, vehicle also appears to be heavy. Suspected VBIED*, _______
B: 10, ________. Stop the vehicle and prepare to search. _______ ____ ________.
12, this is 10, ___________________, ___________.
C: 12, _______, ______________.
B: 10, move to location 2 now, ____________.
C: 12, _____________, _________.
*VBIED = a bomb. This stands for Vehicle Based Improvised Explosive Device

5) Listen again and complete the gaps with the words below. Then check your answers with a partner.

roger // more to follow // send // over // out to you // acknowledge // WILCO // out // this is // ack

6) Now listen to Part 2 and complete the gaps with the words you hear.

Radio Conversation 1 - Part 2

Suspect vehicle has arrived at VCP, 12 is in location 2, and 11 is talking with people in vehicle.

C: 10, ___________ ______ 12. Firm and covering in location 2, ___________.

B: 10, ___________, _________ ____ ________.
11, ___________ SITREP*, ___________.
A: 10, _______ _______ 11. Vehicle has 1 driver and 1 passenger, both with valid ID.
They are taking a radio to the next town for repair. Vehicle is very old and in poor
condition, __________ _____ _____________, __________.
B: 10, _________, ___________.
A: 11, made visual search of vehicle interior, and mirror search of under vehicle. Nothing
suspect found. Allowing vehicle to pass through. ___________.
B: 10, _________ _______________ all after ‘found’, _____________.
A: 11, allowing vehicle to pass through, __________
B: 10, ______________________. _______.
*SITREP = situation report **ID = Identification

DITC – Military English. Lesson – Radio Communication 2

7) Listen again and check your answers. Then compare your answers with a partner.

Learning Military Vocabulary

8) The words in bold in the text are important military words that you should learn to use. Match the
military words on the left to their definitions on the right. Look at the example. Then compare your
answers with a partner.

out a. Yes.

over b. The speaker will say more. Please listen for more information.

WILCO c. Let me know that you received and understood this message.

roger h d. I have finished speaking. I need an answer from you.

confirm (v) militia are e. Repeat all, or part, of your last message.
present

send (v) SITREP f. Continue behaving in the same way (as previously specified)

acknowledge/ack (v) g. I understand your message and will do what you want me to
do. (Abbreviation for ‘will comply’.)

maintain (v) SITREPs h. I have received all of your last message.

more to follow i. I am ready to receive your message/information.

this is C21 j. Please confirm/check… (clearance, instruction, action,

information…).

say again all after/all k. I want/require… (clearance, instruction, action, information…).

before ‘found’

request (v) permission to l. This complete exchange of messages is finished and no

reinforce response is expected.

affirmative (adj) m. This message is from the station whose call sign immediately
follows.

DITC – Military English. Lesson – Radio Communication 3

 TERRAIN FEATURES
PRACTICE

Military English
Vocabulary Builder – Terrain features

1) Look at the pictures – match the word from the box below with its correct picture. One of them is done
for you.

a. _________________________ c. _________________________

b. _________________________ d. _________________________

ridge
e. _________________________

ridge // hill (or mountain) // depression // saddle // stream

 f. _________________________ j. _________________________

g. _________________________ k. _________________________

l. ___________________

h. _________________________

i. _________________________

valley // crest (or peak) // level ground // spur // cliff // ravine // gully
DITC – Military English. Vocabulary Builder: Terrain Features 2
2) Now let’s listen to the words practised in this worksheet. Listen and repeat.

3) Look at the pictures in this exercise. On the left is how this terrain feature looks on a topographic map
using contour lines.
From the same box of words in Ex. 1, write the
A topographic map shows the types of terrain
correct word into the box.
like mountains and rivers. It uses contour lines
Be careful, you won’t use all the words from Ex. 1 to describe how high (or low) the land is, and
also what kind of land form it is.

a. _________________________

b. _________________________

c. _________________________

DITC – Military English. Vocabulary Builder: Terrain Features 3

 d. _________________________

e. _________________________

f. _________________________

credit (pg 3, 4): NPA NSW

g. _________________________
DITC – Military English. Vocabulary Builder: Terrain Features 4
4) Answer these questions about some of the words you matched with the pictures in Ex 1 and 2. Use the
pictures to help you. Circle the correct words in bold. The first one is done for you.

Is this high ground or level ground?

hill (mountain) If you are on top of the hill / mountain, does the land
around you go down or up?

Is this just one part of a hill (mountain), or more than one?

If you are standing on this, is it wide or narrow?
ridge
If you are standing on this, are you at the top of the mountain, or do you need
to walk more to the top?

Is this between hills (mountains), or on top of them?

valley If you are in a valley, does the land around you go up or down?
Does a valley often have water in it? Yes. No.

Is this a higher point or is it a low point between parts of a mountain?

saddle
Which is deeper, a valley or a saddle?

Is this between hills/mountains or on top of them?

ravine
If you are in a ravine, do you have a lot of space around you? Yes. No.

Is this high ground or low ground?

depression
Is this ground lower than the area around it or higher?

Is this land or water?

stream
Is it a little river or a big river?

Is this low down or up high?

crest (peak) Is it the highest point on the mountain? Yes. No.
Is there anything higher than this? Yes. No.

level ground Is this flat or high ground?

Is this part of a hill (mountain)? Yes. No.

Does it come out from the hill? Yes. No.
spur
If you are standing on this, is the land around you going down on all sides or
only three sides?

Is this like the side of a hill (mountain)? Yes. No.

cliff
Is the side of the mountain going like this: or like this: ?

Is this like a valley? Yes. No.

gully (draw) Is it small or big?
Does this have water in it? Yes. No.

DITC – Military English. Vocabulary Builder: Terrain Features 5