2. Signal Annex Format. The format for the signal annex (Figure 3-1)
follows the same five-paragraph format used for an OPLAN or OPORD.
The following is a brief description of each of the five paragraphs.
a. Paragraph 1 - Situation. This paragraph contains information
on enemy forces, friendly forces and any attachments to the unit.
Information
on
enemy
forces
is
normally
obtained
from
the
intelligence annex prepared by the division G2.
Under friendly
forces, signal units from higher headquarters are annotated (such as
elements of the division signal battalion providing Mobile Subscriber
Equipment (MSE) access to the MI battalion).
b. Paragraph 2 - Mission. This is a clear, concise statement of
signal support to be provided to support the commander's concept of
operation for the unit.
c. Paragraph 3 - Execution. In this paragraph, all radio nets to
be established to support the unit's mission (to include both
internal and external radio nets) are identified. Messenger service
(schedules/routes) and telephone procedures should also be included.
Diagrams, map overlays, and telephone directories may be included as
an appendix to the signal support annex to clarify or illustrate the
types of signal support available during the conduct of the unit's
mission.
d. Paragraph 4 - Service Support.
This paragraph contains
information
about
direct
support
maintenance
of
signal
and
communications security (COMSEC) equipment.
e. Paragraph 5 - Command and Signal. This paragraph contains the
location of the battalion command post (CP), the index, and the issue
number of the signal operation instructions (SOI) in effect.
Any
special instructions relating to communications operations should
also be in this paragraph (e.g., instructions on radio silence and
operating under conditions of jamming).
3. Signal Support Planning Considerations. To ensure continuous and
satisfactory communications are provided, the signal officer in a
division's MI battalion must know the general planning considerations
for single-channel radio, wire, and multichannel communications.
a. The MI battalion uses single-channel radio as its primary
communications means for command and control.
The signal officer
must
know
single-channel
radio
communications
techniques
and
operating characteristics, which radios are compatible, antennas and
their characteristics, and what security equipment will work with
each type of radio.
Table 3-1, page 3-4, contains planning
considerations for single-channel radio operations.
Some key
planning considerations are discussed below.
Additional information
is in Chapter 4 of FM 24-16, Communications-Electronics Operations,
Orders, Records and Reports, and Chapter 4 of FM 24-18, Tactical
Single Channel Radio Communications Techniques.
3-3
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