Once we're talking about things people say on the radio, do you folks do, "Dispatch from IC" or "IC to Dispatch" in your department?
I always thought it made more sense to mention the unit you're calling first to perk their ears up, then tell them who you are (Dispatch from IC) but our area has always been "IC to Dispatch". As far as I know, so are all the neighboring counties as well. Any idea on where the "them from you" came from vs the "you to them" dialogue?
Yea, that is wrong, and yea, I’m sure you hear it a lot. It increases risk the content of the transmission will be be missed.
Especially on networks (channels) with multiple users (like say, a dispatch channel/ or the county primary every ones talk channel).
It comes down to training, and not enforcing proper communication, which largely has to be crew driven.
Example: even though I know there is absolutely nothing wrong, at all, with civilian, fire/EMS saying “repeat” on the radio, meaning say what you said again, your last broadcast…it….catches my ear every time, because it is “wrong”.
Why?
Because in the military “repeat” has an extremely specific meaning. It is a command. It means fire your last mission again. Same data, no adjustments.
So it is an extremely big deal to not say that word.
Because if a gun team hears that word? They care going to be sending rounds out the cannon. And if it is a mortar team, they’ll be doing it before a mere mortal can realize their error.
So the training (and correction) on not using that word? Taken fairly seriously.
Worked for me for the last 17 years with no errors…. 60 plus operational rigs, multiple command and tac channels with daily call volume in the hundreds 🤷🏽♂️. Guess as long as it works it works
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u/WaxedHalligan4407 14d ago
Once we're talking about things people say on the radio, do you folks do, "Dispatch from IC" or "IC to Dispatch" in your department?
I always thought it made more sense to mention the unit you're calling first to perk their ears up, then tell them who you are (Dispatch from IC) but our area has always been "IC to Dispatch". As far as I know, so are all the neighboring counties as well. Any idea on where the "them from you" came from vs the "you to them" dialogue?