Chapter 1
Signal Support
Section I - Signal Support
INFORMATION MISSION AREA (IMA)
1-1. Under the IMA concept, signal support provides
the commander the means to command and control (C 2)
on the battlefield. The IMA doctrine covers all aspects
of information management. It consists of five
disciplines:
 Communications.
 Automation.
 Visual Information (VI).
 Records Management.
 Printing and Publications.
1-2. The signal support responsibilities to each of these
disciplines differ at the tactical, operational, and
strategic levels of war. All signal personnel must
understand the IMA disciplines and the need for signal
support.
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FM 11-43______________________________________
NOTE: FM 24-1 and 11-75 cover this subject in
more detail.
COMMUNICATIONS
1-3. Tactical communications transfers information
throughout the battlefield. Information is generally
divided into three categories:
VOICE
1-4. Voice traffic provides real time user-to-user
information flow.
 User-to-user — Interactive two-way traffic.
 Conference
together.
—
Several
parties
conversing
 Broadcast — One-way area coverage, receiving
information.
MESSAGE
1-5. Hard-copy information such as documents, charts,
maps, and photographs. Message traffic generally falls
into two classifications:
 Formal — Passed through the record traffic
system.
 Informal — Passed directly between users.
DATA
1-6. Digital information passed from computer
to
computer. When computers are linked together to pass
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information or share resources, the result is a local area
network. The C2 systems on the LAN will pass and
share information to support the commander's intent.
COMMON USER
1-7. All users of a communications system have access
to a large group of subscribers with minimum
communications assets.
SOLE USER
1-8. This service provides a link between two points
where high priority or high-volume traffic prevents
sharing common-user links. Sole-user service is no
longer used at tactical levels of the Army. Support of
joint organizations requires the occasional use of soleuser circuits over satellite systems. MI units use
dedicated circuits.
COMMUNICATIONS ARCHITECTURE
1-9. Tactical communications architecture is generally
divided into the following networks.
 Area Common-User System (ACUS).
 Combat Net Radio (CNR) System.
 Army Data Distribution System (ADDS).

Enhanced Position Location Radio System
(EPLRS)

Joint Tactical
System (JTIDS)
Information
Distribution
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 Broadcast Communications System.
ACUS
1-10. MSE is a common-user, switched communications
system of linked switching nodes. The nodes form a grid
that provides the force with an area common-user
system (ACUS). It is one of the major communications
systems of an Army force at echelons corps and below
(ECB).
1-11. The MSE system is digital, secure, and flexible. It
contains features that compensate for link or functional
element outages, overload in traffic, and rapid
movement of users. MSE provides voice and data
communications on an automatic, discrete-addressed,
fixed-directory basis using the flood search routing
technique. MSE supports mobile and wire subscribers
with a means to exchange command, control,
communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I)
information. A tactical packet network (TPN) is a
packet switching network that is overlaid on the circuitswitching network of MSE.
1-12. The TPN supports data communications within
the corps, joint task force (JTF), adjacent forces,
echelons above corps (EAC) assets, North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) forces, and commercial
networks.
Note: See FM 11-55 for more information.
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COMBAT NET RADIOS
1-13. The Combat Net Radio (CNR) network is
designed around three separate radio systems. Each
system has different capabilities and transmission
characteristics. The three systems are Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio
System (SINCGARS),
 Improved high frequency radio (IHFR)
 Single-channel tactical satellite (TACSAT).
1-14. Combat net radios single-channel and frequency
hopping (FH) radios, which are organic to almost all
organizations. CNRs primary role is voice transmission
for C2. To support the commander, units use these
radios in networks such as command, administrative/
logistical, and intelligence/operations.
1-15. The CNR network assumes a secondary role for
data transmission when requirements exceed the Army
Data Distribution System (ADDS) or Mobile Subscriber
Equipment (MSE) capabilities.
Note: See FM 11-53 for more information.
ADDS
1-16. It is an integrated C2 communications system
providing near real-time transmission capabilities to
support low- to medium-volume data networks. The
system automatically relays information from the origin
to the destination transparent to the user.
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1-17. Subsystems are the Enhanced Position Location
Reporting System (EPLRS) and the Joint Tactical
Information Distribution System (JTIDS).
Note: See FM 24-41 for more information.
BROADCAST
1-18. Communications systems use technology similar
to commercial radio stations. Transmit-only stations
send information to high frequency (HF) radio systems,
satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or other
means. Weather, intelligence, and position location/
navigation (POS/NAV) information are support derived
from the broadcast system.
Note: See FM 11-54 for more information.
AUTOMATION
1-19. Automation is a process, not an act, which
embraces more than mechanization of what was done
previously. The use of computer systems to integrate
online common databases and electronic sources of
information on different networks accessible through
the WAN.
1-20. Commanders use computer hardware, software
and peripherals to command and control operations.
Units also use other software applications to aid in
managing unit functions. These include word
processing, financial analysis, maintenance requests,
and personnel databases. The rapid widespread use of
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automated systems has established
responsibilities and polices of use.
standards,
Note: See FM 24-7 for more information.
VISUAL INFORMATION
1-21. VI is the documentation of military operations:
processing, transmitting, reproducing, and distributing
visual imagery, graphics production, conferencing, and
multimedia presentation services within the theater or
tactical environment.
1-22. VI assets are found at the corps level and above.
Signal staff officers below corps must request VI
support when needed. Requests are sent to the next
higher echelon's signal office. The signal officer then
assists the unit commander by directing VI assets to
support the assigned mission. This includes—
 Establishing VI policies and procedures.
 Briefing commanders on capabilities/limitations
of combat camera (COMCAM) units and
procedures for requesting COMCAM support.
 Integrating VI to support battlefield functional
information systems at their level of command.
1-23. Units must coordinate VI requirements along
functional lines to avoid duplicating VI assets in the
same mission area. The unit staff must—
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 Develop its own VI requirements and standardize
VI equipment and systems to Department of
Defense (DOD) and COMCAM unit standards.
 Manage organic VI systems.
 Establish VI policies and procedures according to
the recommendations of the signal officer.
 Tactical VI includes COMCAM and functional VI
support.
COMCAM
1-24. Its mission is to document the activities of all
military services. This documentation is used for both
operational decision making and historical records.
COMCAM units document operations or events
regardless of classification or sensitivity. Decisions on
classification, sensitivity, or release are made afterward
through command, intelligence, operations, and staff
coordination.
COMCAM
imagery
requirements
include—
 Recording or documenting key actions before,
during, and after mobilization, deployment, force
generation, and force employment.
 Assessing the effectiveness of force preparations,
support operations and objectives, and problem
identification.
 Evaluating the effectiveness of weapons systems,
intelligence related activities, medical support,
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public affair purposes, and countering enemy
propaganda.
 Historical documentation.
 Maintaining stock footage.
1-25. At theater and corps, COMCAM support is
provided by COMCAM companies. For each division in
the corps, support is provided by a COMCAM platoon in
the corps' COMCAM company. When tasked, teams
from the COMCAM platoon provide support to brigades
and battalions.
1-26.COMCAM teams are task organized. Team size is
normally two to four soldiers. Figure 1-1 shows a typical
COMCAM support structure. Team size, skill, and
equipment needs are determined by the mission. All
COMCAM units fall under the operational control
(OPCON) of their signal officer.
Figure 1-1. Typical COMCAM support structure
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FUNCTIONAL VI SUPPORT
1-27. Functional VI is user-owned and user-operated
and does not include COMCAM. The primary purpose
of functional VI is to support the unique information
and decision-making requirements of the specific
commander. Examples of functional VI support are the
organic activities of military intelligence, psychological
operations (PSYOP), public affairs, and medical units.
NOTE: FM 24-40 covers VI in more detail.
RECORDS MANAGEMENT
1-28. Records management is the administration of
correspondence, reports, forms, directives, publications,
and distribution/official mail. It includes the
maintenance
of
record
information,
classification/declassification of recorded information,
and the implementation of responsibilities under the
freedom of information and privacy acts.
OBJECTIVES
1-29. The goals of the records management system are
to create the records essential to support, sustain, and
document the following:
 Military operations in time of war and operations
other than war (OOTW).
 Protect the rights and interests of the Army, its
uniformed members, their family members, and
civilian employees.
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 Distribution/official mail management.
 The Modern Army Record keeping System
(MARKS) provides procedures for the systematic
identification, maintenance, retirement, and
destruction of Army information.
 Correspondence
management
limits
correspondence to essential requirements. (See
AR 25-50.)
 The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program
activities are conducted in an open manner
consistent with the need for security and
adherence to other requirements of law. (See AR
25-55.)
 The Privacy Act (PA) program protects the
privacy of an individual from unwarranted
invasion by ensuring that collection and
maintenance of recorded information about the
individual is necessary and accurate. (See AR
340-21.)
 Personnel records maintenance during wartime
is kept to an absolute minimum. Staffing of
records branches will not allow the extensive
personal service provided during peacetime.
NOTE: FM 11-75 covers this subject in more
detail.
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PRINTING AND PUBLICATIONS
1-30. Printing and publications are the processes of
information composition and representation on media.
It covers printing, reproduction, and publications
management. There are no organic printing capabilities
at corps and below, other than engineer topographic
and PSYOP units. Although low-quantity printing
requirements can be done with user-owned automated
systems connected to printers, large-volume printing
and copying requests are performed at theater.
1-31. Units with publications accounts order and
distribute Army publications to their subordinate units.
Although not mandatory, the units may maintain a
publications
library
and
perform
systematic
management of publications and reproduction
equipment. The systematic management of publications
includes initiatives to modernize the Army publications
system with new publishing management concepts.
NOTE: FM 11-75 covers this subject in more
detail.
Section II -- Signal responsibilities
ABCS
1-32. ABCS integrates the five battlefield functional
areas (BFAs) of maneuver, fire support (FS), air defense
(AD), intelligence and electronic protect (EP), and
combat service support (CSS). Whether deployed for
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land combat or conducting peace operations, ABCS
supports the mission by integrating the automation and
communications systems that link strategic and tactical
headquarters.
1-33. ABCS is inter-operable with joint and
multinational C2 systems at upper echelons, and it is
vertically and horizontally integrated at the tactical
and operational levels.
BATTLEFIELD FUNCTIONAL AREA CONTROL
SYSTEMS (BFACSs)
1-34. Integrating the five BFACSs and the Force XXI
Battle Command – Brigade and Below (FBCB2) system
supports the requirements at brigade and below for
situational understanding (SU) and C2 data. Within
this integration of systems, the force-level database
first forms at the battalion to meet the tactical
commander’s requirements for the common picture and
SU.
1-35. The BFACSs are—
 Maneuver, Maneuver Control System (MCS)
 Fire support, Advanced Field Artillery Tactical
Data System (AFATDS)
 Air defense, Air And Missile Defense Planning
And Control System (AMDPCS)
 Intelligence and C2 protect, All Source Analysis
System (ASAS)
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 Logistics, Combat
System (CSSCS)
Service
Support
Control
 Mobility and survivability, FBCB2 System.
1-36.These information systems consist of computer
hardware and BFA mission application software that
organizes and manages battlefield information. All
systems must be interconnected to successfully pass
voice, message, and data traffic to and from the
commander, his staff, and higher and lower echelons.
Signal support provides the means to interconnect the
TOC LAN the Information Systems reside on. This is
done through four tactical communications systems
that support the BFAs. They are ACUS, CNR, ADDS,
and broadcast. See Figure 1-2.
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ACUS
SYSCON
CNR
BROADCAST
1-37. The combined arms team commanders and staffs
integrate and synchronize the BFAs to exercise forcelevel control (FLC). This is achieved by managing,
manipulating, and assessing information from the
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BFACSs and developing tactical plans and orders based
on that information.
LOCAL AREA NETWORK
1-38. A local area network (LAN) is a data
communications network that interconnects a
community of digital devices and other peripherals.
These are linked over a network and are distributed
over a localized area. The LAN consists of a
communications channel that connects a series of
computer terminals connected to a central computer or,
more commonly, connects a group of computers to one
another. Figure 1-1 shows an example of a LAN.
U
S
E
R
SERVER
W
O
R
K
S
T
A
T
I
O
N
S
Figure 1-1. Example of a LAN
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1-39. A LAN is connected by cables or by wireless
technology. All Army LANs use the Institute of
Electrical
and
Electronic
Engineers
(IEEE)
802.3/802.3u standard, which is 100 megabytes per
second (mbps).
1-40. A LAN can be configured in a multitude of
configurations depending on the unit's modification
table of organization and equipment (MTOE). A LAN
includes–

Digital devices (computers, scanners, printers,
and other peripherals).

A communications medium that exchanges
data from one device to another.

Network adapters that provide devices with an
interface to the communications medium.

A physical topology extending the medium
between adapters.

An access protocol carried out by the adapters
to ensure an orderly use of the medium.

A logical format for transmitting data over the
medium.

An electrical specification for data encoding
and transmission.
1-41. Three common applications of a LAN are
hardware, software, and information resource sharing.
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The communications resources of a LAN are shared
among all devices attached to the network.

Hardware resource sharing allows each
computer on a network to access and use devices
that are too costly to provide for each user or
cannot be justified for each user because they are
used infrequently.

Software resource sharing involves storing
frequently used software on the server's hard
disk so multiple users can access the software on
each computer.

Information resource sharing allows anyone
using a computer on a LAN to access data stored
on any computer in the network.
1-42. The LAN will be connected to the wide area
network (WAN) via a SEN.
1-43. User units are responsible for installing,
operating, and maintaining all user-owned signal
equipment. This includes coordinating with the S6 for
equipment training. The unit staff addresses all
communications matters to the G6/S6.
NOTE: FM 24-7 covers this subject in more detail.
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BATTLEFIELD INFORMATION
SERVICES
1-44. Two IMA disciplines, records management,
printing and publications compose the BIS. BIS are
administrative services that are performed on the
battlefield. When a maneuver unit deploys, the organic
signal element is responsible for BIS. At brigade and
battalion, the Information Services Support Officer
(ISSO) is the S1. At division and corps, the ISSO is in
the assistant division signal office (ADSO)/G6. The
Directorate of Information Management (DOIM) is
responsible for BIS in garrison. The nine BIS are—
 Printing.
 Publications.
 Forms management.
 Reproduction.
 Classified document control.
 Distribution/official mail (E-mail).
 Correspondence.
 Files management.
 FOIA/PA.
1-45. The signal officer uses the methods of direct
action and regulation to supervise the BIS.
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DIRECT ACTION
1-46. A central point of contact, under control of the
signal officer, receives and routes all requests relating
to the service. Only three of the nine BIS require direct
action. These are distribution, printing, and FOIA/ PA.
1-47. Distribution consists of—
 Recommending
distribution
procedures.
policies
and
 Internal headquarters distribution.
 Coordinating resources for messenger service.
 Official mail and accountable distribution.
 Distribution center operations and pick-up.
1-48. Printing consists of—
 Reviewing and validating printing requests.
 Forwarding print
reproduction team.
requests
to
the
theater
 FOIA/PA consists of—
 Recommending policies and procedures regarding
both acts.
 Establishing a point of contact in matters
pertaining to either act.
REGULATION
1-49. The signal officer recommends local policies
regarding all other services. These BIS occur at the user
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level. The user is responsible for following Army
regulations and local policies recommended by the
signal officer.
1-50.Users must perform all user level BIS. Any
questions regarding policies or use of the BIS should be
addressed to the signal officer.
NOTE: FM 11-75 covers this subject in more
detail.
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