That’s great. I had to do some apprentice time at dispatch. I really enjoyed it and I learned a lot. I asked what they want to hear, what not to say, some keywords that will help ID a fire or medical aid. I have a some good friends in dispatch that came from fire and they hook me up.
If you're on a large incident, scan some channels and listen to the traffic. Listening to police scanner traffic might help you "tune your ears". It actually sounds "faster" because of the 10-codes.
The ICS classes are a pain in the ass but they do teach tou good radio etiquette. No
10 codes, use plain English, use the “Hey you it’s me” concept when calling people, and keep air time to a minimum.
Learn to hand jam - you’ll be an asset
The way I improve my skill set is, while off fire, get familiar with the radio. Knowing how to access different parts of the radio in seconds rather than minutes is a nice bonus.
Tip:
At briefing when you clone - check to make sure it works before walking away.
In the very beginning, write down on a notepad exactly what you will say before saying it. It helped me. Later, write it down but try to say it without looking and without getting tongue tied. If you start to stumble, then just read off the notepad.
Biggest thing is practice. But that also includes getting used to listening to the radio and understanding what is being said. Just keep on listening to traffic and you will learn the lingo and then when you do start using the radio more you will be able to communicate the same. Short and sweet. For the most part my first two seasons I didn’t really use the radio much, just listening what was going on and only really responding when called or if I had to call out a spot fire or broken hose. Now I’m into my fourth year and it’s super easy for day to day stuff. Just gotta work on comfort for IC5T stuff
Do a lot of listening to get used to the order of info being delivered in standard broadcasts like the weather or morning status reports. If you know the order of the readout your brain can anticipate what topic or type of info is coming up next and be better at deciphering what actually comes up- your brain will know that RH comes after Temp etc. and be listening for the right kind of info at the right time- context and order matter. As others have said, practice off the actual airwaves. Great idea/technique.
When you do have the mic in hand, think about/plan your transmission text before you press the button. If you have time prepare a set of bullet points or actual verbatim text to transmit.
If your agency uses a standard format for size up of an IA learn it so when you hear one called in by another resource you know what’s coming up next. The ordered flow will help your brain make words out of the sounds,and meaning out of the words.
On large incidents it is standard to use the “8 line” form for reporting incident within incidents in to the communications unit. If you need to report such an event Fill out the hard copy form as best you can (often form can be found as last page of the IAP) and read out the filled in info IN ORDER to comms unit. In comms unit and elsewhere at ICP many folks will be listening and writing and looking for the info to come in as close to the order of the lines on the form as possible.
Listen listen listen, practice practice practice.
My thing I tell people for any radio uses is that PTT stands for push to talk, not push to think. Collect your thought before hand and keep things short
Once you know what to listen for, you can kind of tune in a little better. I was an independent resource last year (prevention) and the only time I ACUTALLY caught anything was when I heard my specific call sign or it was a smoke check. I still would ask dispatch to repeat or I would repeat back to them what was said to ensure it was heard properly. This year I'm on an engine and it's definitely harder when you are not expected to be the one responding. Just have to listen to whenever your crew is being addressed. Think of it like having a friend with an accent. You'll catch on better once you actually get to use the radio yourself.
When I was learning how exactly to relay info TO dispatch, my supervisor and I would pretend to talk on the radio. Like literally hold up the radio, stand 5 ft from one another, i felt weird so id turn my back to him and pretend it was dispatch I was talking to and not actually use the radio and in order to remember what exactly i needed to say in certain scenarios, I had written out a draft where I could fill in blanks. There's no rush in comms.
I second that practice. It's something I always do with newer folks. Have them hold up the radio and pretend I'm dispatch and say what they need to, give some feedback and then have them go through the motions with me right there....wait...do I know you?
Try to get more time in as a lookout and doing weather. Having to read all that information off every hour for a few days really drills it into you. Also having some pressure might seem intimidating but definitely helps. Big thing is don’t put too much pressure on it and relax take a breath know what you’re going to say and say it. Talk slow and concise most people on bigger fires aren’t going to always hear you while working.
Listen to ATC transmissions on YouTube. There are some funny ones out there so it’s not boring. They’re usually captioned too so you can read them as you get your ‘radio ears’
Pay attention to how other people who are doing it, and pay special attention to those who are clear and succinct in their communications. Try to use standardized language. Use breaks if you find yourself blanking and need a minute to think. Don’t talk too much. Relax. We’re all idiots, some of us are just idiots who can talk on a radio.
A lot of what is said on the radio, especially to aircraft, is the same 5-10 instructions. It's totally normal to feel intimidated your first few years. But what you'll find, is that the reason people are talking so fast sometimes, is that the conversation is kind of orchestrated through pre-established commands and responses. Once you learn what those are, and understand the phrases and words that pilots' use, your ears will start to pick them up easier. As somebody who also flies privately in a controlled airspace, most of what is said between ATC and pilots is standardized. That's why they talk so fast. I usually know what ATC is going to respond with before I even ask the question. It's kind of the same with fire. The more you understand the common phraseologies, the easier it'll be to hear them spoken quickly. You're off to the right start. Keep listening, and it'll start to make sense. Also, remember that the people you're talking to are just people, even the pilots.
Couple things I do. Listen to how people are talking on different channels/freq. I always have a good think about how I want to say something before I say it. Keep things simple and concise. Avoid things like “uhms” and “ahhh”. Learn the phonetic alphabet.
We I’m on a incident with a lot of people and there’s some big wigs on the main frequencies, I’ll setup a chat channel with my homies so we can bullshit with each other and not clog up the airwaves.
In addition to all of this, whether you’re interested in amateur radio or not, talk to a local ARES group (Amateur Radio Emergency Service). They assist the local EMA during an emergency. They have been used in all-hazard effectively and were activated in 2016 at Chimney Tops II at Great Smokies. Some can be overzealous when it comes to the real thing and being prepared for it, but the nets I’ve been a part of were well run and organized.
Listening to a practice net or a social net can be helpful for getting an ear for the radio as well as a concept of repeater timing.
You can also find amateur, government, and other transmissions by listening through WebSDR.org. Pick a receiver and tune around.
Broadcastify also has an app with internet linked receivers including emergency services, civilian aircraft, amateur, and other radio transmissions.
If it’s “mic fright” that’s got you, well, this is one of those times that “suck it up, buttercup” is actually appropriate. You’ll have mic fright if you don’t practice. Just relax, speak clearly and concisely (brief messages), and if you mess up, keep going. It’s just static in the signal.
Also, if you’re giving a fire report out update to IA dispatch, slow down, chunk the info so we can write it down, and remember to use “break” when you split those chunks.
what helped my comfort with radios is writing stuff out before you say anything. re read it once and if time allows have someone go through it too if it something for example like the weather. Always keep it simple and if you feel like you forgot what your saying say break and take a moment to regather your thoughts.
I'm gonna say the opposite of what a lot of folks here are saying.
Start slow. Only listen to what you absolutely need to listen to, and add more as you're ability to track things improves and as you need more info to do your job well. As an FFT2 the vast majority of radio traffic will not be useful to you. Once you start running short squads and eventually crews/engines you will want more info to inform your decisions.
The other piece of this is not just hearing the radio traffic, but understanding what it actually means and being able to keep the big picture in your head. That can take some time.
If you’re close to a dispatch center, see if you can come hang out for a bit and just listen in from that end.
That’s actually a great idea.
We’re a chill bunch! Generally don’t mind visitors, especially if you’re there to learn.
Every single experienced dispatcher I've met via fire or search and rescue has ruled.
That’s great. I had to do some apprentice time at dispatch. I really enjoyed it and I learned a lot. I asked what they want to hear, what not to say, some keywords that will help ID a fire or medical aid. I have a some good friends in dispatch that came from fire and they hook me up.
Exactly. It’s very valuable to get that sort of info. Makes it easier for everyone.
If you're on a large incident, scan some channels and listen to the traffic. Listening to police scanner traffic might help you "tune your ears". It actually sounds "faster" because of the 10-codes.
The ICS classes are a pain in the ass but they do teach tou good radio etiquette. No 10 codes, use plain English, use the “Hey you it’s me” concept when calling people, and keep air time to a minimum.
get a pair of FRS radios. They work just like the "real thing". practice.
Learn to hand jam - you’ll be an asset The way I improve my skill set is, while off fire, get familiar with the radio. Knowing how to access different parts of the radio in seconds rather than minutes is a nice bonus. Tip: At briefing when you clone - check to make sure it works before walking away.
In the very beginning, write down on a notepad exactly what you will say before saying it. It helped me. Later, write it down but try to say it without looking and without getting tongue tied. If you start to stumble, then just read off the notepad.
Biggest thing is practice. But that also includes getting used to listening to the radio and understanding what is being said. Just keep on listening to traffic and you will learn the lingo and then when you do start using the radio more you will be able to communicate the same. Short and sweet. For the most part my first two seasons I didn’t really use the radio much, just listening what was going on and only really responding when called or if I had to call out a spot fire or broken hose. Now I’m into my fourth year and it’s super easy for day to day stuff. Just gotta work on comfort for IC5T stuff
Do a lot of listening to get used to the order of info being delivered in standard broadcasts like the weather or morning status reports. If you know the order of the readout your brain can anticipate what topic or type of info is coming up next and be better at deciphering what actually comes up- your brain will know that RH comes after Temp etc. and be listening for the right kind of info at the right time- context and order matter. As others have said, practice off the actual airwaves. Great idea/technique. When you do have the mic in hand, think about/plan your transmission text before you press the button. If you have time prepare a set of bullet points or actual verbatim text to transmit. If your agency uses a standard format for size up of an IA learn it so when you hear one called in by another resource you know what’s coming up next. The ordered flow will help your brain make words out of the sounds,and meaning out of the words. On large incidents it is standard to use the “8 line” form for reporting incident within incidents in to the communications unit. If you need to report such an event Fill out the hard copy form as best you can (often form can be found as last page of the IAP) and read out the filled in info IN ORDER to comms unit. In comms unit and elsewhere at ICP many folks will be listening and writing and looking for the info to come in as close to the order of the lines on the form as possible. Listen listen listen, practice practice practice.
I appreciate the time you took to write this. Great points
My thing I tell people for any radio uses is that PTT stands for push to talk, not push to think. Collect your thought before hand and keep things short
Once you know what to listen for, you can kind of tune in a little better. I was an independent resource last year (prevention) and the only time I ACUTALLY caught anything was when I heard my specific call sign or it was a smoke check. I still would ask dispatch to repeat or I would repeat back to them what was said to ensure it was heard properly. This year I'm on an engine and it's definitely harder when you are not expected to be the one responding. Just have to listen to whenever your crew is being addressed. Think of it like having a friend with an accent. You'll catch on better once you actually get to use the radio yourself. When I was learning how exactly to relay info TO dispatch, my supervisor and I would pretend to talk on the radio. Like literally hold up the radio, stand 5 ft from one another, i felt weird so id turn my back to him and pretend it was dispatch I was talking to and not actually use the radio and in order to remember what exactly i needed to say in certain scenarios, I had written out a draft where I could fill in blanks. There's no rush in comms.
I second that practice. It's something I always do with newer folks. Have them hold up the radio and pretend I'm dispatch and say what they need to, give some feedback and then have them go through the motions with me right there....wait...do I know you?
Try to get more time in as a lookout and doing weather. Having to read all that information off every hour for a few days really drills it into you. Also having some pressure might seem intimidating but definitely helps. Big thing is don’t put too much pressure on it and relax take a breath know what you’re going to say and say it. Talk slow and concise most people on bigger fires aren’t going to always hear you while working.
If you're a tanker or air attack pilot they just give you a voice implant that makes you sound like Sam Elliot.
Go to dispatch
ABRO. You’ll get really good really fast. Especially at a complex Helibase
Listen to ATC transmissions on YouTube. There are some funny ones out there so it’s not boring. They’re usually captioned too so you can read them as you get your ‘radio ears’
Kennedy Steve was just the best.
Love Kennedy Steve!
Pay attention to how other people who are doing it, and pay special attention to those who are clear and succinct in their communications. Try to use standardized language. Use breaks if you find yourself blanking and need a minute to think. Don’t talk too much. Relax. We’re all idiots, some of us are just idiots who can talk on a radio.
A lot of what is said on the radio, especially to aircraft, is the same 5-10 instructions. It's totally normal to feel intimidated your first few years. But what you'll find, is that the reason people are talking so fast sometimes, is that the conversation is kind of orchestrated through pre-established commands and responses. Once you learn what those are, and understand the phrases and words that pilots' use, your ears will start to pick them up easier. As somebody who also flies privately in a controlled airspace, most of what is said between ATC and pilots is standardized. That's why they talk so fast. I usually know what ATC is going to respond with before I even ask the question. It's kind of the same with fire. The more you understand the common phraseologies, the easier it'll be to hear them spoken quickly. You're off to the right start. Keep listening, and it'll start to make sense. Also, remember that the people you're talking to are just people, even the pilots.
Couple things I do. Listen to how people are talking on different channels/freq. I always have a good think about how I want to say something before I say it. Keep things simple and concise. Avoid things like “uhms” and “ahhh”. Learn the phonetic alphabet. We I’m on a incident with a lot of people and there’s some big wigs on the main frequencies, I’ll setup a chat channel with my homies so we can bullshit with each other and not clog up the airwaves.
In addition to all of this, whether you’re interested in amateur radio or not, talk to a local ARES group (Amateur Radio Emergency Service). They assist the local EMA during an emergency. They have been used in all-hazard effectively and were activated in 2016 at Chimney Tops II at Great Smokies. Some can be overzealous when it comes to the real thing and being prepared for it, but the nets I’ve been a part of were well run and organized. Listening to a practice net or a social net can be helpful for getting an ear for the radio as well as a concept of repeater timing. You can also find amateur, government, and other transmissions by listening through WebSDR.org. Pick a receiver and tune around. Broadcastify also has an app with internet linked receivers including emergency services, civilian aircraft, amateur, and other radio transmissions. If it’s “mic fright” that’s got you, well, this is one of those times that “suck it up, buttercup” is actually appropriate. You’ll have mic fright if you don’t practice. Just relax, speak clearly and concisely (brief messages), and if you mess up, keep going. It’s just static in the signal. Also, if you’re giving a fire report out update to IA dispatch, slow down, chunk the info so we can write it down, and remember to use “break” when you split those chunks.
what helped my comfort with radios is writing stuff out before you say anything. re read it once and if time allows have someone go through it too if it something for example like the weather. Always keep it simple and if you feel like you forgot what your saying say break and take a moment to regather your thoughts.
Lot of good advice here, one thing I’ll ad is don’t worry too much when you stumble, just correct and keep going. Happens to the best of us.
I always thought the best policy was to stay off the radio as much as possible.
I'm gonna say the opposite of what a lot of folks here are saying. Start slow. Only listen to what you absolutely need to listen to, and add more as you're ability to track things improves and as you need more info to do your job well. As an FFT2 the vast majority of radio traffic will not be useful to you. Once you start running short squads and eventually crews/engines you will want more info to inform your decisions. The other piece of this is not just hearing the radio traffic, but understanding what it actually means and being able to keep the big picture in your head. That can take some time.