INTRODUCTION
The proper reporting of information depends greatly on accuracy and completeness. While we will not cover all aspects of detailed reporting, this period of instruction will cover the more pertinent aspects. Good reporting comes from being alert, taking the time to exploit as much detail as the situation permits, and from experience.
GAIN ATTENTION
PURPOSE
The reporting of important, but sometimes seemingly unimportant, information aids the commander in achieving a more complete picture of the battlefield. Think of this picture as a puzzle. Each item of information reported is a piece of this puzzle. The item that your report may be a critical missing piece. After enough pieces of the puzzle are assembled, the commander will be able to see "the big picture".
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING STANDARDS
MISSION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE
When given a mission and with the aid of report formats, write and submit a proper SALUTE report and a Spot Report (SPOTREP).
ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES
During a practical exercise, write and submit a proper SALUTE report and SPOTREP. Also, be able to list the required information for a complete SALUTE report and SPOTREP.
METHOD AND MEDIA This period of instruction will be taught by lecture.
TESTING
TRANSITION
BODY
1. Spot Report (SPOTREP): A SPOTREP is used for reporting information that is urgent in nature. It provides a brief synopsis of the situation, and includes events that are time sensitive and includes events that will occur or directly affect friendly operations within 48 hours. This information must be reported as soon as possible. A more detailed report can be submitted at a later time. An example would be providing additional information during a patrol debrief. The SPOTREP answers the "five W's". or who, what, where, when and why. It also provides the "how". The SPOTREP is normally written on the form contained in the Tactical Field Message Book. This form is commonly referred to as an "yellow canary". The yellow canary is usually disseminated via radio communications but may be submitted by courier or other methods.
a. SPOTREP Format:
Report Number________________________ Date/Time (Z)__________________________
FROM:
TO:
1. (U) WHAT:______________________________________________________________
2. (U) WHO:_______________________________________________________________
3. (U) WHERE:_____________________________________________________________
4. (U) WHEN:______________________________________________________________
5. (U) DETAILS:____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
6. (U) REMARKS:__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
PREPARED BY:
APPROVED BY:
2. The Evaluation Rating System: If the information for a SPOTREP is obtained from another individual rather than from direct observation, a question may arise as to the reliability and accuracy of this information. The evaluation rating system aids in determining the reliability and accuracy of the source of the information as well as the information itself. It is up to the individual Marine to assess the source and the information and annotate this in the SPOTREP. The codes for evaluating the reliability of the source of the information are as follows:
a. A - Completely reliable
b. B - Usually reliable
c. C - Fairly reliable
d. D - Not usually reliable
e. E - Unreliable
f. F - Reliability cannot be judged
An A rating is normally given to a friendly source with a known and established background of reliable reporting. An F rating is normally assigned when there is no adequate basis for estimating the reliability of the source. An F rating is often used during the early days of an operation, before established patterns of reporting are received and verified from a particular source. The codes for the evaluation of the accuracy of an item of information are as follows:
a. 1 - Confirmed by other sources
b. 2 - Probably true
c. 3 - Possibly true
d. 4 - Doubtful
e. 5 - Improbable
f. 6 - Truth cannot be judged
The 1 rating is given when the information can be confirmed by other sources.
Both a letter and a number are used to convey the evaluation placed on a given item of information. For instance, a highly reliable source may report an item which, when related to other information known to be true, appears to be improbable. This evaluation would be an A5. Conversely, an evaluation of E1 would be given in a case where a source of known unreliability reported an item which, through confirmation by other sources, was proven accurate. Unless otherwise specified, write out your assessment of the individual and the information in addition to the alpha-numeric code. For example, "The reliability of the source cannot be judged, however, he provided information which is confirmed by other sources". Another example is, " The individual has been fairly reliable in the past and the information is possibly true based on.....".
4. SALUTE Report:
a. S - Size of the enemy force, always include the number of personnel and vehicles.
b. A - Activity of the enemy, what are they doing?
c. L - Location of the enemy. Provide grid coordinates. If needed or warranted, use street names and the key features in the vicinity of the information being reported on.
d. U - Unit (or uniform) - Describe the identity of the enemy to include uniforms, distinctive signs or symbols, and vehicle identification marks. Remember that in today's urban battlefields, some enemy personnel may not have full uniforms or conventional vehicles. This makes it imperative that you report any clothing item, marking, or other distinguishing characteristic that identifies these personnel as the enemy. In Somalia, the warring factions had access to military uniforms from the previous regime. However, no one combatant has a complete uniform, some had cammie blouses, others had only the trousers, and others only boots. In regards to the enemies use of vehicles, tanks and military style trucks may be nonexistent. The enemy can, and will, use an vehicles available. In Somalia, "technicals" were the common combat vehicle for the opposition, Technicals were small pick-up trucks with machine guns or mortars mounted in the beds.
e. T - Time of sighting, use the DTG.
f. E - Equipment - Whatever is used by the enemy. This includes; but is not limited to, small arms, automatic weapons, indirect fire weapons, direct fire weapons, personnel carriers and NBC equipment. It can also include cameras, night vision devices or even flashlights used as a signaling device. Include any piece of gear that enables the enemy to better fight in an urban environment.
EXAMPLE SALUTE REPORT:
S - LINE ALPHA -- THREE PERSONNEL
A - LINE BRAVO -- STATIONARY, OBSERVING FRIENDLY POSITION
L - LINE CHARLIE -- GRID 123456, FULL VIEW, BUILDING 10-BLUE-4-B (See Section II, Part 9, Building Construction and Weapons Effects for guidance on building identification codes.
U - LINE DELTA -- BLUE CLOTH TIED AROUND LEFT BICEP
T - LINE ECHO -- 15000Z
E - LINE FOXTROT -- BINOCULARS, NO WEAPONS SEEN
5. What Is Normal?: Prior to deploying to an area of operations, it is important to receive a briefing from your unit's intelligence section on the culture and operating environment. This will prepare your for arrival and answer the BASIC questions and expectations. Once you have arrived in the area of operations, and as time elapses, you will gradually become aware of the normal routine of the urban environment you are operating in.
6. Fact or Fiction?: Always keep in mind the words of television's Sgt. Friday on Dragnet - "only the facts ma'am". An emphasis on objective reporting cannot be overstated.
QUESTIONS
SUMMARY
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