Signaller

For signallers in rail transport, see Signalman (rail).

A US Army signaller (25Q) erecting a 30-meter mast antenna

In the armed forces, a signaller or signaleer is a specialist soldier or seaman or airman responsible for military communications. Signallers, aka Combat Signallers or signalmen or women, are commonly employed as radio or telephone operators, relaying messages for field commanders at the front line (Army units, Ships or Aircraft), through a chain of command which includes Field headquarters and ultimately governments and non government organisations. Messages are transmitted and received via a communications infrastructure comprising fixed and mobile installations.

Modern signallers are responsible for the battlefield voice and data communication and information technology infrastructure, using a variety of media. All types of wire (line), satellite and ionispheric radio communication are employed. These include common radio systems such as HF\VHF radio and UHF\SHF radio (operated in line of site for example). Cellular radio and telephone systems such as TETRA are becoming common for example.

In the past, signalling skills have included the use of;heliograph, Aldis lamp, semaphore flags, "Don R" (Dispatch Riders) and even carrier pigeons.

In addition to day to day soldiering, the signaller is required to be competent at a number of skill levels in the following topics:

• Maintaining Power Supplies (Batteries and Charging for example)
• Radio sets; storage and logistics; installation and operation; maintenance and repair at unit level.
• Station Organisation; Managing Radio Nets and Maintaining Net Discipline for example, map marking, log keeping etc.
• Voice and wireless telegraphy procedure (using Morse code or RATT (Radio assisted Teletype) for example). Formal message procedure, electronic mail.
• Electronic Warfare (EW); Communication Security (COMSEC) - including the encryption and decyphering of coded messages using paper\voice and electronic codes for example.
• Telephone and Line
• Information and Communication Technology
• Antennae selection and design

Air Forces

In an air force, a signaller, an aircrew member, is a person trained to communicate between the aircraft and its base by means of radio or Aldis lamp. With improvement and simplification of radio communications equipment the role of a "signaller" in modern times is redundant. In the days when morse code telegraphy was the main means of communication a signaller was an important member of an aircraft's crew.

Armies

United Kingdom

In the British Army, signaller may refer to a member of the Royal Corps of Signals specifically to the rank of Signaller (formerly Signalman) or a trained signals specialist in other areas of the army such as the Infantry or Royal Artillery.

Australia

In the Australian Army, a signaller is often referred to as a Chook (Australian Slang for Chicken) this is derogatory to be used by any one outside the Signal Corps, This is because the Morse code that Signallers used during WWII is likened to the chirping of chickens

Canada

In the Canadian Army, a signaller is often referred to as a "Jimmy" in reference to the picture of Mercury (Greek: Hermes), the Roman messenger of the gods, which is referred to as Jimmy. The most widely accepted theory of where the name Jimmy comes from is a Royal Signals boxer, called Jimmy Emblem, who was the British Army Champion in 1924 and represented the Royal Corps of Signals from 1921 to 1924. Signallers in Canada are responsible for the majority of radio, satellite, telephone, and computer communications within the Canadian military. Trained signallers of the rank of private in Canada are referred to as "Sig" as a replacement for private (i.e. Sig Smith).

See also

• Royal Corps of Signals
• Communications and Electronics Branch (Canadian Forces)
• Bowman
• Clansman