USMC Research For A Novel - Radio Protocol
I have posted here previously about the typical T/O&E for a "standard" rifle company. I got many helpful responses and have since set it up exactly as needed while still remaining as realistic as possible.
The unit is based on 3rd Battalion/1st Marines and is part of the USS Makin Island AGR/MEU unit on hand for Fleet Week in San Francisco when my story kicks off. All hell breaks loose and a particular part of the story is told from the point of view of a single company, cut off from higher and charged with a very specific defensive operation.
I've done quite a bit of online research about radio call signs and most of it jives. What I'm missing is radio identifiers at lower than the Company/Platoon commander level. For instance, I know the company commander is (callsign)-6, the XO is (callsign)-5, etc down through the platoon leaders.
Can you confirm that the platoon sgt's are (callsign)(platoon number)-zulu?
Also, does the first sgt within the HQ element have his own identifier? How about the senior corpsman?
The biggest concern, where most of the story takes place, is how the lower ranks identify. For instance, what would the Alpha fire team leader in 1st squad, 2nd platoon refer to himself?
Any help at all would be appreciated.