WORDS procedures

a. WORDS is a directive or interrogative call for further information or directives pertinent to a mission. WORDS are designated by ATO day, numbered sequentially and established and deleted individually. For example, WORDS AA01 (pronounced ALPHA ALPHA 0-1) would represent the first WORDS generated on ATO day AA.

(1) WORDS are generated by the TAC C2 agency outlined in the SPINS.

(2) The first WORDS for a new ATO day should incorporate pertinent information from the previous day.

(3) WORDS are limited in scope to each operating area.

b. Examples of WORDS infromation are:

(1) Changes to the package.

(2) NET changes (e.g., a new tactical mission NET).

(3) Timing changes.

(4) Threat updates (e.g., a new active threat axis or sector).

(5) Change to threat warning condition or weapons control status.

(6) Weather affecting execution.

c. TAC C2 will relay WORDS to all assets in the operating area, the joint air operations center (JAOC), tactical air command center, and appropriate CWC.

(1) New WORDS will be relayed by TAC C2.

(2) TAC C2 will use digital means (e.g., J28.2), to the maximum extent possible when passing WORDS to air assets.

d. Aircraft that deck in with TAC C2, should consider adding the current WORDS they have at the check-in call. (i.e., "CHECKING IN WITH WORDS BRAVO ALPHA 0-1").

e. In the previous example HORNET 1 had WORDS BA01.

(1) TAC C2 only had to relay WORDS BA02.

(2) If the aircrew had checked in without WORDS, TAC C2 would have relayed all information in WORDS BA01 and BA02.

f. When there are mulitple command and control agencies in an operating area, WORDS are generated by the assigned TAC C2 agency based on the tactical situtation and inputs from other agencies or units.