DarkDot SALUTE
Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, Equipment
The SALUTE report is the doctrinal standard for enemy contact reporting across NATO and allied forces. Its mnemonic structure enables a soldier under stress to transmit a complete intelligence picture without omitting critical fields.
Format
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| S — Size | Enemy strength in numbers or unit size | "12 personnel" / "platoon-size element" |
| A — Activity | What the enemy is doing | "Establishing defensive position" / "Moving NE along treeline" |
| L — Location | Position in MGRS or terrain reference | "18TWL804561" |
| U — Unit | Enemy unit identification if known | "Unknown — wearing green fatigues, no insignia" |
| T — Time | Date-Time Group of observation (local or Zulu) | "011430L" |
| E — Equipment | Weapons, vehicles, and equipment observed | "4× AK variants, 1× PKM, 2× technicals" |
Transmission
SALUTE reports are transmitted immediately to the next higher HQ over voice or digital means. Do not delay transmission to gather more information — an incomplete SALUTE with what you know is more valuable than a complete SALUTE arriving too late.
Brevity
The SALUTE format is designed for radio transmission under time pressure. Rehearse the format so it can be reported in under 60 seconds. Avoid editorial commentary — report what you observed, not what you interpret.
Spot Report vs. SALUTE
In some formations, the same data is transmitted as a SPOTREP (Spot Report). The fields are identical; the name differs by SOP. Regardless of label, the six data elements remain constant.