The US Army has begun issuing the new Soldier Intercom System to elite light infantry units and will eventually outfit all infantry and many other units with it. The system consists of a small radio carried in a pouch on the soldier's web gear, and a headset (earphone and microphone) worn inside the helmet. Each squad of 8-10 men is given their own frequency. The small radios allow every member of the squad to talk to any other member, and all of the squad to receive new orders from their squad leader simultaneously. Until now, a squad would have one-to-three radios and most soldiers got their orders by hand-signal or by meeting up with a sergeant to receive a verbal briefing. Units which have received the radios say it makes their infantry squads far more flexible and effective, as information can be passed accurately and immediately.--Stephen V Cole