This paper describes a portable Time Encoded Speech (TES) based Isolated Word Recognition (IWR) Direct Voice Input (DVI) system designed as a demonstrator for investigating very-low-bit-rate recognition/synthesis communications for possible use in a hostile tactical military arena. To cope with the special demands of the military environment, the system has been designed to be operated almost entirely by voice. Dedicated speaker "archetypes" (templates) are stored on plug-in creditcard size memory cards, retained by the individual user. The equipment has no visual display, all feedback being presented aurally via a speech synthesiser. Provision is made for a display as an aid for training, demonstration and diagnostic purposes only.