Military Alphabet Chart
| Character | Alphabet | Pronunciation |
| A | Alpha | Al · fah |
| B | Bravo | Brah · voh |
| C | Charlie | Char · lee |
| D | Delta | Dell tah |
| Symbol | Code Word | Phonic (pronunciation) |
|---|---|---|
| M | Mike | MIKE |
| N | November | NO VEMBER |
| O | Oscar | OSS CAH |
| P | Papa | PAH PAH |
What is the difference between the military alphabet and phonetic alphabet?
The military alphabet and NATO phonetic alphabet are the same alphabet. It is a system of letters and numbers used by the armed forces of the United States, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and International Civil Aviation Organization, and even by civilians to spell out words and phrases or communicate in code.
Do NATO and the US military use the same alphabet?
NATO and the U.S. military use the same phonetic alphabet. However, it is widely accepted and used in international radio communications on sea, air, or land.
What is the military alphabet code for the military?
The United States Military Alphabet Code ordered from Alpha-to-Zulu. The United States Military relies on the NATO phonetic alphabet code covering letters A to Z (26 in all). Each letter is assigned a word so verbal communications are not misunderstood - particularly between two parties over radio communications.
What does N stand in NATO?
Collective defence: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded in 1949 and is a group of 30 countries from Europe and North America that exists to protect the people and territory of its members.
What does S stand for in the military alphabet?
The Phonetic Alphabet is used widely in military maritime communications. The phonetic alphabet, a system set up in which each letter of the alphabet has a word equivalent to avoid mistaking letters that sound alike, such as B (Bravo) and D (Delta) or F (Foxtrot) and S (Sierra).
What is W in military alphabet?
Morse Code and Phonetic Alphabet PageLetterMorseNATOT-TangoU**-UniformV***-VictorW*--Whiskey22 more rows
What are the military acronyms for the alphabet?
The NATO alphabet is: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.
What does Bravo Foxtrot mean?
7. What is a Blue Falcon? Answer: A Blue Falcon is also sometimes called a Bravo Foxtrot and is someone who messes things up for other members of their squad, either by causing drama or by betraying other members.
What does G stand for in military?
G. Granted. Army, War, War Force.
How do you say OK in military terms?
1.) Roger That. “OK,” “Understood,” and “Yes, sir/ma'am” are all acceptable replacements for this military phrase. The general public will understand what you mean if you do slip up, but it is not a common saying among civilians.
What is foxtrot in military?
Origin: 1940s US military acronym made up by soldiers to stand for “f*cked up beyond all recognition;” arguably became popular with Americans abroad during WWII due to its similarity to the German term furchtbar (terrible).
Why is there no J company in the military?
There was no J Company: the letter J was traditionally not used because in 18th- and 19th-century old-style type, the capital letters I and J looked alike, and were therefore easily confused with one another. It was common for a battalion to become temporarily attached to a different regiment.
What does J mean in military?
1. J. Join + 1. Army, War, Organization.
What does cake eater mean in military?
Cake-eater: Derogative term for officers. Call an Audible: American football term refers to the quarterback changing the play in the last minute based on the defense lineup.
What does H mean in military?
What does the "D" signify in D-Day, and the "H" signify in H-Hour? The terms D-day and H-hour are used for the day and hour on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated.
What does F stand for in military alphabet?
The 26 code words in the spelling alphabet are assigned to the 26 letters of the English alphabet in alphabetical order as follows: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, ...
What is P in military?
Additionally, IRDS can be used to relay military code, slang, or shortcode. For instance, Bravo Zulu meaning “Well Done”....The Military Alphabet.CharacterCode WordPronunciationPPapaPAH pahQQuebeckeh BECKRRomeoROW me ohSSierrasee AIR ah22 more rows
Why is there no J company in the military?
There was no J Company: the letter J was traditionally not used because in 18th- and 19th-century old-style type, the capital letters I and J looked alike, and were therefore easily confused with one another. It was common for a battalion to become temporarily attached to a different regiment.
What does Oscar Mike mean in the military?
“On the MoveOscar Mike is military lingo for “On the Move” and was specifically chosen to represent the spirit of its founder and the Veterans he serves.
What is the military alphabet?
The Military Alphabet is known as a “spelling alphabet,” used to spell out words and communicate clearly. In other words, while phonetic alphabets use symbols to describe the details and nuances of language, the Military Alphabet is simply for oral communication.
How many words are in the military alphabet?
The military alphabet, officially the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, consists of 26 code words. Each represents one letter of the English alphabet. For instance, “Alpha” means “A,” “Bravo” means B, and so on. Multiple code words often are combined to form words or expressions.
Why do banks use the military alphabet?
Banks use the military phonetic alphabet to communicate security codes and to verify customer information.
What are some examples of slang used by aviators?
For example, Roger/Negative/Over/Break are just as foundational to aircraft communication as military radio communication. Some airlines replace Delta (code for “d”) with an alternative word.
What are the three guiding principles of military communication?
There are three guiding principles for Military Communication: Accuracy, Brevity, and Clarity. Whether you are communicating via radio, in person, or on any other platform, all tactical communication should adhere to these criteria.
How to communicate with the military?
Whether you are communicating via radio, in person, or on any other platform, all tactical communication should adhere to these criteria. Keep tactical messages short and to the point, and limit communication to essential items. Keep messages under 30 seconds as a rule. This way you will be easily understood, even under duress and chaos.
Is learning the military alphabet a DOD endorsement?
No. According to the International Telecommunication Union learning the military alphabet does not constitute DOD endorsement.
What is the military alphabet?
Military Alphabet. The military phonetic alphabet was created to properly exchange communication by radio or telephone. More accurately known as International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet (IRDS), it consists of 26 code words that substitute each letter of the alphabet.
What were the first two letters of the alphabet?
By 1941, the first two radiotelephonic alphabet codes were created: “Able” and “Baker” to represent the first two letters of the alphabet. The Royal Air Force used a radiotelephony system similar to the U.S, but it was clear the Allies needed a streamlined form of communication.
What is the phonetic alphabet used for?
The phonetic alphabet is often used by military and civilians to communicate error-free spelling or messages over the phone. For example, Alpha for “A”, Bravo for “B”, and Charlie for “C”. Additionally, IRDS can be used to relay military code, slang, or shortcode. For instance, Bravo Zulu meaning “Well Done”.
What is the military phonetic alphabet?
The military phonetic alphabet is a set of 26 words that are used to spell out letters when communicating over the radio or telephone. This system helps to ensure clarity and accuracy in communication, especially in noisy or difficult environments.
History of the military alphabet
The military alphabet is also known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet (IRSA). It was created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The military alphabet during World War II
During World War II, the United States military used a modified version of the Joint Army / Navy Phonetic Alphabet (JANAP). This was adopted in 1941 and continued to be used until 1957 when it was officially replaced by the IRSA. Today the only parts of the JANAP WWII-era alphabet still in use are "Charlie," "Mike," "Victor" and "X-Ray."
Military slang phrases
The military alphabet is often used for acronyms of military slang phrases. For example, Bravo Zulu or "BZ" is used to indicate general approval or appreciation. The phrase originated in the Royal Navy of Great Britain and has been used by navies and the military around the world ever since.
The Military Alphabet
To see the military alphabet in action, check out Military.com's glossary of military acronyms and glossary of military terms and slang.
Ready to Join the Military?
We can put you in touch with recruiters from the different military branches. Learn about the benefits of serving your country, paying for school, military career paths, and more: sign up now and hear from a recruiter near you
What is the word "Army" spelled in the phonetic alphabet?
When on the radio, spoken words from an approved list are substituted for letters. For example, the word " Army " would be "Alfa Romeo Mike Yankee" when spelled in the phonetic alphabet. This practice helps to prevent confusion between similar sounding letters, such as "m" and "n," and to clarify signals communications that may be garbled ...
Why use alpha-phonetic symbols?
The use of alpha-phonetic symbols is to decrease radio traffic and to communicate status or request assistance in code that can be understood internationally. The more tactical use of alpha-phonetics can be used similarly as code words to mission status, encrypted, and decrease open radio traffic with a line of sight communications with flags ...
Why do we use the phonetic alphabet?
In military missions, the use of the phonetic alphabet has been used to communicate with the chain of command as to what phase of the mission has been successfully performed. For instance, if a SEAL Team has arrived on the beach and were undetected to continue the mission, they may have designated that as the first "waypoint" and use ...
When was the phonetic alphabet first used?
An early version of the phonetic alphabet appears in the 1913 edition of The Navy Bluejackets’ Manual. Found in the Signals section, it was paired with the Alphabetical Code Flags defined in the International Code. Both the meanings of the flags (the letter which they represent) and their names (which make up the phonetic alphabet) were selected by international agreement. Later editions included the Morse code signal as well.
Information
The United States Military relies on the NATO phonetic alphabet code covering letters A to Z (26 in all). Each letter is assigned a word so verbal communications are not misunderstood - particularly between two parties over radio communications. As such, 'A' becomes 'Alpha', 'B' becomes 'Bravo, 'C' becomes 'Charlie' and so on.
The United States Military Alphabet Code ordered from Alpha-to-Zulu
The United States Military relies on the NATO phonetic alphabet code covering letters A to Z (26 in all). Each letter is assigned a word so verbal communications are not misunderstood - particularly between two parties over radio communications. As such, 'A' becomes 'Alpha', 'B' becomes 'Bravo, 'C' becomes 'Charlie' and so on.
What is the alphabet used in the military?
Thus this alphabet can be reffered as the ICAO/ITU/NATO Phonetic Alphabet or International Phonetic Alphabet. . This alphabet is used by the U.S. military and has also been adopted by the FAA (American Federal Aviation Administration), ANSI (American National Standards Institute), and ARRL (American Radio Relay League).
What is the NATO phonetic alphabet?
The NATO phonetic alphabet is a Spelling Alphabet, a set of words used instead of letters in oral communication (i.e. over the phone or military radio). Each word ("code word") stands for its initial lette r (alphabetical "symbol"). The 26 code words in the NATO phonetic alphabet are assigned to the 26 letters of the English alphabet in ...
How many code words are there in the NATO alphabet?
The 26 code words in the NATO phonetic alphabet are assigned to the 26 letters of the English alphabet in alphabetical order as follows: Symbol. Code Word. Morse. Code. Phonic. (pronunciation) A. A lfa/Alpha.
Why do we use the NATO alphabet?
These are used to avoid misunderstanding due to difficult to spell words, different pronunciations or poor line communication.
What Is The Military Phonetic Alphabet?
- The military phonetic alphabet is a set of 26 words that are used to spell out letters when communicating over the radio or telephone. This system helps to ensure clarity and accuracy in communication, especially in noisy or difficult environments. The military phonetic alphabet consists of the standard English alphabet, plus a few extra words that are specific to military use…
History of The Military Alphabet
- The military alphabet is also known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet (IRSA). It was created by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The IRSA is used to spell out words and letters over radio. This helps prevent confusion between similar sounding words. The first official version of the military alphabet was adopted in 1927, although a version was use…
The Military Alphabet During World War II
- During World War II, the United States military used a modified version of the Joint Army/NavyPhonetic Alphabet (JANAP). This was adopted in 1941 and continued to be used until 1957 when it was officially replaced by the IRSA. Today the only parts of the JANAP WWII-era alphabet still in use are "Charlie," "Mike," "Victor" and "X-Ray."
Military Slang Phrases
- The military alphabet is often used for acronyms of military slang phrases. For example, Bravo Zulu or "BZ" is used to indicate general approval or appreciation. The phrase originated in the Royal Navy of Great Britain and has been used by navies and the military around the world ever since. Learn more about military slang phrases.
The Military Alphabet
- To see the military alphabet in action, check out Military.com's glossary of military acronyms and glossary of military terms and slang.
Ready to Join The Military?
- We can put you in touch with recruiters from the different military branches. Learn about the benefits of serving your country, paying for school, military career paths, and more: sign up nowand hear from a recruiter near you