# alpha bravo charlie delta echo foxtrot golf hotel **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 5, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527 "2002-06-05T19:48:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/1 "2002-06-05T19:48:50Z")
. . . juliet kilo lima mike november oscar poppa quebec romeo sierra tomahawk uniform victory whiskey x-ray yankee zulu. Is that how you learned the phonetic alphabet? Do you have it memorized? Do you ever use it? As for me, I read it in an encyclopedia in high school, I’ve had it memorized ever since, and I find it useful when making and confirming reservations with travel agents or airlines. Other people don’t tend to know what I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/2 "2002-06-05T19:54:12Z")
Dear **thinksnow** , It’s zulu. Love, PorkHQ And I thought T was Tango, not Tomahawk. And V was Victor, not Victory. And A was Able. But yeah- I’ve had that memorized for a long time, too, and use it on a semi-regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/3 "2002-06-05T19:54:33Z")
I’m in the aerospace business and we use it all the time. I originally learned it in the Army (except ‘tomahawk’ is replaced by ‘tango’). I’d also suspect it’s used commomly by emergency personelle if COPS is any indication. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/4 "2002-06-05T20:03:51Z")
I learned it from watching British police shows, where it’s used for spelling out license plates, and from knowing the NATO-assigned names for Russian submarine classes, which also followed the phonetic alphabet. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/5 "2002-06-05T20:06:08Z")
Also, you forgot India. Used it every day as a U.S. Navy Operations Specialist, 1993-98. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/6 "2002-06-05T20:24:59Z")
Helicopter pilot checking in. **A** lpha **B** ravo **C** harlie **D** elta **E** cho **F** oxtrot **G** olf **H** otel **I** ndia **J** uliet **K** ilo **L** ima **M** ike **N** ovember **O** scar **P** apa **Q** uebec **R** omeo **S** ierra **T** ango **U** niform **V** ictor **W** hisky **X** -ray **Y** ankee **Z** ulu ---
**Author:** ![Canyon\_Surfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Canyon\_Surfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canyon_Surfer)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/7 "2002-06-05T20:27:51Z")
There are several of these phonetic alphabets. One that came to mind was the one that starts Able, Baker, Charlie. I thought this was a British one from WWII era but I found [these](http://www.sckans.edu/~sireland/radio/code.html) which shows that one as American. Seems that the one in the OP is the one called the NATO Phonetic Alphabet. I also found [this](http://www.dynamoo.com/technical/phonetic.htm). Love the comment about standards. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/8 "2002-06-05T20:55:51Z")
I use the one Johnny LA listed in my job. Tech Support. Computers are ID’ed by a series of letters and numbers and it’s just easier to understand when on the phone, though most of the people I speak with are totally lost if I just come out and say “Sierra Bravo Tango 6 3 0 1” so I have to go “S as in Sierra, B as in Bravo…” What kills me is when people use words that make no sense in a PHONETIC alphabet. I constantly get people saying “G as in George.” No, that’s a J sound, you dolt. And I swear I once got “K as in Knife.” Genius. ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/9 "2002-06-05T22:02:13Z")
I’m with **Johnny L.A.** too - The U.S. Air Force & my aviation related employer both use this version. ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/10 "2002-06-05T23:01:03Z")
I learned the one **Johnny L.A.** posted when I was in the State Emergency Service. It’s a lot easier to understand the difference between “sierra” and “foxtrot” than “s” and “f” when you’re using handheld UHF radios at the edge of their range. It’s also won whole rounds for me at trivia nights - an unforeseen benefit. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/11 "2002-06-05T23:28:18Z")
I actually learned the Schenectady OTB version: Apple Boy Charles David Edward Frank George Harry Isa Jack King Lucky Mary Nancy Oscar University Victor Willliam (P, Q, R, S, T, X, Y, and Z were so rarely used that they didn’t rate a letter) There’s also: Ack Beer Charlie Don Edward Freddie George Harry Ink Johnnie King London Monkey Nuts Orange Pip Queen Robert Sugar Toc Uncle Vic William x-ray Yorker Zebra But that was before my time. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2002, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/12 "2002-06-05T23:33:41Z")
**Johhny’s** version is, as far as I know, the FAA, ICAO, and U.S. military standard. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/13 "2002-06-06T00:57:06Z")
I learned it years ago when I started in the travel industry. It’s helped me tremendously! Of course, I’m now frustrated by those who make up their own phonetic alphabet. For instance, I would spell my name… “Golf Romeo India Zulu Zulu Romeo India Charlie Hotel”. Someone else in the travel industry, who thinks it’s hip to use place-names instead might say… “Georgia Richmond Indiana Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Richmond Indiana California Harrisburg” Screws me ALL up! ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/14 "2002-06-06T01:03:05Z")
I learned it years ago when I started in the travel industry. It’s helped me tremendously! Of course, I’m now frustrated by those who make up their own phonetic alphabet. For instance, I would spell my name… “Golf Romeo India Zulu Zulu Romeo India Charlie Hotel”. Someone else in the travel industry, who thinks it’s hip to use place-names instead might say… “Georgia Richmond Indiana Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Richmond Indiana California Harrisburg” Screws me ALL up! ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/15 "2002-06-06T01:43:42Z")
I also use **Johnny L.A.**'s version everyday. Again USAF. Although 90% of my use of it is just passing back my initials. Kilo Bravo loud and clear. dead0man…all 5X5 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/16 "2002-06-06T01:52:36Z")
I’ve heard aircraft whose call signs (registrations) end in “AA”. They pronounce it “Alfalfa”. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/17 "2002-06-06T04:22:18Z")
**Johnny L.A.**'s got it. ---
**Author:** ![heresiarch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@heresiarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heresiarch)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/18 "2002-06-06T06:14:36Z")
I used to work is radio maintenance. Broken radios were described as “Tango-uniform” (tits up). Come to think of it, it’s not just in the maintenance field and it’s not just radios. Anything broken can be described as “tango-uniform.” ---
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/19 "2002-06-06T08:02:07Z")
I use Adam Bertil Caesar David Erik Filip Gustav Helge Ivar Johan Kalle Ludwig Martin Niklas Olof Petter Quintius Rudolf Sigurd Tore Urban Viktor William Xerxes Yngve Zäta Åke Ärlig Östen in my native language but when speaking English I use the list by Johnny LA. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527/20 "2002-06-06T13:09:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Canyon Surfer \* > \*\*One that came to mind was the one that starts Able, Baker, Charlie. I thought this was a British one from WWII era but I found [these](http://www.sckans.edu/~sireland/radio/code.html) > > which shows that one as American. > > \*\* Spike Milligan’s war memoirs mention the change (by the British Army) to “Able, Baker, Charlie” from the “Ack, Beer, Charlie” one listed by **RealityChuck**. Don’t have the books handy, but the date would have been 1942 or 3; they were working closely with the Americans in the North African theatre at the time. (Yes, this _is_ Spike Milligan being cited as a legitimate reference in a perfectly serious thread. Stranger things have happened.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpha-bravo-charlie-delta-echo-foxtrot-golf-hotel/112527.md?page=2)