Sure, in my radio-using days along with alpha-bravo-charlie. But not in casual conversation, cause that would just be goofy.

I was always an Alpha Bravo Charlie guy. Not that it matters - I have a PD radio in my rig but it might as well be a waffle iron for all that I use it.

Between texts, cell calls, and push to talk I'm covered. Its easier to call our NCIC operator than use the radio - and then they just email the results to my Blackberry (a dinosaur, I know. Your tax dollars at work.) I doubt I've talked on the radio twice in the last ten years.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Only old, REALLY old, field artillerymen.

And tankers like me.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I guess I had it up past my eyebrows one fine day when I had to give my email address to a customer service rep, one of the "Bombay Boys" whom I could barely understand and he couldn't understand me.

So I went phonetic: "S as in Slaughter, M as in Massacre, B as in Bludgeon, E as in Execute..." I don't know if he got my drift, but I guess I was lucky that the cops didn't pay me a visit....

It all sounds fishy to me;

Albacore
Barracuda
Cod
Drum
Eel
Flounder
Grouper
Haddock

and so on

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Gunner, Sabot Up!

You're showing your age there. My dad was in the Air Corps and taught me that one. Even though I used the newer version, we ALWAYS referred to white phosphorus grenades (or wp bombs) as "Willie Pete". Never have I heard them referred to as Whisky Papa.

I knew a Ranger who called them "15s" though. He was way too smart to be Marine. I'll leave it to you eggheads to figure that one out.

Chemistry major, no doubt.

I wasn't in the military, so I've always used Adam, boy, Charlie, etc. I think it sounds better when you call someone Adam Henry as opposed to Alpha Hotel.

^^^ NIMS is exactly why all first responders around the country are supposed to be standardizing on a plain language communications format using the NIMS standard. The Secretary of Homeland Security, through the National Integration Center (NIC), publishes the standards, guidelines and compliance protocols for determining whether a local, state, tribal, territorial or federal government has implemented NIMS. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) provides a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to communicate and work together seamlessly.

This is a by-product of Katrina when hundreds of agencies went to the gulf coast to help out and found that even if the different agencies could talk to one another they often couldn't understand one another. I was part of a response team from my department that went to Orleans Parish on a TDA following Katrina and we experianced this.

I personally don't like the plain language radio protocol and find it awkward, but we've implemented NIMS county wide and anyone who uses the radio net (i.e., LE, fire, EMT, OEM, etc.,) has to have NIMS certifications on file with the county's Office of Emergency Management. Eventually, we've gotten used to it and the newer guys who never used 10-codes don't know any difference.

As for phonetics, we have standardized on what sipowics listed above and we're very anal about correct usage. In fact, we have one officer that kept using "Sally" for S instead of "Sam" . . . guess what his permanent nickname is now?

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- Change it back -

I think Sip's code list is the American standard Police phonetics. In 1975 we used the standard phonetics and the 10 codes in order to keep the single channel radio air as free as possible for when it was needed. These days most agencies rely somewhat less on voice traffic and more on data terminals to run license, registration, wanted etc- back in the day everything was by voice. Also these days normal speak is doing away with 10-codes. I became a ham late in life and the different phonetics prove difficult. You tend to revert to what you used first and for a longer period of time.

I was active Air Force for 20 years and during the last 6 or 7 was also a Reserve Police Officer. Having to use two different sets of phonetic alphabets meant "reprograming" myself for the environment I was in at the time.

It really doesn't matter what set of phonetics your agency uses. The whole purpose, as in all communication, is to be understood by others.

Military alphabet here, although a few people tend to make it up as they go...we also use a combination of a few 10-codes and clearance codes. (a.k.a signals)


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At least there are only two serious contenders for the phonetic alphabet. 10-codes are a whole 'nuther issue. Back in the 60s when I was dispatching for the Iowa State Patrol (IHP back then), we used a 10-code that was unique to the patrol. They later switched to the much more common APCO version, although I think they, like many departments, are trying to make the change to plain language to meet the NIMS standard. I notice on some of the TV cop 'reality' shows like Alaska State Troopers that some jurisdictions are apparently still using 10-codes of their own making.

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Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

I spent fourteen years in the Army. My ETS was 02/14/2000 and I joined my department on 10/12/2000. When I was still in FTO I used to get low grades for radio procedure for using the military phonetic alphabet instead of the LEO phonetic alphabet. Damn near killed me having to learn an entire new alphabet after all those years. Even now I still sometimes slip and revert to the military. Fortunately most of our dispatchers are pretty sharp and understand what I'm saying.

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I type. Therefore I am.

I have to resort to an alphabet code when talking to computer help desks. I'm everybody has had the experience of not understanding a word they were saying.

My first LE job was in a small East Alabama sheriff's department. We used the military alphabet. My next department was larger and in the B'ham, Alabama area. We used the police alphabet.

The SO used the same 10 code as the state troopers. The PD had it's own 10 code, which was different from B'ham PD's and Jefferson County SO's as well. Plus, the bigger PD had a different radio than the rest of Jefferson County and B'ham PD.

Communication was not easy back then.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

You got that right. My car had a state low band radio, a state 800mhz radio, county and local high band, and county and local vhf. Our cars looked like porcupines.

Most of the 10 codes were the same from agency to agency, at least close enough for the important ones. Everyone used the police phonetic alphabet, but it's always smart to know the military version in case you had to play with the feds.