Version 1 / 6min read / Updated Sat 07 May 2022 / 2757 views / of verified

Phonetic Alphabet
The phonetic alphabet is a list of words used to identify letters in a message transmitted by radio or telephone and as seen in the table below. Pronounced words from an approved list substitute for letters. Radio operators communicate over the radio, using the phonetic alphabet to pronounce individual letters of the alphabet.
LETTER |
WORD |
PRONUNCIATION |
---|---|---|
A |
ALPHA |
AL FAH |
B |
BRAVO |
BRAH VOH |
C |
CHARLIE |
CHAR LEE OR SHAR LEE |
D |
DELTA |
DELL TAH |
E |
ECHO |
ECH OH |
F |
FOXTROT |
FOKS TROT |
G |
GOLF |
GOLF |
H |
HOTEL |
HOH TELL |
I |
INDIA |
IN DEE AH |
J |
JULIETT |
JEW LEE ETT |
K |
KILO |
KEY LOH |
L |
LIMA |
LEE MAH |
M |
MIKE |
MIKE |
N |
NOVEMBER |
NO VEM BER |
O |
OSCAR |
OSS CAH |
P |
PAPA |
PAH PAH |
Q |
QUEBEC |
KEH BECK |
R |
ROMEO |
ROW ME OH |
S |
SIERRA |
SEE AIR RAH |
T |
TANGO |
TANG GO |
U |
UNIFORM |
YOU NEE FORM OR OO NEE FORM |
V |
VICTOR |
VIC TAH |
W |
WISKEY |
WISS KEY |
X |
XRAY |
ECKS RAY |
Y |
YANKEE |
YANG KEY |
Z |
ZULU |
ZOO LOO |
Numerical pronunciation
To distinguish numerals from similarly pronounced words operators use the proword ‘FIGURES’ preceding such numbers.This table outlines how to pronounce numerals transmitted by radio.
NUMERAL |
PRONOUNCED |
---|---|
0 |
ZE-RO |
1 |
WUN |
2 |
TOO |
3 |
TREE |
4 |
FOW-ER |
5 |
FIFE |
6 |
SIX |
7 |
SEV-EN |
8 |
AIT |
9 |
NIN-ER |
Numerals in combinations
Radio operators transmit numbers digit by digit. Pronunciation of exact multiples of one thousand uses the phonetic pronunciation ‘TOU-SAND’ rather than three zeroes (see table).
Write the figure zero as 0, the figure one as 1, and the letter ZULU as Z. Spell difficult words phonetically. Pronounce abbreviations and isolated letters without the proword ‘I SPELL.’
NUMERAL |
PRONOUNCED |
---|---|
44 |
FOW-ER, FOW-ER |
90 |
NIN-ER, ZE-RO |
136 |
WUN, TREE, SIX |
TIME 1200 |
WUN, TOO, ZE-RO, ZE-RO |
1748 |
WUN, SEV-EN, FOW-ER, AIT |
7000 |
SEV-EN, TOU-SAND |
16000 |
WUN, SIX, TOU-SAND |
812681 |
AIT, WUN, TOO, SIX, AIT, WUN |
CREDITS
This SOP has been contributed to by 1 editors:
Major James
REFERENCES
UNITAF Standard Operating procedures (SOP) are adapted primarly from US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). Our written and audio procedures are a combination of the following primary source materials, as well as our own learnings, modifications and adaptations:
- US Army Techniques Publication, Infantry Platoon and Squad (ATP 3-21.8)
- Soldier’s Manual of Common Tasks Warrior Leader Skills Level 2, 3, and 4 (STP 21-24-SMCT)
- The Warrior Ethos and Soldier Combat Skills (FM 3-21.75 / FM 21-75)
- Leadership Development (FM 6-22)
- Dyslexi's Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures for Arma 3 (TTP3)
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