This is an easy one.
What is really derived from NATO, the phonetic alphabet is used to convey clear and concise messages over telecommunications platforms. Before the advent of the cel-phone, most verbal commands or inquiries had to be requested over a walkie-talkie. You remember those right?
I get the talkie part, but why the walkie?
Well, hypothetical idiot, they’re mobile telecommunications equipment, which means you can talk while walking.
You know when you pull up in a drive-thru, and both of you have to repeat what you’re saying over and over because of the poor quality? Well imagine the same scenario, except the speaker is asking for reinforcements while being shot at by the enemy. Kinda important to get the message clear.
And so the phonetic alphabet was taught to all military personnel in order to relay coordinates and reports that are usually in the form of a mish-mash of numbers and letters. So as to not confuse the receiver (like saying “b” but the guy hears “v”), the letter is said using the phonetic alphabet (“b” as in Bravo, “v” as in Victor).
And that’s pretty much it. If you want to know what all the letters are, just refer to the featured image above. I also recommend checking out Military.com for all your questions about the military. It’s where I get most of my sources, aside from a couple of outliers and personal experience.
Tune in next week for another Military Mondays feature.