There was some debate on the best words to stand for each letter in a recognizable way like using Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta. ©Lickomicko/ The 26 NATO Alphabet Shortcode Words The NATO Phonetic Alphabet has been finalized and in use since 1956. It did in 1956, however, and remains a standard communication practice for military branches, civilians, and amateur radio communication. It took some time for the universal NATO alphabet shortcode to be finalized. NATO recognized the need for a phonetic alphabet to spell out messages that were easily recognized despite background noise or language barriers.
ALPHA BRAVO CHARLIE DELTA ECHO CODE
Why NATO Uses Phonetic Alphabet Military Code Wordsĭescribing the position of a rescue helicopter or directing a ship to a particular port requires specific signals. Learn more about this phonetic alphabet including its history and uses. That’s why the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) uses a standardized spelling method to send signals and spell out words in important communications. A misspelled word could lead to a frustrating experience, or it could be a fatal mistake. Although the original design was geared towards inclusion of languages, it was not easy to understand or pronounce.įrom radio operators to customer service agents, many careers require spellings to be communicated clearly.