BritishGuy36

Ok so what's the deal with them not learning the real terms for the phonetic alphabet here? The US is still part of NATO, right?

T is not for Tommy.
O is not for Orange.
They don't even know that Y is for Yankee, not sodding Yellow!

If Barclays India can manage it, you can too. A 5 minute phone call which includes trying to spell something over here makes me want to chew my own arm off rather than go through that again.

A little more effort please, people.

Sally Redux

Now you'll reopen the Imperial measurements debate.

Tom60

We used that alphabet while I was in the military, but what would be the purpose of US civilians knowing it? I don't follow you.

kimilseung

same reason soldiers know it, to avoid confusion.

zargof

Does it really matter? Seriously, just choose an appropriate word for each letter:

K as in knight, p as in psycho, y as in yngling etc. Really don't see the big deal.

Noorah101

I'm a USC. I didn't realize there was a standard set of words for each letter, that a civilian might know. My dad learned a set when he was a park ranger, but that was police-related.

What's wrong with using whatever word starts with the letter you need? As long as that person knows how to spell, it shouldn't create any confusion. You could say "D as in Dog" or "D as in David" or "D as in Day", and you'd still get "D".

Rene

Tom60

Confusion in what? Radio communications? Well, police departments use a phonetic alphabet, but it's different than the one in military use. I still don't get what the OP is referring to. Ham radio operators? CB's? Civilians just don't use alpha, bravo, charlie, etc.

Rete

That is the only time I have used or heard that language. My husband who has 36 active years in the RCAF and now 11 active years in the NYS Guard and myself who had 3 years in the Air Force's auxiliary Civil Air Patrol.

I don't follow either Just another rant

Sally Redux

I remember my Mum and Dad learning it when he got into sailing.

It would make a lot of sense for people to use a standard system on the phone etc. but unlikely to happen.

Jerseygirl

What difference does it make?

Bluegrass Lass

Completely agree. When I'm trying to spell stuff to a telemarketer I just use whatever word comes to mind for a certain letter. I'm not military nor police, so why in the world would I ever be taught a 'special' code? If you aren't using it day to day, you'd forget it anyway.

cindyabs

I use it, but then attended a military college and was an Army wife and worked on several bases.

My BRIT DH uses P for Peter, E for Edward etc, etc. My Dutch co worker in the NL used Dutch names for the letters.

My septic language problem? The use of the word septic.

Noorah101

LOL, I remember one time I was doing this over the phone, reading a confirmation number to a ticket agent. I said something like "A as in Apple, C as in Cat, R as in Roger, Q as in .... ummmm ... hmmmmm ...."

The lady started laughing and said "I understand Q, please continue." LOL

Cracked me up!

Rene

BritishGuy36

You lot are just no fun are you.

It was supposed to be half tongue-in-cheek, but you all ruined it. I'm going to have some chocolate instead.

Oh, and plenty of folks in Blighty know the phonetic alphabet....in fact most folks who spend a lot of time on the phone should learn it....it really does help.

BritishGuy36

Eh, pardon?

G as in Gay?

See the problem?