![]() military will tell you that when you need someone to repeat information over a communication line, you say, “Say again.” If you were to say, “Repeat,” you are telling them to fire again. Remember, this is not a secret code, but strictly an established protocol for ensuring that spelling, coordinates, and information are correctly communicated without confusion. This makes the code useful even for civilians when talking over the phone with international call centers or support lines. The resulting alphabet is today used by all NATO countries, although the written spelling of some of the code words differs slightly based on country (for example, in France, “Juliet” is spelled with two t’s at the end since one “t” is silent in French). Tests went so far as to test clarity when a word was used in isolation compared to when it was used in succession with other letters. The ICAO alphabet introduced in 1946 finally offered a solution, after hundreds of thousands of comprehension tests involving 31 nationalities. Native language also affected the pronunciation of code words, adding to the confusion. Many were similar, but differed slightly, making it challenging for allied forces to communicate effectively. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) developed this system in the 1950s to unify the various phonetic alphabets that had been in use since WWI by different organizations and countries. The military alphabet – also known as the NATO phonetic alphabet – assigns 26 code words to the 26 letters of the alphabet. You suddenly realize the imperative nature of clear and concise communication that does not have to be repeated. Now imagine if, instead of day-to-day conversation, you were giving coordinates for an air strike, and the static on the line is actually gunfire. If you’ve ever tried to make a phone call on your cell in a noisy area, or have experienced static or a bad connection, you know how challenging it can be to hear and be heard.
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