#MILITARY RADIO LINGO CODE#

Because when everyone uses the same radio communications etiquette, it helps to ensure every message is heard loud and clear. Here’s Military Connection’s lingo guide to some popular military specific terms, phrases and acronyms. Whatever sector you work in, make sure everyone is familiar with the call signs used in your workplace. Similarly, if you operate in the marine or aviation industries, then you may use specific terms like ‘ MayDay’ or ‘ Pan-Pan’ to indicate urgent help is needed.

If you work in the security sector, then you may employ terms like ‘ Cyclone’ to indicate a violent situation or ‘ Tanto’ to request immediate back up.

#MILITARY RADIO LINGO CODE#

Your organisation may also utilise code words like ‘ Code Blue’ – to indicate a non crucial incident, ‘ Code Yellow’ – for an incident requiring immediate response but is not yet dangerous, and ‘ Code Red’ – for a serious incident. The next word will be spelt out using the phonetic alphabet The waiting period is longer than expected – I will call you as soon as possible Wait for a short period and I will get back to you Interruption to a transmission to communicate urgentlyĭistress call – used when there is grave or imminent danger to life – immediate assistance is required What’s my signal strength? Can you hear me? Your message is finished – invitation for others to respond/transmitĪll conversation is finished – no answer is required or expected Repeat all after/before a certain key word or phrase Normally used when a question is asked and the reply is NOĪsking another party to acknowledge they can hear you Normally used when a question is asked and the reply is YES Message received and understood – similar to Ten Four or Copy ThatĬonfirm parts of long message before continuing with rest of message While some of this terminology has fallen into disuse in this day and age for many two-way radio users, you may find that reviving some of these tried and tested phrases helps improve your teams communication. To get you started, we’ve put together a list of some commonly used radio communication phrases, traditionally used in public safety and complex security environments, such as industrial settings or sports stadiums. Which means your organisation needs to define which terms will be used during message transmissions – or whether you are going to stick to plain English only. The aim of these ‘dispatch signals’ is to boost communication response rates and collaboration between teams – and even different agencies.īut this only works if everyone uses the same agreed terminology. Since then, many industries have evolved standardised terms that are used as 2-way radio communication short cuts. Historically used by law enforcement officers in North America, these brevity codes were used to represent commonly used phrases. Back in 1937, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) developed the so called ‘ten-codes’. Short-hand radio expressions have been around for decades.

Military radio lingo