MILITARY CALL SIGNS: HOW THIS TRADITION BEGAN
With the release of Top Gun: Maverick in early 2022, we’re all certainly familiar with these cool-sounding military call signs: Maverick, Goose, Iceman, and Rooster. Well, forget what you saw on the silver screen because military aviators are rarely lucky enough to be bestowed with nicknames as hard-core as these. The call sign tradition is celebrated by aviators across all branches of the military. These nicknames allow for quick identification of a pilot or aircraft and can also be used to confuse enemies who may be listening in on communications. Today, call sign naming rituals are extremely common and are a pretty formal process. However, it wasn’t always that way. Let’s take a closer look at how the military call sign tradition started and evolved into what we see today. Suggested read:Top Gun Maverick Reignites Interest In Real Top Gun Pilots
Military Call Signs: An Ambiguous Origin
Dating back to the early days of aviation, it seems as though aviators have always come up with nicknames based on flying style and pilot personality. Military call signs became a commodity in the 1930s and originated from the need to make communications between pilots and ground crew seamless. They grew in popularity during World War II, as they could confuse the enemy, were short, and added an extra level of identification during operations that were fast-paced or intense. The origin of the call signs given to individual aviators dates back to this time, as well, but, in the 30s, these nicknames weren’t called call signs. Military pilots were generally given these nicknames early on in their careers, and they were referred to as just that — nicknames! Most commonly, a call sign was selected based on one’s personality or physical traits. Every once in a while, you'll notice a call sign that has a pop culture reference. It has also been speculated that call sign’s military origin stems from ground controllers who needed to identify aviators lickety-split. Call signs for pilots became widely utilized during the Vietnam War, and in the 80s, official naming ceremonies became institutionalized.
Naming Rituals Today
So, how are military call signs bestowed upon pilots today? While the naming rituals vary depending on one’s squadron or branch of the military, the main components of the naming process remain the same. Like in the 1930s, call signs continue to be based on one’s personality, characteristics, or situations encountered. Often, a call sign is based on a mistake that a pilot has made in their career. The rule is that in order for one to receive a call sign based on a past incident, the story must be rooted in truth. Most pilots will receive their call sign at their first operational squadron as a junior officer. Call signs are usually brainstormed with the squadron, and then peers vote on their favorite. The name must be approved by the squadron’s commanding officer to prevent call signs that are too aggressive or inappropriate. Prepared for anything, you can bet that these pilots always have a backup name at the ready.
Call Sign Rules
While call signs are highly subjective and personalized, there are four general rules that are abided by (and widely accepted) when coming up with one.
- You never give yourself a call sign.
- You probably won’t love it.
- If you don’t have a call sign already, don’t worry. You’ll be assigned one by your “buddies.”
- Complaining too much about your call sign will win you a new nickname that you’ll dislike even more.
Once a pilot gets assigned a call sign, it’s rare to be renamed. Usually, a call sign will have more than one meaning behind it: one tactical and the other an exaggeration. In some cases, a squadron will give a call sign to a pilot and then come up with a tactical reason down the road. Regardless of what your call sign is, and the story behind the name, it’s supposed to be good-natured and have a fun aspect to it.
The Coolest and Most Bad*ss Military Call Signs
Check out these real-life call signs and the story behind these fighter pilot nicknames.
- Apollo – Last name Creed.
- Blaze – Caught on fire in the kitchen.
- P.E. (Premature Ejection) – Pressed the ejection switch in an aircraft while still on the runway.
- Razor – A pilot who was known for making the sharpest turns and maneuvers in combat training.
- ROTOR – Ran Off the Only Runway.
- Salad – First name was Cesar.
- SALSA – Student Aviator Lacking Situational Awareness.
- T-boned – Dropped a practice bomb straight through a cow.
What’s Your Call Sign?
Did this list of military call signs get you wondering what your call sign would be? Call signs almost always originate from a member of the pilot’s squadron. Therefore, it’s considered bad luck for one to make their own call sign. To honor this long-running tradition, consider giving a military call signs generator a try or (if you’re brave enough) ask a family member or friend to come up with a personalized one, sure to be the perfect fit! For pilots, receiving a call sign is a memorable experience of building camaraderie and remaining humble. The nickname is but one part of this tradition. More broadly, military call signs define a fighter pilot and serve as a signal to all that they are mission ready. Read next:These Are the Top 10 Best Military Books You Have To Read
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