Military or Police Alphabet?

[Kate]

Before I ask my question, I'd like to make a request that this post please remain here in "Ask a Cop", and not get moved to the "Ask a Cop 2", as I've seen done with other posts in this section of the forum. I'd really like to have the imput from Non-verified, Retired, and Former LEO's if at all possible.

That being said:

I know the military uses a certain alpha code, but I always thought it differed from what the police used. On a few websites that I was reading through, I read that the military and the police use the same one. :confused:

Which does your department use? For those w/ prior military experience, if the codes are different, was the adjustment to the new one difficult?

As always, thanks in advance.

Kate

[Kate]

Well hell...

I didn't notice that you changed things around. Now can I ask someone to please move it to the proper forum.

Geez, see what happens when a person doesn't pay attention.

[samseed101]

I'd really like to have the imput from Non-verified, Retired, and Former LEO's if at all possible.

In this forum, only verifieds can answer, so you won't get an answer fron Non-Verifieds. But putting that aside:

All the Depts. in the State of Maine use the same phonetic alphabet, which is different from the one used in Aviation / Military communications. Get's to be a pain for me, considering I am both a pilot and an Officer ;)

[greenlead]

(moved by me per request)

[Kate]

Thank you very much, Greenlead. Much appreciated...

[Retired Trooper]

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
Indigo
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
Nation
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Whisky
Xray
Yankee
Zulu

[acreature]

I am bored so I'll post it and be a nerd :D

Adam
Boy
Charles
David
Edward
Frank
George
Henry
Ida
John
King
Lincoln
Mary
Nora
Ocean
Paul
Queen
Robert
Sam
Tom
Union
Victor
William
X Ray
Young
Zebra

[Kate]

All the Depts. in the State of Maine use the same phonetic alphabet, which is different from the one used in Aviation / Military communications. Get's to be a pain for me, considering I am both a pilot and an Officer ;)

Then why even have two different alphas? Why not keep one so it's consistent everywhere? Wouldn't that be the simple solution? Any clue when the police alpha came into existence?

[Retired Trooper]

Im bored too as if u cant tell.

[acreature]

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
Indigo
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
Nation
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Whisky
Xray
Yankee
Zulu

Didn't teach "U" and "V" when they taught you the alphabet in Elementary School? :D :D

[txinvestigator1]

Then why even have two different alphas? Why not keep one so it's consistent everywhere? Wouldn't that be the simple solution? Any clue when the police alpha came into existence?

It started years ago. I suspect when the LE alphabet started most cops were not and had not been in the military.

Tada.

[Retired Trooper]

LOL....ive been trying to rep u but cant. Im bored but typing in a hurry go figure.

Anyways

Uniform
Victor

[Kate]

It started years ago. I suspect when the LE alphabet started most cops were not and had not been in the military.

Tada.

I'm not 100% satisfied with that answer, Tx! I'm still curious... :p

If police officers are quasi-paramilitary, even if they never were in the service, wouldn't it have been easier to adopt a phonetic alphabet that was already in use instead of instituting a new one?

[txinvestigator1]

I'm not 100% satisfied

Jeesh.........I am sooooooooo tired of hearing women say that! :eek:



If people who had never been in the military tried to come up with a way to keep from confusing letters, how would they even know about the military ones.

Besides, the military phonetic alpahabet is dumb.

[Kate]

I guess I'll have to live with that for now, Tx, especially since I can't find the history of the phonetic alphabet for police, but plenty of history for military.

Oh well...