The alphabet-

Alpha

Bravo

Charlie

Delta

Echo

Foxtrot

Golf

Hotel

India

Juliet

Kilo

Lima

Mike

November

Oscar

Papa

Quebec

Romeo

Sierra

Tango

Uniform

Victor

Whiskey

X-ray

Yankee

Zulu

Here's an example of how a normal conversation works;

The plot- Dave requires Kevin Stones' (made up persons) assistance in grid reference 654 563;

1. "Mike 1 to Mike 3, message, over"

2. "Mike 1, this is Mike 3, go ahead, over"

3. "Mike 3, Mike 1. Send Kilo Sierra to grid reference, figure 654 563, Over"

4. "Mike 1, Kilo Sierra is en route, over and out"

5. "mike 1 out"

As mentioned, most of the figures and numbers is for security reasons. Let's re-write the same example in a 'non-secured' way.

1. "Kev, you there?"

2. "Yes, it's me, Kevin Stones. What's bothering you Dave?"

3. "can you meet me at the farmhouse by the water pump as soon as possible?"

4. "OK, I'll be there asap."

Here, not only have we given away two identities, but have also given away their exact location. When out on an exercise, the last thing you need.

Before dispersing, two communicating teams may jot together a plan or initials. In the example, we have Mike 1 and 3. Mike, or M, in phonetic terms means 'mobile' or on the move. And we obvously have three teams, so mikes 1 2 and 3.

So why use the phonetic bit? why not just use 'KS', or M? Well, lets say that Kev and Dave is out in a storm. For some reason, he's going to spell 'blog' over the radio. Which is going to be clearer to understand, 'B-L-O-G', or Bravo Lima Oscar Golf? With the wind howling and the rain pissing, it could easily be misunderstood: B may sound like P, for example, whereas Bravo sounds nothing like Papa or any other phonetic initial.

So there you have it. The phonetic alphabet!