Training

Why the NATO Phonetic Alphabet Matters

Clear communication is critical in emergency operations, and few tools are as vital to clarity as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet. Whether you’re relaying call signs, license plates, or street names, this standardized spelling system ensures that letters are unmistakable—especially over noisy or weak signals.

In high-stress or high-noise environments, misheard letters can mean the difference between help arriving at “B Street” or “D Street.” That’s why every ARES operator should be fluent in the phonetic alphabet.

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🎙️ The NATO Phonetic Alphabet

Letter	Word		Letter	Word
A	Alpha		N	November
B	Bravo		O	Oscar
C	Charlie		P	Papa
D	Delta		Q	Quebec
E	Echo		R	Romeo
F	Foxtrot		S	Sierra
G	Golf		T	Tango
H	Hotel		U	Uniform
I	India		V	Victor
J	Juliett		W	Whiskey
K	Kilo		X	X-ray
L	Lima		Y	Yankee
M	Mike		Z	Zulu

🧠 Tips for Mastery

• Practice daily: Recite your call sign phonetically every time you check in. For example, W5XYZ becomes Whiskey Five X-ray Yankee Zulu.
• Correct errors politely: If you hear someone use “Apple” instead of “Alpha,” kindly model the correct form in your response.
• Be consistent: Always use the official terms—this isn’t the time for creativity.

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📻 Use in ARES Communications

In Travis County ARES deployments, you’ll use the phonetic alphabet to:

• Relay incident reports
• Spell out names and addresses
• Clarify serial numbers or identifiers
• Communicate with served agencies who also use NATO standards

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🏁 Quick Challenge

Can you spell ARES NET using the phonetic alphabet?

Answer: Alpha Romeo Echo Sierra — November Echo Tango

Stay sharp. Stay clear. Stay ready.

At our April 2024 meeting, our AEC Chris, KJ5DJC presented on the Wilderness Protocol. What it is. When and how to use it.

When on a formal net it is necessary to communicate clearly and effectively with net control. To that end, there is are standard keywords that are used. Here is a list of standards that are used within TCARES (and other ARES nets)

Situation	Transmission	Expectation
Acknowledge Last Transmission	COPY	Confirming last transmission and content
Request retransmitting the last transmission	SAY AGAIN?	Last station to retransmit information from most recent transmission
Retransmitting the last transmission	I SAY AGAIN [content]	Beginning of retransmitting the most recent transmission
Request to provide relevant information	INFO	Requesting to provide relevant information to the most recent transmission
Request to provide a relevant comment	COMMENT	Requesting to provide a comment in context with the QSO
Request to provide a correction to recent transmission	CORRECTION	Request to provide a correction to the current QSO’s content
Request to relay information	RELAY	Requesting to relay information to the current QSO
Request to interrupt Net Control	BREAK	Requesting the attention of the Net Control Operator
Request to provide emergency information	BREAK BREAK BREAK	Broadcasting the need to provide emergency information during a NET or QSO
Request to provide traffic [information]	[CALLSIGN] WITH TRAFFIC	Station requesting to provide traffic/information
Acknowledging the requested station to proceed	GO AHEAD [CALLSIGN]	The station calling will proceed with the requested traffic/information
Confirming acknowledgement without traffic/info	[CALLSIGN] NO TRAFFIC	Station confirming acknowledgement without any traffice/information

A big thanks to Phil, AA5EX for putting this together!

As emergency operators we are called to serve in the field (often times, by ourselves). Attached is an excellent guide by Dan O’Connor, KE7HLR on what to pack / bring.

TCARES February meeting presentation on the local Travis County repeaters.