Phonetic Alphabet

The NATO / ICAO phonetic alphabet — also called the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet — is used across the Air Force and joint services any time you need to spell something letter-by-letter over a radio, phone, or in any environment where letters might be misheard (similar-sounding letters like B / D / P, M / N, etc.).

Memorize all 26 letters and the standard pronunciation. You'll use this constantly — call signs, names, serial numbers, vehicle plates, sports scores in radio traffic, everything.

Letter / word / pronunciation