Bravo Tango Charlie (BTC) is a radio phrase used in radio communication to spell out the letters B, T, and C. It is mainly used by the military, the police and other emergency services, as well as by aviation pilots and air traffic controllers.
The acronym BTC is sometimes written using the NATO alphabet to represent the letters because some people find it easier to recall. The word “Bravo” stands for the letter “B,” “Tango” stands for the letter “T,” and “Charlie” stands for the letter “C.”
BTC is most often used to spell out words or phrases. For example, the emergency services often use it in the event of an emergency situation, to ensure they are properly understood. Additionally, pilots use it while talking on the radio to air traffic controllers.
BTC is also used by the military in conjunction with code words and numbers. For example, the sign-off “Bravo Tango Charlie 7” would mean “end of transmission 7.” Essentially, BTC helps to reduce communication times and re-clarify important terms.
Why does the military call the enemy Charlie?
The use of the name “Charlie” to refer to the enemy in the military dates back to the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War the Viet Cong guerrillas were often referred to as “Charlie” by the American and South Vietnamese troops due to their frequent use of the letter “C” in their coded communications.
In Vietnamese, “C” is pronounced as “Ch,” which sounded like “Charlie” to the American troops.
The term “Charlie” has held on in the military since then and is still commonly used to refer to the enemy in combat situations. It can also be used in a derogatory manner by Allied troops to denote a lack of respect for the enemy.
In addition to being used in combat, the term “Charlie” has also been used to refer to a hypothetical enemy in military training exercises.
Why do pilots say Niner?
Pilots often communicate with one another over the radio using a language of their own. Part of that language is using the numbers from “niner” to stand for the number nine. This is a common aviation practice used to ensure messages are clearly heard.
By simply saying “Niner,” a pilot can easily relay the number nine over the air.
It is believed that this form of communication derived from military slang, where the number 9 was referred to as “Niner” and the whole number 90 was referred to as “Niner Zero.” By using this phraseology, military members could be sure that the number nine was being correctly heard and understood.
Using this phraseology in the air has become an aviation standard, helping pilots easily convey numbers, particularly when using radio frequencies, over the air. Pilots will often use “Niner,” instead of “Nine” or the number itself (‘9’) in order to keep the message crisp, succinct and clear for all involved.
Is Bravo higher than alpha?
No, alphabetically Alpha comes before Bravo. Alpha is the first letter of the alphabet, whereas Bravo is the second letter. Alphabetically, the letters are arranged in a particular order, starting from A and ending with Z.
This means that Alpha will always come before Bravo.
What does it mean when a soldier says Lima Charlie?
When a soldier uses the expression “Lima Charlie”, it is a phonetic way to communicate the term “Loud and Clear” in military radio alphabet. Basically, it means the communication is being received and understood.
The term is derived from the NATO phonetic alphabet which assigns each letter of the alphabet a specific sound or syllable. The sound of the letter “L” is “Lima,” and this is combined with the sound of the letter “C” which is “Charlie.”
In other words, when a soldier says “Lima Charlie”, it is a way of saying that “the message has been received loud and clear”. It is also used to affirm agreement about something or to acknowledge a task has been completed or instruction understood.
It is a way of showing that everyone is on the same page and communication is understood.
