Names Like Ghost, Soap, And Gaz Are Aliases Or Nicknames. They're Not Actually Callsigns.

So dumb question time again. I saw where you reblogged the callsign post. But you said y’all just call them nicknames.

When I did the barest do research, I know should’ve looked harder, the only place I really found that used the term callsign were pilots.

(Also I forgot the word pilot and almost just wrote flier but had enough sense to google what are people that fly planes called)

In the COD wikis I’ve read they use the word Alias(es) and not callsign.

Is callsign just a pilot term? Or is it also used throughout the military?

I know I could probably google it more but honestly your lived experiences and even opinions give an interesting perspective on it all.

Sorry your tags got me thinking about where the term that is used so heavily in the fanfic side of the fandom came from and why we use it.

You mean this post?

Ok. Here's where the fandom rage quits my blog:

The term "callsign" is used incorrectly in roughly 99% of military-themed fanfiction.

In the army, a callsign (or call sign) is specifically used in radio communications, not as a moniker or nickname to be used in in-person communications.

More precisely, a callsign is a combination of alpha and numeric characters, like Echo 3-1, Bravo-6, or Watcher-1. Callsigns are also used to ID listening posts, HQs, and permanent telecom installations, such as 620-Kilo in Cold War West Berlin. The radio operator on site would ID as 620-Kilo rather than an individual callsign, and when their shift is over, the next operator ID as 620-Kilo also.

Only field operators use individually designated callsigns, unless the callsign ID the vehicle (like a tank or armored-heavy), which means anyone using the radio for the vehicle ID as the vehicle callsign.

A callword (or call word) is the name of a receiver or station using letters/words but no numbers, like Actual, Cloud Castle, or Whiskey Foxtrot.

U.S. pilots (navy/air force/army air cavalry) are different from most of the military. Pilots get permanent callsigns (not always with numbers) during training and it follows them during their career. To be fair, they spend a lot of time on the radio, so having a permanent callsign makes sense.

The Call of Duty fandom fell in love with using the term callsign because it sounds more "military" to their ears than alias or nickname.

Names like Ghost, Soap, and Gaz are aliases or nicknames. They're not actually callsigns.

In my writing, I avoid using the term callsign because it's usually not the proper word to use in a given scene. To be fair, I have yet to write a pilot fic or one where there's extended training discussion about the proper use of radio-telephone operation in field ops.

My husband was an airborne RATELO (radio-telephone operator) and had a callsign for several years, but no one ever used his callsign unless literally talking over the SINCGARS system with him. I operated a radio for a week and I don't even remember what my callsign was. It was something forgettable from the NATO alphabet* with a number after it.

In the army, in person you're either your last name or your nickname.

SpecOps often call each other by their first names ("what's up, Dave?" LOL), their last name, or a nickname.

CIA & CID use aliases. They call those guys spooks for a reason. You never know who you're actually taking to since they never use their real name.

In the context of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, I still maintain that Alex Keller isn't Echo-1's government name. He's CIA. That was never his name. And he was never here. :)

*The NATO Phonetic Alphabet, for reference:

So Dumb Question Time Again. I Saw Where You Reblogged The Callsign Post. But You Said Y’all Just Call

MASTERLIST

Tags

military ref cod ref something to think about bc I need to research more-

More Posts from Yourluckyoswald and Others

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

This is the self insert/OC fairy. 🌼🧚‍♀️When you get this in your ask box, please tell us 3 facts about your S/I or OC and pass it around. Let's learn about each other's S/Is/OCs! 🌈🌷

OH okay!

(Also sorry if this is late, I haven't been on tumblr due to testing)

Willow "Oswald" Pelekai

• Oz hates bugs with a passion. No matter how big or small. If there's a bug, she'll jump and climb on people by any means necessary to avoid it. Sometimes she forces her squad to kill them for her. If it has more than 4 legs, she'll set the house on fire.

• Oswald has more than one Nickname. Oz was stationed in Schofield for a bit, that's where her more unknown nickname came from. But she scrubbed that nickname clean to where no data exists on it. The only person to know is Lieutenant Smokes and 2-Bit.

• Unlike her name, Oswald doesnt consider herself "lucky." She feels like she loses more than wins. Or that the hard sacrifices she makes isn't worth the reward.

Anyways, yeah...the last ones a bit dark compared to the rest lol

Tags

Cod call of duty cod oc call of duty oc call of duty headcanons cod hcs willow oswald pelekai

6 notes View Post

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

Babygirlification✨️

102 notes View Post

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

Pidgin Bible

Soap: I hear ye a Christian

Oswald: Yep, I even have myself a portable bible

Soap: Oh? Well lets hear it lass

Oswald: Ahem. *pulls out pidgin bible*

Oswald: Da time wen eryting wen start, God make da sky an da world. Da world come so no mo notting inside, no mo shape notting. On top da wild ocean dat cova eryting, neva had light notting. Ony had God Spirit dea, moving aroun ova da watta.

Soap: I THOUGHT YE SAID YE HAD A BIBLE!

Oswald: THIS IS A BIBLE!

30 notes View Post

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

This is the self insert/OC fairy. 🌼🧚‍♀️When you get this in your ask box, please tell us 3 facts about your S/I or OC and pass it around. Let's learn about each other's S/Is/OCs! 🌈🌷

Oc sharing is so fun yet can get dark so fast 🥲

Anyways, since I already did one for Oz, I'll do another Oc instead.

Oscar "2-Bit" Watts

• Oscar founded the F-0-Z and was the late Captain of the team. During the start of the force's creation, it was only him, Oswald(then Lieutenant), and Smokes(then Sargeant).

• Oscar grew up in a relatively normal lower class household. He spent most of his childhood playing sports. But, during his freetime, he'd spend hours watching old Mickey Mouse cartoons his grandma had.

• His nickname comes from the Outsiders. His older brother served the army with a huge love for old Mickey cartoons like Oscar. When Oscar joined the army, his personality matched 2-Bit from the Outsiders, pair that with his love for Mickey and thats how he got his name.

Tags

Cod call of duty cod oc call of duty oc call of duty headcanons cod hcs oscar “2-bit” watts

7 notes View Post

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD! Once you are given this award you're supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 people you adore! Absolutely no pressure but. It's sweet to know someone thinks you're beautiful inside and out <3

Tyyyyy 🥺🥺🥺🥺

1 note View Post

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

Laswell and Oswald discussing and filing their recent opperation:

Oswald: The hardest parts of the mission's isn't fighting my way through hundreds of automatic bullets firing directly at me as I make it to enemy lines or wondering if I'll make it home alive. The hardest part is fighting through sleep and wondering if my eyelids can handle weeks of nothing but coffee.

Laswell: Alright so thats a 2 month vacation and 10 year therapy plan.

Oswald: wait no-

7 notes View Post

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

Thanks @islandtarochips and @itsastronxmy for the tags 🤍

Anyways here's the closest iliteration of myself.

(And ofc I had to add the Hibiscus since it's my state flower lol)

New Picrew tag game!

Picrew

Grgikau Character Maker

Non-commercial use only. If you use it, please do not edit! Here are my links: https://grgikau.com https://twitter.com/grgikau https://www

Here's mine! Tagging: @likelyscam @greiiliss @lex-the-lesbiann @apricior @twacn @dip-the-stick and literally anyone else who wants to join, the more the merrier!

Tags

tags tag game

1K notes View Post

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

Y/n: you know what concerns me?

Soap: what?

Y/n: the fact that me, you and Gaz can go around doing really stupid shit, and no one will question it or even be slightly concerned by it, but it's when we aren't doing stupid shit that they get worried about us

Soap:

Soap: that is concerning

Tags

pure chaos Nah bc fr tho

1K notes View Post

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

Football

Oswald: *Watching the NFL*

Soap: American Football?

Oswald: *Shrugs* Its the 49ners against the Chiefs. I don't like either of them, but It's the last game of the season so I'm rooting for the 49ers due to past biases

Soap: Why all the ads

Oswald: Its to give me a pee and cry break

Soap: Cry break-? I thought ye said you didnt care for the 49ners?

Oswald: *With visible tears in her eyes after seeing the Chiefs win* I dont!

21 notes View Post

yourluckyoswald

1 year ago

Bar Talks

Ghost: *Sits with a pissed expression*

Laswell: Oh c'mon Simon. Have some drinks and loosen up a bit. You went through 3 weeks of brutal combat, its time to take a breather

Ghost: But a pub?

Price: Oh lighten up Si