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Mnemonic Device for Military Pro-Signs A-Z

Pro-signs are an alphabetical coding system used by the military for radio
transmissions or for the naming of various units, to insure complete
clarity of reference.

ALPHA is a top-notch male, the chief and number one—
BRAVO is the thing you shout when arias are done.
CHARLIE is a nickname that is used quite frequently—
DELTA is a plug of land where rivers meet the sea.
ECHO is a sound that comes reverberating back—
FOXTROT is an old-time dance for couples dressed in black.
GOLF is just a boring game that Scotsmen love to play—
HOTEL is a resting place where travelers stop to stay.
INDIA is a teeming land of sacred cows and caste—
JULIET is a Capulet whose first love was her last.
KILO is a metric weight that’s somewhere near a pound—
LIMA is a city where Peruvians abound.
MIKE is short for microphone, which amplifies your voice—
NOVEMBER is a winter month when voters make their choice.
OSCAR is a name that goes with Hammerstein or Wilde—
PAPA is your father when you were a little child.
QUEBEC is up in Canada, and English it is not—
ROMEO is a lover-boy whose plans all went to pot.
SIERRA is a mountain range that rises to great heights—
TANGO is a silly dance for hot Hispanic nights.
UNIFORM is what you wear to show you’re in a team—
VICTOR is a winner who’s unbeatably supreme.
WHISKEY is a potent drink that might go to your head—
X-RAY lets you see your bones although you aren’t dead.
YANKEE is a player in the dugout or the field—
ZULU is a warrior with assegai and shield.

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Joseph S. Salemi has published five books of poetry, and his poems, translations and scholarly articles have appeared in over one hundred publications world-wide.  He is the editor of the literary magazine TRINACRIA and writes for Expansive Poetry On-line. He teaches in the Department of Humanities at New York University and in the Department of Classical Languages at Hunter College.

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25 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Oh, Dr. Salemi, this is a fantastic application of military mnemonic devices that I would have posted on my walls and bulletin boards when I was in command, the XO, or the Ops Officer in my various units. The creative thoughts behind them and making them rhyme so well and fittingly speaks both to your military knowledge and your fascinating wit and wisdom. I applaud and approve of these and think you should send them to the Pentagon.

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Thank you, Roy. These ones that I have used date from 1956, when they were adopted for all NATO militaries. Earlier pro-sign systems were different, such as the “ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, EASY,” etc. from World War II and the Korean War. The British had their own, based on male first names. These that I have used in my poem are now fairly universal.

      Reply
  2. Mark Stellinga

    Alphabeters are fun to write, Joe, and this one’s as fun as they come. One of the best I’ve seen – great job 🙂

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Thank you, Mark. This is the only alphabet poem I have ever written.

      Reply
  3. Paul A. Freeman

    I usually find alphateters a bit dull and contrived, but this is excellent, doubly so since I recently had to learn the aviation alphabet.

    Nicely done, Joseph.

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Thank you, Paul. It is called the aviation alphabet since it is absolutely essential in flight transmissions, but it is used in all branches of military communication. Even a company of soldiers can be called “Alpha Company,” or “Bravo Company.”

      Reply
  4. Reid McGrath

    This is extremely clever, edifying, and entertaining as usual, Joe. My only qualm is with November being a winter month. Where I come from, November is for leaf-cleanups and harvesting a freezer-full of venison. To my senses it is still very much fall.

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Well, I suppose it depends on exactly where one is living. Since the earth is round, seasonal weather patterns vary all over the globe.

      Reply
  5. Brian Yapko

    This is excellent and entertaining work, Joe. What a creative way to craft a mnemonic device for military code — no doubt be very useful in practice but in a way which also makes this code accessible to the civilian world! Your couplets are airtight and amusing without being disrespectful of their purpose. This piece demonstrates that poetry can be used for practical effect as well as for its aesthetic value.

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Brian, thank you for your comments. The thing that sparked me to write this poem was the realization that there were 26 letters in the alphabet, and therefore one could produce a poem of thirteen rhyming couplets. Airtight meter and perfect rhymes are exactly what a mnemonic piece requires.

      Reply
  6. M.D. Skeen

    Bravo! This is just wonderful. I have printed it up and taped it on the wall of my office as a reference.

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      I’m very glad you liked it. If only the military would use it in a basic training manual, I would get huge royalties!

      Reply
  7. Cynthia L Erlandson

    Thanks, Joseph, this has me laughing! My favorites are BRAVO, JULIET, OSCAR, QUEBEC, ROMEO, and X-RAY.

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      I’m glad it hit your funny bone, Cynthia. I should point out that WHISKEY, TANGO, FOXTROT have now become common all over the internet and social media (often in the shortened form of WTF) to stand for the vulgar expression of disbelief (“what the f–k”).

      Reply
  8. Patricia Redfern

    Greeings from the Left Coast, arg! This poem is quite unque,Joe. It made me laugh.
    Instead of sttimg here trying to understand it!
    Thank you, Joe. for a most delightful adventure in poetic creativity!!

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Thank you, Patricia — I am pleased if something I write brings delight to people.

      Yes, it’s true — I can sometimes write poems that are crystal clear.

      Reply
  9. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    I love this huge dose of educational poetic elation. Just one distraction – I’ve always thought the tango to be sexy, steamy, and anything but silly… but now I fear a burst of laughter may escape my lips when my Prince Charming offers to tango me to happy ever after. Joe – thank you for making me smile.

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Many thanks, Susan. I remember an old tango song, the lyrics of which caught the sexual excitement of the dance:

      I know a dark, secluded place —
      A place where no one knows your face —
      A glass of wine, a fast embrace —

      It’s called Hernando’s Hideaway! Ole!

      Juts knock, three times, and whisper low
      That you and I were sent by Joe —
      Then strike a match, and you will know

      You’re in Hernando’s Hideaway! Ole!

      Reply
      • Susan Jarvis Bryant

        I love it!! You make me want to tango my rainy afternoon away!

  10. Morrison Handley-Schachler

    Highly entertaining, Joe, and I’ll admit to not being into golf at all.

    Reply
  11. Adam Sedia

    This is an original idea for light verse. I don’t recall ever seeing a poem written on or from the military alphabet. Your associations and rhymes are witty, leaving us with an enjoyable and memorable work. (It would make a good song, too, similar to “Doe, a Deer.”)

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Many thanks, Adam.

      In the past rhyme and meter were used to help memory, as in “Thirty days hath September — April, June, and November.” A very old technique for recalling things in a sequence was “place memory,” where you mentally
      “placed” the things you wanted to remember in the rooms of a familiar house that you knew well, and recollection involved imagining yourself walking through the house, room by room, and seeing each thing. Ancient orators often used this method for recalling all the parts of a long speech that they were delivering.

      The military depends a great deal on its personnel memorizing both things and procedural steps. If I could write a smoothly flowing poem telling how to field-strip a weapon and put it back together, I’d be happy to give it to the drill instruction teams. But in cases like that, constant physical repetition of the act for hours and hours is probably more effective!

      Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      Kip, you’re right — B.S. doesn’t just stink; it also poisons.

      Reply

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