The Cold Tundra

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:

MASTERLIST

Secret lunch spot

Ghost: *Sitting at the table, sipping tea* Whats a 5 letter word used to insult someone?

Oswald: *Cooking in the communal kitchen* Irraz?

Soap: *Running through the door*

Soap: *Stops and looks up* L.T? Bonnie? Why are ye here and not in the mess hall?

Oswald: I can't stand the bland food, especially since I'll be stationed here for the next few months

Soap: *looks at Ghost then to Oswald* So ye both been here the whole time?! Is that why I never see you two? Ye both been sneaking off without me!

Oswald: *Shrugs* Si caught me a few weeks ago. I knew you'd find out sooner or later

Ghost: She promised me free lunch if I kept shut

Soap: *dumbfounded*

Oswald: *Brings a plate to Soap* Just keep your mouth shut for me. Shoots?

Soap: *Takes the plate, grinning* Ye strike a good deal Bonnie

CoD oc Sketches(F-0-Z)

------------------------------------

- Capt. Willow "Oswald" Pelekai

- Srg. Kainalu "Mana" Manalo

Full Names:

- Willow Kimiko Ailana Pelekai

- Kainalu Kekoalanakila Manalo

------------------------------------

Get to know:

- Out of all the members of the F-0-Z, Oswald knew Mana the longest when they were both serving in Oahu.

- Mana is just a shortened version of Manalo, but Mana also means "Spiritual Power" in Hawaiian, which represents his large and strong stature.

- Oswald and Mana are often mistaken as siblings, but are not related. But they do share a sort of sibling dynamic.

- Mana was originally in the Navy before joining Oswald in the F-0-Z after being recruited overseas. That is also why he's only rank Srg. In the F-0-Z dispite being Oswalds first recommend recruit.

- Mana dosen't have blood related siblings, but has 3 step siblings in which he holds a strong relationship with, as well as with his step-dad.

- During Oswalds time on Oahu, her original unofficial callsign was "Tita" but after being stationed overseas, "Oswald" became her more notorious callsign.

Tagged by: @cloudofbutterflies92 @islandtarochips @itsastronxmy (Ty 💕)

Links:

• Picrew

• Quiz

I did 2 bc I usually keep my hair in a tita bun to control my freakishly long and messy hair

I also do need to sleep more-

Tagging: @littlelalaland @the-whispers-of-death and anyone else

Ghost grabbing a tea with his smoke at 3am

Meanwhile Soap with a desk full of energy drinks, tinkering with explosives

Was randomly talking to my mom about the Maui fires a bit back and everything going on in Maui now, post fire, and it really got me thinking.

Growing up, I adored mountain fires. Being a kid in West side Waianae, mountain fires were a yearly thing since our mountains were so dry. Since Waianae is so dark(bc it's not a city like in the Windward side) you can't even see the mountains at night, making them blend in with the pitch black sky.

My living room had 2 wide sliding doors looking towards the mountains and whenever the fires came around, it would illuminate the fine mountain ridges. It was beautiful. I'd find myself sitting by that patio door every night just to see the dancing lines of blaze drawing the outlines of the almost invisible mountains, paired with the soft smell of smoke. The slight smoke filtered by the distance was one of my most pleasant and also memorable scents of my childhood.

I think it must have been weird for my parents then. Imagine seeing your child ritualistically sit by the open patio screen, staring out into the night in an entranced state? Plus the fact that it would be like that for a full month. Creepy...I'd even run out to see the fires the moment I woke up.

Another thing is a more cultural aspect. Pele. The Hawaiian goddess of fire and lava. Also my favorite Hawaiian Goddess growing up. Sometimes I'd find myself talking to the flames, miles away from my patio door as if it were Pele herself. I'd thank her for the beauty her flames provided as well as the beauty it would soon bring for these mountains.

Like I said, Waianae mountains are dry. Dry mountain = dirt colored, crusty grass aka brown mountains. Not your typical luscious green mountain full of life and care that you'd see on Hawai'is touristy ads and commercials. No. We don't have that in the Leeward. Thats why after the fires, our mountains would turn into a beautiful green, full of life and just beautiful.

This isn't really a comment on the Maui fires bc I have a lot to say about that, but with how nice a day I had, I kind of wanted to share a piece of my childhood.

I do have other stories of personal encounters with local legends and myths from family, but I wrote too much in one sitting and is probably gonna sleep.

Typical interaction between Graves and Oswald:

Graves: *Plates mashed potatoes instead of rice*

Oswald: Frickin Haole

Graves: *Walks into the teams Barracks with shoes*

Oswald: Frickin Haole

Graves: Oh man, I would like to have me a Pokee bowl and Masoobi

Oswald: Frickin Haole

Graves: *Takes pictures of literally everything*

Oswald: Frickin Haole

Graves: *breathes*

Oswald: Frickin Haole

Graves:

Made a art com test for when I figure out a good art software and paypal ✨️

!!! TESTER ONLY !!!

< ART COMMISSIONS >

{Rendered}

Headshot: $15

Bust up: $35

Thigh up: $50

{Manga Art}

Head: $10

Bust up: $15

Thigh up: $30

{Sketch}

Bust up: $5

Thigh up: $15

More info:

Back from Leave

Soap: *Runs up and pats Ghost on the back* Long time no see L.T!

Ghost: Would've liked it to be longer, eh Johnny?

Soap: Aye

Oswald: *Yawns* You two are cheerful this morning. Happy to be back I see?

Soap: Bonnie! How was your time off?

Oswald: *Chuckles* Wouldn't you like to know? I took the old mans(older brother) kids to Disneyland

Soap: Disney? *Looks at Ghost* We should go sometime, eh Ghost? Bonnie?

Ghost: Mmm...too much waiting

Gaz: *Walks up groggly holding a cup of tea* Morning...

Ghost: *Smuggly* Hows the morning cup?

Gaz: Rubbish. I had worse though

Gaz: How was your guy's time off?

Soap: Visited family. Ye know, same old, same old

Ghost: Its classified

Oswald: *Snatches Ghosts phone and turns it on revealing a dog on his home screen* Sure looks classified

Soap: Awwww, Si you should've told us ye adopted this cute lad

Ghost: *Snatches his phone back* I didn't want you all crowding him

Gaz: *Sips from his mug* Or, you're just selfish

Ghost: *Scoffs* Its not selfishness if im looking out for Ri-Ri's interests

Soap: *Chokes*

Gaz: *Spits out tea* RI-RI?!?!

Oswald: Short for Riley. But Si is just being dramatic. Riley didn't act up when I came to visit

Soap: Ye were allowed to see Ghosts new pup and not us?! Since when?!

Ghost: *Rolls eyes* Lets just move on. Price is probably waiting for us

Gaz: Uh-huh. But we're so seing your new dog when we get back

Friendly Banter

Ghost: *Bandaging Oz's bullet wounded arm* The sucker got a good hit on you

Oswald: *Winces* I had my guard down

Soap: *Keeping watch* Aye. If Bonnie wasnae so focused on covering the civs, she wouldnae been shot. Donnae be too hard on her, Ghost

Ghost: Well, that is the exact reason why she's losing so much blood right now

Oswald: *Clenches her teeth in pain* You sound like my brother

Soap: Ye have a brother, lass?

Oswald: Didn't mean to let that slip...

Ghost: *Softly pats Oz's bandaged arm and stands up* Your brother seems like a completely rational and reasonable guy

Oswald: Ego much...