How to Greet in Military Code: An Inside Look

The traditional greeting hello doesn't exist in the United States military protocol. Unlike civilian communications, military communications do not include personal salutations. Instead, the recipient is identified by name, rank, and location or command, with no preamble akin to what one might find in a civilian setting.

The Alphabetical Code: A Brief Overview

If you're referring to the NATO phonetic alphabet or military code, each letter is represented with its corresponding code word. Here's a quick refresher:

A - Alpha B - Bravo C - Charlie D - Delta E - Echo F - Foxtrot G - Golf H - Hotel I - India J - Juliet K - Kilo L - Lima M - Mike N - November O - Oscar P - Papa Q - Quebec R - Romeo S - Sierra T - Tango U - Uniform (pronounced you-nee-form) V - Victor W - Whiskey X - X-ray Y - Yankee Z - Zulu

Note: Instead of a ‘Hello,’ we had our own form of greeting in the military. I recall salutations like: “Hello,” “Hey,” “What's up,” or “Stuff like that.” Perhaps not what you'd call a formal code, but they were our way of greeting.

Greetings at Different Ranks: A Guide to Protocol

Depends on whom you are addressing. Besides the simple Hey for buddies of the same rank, protocol suggests: If the person you wish to greet is of the same or lower rank than yours, you can call them by their first name or by a casual greeting. That said:

If the person you are addressing is of a higher rank, you must follow military protocol. For example:

For enlisted personnel, the greeting may be 'Good morning, insert proper time of day and rank.' Example: 'Good morning, Sergeant,' or 'Good evening, Private.' For officers, you replace the rank with 'Sir' or 'Ma'am' as a sign of respect. Example: 'Good morning, Sir/Ma'am,' followed by a salute if you are the lower rank addressing them in a military environment.

Military communication is highly structured and respectful; it reflects the hierarchical nature of the organization. So while we may not use hello as we would in civilian communication, the respectful and structured greeting rules are essential for clear and efficient communication in a military setting.