MD10PLT

The other thread got me thinking. what are some of the stories out there, on where/how you or someone you know got their callsign.

Here's my favorite; we were deployed to Guam and went out for a night on the town. One of the F-15 guys with us had a really good time. The next morning we went SCUBA diving. We were about 100 ft down when I looked over and saw a lot of fish around our F-15 buddy. Turns out he got vertigo from the weightlessness and the previous nights activity and proceeded to vomit through his regulator. Thus attracting a lot of fish, which were feeding quite well.

His new callsign, which stuck forever, was Chum.

UAL T38 Phlyer

MD10:

I could go on and on, because so many are hilarious, just like "Chum." Here are two of my favorites, both involving FAIPs:

Had a guy that the squadron named "NASDAQ." I wasn't at the naming ceremony, so I didn't know the story. I figured he must have lost his butt in a poor stock-market investment.

Wrong. I finally found out, right before he PCSd:

One drunk night in the bar, he is talking with a black IP we had, whose black wife was very good looking. The FAIP told him "Man, that's one thing I've never done....I've never had a black woman....." and goes on about how he wants to bag one so he can say "been there; done that."

A few weeks later was the naming ceremony. NASDAQ stands for
"Needs A Sweet, Dark African Queen." (Nominated and ensured by the black IP, who thought it hilarious).

FAIP #2:

Graduated number one in his class; could have had any assignment. His girlfriend (later; wife) was going to school locally and didn't want him to leave yet. So, he asked for a T-38 and got it.

His callsign, "GUFFS" stood for:

"Gave Up Fighters For Sex."

Both guys were excellent dudes and pilots, and no doubt re-named now....so I feel safe sharing these secrets.

vagabond

Are the following statements true?

1) Once given a callsign, it usually is not changed unless there has been extenuating circumstances?

2A) A pilot does not get to pick his own callsign, but it is picked for him?

2B) The callsign is picked by his squadron mates and not his elderly, spinster auntie?

3) No two pilots share the same callsign. In other words, we all know that Maverick is Tom Cruise and not one of you guys.

4) Someone out there has a callsign of "Rug Doctor?"

5) Almost all callsigns are monosyllabic grunts, so easy even a Caveman can say it?

And no, nobody may ask me what my friend's callsign is. He'll kill me for sure.

MD10PLT

All the airframes and units are a little different but here's my take on it.

Yes the call sign can be changed. A lot of times the first callsign in your new unit is fairly derogatory or some units just use FNG-1,2,3.... Then at the next naming ceremony, for the price of some alcohol, they can get it changed. This time it is usually something more representative of a characteristic or event. Also if during their time in the unit something extraordinary happens worthy of a name change, the naming official will generally allow it to be readdressed.

No a pilot does not get to pick his callsign. There is a process where squadron mates nominate several and then some senior official makes a determination. Every unit I was in had a different process for determining who the deciding official was. However to answer the above question, in one unit I was in, you could pick your own callsign as long as you had at least 1,500 hours in the aircraft. By this point, it really didn't matter anymore you were generally already known by your callsign.

Yes, see above.


Lots of duplicates out there, everyone I met with the last name Gibson had a callsign of "Hoot". And about half the flight surgeons I met were called "Doogie"

Yes, but someone would probably petition to have this one changed. I expect it would take a very large bribe.

Yes.


And no, nobody may ask me what my friend's callsign is. He'll kill me for sure. [/quote]

navigatro

My callsign is "Crack Ho", but I can't remember how I got it.

UAL T38 Phlyer

Vagabond:

All of your statements are true, as explained by MD10. To further clarify re-naming:

FAIPs (First-Assignment Instructor Pilots) are guys who have just finished pilot training, and are kept as Instructors. When they move on to a Major Weapons System (ie, a fighter or bomber), they are usually re-named. The idea is that a callsign should really originate in a "real"-mission aircraft.

But I have seen guys come from one fighter squadron into another and get re-named due to memorable buffoonery or poor judgment!!

kronan

1. Used to be true. But, changed to an extent in the mid-90s. There was a IG complaint about verbiage in a doofer log and they all went away. IMO it was the start of the SNAP era (Sensitive New Age Pilot) I know of an incident where the Sq CC reverted a C/S back to a kinder/gentler C/S after an individuals gross act of buffoonery. Rest of the tour the dinosaurs called him "Mr" while the SNAPs used his kinder/gentler C/S

2A. Know plenty of guys who've tried to pick their C/S. Some succeeded, most failed. Not sure about life in the new era though.

2B. Unless your elderly, spinster Aunt is Jennifer Anniston. Don't know any self respecting fighter pilot who would use the C/S his spinster Aunt suggested.

3. I've been in orgs where there were Chunks the elder and Chunks JR.

4. Never met a "Rug Doctor", but, I've met many a Peter G. Oeszinia, or Ben D. Over

5. Monosyllabic is the trend for radio brevity. But, you've got to be careful about insulting cavemen by comparing them to pilots
Shouldn't waste all the money you saved on car insurance by switching to GEICO

GunnerV

We aren't so formal in the USMC, no naming ceremonies (that I know of). A callsign usually presents itself in the fullness of time. For example...
A young Marine is on the shotgun range for the first time and is having a problem with his weapon. He is getting misfire after misfire. The Gunny come over to look at his weapon, and the poor devil dog has inserted all his shells in backwards.
Instant callsign: Nugtohs

Paddles

Several of us used to have "O'Club" name tags made up for those special weekends on the road. We were the McGroin Brothers; Yank, Tug, Pat and Keese McGroin. We had the whole highlands accent thing down pretty good as well! Made for some interesting fun with the gals.

eagledriver22

Having performed many In Famous deeds in the 1980 fighter community, I developed "Multiple Call Sign Disorder". So Psycho seems to fit and it has stuck up to the present day.

Food for Thought if you are Hungry,

Psycho
check 6 or wherever