3BN Guidance on Callsign Selection

This is the Document Release Information
Article Number:	7CAV-BATT3-011
Scope:	Callsign Selection Guidance
Version:	Version 1.0
Effective Date:	01APR24
Last Modified Date:	DDMMMYYYY
Approving Authority:	3BN Commanding Officer
Point of Contact:	3BN Executive Officer

THIS DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE EDITED WITHOUT 3-7 COMMANDER APPROVAL.

3rdBattalion Callsign Selection

Aviators and Support crew of 3rdBattalion,

Aviation callsigns have a long and storied past in the military community; from the earliest days of flight, aviators have come up with nicknames based on their flying style, Habits and personality. By the 1930's it was a regular occurrence for all aviators to have a callsign. Callsigns originated from the need to ease communication between pilots and ground crews and to identify friendly flights whilst confusing enemy counter intelligence. The popularity of callsigns grew during World War Two and Vietnam, and by the 1980’s it became an institution. Today, getting a callsign is a rite of passage.

Pilots and naval aviators do not get to pick their own callsigns, they are instead bestowed upon the new owner by other “named” aviators. Aircrew callsigns are often, but not always based on their appearance, actions, or name and even innocent sounding ones may have embarrassing stories behind them; more often callsigns are bequeathed for doing something stupid or memorable. The more you fight the more it sticks.Everyone can propose a name. There are lots of nominations. Many are absurd and vile. Eventually, a few finalists are named. They're voted on and by acclimation a callsign is bestowed. The commanding officer then gets veto authority - and sometimes exercises it, In which case you go back to the white board. Tradition holds that once a pilot flies a combat sortie with their call sign it can never change, That said, in very fewinstances a named pilot can do something so egregious or so memorable (or just piss off all the other guys) that one of his peers may suggest a “hostile renaming” ceremony. This is an exceeding rare occurrence though.

3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Gaming regiment wishes to mimic similar traditions with respect to callsigns using the following guidance:

• All pilots should be monitoring and keeping mental notes of their unnamed squad mates habits, flight styles, personalities, and most importantly their “screw ups” during Ops
• Section leaders should be diligent in ensuring their troopers do the above, and maintain a mental list of said traits.
• Section leaders will monitor their trooper’s progress, and upon a trooper’s graduation of the ITW ground school evaluation and awarding of initial flight wings AND that trooper reaching rank of Specialist, thesection leader will inform their First sergeant that a naming ceremony is required.
• For troopers requiring a name ceremony the Company Commanderwill create a post in the winged-aviators channel of the 7thCavalry discord. This post will be titled as the pilots RNK.Last.F, and the subject body “Let’s get some callsign suggestions”
• A troopers Company Commander (or the First Sergeant at CC’s direction) is the only entity that is permitted to post a callsign naming ceremony
• All winged aviators may have discussion, make suggestions, and campaign for already suggested ideas within the naming post
• The aviator in question is to have no input, suggestions, or advocacy for any callsign real life or otherwise, during this process.
• Company staff will monitor the posts suggestions, keep it civil, and ensure suggestions or votes flow in. Company staff will ensure a reasonable amount of time is allowed before calling for a final vote.
• Company staff will list all reasonable suggestions in the discord post and then call for all winged participants to make a final vote using reactions. Company staff will exercise due diligence in ensuring each participant votes for a singular callsign.
• The Company commander is solely and completely responsible for the naming ceremony and all discussion therein. The Company Commander holds absolute veto power over any suggestion or final vote outcome.
• Battalion Staff reserves the right to consult on any veto decisions
• A “renaming” or “hostile renaming” ceremony may only be called by the Company Commander. Any trooper may approach their Platoon staff to request a renaming. If Platoon staff feels it should be considered they will elevate the request to Company Staff who will make a determination.

The above procedure is the only authorized protocol for callsigns in 3rdBattalion, 7thCavalry gaming regiment.

Should reader wish for more information on history of callsigns see below

1. htps://www.twz.com/how-u-s-navy-pilots-really-get-their-callsigns
2. htps://www.military.com/history/history-of-aviator-call-signs-and-how-pilots-get-their-new-name.html
3. htps://slate.com/human-interest/2013/08/how-do-fighter-pilots-typically-earn-their-call-signs.html
4. htps://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Arcle/455671/call-signs-whats-in-a-name/