--- title: "Who is ‘Roger?’ Military lingo explained" description: "Colloquialisms, slang, acronyms, the military says some weird stuff, but some of things actually make a lot of sense, like voice procedure over the radio." date: "2022-06-26" modified: "2022-06-26" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/who-the-hell-is-roger-military-lingo-explained/" categories: - "Join the Military" - "Military Culture" --- # Who is ‘Roger?’ Military lingo explained ![A female soldier in camouflage uniform and cap, wearing sunglasses, is holding and speaking into a black walkie-talkie. She is standing outdoors near a white pickup truck. The name tag on her uniform reads "JOHNSON" and the patch says "U.S. AIR.]() *U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Page Johnson, 386th Civil Engineering Squadron force protection escort, radios dispatch at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, Sept. 4, 2019. The force protection flight provides a security buffer between other country nationals such as contractors, their employees and the general base population. Airmen assist and escort OCNs during their duty day, help minimize potential data collection, and ensure departure of vehicles and personnel once their services are completed for the day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mozer O. Da Cunha)* Between colloquial humor and slang, [the military says some weird stuff]() (don't even get me started on acronyms), but some of the lingo has origins in so-called "voice procedure" and actually kind of makes sense. --- Voice procedure is a set of techniques, protocols, and phrases used in two-way radio communications to reduce confusion and maximize clarity. Here are a few of the big ones: ### 1. Roger Saying "Roger" over the radio is shorthand for "I have received your message or transmission." If you've ever tried spelling your last name over the phone with someone, you know that the English alphabet has letters that sound the same, so phonetic or spelling alphabets were created to convey letters. ![]() In the '50s, this alphabet was standardized to the alphabet NATO militaries use today (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc), but when the radio use in the military became prevalent, the word 'Roger' was used for "R." The "R" in "received" was conveyed with "Roger" — and even though today "Romeo" stands for "R," good ol' "Roger" stuck. ### 2. Mayday "Mayday" is a signal word used to convey distress. [It was deliberately chosen for this purpose in 1923]() by Frederick Stanley Mockford, a senior radio official in England. At the time, much of the radio communication was between French and English speakers, so Mockford needed a word that would be understood in both languages and wouldn't be commonly spoken. "Mayday" is a rather unique phrase in English, but is also similar to the French word for "help me." ![]() *This is an appropriate time for the use of 'Mayday.' (Painting by Pierre Dénys de Montfort, 1801)* To further reduce confusion, "Mayday" is used three times in the beginning of a distress call. It is reserved for incidents where loss of life or craft is imminent — misuse is considered a serious crime. ### 3. Copy "Copy" has its origins in [Morse Code communications](). Morse Code operators would listen to transmissions and write down each letter or number immediately, a technique called "copying." ![]() *(Image via Public Domain)* Once voice communications became possible, 'copy' was used to confirm whether a transmission was received. Today it still means "I heard what you said" or "got it," similar to "roger." ### 4. 10-4 10-4" does not actually have its roots in military-speak. [Then ten-codes are used primarily by law enforcement]() to communicate common situations with brevity. For example: 10-4 Message Received 10-9 Repeat 10-10 Fight In Progress 10-32 Person With Gun ![]() *Be careful: '10-4' has...alternative meanings...according to Urban Dictionary. (Image via imgflip)* What are your favorite or most baffling military terms? *Feature image: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mozer O. Da Cunha* ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()