The Three Rules of Callsigns

1. If you don't already have one, you will be assigned one by your "buddies".
2. You probably won't like it.
3. If you complain and moan too much about 1. and 2., you'll get a new nickname you'll like even less!

So, how do you get a callsign?

Do something stupid or have it fit with your last name. Obvious examples, 'Crash' or LT 'Cheese' Kraft. Sometimes it's based on a physical appearance thing like 'Carrot'. After you've earned the respect of your buddies, you'll get a more 'heroic' callsign.

Add your callsign to the list

Most recent additions

Thumper

 (added: 12 May 2009)

Was going through basic with a temporary callsign of "Fluffy" and had a soda next to my console when I shouldn't have. Well having a size 15 foot the soda ended up getting kicked over. So my instructor thought, "what's fluffy and has a big foot?" And there you have it.

Jayhawk

 (added: 12 May 2009)

I am cloked at all times in Kansas... I am a die hard fan of anything that has the word Kansas in it... If you don't see me in Kansas gear -out in town-, my socks or underwear probably say Kansas. Therefore, during my AIC Basic class, my instructors (after being annoyed with my bragging on Kansas teams day in and day out) had no choice but to give me the callsign "Jayhawk"...:) ROCK CHALK!

Notso

 (added: 12 May 2009)

Fighter jock - last name Bright!

The Great Bunndini

 (added: 12 May 2009)

After a night of 'light' drinking at the infamous Snake Pit Lounge and the screening of the movie 'The Great Santini' all present rose and pointed at me and stating in unison "He is YOU!, all hail the Great Bunndini!"

Bold

 (added: 12 May 2009)

FOD in the cockpit

Porno

 (added: 12 May 2009)

IP at Laughlin now a C-5 'Fred' Driver at Dover. Ah... self explanatory I believe.

Justin Case

 (added: 12 May 2009)

German Luftwaffe Tornado pilot at Holloman, AFB. All the ladies fall for it hook line and sinker.

Tango Papa

 (added: 12 May 2009)

It seems like every time something went wrong on an op I got in trouble - even if I had nothing to do with it. So, like toilet paper - it all stuck to me. So T.P. or Tango Papa

Hercules

 (added: 12 May 2009)

He got tricked into volunteering to clean the bathroom. He said that one of Hercules's tasks was to clean stables. Hey, if cleaning toilets makes you feel like a hero...

T-Bone

 (added: 12 May 2009)

Dropped two 500# laser-guided bombs on cows in Kosovo during Allied Force.

GULP

 (added: 10 Apr 2009)

It's a FSX callsign but bear with me. I was training a student how to fly and land the F-18. On the second or third lesson, he landed gear up. Hence GULP (Gear up Landing Pilot). Now most people would only make that mistake once, however on the final checkride (after a dual engine failure) he forgot to drop the gear again. Earning him the callsign GULP.

Pid

 (added: 10 Apr 2009)

Guy's name was Stuart, as in Stu. Was known, on certain appropriate occasions where adult beverages were available, to perform down to certain acceptable standards.

Rebound

 (added: 10 Apr 2009)

Sim-aviator. Has been in so many rebound relationships that the name stuck. As a double entendre, it is believed that his plane must be made of rubber, since he hasn't figured out landing... yet.

SCRO-TUM

 (added: 10 Apr 2009)

I was assigned this name way back in 1965. It was based on the first three letters of my name and the bit of a gut or tum I then had. Like in your article as I gained respect I was then "MOOSE" I think as a reference to my size.

Chief

 (added: 10 Apr 2009)

Native American

Forrest

 (added: 5 Apr 2009)

Viper driver from 31 SQN, Kleine Brogel who, untrained, runs like the best of us. With minor training he's in the shower already when the rest is still finishing the yearly PT run.

Stimpy

 (added: 5 Apr 2009)

Skinny F16 pilot in 31 SQN, Kleine Brogel. By lack of a call sign, was named by mistake like the fat half of Ren and Stimpy. Now everybody asks why he's not called Ren...

Marx

 (added: 4 Apr 2009)

First name was Karl, and he hated communists.

Mayo

 (added: 2 Apr 2009)

The guy didn't really mind about food which is supposed to be bad for you. Fast food, pizza, chinese food...the list goes on and that's all he ate. The man did have an amazing G-tolerance though!

RUBMA

 (added: 2 Apr 2009)

Last name "Johnson"

Mr. P

 (added: 2 Apr 2009)

Well endowed... Also fit with his last name, Portman.

Cornbread

 (added: 2 Apr 2009)

Received during SERE School at Fairchild Air Force Base. We learned to make the in-ground rock ovens and cook in them. I made the best damned cornbread you ever tasted in that thing. All of the instructors would make me cook them cornbread in my rock oven. Word spread fast. It stuck. I ran into another SF guy in Afghanistan and he knew the story.

Clownfish

 (added: 2 Apr 2009)

Used to be a naval diver before entering the jet cockpit... Very funny guy before, with a large nose...

Damien

 (added: 2 Apr 2009)

A legacy name, usually given to an easy-going squadron mate who experiences dramatic alcohol-induced personality changes. [Ed note: after the innocent-looking child Damien in the move "The Omen", who was in reality Satan's offspring?]

Gene

 (added: 2 Apr 2009)

S-3 Aviator ... last name: Simmons