The standardized NATO phonetic alphabet

...for when you need to read alpha numeric codes or clarify spellings.

Especially with, how, inexplicably, phone connections seem to have gotten more garbly in recent years.

This code was invented to be reasonably understood as much as possible in less-than-ideal communication conditions.

As time goes on, civilian life is full of situations where you'll need to read off serial numbers, codes, or even spelling your own name, to somebody seemingly connected to you from a million miles away via coconuts and twine.

So, learn it, and you never need to go "M as in...uh...'Mancy"'? ever again! Your IT department might thank you.

...and let's be honest, it sounds kinda cool. :)