I worked with a woman whose brother was a NOC for the CIA. He would call her out of the blue a few times a year. When she would answer her phone, it was a CIA operator who would ask my coworker a question that would require her to give a coded number back, then the call would be connected to her brother.
Weird shît.
🦫
Not that weird…there are all sorts of governmental jobs in secret/sensitive work areas that require a non-specific reply in order for communication to be allowed…
An example would be the “word of the day”… lets make believe it’s 9…. When the operator would say 7 you would say…plus 2… if they said 20 you would say minus 11… sometimes changed daily, weekly or monthly…
Sensitive info is not transmitted via unsecured comms.
mike r
Or just simple brevity codes memorized before hand.
A code word can mean simple things or in depth complex things
Of course the receiver on the other end of the comms in the rear has his cheat sheet to say or understand...
When Americans used to patrol the DMZ in Korea we had to rote memorize 30 brevity codes for various day recon and night ambush procedures, stages, and for movement down to the lowest rifleman on a 4 day mission cycle.
Get grilled by the chain of command up to the BC before the day recon on TTP,s and PCC, s never knew who it was gonna be.
And of course they all had a cheat sheet for the brevity code and route grilling.
Intimidating in a way at 1st.
But we looked at as a game with whoever should up once our noggins got used to the rote memorization.
Kinda a you cant touch this type of thing and play stump the dummy with us anymore for your kicks...
Same thing with az,s and distances for the routes
81mm at warrior base and the 155,s at 4 papa 3 across the Imjim was relatively easy.
Merely say can Trp4 and lay on Trp 3 when halfway.
Ect ect ect for the 8 TRPS on the Dmz.
Once ya had terrian familiarization in ref to the TRP,s too easy...
The TRP,s stayed constant and were shift from a known point missions anyways..
48 day recons
48 night ambushes
4 months non stop 4 day mission cycle.
Scout platoon Sqd ldr
All 3 scout sqds had the boots on the ground mission in the 8k area of the American sector.
Then ya had the 8th Army JSA Pretty boy guards up in Panmujon.
Basically get all the "limelight" and be static displays.
Those JSA guys hated life and realized their jobs sucked .
Talked to many of em.
They regretted volunteering for it for the most part.
They all had to be at least 6ft tall and not wear glasses.
8th army/JSA would have a briefing for 11B,s newly in country arrived in Yongson.
Had to sit in on as a young newly promoted E6.
Fugg that .
AMF at the end of the brief...
Homie just spent 13 months as a 11C at Hood dropping 4 deuce mortars rds to stay away from 11M conversion and was looking forward to my 1st true Light Infantry unit, had a direct assignment to 1/503rd on Camp Hovey for my 1st of 3 tours over the years in korea.
People would volunteer for JSA and go thru their tryout and probationary process for it.
To get certified to stand still in Class B,s at the JSA and stare at Nork gaurds for their year tour in Korea.
🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Anyways...
1 line company would be QRF for a month
Another would be OP Collier for a month
Another would be OP Ouelette for a month.
Just reminiscing ......
