Reaper*

OK, so most of you readers know what a callsign is. Right? 

For those who don’t, it started as and still is, the name used to identify a flight of jets and the individual members of the flight. It would identify the flight to the various controllers and the flight would know that the controller was talking to THEM!  For example, “Juvat flight, you are cleared for Takeoff” 

“Juvat, roger”

Later: “Juvat 2, commit right target” ( My wingman now locks on to the target on the right side on his radar)

Even later: “Juvat flight of two on initial”

“Roger Juvat, you are cleared to land”

In this particular case, "Juvat" is the traditional name for the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron Kunsan AB, ROK.  My first operational assignment.  Taught me a lot about a lot of things, many of which I've already discussed, others are best left unsaid.

So…callsigns were official! But…Later on it became a custom to address pilots by a call sign even on the ground. While a pilot could try and "influence" the call sign selection, that didn’t always work. Especially if they had done something foolish. After a while, virtually all the Pilots had "call signs" Then the WSO’s (Weapons System Officers AKA Back Seaters) wanted "call signs" of their own. So it is written so it shall be. 

Not many knew about the 80th when I got back to the states and on Friday evening, at the O Club Bar, pilot call signs started getting assigned to any newly assigned Pilots/WSOs  I said I wanted "juvat" as mine and it got accepted.  

Then the support folks, then the Navy, then the Marines got on the tactical call sign boat…Heck even the Sea Bees have them now. Seems it’s only a matter of time before every American in the country has a call sign.

The difference is the official call sign is capitalized, personal call signs are not.  Hence "juvat" instead of "Juvat". 

After I retired from the USAF, I took up the name in lower case even though I am no longer a part of that prestigious organization but have fond memories thereof.

“Where are you going with this post, juvat?”

Well.. On with the story! 

My beloved daughter and the mother of two fabulous children**, is also the "HR Manager for Employee Relations" for the city of College Station, which impresses me. I still have fond memories of the small little girl who is now a full-grown woman, both as a boss, a mother and a wife.  Love her!

 Daughter's workplace

Source

Recently (it actually was yesterday as related to the writing of this post)*, she went into the City Manager’s office, AKA "Her Boss" to discuss a  problem with one of the city employees. The City Manager happens to also be a Naval Reserve Officer in a Construction Battalion . Construction Battalions are unanimously referred to as a “Sea Bees”.

Source

Yes, Beans, he is one. I shall refer to him thusly.

Anyhow…she and Sea Bee discussed the problem and her recommendations for dealing with him. Upon hearing the story, he sat back and said “I think I’m going to have to give you a call sign. You've earned it.  From now on you’ll be called “Reaper” after seeing the look of confusion on her face, he added “As in Grim”

She now has a Call Sign!  I'll have to change my memory on what to call MBD (My Beautiful Daughter) on this blog.  I guess, Reaper has been decided.

I got quite a chuckle when she told me about this at breakfast Saturday.  So it is written so it shall be.

*Yes, I thought it was hilarious and thought all y'all might also. So got it published "most skosh!"

**(In total I have 3 grand kids, Little J’s daughter, my middle grandchild, is also fabulous. Just saying!