“Roger That”:

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfDUkR3DOFw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OBZf0QdKdE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pue1zKMWSnE

What “Roger That” Actually Means

Acknowledge receipt, not agreement.  In radio procedure, “Roger” is a concise acknowledgment: “I received and understand your last transmission.”

• Not consent: It does not mean “yes” (that’s “Affirmative”), and it certainly does not mean “no.”
• Not a promise: It doesn’t commit to action.  That’s what “Wilco”—short for “will comply”—is for.
• Don’t say “Roger Wilco”: It’s redundant.  If you comply, you obviously received the message.

Use it when you need to confirm clarity under time pressure, such as in aviation, maritime, emergency services, and any scenario where brevity and unambiguous acknowledgment are essential.

Where “Roger” Came From

From dots and dashes to clear speech.  Before voice radio, telegraphers used “R” for “received.” When voice comms took over in the early 20th century, operators needed phonetic words to punch through static and poor connections.  In the U.S. military’s early phonetic sets (popularly remembered as “Able Baker”), “R” was “Roger.”

Why it stuck: In 1956, the NATO/ICAO phonetic alphabet standardized “R” as “Romeo.” But the habit of saying “Roger” for “received” was so entrenched in aviation and military culture that it persisted—and still signals clear acknowledgment today.

Popular Culture Put “Roger” on the Map

Millions heard it—then adopted it.  Radio drama, WWII films, and especially the space age amplified the phrase.  Broadcasts from NASA missions, and later a steady stream of aviation and action movies, turned “Roger” and “Roger that” into cultural shorthand for competence under pressure.  It’s crisp, confident, and instantly understood—even by people who’ve never touched a transmitter.

“Roger,” “Wilco,” and “Affirmative”: Don’t Mix Them Up

• Roger: Message received and understood.
• Wilco: Will comply.  (Implies receipt, so “Roger Wilco” is redundant.)
• Affirmative / Negative: Yes / No.  (For answering questions.)
• Say again?  Repeat your last transmission.
• Stand by: Wait, I’ll get back to you.

If you’re agreeing to do something, “Wilco” is your word.  If you’re only acknowledging, “Roger.” If you’re making a decision, “Affirmative” or “Negative.”

Mayday vs. Pan‑Pan: When Words Save Lives

Not all calls are created equal.  In international radio, urgency and distress have codified meanings:

• Mayday: The highest distress call—“grave and imminent danger.” Think of life-threatening situations: a sinking ship, an engine failure with no landing options, or a medical crisis.
• Pan‑Pan: Urgency but not immediate danger to life or the vessel.  A serious situation that requires prompt attention (e.g., non-fatal medical issue, minor mechanical issue, uncertain position).

How they’re used:

• A distress call is typically sent three times: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” or “Pan‑Pan, Pan‑Pan, Pan‑Pan,” followed by identity, position, nature of problem, and requested assistance.
• Never use these casually.  Misuse can disrupt real emergencies.

The NATO Phonetic Alphabet: From “Able Baker” to “Alfa Bravo”

Why phonetics exist: Static, accents, and similar-sounding letters (M/N, B/D/P) turn critical instructions into potential disasters.  A standard phonetic alphabet makes each letter unmistakable.

A quick History:

• Early 20th century: National services developed their own phonetics.  U.S. forces popularized “Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog…”
• Post‑WWII: Need for international standardization across aviation and maritime domains.
• 1956: NATO/ICAO finalized the modern set: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.
• Note: “Alfa” (not Alpha) and “Juliett” (with two ts) were chosen to improve pronunciation clarity across languages.

The letter “R” became “Romeo,” but “Roger” lived on specifically as shorthand for “received.”

Why “Over and Out” Is Wrong

“Over” means “I’ve finished speaking and I’m waiting for your reply.”
“Out” means “I’m finished and I do not expect a reply.”

Put them together—“Over and Out”—and you’ve said, “Reply to me / don’t reply to me” in the same breath.  It’s a classic radio faux pas (kept alive by Hollywood).  Use one or the other, never both:

• Over: Your turn to talk.
• Out: Conversation terminated.
• Roger, Out: I understood, and I’m ending the exchange.

How to Use “Roger That” Today (Without Sounding Like a Movie Extra)

In aviation and emergency comms: Keep it literal and disciplined.  If you’ll take the action, say “Wilco.” If you’re answering a yes/no, use “Affirmative/Negative.” If you need a repeat, say “Say again.”

In business and everyday life, “Roger that” works as a brisk acknowledgment—especially on voice calls where confirmation beats confusion.  But avoid using it where a clear “Yes, I will” or “No” is required for accountability.  In email, it can read flippant; consider “Received—will do” or “Noted—on it” instead.

Golden rule: Use “Roger that” to confirm comprehension, not to promise action or signal agreement.

Quick Reference: Do/Don’t

Do

• Use “Roger” to mean “received and understood.”
• Use “Wilco” to mean “I will comply.”
• Use “Affirmative/Negative” to answer yes/no questions.
• Use “Over” when you’re awaiting a reply; “Out” when you’re ending the call.

Don’t

• Say “Roger Wilco” (it’s redundant).
• Say “Over and Out.”
• Use “Mayday” or “Pan‑Pan” casually.
• Use “Roger” when you really mean “Yes” or “I agree.”

A Final Word

“Roger that” is a survivor—born in the age of telegraph, refined by radio, and immortalized by pilots, astronauts, and storytellers.  Its power lies in precision: a single word that closes the loop on communication without confusing acknowledgment for agreement or action.  In a world drowning in chatter, that kind of clarity is still mission-critical.

Key Radio-Communication Terms

Roger

Means “received and understood.” Does not mean “yes” or “I agree.” Strictly an acknowledgment of message clarity.

Wilco

Short for “Will comply.” Indicates the speaker both received the message and intends to follow the instructions.
Note: Saying “Roger Wilco” is redundant.

Affirmative / Negative

The proper radio words for “yes” and “no.” Used to answer direct questions, not to acknowledge instructions.

Say Again

Means “repeat your last transmission.” Used when the message was unclear or partially blocked by static.

Stand By

A directive meaning “wait” or “I’ll respond shortly.” Does not confirm receipt of the original message.

Over

Means “I’ve finished speaking, awaiting your reply.” Signals turn-taking on the radio.

Out

Means “This communication is finished; no reply expected.”
Never combine “Over and Out”—it is a contradiction.

Mayday

The international distress call signals grave and imminent danger to life or vessel.  Used only in life-threatening emergencies.
Typically repeated three times: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.”

Pan‑Pan

An urgent situation that is serious but not immediately life-threatening.
Example: mechanical issue requiring assistance but not immediate rescue.

Break

A procedural word signaling a pause between message segments, especially when coordinating multiple recipients.

Radio Check

A request for confirmation of signal strength and clarity.  Expected responses include: “Loud and clear,” “Weak but readable,” or “Unreadable.”

Copy / Copy That

Civilian derivative of “Roger,” meaning “I understand the information.” Less formal and not used in aviation procedures.

NATO Phonetic Alphabet

The international standard for spelling over radio using distinct words like Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, etc.  Designed to eliminate confusion between similar-sounding letters.