Military Communication Reference (MilRef) is a free interactive reference for the NATO phonetic alphabet, Morse code, military time and Zulu conversion, police 10-codes, ham radio Q-codes and maritime signal flags. Every tool runs in your browser — no signup, works offline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NATO phonetic alphabet?
The NATO phonetic alphabet is the spelling alphabet used by NATO, ICAO aviation and most militaries since 1956. It assigns a codeword to each letter — Alfa, Bravo, Charlie through Zulu — so letters cannot be misheard over radio.
Is this reference free to use?
Yes. Every tool — converters, Morse audio, quiz drills — is free, requires no signup, and works offline once loaded. Content is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.
What is the difference between military time and Zulu time?
Military time is the 24-hour clock (0000–2359) in your local zone. Zulu time is military time fixed to UTC, marked with a Z suffix: 1500Z means 3:00 PM UTC everywhere in the world.