What is a Blue Falcon?

Photo Courtesy of RangerUp.com

The military and LEO community is well-known for using the phonetic alphabet to create acronyms that communicate meanings not generally recognizable to the public at large. For example, if a Vietnam-era servicemember looked to a buddy at a bar in Saigon and said “Hotel Alpha,” they knew it was a suggestion that they beat feet, or “Haul Ass” (“Hotel” being the phonetic word for “H” and “Alpha” for “Ass”) out of the area.

This phonetic/acronym code has continued to the present day, with one of our favorites being “Blue Falcon.”* As you can guess, the phrase represents the acronym “B.F.” However, you may not know what those letters stand for. The “B” is for “Buddy.” The “F” is for “Fucker”….aptly describing a buddy who doesn’t exactly go the extra mile to back-up his buddies, whether it be in the classroom or the field.

So next time you see the Blue Falcon, don’t assume it is the Air Force Academy mascot, and definitely don’t ask him to feed your dog or check on your wife while you are out of town.

*You may also hear the offender described as a “Bravo Foxtrot,” but we find the subject of the “Blue Falcon” label may embrace the raptor imagery more readily than the relatively bland “Bravo Foxtrot.”

Discussion: What are your best stories of Blue Falcons?