Into the Fire (301)

[I Am Not James Spader]

I have heard Jack refer to the team as Sierra Gulf, but not on too many occasions, and mostly when talking over the radio.

I guess that since SG-(number) is the actual name of each team, it would make sense to refer to them as such on the field instead of "Stargate Team (number)." Referring to them as SG-1, SG-5, etc. using normal language is also quicker, and I think for the sake of consistency they would spell out those same names using the spelling alphabet.

I haven't heard of the teams being called "Stargate (Team) One, Stargate Team Two, etc." so I don't think SG-1 is necessarily an abbreviation of another official name.

I don't know if this is related, but, if memory serves, in Proving Ground Jack referred to SGC as Sierra Golf Charlie when "finding out" about a foothold situation over radio. I'm not too sure when else they would have had to identify themselves as such. With regard to the different teams, not confusing the numbers might be important enough to warrant using the spelling alphabet through audio transmission.

Anyone can feel free to correct me. I have no background in this area.

I don't understand the logic of that.

Why would O'Neill say "Sierra Golf Charlie" rather than just "Stargate Command"?

Stargate Command is only SGC for brevity. "Sierra Golf Charlie" is just as much to say as "Stargate Command".

Is there some real world military reason?

[Lunaeclipse]

I have heard Jack refer to the team as Sierra Gulf, but not on too many occasions, and mostly when talking over the radio.

...Isn't that usually so that anyone who doesn't understand 'Military code' won't know what he is talking about

[garhkal]

...Isn't that usually so that anyone who doesn't understand 'Military code' won't know what he is talking about

Yup. Also spelling things out phonetically is done to get rid of possible misunderstandings of words..

[Lunaeclipse]

Yup. Also spelling things out phonetically is done to get rid of possible misunderstandings of words..

Thank you. I didn't know that. That makes a lot of sense.. .

[KayLyne]

they also do a bit of the "sierra golf" phonetic radio calls towards the end of Stargate: Continuum when Sam, Daniel & Mitchell are flying to get to the backup stargate in Russia. It seems that they do the NATO phonetic calls in episodes where there may be more than one SG team involved, or when there may be others listening in.

[Janet Fraiser]

I don't understand the logic of that.

Why would O'Neill say "Sierra Golf Charlie" rather than just "Stargate Command"?

Stargate Command is only SGC for brevity. "Sierra Golf Charlie" is just as much to say as "Stargate Command".

Is there some real world military reason?

He's saying it over radio, so clarity? SGC might just be the agreed upon name to use in such situations. To be honest, I haven't paid attention to the times they've said "Stargate Command" while someone is off-world or talking through a transmission. It sounds a bit drawn out to me, anyway.

Also, he was trying (well, faking) to be cryptic about it in front of the potential recruits, who deduced Sierra Golf Charlie to mean SGC. I don't know what protocol would really have been in that situation (relaying info about a foothold with a trusted source), but maybe in that instance it was for the sake of piquing the recruits' interest as part of the game plan.

[I Am Not James Spader]

He's saying it over radio, so clarity? SGC might just be the agreed upon name to use in such situations. To be honest, I haven't paid attention to the times they've said "Stargate Command" while someone is off-world or talking through a transmission. It sounds a bit drawn out to me, anyway.

Also, he was trying (well, faking) to be cryptic about it in front of the potential recruits, who deduced Sierra Golf Charlie to mean SGC. I don't know what protocol would really have been in that situation (relaying info about a foothold with a trusted source), but maybe in that instance it was for the sake of piquing the recruits' interest as part of the game plan.

I haven't got to that episode yet, so I'm not understanding the context.

However, can you clarify just what exactly "SG-1" actually means?

Is it ever stated in the show (no spoilers please) what it stands for?

I have always assumed "SG" is "Stargate".*Certainly, the letters weren't chosen randomly by the producers.

[Janet Fraiser]

I haven't got to that episode yet, so I'm not understanding the context.

However, can you clarify just what exactly "SG-1" actually means?

Is it ever stated in the show (no spoilers please) what it stands for?

I have always assumed "SG" is "Stargate".*Certainly, the letters weren't chosen randomly by the producers.

Oh, whoops, I didn't realize you hadn't seen it yet.

I always assumed "SG-1" meant something like "StarGate (Team) One" without there actually being a longer name than SG-1. It seemed like a name that only referred to the word "Stargate" but didn't officially stand for it - like you wouldn't find it written out like that anywhere. Who knows for sure, though? I don't believe this is ever clarified in the show.

However, I've found this old post, which you might want to look into further if you're interested.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Actually, they'd use Sierra Golf Charlie over the radio because it's easy to misunderstand letters alone (I've had people think I was saying D instead of T, and F instead of S over the phone). So things are spelled out.

Seaboe

[garhkal]

Actually, they'd use Sierra Golf Charlie over the radio because it's easy to misunderstand letters alone (I've had people think I was saying D instead of T, and F instead of S over the phone). So things are spelled out.

Seaboe

Which is what i said.. As a Mil communicator we use the Phonetic alphabet for clarity. I have lost count of the # of times watching Wheel of Fortune and thinking i heard someone call an "S" and thought they said "F". Or a T and thought they said B or D..

[Janet Fraiser]

Actually, they'd use Sierra Golf Charlie over the radio because it's easy to misunderstand letters alone (I've had people think I was saying D instead of T, and F instead of S over the phone). So things are spelled out.

Seaboe

Which is what i said.. As a Mil communicator we use the Phonetic alphabet for clarity. I have lost count of the # of times watching Wheel of Fortune and thinking i heard someone call an "S" and thought they said "F". Or a T and thought they said B or D..

I think I Am Not James Spader was wondering why they would say "SGC" (Sierra Golf Charlie) instead of "Stargate Command," for which I don't have a clear answer except that I rarely hear the base referred to as "Stargate Command," so it may have to do with consistency.

[Lunaeclipse]

I think I Am Not James Spader was wondering why they would say "SGC" (Sierra Golf Charlie) instead of "Stargate Command," for which I don't have a clear answer except that I rarely hear the base referred to as "Stargate Command," so it may have to do with consistency.

How often do we hear it being called 'Stargate Command"? ... It's a thing because of the patches... but do they just not use it enough for some of us to notice?

http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Stargate_Command

[Janet Fraiser]

How often do we hear it being called 'Stargate Command"? ... It's a thing because of the patches... but do they just not use it enough for some of us to notice?

http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Stargate_Command

Like I said, I hardly recall hearing it. I'd prefer hearing "SGC" any day. Besides, "Sierra Golf Charlie" just sounds more normal to me when communicated over radio than "Stargate Command" would.

[Lunaeclipse]

Like I said, I hardly recall hearing it. I'd prefer hearing "SGC" any day. Besides, "Sierra Golf Charlie" just sounds more normal to me when communicated over radio than "Stargate Command" would.

I think I remember hearing General Hammond call it SGC, but I'm not sure...

[Anja]

One of the best eps for me - Hammond not by the book and at his best!!!