Project Names and Code Words were used by military and intelligence organizations around the world for many years. They came into their own during World War I, and were virtually everywhere in World War II. The Cold War left a legacy of secrecy and a huge bureaucracy, that contributed a lot to the prevalence of Code Words and classifications, a bureaucracy which continues to dominate the US intelligence community and military to this day.
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Code Words are always classified (CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, or higher) and always
consist of a single word. The assignment of TOP SECRET Code Words requires Director,
Special Programs, ODTUSD(P), approval. Code Words or blocks of Code Words are assigned
to DoD components by the Joint Staff (JS). If a Code Word has been assigned, it is considered
ACTIVE. Active Code Words always need to be shown with their classification, like (S) for
SECRET or (TS) for TOP SECRET, and can not be discussed on unclassified networks or
lines. Normally, Code Words are printed using all capital letters. [Note: In this document,
Code Words are written in SMALL CAPS to enhance readability.]
If a Code Word becomes compromised (or is suspected of being compromised), a new Code
Word is assigned and the old Code Word is CANCELLED. Code Words are also cancelled, if
the project, program, operation, or mission they were assigned to, was either completed or
disbanded. All cancelled Code Words are still classified (at least) CONFIDENTIAL for (at
least) another two years, before they become AVAILABLE (and Unclassified) again.
Available Code Words can be re-used and assigned again for a different purpose. Because of
this, the only Code Words that we (the general public) know about and that we discuss here,
are usually Code Words that have been cancelled at one time or another. It is highly unlikely
that such well-known and publicized Code Words as OXCART or TAGBOARD are ever re-used,
but it is possible. It may even be beneficial to re-use previously cancelled Code Words for the
very same reason, as this "game" is all about deception.
Code Words should not describe or suggest the nature of what is classified. Follow-on
projects or phases of a program must receive different Code Words. For example, follow-on
phases of Project "GUSTO" can't be assigned Code Words like "GUSTO II" or "GUSTO III".
Code Words can be assigned to virtually everything that might be classified, including
Programs, Projects, Geographical Areas or Locations, Operations, Objectives, Missions,
Plans, Tasks, Information types, etc. So called "Special Access (required) Programs" (SAP),
also known as "black" programs, may have a classified Code Word assigned to them, but this
is optional. Code Words are usually not assigned to Tests, Drills, Exercises, or Budget
Identifiers, but many Special (Nuclear) Weapons Tests have received Code Words. Those
Code Words might have originated from the DoE rather than the DoD, though.
The DoD only assigns single-word Code Words, but also sometimes uses Code Words that
originate from other agencies (CIA, DoE, etc.), commercial companies, or foreign countries,
which might not follow DoD directives for assignments of Code Words. Any and all Code
Words that are used must be registered, to prevent double assignments or confusion. All Code
Words and Nicknames are stored in the "Code Word, Nickname, and Exercise Term System"
database, also known as NICKA, which was available through the military's Worldwide
Military Command and Control System (WWMCCS) network, but is now only available
through the JS LAN (Joint Staff Local Area Network).
Code Words are not really used to conceal the classified object itself, as the Code Words
themselves are classified, too, but are used instead to implement a Need-To-Know system for
Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), which is designed to keep individuals or groups
from knowing too much about a specific system or topic, and to limit their access to only the
information needed to do their specific job. There are several different SCI categories used in the DoD, and Code Words are assigned within those categories. For example, photos or tapes
created by SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) or PHOTINT (Photographic Intelligence) can be
viewed and analyzed by interpreters that have Special Intelligence (SI) and/or TALENT-
KEYHOLE (TK) clearances. SI covers all sorts of signals and overhead reconnaissance data,
while TK covers overhead reconnaissance (both, aerial and satellite). The collecting systems
(or Assets) of the NRO are covered under BYEMAN clearances, and receive separate Code
Words. Even the individual systems and missions, like a particular satellite or launch, or a
particular reconnaissance mission or flight, receive one or more numerical Codes. Those
numerical codes are not covered in this article, though.
Specific types of information may also receive specific Code Words, for example UMBRA,
which covers particularly sensitive communications intelligence (COMINT) or RUFF, which
covers specific intelligence based on satellite imagery. Some of those Code Words (like
COSMIC, GAMMA, UMBRA, BYEMAN, TALENT, and KEYHOLE) are still used, even though they
are publicly known for a long time.
1.2 Nicknames
Nicknames are always unclassified, and (usually) consist of two separate words. The first
word must start with two letters selected from a range of alphabetical blocks that are assigned
to different agencies by the Joint Staff (JS) (see section 1.4). Often, specific First Words from
those alphabetical blocks are reserved for specific types of users, projects, or operations (see
section 1.5). This practice exists since at least the early 1970s, but I don't know how any
earlier Nicknames were assigned, and if similar rules were followed.
Nicknames should not contain the words "Project", "Operation", "Exercise", or consist of two
separate words that also exist as a single word, like "Moon Light". Sometimes, three words
are used, and the first or second word is sometimes an acronym. Follow-on projects or
additional phases of a program often receive Roman Numeral suffixes, like "PEACE VECTOR
II" and "PEACE VECTOR III", etc. In case of such multi-phase programs, the first, original
project often receives a Roman Numerical "I" suffix, even if it originally did not have that
extra "I" assigned to it. In the above example, "PEACE VECTOR" and "PEACE VECTOR I" would
be equivalent and would address the same program. Nicknames are most often printed using
all capital letters, but this does not seem to be a fixed rule. [Note: In this document,
nicknames are written in SMALL CAPS to enhance readability.] Nicknames should not be
"exotic words, trite expressions, or well-known commercial trademarks". They should also
"not express a bias inconsistent with traditional American ideals or foreign policy. Convey
connotations offensive to good taste or derogatory to a particular group, sect, or creed, or
convey connotations offensive to our allies or other nations."
All departments and agencies usually place additional restrictions on the assignment of
Nicknames, such as that they should not contain words that are "close in spelling or
pronunciation to a code word" or "any two-word combination voice call sign found in either
JANAP-119 or ACP-119." In addition, sometimes First Words are assigned to specific
departments, units, or project types.
Nicknames can be assigned to virtually the same things as Code Words, like Programs,
Projects, Events, Geographical Areas and Locations, Operations, Objectives, Missions, Plans,
Tasks, and Tests, etc. So called "Special Access Programs" (SAP), also known as "black"
programs, must have an unclassified Nickname assigned to them. Even though Nicknames are
always unclassified, they should not be discussed or mentioned on unclassified networks or telephone lines, unless all aspects, including organizational associations, are completely
unclassified. SAPs usually also receive a trigraph or digraph (three or two-letter codes), which
in case of digraphs, are usually the first two letters of the two unclassified words of the
Nickname, like "TK" for "TALENT-KEYHOLE" -- even though "TALENT" and "KEYHOLE" are
two separate Code Words, rather than a Nickname, in this example. An example for a trigraph
might be "ONW" for "Operation NORTHERN WATCH" (even though ONW is not a SAP, of
course).
Sometimes, whole groups of projects or programs are grouped under a single Nickname, like
the NRO Nicknames SENIOR KEYHOLE or SENIOR YEAR, which (apparently) cover all
overhead (photo) reconnaissance satellites and all overhead (photo) reconnaissance aircraft,
respectively.
Many projects also receive a Project Number for logistical purposes. This "Number" actually
consists of a three-character alphanumeric code. Where known, this code is also given in the
accompanying list of Nicknames.
1.3 Exercise Terms
Exercise Terms should be considered a special form of Nickname, as they are always
unclassified and for public use, and because they often consist of two words, and because they
should be based on the same alphabetical blocks of possible words. Because exercises are
often repeated on a regular basis, either quarterly, annually or bi-annually, specific exercises
are often indicated by added numerical postfixes, like "ROVING SANDS '99", or "RED FLAG
2/03", or "BALIKATAN 2000".
There is also usually no constraint on the meaning of Exercise Terms, and it is perfectly fine
if the name used describes the exercise or any aspect of it. Some DoD components assign
specific meanings to either the first or both words. As an example, all NORAD exercise terms
use the first word to describe the organization or agency responsible, while the second word
describes the type of exercise, test, or experiment that will be conducted.
1.4 Alphabetical Blocks for Nicknames and Exercise
Terms
The following alphabetical blocks are assigned to the listed DoD components, agencies, and
unified or specified commands, of which 24 different ones exist, as far as I know. Except for
'X', all initial letters are divided into four blocks, resulting in a total of 101 blocks (numbered
alphabetically except for 'X', which appears to be regarded as a "special" letter). A few blocks
are still unassigned. The table is from CJCSM 3150.29A, but it is not known if edition
3150.29B has changed any block assignments.
Block
Number First Letters Command / DOD Component / Agency
19 EM - ER USSOCOM (US Special Operations Command)
20 ES - EZ USACOM (US Atlantic Command)
21 FA - FF USSPACECOM (US Space Command)
22 FG - FL USEUCOM (US European Command)
23 FM - FR USPACOM (US Pacific Command)
24 FS - FZ USSOUTHCOM (US Southern Command)
25 GA - GF USSOCOM (US Special Operations Command)
26 GG - GL USSTRATCOM (US Strategic Command)
27 GM - GR US Army
28 GS - GZ US Navy
29 HA - HF US Air Force
30 HG - HL US Marine Corps
31 HM - HR NSA (National Security Agency)
32 HS - HZ DNA (Defense Nuclear Agency)
33 IA - IF DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency)
34 IG - IL DCA (Defense Communications Agency) (note 1)
35 IM - IR USCENTCOM (US Central Command)
36 IS - IZ JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff)
37 JA - JF USSOCOM (US Special Operations Command)
38 JG - JL USACOM (US Atlantic Command)
39 JM - JR USSPACECOM (US Space Command)
40 JS - JZ USEUCOM (US European Command)
41 KA - KF USPACOM (US Pacific Command)
42 KG - KL USSOUTHCOM (US Southern Command)
43 KM - KR USSOCOM (US Special Operations Command)
44 KS - KZ USSTRATCOM (US Strategic Command)
45 LA - LF US Army
46 LG - LL US Navy
47 LM - LR US Air Force
48 LS - LZ US Marine Corps
49 MA - MF NSA (National Security Agency)
50 MG - ML DNA (Defense Nuclear Agency)
51 MM - MR DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency)
52 MS - MZ DCA (Defense Communications Agency) (note 1)
53 NA - NF USCENTCOM (US Central Command)
54 NG - NL JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff)
55 NM - NR USEUCOM (US European Command)
56 NS - NZ USPACOM (US Pacific Command)
57 OA - OF USSOCOM (US Special Operations Command)
58 OG - OL USSTRATCOM (US Strategic Command)
59 OM - OR US Army
60 OS - OZ US Navy
61 PA - PF US Air Force
62 PG - PL US Marine Corps
63 PM - PR JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff)
64 PS - PZ USTRANSCOM (US Transportation Command)
65 QA - QF USACOM (US Atlantic Command)
66 QG - QL -
67 QM - QR USSOUTHCOM (US Southern Command)
68 QS - QZ US Army
69 RA - RF US Navy
70 RG - RL US Air Force
71 RM - RR US Army
72 RS - RZ US Navy
73 SA - SF US Air Force
74 SG - SL USEUCOM (US European Command)
75 SM - SR USACOM (US Atlantic Command)
76 SS - SZ DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency)
77 TA - TF USPACOM (US Pacific Command)
78 TG - TL OSD (Office of the Secretary of Defense)
79 TM - TR US Army
80 TS - TZ USTRANSCOM (US Transportation Command)
81 UA - UF US Army
82 UG - UL USTRANSCOM (US Transportation Command)
83 UM - UR USACOM (US Atlantic Command)
84 US - UZ US Army
85 VA - VF USPACOM (US Pacific Command)
86 VG - VL USSPACECOM (US Space Command)
87 VM - VR USTRANSCOM (US Transportation Command)
88 VS - VZ -
89 WA - WF DMA (Defense Mapping Agency) (note 2)
90 WG - WL US Army
91 WM - WR USTRANSCOM (US Transportation Command)
92 WS - WZ -
93 YA - YF DIS (Defense Investigative Service) (note 3)
94 YG - YL USTRANSCOM (US Transportation Command)
95 YM - YR USSTRATCOM (US Strategic Command)
96 YS - YZ -
97 ZA - ZF OSD (Office of the Secretary of Defense)
98 ZG - ZL -
99 ZM - ZR -
100 ZS - ZZ -
101 XA - XZ White House Military Office
Notes: 1) DCA (Defense Communications Agency) has been renamed as DISA (Defense Information Systems Agency)
2) DMA (Defense Mapping Agency) has been incorporated into NIMA (National Imagery and Mapping Agency), now named NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency)
3) DIS (Defense Investigative Service) has been renamed as DSS (Defense Security Service) 4) DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) is listed without any assigned blocks
Those assignments could very well change over time, especially when new organizations and
commands are created or deactivated.
Recently, many of the US-led Operations and Exercises received more often Nicknames that
are not in line with the assigned blocks, but instead are supposed to sound "patriotic" or
maybe "inspiring". For some insight on how some of the more popular operations' names
were assigned, see the following interesting article at http://carlisle-
www.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/1995/sieminsk.htm.
1.5 Permanently Assigned First Words for Two-Word
Nicknames
The following words were at one time or another permanently assigned to a specific
department or user for use as first word in two-word nicknames. It includes only those words
explicitly listed as "permanently assigned first words" in one of our primary sources, and is
certainly incomplete. If a using agency no longer exists, the name assignment may have been
cancelled, inherited by its successor, or reassigned to another user. Also, nicknames older than
the permanent assignment may start with the word although they did not originate from the
listed user.
So far, primarily U.S. Air Force names are listed. Source [7] includes also
many non-USAF first words, which will be added to the list as well.