F-16.net:

The Three Rules of Callsigns: 1) If you don’t already have one, you will be assigned one by your “buddies”. 2) You probably won’t like it. 3) If you complain and moan too much about 1. and 2., you’ll get a new nickname you’ll like even less!

So, how do you get a callsign?

Do something stupid or have it fit with your last name. Obvious examples, ‘Crash’ or LT ‘Cheese’ Kraft. Sometimes it’s based on a physical appearance thing like ‘Carrot’. After you’ve earned the respect of your buddies, you’ll get a more ‘heroic’ callsign.

Unless you were involved in the military, I bet the first time most of us heard about callsigns was from the movie Top Gun. We just called them nicknames. I’m lucky – with the last name I have, the only possible nickname/callsign I could have is Kong. Thanks to Scott Jordan for the link.