If you receive a call from a station you cannot identify, what should you do?

• A. End the call immediately and try again.
• B. Ignore the call.
• C. Answer the call and proceed if possible.
• D. Request identification per procedure and do not proceed until authorized.

Answer: (D)

When a station you can’t identify calls in, you must verify who is on the line before taking any action. Request identification per procedure and do not proceed until you have explicit authorization. This keeps communications secure and ensures you’re acting on the correct, authorized instructions, which is essential in Navy comms where misidentification can lead to errors or unsafe outcomes.

Ending the call immediately could drop a potentially important message; ignoring the call might let something critical go unanswered; answering and proceeding without verification could expose you to impersonation or incorrect orders. The verified identification and authorization step is the safe, proper protocol.