Delta Operator Explains How He Got the Call Sign "Ninja"

Bob Porras, a former Delta Force operator, recounts the unexpected origin of his well-known call sign, "Ninja." The moniker was earned not through tactical skill, but through an unintentional incident during an intelligence brief. While standing directly beside his team sergeant—a place where Porras usually was not, as he was frequently occupied with explosives preparation—the sergeant failed to see him while looking for "Bobsled," Porras's previous call sign. A teammate subsequently joked that Porras had used "ninja smoke" to disappear while being plainly visible.

The label of "Ninja" was reinforced after a second similar incident occurred. Prior to this, Porras utilized call signs such as "Black Sheep" and "Bobsled." The final adoption of "Ninja" stemmed from his inadvertent ability to embody the concept of the "gray man" during team formations, making him unnoticeable despite his presence.