Hand Signals

Hand Signal Communications

Hand and arm signals are a great way of communicating when you don't want to be heard. quieter and often more reliable than whispering into a radio mike. You should have a standardized set for your unit. When on the move, shoot an eye towards your unit members every so often in case they're trying to signal you. Get in the habit of passing the signals on: when one member of the unit uses hand signals, everyone who sees it should repeat it. That will let the signaler know that his sign is acknowledged and increases the chance that the intended recipient (who may be looking away at any given moment) will get the message. A few common signals used by military and SWAT teams are shown below. You can use them as is, modify them for your purposes, or make up your own from scratch. But in any event, have a set that everyone in the unit knows and recognizes. Then use them.

Hand Signals

Standardized Hand Signals For Close Range Engagement (C.R.E.) Operations

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