There is no exact meaning, as the signs vary between countries and military units. They are customized to suit a specific mission and are known only to members of a given troop – that’s why the same gesture can have different commands. But, in general, they refer to actions such as “stop”, “continue”, “attention”, among others. The origin of combat gestures dates back to Prehistory, when hunters needed to communicate silently before attacking their prey. In military applications, codes gained traction during World War II to aid in higher mobility and speed combat with smaller units. Today they are also used in different scenarios of operations and by various police and military units around the world.
Advancing in the dark
See what are the gestures in an operation in the favela simulated by COE – Comandos e Especiais Operations
PROCEED
– (Daniel Rosini/)
Two groups go up the street in formation. The “tip” – the policeman in front – checks the area and gives the signal for the rest of the unit to advance. This command can happen whenever the patrol performs a move. Normally, the patrol is made up of four people: a winger, a commander, a winger and a rear guard.
TO SLICE
– (Daniel Rosini/)
Split the group into two patrols. One secures the other, increasing the coverage area. The split command can also be used by a duo or a superior unit.
DIRECTION TO FOLLOW
– (Daniel Rosini/)
Indicates the direction the group should take, if there is no predetermined movement. The “tip” defines the most stealthy paths and with the lowest risk of involvement with the local population. • This gesture is free and serves to point a route in any type of displacement
DANGER
– (Daniel Rosini/)
This sign will always appear at times that pose a risk of detection or confrontation with outlaws. If the patrol approaches a guarded area, the gesture is an alert to the possibility of gunfire.
MARGINAL
– (Daniel Rosini/)
The signal indicates the presence of suspects and can precede the invasion, alerting the group before entering the place. It is part of the reconnaissance technique that, after “cleaning” the area, gives a voice of arrest to the bandits
NATURAL
– (Daniel Rosini/)
Represents any type of drug that is in the possession of a dealer, is being used by an addict, or is stored on site. After identification, the team prepares to take over the area and arrest the traffickers.
ATTENTION
– (Daniel Rosini/)
In the favela, the warning signal is given when there is a risk of civilians in the area of operations or in the patrol’s firing range. Attention is for any type of situation, not just in scenarios involving civilians
GET TOGETHER
– (Daniel Rosini/)
Serves to gather members of the group, separated during the operation. It can be applied when there is a need to group patrols to start an action that requires the participation of a specific number of soldiers
SPEED
– (Daniel Rosini/)
It shows that time is short, requiring agility. It is a gesture often used when the patrol needs to move from one point to another in a short period of time or when it is necessary to evacuate the area to avoid detection. The command is also used in invasions of closed spaces, which demand more speed and aggressiveness.
Reader Question Jean Nóbrega Raffi, Cuiabá, MT
SOURCES Military Police of the State of São Paulo, 4th Shock Police Battalion – Commands and Special Operations; captain Luiz Renato Fiori, COE commander; 1st Lieutenant Fábio Nakaharada and Sergeant Cleber Climaco