Tactical Hand Signals Part 1

This video, taught by Jim Wagner, is the first of its kind that complies 130 of the most commonly used hand signals by law enforcement, corrections, probation, and military Special Operations teams worldwide. Whether you are on a SWAT team, HRT, SRT, Gang Unit, or a patrol officer on the beat, these hand signals will give you the tactical advantage in situation that require stealth or in operations where verbal communications are difficult, if not impossible, such as in a fire-fight, in a factory, or on a Gas & Oil Platform (GOPLAT) where the machinery noise can be deafening. In Part I Sergeant Wagner teaches you BASIC SIGNALS and PEOPLE. Copyright 2000 Jim Wagner. All rights reserved.

[@HankTheTank23]

I'm watching this video so that when I go to McDonalds for a tactical snack, they know I'm not fucking around when I ask for four Big Macs, two large fries, and a two gallon soda.

[@lucasmccann9916]

#tacticalsnack +100

[@mysss29]

#tacticalhappymeal #tacticalsnack

[@neoxtra2461]

I'll take 2 number 9s...

[@HankTheTank23]

neoxtra You couldn't read my signals? I wanted 4 number 7's!

[@lil_vault_boy]

neoxtra A number 9 large...

[@AxiomDraw]

11 years later Jim is still helping thousands every year. This video was a huge help during my ATT training. I salute you good sir.

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

Thank you, and thank you for taking time to make a comment. BE A HARD TARGET

[@mishadavidgamsu]

why would the sign for imminent danger involve taking both hands off your weapon/equipment? seems illogical

[@brandonvessell4659]

Before breaching id assume

[@brandonvessell4659]

You dont want to be vocalizing your plans inside the building lol

[@stat1cxjam883]

Huh

[@boscoalbertbaracus1362]

Well obviously you misunderstood the point of the term imminent danger. You wouldn’t signal imminent danger if someone’s shooting at you, or you’re shooting at someone, that’s not imminent danger. That’s contact.

[@The_savvy_Lynx]

@@boscoalbertbaracus1362 I guess his point is that imminent danger could turn into contact at any moment, for example while signalling it with both hands.

[@nowgoawayanddosomethinggoo8978]

when you're so gangsta you got a whole dictionary's worth of hand signs

[@peterlervik1640]

this video has made me a more efficient airsofter

[@antdx316]

Airsoft with paintball bbs.

[@danisazizov2916]

The problem is that people should know your signals to understand you

[@therookie710]

Peter Lervik I came here to improve my airsoft. Lol.

[@chinshinwohtue]

Jim Wagner- Thank you for taking the time and pushing this educational video to the public.

[@EntryLevelLuxury]

Gee, "I don't understand" sure puts you in a compromising position. Let's hope they get it right the first time :D

[@reezoshideout]

Thanks for the video. Exactly what I was looking for, laid out very professionally and clearly. Congratulations, you are also a great instructor.

[@Sushiwhiz]

Your signal for "I don't understand" is also really useful for asking someone what the hell they are doing.

[@denzel387]

this is a really good video

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

Thank you. Be A Hard Target.

[@painkeks4024]

+ Jim Wagner I did not even know, as someone from Germany that the GSG-9 practiced. I thought it as the Bundeswehr was just another useless German Military thing.

[@BrandonMcBadass]

+Pain Keks nooo they formed in the 60s there were GSG-1->8 and they made 9 a counter terrorists team, then the 1-8 became Bundeswerh. they wanted to make their name something else but sounded too nazi so they kept it as GSG-9 lol very cool guys btw

[@mysss29]

+Pain Keks Spoiler alert - most military and police personnel do do training exercises. xD I mean, maybe not in third world countries, for example, but....

[@painkeks4024]

May your swords stay sharp! (mysss29) k wut so ever mein german freunds

[@AirsoftAskeri]

Ok from now on I am speaking hand language!

[@tron-fan1824]

Airsoft Askeri you mean sign language Edit: Not trying to be that guy but that’s really what the language is called

[@TheArmyOfDucks]

How’s the sign language coming along?

[@Taylor-wt9zv]

I know asl sign language

[@rickb06]

I've been exclusively communicating with others with these hand signals for nearly five years now. The only problem is, it seems all of my friends are cops and soldiers now...

[@svenhuwi5717]

👋👉👉🤏🤚👆👆☝️🤜👎

[@42Sparky13]

This helped my high school's JROTC Raider team with deaf members. We never talk and instead use hand signal. Thanks for posting this video. My cadet X.O. was pleased by this.

[@BobBirdman]

Searched all over for decent explanation of those hand signals you always see in movies and luckily found this. Thanks very much to the producer and/or poster for a very informative, expertly-presented tutorial on Tactical Hand Signals. Thanks & best regards!!

[@laxis36lsd]

Thank you so much for making this video and for all your years of service to this nation and as a police officer. I couldn't imagine how this country would be if we didn't have such a strong military and domestic police forces.

[@jettpeterson8968]

Some of these appear to be based in ASL. The sign for 'corpse' is the ASL sign for 'death,' and the sign for 'bleeding' is very similar to the ASL sign for 'blood.'

[@Smile4CommunityCam]

I waved the "I don't understand" hand signal throughout the entire video. And yes, Let's be Cops brought me here since I couldn't find the video in the movie

[@Vara91391]

I already use almost all of those hand signals at my wife as soon as she starts being late....

[@Breacher97]

Thank you Officer Jim Wagner you helped me for the SWAT-training

[@alansmithee7487]

My favorite HAND signal - shaking or nodding your head "yes" or "no". Thanks Jim.

[@InsertEvilLaugh]

Was wondering where Carnik Con got the inspiration to make their hand signals video.

[@readyuptactical2749]

Amazing that this stuff is still up. JW has been uncovered for quite a while.

[@leogaming-do8dv]

4:26 XD... immagine You are in a bush and Your buddy tells you something

[@jturnbull2811]

Jim Wagner you deliver the goods! Thank you.

[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

Good stuff, a lot of these are very obvious which helps with understanding. Great content

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

Andy, thank you for taking the time to post your comment. I appreciate it, and I know this video has helped teach many people like yourself. BE A HARD TARGET

[@LeoBarrand]

Anyone else here to up their paintballing game?

[@auburn627]

Airsoft... xD

[@LeoBarrand]

I would love to airsoft. I just hear about a lot of cheating. And cheating urks me too much.

[@auburn627]

Yeah cheating can be a problem. As long as the reffs have strict policies on cheaters and show it quick it usually keeps the cheaters under control

[@LeoBarrand]

Other than that , from what I see though, it's a much more professional game. Not often do you guys seem to have a bunch of kids running around acting like they're playing Halo.

[@auburn627]

Yeah it tends to be more on the mil-sim type games which most kids dont enjoy as much as running around an doing whatever haha xD not to say that paintball doesnt have mil-sim games

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

NYPD911, you're welcome. I'm always happy to help when it comes to SWAT training. Also, to TeamFiftyPoints, as a police officer and soldier my units have trained a lot with Airsoft pistols and rifles. Airsoft is a great training tool, for they are very similar to the real thing, and don't leave a mess like FX Simunitions or paintball guns. Be A Hard Target.

[@mrwayne5158]

Awesome im getting started in Training using Co2 Airsoft guns high fps!

[@greymajickjedi]

Really great information, and you didn't waste all day getting to your points! HEEP EDUCATING THE FREE REPUBLIC!

[@andychicken]

I think this is a really good video, I don't know why so many commentators are talking crap, this is useful information. Some of these signs have parallels to what the military uses, but others appear to have been modified (or outright replaced) depending on the organization. It's a pretty common-sense system you have here, though- I'd be comfortable using/teaching these signs with "first-timers" who've never used hand signaling before. Thanks!

[@29Freehugs]

Let's Be Cops brought me here.

[@davidmason9462]

Thank You for the Video. More in fact, Thank you for teaching me.

[@RubenLaden]

Thank you, this is very well explained.

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

Thank you John. BE A HARD TARGET

[@ForTehNguyen]

ive always wanted to learn stuff like this, thanks for the upload

[@kerk1234567]

skip to 3:45 you're welcome

[@PremierLopez4TheMasses]

THANK YOU

[@Doctor_Sirus]

Big thanks for the upload. I'm writing a short novel and these will come in handy.

[@Dawoofpack]

Very cool. Thank you

[@twohamburgers]

If you turn the audio off this is so great - looks like dada mime performance. Goes great with Robert Ashley playing.

[@TokyoXtreme]

Watching this video is very helpful for understanding fine television programs such as 24.

[@TrueYears]

Thank you for sharing

[@pty_foto]

Hey Jim, Thanks for the upload, greetings from Panamá!

[@JayZSalvation]

Well done Jim. Your Video really helped me in training my personnel. Thank you. Regards, Jay Shahid

[@Benderbruben]

You are great mate!

[@MaxHeadspace9mm]

This is even funnier than the CarnikCon version.

[@TheWolfmanG]

Very big thanks for the upload :)

[@l0rf]

It's funny how simple some are at times, but that makes perfect sense to keep it easy to understand.

[@cirquan]

Great video, thanks.

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

You're welcome. BE A HARD TARGET Jim

[@the_rough_ashlar]

much appriciation for the video! my friends and i are a few doccuments away from being an official area airsoft team, we have watched this video several times, and the hand signals have definately helped improve our communication, safty, and professionalism! keep up the good work!

[@mikepodella]

Nice job, Jim. Very professional presentation.

[@sgtsomebody]

tactical hand signals have saved my life like 100 times before in airsoft games :s Thanks!

[@therangeroneli7288]

Thanks mate good tips

[@jamiesonsambarhunter]

DUDE ... YOU HAVE BEEN OWNED

[@commonwealthminuteman5630]

Nice video,taught me a lot

[@ghostghost5079]

Thank you Jim 👌

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

You're welcome Ghost Ghost. BE A HARD TARGET

[@redcleric00]

i downloaded your vid for our airsoft team. Thanks for the very informative hand signal info,

[@Xessence]

Thank you, Sir!

[@ihateandroid5216]

Thus was extremely educational for people who want to learn about this stuff

[@ihateandroid5216]

this

[@powermutt4209]

I Hate Android 5:54

[@ZDeight]

Thanks for the video! :-)

[@willowclay3137]

Interesting, thank you!

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

You're welcome. BE A HARD TARGET

[@sirfanatical8763]

Noise discipline for the win!

[@CelticSemperTyrannis]

I see where Dugan Ashley got his video idea from

[@aidannaylor917]

Hey Jim, Thanks for posting this video. It looks like a great system that my team could really put to use. I also was wondering what tactical gloves you were wearing?

[@PedroCalisto]

Awesome!

[@foxtrotcoy200203]

thanks man.

[@Xessence]

Yout the best man, Sir

[@Kevfactor]

What do yout hink of them removing the okay sign from MM? like i dont see them doing that in real combat

[@operatorpolak]

thx for tips

[@golfinguy423]

Gonna start using these when i airsoft. Thank you!

[@tenantlandlordlawyersanfra3218]

This was excellent. Thank you for sharing it. I am practicing it with my travel buddy but hope I never have to use it for real.

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

Thank your for your comment. BE A HARD TARGET Jim

[@bluechukz]

this screams 90's

[@sylent_beatz5026]

Thx for the help I needed it really bad for my airsoft team

[@lilsan10]

Useful.

[@Christopher19990]

perfect! i take that video and show it my comrades ;)

[@shaquellesaul6569]

Great video dude. I wish I couldve trained along side the gsg like you did.

[@klaytonvonkluge4905]

i just watched a vid about them, and i know from family over there in germany those dudes don't piss around... at all

[@CrZyShOoTeRz]

nice....this wiill help a lot...Thx to you... #Malaysian Airsofter

[@Pronoob88990]

looks like when you doing some hand signals, it requires two hand, then you can't hold your weapon.

[@dionisio89420]

Hi Jim, What year was this record? thanks in advance. Good work!!!

[@davidbreton13]

This has been an exercise in extreme self control not to punch through my computer monitor. What is the hand and arm signal for "please kill me"?

[@WilliamMoirSCOT]

Thanks.

[@Prj.Mercury]

very helpful sir... thank you

[@STEVEKREFT]

very nice

[@ajarcand5247]

Bravo six , going dark

[@theoriginaldepolice]

thanks dugan

[@johnnypea5369]

I'm always getting a tactical signal that I don't understand. What does the raised back of someone's hand with the middle finger vigorously extended and the other fingers curled to the palm?

[@MadaRook]

I go paintballing a lot, this will help a lot.

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

plokoonpma, you're welcome. Great to hear from Panama. Be A Hard Target.

[@a.aalfaro2312]

whats the hand sign for FLASHBANG !!!!!

[@slingshotmcoy]

I believe it's pumping your fist up and down three times. I mean, at least it was in the Rainbow Six book, fuck do I know.

[@ryancannon5921]

slingshotmcoy I thought doing that (almost calling someone a wanker) hand movement meant "Shotgun".

[@mjcandy9153]

You rapidly open and close your hand starting from a fist. Do it three or four times to tell someone you want to throw a flashbang.

[@brucecrosby4962]

I'm here because of CarnikCon

[@Judous]

This is the kind of gold I want from the internet

[@trolllelelele9624]

what middle finger means??

[@superultrasomethings]

"Fuck you"

[@wikieditspam]

It's a tradition at least as old as the Romans.

[@enclavemtb9621]

Lol man you are stupid

[@trolllelelele9624]

lymanoutloud gaming i know what meaning sarcasm

[@MiguelMartinez-hm7vn]

It means to tell ur team to shoot you

[@leocastrillo759]

i died laughing when he did the i dont know one cause it was so obvious

[@silvermediastudio]

Jim I'm wondering, from a historical context and in terms of going forward, why haven't LE/mil/other moved towards more standardized American Sign Language (ASL) for general signals? Obviously there will always be some specialized signals that specific departments or even sniper-observer teams will use, but ASL can convey all of these concepts using one hand and at considerable distance, plus it means operators are able to matrix from one unit to another and be fluid in comms.

[@Gitohandro]

Awesome

[@johngerity]

Great, now I need to watch all 10 seasons of Stargate SG-1 actually knowing wtf they're signaling to each other.

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

Ha! That's right. Hollywood uses some of these hand signals in their movies. BE A HARD TARGET

[@caseyc408]

OMG the Carnik Con video makes SO much more sense now HAHAHAHAHA. If you don't know what I'm talking about youtube it.

[@blackpilled_4027]

Rip Carnik Con

[@yanaungmoe6294]

From Myanmar, the civil war is about to break down. I am here to learn some tactical hand signals.

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

These are common military and police hand signals. I hope that some of them worked for you. BE A HARD TARGET

[@R6GAMERpt]

Danger is closed fist, usually followed by the get down signal, the rest signal is an opened hand. To see the signals from a distance you just have to get used to it and observe well. In tactical teams if you have someone infront of you, behind the team leader, he should signal to you the signal the team leader made.

[@prohunter895gaming6]

Thanks for the video hope friends think the same and use some of thees in next game of airsoft :)

[@cesaremosu]

+Scottish Gamer Same here, perfect for when the squad needs to be quiet or is in a open area :) Also it's very effective versus the newbies who spend 90% of the time screaming orders and requests at each other so you can hear them a mile away

[@brandondonlon4434]

Haha I knew I'd see other airsofter's here, use alot of hand signals with my team mates it really is helpful, especially cqb/clearing buildings, the opposing forces never know what hit them when you breach and clear.

[@lolmagore]

Hiya, if you were to order two of your team mates to go somewhere, would you signal "you and you go there" or rather "you go there and you go there"? Thank you

[@lirg123]

I find most of this hand signal ineffective in heavy combat (not like i've used them before), but with a few minor adjustment they should work.

[@RiotQ]

A little insight, when using hand signals in a dismounted patrol, use your non firing hand. If you need to use two hands, then it's a useless signal, meaning change it or don't use it. The last thing you need to do in that kind of situation is not having your weapon ready to fire.

[@gemnicherry2670]

Thanks for the OPsec bud

[@jimwagnerrbpp]

You're welcome. BE A HARD TARGET