Some units use a standardized set of hand signals such as :
Clenched fist : Freeze in place, do not move.
Open hand held w/ fingertips skyward : Halt (not freeze)
Point index and middle fingers at own eyes, clenching other fingers :
Security (set up, call forward, etc.)
Open hand, palm down, move from one shoulder to opposite hip across body : Danger Area
Take hand and make a pistol (index finger pointing, other fingers clenched, thumb extended), rotate hand so that thumb is pointing down at ground : enemy sighted in direction index finger is pointing.
Tapping top of head with palm : Give me a headcount
Tapping one ankle with palm : Give me a pace count
Some units did, in fact, learn American Sign Language (or parts thereof). Others used a series of their own signals.
Some of our advanced signals :
Tapping collar tips : military officer
Tapping over heart : Police Officer
Tapping opposite sleeve : military NCO or enlisted personnel
Drawing a line from center of neck to bellybutton as if drawing a tie : civilian
Holding index finger and thumb about a quarter inch apart : Male Spook (referring to reproductive organ size)
Acting as if you're tying a 6' long 2x4 to your ass : Female spook (to keep from falling in)
Middle, ring, and pinky fingers acting as if they're holding a box with the thumb; index finger moving vertically over box as if pushing shutter release : Press (sometimes permanent surveillance measures. . .depending upon situation.)
Making a gun like in cowboy's & indians w/ thumb pointed skyward:
Index finger and thumb only : small arms (pistols and rifles)
Middle finger and thumb only : Sniper
Index & middle fingers w/ thumb : Light Support Weapons (Belt Fed MG's, RPG's, Grenade Launchers, etc. as long as it's man-portable by a foot unit.)
Index, middle & ring fingers w/ thumb : Heavy weapons (.50 BMG or 12.7 MG's, belt-fed grenade launchers, flamethrowers, LAW's, etc.)
All four fingers and thumb : Really heavy weapons usually reserved for vehicles (TOW's, Saggers, Anti-tank guns, etc.)
If you're looking for hand and arm signals and are not ex-military. . .just make up your own. As long as they are standardized within the operating unit you'll be fine.
Learning ASL wouldn't hurt, either.
BTW, we also had a way of communicating at night, as well. This helps a lot because you may not be able to see the hand-and-arm signal. We used two methods, depending upon the situation.
The first method was to perform the hand-and-arm signal on the person to whom you are speaking (tap their head, cross their chest, etc.). The second was the "squeeze" code which was simply squeezing an arm or leg in morse code to relay the message.
The "squeeze" code takes longer, but it allows for very detailed information to be disseminated. It also is extremely useful if you ever find yourself surrounded by an enemy (say, you're in a overnight resting position (RON or LUP) and a large enemy force has decided to move through your position. . .of course, they'd probably also take that particular time to either take a break or even set up their patrol base right where you are, so you may not want to speak out loud, lest they hear you).
Hand and arm signals are used for communicating and controlling units while on the move. Though here are many hand and arm signals, here's a few you may not have seen:
Personnel Count: Patting top of head with palm of hand. Meaning: head count of all personnel which aren't missing.
Listen/I Hear: Cupping one hand to ear and then pointing to direction you want someone to hear Meaning: Listen Up.
Look/I See : Two fingers to the eyes and then pointing to the direction you want people to look Meaning: To Look or Observe
Split Up/ Break Off: Palm extended, fingers locked straight together and then placing it between the eyes in an "up and down" motion. Meaning: Split Up/Break Off with the unit.
Quiet: One finger held up vertically to lips Meaning: Shut-Up.
Danger Area: Motion of one finger across throat Meaning: An open area of land or road /trail where you are vulnerable: can also mean dead body, or death
Objective/Target: A closed fist to the heart and then pointing Meaning: Location of Objective or target.
Ready?/I'm Ready: A fist with the thumb held in an upward position Meaning: Are you ready? or I am ready! a display of fists and thumbs to one another mean both parties are ready.
Pace Count: Patting of leg/foot Meaning: Distance traveled
Enemy: Pointing of index finger with thumb down Meaning: Enemy
Friendly: Pointing of index finger with thumb up Meaning: Friendly
Disregard: Crossing of hands across the face meaning: Disregard previous hand signal or previous instructions
Call/ you have a call: Thumb and pinky finger to ear and mouth simulating phone or radio handset meaning: You have a call
Break Time: Two fists side by side, simulating breaking a stick meaning: take a break, rest (fingers indicating how long)
Screw You: making a fist and then extending the middle finger Meaning: to disapprove or disagree with someone
Kornutoe: making a fist and raising only the thumb and pinky together meaning (in Italy) To hope someone is sexually enjoying the hell out of your souse or lover while you are away (This is used to really, really piss someone off)
