Secret Service hand position technique

J

johnelmore

New member
Ive noticed that whenever I see the President on television the Secret Service is right behind holding their hands in what looks like a pose. Generally in front, above their waste and tightly to their stomach usually balled up into a fist. Also to note I never see them smile.

Is this some type of technique in order to react quicker hand to hand or is it a technique to draw faster? Im taking that its a position in which they can react quickest. It shaves off milliseconds of time to push, grab or shove the threat away. They probably have their pistol right inside the jacket thus their hands would be closer to it as well and guarding the entry to their jacket so someone cant grab the pistol.

Lets say I perceive or suspect a threat is close. Of course, Im going to distance myself from it as a first step, but also pre position my hands in a ready position and that war face lacking the smile might be helpful too...
 
Lets say I perceive or suspect a threat is close. Of course, Im going to distance myself from it as a first step, but also pre position my hands in a ready position and that war face lacking the smile might be helpful too...
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I'm guessing that's exactly opposite of what a SS Agent would do.

The hand may be keeping the coat from blowing open exposing guns and stuff. Good starting position for a draw too. Stay consistent.
 
I can't remember the last time a secret service agent drew and fired his pistol in defense of a President or other protected person, but it seems we often see them go hands on to rush the protected person to safe cover.

Just as AIWB might be the fastest draw from concealment, the fists well above the belt are an all-purpose ready position.

Obviously the practiced war face is an excellent tool to prevent trouble.
 
He can't stick his hands in his pockets, and it gets tiresome just letting them hang.

That's a fairly comfortable position that allows you to relax your arms.

I think some are reading too much into it.

Maybe he had tacos for lunch, which could explain holding his stomach and the concerned look too.
 
SS agents are not supposed to be gregarious, nor approachable. They're doing a job and not there to socialize or make friends. They don't want you coming near them or crowding them so they purposely display an unfriendly visage to discourage people from talking to them or distracting them. He's playing the role.
 
SS agents are not supposed to be gregarious, nor approachable. They're doing a job and not there to socialize or make friends. They don't want you coming near them or crowding them so they purposely display an unfriendly visage to discourage people from talking to them or distracting them. He's playing the role.
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Mostly this. I'm sure most SS agents are perfectly nice people but when they are actively engaged in a critical role (ie protecting the president), they are in a state of extreme hypervigilance and don't want people distracting them. The resting PO'd look acts as a good deterrent.
 
disseminator said:
I thought I read about this being the "ready position" that the SS uses.

See here: https://cryptome.org/info/usss-hands/usss-hands.htm
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Those appear to be some of the best photos. Hands are generally held in front, a bit above waist level, fairly close to the body, and a short distance apart.

Personally, I think the reason is obvious: that's a neutral position from which one can easily move to do whatever might need to be done -- from keeping someone back, to drawing a gun, to opening a door. In other words, it's simply a good "ready" position.
 
Also, if everyone adopts the same ready/neutral position, it could be a cue to other agents that something's amiss if they see an agent NOT in this pose.
 
"Hands unclasped, between your belt and chest" is fairly standard police training for the 'ready, but looking casual' situation that most SS agents are in when not under threat.

Larry
 
The stance is balanced and appears professional.
The SS agents between the president and crowds or in his immediate vicinity do not have a primary responsibility to draw and fire. They are observing those in the immediate vicinity and prepared to physically intercept any attacks.
They also hear the same speeches over and over. I'm sure it is easy to zone out. By keeping the muscles in their arms and hands up they are not relaxed and it is not easy to dose off. Even covering the mouth for a yawn would probably garner international media attention.
 
There have been too many posts in this thread making dumb jokes about indigestion. They have gone away.

Let's have no more such posts.
 
They all stand the same way so that any of their associates looking at them and seeing them standing another way would know something was up.
 
It's a position of readiness. From there they can push, grab, punch, or draw. Would you expect them to casually walk around arms just a dangling?

As for the hard faces that's just a by product of extreme focus and concentration. When you smile you've just relaxed.
 
Ton
Mostly this. I'm sure most SS agents are perfectly nice people but when they are actively engaged in a critical role
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Second this. SS agents are a bit like armored car guards: whenever or wherever you see them out in public, they're not there for the waters.
 
You also must realize that SS agents are trained in and become experts in body language; both receiving and transmitting.
 
As for the hard faces that's just a by product of extreme focus and concentration.
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They don't look pissed off or angry. If they did they would look silly and un-serious. Instead they look focused, alert, attentive and serious. Their hands are in a good position for a number of things as mentioned, including signaling others. You sometimes see them with their hands at their sides as well, when walking for example. You don't see them with their hands in their pocket.

When you see them in action they move quickly to get their bodies in between the official (or who ever it is they are protecting) and the threat and to get the subject safely away from the threat with speed.

Most of what they do is not seen publicly.

When in public with the potus or another head of state they have another function as well. They are not just security. They are the closest thing to a royal guard that the U.S. has. They have to look the part. They have a diplomatic role to play. That's a weapon as well.

tipoc
 
A side note about the armored car guards in my geography. They have a routine of drawing their pistol when welcoming a load into the truck. There is one driver in the seat, the gunner guard draws his pistol and then there is the carry guard. So the three man team. There might be 4 like another in the truck. They generally look a bit mean. The guards stance when there is a load is to draw pistols outside of the truck. Sometimes I see them without the pistol drawn and Im guessing that position is when its a minor load. I assume the reason for the gunner guard drawing his pistol is for larger loads. Sometimes I see the gunner guard follow the loader in amd escort the entire way.

A different type of operation than bodyguard work...
 
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