S-Codes Flashcards
Zero, Zero
Base operations
One Big One
1 mile (or km; use based upon country of operation)
Five Five
Positive control of target (only stated when take control of target)
Six Six 👀🚫🚙
Can be made by anyone that observes a target but cannot follow
Six Eight
Backing — you are able to take control of target from 5-5. The 6-8 is only stated when 6-8 first assumes position or when moving into position. After each call by 5-5, 6-8 confirms he/she is still 6-8 by stating call sign.
Six Nine
Trigger - watches an inanimate object such as a vehicle, entrance, or exit. Must be 100% in control.
Seven Four
Changeover of control. When 5-5 requests that 6-8 take control of target. 6-8 will acknowledge 5-5 request to 7-4 by saying “call sign/name and yes”
Seven Seven - Seven Seven
Pay attention! Target status about to change. Said to alert team when target is first seen or of important actions by target.
Eight Three
Target is temporarily held
Nine One
Toward, direction of travel
Nine Nine Nine
Stopped
Approaching
Within 50 meters of while on foot (not used in conjunction with 8-3 (target held), 9-1 (toward), or 9-9-9 (stopped))
Boot
Police
Bumper (👉👇👈👆)
A location where surveillance operator can impose control in any direction
NEVER inside banks, jewelry stores, day cares, or schools
Bush
Truck / semi
Cactus
Bus
Call sign
Surveillance vehicle
Checking
Used to indicate where surveillance operators are looking when the target location is no longer known
Chili
Meeting / Contact
** Only a 7-7 call **
Commit (👀📍📲)
To observe a location within the surveillance box (like an intersection, parking lot exit, escalator, or any other place the target may travel). You must be able to see the entire area and report the target’s direction of travel. Does not follow target unless assumes 5-5
Complete / No longer complete
Entering (complete) or exiting (no longer complete) a vehicle, location, or area
Cooker
Airport
Cookies
Cash register
Cup
Parking lot
Dough bag
Civilians
Eagle
Exit off falcon (freeway/interstate)
Falcon
Freeway / interstate
Flower
Train / railway
Fork
Restaurant / cafe
Foxtrot
A foot surveillance operator
Fringe comms
The communication is broken. Normally associated with being out of range
Fresh green / red
Traffic light recently changed to green or red
Gear change
Break off / ENDEX
Gone left / right
Target has made a left or right turn
Handle
Entrance / Exit
Hawk
Intersection
Hazard
Anything that can interfere with the control of the target (stoplights, intersections, public transportation)
Heat state
Term used to measure a foxtrot or call sign’s exposure (on a scale of 1 to 10) to the target in order to maintain discretion. It is the individual operator’s responsibility to keep track of personnel as well as call sign time and proximity to target.
Hi Ho
Target’s workplace
Intending
Proposed change in direction while traveling or gives an indication they are going to change (ie… car blinker or pulling keys out of pocket)
Jug
Toilet
Kettle
Cellphone
Knife (where could you get stabbed?)
Bar / pub
Lane 1/2/3
Lane 1 is left lane. Lanes are numbered from left to right
Lock-on
Needs location of target. This should only be when arriving late or the location is unclear
Magic box
Target’s residence
Mini-
Denotes another S-code is small
Minimize, minimize
Used to halt radio communications so that more important information can be transmitted (often during lost contact drills)
Multi-
Denotes multiple of another S-code (ie… multi-cup = parking garage, multi-spoon = shopping center)
Mustard
Third man / counter-surveillance
Nest
Traffic circle
Nosebag
Eat / meal / food
Nutmeg
U-turn
On the left / right
Used in foot surveillance to indicate which side of the street the target is walking on
One up, Two up
Refers to the number of persons in a C/S (call sign) or X-1. Usually done in response to S/C or Windy Ridge asking how many people are in call sign.
Also refers to the location of X-1 or Z-1 in relation to an object.
Option
The turning lane into Falcon
Off
When the 5-5 (positive control) signs off and transitions control of the target to 6-8 (backing). The off call is only stated once. Call sign includes location where the call was made.
OFF, OFF, OFF
Called when X-1 exits a highway or interstate. OFF, OFF, OFF is usually an automatic 7-4 (changeover of control to 6-8). The call is used in conjunction with the last known location of X-1
Pan
Hotel
Pepper
Dead drop. Target either loads or offloads a dead drop. The call includes a location.
7-7 7-7 (pay attention) call
Plate
Gas station / garage
Plug
Change radio channel
Possible (🧦)
Used during checking drills or pick-up. Refers to a vehicle or person which may be a target, but must be verified by getting close to see socks or personal characteristic
Can use possible or strong possible
Polish
Appearance change or disguise
Quick join (🔛🛑)
Impose control or follow the target in a specific direction before the target gets to another hazard (a place the target can leave without being seen)
Raven
Mile / kilometer marker
Relay
When call signs or foxtrots are out of range, someone on the team will repeat the information to other team members
Each relayed call is preceded with the call sign, the word “relay”, and whom the call came from
Romeo Victor
Rendezvous
Rose
Car
Salt
Brush pass or contact
7-7 7-7 (pay attention) call
Saucer
School
Seat
Lay-up location that provides cover for action used to reduce visibility in the target area. A seat is only used when there is no place to park or get off the street. The call sign or person must be able to return to bumper (impose control in any direction) in time to resume responsibility
Sierra
Supplemental information, speed of X-1
Note: speed called in increments of 5 (ie… 40-45)
Sierra Charlie
Surveillance controller. The person assigned to manage the mission. He/she also acts as a regular member of the team as the tactics dictate so it is not necessary to state this term on the radio.
Conduit to the case agent.
Socks
License plate of a target vehicle
Spice
Counter-surveillance drill or surveillance detection route. Target’s demeanor or route indicates that he/she is actively looking for surveillance.
Spoon
Store / shop
Straight at
Target proceeded straight through a hazard; did not turn left or right and continued in the same direction
Stake out
A preplanned positioning of call signs and/or foxtrots to impose control of the target from a known location - regardless of how the target travels or in what direction
Stale green / red
The light was already green or red when the target passed
Switched On / Off
The target’s demeanor has changed; be on the alert for operational activity
Tall Tower
Dropping off a Foxtrot (foot surveillance)
Tank
Fill up / gas up vehicle
Tap
Church or religious building
Temp Unsighted
Cannot see the target because of another object, a bend, corner, but the condition is expected to clear
Trench
Subway
Tulip
Taxi
Unsighted
A call sign or Foxtrot that is 6-9 (trigger) and is no longer about to see the target’s movements
Visor
In front of target but still on control. This term lets the team know there could be a sudden loss
Once 5-5 (positive control) by the visor, you want to immediately plan a 7-4 (changeover of control) with the 6-8 (backup)
Wait
No transmissions until next from the call sign that stated wait
Windy Ridge
Picking up a Foxtrot
X-ray 1/2/3
Target’s vehicle. Additional vehicles are designated X-2, X-3, etc…
Zulu 1/2/3
Target. Additional subjects are designated Z-2, Z-3.
When there is a situation where you cannot use codes, a predesignated nickname may be used to avoid scrutiny
General Hint: Kitchen Appliances / Utensils
Buildings or public areas
General Hint: Birds
Roads / things associated with road systems
General Hint: Vegetation / Flowers
Public transportation
General Hint: Spices
Operational activity
