Code Words and SA While Travelling With Spouse

The only code we've used is a Secret Word for our daughter. If someone were to approach her and say, "Your mom says you're supposed to come with me" she'll know it's only legit if they have that word along with it.

I agree that 'time to leave' in THAT TONE is probably the best choice for our family. I don't order my family around normally, so if I issue a command-voice imperative, it would be so unusual that they would know something was up and they need to do what I tell 'em to do. I'll apologize for rudeness later.

And that's exactly what we did with our kids. The family definitely knew when I meant business by my tone.

No code words; my husband just won't remember stuff like that, just like he can't remember birthdays (he does remember MY birthday, though). :biggrin2: He'll get an arm or hand squeeze and a redirect or some short clear words instead. I did that when the punk in the mall started a scene.

Sometimes I think these things are over thought. As far as alarming/alerting bystanders, with my poor hearing and tendency to tone out everything, I doubt I've even hear someone else saying something. Only my wife's voice grabs my attention. I am well trained.

We use hand signals like a third base coach.That way no one will catch the real signal amongst the fake ones.
It's confuses the crap out of our deaf friends though.

I think I'm getting a clearer picture of the group's consensus... ; )

SInce my wife has been carrying for about a dozen years now, she pays a lot more attention to what is going on around us. We use the white, yellow, orange. The only time we use 'white' is when we see somebody who isn't paying any attention (most sheeple) & who does or nearly does something stupid....Those are for our entertainment.

'Yellow' & 'Orange' are reserved for us to give the other a indication to pay particular attention in the direction the other is looking. If it goes to 'RED' it's going to be to late as one of us would already be drawing.

When we go to restaurants I now have to race her to get the best seat to observe.....most of the time she wins & I'm stuck watching the kitchen instead of the front.....At least she's paying attention......

I did the secret code thing with the kids for pickup by unknown persons in emergencies. If the person picking them up did not have the word, they did not get in.

The problem with code words or such with wives and significant others I discovered is that they do not always interpret what I said as what I meant, or they forget the code word in an emergency, so I came down to just "tell me clearly and quickly what is up and I will do the same."

Classic example of how wrong things can go. Second wife was followed home by a couple of goombahs in a car after she flipped them off way back in the 90's. I could see she was scared when she ripped into the drive where I was wrenching on one of our cars. When she said they were following her, I told her simmply, "Go inside, you know what I need." Since the car with the goobers had just pulled up, I stepped away from the car I was working on with my largest wrench and told them to beat it. Luckily they just shouted obscenities and left.

A loooooooong time later she finally arrives, carrying my pistol, badge, handcuffs, ID, handcuff key........... Taught me two quick lessons. Carrying out front of the house is NOT a tinfoil hat thing, and always say things clearly, like, "Go get my pistol now," or you may end up getting everything and a bag of chips......

Lesson learned about not being clear and concise :wave:

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Originally Posted by TX expat

Whenever we've been in this situation my wife usually just says something like "that guy over there is acting really suspicious, do you have your gun on you?" to which my reply is "could you talk any louder"...

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My girlfriend always says: Got your gun? (like I don't have it anytime I'm awake)

Okay, short war story about code words. Back in my SAC days we had "duress" words for when we entered the nuclear alert pad. As one would assume, saying the duress word was the clue to the security police to put everyone on the ground. My sidekick/hunting buddy and I were dispatched to the alert pad to repair a B-52. He'd just returned from a hunting trip to Wyoming, so as we checked through the the checkpoint, he mentioned he'd shot a nice antelope--forgeting that "antelope" was the duress word of the month. Seconds later, face down on the wet asphalt with M-16s pointed at our heads, I couldn't help but to laugh. Our Chief had planned to go there with us but canceled at the last minute. That would have been hard to live down. The butt chewing was bad enough.

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Originally Posted by OldVet

Okay, short war story about code words. Back in my SAC days we have "duress" words for when we entered the nuclear alert pad. As one would assume, saying the duress word was the clue to the security police to put everyone on the ground. My sidekick/hunting buddy and I were dispatesd to the alert pad to repair a B-52. He'd just returned from a hunting trip to Wyoming, so as we checked through the the checkpoint, he mentioned he'd shot a nice antelope--forgeting that "antelope" was the duress word of the month. Seconds later, face down on the wet asphalt with M-16s pointed at our heads, I couldn't help but to laugh. Our Chief had planned to go there with us but canceled at the last minute. That would have been hard to live down. The butt chewing was bad enough.

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That same thing happened to me.

Okay, not really. That's an awesome story.

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Originally Posted by kimbercarry1

My girlfriend always says: Got your gun? (like I don't have it anytime I'm awake)

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In the wrong situation, that could get you killed. It HAS happened.

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Originally Posted by Jambie

I think I'm getting a clearer picture of the group's consensus... ; )

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My wife and I have a code word because she is frequently in condition white. If I said to her in a calm and quiet voice "Get the kids out of here." her first response would be "Why? What's up?". So we have a code word.

It's just one word that we almost never say in real life. The code word simply means that there is danger close and REALLY pay attention RIGHT NOW to what I am telling you to do next. It means hang up on your friend, stop eating or get your head in the game. It's about to be go time and here are your instructions.

Example: I'm in a crowded place and I see something that might cause a panic. I have three small kids and they could get hurt in a pushy crowd. The code word would alert my wife without tipping our hand and we could get away clean....or so I hope.

Planning ahead never hurts. One simple word discussed with your loved ones is as easy as pie to remember. We never change it and we talk about it enough so that she knows I'll never use it as a joke.

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Originally Posted by nontechguy

In the wrong situation, that could get you killed. It HAS happened.

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That's my thinking. In a crowded pace, particularly surrounded by those to whom English is a second language, shouting anything about a gun could cause an instant panic or stampede.

I'm reminded of the time we were watching the pirate show outside the Treaure Island casino in Las Vegas. Thousands of people shoulder to shoulder, non-stop traffic flying by on Las Vegas Blvd, with a rope barrier on the street side and the fake Carribean on the other. A panic would have been very bad, and in fact, I told my wife if we had to bail, it would be into the water.

As the above poster suggested, one or two code words could come in handy, IF you train yourselves in their use.

Of course, YMMV...

I guess pointing and screaming "SHOOT THAT ONE!!!! SHOOT THAT ONE!!!!!!!!" is kind of a code.