Sign Language: First military to offer contracts and a cash prize for a sign language that only uses...

...one's off-hand and is compact in its display.  [Many times soldiers need to communicate with each other in very loud environments (e.g., combat, flight decks, etc.) and in silent situations where a nearby enemy might over hear voices.  By only needing one hand to do this sign language, soldiers can communicate with each other while still keeping a weapon in their other hand ready for use.]  What is meant by "off-hand" is one's non-writing hand.  [One's writing hand is the one soldiers use to aim and fire pistols since they have better control over that hand.]  By "compact" it means that the hand movements are not outside of the chest or face areas.  [Keeping the signs compact will reduce the chance of being noticed by an enemy.]

1) First military to teach all of its combat soldiers the single-hand sign language during their technical training.

2) First military to teach all of its soldiers (both combat and non-combat) single-hand sign language during their basic training.

3) First military to institute a "Silent First Wednesday" where all soldiers must communicate by single-hand sign language during their work hours on the first Wednesday of each month when communicating with another soldier face to face.  [Practice makes perfect and keeps skills sharp.]

4) First law enforcement agency to train their SWAT teams in this single-hand sign language.

5) First US law enforcement agency to train their SWAT teams in this single-hand sign language.

6) First law enforcement training school to train all of its cadets in this single-hand sign language.

7) First US law enforcement training school to train all of its cadets in this single-hand sign language.

8) First US state to require all of its law enforcement officers to be fluent in this single-hand sign language.