The bribing of foreign public officials includes the promise or the physical transaction of money or any other undue advantage. These are put into place to ensure that public officials including law officers aren’t prevented from executing their official duties. Individuals who are found guilty of offering or promising the official any type of foreign bribe will be charged with a felony and subject to harsh fines, jail time, or other severe penalties. Every year, millions of dollars are squandered on bribes in exchange for public officials for business advantages. The result of this is a decay of public facilities such as roads, bridges, hospitals, and other items that the public bodies are supposed to be taking care of. Since this is becoming a larger global problem, more laws are being put in place daily in order to expose and avoid corruption in nearly every country.

Many individuals who accept bribes aren’t fully aware of the repercussions of their actions. The more everyone knows about the crime, the less likely companies are to offer bribes, but the issue often goes unnoticed. Due to the harsh penalties that bribing and accepting bribes carry, exposure and a harsh example is needed in order to eliminate the crime. A greater awareness of the seriousness and frequency of foreign bribery cases also make it more likely that law enforcement authorities will investigate foreign bribery allegations.

The anti-bribery organization the OECD has released a global awareness program in hopes that corruption cases all over the world will be more heavily investigated and to illustrate the negative impact of foreign bribery. The program is tailored to increase interest in anti-bribery measures for every country so that public officials can carry out their civic duties without interference. The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention has been proven as one of the most effective anti-corruption instruments. One of the only organizations focused directly on foreign bribery, the OECD plans for a three-year initiative to include a worldwide media outreach campaign and a bribery impact study that will reach with business and law schools to include course materials in order to educate the next generation of business leaders in hopes to educate them about the practice.

Parties in the Anti-Bribery Convention include all 30 of the OECD member countries and Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Estonia, Israel, Slovenia, and South Africa. The initiative also allows for international organizations and corporate networks with similar foreign bribery ideals to join the Initiative. By criminalizing the act of bribery heavily as well as doing everything within their power to reveal cases of foreign bribery and corruption around the globe, the OECD is the leading anti-corruption organization and strongest advocate against corruption in government.

By studying the negative effects that foreign bribes and corruption causes, the fight to stop the act is becoming more of a worldwide focus. In order to have an effective government who has the interest of the people in mind it is necessary to eliminate corruption on a global level. By exposing and harshly prosecuting those engaging in foreign bribery, the OECD is leading the charge against the crime on a global level. What is a felony and a crime as large as treason in the US is becoming more recognized globally and in time it may be possible to eliminate corruption on a global scale.

You – When the squad leader points at an individual, they are addressing them directly, and it is important that they pay close attention to the next order.

Me – By pointing at themselves, the squad leader can give commands that are led by him or communicate something about himself to the rest of the squad.

Come – Looking at the squad or addressing a single member of the squad, the leader makes an open hand motion and swings his arm toward his shoulder.

Listen or hear – Another pretty universal signal, the squad leader will put his hand to his ear like he himself is listening. This instructs the squad to do the same.


Water or see – An open hand gesture of the hand over the eyebrows and on the forehead; similar to an individual attempting to see something far away.

Hurry up – The hand is made into a fist and the arm is brought down in a swift motion; resembling someone pulling a lever.

Stop – An open palm pointed directly at the squad.

Freeze – The squad leader simply holds up his fist.

Cover the area – The squad leader will point with their thumb over their shoulder toward the area needed to be covered.

Go here or move up – A beckoning motion with the squad leader facing away from the squad.

Enemy – With the thumb and index finger, the squad leader will grasp their wrist.

Hostage – With their hand, the squad leader will simulate putting their hand around their own neck.

Sniper – Much like the symbol for ten, but the figure will be put around the leader’s eye to simulate a scope.

Rally point – This military hand signal involves the leader sticking their index finger in the air and making a circling motion.

Pistol – Making the hand look like a gun with the thumb and index finger.

Rifle – The same military hand signal as a pistol but with your arm in the air.

Shotgun – Making your hand into a clutch like you’re holding a stick and moving it up and down in a quick motion.

Ammunition – Brandishing a clip of ammunition and moving it from side to side.

Vehicle – Making your hand into a fist and moving it from side to side.

I understand – The universal sign for OK made by making an ‘O’ out of your index finger and holding your middle finger, ring finger, and pinky up.

Crouch – Using an open hand motion moving it toward the ground; much like pushing something toward the ground.

Door – Draw three sides to a square in the air.

Window – Draw an entire square in the air.

One – similar to how one is represented universally, simply make your hand into a fist and raise your index finger.

Two – Also similar to how the number is visually represented in everyday life, the hand is once again made into a fist and the index and middle finger are raised.

Three – A little different from the previous representations of the numbers using digits, three is signified by making your hand into a fist and raising your index finger, middle finger, and sticking your thumb out.


Four – Four returns back to the universal representation of the number and is formed by raising all of one’s fingers and keeping the thumb pressed against the palm.

Five – All fingers are raised as well as the thumb, similar to how it is represented all around the world, five is similar to giving another person a high five.

Six – Once the numbers start to get larger, the military hand signals get a little more confusing. Six in military sign language is represented by the more commonly used sign for three. Raise your index, middle, and ring fingers and touch your thumb and pinky together.

Seven – Raise your pinky, middle finger, and index finger and touch your ring finger and thumb together so they are not sticking up.

Eight – The same idea as seven, but instead of touching your ring finger and pinky together, touch your middle finger and pinky together.

Nine – Touch your index finger and thumb together so they are not sticking up and signal using your middle finger, ring finger, and pinky.

Ten – Keep all of your fingers down and lay your thumb over them so your hand makes a ‘0’.