system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: what's the point of Secret Service code names if they're released to the public?

It's common knowledge that Renegade is the president's code name. So, if you were to see a man talking about "Renegade" into an earpiece, you'd probably be able to figure out who they're talking about. Given that the names are released to the public, what's the point in using them, instead of just using the actual name, or an abbreviation like POTUS?
gpt
A little bit security, but mostly brevity and clarity. In case of an emergency, if you're the Secret Service, you need to be able to refer to the protected individual clearly, unambiguously, and *quickly*. "POTUS" wouldn't always work, because they won't always be POTUS, even if it's POTUS you're assigned to (ex-POTUS will sometimes have Secret Service escorts as well). "Barack Obama" is too long. "Obama" is ambiguous; what if the sniper (or whatever) is targeting Michelle, who is also under Secret Service protection? "Barack" would work in this particular example, since there aren't currently a lot of Baracks hanging around, but "George" and "Bill" would have been too ambiguous when those guys were president; because *most* first names are reasonably common, they aren't in the habit of using that.

Calling him "Renegade" gives a quick, easy name that uniquely identifies him.